Produce industry headlines: June 16, 2026

Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Here’s what’s happening in produce and grocery today.

Links today include Sprouts’ New England expansion, private brands’ retail growth, the importance of fresh in retail demand, dock-to-dock analysis, crop updates on cherries and strawberries, and more.

As always, have something to share? Send us your feedback at news@bluebookservices.com.

Top Stories

Sprouts confirms New England debut set for 2028

Sprouts Farmers Market said it plans to open 30-40 stores in New England, starting in two years.

FMI Research Confirms Private Brands Are a Staple in American Households

FMI’s annual “Power of Private Brands 2026: Consumer Trends – From Stores to Homes” report finds that 92% of U.S. grocery shoppers have store brand products in their homes and that private brand dollar sales rose 2.8% year-over-year, outpacing national brand growth.

Fresh Departments Make or Break Retail Stores, Logile Survey Finds

The study finds 9 in 10 Americans say fresh departments determine whether they trust a grocery store.

Dock to Dock: A ‘pass-through’ mindset has consequences for freight brokers

Are the salvage returns from your customer supported? Veteran brokers avoid a “pass-through” mindset.

Early start of Pacific Northwest cherry season has bigger impact than initially thought

The Northwest is already producing promotable volume, but due to the lack of retail ads, many consumers aren’t aware cherries are available, leading to lower demand.

California strawberry pricing pressured following heat and rains

Late May rain led to some losses, and the heat that followed has brought insect problems, leading to some quality issues, growers say.

Tristate Growers Endure Setback From Cold Snap

An April freeze is delaying and cutting supplies for crops such as New Jersey peaches, New York apples, and Connecticut strawberries.