Cucumbers

Innovation and Convenience Drive Growth at SEPC Southern Exposure

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 01:00:41 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — This year’s Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event highlighted a strategic industry shift toward value-added items, such as stuffed mushrooms and snack-ready cucumbers, as brands leverage specific consumer data to boost consumption and efficiency at the retail level.

Paul Williamson, Kelsey Coon and Amy Wood are shown at the Highline Mushrooms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Highline Mushrooms is launching a line of stuffed mushrooms with fresh, gourmet flavors without the prep for the younger generation.

“We want to keep those dollars in fresh,” says Kelsey Coon, Highline Mushrooms’ sales and marketing manager.

Coon says Highline plans to expand its value-added line, as the company has had great feedback from retailers on the products available currently.

Highline has also launched its Grillmate line to pair with grilled meats. Coon says retailers also have responded well to this line and have asked for more pairings with produce.

Rochelle Bohm and Rich Mendosa are shown at CMI Orchards’ Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Rochelle Bohm, vice president of CMI Orchards, says the company is learning ways to drive consumption and using its Apple Crush tool to connect consumers to new apple varieties.

This broader campaign aims to build consumer interest in these new varieties and boost sales. With more than 78% of consumers purchasing apples, the industry just needs to drive slight upticks in consumption to reap rewards.

“All we really need to do is get consumers to pick up another extra pouch bag,” she says.

Amy Wood, Larissa Rice and Sean Steller are shown at the Phillips Mushroom Farms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Spicing up recipes with new mushroom varieties is one of the talking points at the Phillips Mushroom Farms’ Southern Exposure booth — varieties such as chestnut, pioppino and wood ear.

Organics are also of interest with specialty mushrooms, says Sean Steller, director of business development for Phillips Mushroom Farms. He says the company plans to roll out value-added packs, including vegan Buffalo-stuffed oyster mushrooms.

Steller says he’s seeing demand for larger packs, as consumers are looking for value. They are also seeking sliced mushrooms for convenience.

Chris Jones, Mike Faul, Justin Wright, Jeff Richardson and Brigita Dimenna are shown at the Great Lakes Greenhouses’ booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Snacking is a major trend, says Jeff Richardson, vice president of sales with Great Lakes Greenhouses.

“We’re seeing explosive growth in that category,” he says.

Richardson points to Great Lakes Greenhouses’ Persian cucumbers, which continue to grow in popularity. He says this is likely due not only to consumers’ interest in eating healthy but also snacking healthy.

“It’s gotten to a place where convenience is key,” he says.

Great Lakes Greenhouses has also offered unique pack sizes to add value at retail. Foodservice has taken a keen interest in mini cucumbers, too, he says.

Organic peppers are also popular.

“There’s that segment of the population that just wants to eat healthy,” Richardson says of the growth in the organics category.

Tony Losito, Tony D’Amico, Amy Wood, Joe D’Amico and Johnny Kampes IV are shown at the To-Jo Mushrooms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Organics was a major talking point at the To-Jo booth, says Johnny Kampes IV, director of sales.

Kampes says another thing retailers have been asking about is smaller pack sizes, which To-Jo offers in a 6-ounce pack.

To-Jo plans to tap into more value-added stuffed specialty mushrooms to appeal to the younger generation’s interest in convenience. Kampes also says To-Jo is looking at its presence on retailers’ e-commerce sites.

Tyler Schneider, Peppe Bonfiglio, Dan Natelborg and Wesley Emerson are shown at Mastronardi Produce’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

A major trend with retailer visits to Mastronardi Produce’s booth was snacking and high-flavor items, says Wesley Emerson, account manager.

Mastronardi showed off its new packaging for Pop-Its, which offer consumers a quick and healthy snack with good flavor.

“We want the consumer to be happy with what they buy,” Emerson says.

Mastronardi also showcased its berry line with blueberries and its Wow Berries Dreamberry.

David Santucci, Bryan Shelton, Mark Currie and Amy Wood are shown at the Giorgio Fresh Co. booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Health and convenience are themes that are top of mind for the Giorgio Fresh team, says Bryan Shelton, vice president of sales and marketing. He says Giorgio is looking at adding new products that can help bring consumers into the mushroom category.

Shelton says Giorgio is also looking to optimize exotics.

“We’re looking at engaging the young consumer,” he says.

Shelton says Giorgio has started to deploy data to help refresh stores’ inventories, which he says will increase efficiencies for retailers.

Millennium Pacific Launches California Grown Cucumber Program

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:51:56 GMT

Millennium Pacific Greenhouses says it is set to deliver premium greenhouse-grown long English, mini and Coastal Cukie-Bites snack cucumbers to West Coast retailers and consumers year-round through its new California Grown program.

Rooted in the strength of its advanced greenhouse facility in Tehachapi, Calif., the company says the program reinforces its commitment to surety of supply, consistent quality and regionally grown freshness. The greenhouse grower says the expansion enhances its ability to serve retail and foodservice partners throughout California and neighboring western markets with reduced transit times, improved shelf life and dependable volume planning.

The California Grown designation carries powerful equity at retail. For consumers increasingly focused on where their food is grown, Millennium Pacific Greenhouses says its West Coast greenhouse production offers transparency, freshness and year-round availability.

“Our new California Grown cucumber program builds on the strength of our already robust tomato portfolio and represents a significant step forward in reinforcing our West Coast supply network,” says Brandon Gruenberger, vice president of sales for Millennium Pacific Greenhouses. “By leveraging our recent 62-acre acquisition in Tehachapi, we’re able to provide retailers with consistent, premium greenhouse cucumbers while reducing supply gaps and transportation risk. This program enhances our ability to plan collaboratively with customers and deliver the freshness consumers expect — every day of the year.”

As a vertically integrated, family-owned greenhouse company operating in both the U.S. and Canada, Millennium Pacific Greenhouses says it ensures reliable, year-round supply of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers with seamless cross-border continuity.

The company says its greenhouse growing model uses controlled environment agriculture to optimize light, climate and water efficiency, producing cucumbers that are crisp, refreshing and consistently high in quality. Millennium Pacific Greenhouses says the California Grown program complements its broader North American greenhouse footprint, creating a balanced supply strategy designed for resilience and continuity.

Benefits highlighted for retailers include:

Strong regional marketing support through California Grown.
Reduced freight exposure and faster replenishment cycles.
Category consistency across long English, mini and snack formats.
Dependable year-round programs backed by vertical integration.

As consumer demand for fresh, local and greenhouse-grown produce continues to rise, Millennium Pacific Greenhouses says it remains committed to delivering on its brand promise through innovation, quality and trusted partnerships.

Why Western Mexico Remains Essential for Winter Produce in the U.S.

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:30:17 GMT

While the U.S. is a powerhouse of produce production, it still takes the power of imports to keep U.S. consumers supplied with fresh fruit and vegetables year-round.

Mexico is a key player in that supply chain. Much of its production, especially what is needed to supply the U.S. during the winter, comes from the country’s western states. These include everything from border states like Baja California and Sonora down to Jalisco and Michoacán in the southern end of the country.

“Western Mexico benefits from mild, stable winter weather, which allows growers to produce vegetables during the same months when U.S. and Canadian domestic production drops off,” explains Clarisa Batiz, senior vegetable category manager at Divine Flavor.

“That seasonal complement makes the region a critical piece of the year-round supply chain,” she adds. “When northern production slows during the winter, western Mexico steps in to supply peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and other key commodities, ensuring U.S. retailers can keep shelves stocked consistently.”

Luis Obregon, president of Nogales, Ariz.-based produce sourcing and distribution company IPR Fresh, adds that the “experienced grower base and strong infrastructure make it one of the most dependable winter vegetable regions in North America.” He calls western Mexico key to his company’s ability to supply a wide variety of vegetables, but especially bell peppers and European cucumbers, to U.S. consumers year-round.

“Its proximity to the U.S. is a major advantage; shorter transit times mean fresher product and more reliable arrivals,” Obregon says.

Challenges and Opportunities: Water, Labor and Climate

Mexico’s proximity to the U.S. also means it has been experiencing some of the same challenges that also trouble U.S. produce growers in western states: water and labor shortages.

“The available labor pool is shrinking each year, and the cost of labor continues to rise sharply. Recruiting and retaining farm labor has become increasingly difficult,” Batiz reports.

The water scarcity in some western Mexican states is also getting extreme, she adds.

“Regions like Sonora and Sinaloa have seen significant water stress,” Batiz says. “Some reservoirs are reportedly operating at only 20% to 30% capacity, forcing growers to reduce planted hectares and rethink irrigation strategies.”

While the more northwestern Mexican states have been having chronic issues with too little water, some of the more southwestern states have had the opposite experience this year. For example, the 2025 Pacific hurricane season was more active than usual, bringing more rain to some parts of western Mexico during summer and fall.

