Welcome to Blue Book!
Are you ready to join the thousands of companies who rely on Blue Book to drive smarter decisions? View our plans and get started today!
Still have questions? We’d love to show you what Blue Book can do for you. Drop us a line– we’ve been waiting for you.

Trade with confidence... every time.
Blue Book’s real-time alerts help you stay up to speed with everything in the produce industry

Trade with confidence... every time.
Blue Book’s real-time alerts help you stay up to speed with everything in the produce industry

Trade with confidence... every time.
Blue Book’s real-time alerts help you stay up to speed with everything in the produce industry
Nogales, Sonora, store checks, Part 1: and why red delicious apples are so popular in Mexican grocery stores
NOGALES, SONORA — How many store checks — plus a border crossing — can you fit in about an hour? John Pandol, director of special projects for Delano,...

NOGALES, SONORA — How many store checks — plus a border crossing — can you fit in about an hour?
John Pandol, director of special projects for Delano, CA-based Pandol Bros. (and THE professional store checker) and I found out.
After grabbing a coffee on the Arizona side of the border, we crossed over and visited four stores just a short drive into Nogales Sonora.
Our first stop was Soriana, which had one of the larger produce departments, but showed an explanation to something I had seen on TikTok recently.
I’ve wondered why retailers in the U.S. that cater to consumers of Mexican descent often have so many red delicious apples. Is it purely a cost thing?
And then I saw a TikTok from apple grower Kaitlyn Thornton about why red delicious in the U.S. is often…not delicious. She explained the apples used to have yellow stripes, and when they bred them to be more red, the yellow was gone, and so was the flavor.
Turns out, Mexican-grown red delicious apples still have the yellow stripes! Perhaps they are actually still delicious?
Soriana also had Tajin-branded dried chiles, something I also haven’t seen in the U.S. Tajin is more of an emerging brand, though I will say I’ve seen it expand quite a bit, most recently into mango-flavored fruit bars in the freezer case.
@producewithpamela Why are Red Delicious apples so popular in Mexico? Maybe because Mexican-grown reds aren’t the same as American-grown. Here’s Part 1 of our rapid-fire store checks in Nogales, Sonora. #grocery #produce #producedepartment #apples #reddelicious #soriana
♬ Luxury fashion (no vocals) – TimTaj
Pamela Riemenschneider is the Retail Editor for Blue Book Services.

News you need.
Join Blue Book today!
Get access to all the news and analysis you need to make the right decision --- delivered to your inbox.
What to read next
The Produce Reporter Week in Review April 25, 2025
Retail consultant Pamela Riemenschneider returns to Week in Review as we discuss why online grocery is booming and tariffs
USDA restricts PACA violators in California and Florida
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring […]
USDA restricts five PACA violators
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring […]
USDA restricts PACA violators in Florida and Texas
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring […]
Hazel Tech to host Grape Quality Summit
The virtual event, held on May 6, 2022, will take a deep dive into the table grape industry during the North American table grape season CHICAGO, IL – Hazel Technologies Inc., BB #:302595 a USDA-funded company developing innovations to extend the shelf life of produce and reduce food waste is hosting the Grape Quality Summit the first […]
USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Florida firm
WASHINGTON, April 4, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Natura Fresh LLC BB #:348926 satisfied a $3,168 reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions. The Miami, Fla., company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. […]
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 Blue Book Services. All Rights Reserved