Latest News From Fresh Talk

Avocados are kind of a big deal. We all knew that, of course, but take a peek at the chart below and you will see it in visual terms. 

What are the irrefutable, science-proven benefits of eating fruits and vegetables?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a new report showing agricultural exports by state.

Farm labor floats to the top of all fresh produce concerns, and thus any report that takes a comprehensive look at the issue is worth exploring.

With frost damage in Idaho and flooding hampering potato harvest in North Dakota and the Red River Valley, the potato market could take buyers on a wild ride.

What percent of the U.S. vegetable supply is imported?

What percent of the U.S. fruit supply is imported?

Take a look at U.S. exports of fruit to China over the past five years or so. 

The following two charts tell the relative stories of U.S. fruit and vegetables exports and imports.

The living isn't so easy during the summertime for U.S. and backyard tomato marketers.

Never mind.

The f.o.b. market for avocados is finding a level.

In my regular web search for what’s trending in fruits and vegetable news, I saw a story this morning headlined “Which fruits and vegetables are safe for your dog?”

What’s wrong with the produce markets?

Several industry groups have provided input to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on the question of hours of service rules as they relate to definitions of agricultural commodities.

The Washington apple market so far reflects the premium pricing of the Honeycrisp apple, as ever. 

Here are a couple of charts showing fresh produce expenditures by generation and income.

Can Congress really take up immigration legislation so close to an election year? It seems doubtful, but if it is possible it may be that a targeted approach to H-2A reform would be the vehicle. 

There continues to be a lot of conversation about driver detention times, and the U.S.  Department of Transportation was still taking input on the issue until Sept. 9.

In a previous post, I showed charts of fresh fruit and vegetable exports to specific markets.

If you compare a thousand households to mine, I would wager my wife and I don’t waste food at nearly the “average” rate. We are a one-percenter in that way.

With this blog post, I have included a series of charts showing export sales of fresh fruit and vegetables to some of the biggest export destinations for U.S. producers.

That cucumber shouldn't be trashed; it is merely a senior citizen.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research has just released a new data series on loss-adjusted per capita food availability.

How can we identify the power of an individual within any sphere of human activity? 

I have discussed the results of an online survey we put out in conjunction with The Packer’s 125th-anniversary publication several times in this space.

“There is nothing new under the sun,” the writer of Ecclesiastes says.

The collective wisdom of the industry typically gets it right. 

In anticipation of The Packer’s 125th-anniversary issue, we have enjoyed publishing past anniversary articles from the Century of Produce and also posted industry columns for the 125th-anniversary edition. 

The Packer’s 125th-anniversary issue is soon coming, and in a series of blog posts, I have described the results of a survey we posted in conjunction with our editorial efforts for the publication. 

Produce shippers and receivers, cover your ears.

The last time we reviewed industry answers to The Packer's 125 survey, we asked a broad question about industry innovations and evolution in the next 25 years.

We received excellent responses to our Packer 125 industry survey, and today I am going to reveal industry thoughts on a forward-looking question from that online poll.

The Packer’s 125th-anniversary edition is fast approaching.

Will the new United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally figure out Brexit and make Britain great again?

There is not enough fruit and vegetable production to feed the world at recommended serving levels, and that scenario will get worse instead of better in the next 30 years.

The Packer’s 125th-anniversary edition is coming out later this year, and it has been fun collecting material for that publication and publishing articles from past anniversary editions.

Tonya Antle’s retail panel at the Organic Produce Summit had a lot of great content in less than 30 minutes. Not all of it fit into the coverage I had from the show.

Billed as the Erin Brockovich of food, Robyn O’Brien delivered a keynote address at the 2019 Organic Produce Summit that recalled Brockovich’s reforming passion.

Can you believe that the government is taking public comments on the border wall?

Hours-of-service regulations for truckers are attracting attention again, with some dead set against any relaxation in the rules and others fighting to give truckers more flexibility.

 What have been the “hottest” fresh produce items in the past 25 years?

With about 63 million Twitter followers, President Trump can’t be denied the opportunity to share his interpretation of reality.

Nearly 7,000 comments have swarmed in already to the regulations.gov portal for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

Is the celery market finally ready to settle down?

The country is graying, and that may prove challenging for the fresh produce industry.

If your favorite thing to do is yoga or eat fresh berries, you probably love going to the doctor’s office and getting a report card on your good health.

I talked today with Peter Machi, long-time sales and purchasing representative with Consumer Fresh Produce Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Can the world really expect Dollar General to evolve from selling bargain paper towels, breakfast bars, and bleach to “sustainably grown” local produce in one fell swoop?

 A simple inquiry — what has happened to fresh tomato shipments during the last decade, especially relative to Florida and Mexico?