The added rain has benefited Mexico’s key avocados-for-export region, says Stephanie Bazan, senior vice president of commercial strategy and execution at Avocados From Mexico. She reports that the current supply of avocados for export to the U.S. is not only abundant, but trending toward larger sizes. This is in contrast to the generally shrinking avocado sizes seen industrywide .

“When there’s a lot of good water supply, the trees can size up the fruit,” she explains. “This year we’ve had some really good climate that’s enabled the trees to size up on fruit, and it’s nice large sizes; very promotable sizes.”

While the added rain is helping avocado growers this year, Obregon cites ongoing climate variability, along with labor tightness in Mexico and the strong peso, as putting pressure on western Mexico growers and importers of their produce.

“In addition, ongoing efforts by certain U.S. groups to limit imports, along with the uncertainty surrounding potential tariffs, continue to create instability,” he says.

“Production out of Sonora and Sinaloa is coming along well, with healthy plants and good quality across peppers, tomatoes, squash and cucumbers,” says Clarisa Batiz, senior vegetable category manager at Divine Flavor.

(Photo courtesy of Divine Flavor)

Continued Work on Tech, Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Both Obregon and Batiz say the challenges the region faces will continue into the future and will demand growers adapt and make ongoing efficiency improvements. This is something Obregon says is already underway.

“Growers in western Mexico continue to improve through more efficient drip irrigation, expanded protected agriculture and better postharvest cooling practices,” he says. “At IPR Fresh, we’re focused on strengthening cold-chain performance and partnering with growers who invest in technology and sustainability. Looking ahead, we expect continued progress in precision agriculture, resource efficiency and protected growing systems.”

Batiz says that Divine Flavor expects “continued progress in greater energy efficiency, smarter water use and deeper integration of social responsibility throughout our operations.”

She says operating at a large scale, yet keeping consistent sustainability practices across all growers, is one of Divine Flavor’s strengths, with reducing its overall carbon footprint throughout the supply chain being a central focus. Taking care of its people is another.

“We put a lot of effort into responsible recruitment practices, safe working conditions and programs that support workers’ well-being. For us, retaining our workforce and having employees who want to return season after season is one of the most meaningful indicators that we’re on the right path,” she says. “These elements will be essential for building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.”

Western Mexico Makes Football Guac Possible

When it comes to essentials, western Mexico — particularly Michoacán, all but makes winter avocados in the U.S. possible.

“Michoacán represents about 90% of the exports that come to the U.S.” Bazan says.

In 2023, almost 92% of the fresh avocados available in the U.S. were imported, according to the USDA Economic Research Service. The majority of those imports come from Mexico to the point that Bazan describes imports from Mexico as dominating the U.S. avocado market. That is especially true during what she calls the fall/winter ramp-up to football season in the U.S., culminating in the Super Bowl.

“When the Super Bowl comes around, we’re looking at a minimum 250-million-pound opportunity,” she explains. “This is pretty much our superstar time period of the year.”

Bazan adds that a typical Super Bowl week will see roughly 32% more avocados delivered than a normal average week. She puts that into perspective as a truck full of avocados leaving Mexico every six minutes in the lead-up to the Super Bowl to keep up with U.S. demand.

“And Michoacán is the only state that can provide the avocados that meet the demand for the fruit here in the United States,” she says.

“Because October, November and December is so critical in the U.S. because of the consumption that happens in this time period, primarily as we get into college football season and the huge association between guacamole and football, it is critical [to have an] abundant supply,” Bazan explains.

Fortunately, it looks like that will happen this year.

“This year is looking like it could be a record year for us,” Bazan says. “We’ve had some strong weeks in terms of harvest and supply, and the market is very promotable right now.”

State of Winter Crops

Bazan isn’t the only one expecting good things out of western Mexico during this winter season. Batiz reports that crop conditions look strong and that Divine Flavor is expecting a solid season for both volume and quality.

“Production out of Sonora and Sinaloa is coming along well, with healthy plants and good quality across peppers, tomatoes, squash and cucumbers,” she says.

While the 2024-2025 period was difficult for many farmers due to extremely low market prices, Divine Flavor is focused on ensuring it covers its program business securely and avoids overproduction, Batiz says. The company is reducing speculative planting and aiming for a more targeted, disciplined approach to match supply more precisely with demand.

Obregon similarly reports a solid start to the season with good quality and yields on IPR Fresh’ bell peppers and European cucumbers.

“With our year-round program firmly in place, we expect steady and dependable volumes for the U.S. market throughout the winter and beyond, assuming weather conditions remain cooperative,” he says.

Star-Powered Produce Shines at IFPA Global Show

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 04:43:13 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — From an early ’90s TV star to a former Marine turned celebrity comedian to famous football players past and present to a social influencer extraordinaire, this year’s International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show featured a number of star-backed produce collaborations designed to increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fresh Express featured its collaboration with Tiffani Thiessen at its International Fresh Produce Association Global Show booth.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

Fresh Express Partners with Tiffani Thiessen

Fresh Express is partnering with cookbook author, mother and actor Tiffani Thiessen of “Saved by the Bell” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” fame to spotlight the nutrition, flavor, freshness and versatility of its salad offerings.

The Packer sat down with Thiessen during the IFPA show to learn more about the collaboration.

“I’ve always loved to cook, [and] we were definitely big Fresh Express fans in our house — my husband and I for many, many years even before children,” Thiessen said. “So, it was kind of a perfect partnership because we were already fans — already using the product. And I think they saw how I could be creative with their product and get kids to eat vegetables by developing really creative recipes that are specific to kids as well.

“I think people see me as someone they’re familiar with. I’m sort of nostalgic because I’ve been in the industry for a long time and grew up with people in their houses with the popular TV shows that I’ve been on,” she added. “I think maybe they see me as someone who’s trustworthy in the food area too, so both sides of my career are kind of perfect for a partnership like this.”

While Thiessen and her family’s favorite Fresh Express salad is the Farmhouse Ranch Chopped Salad Kit, she says the creative possibilities are nearly endless with the company’s full range of salads.

“The thing about their salads is that whether you go with some of their simple lettuces or you go with their mixed salads, you can elevate them in many different ways,” she says.

Thiessen has brought a creative approach to her Fresh Express meal-making from adding a protein to turning the salads into a tostada to making them into a wrap or topping a hot pizza with Caesar salad.

When it comes to getting kids to eat their veggies, Thiessen says don’t forget to make it fun.

“I think it starts with teaching kids good values at a young age and getting them to understand that you don’t have to just have raw carrots. You can make it fun,” she said. “And I think that’s what’s so great about Fresh Express is that there are ways that you can actually make eating vegetables fun, delicious and easy.”

Matty Matheson, Emmy-winning actor/producer of “The Bear” is Mushroom Council’s lead ambassador for its new campaign designed to reach the next-gen mushroom shopper.

(Photo courtesy of Mushroom Council)

Mushroom Council Brings “The Bear” Celeb to IFPA

Mushroom Council has tapped Matty Matheson, chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and Emmy-winning producer and actor on “The Bear,” to serve as its lead mushroom ambassador for its new “It’s Not Magic. It’s Mushrooms.” campaign aimed at cultivating the next generation of mushroom shoppers — namely Gen Z and millennials.

Matheson attended the IFPA Global Show, Oct. 17, where he posed for pictures with fans at the Mushroom Council booth outside and then on the show floor, where he toured mushroom growers’ booths and posed for more pics.

Matty Matheson toured the show floor at IFPA, visiting various mushroom booths.

(Photo courtesy of Mushroom Council)

“We were pleased to have him join us as we revealed campaign details at the IFPA Global Show,” said Cristie Mather, vice president of marketing for Mushroom Council.

The Wonderful Company’s Diana Salsa and Bryan Hansen talked pistachio partnerships and promotions.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

Wonderful Pistachios and Josh Allen Not Holding Back

“Don’t hold back” on healthy snacking was a key message at The Wonderful Company’s booth, where Wonderful Pistachios showcased its latest no-shells variety — Dill Pickle — and its partnership with Buffalo Bills quarterback and pistachio farmer Josh Allen.

“Our ‘Don’t Hold Back Snack’ campaign is a big platform for good-for-you eating, and it will flow through all of our marketing for the foreseeable future,” says Wonderful Pistachio’s Diana Salsa, who adds that the company hasn’t abandoned its “Get Crackin’’’ campaign.

Wonderful Pistachios has partnered with professional football player Josh Allen.

(Photo courtesy of Wonderful Pistachios)

The Wonderful Company says “Don’t Hold Back Snack” includes a national advertising campaign that puts Allen’s NFL stardom center stage. It also follows the launch of the Josh Allen Scholarship and a multilevel marketing campaign.

