From Heatwaves to Market Shifts: The Latest Produce Insights

The Credible Vegetable Report

Welcome to this week’s episode of the Credible Vegetable Report! Craig Slate and Matt Mandel are back to bring you the latest insights from the world of produce, retail, and food service.
In this episode:
Weather Watch: As the Northwest gets a break from extreme heat, the focus shifts to Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, where heat advisories and potential dust storms are making their mark. Meanwhile, the East Coast is seeing significant rainfall, with no tropical storms in sight—for now.
FTC Crackdowns: The Federal Trade Commission is launching an inquiry into high grocery prices, questioning whether Americans are truly getting competitive and affordable prices at the supermarket. Learn more about the FTC’s efforts at https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/protecting-consumers.
Walmart’s eGrocery Dominance: Walmart continues to set records in the U.S. eGrocery market, capturing 37% of online grocery sales in Q2 2024. Discover how Walmart’s strategies have propelled it to the top at https://www.producebluebook.com/.
The Potato Problem: Lamb Weston, one of the world’s largest frozen potato suppliers, is facing a downturn as restaurant demand for America’s favorite starch declines. Find out more about the challenges facing the potato market at https://www.just-food.com/ and https://www.tomra.com/en/solutions/food.
Kroger Supports Local Growers: Kroger is introducing a new produce brand, “Field & Vine,” to promote fresh, locally-grown berries across the U.S. Explore more about this initiative at https://www.thepacker.com/ and on Kroger’s official website at https://www.kroger.com/.