2022 Year in Produce: Trending Commodities
Considering the plethora of produce options available to consumers in the U.S., there were a few commodities in 2022 that kept our attention including Mexican potatoes and avocados, Idaho potatoes, purple tomatoes and California lettuce.
U.S. suspends Mexican avocado imports
Feb. 14
By Jennifer Strailey
In early 2022, the U.S. government temporarily suspended all imports of Mexican avocados after a U.S. plant safety inspector in Mexico received a threat, reports the Associated Press.
Wholesale avocado prices were already sizzling hot before the U.S. suspended Mexican hass imports. With concerns of major economic impact on the Mexican avocado industry. Mexico’s avocado market has nearly $3 billion in annual exports. The suspension lasted about a week.
Mexico raised barriers expanding U.S. potato exports
Feb. 18
By Tom Karst
For the past 20 years, Mexico has limited U.S. fresh potato exports to a region within 26 kilometers of the U.S. border.
In late 2021 and early 2022 U.S. and Mexico potato industry members discussed the possibility of expanded U.S. potato exports. However, this process was derailed when Mexico demanded a new requirement for additional packer site visits during the growing season, a demand that was not in the work plan published last year.
Additional note: On May 11, 2022, the first shipments of U.S. fresh potatoes crossed into Mexico. “The successful crossings signal the start of Mexico’s process to restore full market access for U.S. fresh potatoes after decades of disputes and legal obstructions,” the National Potato Council said in a news release.
Market effects on this year’s potato shortage
Aug. 9
By Jennifer Strailey
“We plant only one potato crop a year, which is harvested in September, and our goal every year is to sell all the potatoes before the new crop is harvested. This year, the shortage happened a little earlier than previous years,” Idaho Potato Commission President and CEO Jamey Higham told The Packer in an email.
The longer lead time between dwindling Idaho potato availability and the arrival of the new crop has created a more noticeable gap in spud supplies.
Even with the new crop nearing harvest, Colorado grower-shippers could be facing another year of tight potato supplies.
Continue reading related: Potato shortage fuels demand for San Luis Valley spuds
“Colorado is facing many of the same issues as last season, with monsoons for two to three weeks. In the next couple of weeks, sun will be critical for the potatoes to bulk up, as they need a little more size,” said Les Alderete, general manager of Skyline Potato in Center, Colo.
“Right now, the Colorado potato crop is probably 10 days behind.”
“They’re seeing the same thing in Idaho and New Mexico,” added Alderete, who is confident that the 2022 Colorado potato harvest yields will be only slightly down.
The USDA greenlights Norfolk Plant Sciences' Purple Tomato
Sept. 7
By Tom Karst
A new, genetically modified purple tomato received a green light from the USDA.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced it reviewed the new tomato from Norfolk Plant Sciences, which was modified to alter its color and enhance its nutritional quality.
“We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes, and is not subject to [the Code of Federal Regulations policy regarding the movement of GMO products]” the USDA said in a news release.
“That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the U.S. “
Lettuce markets soar to records, but prices should cool in December
Nov. 17
By Tom Karst
Pushed higher by a yield-robbing virus in the Salinas, Calif., region and limited volume from other growing regions, fob markets on romaine and iceberg lettuce soared to record highs of $100 per carton or more in early to mid-November.
The Grower Shipper Association of Central California said Nov. 10 that the shortfall in lettuce supply this fall has been largely attributed to crop damage associated with an aggressive pest and disease complex of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and soil-borne diseases.