The Josh Allen Scholarship aims to support first-generation college students in California’s Central Valley, where Allen’s family farm produces pistachios for the Wonderful Pistachios brand.

It’s a great partnership for The Wonderful Company for which “philanthropy is also part of our DNA,” saus Salsa, adding the campaign spotlights an authentic connection of family farming tradition with professional football excellence.

An Avocados From Mexico in-store promotional bin features Rob Riggle.

(Photo courtesy of Avocados From Mexico)

AFM Names Rob Riggle ‘The Guac Guru’

This year Avocados From Mexico has tapped comedic actor Rob Riggle to help deliver the message that football and guac are the ultimate game day duo.

AFM says 84% of professional American football fans say food is as important as the game itself. With this in mind, when fans purchase an Avocados From Mexico-themed bag of avocados featuring the Guac Guru, they’ll be able to scan the QR code, snap a photo of their receipt and receive $1.50 cash back via Venmo or PayPal. The promotion runs from Jan. 19 to Feb. 8. With 81% of fans indicating they’ll watch the Super Bowl at home, AFM says guac is expected to play a key role in game-time entertaining.

“Our big focus this year is football. We are really leaning into football as a platform to drive consumption,” says Stephanie Bazan, senior vice president of commercial strategy and execution.

Bazan says promotions during football season are also perfectly aligned with the Mexican avocado season from October to December.

AFM is not only leaning into professional football but college as well, and it is a sponsor of the ESPN noon halftime show for college football.

“It’s been successful, and consumption did increase as a result,” says Bazan.

AFM is also eyeing snacking to drive avocado sales.

“There’s a huge connection between snacks and avocados in the basket,” Bazan says. “Consumers make 1.6 billion trips down the snack aisle between October and February.”

To engage snack seekers in center store, AFM is running a promotion in the snack aisle that offers $2 off the purchase of four avocados. Supported by in-store signage that allows shoppers to scan a QR code that offers an instant discount, the promotion is set to run Nov. 3 to Jan. 19.

“It’s creating disruption in-store with behavior that already exists,” she says. “It also shows that you can go outside produce and capture more sales.”

Canadian greenhouse grower Del Fresco Pure has partnered with social media influencer Logan Moffitt.

(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)

Cucumber Social Media Sensation

At the Del Fresco Pure booth it was lights, camera, action, as TikTok star Logan Moffitt grabbed his mandoline, began slicing greenhouse-grown cucumbers and shook up one of his signature salads for fans.

While Moffitt doesn’t have professional culinary training, he told The Packer he started meal planning and preparing the nightly dinner for his family at the age of 12.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” he said.

Moffitt says the cucumber concept came to him at a time when he was feeling uninspired about his food-focused social posts.

But the social slump didn’t last long. Moffitt’s TikTok take on cukes caught fire, taking him from 3.3 million TikTok followers to 7.2 million followers.

“It took my career to the next level,” said Moffit, adding that his videos make cucumber salad making “more fun and so easy.”

Andre Reed and The Packer’s Christina Herrick take a bit out of apple snacking.

(Photo courtesy of Crunch Time Apple Growers)

Crunch Time Apple Growers’ Hall of Famer

Hall of Famer Andre Reed signed photos and promoted the Crunch Time Apple Growers’ SnapDragon contest at the IFPA Global Show. The contest offers consumers a chance to win a trip to the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony and more.

Reed played 16 seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver, mainly with the Buffalo Bills. And of course, SnapDragon, the official apple of the Buffalo Bills, is his snack of choice.

Jessica Wells, executive director of Crunch Time Apple Growers, says the goal is to promote SnapDragon to football fans of other teams as the variety has had a great start to the season.

“It’s our best start to the season yet,” she says. “We’re super grateful to the retailers that have given us a shot.”

Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: Expanded Lines and New Introductions

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:50:03 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ocean Mist showcased its expanded Roastables line, now with seven items, at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show. The company will soon debut new packaging for the Roastables line.

“It’s a breath of fresh air into this line,” says Lori Bigras, communications manager at Ocean Mist Farms. “We want them to jump off the shelves.

The new packaging features a vertical window and fun typography and Ocean Mist plans to launch the new packaging in the first quarter of 2026.

Jeff Fulton, Chris Drew, Lori Bigras, Brian Hawes and Joe Angelo at Ocean Mist Farms’ Global Produce and Floral Show booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

This new look is designed to meet customers where they are, with seasons and flavoring that is aligned with today’s shopper.

“We’re focused on service, quality and innovation,” says Chris Drew, president and CEO of Ocean Mist Farms, noting Ocean Mist really focuses on educating consumers on the value of Rostables. “We want everyone to have access to flavorful and nutritious produce.”

Robert Hernandez, Martha Noriega, Ana Romero Carbajal, Alan Voll and Daniel Heguertty at the Fresh Farms Global Produce and Floral Show booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Fresh Farms showcased new Candy Hearts and Candy Snaps additions to its frozen grape line, joining the popular Cotton Candy frozen grapes.

Frederico Albonetti, Gianluca Vignoli, Nour Abdrabbo at Unitec’s IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Unitec showcased its newest sorting and packing technology at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show.

Justin Wright and Jeff Richardson at Great Lakes Greenhouses’ IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Visitors to the Great Lakes Greenhouses booth talked about the upcoming winter season mini organic cucumbers program.

Ashley Filliol, Hailey Monson, Catherine Gipe-Stewart, Trisha Casper, Destiny Nash, Jeff Webb, Luis Gonzalez, Matthew Snider and Derek Tweedy at the Superfresh Growers IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show Booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Superfresh Growers highlighted its new packing line and a new pear grower added to the fold, which brings breath, volume and quality to the pear category. The company plans to open a new Rainier cherry packing line in the spring with new packaging and merchandising. Superfresh Growers have a dedicated Rainier line and offers the cherries in a 2- and 3-pound and polybagged options.

“We continue to increase our quality and reduce scuffs,” says Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing for Superfresh Growers.

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Mastronardi to Launch Bite-Sized Cucumbers at IFPA

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:59:24 GMT

Mastronardi Produce says it will launch its Sunset Pop Its Bite-Sized Cucumbers at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show. The Pop Its are a variety exclusive to the Kingsville, Ontario, company and is a true one-bite cucumber, with a sweet flavor and crunchy texture.

Mastronardi says visitors to its booth, No. 4157, will get a chance to try Pop Its firsthand.

“We’re always looking for ways to make healthy eating fun and accessible,” Geoff Kosar, vice president of marketing at Mastronardi Produce, says. “Pop Its are ideal for busy families, snack lovers and anyone who craves fresh flavor with zero fuss.”

Pop Its are available year-round and are greenhouse-grown and non-GMO, the company says and will be available in retail and club formats. Mastronardi Produce says the one-bite cucumbers are ideal for dipping and on-the-go moments.

What Keeps N.Y. Growers and Retailers in an Empire State of Mind

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:03:45 GMT

New York state is home to diverse agricultural regions and climates, from the Finger Lakes to the Hudson Valley to upstate New York, each with its own microclimate and crops grown.

According to 2022 data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, fruit, berries and tree nuts contributed about $721 million and vegetables, melons and potatoes contributed $500 million to the state’s economy.

And for growers and marketers, it’s no wonder that New York earned the nickname, The Empire State.

Why New York?

“New York state is a prime place to grow produce because of the excellent and diverse soils, a climate that is regulated by the Great Lakes, vast flat plain-like farmland in the western part of the state, access to fresh water and proximity to market,” says Shannon Kyle, sales and marketing manager at Elba, N.Y.-based Torrey Farms Inc. “We can reach over 70% of this country’s population in six to eight hours by truck.”

Kyle says her family farm, which grows cabbage, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, winter and summer squash, and green beans, distributes its produce along the Eastern Seaboard and into Ohio and the St. Louis, Mo., area thanks to its location between Rochester and Buffalo.

“As weather plays a factor in other parts of the country, that can often create movement into other market areas as well,” she says. “We work with various retailers, wholesalers, food service distributors, and processors for all of our items.”

Cynthia Haskins, president and CEO of the New York Apple Association, says Mother Nature also helps create magic for the country’s No. 2 apple producer.

“The warm summer days and cool fall nights make New York state a perfect place to grow apples,” she says. “New York state has an ample water supply, stemming from the lakes, ponds and irrigation. New York is popular for growing apples with superior flavor and grows a little more than 30 apple varieties in promotional volumes.”

Haskins also says New York’s proximity to a large swath of the country helps its more than 500 family-owned orchards reach more retail partners across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

Cynthia Haskins, president and CEO of the New York Apple Association, says the state’s proximity helps its more than 500 family-owned orchards reach more retail partners across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. “Helping our retail partners source closer to where food is grown lowers freight costs and time and reduces their carbon footprint,” she says.

