NPC Powered by Foodbuy

09/25/2025

Last week's Southern Innovations Conference was a success for the NPC Powered by Foodbuy team for many reasons! 🏆

Not least was Ricardo Carrillo, Associate Director of Category Development, graduating from the SEPC Step-Upp Foodservice program! 🎉

This program gives foodservice produce professionals a greater understanding of the industry through an emphasis on strategic orientation, personal leadership, and hands-on field experience. Individuals are selected through an application and interview process based on leadership experience and interest in developing a career in fresh produce. During his time in the program, Ricardo attended personal development and relationship building sessions with focuses like managing for performance, leadership styles, and negotiation strategies.

Congratulations to Ricardo and thank you to the SEPC for another fantastic Southern Innovations Conference.

09/15/2025

🚨 Market Alert 🚨
Broccoli supplies are expected to remain limited over the next few weeks. Here's what you need to know:

☀️Current climate:
Most volume is shipping from Salinas and Santa Maria, with only fair quality. Limited product available from Mexico.

A key issue is the Diamondback Moth, especially in Santa Maria and areas south of Salinas. While the adult moth causes no harm, its larvae damage crops by burrowing into plant crowns. These larvae are difficult to detect and remove, even after processing, leading to quality concerns and reduced yields.

➡️Looking Ahead

No effective insecticides are currently approved, and cold weather is the only natural deterrent. Until such conditions prevail, supplies will continue to be limited.

NPC Powered by Foodbuy Members receive detailed market reports in their inboxes every week to support better purchasing. Ask us how you can reap the benefits of NPC managed purchasing programs! 📥

💻 Read the full market report for September 15th in English or Spanish here:
Https://www.nproduce.com/services/market-reports/

09/08/2025

🚨 Market Alert 🚨
The pineapple market remains exceptionally tight this week. Here's what you need to know:

☀️Current climate:
Limited availability across all sizes, particularly crownless fruit. Demand continues to outpace supply, sustaining prices near record highs.

🍍Quality has shown modest improvement, with average Brix levels reaching 14.0 and fewer fruit testing below 13. However, pale internal and external coloration persists, especially in crownless varieties. Weather conditions remain dry, with less than 20 mm of rainfall, and port disruptions at Caldera have added logistical strain. Fortunately, contingency measures have helped avoid major shortages.

➡️Looking Ahead
Tight import conditions are expected to persist through mid-October (Week 42), with gradual relief potentially beginning earlier. Increased volumes of larger-sized fruit are projected to emerge by the second week of September, peaking in late November before a seasonal dip in December and January when demand typically softens. As larger fruit becomes more available, volumes of 7ct and 8ct sizes are expected to decline, making substitutions more challenging.

NPC Powered by Foodbuy Members receive detailed market reports in their inboxes every week to support better purchasing. Ask us how you can reap the benefits of NPC managed purchasing programs!

Read the full market report for September 5th in English or Spanish here:
https://www.nproduce.com/services/market-reports/

09/03/2025

The NPC Powered by Foodbuy team is looking forward to connecting with you at SEPC Southern Innovations, taking place September 10–13, 2025, in Charlotte, NC!

📍 Catch Courtney Dyess-Mam, VP of Operations, and Dez Forsythe, VP of Supply Chain, alongside our fresh produce procurement experts as they discuss how to:
✔ Maximize savings through customized, managed produce programs
✔ Optimize ordering with eProcurement tools built for fresh produce
✔ Build stronger regional supply strategies within national operations

Whether you're navigating supply challenges or seeking smarter sourcing strategies, our team has the insights to help your operation thrive.

Let’s talk fresh. See you in Charlotte!

08/27/2025

❓Who is NPC Powered by Foodbuy?

We're not just a fresh-produce-focused arm of the nation's largest group purchasing organization. We're a team of dedicated produce experts with a passion for connecting businesses with high-quality products from growers you can trust. 🍎🍇🥔

Whether you already work with Foodbuy or want to begin partnering with NPC, our managed produce program will help you:

🥭Find trusted growers and shippers for all the fresh produce you use onsite.
🧄Identify price saving opportunities through our wide range of partnerships.
🍠Leverage purchasing data to make smarter buying decisions at every turn.

