Produce Crops
Retailers can promote blueberries any week of the year, and they do.
Chilean mandarins are now available from Fowler, Calif.-based Bee Sweet Citrus.
Oxnard, Calif.-based Westfalia Fruit has started its Peruvian avocado season, with supply available now through mid-September.
Peaches are in shorter supply in the U.S. Southeast this year, and consumers are paying the price.
Together, five regions are expected to produce 20% more than Oppy harvested in 2022 as more acreage comes online, the company said.
Wenatchee, Wash.-based CMI Orchards reports excellent quality at the start of the Washington cherry harvest.
All citrus varieties in Chile will witness greater production and exports in the 2022-23 season, a report says.
Along with Mountain View Fruit Sales expanding its table grape portfolio, owner Mike Thurlow is projecting 2023 to be a vintage grape season.
Joli apples, which global consumers will be able to enjoy from 2028 onwards, are the result of over 10 years of innovation, the company said.
Strawberry consumption continues to surge, according to data from the USDA.
Despite a stretch of abnormally dry weather this summer, high-quality product and average yields are anticipated for Wisconsin potatoes.
Customized California avocado retail programs will continue through Labor Day, says Terry Splane, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission.
Fresh Avocados — Love One Today, a science-based resource founded by the Hass Avocado Board, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The California grower is harvesting heritage organic grapes as well as Thomcord and Kyoho varieties from July until October.
During the transition from summer to fall, the California and Peru avocado seasons typically wind down while Mexico’s Flor Loca season ramps up.
The first shipment of citrus imports from South Africa and South America has arrived, says importer William H. Kopke Jr.
Supply of avocados in the late summer and fall will support the continuing growth of the category, says Andy Bruno.
2023 is a golden year for Alsum Farms & Produce.
Test digs at Alsum Farms of Wisconsin russet, red and yellow potato varieties are indicating a promising year, says Christine Lindner, marketing manager of the Friesland, Wis.-based marketer.
USDA trade statistics show that U.S. imports of Colombian avocados reached nearly $48 million in 2022, up from less than $8 million in 2021.
Potato growers in the Red River Valley are predicting an average-size crop this year with the usual high-quality red and yellow potatoes the region is known for producing.
North Carolina sweetpotato growers are hopeful that a continuing drop in acreage will lead to tighter supplies and stronger markets, as well as help them cope with inflation and skyrocketing costs.
Organic, fair trade and other sustainability certifications are important in banana marketing efforts because of the growing trend on consumer awareness, says Ahiby Rodriguez of Fyffes North America’s tropical division.
In 2022, the value of agricultural commodities grown in Monterey County reached more than $4.6 billion, which is an increase of 13% over 2021, said county Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo.
San Diego-based Organics Unlimited believes that consumers are willing to pay a fair price for bananas that are ethically sourced and organically grown, says Daniella Velazquez de Leon, manager.
California citrus growers faced significant pest challenges this season due to unprecedented rainfall and an explosion of citrus thrips in groves, according to an industry group.
The indoor grower is expanding its snacking tomato portfolio, adding Cherub, Glorys and Constellation brand tomatoes for foodservice and piloting two restaurant programs.
Wish Farms expects Chilean blueberry volume for the 2023-24 season to be comparable to the previous season, says Nick Wishnatzki, public relations manager.
Based on the most recent field projections, executives with Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce anticipate the peak of Chilean arrivals to be in early-mid January.
The Packer recently submitted questions about the upcoming Chilean blueberry season to Nader Musleh, director of International Business Development at California Giant Berry Farms.