(Photo courtesy of the New York Apple Association)

“Helping our retail partners source closer to where food is grown lowers freight costs and time and reduces their carbon footprint,” she says. “New York apple growers are relatively close to many major cities in the U.S. and can deliver apples within 24 to 48 hours to these large markets; that’s a big sustainability selling point for Northeastern and mid-Atlantic markets.”

Marc Goldman, director of produce and floral for Bronx, N.Y.-based Morton Williams Supermarket, says he tries to highlight as much locally grown produce as he can, adding that locally grown can mean different things to different shoppers. And being in New York City, he’s always challenged with highlighting New York produce in a small footprint.

But, during apple season, Goldman says Lil’ Chief 2-pound bags with small, kid-friendly apples do well. The bags, he says, feature New York apple orchards on the back of the bag.

“The whole concept of it promotes New York state on the back of the bag,” he says. “It shows the farms, and I think it’s a really good way to sell the New York state apples.”

Season Outlook

Kyle says she’s “hesitantly optimistic” about the current growing season.

“At this point in the season, we expect to have some high-quality crops coming in as we get closer to harvest, but the market conditions all winter have me a little cautious about where pricing and movement will shake out,” she says. “As we all know in marketing it is all about supply and demand, and every year we experience peaks and valleys of supply depending on what is happening in our neighboring states who grow many of the same items as we do.”

Kyle says this competition from crops grown in Canada and Mexico can make it tough for New York growers, as Mexico has year-round supplies and Canada grows the same crops her family does.

“There is a lot more anxiety around the unknown of what the market conditions on our items will be, as highly perishable items often fluctuate significantly from day to day,” she says. “As we shipped our storage crops (onions and potatoes) this winter, the market was very flat, and I just hope that does not carry into the summer deal.”

Growers have become more concerned about the increase in the cost of farming in the state, Kyle says, noting that H-2A labor costs growers in the state around $18.83 an hour, plus overtime.

“The days of just planting a crop or some extra acres because you had the extra seed are over,” she says. “There is simply too much investment put into every acre we put in the ground, so I would say we have had to exhibit a lot more self-control and better planning to try to have a balanced level of supply for the demand that we know we can traditionally expect, with the obvious exception of the wild card of what Mother Nature will do.”

As for this season, Kyle says production in western New York is early with crops like cabbage thanks to cool temperatures and good rainfall in May. Heat-friendly crops such as cucumbers, squash and beans are a little behind schedule this year.

“I think in the eastern and southern parts of the state, the conditions have been even more challenging than what we have experienced in the western area, where the majority of our farmland is between Buffalo and Rochester,” she says.

Kyle says Torrey Farms planned to start harvesting cabbage at the end of June, which is early. She says her family looks to harvest green beans, zucchini and yellow squash around July 10, cucumbers around July 18 and onions around July 15.

“The cool wet May that we had was prime cabbage weather,” Kyle says.

Haskins says that despite the rainfall in spring and then warmer temperatures, this year’s apple crop looks good.

“Apple harvest will begin in mid-to-late August and continue through the first week of November,” she says.

Haskins says the New York Apple Association will partner with retailers for promotions this year, including display totes, polybags, pouches and bulk displays. She says geotargeting digital advertising as well as targeted social media to help promote New York-grown apples.

“Team NYAA is working closely with retailers in customizing the right mix of promotional offerings to drive sales and get New York apples front and center of consumers,” Haskins says.

CDC Says Salmonella Outbreak in Field Cucumbers Over

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:53:02 GMT

In an update, the Food and Drug Administration says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has declared a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo traced to field-grown cucumbers over .

FDA and CDC traced the outbreak, which sickened 69 people in 21 states, to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, of Boynton Beach, Fla., and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., of Delray, Fla.

Of the 35 people interviewed, 29, or 83% reported eating or likely eating cucumbers.

The FDA says epidemiologic and traceback information showed the cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, were the source of illnesses in this outbreak.

And while several companies and retailers recalled products , the recalled items are past its shelf life and should no longer be available for sale in stores.

The FDA says as part of its investigation, it collected a product sample of cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers from a distribution center in Pennsylvania, where it detected salmonella. Whole genome sequencing determined that the product sample matched the strain linked to the illnesses in the outbreak.

Additional analysis conducted on the cucumber sample from the FDA found a strain of Salmonella Braenderup that matched a strain of Salmonella linked to some illnesses in the 2024 outbreak of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup.

MSU: Early Find of Downy Mildew in Cucumbers

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:11:59 GMT

In a Michigan State University Extension bulletin , Mary Hausbeck, a specialist with Michigan State University Extension, says cucumber growers in the state have seen the earliest outbreak of downy mildew in many years.

Hausbeck says the overcast, humid and wet weather as of late has favored pathogen growth and with more moderate temperatures expected, there’s even greater risk of pathogen spread and crop infection.

As of now, the outbreak has been reported in Cass, Lenawee, Monroe and VanBuren counties in pickling cucumbers.

“The first cucumbers of the season and subsequent plantings are going to be challenged by disease given the amount of downy mildew that has been reported in the state in the last few days,” she writes.

Hausbeck warns that cotyledons of an emerging cucumber crop can become infected, much like what happened a few years ago.

“The cucumber yield is most likely to be impacted when the plants become infected early, and the pathogen is not controlled,” she says.

In her bulletin, Hausbeck offers several fungicides that growers should deploy that have proven downy mildew control, and she cautions growers not to stretch spray intervals beyond seven days.

“This interval should not be an issue if the recommended fungicides are used in alternation,” she says. “Look at the fungicide labels carefully to ensure you’re within the guidelines; the label is the law.”

Del Fresco Pure to Attend Organic Produce Summit

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:22:18 GMT

Ontario-based greenhouse grower Del Fresco Pure, recently announced its inaugural participation in the Organic Produce Summit taking place from July 9-10 at the Monterey Convention Center in Monterey, Calif. Del Fresco Pure will be at booth No. 1002 showcasing its full line of organic greenhouse-grown cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers.

The company says it was proud to present its range of organic, greenhouse-grown produce to consumers increasingly concerned with sustainability.

“Our entry into the Organic Produce Summit marks a significant milestone for Del Fresco Pure,” says Ray Mastronardi, vice president of sales at Del Fresco Pure, in a news release. “We are excited to showcase our dedication to sustainable agriculture and introduce our greenhouse-grown produce to a broader audience.”

Del Fresco Pure will be showcasing its organic seedless English cucumbers at the event. They are free from seeds, certified organic and provide a healthy, convenient option for consumers, the company says.

“Our organic seedless English Cucumbers are a testament to our dedication to producing exceptional greenhouse-grown vegetables,” Mastronardi says. “We are committed to providing our customers with nutritious and delicious produce that meets the highest standards of organic greenhouse grown produce.”

In addition to its seedless English cucumbers, Del Fresco Pure also plans to highlight other examples of its offerings at the summit, including:

Organic tomatoes on the vine
Organic mini cucumbers
Organic rainbow sweet peppers

The company says it plans to highlight its recent Equitable Food Initiative Certification.

“Achieving EFI certification is a significant milestone for Del Fresco Pure,” Mastronardi says. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a positive impact on our workforce and the environment. We believe that sustainable practices are essential to the future of agriculture, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this movement.”

Another Grower Initiates Cucumber Recall

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:23:21 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration said Fuentes Farms of McAllen, Texas, recalled 71 boxes of its fresh cucumbers due to a positive result for Salmonella in routine sampling.

The administration said Fuentes Farms distributed the product in Texas by local vendors at flea markets in McAllen and Alamo. The affected products have a Fuentes Farm Label with Lot No. 357. The product comes in 40-pound, 1 1/9 bushel boxes, which read “vegetables” in red and have a black background.

The FDA says no illnesses have been reported and this recall is not part of any current food outbreaks and Fuentes Farms has ceased production of this product.

Law Firm Files Lawsuit about Salmonella Outbreak in Cucumbers

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:32:44 GMT

Marler Clark, a law firm specializing in food safety cases, said in a news release that it filed a lawsuit against Bedner Farm on behalf of a client in the Southern District of Mississippi Northern Division.

Marler Clark said its client purchased cucumbers from a grocery store in Pearl, Miss., and several days later, the client became ill and was hospitalized for nearly a week. Testing revealed a bloodborne salmonella infection.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections linked to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers in Boynton Beach, Fla., and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray, Fla.

The FDA said Supreme Service Solutions recalled items from Bedner Growers that were distributed to Kroger and its affiliated retail stores in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. Recalled cut produce was sold in clear plastic grab-and-go containers.

Products added to field cucumber recall

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 18:37:32 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration has added more companies to a list of recalls due to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo linked to field cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers.

