Produce Crops
Oppy anticipates normal harvest timing for cherries, with the first pick of its Orchard View cherries in Oregon set for June 13.
Nut and dried fruit suppliers and trade associations are launching memorable marketing campaigns designed to appeal to millennial and Gen Z shoppers who are strong snackers.
The state produces more than 70 varieties of potatoes, many of which undergo evaluation at the Colorado State University research farm prior to being released for public consumption.
An estimated 30 million pounds of Colombian avocados are projected to be shipped to the U.S. market in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Thousands of pounds of Colombian sugar mangoes are now being distributed throughout the U.S. The mid-May entry of the mango variety, grown only in Colombia, is the first time the fruit has been marketed in the U.S.
The state’s orange production was up 4% from the previous season, and grapefruit production increased 7%, the USDA reports.
Jackie Carrillo, executive vice president of sales, and Dax Cooke, head of sales, both for fresh produce grower-packer-importer Farm Direct Partners, share how West Coast imports are changing and more.
The company said its South American imports will begin for East Coast customers.
The annual “State of the Strawberry Category Report” highlights year-over-year growth in conventional and organic berries.
U.S. imports of Chilean blueberries totaled 45,982 metric tons in 2022, up from 42,458 metric tons in 2021 and up from 42,608 metric tons in 2020.
While fresh and processing apple holdings are down from the 2023-24 season, the figure of 151 million bushels is still 11% higher than the five-year average for January.
As it marks kickoff of California avocado season, the company said it’s preparing to meet the high demand of the bowl season blitz.
Giveaways, promotions and more will mark the start of the season, which officially runs from January to April.
USDA trade numbers show Mexico accounted for 91% of total U.S. fresh tomato imports in 2023.
The increasing impact of citrus greening is clouding the long-term outlook, however, according to a report from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
Table grape production is projected to rise as California makes a full recovery from last year’s damage from Hurricane Hilary.
The multiyear initiative with New Zealand-based Prevar will focus on advancing breeding techniques for apples and pears.
Mandarin production is forecast to increase by 13.1%, according to a new USDA report.
Vegetables, potatoes and melons were impacted by the storm’s heavy winds and flooding, according to a University of Florida report.
The collaboration seeks to develop neopestalotiopsis resistance in existing University of Florida cultivars.
A $5 million USDA grant will support efforts to expand avocado production and stop the spread of a disease that has destroyed 350,000 avocado trees in Florida.
The global microgreens market is expected to surge from a valuation of $3.24 billion in 2024 to $7.97 billion by 2032, according to a report by IMIR Market Research.
The November USDA crop production report reported that the potato area harvested in 2024 was 923,100 acres, down 4% from 2023.
New Zealand kiwifruit growers have approved expansion of Zespri SunGold kiwifruit acreage to be added throughout Italy, France, Japan, South Korea and Greece.
U.S. holdings of fresh apples on Dec. 1 were 121.5 million cartons.
Originating in the eastern U.S., the pathogen has been found in Peru, Morrocco, China, Portugal and Mexico and was likely spread through infected nursery material.
Quality is excellent this season for most of its commodities, though sizing for oranges and lemons will be a bit smaller than last year, the company’s president said.
The total U.S. volume of oranges was projected at 60.3 million boxes, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service January forecast.
The trees only have been tested in greenhouses and in university labs so far, but plans call for expanding into field testing at the university within a year.
More than 3 million trays of Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit will be available this season, with its berry-like taste available for the first time in some new markets.