Stick balloons provide high margins and low shrink in floral
Looking for easy sales with high margins? Look no further, the answer is simple -stick balloons. Pre-inflated stick balloons are a staple in our supermarket balloon programs because they boast one of the highest gross margin items in your department and the longest shelf life. What’s not to love about a low-shrink, high-margin item?
There are three types of stick balloons: four-inch micro (size of a tennis ball), nine-inch mini (size of a cantaloupe) and 14-inch shape, usually licensed but there are general designs other than characters.
Hy-Vee with full-service floral expands into Twin Cities market
NEW HOPE, MN — Two new Hy-Vee supermarkets opened Sept. 22 in the Twin Cities, both with full-service floral departments and locally grown product, offering one-stop shopping to its customers. In the late 1980s several grocery floral centers in the Twin Cities provided full service but the numbers have dwindled to nearly zero, so Hy-Vee will be filling a much needed niche.
Origin and journey of South American mixed bouquets to U.S. supermarkets
As I stood in front of La Bouquetera, a large bouquet-making facility in the Savannah of Bogota, Colombia, I was reminded that it is here where many of the United States’ fresh-cut flower bouquets are made. A large number of the flowers that will eventually bring joy to the lives of millions of people are grown in the Savannah because of its ideal year-round growing conditions — average temperatures of 42-68 F, sunny days, cool nights and 33 inches of rainfall per year.
Sunshine + freedom + flowers = the good life
“Just living is not enough ... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” — Hans Christian Andersen, Danish author, 1805-1875
Church Bros. names director of food safety and sustainability
Church Bros. has promoted Megan Chedwick to director of food safety and sustainability. She has been with the company since 2007 and her previous titles include food-safety coordinator and director of food safety.
Apple retail data reveal shifting consumer preferences
Final retail results for the full 2014 apple crop have been released by Nielsen. The data show consumers continue their love affair with Honeycrisp apples while emerging branded apples continue to deliver strong dollar and volume growth.
Onion variety trials highlight the value of research to the IEO growing region
On Aug. 25, onion growers, shippers, seed company representatives, crop consultants, bankers and research personnel were updated on onion variety trials being conducted by the Oregon State University’s Malheur Experiment Station.
Stuart Reitz, a faculty member at OSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Science, talked about the event and its importance to onion production in the Treasure Valley.
SunDate adds freezer to its desert operation
Though harvested in an eight to 10-week period, typically in September and October, fresh California dates are marketed year-round.
Lawmakers talk water, nutrition issues at United Fresh Washington Conference
WASHINGTON — A champion of drought-relief legislation, Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) called water and labor, two issues on United Fresh Produce Association’s agenda this week on Capitol Hill, the top issues for his state.
Produce business leaders met with members of the U.S. House of Representatives Sept. 29 and planned visits with senators and their staffs on Sept. 30.
Kroger named FFVA's merchandiser of the year
The Kroger Co., which has worked with producers to promote Florida products, has been presented with the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's Merchandiser of the Year Award.
The annual award recognizes the important role that retail merchandising plays in the promotion and sale of fresh Florida produce.