Bedner Growers recalled its cucumbers sold directly to consumers at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market between April 29 and May 14, as well as cucumbers also distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales.

In an update, the FDA said it had detected other types of Salmonella in the cucumber sample collected at a distribution center in Pennsylvania that originated from Beldner Growers. The agency said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to determine if any human illnesses match these additional strains, and further analysis of the sample is pending.

According to a news release, companies that further processed the cucumbers are:

Kings, Isabelle’s Kitchen Inc. and Maple Avenue Foods — Salads containing fresh cucumbers.
Supreme Produce — Fresh cucumbers and salad and vegetable trays containing fresh cucumbers.
Snowfruit & Snowfox — Fresh-cut cucumber items and sushi products.
East Coast Fresh, TOPS, Wellsley Farms, WEIS, AHOLD, Jack and Olive, Created Fresh, Spring and Sprout — Salads, salsas and other products containing salsa containing fresh cucumbers.
PennRose Farms — Whole cucumbers.
Walmart’s Marketside — Fresh-cut cucumber slices.
The Albertsons Cos. — Ready to Eat and Star Market Greek Salad.
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods — Marinated cucumber salad.
Big Y Foods — Made-to-order subs, wraps and paninis.

The FDA said Target has also issued a recall of products grown by Bender Growers .

Other companies had also announced recalls related to the multistate outbreak .

FDA, CDC investigating multistate outbreak of salmonella in field cucumbers

Wed, 21 May 2025 18:53:42 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a news release that the agencies are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections linked to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers in Boynton Beach, Fla., and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray, Fla.

As part of a follow-up inspection in April 2025, the FDA said investigators collected an environmental sample from Bedner Growers that was positive for Salmonella and matched recent clinical samples from ill people, by whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. The recent follow-up inspection was in response to the 2024 Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup outbreaks linked to cucumbers grown at Bedner Growers.

FDA said its traceback investigation has identified Bedner Growers as the common grower of cucumbers in this current outbreak.

The agencies say cucumbers involved in this investigation were grown by Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers and foodservice distributors from April 29, to present (May 19). Cucumbers distributed before this time frame should be past shelf life and should no longer be available on the market.

The FDA said the cucumbers could have been sold individually or in smaller packages, with or without a label that might not bear the same brand, product name, or best by date. For distributors, restaurants and retailers who have purchased these cucumbers, the products were labeled as either being supers, selects, or plains.

The FDA said Bedner Growers has also recalled its cucumbers sold at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market between April 29 and May 14 . Belder’s Farm Fresh Markets sold the cucumbers in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and West Palm Beach, Fla. The FDA said cucumbers currently for sale at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Markets are not part of the recall as those available were not grown by Bedner Growers.

As of May 16, the agencies say 26 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo in 15 states. Of the 23 people for whom information is available, nine have been hospitalized. Of the 13 interviewed, 11 (85%) reported eating cucumbers.

Wiers Farm issues voluntary recall on whole and salad cucumbers

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:31:31 GMT

Out of an abundance of caution, Wiers Farm Inc. of Willard, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling a limited number of whole cucumbers with a pack date of June 5 and bagged salad cucumbers with a pack date of June 5 or June 6 due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

This product was not grown or harvested by Wiers Farm. It was sourced from out of state, then handled and distributed by Wiers Farm, according to a news release . Wiers Farm says it is coordinating closely with regulatory officials in connection with the recall.

The potential contamination was discovered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through routine sampling, the release said.

Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can cause listeriosis. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the illness and symptoms may last from days to several weeks. Consumers who have consumed the affected product and are experiencing symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal issues should seek medical attention. For more information about Listeria monocytogenes, consumers can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

There have been no illnesses or consumer complaints reported to date, the release said.

Product details

• Whole cucumbers — 1.5-2.5-inches diameter, 6-9-inches length.
• Wiers Farm 2-pound bagged salad cucumber — clear bag with blue base, with distribution to select Walmart stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

The product involved is past its shelf life and should already be out of distribution, but if consumers have any product they question, they should discard it. For any questions or concerns, consumers may contact Wiers Farm at 419-933-2161 or customercare@wiersfarm.com .

“Wiers Farm operates to the highest standards of health and food safety. We have taken immediate steps to address this isolated incident and we are collaborating closely with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to ensure a swift resolution,” the company said in the release.

FDA: Untreated canal water one potential source of salmonella outbreaks in field cucumbers

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:34:54 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration reports untreated water used by a Florida cucumber grower is a potential source of salmonella that sickened nearly 450 people.

The FDA said it originally reported separate multistate outbreaks of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup, but combined the two investigations as they shared similarities in when and where the reported illnesses occurred, the demographics of ill people and more.

The FDA said laboratory, epidemiological and traceback data determined field cucumbers from Bedner Growers of Boynton Beach, Fla., are a likely source of illnesses in this outbreak, according to a USDA update. FDA said, though, that Bedner Growers does not account for all the illnesses in this outbreak.

The administration said it conducted an on-site inspection at Bedner Growers, which supplies Fresh Start Produce Sales. The FDA said it detected Salmonella Braenderup in samples of untreated canal water used by Bedner Growers. The administration said that genome sequencing determined the salmonella found in the untreated canal water matched the strain that caused some of the illnesses in the outbreak, and it also found additional types of salmonella in both soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers.

More than 449 people have been reported infected with Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup in 31 states and the District of Columbia as of July 1, according to the USDA update.

Bedner Growers has completed its growing and harvesting season and the cucumbers involved in the outbreak are not available for purchase, the report said.

The administration said that based on traceback information, Bedner Growers supplied cucumbers to multiple points of service where ill people reported purchasing or eating cucumbers. The FDA said it will continue to conduct traceback to identify other possible contamination points.

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers: Greenhouse-grown long English cucumbers safe

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:06:21 GMT

Following the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s announcement of a multistate outbreak of two strains of salmonella , the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers association said in a news release that there is confusion with consumers as to which cucumbers are a part of the recall.

Following a positive test, Fresh Start Produce Sales in Delray, Fla., recalled whole-field cucumbers due to the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.

“We want to assure retailers, food service and consumers that the Canadian-grown long English cucumbers are not part of the recall and are readily available for purchase and safe consumption,” the association said in a news release.

Richard Lee, executive director of the association, said there are noticeable differences between field-grown cucumbers and greenhouse-grown cucumbers.

“Ontario greenhouse cucumbers are distinctly different from field-grown cucumbers,” Lee said. “Field-grown cucumbers are shorter and wider than the long, narrow English cucumbers and have a more bitter flavor. English cucumbers are sweeter and contain very few seeds.”

SunFed expects growth in Mexican Produce, despite challenges

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 18:46:55 GMT

Rio Rico, Ariz.-based SunFed expects to move slightly more Mexican produce in 2024 compared with last year, despite weather challenges early in the year.

SunFed has partnered with Mexican growers for a year-round supply of various items, mainly squash, cucumbers, bell peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and melons, according to Matt Mandel, vice president of finance and legal for SunFed.

“Due to weather challenges, the first third of 2024 will be significantly lower volume than 2023 though our production budget was set for a 5% to 8% growth year over year,” Mandel said.

Overall, Mandel expects SunFed will grow its Mexican produce supply from 1% to 5% in 2024, compared with 2023.

Some production-level issues that are influencing Mexican produce volume include labor and water availability, Mandel said.

“Labor and water continue to depress most growth plans in northwest Mexico and uncertainty regarding the Tomato Suspension Agreement will likely lead to fewer tomatoes planted,” he said, though he noted tomato acreage projections are speculative at this point.

Over the next several years, Mandel said the industry may see a greater percentage of Mexican produce shipments through South Texas.

Ciruli Bros. looks for strong gains in Mexican produce

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:29:46 GMT

Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Ciruli Bros. is aiming for a 10% increase in its volume of Mexican produce this year, said Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer.

The company is a leader in the sale and distribution of yellow and round mangos. It also offers a full mix of conventional and organic dry vegetables, representing 10 million packages from Mexico on an annual basis, Ciruli said.

“Because of growth in our mango program as well as our conventional and organic veg crops, we are aiming for an overall increase in volume of about 10% over the prior year,” Ciruli said.

“However, compared to 2023, we expect the 2024 Mexican produce season will be met with higher pricing and lower supplies during the winter months,” he added. “We are seeing reduced crossings on all mixed veg items and pricing has been in the double digits since Thanksgiving. As we get into better weather and second flowerings, we expect volume to increase.”

West Mexico vegetables will be down a bit compared to original estimates during the winter, mainly due to weather, he said.

“Vegetables from West Mexico have been affected by a series of weather events and so the industry volume for 2024 is down from expectations,” he said. “We have seen high demand for eggplant from Thanksgiving through January, and a stronger than normal push for cucumber from November through January as well.”

