Philadelphia produce wholesalers prioritize understanding consumer preferences by closely monitoring end-user trends and feedback, and collaboration is a cornerstone of their collective success. Companies operating at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, including Nardella, TMK Produce and M. Levin & Co., emphasize that knowing what drives consumer choices, whether for health, adventure or premium experiences, enables them to help retail and foodservice customers stock items that sell. This consumer-focused approach helps wholesalers anticipate demand, guide product selection, and offer relevant packaging and programs.

A wide variety of table grapes is available in grocery stores, each with its own flavors and textures. Thompson Seedless and Crimson Seedless are year-round staples, valued for their sweetness, crunch, and versatility. Specialty options like Cotton Candy grapes offer a distinct, candy-like flavor, while Moon Drops (formerly Witch Fingers) stand out for their elongated shape and deep sweetness. Autumn Royal grapes deliver a bold, dark flavor and firm bite, and Concord grapes, famous for their use in juice and jelly, have a signature musky aroma and slip-skin texture. Red Globe grapes, notable for their large size and seeds, are often featured on fruit platters. California is responsible for 99% of the domestic table grape supply in the US, and the Southern San Joaquin Valley, with its hot, dry climate and warm nights, is especially suited for growing sweet, high-quality grapes. Other regions like New York's Lake Erie area are known for specific varieties such as Concord grapes, which are celebrated for their distinctive aroma and are mainly used for juice and jelly.

BloomNation's business model is designed to empower local florists by eliminating traditional floral brokers and connecting florists directly with customers through an online marketplace. Modeled after Etsy, the platform enables florists to showcase their designs and manage their own digital storefronts. In addition to its marketplace, BloomNation offers a suite of business management tools, ranging from inventory and email marketing to delivery logistics, without charging upfront fees. Instead, the platform operates on a performance-based structure, earning revenue only when a florist makes a sale. This approach has helped BloomNation grow to $250 million in annual transactional volume, supporting over 3,500 florists across the US and Canada.

Millennials are set to surpass baby boomers in produce spending within two years, according to the Southeast Produce Council's latest study. Millennials, who are health-conscious and digitally savvy, prefer convenience and sustainable options, and their shopping habits are shifting produce dollars to supercenters, club stores and online channels.

Retailers are placing sustainability at the center of their business strategies, with 98% regarding it as important or extremely important, according to The Packer's Sustainability Insights 2025 survey. Consumer demand and environmental concerns top the list of motivators for implementing sustainable practices, while legislative pressure has declined. Despite strong commitments, cost remains the most significant challenge, cited by 60% of retailers. Reducing food waste is a primary motivator for retailers' sustainability efforts, with the majority donating surplus food and nearly half partnering with vendors to repurpose unsellable items or redirecting surplus to in-store foodservice programs. Want more on grocery trends? Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter.

Coca-Cola has joined the MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium to address the declining orange supply caused by citrus greening, which is affecting its Minute Maid products. The consortium's first major initiative, "Save the Orange," collaborates with agritech and life sciences experts to combat the disease, which has significantly affected orange production in Florida and Brazil.

Albertsons has partnered with Google Cloud to launch the Conversational Commerce agent in its Ask AI tool, in an effort to enhance the grocery shopping experience through personalized product recommendations and natural conversations. The tool, available in all Albertsons banner store apps, uses AI to detect shopper intent and preferences in real time and early results show increased basket sizes and customer engagement.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham in the UK have identified key microbes and conditions that shape chocolate flavor during cocoa fermentation, addressing the longstanding issue of flavor inconsistency. By creating a lab-grown microbial mix that mimics traditional fermentation, the researchers enable chocolate makers to produce consistently high-quality chocolate. "By effectively domesticating the fermentation process, this work lays the foundation for a new era in chocolate production," says the study's author David Gopaulchan.