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For 35 years, Maria de Sagrario Iglesias has worked for the Prescott, Wash.-based First Fruits, immersing herself in many aspects of apple and cherry agriculture from planting and picking to pruning and packing.

However, avocado purchases remain high, according to figures from The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2024, which shows 51% of consumers reported purchasing the fruit in the past 12 months.

Known among his peers for his perseverance, dedication and work ethic, José Luis Segura is a supervisor at hydroponic greenhouse grower Horticola Cimarron, S.A. — Mastronardi Produce in Guanajuato, Mexico.

“Skyrocketing labor costs driven by an unrealistic, unsustainable federal government calculation pose a critical threat ...” said Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu.

Apple purchases are up according to responses in The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2024 survey. Just over 78% of consumers reported purchasing apples in the last 12 months.

The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2024 data shows of all consumers surveyed, 21.7% reported purchasing artichokes in the past 12 months, up from 8% in 2023.

Nearly 37% of those surveyed by The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2024 said they purchased asparagus in the past 12 months.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based innovation accelerator NEC X says it has made a new investment in Verdi Expeditions, a scalable platform for farm automation and personalized plant health care.

Chris Sandwick, marketing director for Hess Bros. Fruit Co., talks about the introduction of WildTwist and the challenges of marketing new apple varieties in a competitive market in this “Tip of the Iceberg” episode.