Produce Crops
Strong demand and higher pricing characterized the potato market in early November, and tight market conditions are expected to continue through the holidays.
The USDA has drafted a pest risk assessment for the importation of fresh Tahiti limes for consumption from Brazil into the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For about a decade, the Chilean grape industry has worked to increase its competitiveness by introducing new grape varieties, and that effort is paying off.
Idaho potatoes are in tight supply this year, but that doesn’t mean an end to Idaho potato promotions, said Ross Johnson, vice president of retail and international for the Idaho Potato Commission.
Chile is a powerhouse supplier of fruit to the U.S. market, and its success over the past 30 years has attracted more competition.
Goodyear, Ariz.-based organic herb and baby leaf producer Duncan Family Farms is offering retailers merchandising and sales support for its line of 18 fresh, organic herb varieties for the holiday cooking season.
Led by grapes, berries, citrus and avocados, U.S. fresh fruit imports have surged in the last year, according to fresh USDA statistics.
U.S. fresh fruit exports sagged 7% lower for the latest 12-month period, new USDA numbers reveal.
From October 2021 through September 2022, the USDA reported that exports of U.S. fresh potatoes totaled $288.9 million, up 10% from the previous year.
Strong onion markets this fall seem to be setting the tone for a firm storage onion market outlook throughout the winter.
The Springfield, Ohio, operation has more than 2 million plants growing at any given time, with the capacity to grow more than 2.4 million packages of herbs and leafy greens in a year.
Chilean table grape production and exports may decline about 7% this year, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service annual report on Chilean deciduous fruit.
U.S. potato groups are asking the USDA to develop new phytosanitary protocols to prevent the spread of potato wart from Prince Edward Island to U.S. growing areas.
The import division of Philadelphia-based specialty produce wholesaler John Vena Inc. says it expects consistent East Coast arrivals of Wonderful variety pomegranates for its longest-ever import season.
Supplies of some winter vegetables, lettuces in particular, could be a tad tight as the holiday approaches, but availability should be good on others, grower-shippers say.
U.S. imports of Mexican vegetables and fruit through Arizona’s Nogales district ports totaled more than $3.86 billion in 2021, up 1% from $3.82 billion in 2020 and up 7% from $3.6 billion in 2019.
The Grower Shipper Association of Central California said that a shortfall in supply has been largely attributed to crop damage associated with an aggressive pest and disease complex of INSV and soil-borne diseases.
Florida tomato growers were not pleased by the decision of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to reject a petition trade law calling for Tai’s office to protect Florida growers from unfair trade practices.
Florida citrus growers got off easy following Hurricane Nicole, which hit the Sunshine State on Nov. 10, compared to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian in late September.
Peruvian grape production and exports are headed higher, according to the USDA.
Nogales, Ariz.-based Divine Flavor’s West Mexican farms are very “program driven” with retailers, said Michael DuPuis, quality assurance and public relations coordinator for the company.
Nogales, Ariz.-based EarthBlend will have bagged mini sweet bell peppers grown in Sinaloa from January to June, said Steve Spence, director of sales for EarthBlend.
Nogales, Ariz.-based Frello Fresh expects a very good start to its Mexican winter and spring deal, said Guillermo Martinez, CEO and co-founder.
The goal of Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Fresh Farms is to create “one-stop shopping” for buyers, company officials say.
Colder than normal weather in Sonora during periods in October and November could hold back produce availability in December, says Miguel A. Suarez, CEO of MAS Melons & Grapes LLC, Rio Rico, Ariz.
The Rio Rico, Ariz.-based company imports and distributes watermelons, mini watermelons, honeydew, and conventional and organic hard squash from its farms in Sonora.
With one preliminary estimate of this year’s total economic impact to the state’s ag output at nearly $500 million, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has requested a Secretarial Declaration of Disaster.
Mexican table grape production is expected to dip 3% in the 2023 season compared with 2022, but exports to the U.S. should remain stable, according to a new report from the USDA.
University of Florida researchers have found UV light to be an effective physical control for the two-spotted spider mites that have preyed on Florida’s winter strawberry crops.
Activities will include in-person events and online experiences.