💻Learn more at nproduce.com

08/19/2025

🚨 Market Alert 🚨

Iceberg and Romaine lettuce varieties are both on alert this week due to light supplies. Here's what you need to know:

🥬Iceberg lettuce:
Lower yields are pushing markets higher. Additionally, early signs of the INSV virus have been reported. Demand has picked up and quality is only fair as growers face insect pressure, particularly from aphids. Carton weights are expected to be light, with some smaller heads observed. Limited availability and elevated pricing are anticipated.

🥬Romaine lettuce:
Demand has increased, but quality is reported as only fair due to light insect pressure. Early signs of INSV virus are beginning to show, which may impact yields at the field level. Lighter carton weights are expected, and markets are anticipated to escalate over the next few weeks.

NPC Powered by Foodbuy Members receive detailed market reports in their inboxes every week to support better purchasing. Ask us how you can reap the benefits of NPC managed purchasing programs!

Read the full market report for August 15th in English or Spanish here:
https://www.nproduce.com/services/market-reports/

08/07/2025

📢 We're back with another fantastic International Fresh Produce Association Foodservice Conference under our belts!

30 NPC Powered by Foodbuy, Foodbuy USA, and Compass Group USA team members spent last week with key growers and shippers, as well as other fresh produce industry professionals. 🥦 🍎 🌽

We held our annual meet and greet with hundreds of attendees, had multiple meetings with grower shipper and distribution partners, attended a variety of field tours, and walked the floor to check out what’s new in the fresh produce space.

🥑 🥕 🍉 Thank you to the many individuals we connected with and everyone who joined us for our annual happy hour, held at The Perry House!

Thank you, as well, to the IFPA team for hosting an exceptional event and providing the opportunity to continue strengthening relationships that support our best in class program!

07/28/2025

A conference dedicated to the fresh produce industry? NPC Powered by Foodbuy is all about it!🥑🌽🍎🍒

Our team can't wait for the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Foodservice Conference held July 31st through August 1st!

Courtney Dyess-Mam, VP of Operations, Dez Forsythe, VP of Supply Chain, and Don Governale, Director of National Accounts, will be in attendance in Monterrey, CA along with a team of fresh produce procurement professionals. You can speak with them about:

🍓The benefits of managed produce programs

🫑eProcurement solutions specific to fresh produce ordering

🍉How to leverage regional partnerships within a national company

We can't wait to see you there!

07/17/2025

Seeing berries move from seedling to shipment changes how you think about fresh produce procurement!🫐🍓

⭐NPC Powered by Foodbuy recently joined Baldor Specialty Foods Inc. at Driscoll University, where Senior Manager of Category Development, Arturo Chavez, gained an end-to-end view of Driscoll’s nursery, lab, and field operations. From touring advanced plant-breeding facilities to sampling new raspberry varieties, the hands-on experience provided a unique insight into the research, labor, and logistics behind premium produce.

Experiences like this strengthen NPC’s category insights and sharpen the recommendations we deliver to Members. Visits like this are one of many ways we help you develop an exceptional produce procurement strategy.🤝

07/15/2025

⚠️Market Alert⚠️

Broccoli crown and floret supplies are limited this week as Mexico faces quality issues due to heavy rains. Here's what fresh produce purchasers need to know:

☀️Current climate:
The Salinas Valley, the primary growing region, continues to face significant supply disruptions. Growers are reporting reduced yields due to elevated temperatures experienced several weeks ago. This has resulted in lighter-than-normal harvests.

Diminished production from Mexico has increased demand on California supplies, further tightening the market. Shipments are currently originating from both Salinas and Santa Maria, limited volumes remain going into next week.

Overall product quality is being described as fair at best, with noticeable inconsistencies across lots. With limited availability and increased demand, prices are expected to remain elevated through the upcoming week.

🔄Potential swaps:
Broccolini supplies are steady this week with excellent quality. Demand has increased, but markets are stabilizing. Expect consistent yields and stable pricing in the coming weeks.

NPC Powered by Foodbuy Members receive detailed market reports in their inboxes every week to support better purchasing. Ask us how you can reap the benefits of NPC managed purchasing programs!

Read the full market report for July 11th in English or Spanish here:
https://www.nproduce.com/services/market-reports/

12/24/2024

Wishing all Happy Holidays with yet another fruitful New Year ahead. Eat your fruits and vegetables!

Email from Foodbuy, LLC   Happy Holidays Valued Partner, We wish you a very Happy Holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. Thank you for your partnership. We look forward to another yea

09/03/2024