Mangoes, conversely, should be up in volume due to more rain during the cooler months, Ciruli said.

Ciruli said mangoes have been an incredibly short item during the winter, with pricing at historic highs.

“We do not expect to see this changing until Mexico starts shipping consistently, which will be in March and continuing through September,” he said.

Looking ahead to the next several months, Ciruli said the company expects “an extremely productive mango crop.”

“We look to push mangoes from the months of March and April with yellow ataulfos, which we market as Champagne to fill the horrific supply void from the winter,” he said. “We expect that mangoes will be a very promotable crop for quality and volume in 2024.”

In vegetables, due to an early Easter, Ciruli said the company expects to start promoting eggplant, beans, cucumber and bell peppers, both conventional and organic.

“Consumers continue to look for fresh fruit and vegetables to enhance their lifestyle, and as that happens, they will have more fresh produce options with imports from Mexico,” he said.

Expanding organic

Ciruli said the company continues to increase its organic lineup with dry veg, ranging from cucumber, green and colored bell peppers, squash and green beans.

“Our organic vegetables are marketed in the Rowdy Rabbit Organics brand,” he said. “We are shipping in traditional bulk packs, some clamshells, bags and wrapped trays. We are excited to be able to offer our customers quality organics in a fun brand and more presentations, and our hope is to continue to grow the program.”

Challenges and the road ahead

Ciruli said the biggest challenge for Mexican producers is a combination of rising input costs and labor availability.

“The minimum wage in Mexico increased by 20% in 2024, and Mexico was already facing labor shortages prior to this change in regulation,” he said.

Still, Ciruli said there are plenty of reasons for optimism.

“Mexican veg growers will continue to produce further south in Mexico to have 52-week availability and less gaps in volume, for many items,” he said.

Survey: Organic cucumber demand continues to move higher

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 22:16:43 GMT

Editor’s note: The following report is from The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 , which provides insight based on survey responses from consumers. Since 1983, The Packer has sponsored major consumer studies to track trends in the purchases and consumption of fresh produce, documenting the fluctuation in purchases of specific fruits and vegetables as well as changing attitudes toward industry issues.

Organic cucumber demand continues to move higher.

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 reports that 13% of consumers said they shop for organic cucumbers exclusively, and 1 in 3 consumers reported purchasing organic cucumbers at least periodically.

Those numbers are much like a year ago, when the Organic Fresh Trends 2023 survey found that 13% of consumers said they shop exclusively for organic cucumbers and 34% said they shop for organic cucumbers at least periodically.

Organic Fresh Trends 2024 shows that 27% of consumers aged 18-29 said they shopped exclusively for organic cucumbers, compared with just 4% of consumers aged 60 or older.

By gender, Organic Fresh Trends reports 16% of women consumers polled said they shopped exclusively for organic cucumbers, compared with 10% of men who said they shopped exclusively for organic cucumbers.

Retail organic cucumber sales are on an upward path. According to Circana, sales totaled $145.7 million in 2022, up 7.2% from 2021.

Circana reports that volume of organic cucumbers totaled 43.1 million pounds in 2022, up 4.6%. The average retail price was pegged at $3.38 per pound, up 2.5% from 2021.

Circana reports that organic cucumbers accounted for 10.2% of total retail cucumber sales. Organic cucumbers contribute 1.8% of total organic produce sales.

Organic Fresh Trends 2024 generally found that exclusive organic shoppers skew slightly toward women, higher-income households with children, and younger consumers.

More info from Organic Fresh Trends 2024

Organic retail sales — Cucumbers 2022

Pounds sold: 43.1 million
Average retail price per pound: $3.38
Retail sales: $145.7 million
Percent of total organic produce sales: 1.8%
Organic percent of retail cucumber sales: 10.2%
Change in sales from last year: 7.2%

Source: Circana

Organic purchasing patterns of cucumbers

Organic only: 13%
Organic at least some of the time: 32%*

*Includes consumers who purchase only organic and those who purchase a combination of both organic and conventional product.

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by gender

Women: 16%
Men: 10%

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by household income*

$100k+: 13%
$50k<$100k: 14%
$25k<$50k: 11%
Less than $25k: 13%

*Figures based on annual household income

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by presence of children at home

1 kid: 17%
2 kids: 18%
3+ kids: 15%
No kids: 10%

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by region

Midwest: 16%
Northeast: 10%
South: 15%
West: 11%

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by age*

18-29: 27%
30-39: 16%
40-49: 15%
50-59: 8%
60+: 4%

*Considering primary household buyers

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by ethnicity

Asian: 20%
Black/African American: 23%
Hispanic: 18%
Other: 17%
White/Caucasian: 10%

Multistate outbreak of two salmonella strains potentially linked to cucumbers

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:38:58 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the agencies initiated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Africana infections potentially linked to cucumbers .

The CDC said as of June 4, 162 people have been reportedly infected with the outbreak strain in 25 states and the District of Columbia. The agencies said they are also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections, with 158 illnesses in 23 states.

These two outbreaks share several similarities, including the location and timing of the illness and the demographics of the people who fell ill, according to the FDA and CDC. The agencies said the investigation will look to see if it can link the two outbreaks to the same food vehicle.

The FDA said as part of its Salmonella Africana investigation, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture collected samples from retail locations. One sample supplied by Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray, Fla., tested positive for salmonella. The agency said it will conduct additional testing to learn the strain of salmonella and if the strain is linked to the current outbreak.

In response to the positive sample, Fresh Start Produce Sales recalled its cucumbers grown in Florida and distributed to retail distribution centers, wholesalers and foodservice distributors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia from May 17 to May 21.

The FDA said the product is dark green and approximately 1.5-2 inches in diameter and between 5-9 inches long. The agency said the company sources its cucumbers from a variety of growers, but the grower that likely supplied the potentially contaminated cucumbers is no longer harvesting and growing cucumbers for the season.

Fresh Start Produce Sales’ English and mini cucumbers are not involved in the recall.

SunFed Produce recalls American and slicer cucumbers

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:11:26 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration said SunFed Produce has voluntarily recalled all sizes of its fresh American/slicer cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico. The cucumbers were sold between Oct. 12 to Nov. 26.

The recalled cucumbers are in relation to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to American/slicer cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, according to the announcement.

The FDA said 68 people have been infected with the outbreak strain in 19 states. Of the 33 people interviewed, 27 reported eating cucumbers.

The recalled cucumbers were packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the SunFed label in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that says Agrotato, S.A. de C.V., according to the announcement.

The FDA said it confirmed distribution to foodservice and retail customers in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, but the cucumbers could have been distributed in additional states.

The agency encourages retailers and distributors to discard any recalled product and clean and sanitize any areas that could have come in contact with the recalled products. The FDA also advises retailers that sold the recalled products in bulk should also clean and sanitize bins and displays before refilling.

The FDA said it continues to work with additional importers that received cucumbers grown by Agrotato S.A. de C.V.

FDA adds second grower to salmonella outbreak traced to cucumbers

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:34:37 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration said it identified a second grower as a source of illness in a salmonella outbreak traced to field cucumbers that sickened nearly 450 people in 31 states.

The FDA said it identified a strain of Salmonella Braenderup in untreated canal water used by Bedner Growers of Boynton Beach, Fla . The agency recently added the second grower, Thomas Produce Co. of Boca Raton, Fla,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said traceback information showed Thomas Produce Co. supplied cucumbers to multiple points of service where people who fell ill reported eating cucumbers. The CDC detected Salmonella Braenderup in samples of canal water used by Thomas Produce Co. Whole-genome sequencing determined the water used by Thomas Produce Co. contained the Salmonella that matched the strain of Salmonella Braenderup causing some of the illnesses in the outbreak, the CDC reports.

The FDA said cucumbers from both growers are no longer in-season and there is no ongoing risk to the public. The agency also said these growers do not account for all illnesses in the outbreak.

Honeyacre Enterprises ramps up greenhouse

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:37:02 GMT

Honeyacre Enterprises Ltd., Wiggins, Colo., started its greenhouse program the second week of April with tomatoes and cucumbers and will begin shipping orange, red and yellow bell peppers in June, said Russ Shoemaker, who owns the company with his wife Cindy.

Crops were slightly later than last year because of abnormally cold and cloudy weather that started in mid-March.

Honeyacre has about 25,000 square feet of greenhouse production and will have the same volume this season as last year, he said.

Related content:
Colorado gears up for summer
Denver produce distributors deal with coronavirus
Colorado “Know your market”

Marketscope — Vegetable f.o.b.s as of June 1

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:37:40 GMT

This information, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, shows week-by-week shipments and f.o.b.s for commodities from shipments for the fresh market. Protective services are extra unless otherwise stated. Shipments, in 1,000 cwt., are for weeks ending: 1st no. = May 16; 2nd no. = May 23; 3rd no. = May 30. Expected movement is for June 21 to July 4. F.o.b. prices are as of June 1.

