Latest News From VEGETABLES

The price-friendly potato is nutritious and versatile in meals — but be sure to maximize your opportunities when advertising a sale, says columnist Armand Lobato.

Recent analysis shows that the potato category gives retailers untapped opportunities to drive additional customer engagement.

Maine potato growers say shoppers perceive consumer bags — especially one size in particular — as a convenient, value-priced way to purchase potatoes.

Merchandising displays need to be more thoughtful than a simple pile o’ taters.

U.S. distributors of Mexican tomatoes are pushing hard to blunt the effort by domestic producers to terminate the 2019 Suspension Agreement between Mexican tomato producers and the U.S. Commerce Department.

In general, the supply outlook for Idaho potatoes is much improved, says Ryan Bybee, sales manager for GPOD of Idaho. “The volume of acreage rebounded considerably from a year ago."

While we're in full fall mode, hit up social media for pumpkin-themed inspiration to incorporate eye-catching autumn displays across your produce department.

For many of the foodservice buyers on a recent harvest tour hosted by the Idaho Potato Commission, there was one aspect of Idaho russet potatoes that they kept returning to as they explored the dusty fields of potatoes.

Utopia Foods Inc. of Glendale, N.Y., announced Oct. 23 that the company is recalling all lots within expiry of Qilu Enterprise-branded, 200-gram (7-ounce) packages of enoki mushrooms.

From the last week of October through the end of the year, grocers can participate in MountainKing’s Butter Potato Bash by merchandising the company’s 5-pound Butter Reds, 5-pound Butter Golds and 5-pound Butter Creams.

Led by growth in shipments to Mexico, U.S. fresh potato exports for the year ending in August were up 18%.

Some rainy weather disrupted the start of Maine’s fall potato harvest, but digging seemed to be progressing satisfactorily by late September.

The early numbers speak to a larger potato crop in Idaho for the 2023-24 season, and that means more affordable potatoes and greater promotion opportunities for retailers.

Giorgio Fresh Co. will share the latest addition to its stuffed-mushroom line at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show.

The salad kits feature the brand’s premium crafted lettuce blends and carefully selected toppings that create four SKUs of vibrant flavors and textures, according to a news release.

Sizzling Sautés Mushrooms Kits are 12 ounces of Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms, high in vitamin D, with a 1.5-ounce sauce packet, the company said on the IFPA show website.

Responding to changes in Central America’s competitive landscape and market potential, the vegetable breeding company says it plans to integrate its operations in the region.

San Antonio-based NatureSweet is warning that ending the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement could add tariffs of more than 20% on the imports of fresh tomatoes into the U.S.

The Syracuse, Utah-based company has announced plans to expand operations to the East Coast with a distribution and packing facility in Cincinnati, set to be fully operational beginning early 2024.

An annual Research Field Day is among the activities the Benson-based North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission has scheduled for sweetpotato growers during the fall/winter season.

Side Delights completed a package refresh and will be spotlighting a newly updated line of potatoes and onions at the International Fresh Produce Association's Global Produce & Floral Show.

California-based grower-packer-shipper Bako Sweet has reported a promising start to its sweetpotato season and anticipates a slightly higher yield than 2022.

There’s been a big shift since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Kent Sutton, whose 375-acre family farm is part of the Rexburg-based Bench Mark cooperative of five potato growers.

Convenience and an ever-expanding array of varieties keep consumers coming back for more.

A study recently cited by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas is designed to “distract from Mexico’s record of dumping tomatoes,” the Florida Tomato Exchange says.

Potato growers in the Red River Valley are predicting an average-size crop this year with the usual high-quality red and yellow potatoes the region is known for producing.

North Carolina sweetpotato growers are hopeful that a continuing drop in acreage will lead to tighter supplies and stronger markets, as well as help them cope with inflation and skyrocketing costs.

A 10-page economic study from Arizona State University says ending the U.S.-Mexico suspension minimum price agreement for tomatoes would raise consumer prices by as much as 50%.

The indoor grower is expanding its snacking tomato portfolio, adding Cherub, Glorys and Constellation brand tomatoes for foodservice and piloting two restaurant programs.

Peak potato harvest time drew more than a dozen foodservice and produce professionals from across the country to southeastern Idaho.

The National Potato Council says it is against proposed legislation that it says would undermine or eliminate commodity checkoff programs.

Increasing U.S. per capita availability of onions has been accompanied by rising onion imports by Mexico, Peru, and other countries, according to USDA data.

The North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission, made up of 400 sweetpotato growers along with packers, processors and business associates, has launched a new e-cookbook titled, "Sweet Celebrations: Hispanic Heritage Month."

There’s less of an excuse to choose the candy or chips when you have fresh salad options in vending machines.

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement has recently adopted Western Growers' GreenLink platform to collect and analyze food safety data from its member companies.

Greenhouse grower Little Leaf Farms has confirmed through recent Nielson data that it was cited as the bestselling packaged lettuce in New England, surpassing field-grown brands.

A diversified sourcing strategy has helped brokers like Mission Produce sail through a soft Peruvian season for commodities such as avocados, onions and asparagus.

Plant-health officials from both countries will meet in Japan on Sept. 25-26 to discuss the issue.

Blue Road Capital is acquiring the greenhouse grower from its venture-capital parent company, Silver Venture, and aims to expand the company through increased vertical integration, innovation and distribution channels.

Peruvian onion supplies are increasing for Bland Farms, says Sloan Lott, director of sales.

U.S. imports of Peruvian onions have increased from 130,807 metric tons in 2018 to 164,734 metric tons in 2022, according to statistics from the USDA. 

The Houston-based dVida Co. says it’s on schedule to ship over 2 million pounds of Ecuadorian mango this year and has recently added yellow and red dragon fruit to its portfolio.

A new "restaurant-style" potato is being launched this fall by RPE’s Farmer’s Promise brand, with the new crop anticipated Oct. 1.

Two chefs from New York City's Le Bernardin and Planta and two representatives from mushroom-meat brands, Fable Foods and MyForest Foods, discuss center-plate mushrooms at the Plant Based World Expo.

Representing a counter-season balance to the Vidalia onion deal, strong supplies of Peruvian onions are anticipated for G&R Farms, says Steven Shuman.

The Packer met with Frank Yiannas to discuss his recent pivot to the private sector, why fresh produce needs food safety leaders and the opportunities he sees to raise the bar for indoor-grown leafy greens.

The Food Safety Modernization Act’s new traceability final rule, the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement’s leafy greens assessment tool and the “Romaine Test and Learn” study seek to raise the bar and improve food safety.

The Salinas, Calif.-based producer is adding a bite-sized celery, cut into 1.5-inch pieces, to its fresh vegetable offerings this fall.

Cobbtown, Ga.-based Shuman Farms has started shipping its premium sweet onions from Peru and the marketer expects to ship from Peru through March, said John Shuman, president and CEO.

The Pennsylvania-based company says it plans to spotlight 1.5-pound and 3-pound gusset bags.