Back to Routine Starts in Produce

As summer winds down and life picks up speed, shoppers are getting back to packed lunches, quick breakfasts, after-school snacks and the nightly question: What’s for dinner? That's where the produce department shines. 

Fresh, organic produce naturally meets the moment. Peak-season fruits and veggies are flavorful, snackable and ready to work across breakfast, lunch, after-school snacks and weeknight meals. They make eating well feel just a little bit easier, and tastier. 

Today's back-to-school season has become something bigger than school supplies. It's a household reset centered around meal planning, healthier habits and establishing routines that last throughout the fall. Retailers have an opportunity to position produce as the easy answer, helping shoppers fill lunchboxes, simplify meal prep and bring more fresh flavor to busy weekdays. 

Build displays around real life.

That makes September a great time to merchandise around how produce fits into the day, and celebrate the best bites of the season. Give grab-and-go favorites like grapes, berries, mini cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and baby carrots a little extra visibility, and group snackable items together so busy shoppers can quickly mix and match. Cross-merchandising with hummus, dips, nut butters and other lunchbox staples can help turn individual items into an easy snack solution. Convenience-focused merchandising will help build bigger, fresher baskets, remember to create secondary placements and displays focused on lunch and snack needs too. 

Be sure to feature what’s tasting great right now. Go big on grapes while Northwest and California varieties are plentiful, keep summer flavor going with melons and plums, and start making room for Northwest apples and pears as new crops start to arrive. Seasonal surprises like kiwi berries can add a little discovery to the mix. 

Simple signs can do some of the work, too: Lunchbox Favorite, Snack of the Week, Easy After-School Snack or Busy Weeknight Favorite. Pair displays with quick serving ideas to help shoppers see how produce fits into the routines they’re rebuilding.  

Download ready-to-use signage at the link and stay tuned for more seasonal inspiration and tools to help inspire shoppers and make fresh organic produce an easy choice for their busy routine.