Artichokes

CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments (19-17-16) — Movement expected about the same. Supply 12-18s fairly light. Trading 12-18s active, 24-36s moderate. Prices 12-18s higher, 24s slightly lower, 30-36s generally unchanged. Cartons Globe 12s mostly 18.55-18.75, 18s mostly 17.05-18.75, 24s mostly 14.75-16.65, 30s mostly 12.65-14.75, 36s 12.65-14.65; ORGANIC 12s 26.55, 18-24s 22.55, 30s 20.55. Quality variable.

Asparagus

PERU IMPORTS — PORTS OF ENTRY SOUTH FLORIDA Imports (18-33-27) — Movement expected to remain about the same this week, decrease next week. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Large Much Lower, Standard and Jumbo Lower, Extra Large and Small Slightly Lower. From Peru. 11 pound cartons bunched jbo mostly 15.75-16.75, xlge mostly 15.75, lge mostly 14.75-16.75, std mostly 15.75-16.75, sml mostly 10.00-13.00.

MICHIGAN — Shipments (2-15-22) — Movement expected about the same. Trading opened active, closed fairly active. Prices Lower. Pyramid cartons 28 pound bunched Green large and std size mostly 48.00-52.95, 11 pound cartons bunched large and std size mostly 19.75-21.75. Quality good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS 2020 CROP — Crossings (23-18-19) — Expected to remain the same. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Lower. 11 pound cartons/crates bunched green standard and large 16.75-17.75. Extra services included.
WALLA WALLA DISTRICT AND LOWER YAKIMA VALLEY WASHINGTON — Shipments (17-9-8) — Movement expected to decrease sharply as most handlers have finished marketing the crop. Washington Extra Fancy 28 pounds pyramid cartons/crates bunched large and standard supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. 11 pound cartons/crates bunched large and standard supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. Light — Shipments expected to continue thru June 12. LAST REPORT

Broccoli

SALINAS-WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA — Shipments (122-113-83) — Movement expected to decrease slightly. Available supply fairly light. Trading early active, late very active. Prices much higher. Cartons bunched 14s mostly 14.35-15.65, 18s mostly 14.85-16.15; 20 pound cartons loose Crown Cut mostly 16.35-18.85, Short Trim mostly 17.45-19.85. ORGANIC cartons bunched 14s mostly 30.55-32.95; 20-pound cartons loose Crown Cut mostly 32.55-34.50. Quality variable. Most present shipments from previous commitments and/or prior bookings.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS Crossings — (66-64-79) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early fairly slow, late very active. Prices much higher. 20 pound cartons loose Crown Cut Short Trim 13.50-14.50. Quality variable.

SANTA MARIA CALIFORNIA — Shipments (53-44-38) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early active, late very active. Prices much higher. Cartons bunched 14s 14.00-15.85, 18s mostly 14.50-16.35; 20 pound cartons loose Crown Cut mostly 15.85-17.75, Short Trim mostly 17.85-20.85. ORGANIC Cartons bunched 14s 30.00-34.50. Quality generally good.

Carrots

KERN DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments (173-185-231) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices 50 pound jumbo slightly lower, others generally unchanged. 48 1-lb film bags medium-large mostly 15.30-15.40; 50 lb sacks loose jumbo mostly 12.65-16.40; 25 lb sacks loose jumbo mostly 6.65-8.20; cartons 30 1-lb film bags Baby Peeled 18.20-18.85. ORGANIC 48 1-lb film bags and 24 2-lb film bags medium-large mostly 20.00-26.35, 10 5-lb film bags medium-large mostly 20.00-20.70. Cartons 24 1-lb film bags Baby Peeled 20.00-22.50, cartons 12 2-lb film bags Baby Peeled 20.00-22.50, cartons 4 5-lb film bags Baby Peeled 20.00-22.50. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS Crossings — (59-72-68) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early fairly slow, late moderate. Prices Lower. 50 pound sacks loose jumbo mostly 9.50-10.00. Quality variable.

Cauliflower

SALINAS-WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA — Shipments (100-86-83) — Movement expected to decrease slightly. Supply fairly light. Trading early active, late fairly active. Prices 9-12s slightly higher, 16s generally unchanged. Cartons film wrapped White 12s mostly 15.35-17.65, 9s mostly 14.45-16.50, 16s mostly 13.55-15.65; ORGANIC 12s mostly 22.50-24.55, 9s mostly 22.00-22.55, 16s mostly 22.50-22.55. Quality generally good.

SANTA MARIA CALIFORNIA — Shipments (41-35-36) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Active. Prices Slightly Higher. Cartons film wrapped White 12s mostly 12.85-16.85, 9s and 16s 11.00-13.00. Quality generally good.

Celery

OXNARD DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments (256-272-220) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading moderate. Prices slightly lower. Cartons 2-3 dozen mostly 9.45-11.55; Hearts film bags 18s mostly 13.65-15.55. ORGANIC cartons 2-2 1/2 dozen 32.56-32.85; Hearts film bags 18s mostly 21.56-22.55. Quality variable.

SANTA MARIA CALIFORNIA — Shipments (62-60-54) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early fairly active, late fairly slow. Prices much lower. Cartons 2 dozen 8.00-9.85, 2 1/2 dozen mostly 8.85-9.85, 3 dozen mostly 8.00-9.00. Quality generally good.

SALINAS-WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA — Shipments (2-3-8) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issued by June 5.

Corn, sweet

SOUTH GEORGIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (51-200-147) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Fairly Active. Prices many shipments under contract prices. Wirebound crates 4-dozen Yellow, White and Bi-Color 20.95-20.95. Quality generally good.

IMPERIAL AND COACHELLA VALLEYS CALIFORNIA — Shipments (207-161-80) — Movement expected to decrease. Trading Active. Prices Slightly Higher. Cartons/crates 4 dozen minimum White, Yellow and Bi color mostly 18.95-20.95. Quality generally good.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA — Harvest expected to begin the week of June 7. Quality expected to be generally good. The first FOB report is expected to be issued by June 12. FIRST REPORT

Cucumbers

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA Crossings — (171-142-126) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading early moderate, late fairly slow. Prices small much lower, 24s generally unchanged, others lower. 1 1/9 bushel cartons medium mostly 8.95, fair quality mostly 6.95; small 5.95, large mostly 6.95. Cartons 24s 3.95-4.95, 36s mostly 4.95-5.95. Quality variable.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS — Crossings (103-88*-92) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early active, late moderate. Prices large generally unchanged, others slightly lower. 1 1/9 bushel cartons medium 9.95-10.95, fair quality 7.95-8.95; large 8.95-9.95. Quality variable. Most present shipments from prior bookings and/or previous commitments. (* revised)

SOUTH GEORGIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (10-26-33) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Moderate. Prices Higher. Waxed 1 1/9 bushel cartons/crates medium 20.35-20.85 fair quality 8.35-8.85, cartons 24s 6.35-6.85. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA — Crossings (29-39*-28) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading Fairly Active. Prices GREENHOUSE 1 1/9 bushel cartons medium 10.95-12.95, fair quality 8.95-10.95, large mostly 8.95. Quality generally good. (*revised)

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA — Shipments (37-23-11) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Active. Prices Generally Unchanged. Includes palletizing and precooling. 1 1/9 bushel cartons/crates Pickles 150-200s 16.90, 200-300s mostly 20.00-21.90. Quality generally good.

Lettuce, iceberg

SALINAS-WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA — Shipments (456-435-426) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early active, late moderate. Prices 24s slightly higher, 30s slightly lower. Cartons 24s film lined mostly 14.35-15.00, filmwrapped mostly 15.35-16.00; 30s filmwrapped mostly 10.65-12.45; ORGANIC 24s filmwrapped 14.50-16.50, 12s filmwrapped 8.50-10.50. Quality variable.

SANTA MARIA CALIFORNIA — Shipments (74-82-72) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Active. Prices Higher. Cartons 24s film lined mostly 12.00-15.25, filmwrapped mostly 13.00-16.25. Quality generally good.

Lettuce, romaine

SALINAS-WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA — Shipments (373-360-365) — Movement expected about the same. Trading fairly slow. Prices Hearts 12 3-count slightly lower from market high on Friday, May 29; Hearts 48s generally unchanged from market high on Friday, May 29; 24s generally unchanged. Cartons 24s mostly 7.45-8.65; Hearts cartons 12 3-count packages mostly 11.56-12.85, Hearts film lined 48s mostly 13.45-14.75. ORGANIC cartons 24s mostly 20.55-23.25; Hearts cartons 12 3-count packages mostly 16.55-18.25. Quality variable.

