Produce Crops
As global insect populations decline, entomologist Emily Heffernan warns of the looming risks to high-value specialty crops and outlines practical, field-level steps growers can take to build resiliency.
By bridging the gap between biological innovation and traditional chemistry, Corteva Agriscience is providing specialty growers with tools to maximize yields and secure ROI, offering a buffer for farmers navigating high-cost and volatile fertilizer markets.
The 2026 grape season is defined by a shift toward high-flavor and organic heirloom varieties, supported by significant national research into vineyard resilience and a growing consumer demand for premium, “flavor-first” fruit.
The leadership-owned table grape company delivers a consistent year-round supply by following the sun across coordinated growing regions.
An Iowa State University team has developed an AI companion that uses a database of over 31 million images and conversational technology to provide farmers with real-time identification and expert management advice for insects and weeds.
Agriculture expert Will Westmoreland explains how the Iran conflict has triggered surging prices for fuel, fertilizer and plastics, creating a direct economic bridge between Middle Eastern instability and rising costs in the U.S. produce aisle.
Most suppliers say they’re in good shape to handle continued demand this season, even after experiencing strong sales early in the year.
A pair of damaging freezes in Florida this winter caused more than $3 billion in agricultural losses in that state and put a squeeze on supplies out of west Mexico. Here’s a look at how some distributors are dealing with conditions this spring.
Rachael Kimball Laenen, a fourth-generation avocado farmer and the first female board chair for the California Avocado Commission, shares her vision for building a strong future for the next generation.
LG Herndon Jr. Farms is continuing its partnership with Glory Foods to launch a co-branded line, leveraging the Southern heritage and national recognition of both brands to drive retail excitement this season.
The company marked the milestone by launching a new logo that it says reflects its heritage in the Red River Valley and its commitment to quality and sustainability.
With some of the highest production and land costs in the world, California’s avocado growers aren’t looking to compete with imports on price. Instead, they focus on the highest quality and a premium eating experience.
The latest challenge facing California’s avocado industry is an aggressive, invasive pest that feeds on the underside of avocado leaves, causing yellow spots that turn brown and necrotic, ultimately threatening yields.
Fifth-generation farmer Justin Wylie is testing algae to rebuild soil health in orchards. By boosting soil microbes through irrigation, he hopes to improve water infiltration, reduce inputs and build resilience in high-cost Central Valley agriculture.
The company is leveraging a 62-acre facility in Tehachapi, Calif., to provide West Coast retailers with a year-round, regionally sourced supply of premium cucumbers.
Known for Honeycrisp and SweeTango, the university’s new Superior Fruit Innovations program helps growers access new genetics like Super Snap and Big Flirt without the restrictions of traditional club models.
USDA says it will provide $1 billion in assistance for specialty crops, sugar and commodities not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance program, but with $500 million in losses to just russet potatoes alone, the figure falls well short of the full funding needed.
Driven by breakthrough varietal innovations from leaders like Wish Farms and Naturipe, and supported by record-breaking retail data from the California Strawberry Commission, the berry category is entering 2026 as a $500 million growth engine for the produce department.
In the latest USApple tracker, increased use of processing fruit and controlled atmosphere storage keeps total inventories well above the five-year average despite a year-over-year decline in fresh-market supply.
Industry leaders and multigenerational farmers call for a rebalanced trade policy as shifting global tonnage and phytosanitary changes turn a trickle of foreign fruit into a flood.
As disease pressure, labor challenges and rising costs reshape controlled-environment production, growers and experts weigh when tomato grafting delivers real value and when it doesn’t.
To support long-term growth, Berry Fresh has expanded Sweet Karoline acreage into Oregon, extending the season and enhancing national availability.
California Pear Advisory Board executive director says Argentinian pear imports significantly hurt the state’s growers this year.
BASF | Nunhems has launched the Percyst brand of carrots, a breakthrough variety offering the first intermediate resistance to Southern root-knot nematodes alongside market-leading flavor and texture, providing a critical seed-based solution for growers facing increasing regulatory pressure on chemical fumigants.
The Miami-headquartered, woman- and minority-owned, vertically-integrated business says its new packing facility dedicated to dragon fruit will help retailers succeed with the fruit.
While atmospheric rivers pushed floodwaters to record levels, experts say the timing during the dormant season may offer a surprising benefit for pear pest management.
In 2025, specialty crop growers accelerated the adoption of high-precision tools such as spray drones to protect sensitive, high-value crops while stretching limited labor and gaining the flexibility needed to respond to ongoing market and input cost uncertainty.