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Supplies of fresh produce from Mexico will remain tight for a while, and f.o.b. prices will be higher than customers are used to paying, distributors say. Wicked weather is the culprit.

Dominated by Mexican fruit, total U.S. imports of avocados rose 6.4% in 2019 to more than 1.1 million metric tons.

California summer fruit grower-shippers traditionally credit weather with having a say in what kind of season they’ll have.

Fresh fruit sales were up about 9% for the four-week period, while fresh vegetable sales were up 25%.

Exports typically don’t account for much of the volume from California avocado grower-shippers, but most companies have at least a small export program, which they say can be quite lucrative.

New grape varieties are quickly supplanting older, established cousins across Mexico, growers say.

Grower-shippers of Mexican grapes say they expect to have ample supplies in the pipeline for their season, despite some rough weather during the growing season.

Good weather this winter should result in plentiful supplies of top-notch spring produce from California’s grower-shippers.

As more consumers eat more avocados during more dayparts, the fruit is turning up on more restaurant menus.

Several California growers offer the new GEM avocado, but credit for bringing the variety to the forefront should go to Index Fresh Inc., Riverside, Calif.