Produce Crops
The company is upgrading the packing facility at its flagship warehouse in Idaho Falls with new artificial intelligence sorting equipment for red and yellow potatoes.
Rising costs for farm inputs, labor, transportation and more are creating pressure to balance profitability and retail prices.
Total grocery store fresh potato sales were up 3% last year to about 4.8 billion pounds, according to Potatoes USA.
While much of the country’s fields lie dormant, growers in the state are in a prime growing season aided by ideal temperatures, innovative farming and savvy marketing.
In 2023, shipments to the U.S. accounted for nearly 48% of Chilean shipments of fresh grapes.
Per hectare returns are projected to be up from last season for all categories, the company said.
Sukhpaul Bal, a cherry grower and president of the B.C. Cherry Association, details the devastating freeze earlier this year and what it means for the province’s sweet cherry crop.
USDA trade statistics show that Mexico was the largest supplier of mangoes in 2023, accounting for 63% of the value of U.S. mango imports in 2023.
In this “Tip of the Iceberg” podcast, Jim Bair, president and CEO of the U.S. Apple Association, talks rising food prices, slowing grower returns and the current challenges to maintaining a profitable apple business.
The U.S. imports virtually all its fresh mango supply. Mexico was by far the leading mango supplier to the U.S. in 2023, followed by Peru, Brazil and Ecuador.
The reduction is due to orchards facing drought conditions and extreme weather, according to a recent report.
Almond crop production has kicked off this August with improved expectations that a heftier almond will offset the lowest almonds-per-acre-yield since 2009, according to a recent USDA report.
Rain is always welcome by farmers except when it isn’t, and there was a lot of that sentiment at times during 2023.
After tight supplies of elevated pricing for 2022 apple and potato crops, the 2023 season is bringing price relief and promotion opportunities to consumers.
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%.
A preliminary University of Florida report assessing agricultural damages and losses from Hurricane Idalia estimates that 3.3 million acres of ag land were affected, along with a $392 million loss in production value.
A diversified sourcing strategy has helped brokers like Mission Produce sail through a soft Peruvian season for commodities such as avocados, onions and asparagus.
Colorado’s San Luis Valley, a heavy hitter in fresh potato production, is poised for another strong season.
While the Golden State is producing almost two-thirds of peaches grown in the U.S., it’s harvest yields have been steadily declining for two decades, according to a USDA report.
If you want to get your hands on the cult-favorite smoky-spice chili grown in Hatch, N.M., don’t wait — the time is now.
The mushroom is enjoying some buzz in the cultural zeitgeist, but is it translating to sales in the produce department?
What you need to know about the temporary, but heightened requirements to import romaine or salad mixes containing romaine to Canadian markets from Sept. 28 to Dec. 20, 2023.
The Packer takes a peek into the grow chambers of the specialty mushroom grower and learns how it continues to expand its footprint across the U.S.
For many producers, growing garlic is a long game and this year’s domestic crop is finally experiencing favorable market conditions due to softening global import supplies.
“Planting schedules just got thrown completely off kilter this year, and that just ripples through a season,” Mary Zischke, Grower-Shipper Association of Central California told The Packer.
Growers in the Lone Star State’s Rio Grande Valley, Winter Garden and West Texas growing regions are enjoying solid yields and increased moisture compared to last year’s brutal drought conditions.
The push to end the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement is supported by most American tomato growers.
Arizona-based melon producer and importer Fresh Farms has weathered spring delays and is expanding its offerings from Hermosillo, Mexico, in the summer months ahead.
Experts have shared their failsafe methods for selecting the perfect watermelon and new variety cantaloupe this summer.
While the majority of Salinas Valley acreage was not greatly affected by two rounds of atmospheric rivers and floods, some growers are leveraging other growing regions to ensure continuity of supply.