Produce Crops
A finding in Fulton County makes the state the 18th in the country with active populations of theinvasive species.
U.S. imports of fresh fruits from January through May surged 13% compared with a year ago, according to new statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
U.S. 2021 import values for fresh produce commodities from Mexico exceeded double-digit gains for a long list of fruits and vegetables compared with 2020 data, according to USDA trade statistics.
The value of U.S. tomato imports from Mexico from October 2022 through September 2023 reached $2.7 billion.
Questions about water availability have likely caused some produce growers to be conservative in the acreage they plant for the coming season.
How much of an impact major hurricanes and storms have had on this season’s crop remains to be seen.
For the 2025 season, the company plans to increase its acreage in items such as cucumber, bell pepper and eggplant from West Mexico.
International New-Varieties Network will exclusively license the new variety, WA 64, which is a Pink Lady and Honeycrisp cross.
Potatoes may be the No. 1 produce commodity the state’s growers ship, but a variety of other tasty fruits and vegetables emanate from Colorado each summer and early fall as well.
Yakima, Wash.-based Washington Fruit Growers expects to market good volume of pears this year, said Dan Davis, director of business development.
Cold damage over the winter will translate to lower Northwest pear output for 2024, industry leaders say.
Peruvian onion importers say the season will start a little late thanks to a strong Vidialia onion season in the U.S.
GreenVenus says it is developing healthy, nutrient-rich specialty vegetables, fruits and grains and has created faster-growing lettuce cultivars.
Among the fall harvests, California grapes are a top choice for consumers. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, grapes are one of the state’s top 10 valued agricultural commodities.
In 2023, Idaho accounted for 14% of the U.S. domestic shipments and Oregon accounted for 10%.
Following successful eradication measures, the California ag department said it eliminated five introduced species in the state, including the first finds in the Western Hemisphere for Tau and Queensland fruit flies.
The marketer said it anticipates strong volumes of both conventional and organic raspberries through the end of the year.
Results of Florida’s annual Commercial Citrus Inventory show total citrus acreage in the state in 2024 was off 50% from 554,037 acres in 2010.
Industrywide, early Northwest pear estimates are coming with about 30% less volume compared with 2023, said Kaci Komstadius, vice president of marketing for Sage Fruit Co., Yakima, Wash.
The USDA’s revised quarantine area doesn’t include commercial citrus groves.
Following an announcement that the state eradicated all infestations of invasive fruit flies, the California Department of Fruit and Agriculture has initiated a quarantine in Alameda County due to a new finding.
The new boundary expands to the Santa Paula part of Ventura County.
Silvec Biologics said its RNA vector delivery product has progressed to the EPA’s Pesticide Regulation Improvement Act review process.
Hawaii’s soil and ideal growing conditions give its papayas a unique flavor that no other region in the world can duplicate, says Eric Weinert, president of the Hawaiian Papaya Industry Association.
The total value of agriculture exports from Peru to the U.S. is expected to reach $11.4 billion this year.
Changes in the grape industry have reflected increasing importance of premium varieties, compared with 20 years ago when growers all had the same varieties and competed on quality, availability and reliability, says John Pandol, director of special projects for Pandol Bros.
The harvest, now underway, has produced excellent quality sweetpotatoes in a variety of planted colors, including orange, red, white and purple, ensuring consistent supply to meet growing consumer demand, according to the brand.
Following a small crop in 2022 and a large crop in 2023, marketers see a more manageable crop volume this year.
While many Florida-grown fruits and vegetables were out of season, the majority of the storm’s impact was in other commodities, according to an economic impact analysis from the University of Florida.
A Creighton University survey of rural bankers reflects a bleak picture for U.S. farmers.