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Among the many uncertainties of 2021, fruit and vegetable professionals were faced with extreme weather that wreaked havoc on the supply chain.

The year 2021 brought no “back to normal” for the restaurant industry. Instead, at the end of the year, the foodservice sector seems in danger of repeating the darkest days during the pandemic.

The five-year growth trend of indoor farming, especially controlled environment agriculture, accelerated in 2021, when supply chain delays and rising costs made shipping produce from across the country more difficult.

The year 2021 was a rough one, to say the least. But what was at the forefront of everyone’s mind? The health and safety of our industry’s most valuable asset: employees.

For many, 2021 wasn’t all that much better than 2020, as shortages of pallets, packaging, containers for export shipments and trucks created problems for the produce industry.

Sustainable packaging is no doubt the hot topic among produce industry professionals in 2021. Globally, sustainability overtook personal health as consumers’ biggest issue this year.

United Fresh and Produce Marketing Association combine to create International Fresh Produce Association

The popularity spike of organics in 2020 wasn’t maintained in 2021, but it’s higher than in 2019 and it’s expected to grow in 2022.

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.