LANDOVER, Md. — Hand-picked peaches, plums and nectarines are back in Giant Food and Stop & Shop stores throughout the Northeast, as the Ahold USA-owned banners revive their popular Orchard Perfect promotions for the summer. The program, created in 2004, uses specially designed boxes, tray materials and cells to protect the fruit during distribution. The fruit itself is pre-conditioned using a temperature-management process that enhances ripening just prior to shipping, according to company officials. This year, the fruit includes California peaches, nectarines, plums, white-flesh peaches and white-flesh nectarines. Orchard Perfect was originally developed by Ahold’s Perishable Procurement Organization, the company's central buying office in Braintree, Mass.
Read More of Today's Headlines
