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Truck rates are at historic highs for the produce industry, and that reality presents challenges to apple marketers in the Northwest and other regions.

Stemilt Growers will work with retailers to promote Cosmic Crisp, organic fruit, and the marketer’s Lil Snappers programs through the winter and into the spring.

Hazel Technologies, Inc. announces five years of quality protection collaboration with Brooks Tropicals, a grower/packer/shipper of over a dozen tropical commodities.

Mushroom demand continues to grow, with larger pack sizes and Monterey Mushrooms’ Baby Bellas seeing significant growth this past year, said Bruce Knobeloch.

Avondale, Pa.-based Basciani Foods has invested in automation, and that move is paying off, said Fred Recchiuti, general manager of the company.

A shorter apple crop and inflationary supply chain pressures have changed the feel of the 2021-22 apple compared with a year ago.

Bagged apple sales haven’t disappeared nearly two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but the trend toward packaged fruit is moderating some, industry leaders report.

Blended products have been the top driver behind product innovation and increasing the consumer-facing portfolio for Rochester, N.Y.-based Leep Foods.

Organic apple supplies are tight and getting tighter in the 2021-22 marketing season.

“Food inflation is a hot topic,” Michael Swanson says noting that overall prices in the category are running at 6% higher than a year ago, whereas typically year-to-year food inflation is 1%.