The National Watermelon Promotion Board named winners in its annual Retail Merchandising Contest, which garnered 220 entries from various retail chains, independent retailers and commissaries throughout the U.S. and Canada. This year’s iteration of the contest — the 12th since its inception —  was reimagined to incorporate social media and marketing efforts in addition to in-store displays.

Albertsons Cos. Inc. introduced Albertsons Pay, a new zero-touch checkout experience available through its updated just for U loyalty app.  Albertsons Pay provides shoppers with a safe, secure, and contact-free way to pay, use discounts, and earn rewards all at the same time. The company is also piloting PickUp lockers in select Safeway stores as the newest easy fulfillment option for e-Commerce orders.

​Ark Foods — the modern-day farming company bringing unique vegetables and vegetable-based creations to the produce aisle — debuted its Clean Label Salad line at the Produce Marketing Association’s FreshSummit virtual trade show last week.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation recently concluded its second annual National Fruits & Veggies Month campaign, a month-long celebration of everyone’s favorite, most flavorful plants — fruits and veggies. Themed Have A Plant® Nation, the innovative campaign generated nearly 75 million impressions throughout September via traditional and social media channels. Success stories from the 2020 NFVM campaign include:

• 59 million impressions from consumer-facing media NFVM wire release announcing campaign launch;

Free, one-hour pickup from Whole Foods Market is now available at all U.S. locations for Prime members. Prime members can shop thousands of items, including fresh produce, high-quality meat and seafood, holiday favorites, everyday staples, and other locally sourced items all available with free, one-hour pickup on orders of $35 or more.

The Quebec Produce Marketing Association is taking the lead in the pan-Canadian philanthropy effort initiated by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association by recognizing the efforts of essential workers across Quebec who’ve been courageously on the front lines with unwavering dedication since day one of the pandemic.

As a gesture of thanks, some 500 fruit and vegetable baskets were handed out to volunteers in a number of Quebec community-based organizations Oct. 16 as part of World Food Day celebrations.