We have seen many changes during the last year in produce due to covid. How can we now translate that impulse sale in the produce isle to the online produce isle? One way would be to set up a virtual isle on your website with specials and picks of the week, there are a couple of more ideas in this week’s video. We also speak about transportation as it effects supplies and demand. I also has 2 links that I also speak about in this week’s video, please check them out. Lastly is

This week we have a couple of links on 2 chains that do produce right. I have never been to either of these chain’s stores, but their reputation precedes them. Check out these two stories. Then of course I have to speak of who is doing it wrong, otherwise I wouldn’t be me. Please go to my FB page to share our food distribution tomorrow in Texas. Let people here know help is on the way. https://www.facebook.com/paul.manfre https://www.andnowuknow.com/whats-store/meijer-announc

Happy Valentine’s day, your relationship with AI sucks Is AI ( Artificial Intelligence) going to work in produce when the building block for it was NI ( No Intelligence) . I am by no means tech savvy; in fact, I tell people I know enough to get me into trouble but not enough to get me out of trouble. I do know the old term when it comes to computing, “garbage in equals garbage out”. What if 30 years ago all the schoolteachers were replaced and the new crop of no experienced t

Happy Sunday I have been in produce before fax machines, before beepers, before car phones and then cell phones, before personal computers, I am a dinosaur. I have come to realize that I am not in the current mainstream of produce, much to my dismay. A few weeks ago, I spoke about loyalty. I stated it was a 2-way street, you have to give it to get it. In this week’s video I will address this again as well as the current state of the produce business. I will also address botto

What a great day organizing a farmer to family Box program with some awesome volunteers. Please check out my FB page link https://www.facebook.com/paul.manfre/videos/10225515714429466/?notif_id=1612021253548538&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif The following was an excerpt from the 10 produce influencers, written about Shay Myers. Consumers are starving for our story and still many of you are still not telling it. The videos are an easy watch and don’t require any p

Happy Sunday This we will continue with changes both good and bad we have experienced over the past year. What can we do to have a continuation of the best and get rid of the worst? We have seen unprecedented growth in home delivery of produce and organics over the past year as people wanted to eat healthy to help them against the virus. Going forward box delivery programs from non-retail competitors can change the produce landscape. My hope that one big player in retail or d

Happy Sunday. We have had unprecedented growth is produce in 2020. There are things we are doing right and a few things we are doing wrong. In with the good and out with the bad, change is good for all. It is time to stop being a lemming and change the produce model for the future. This pandemic will end and the leaders that make the changes today will be the ones standing tall and prospering when the lemmings follow each other to oblivion. Check out this week’s video. https:

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel and why is my tongue purple? Today we have a couple of stories that share the same theme. The first is produce buying and selling. I have been on both sides of this equation for many years and I can remember what Anthony Robbins stated on his tapes over 3 decades ago. “ Find someone who is successful and use that for a template for your success” I am paraphrasing here. In other words, don’t try to reinvent the wheel. In this week’s video I wil

HAPPY NEW YEAR, I hope. Let’s all hope and pray for a better 2021. We will have a at least a few months ahead of troubled waters and I believe by working together and forming some new alliances and partnerships we will get through this. My aim has always been to get good shippers and good receivers, at every level together, this is now more important than ever. Unless there is a drastic change fast I can see unprecedented gluts and gaps in our immediate future, as I pointed

Happy Sunday, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. This week’s video may be a long one because I have a lot to say about the produce business going forward into next year from Grower, to wholesale to retail and finally the consumer. I have a lot in my head, hopefully if all gets on the video. I always bank on the resiliency of the men and woman in produce and we all may be put to the most stringent test going forward. We need each other to get through this now more than eve

Happy Sunday, I am posting the links of 2 germinal market tours which had many views this week and people really seemed to enjoy them. Hopefully I can get on the road again soon and visit more markets. https://youtu.be/_ZBwe0MdNnk https://youtu.be/3r3iLCQzW30 https://youtu.be/2B07niSOD2Q This week’s video This week’s highpoints. I think we are in for a rough ride over the next several months in the produce sphere. My hope that a stimulus package could give us a boost and th

There is only one link today and it is very important for retailers, consumers as well as other states put a stop to this Florida madness. As I predicted 2 years ago, Florida wants to raise prices to consumers all over the USA and we must stop it. Freight rates keep climbing and avocado prices keep dropping will there be a strike in our future? Check out this week’s video for all your produce questions. https://www.thepacker.com/article/strawberry-bell-pepper-imports-next-tra

Happy Sunday and much more importantly HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Steve Katzman, who has been a true friend to me for over 40 years. I hope all of you have at least one friend like Steve. If you have more than one like I do, you are truly blessed. This week’s video talks about markets, both trucks and produce, demand on both and the upcoming holiday season. There are no links to read so make sure you watch the whole video. #produce #freshfood #supermarket #walmart #usda #kroger #targ

This week I want to give some accolades to Sprouts I hope I am getting their intentions of what they proposed in the following article. Then I would like to dovetail into a great offer for wholesale and retail for the coming season with our mango program. Check out thus weeks video for all the information https://www.producebluebook.com/2020/10/29/sprouts-restructures-produce-buying-ahead-of-new-dcs-in-2021/ An offer you can’t refuse We have now locked up 240 hectares of Atau

Happy Sunday. This week we have 3 links I would like you to check out. The first is the produce group I spoke about last week and I recommend it highly to anyone involved in any aspect of the produce business. The second links is about the suspension agreement again and more propaganda from the Florida Tomato growers. Pay close attention to the last paragraph which is total BS. The last link is to Albertson’s quarterly results, which they knocked it out of the park. I would e

Good morning and happy Sunday. This week I will discuss the virtual PMA to the in-person PMA which I have attended for over 30 years, not every year, skipped a few while I was in the Army and a few other times. Then I would like to dovetail the following circumstances into a somewhat state of the produce industry from farmer to consumer in current and hopefully post covid-19. Then I will close with one of my tips for success and of course a market report. #produce #freshfood

Good morning and Happy Sunday. The following 3 links happen to be subjects I spoke about last week, amazingly they came up in this week’s news. The first is #walmart new format. I have been bashing their terrible displays for over 5 years but now it is time to give credit where credit is due, they finally got the memo. Next we check out #delmonte going direct to consumers. The third subject is #shaymyers, whom has become a celebrity doing what I have been begging the #pma and

Happy Sunday. I have said this many times before it’s time for the PMA and United to market to consumers and not to us. The one factor that helps all of us in every aspect of this industry is more consumption. Our trade associations should make this their top priority. Consumers are our audience and if we get them excited about produce, they will excite us with more consumption. It’s time for the PMA and United to wake up. Check out this weeks video with more insights to the

This week I would like to elaborate on a few things that have helped me in my produce career and hopefully it will help some of my younger followers. Next, as you know before the covid-19 pandemic I was not a fan of packaging. I am and was a big believer in produce looks better naked. Consumers, due to the virus do not want their produce touched so packaging becomes necessary. The time is now to cycle away from plastic and gyrate towards more eco-friendly alternatives. #produ

Happy Sunday. How are you? I am sorry for not doing a mid-week posting as promised. We moved to our new home and it’s been a little hectic and stressful. Divorces and moving are the 2 biggest stressors and I should know I did both more than once. This weeks video is short and sweet and I will be back in form by next week, guaranteed. Have a great week. #produce #freshfood #supermarket #walmart #usda #boxprogram #kroger #target #peppers #retailproduce #amazon #costco #foodserv