SANTA MARIA CALIFORNIA — Shipments (60-58-41) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices 24s slightly higher, Hearts generally unchanged. Cartons 24s 8.50-11.25; Hearts cartons 12 3-count packages mostly 12.85-13.50. Quality generally good.

Onions, dry

U.S. — Shipments (1,169*-1,213*-1,056) — The top shipping areas for the week, in order, were California, New Mexico, Georgia, Columbia Basin Washington, and Mexico. (* revised)

IMPERIAL VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (296*-333*-242) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading Moderate. Prices Unchanged. Yellow Grano Type 50-pound sacks super colossal 9.00-10.00, colossal 8.00, jumbo 7.00-8.00, medium mostly 9.00; White 50-pound sacks jumbo mostly 12.00 medium 10.00-11.00; Red Globe Type 25-pound sacks jumbo 6.00-7.00, medium mostly 6.00. (* revised)

SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO 2020 CROP — Shipments (0-25-150) — Movement expected to increase as more shippers receive onions. Trading Moderate. Prices Reds higher, Yellow super colossal and jumbo lower, others generally unchanged Yellow Grano 50-pound sacks super colossal 12.00-14.00, colossal 11.00-12.00, jumbo mostly 9.00-10.00, medium 10.00-11.00; Red Globe Type 25-pound sacks jumbo 8.00-9.00, medium mostly 9.00.

VIDALIA DISTRICT GEORGIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (162-156-131) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Active. Prices Higher. Yellow Granex - Marked Sweet 40-pound cartons jumbo mostly 21.00-24.00; Organic 40-pound cartons jumbo 27.00-31.00.

LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS 2020 CROP — Shipments (239-134-127) — Movement is expected to decrease seasonally. Trading Active. Prices Unchanged. Yellow Grano-Type Marked Sweet 40-pound cartons jumbo 16.00-18.00, Yellow Grano - Type 50-pound sacks colossal mostly 10.00, jumbo mostly 9.00, medium 10.00-12.00, White 50-pound sacks jumbo 14.00-16.00, medium 12.00-14.00, Red 25-pound sacks jumbo mostly 8.00, medium mostly 8.00.

COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON AND UMATILLA BASIN OREGON — Shipments (176-152-111, Includes exports 31-15-19) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Remaining supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS 2020 CROP Crossings — (153-249*-91) — Movement is expected to be about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. (* revised)

SAN ANTONIO-WINTER GARDEN-LAREDO DISTRICT TEXAS — Shipments (41-57-46) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Unofficial prices fro Monday, June 01, 2020 Yellow Grano 50-pound sacks colossal 10.00-11.00, jumbo 9.00-10.00, medium 9.50-11.00; Red Globe Type 25-pound sacks jumbo 8.00-9.00, medium 7.75-9.00.

ARIZONA DISTRICT — Shipments (49-49-37) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (6-6-18) — Movement expected to increase as shippers receive more onions. FOB price report expected next week (June 8, 2020). First report.

CENTRAL WISCONSIN 2019 CROP — Shipments (10-9-6) — Movement expected to seasonally decrease. Too few open market sales to establish a market.

Peppers, bell

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS Crossings — (86-81-80) — Movement expected to decrease slightly. Trading yellow large fairly active at lower prices, others fairly active at slightly lower prices. Prices Yellow large lower, others slightly lower. GREENHOUSE 11 pound cartons Red jumbo and extra large 15.95-17.95, large 14.95-15.95; Yellow jumbo and extra large mostly 16.95-17.95, large 14.95; Orange jumbo and extra large 18.95-19.95, large 17.95. Red 1 1/9 bushel carton irregular size fair quality 18.95-20.95. Quality generally good.

COACHELLA VALLEY CALIFORNIA — Shipments (97-84-62) — Movement of Green expected to decrease seasonally, Red about the same. Trading early very active, late moderate. Prices Green slightly higher, Red lower. 1 1/9 bushel cartons Green extra large mostly 26.95-28.95, large 24.95-26.95; irregular size fair quality Green mostly 18.95-20.95, Red mostly 16.95-18.95. 1/2 bushel cartons Red extra large and large mostly 16.95. Quality generally good.

SOUTH GEORGIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (29-58-55) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Moderate. Prices Slightly Higher. 1 1/9 bushel cartons Green jumbo 22.35-22.85 extra large 22.35-22.85 fair quality 16.35-18.85 large 18.35-18.85. Quality generally good.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA — Harvest of Green expected to begin the week of May 31. Quality expected to be generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issued by June 5. FIRST REPORT.

Potatoes

U.S. — Shipments (1,722*-1,800*-1,482) — The top shipping states, in order, were Idaho, San Luis Valley Colorado, Columbia Basin Washington, California and Florida. (* revised)
UPPER VALLEY, TWIN FALLS-BURLEY DISTRICT IDAHO 2019 CROP — Shipments — (718-781-642, Includes exports 9-6-6) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Carton 50-70s active, others moderate. Prices Generally Unchanged. Russet Burbanks U.S. One baled 5-pound film bags non size A mostly 6.50-7.00; 50-pound sacks 40-70s mostly 12.00-13.00, 80s mostly 10.00, 90s 8.00-9.00, 100s mostly 7.00-7.50; U.S. Two 6 ounce minimum 4.00-5.00, 10 ounce minimum mostly 7.00-8.00.

SAN LUIS VALLEY COLORADO 2019 CROP — Shipments (224-243*-151, Includes exports 13-14*-12) — Movement expected to be about the same. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Unchanged. U.S. One baled 5 10-lb film bags sz A 9.00-9.50, baled 10 5-lb film bags sz A mostly 10.00; 50 lb cartons 40-70s 15.00-16.00, 80s 14.00-15.00, 90-100s 12.00-14.00. (* revised)

COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON AND UMATILLA BASIN OREGON 2019 CROP — Shipments (159-152-149, Includes exports 37-36-38) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading carton 50-70s active, others moderate. Prices carton 50-70s higher, carton 40s lower, others generally unchanged. Russet Norkotah U.S. One baled 10 pound film bags size A mostly 7.00-8.00, baled 5 pound film bags size A mostly 8.00-9.00; 50 pound cartons 40s mostly 11.00-12.00, 50-70s 13.00-14.00, 80s 11.00-13.00, 90s 10.00-12.00. 100s 9.00-11.00, U.S Two 50 pound sacks 10 ounce minimum mostly 6.00-7.00.

FLORIDA 2020 CROP — Shipments (141-126-111) — Movement expected to seasonally decrease. Trading Fairly Active. Prices U.S. One Round Red size A higher, others generally unchanged. Round Red U.S. One 50 pound cartons size A mostly 19.00-23.50, size B mostly 26.00-27.50, Creamers 3/4-1 5/8 inches mostly 30.50-35.75; 50 pound sacks size A mostly 17.50-21.75, size B mostly 24.50-24.75, U.S. Two 50 pound sacks size A mostly 12.75-16.50, size B mostly 16.75-18.75. Yellow Type U.S. One 50 pound cartons size A mostly 32.50, size B mostly 18.50; 50 pound sacks size A mostly 30.75, size B mostly 16.75.

CENTRAL WISCONSIN 2019 CROP — Shipments (109-107-104) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Generally Unchanged. Russet Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-pound film bags size A mostly 10.00-11.00, baled 10 5-pound film bags size A mostly 11.00-12.00; 50 pound cartons 40s-70s mostly 18.00-19.00, 80s mostly 17.00-18.00, 90s mostly 14.00-15.00, 100s 13.00-14.00.

HEREFORD-HIGH PLAINS TEXAS — Shipments (62-69-69) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.
ARIZONA DISTRICT 2020 CROP — Shipments (22-29-27) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

MICHIGAN — Shipments (43*-45*-27) — Movement expected to continue seasonal decline. Trading Slow. Prices Unchanged. U.S. 1 size A baled 5 10-pound bags Russet Norkotah 11.50-12.50, baled 10 5-pound bags mostly 12.50-13.50. Supplies in few hands. (* revised)

NEBRASKA 2019 CROP — Shipments (36-31-18) — Movement expected to be about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

KLAMATH BASIN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT — Shipments (22-14*-15) — Movement expected to remain about the same. supplies in too few hands to establish a market. (*revised)

MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA (RED RIVER VALLEY) 2019 CROP — Shipments (15-12-10) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Remaining supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

NORTHERN COLORADO DISTRICT 2019 CROP — Shipments (7-0-0) — Movement expected decrease seasonally. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

CANADA (NEW BRUNSWICK) CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS — Movement expected to decrease slightly. Trading Slow. Prices Unchanged. USOne/CDOne baled 10 5-pound film bags size A mostly 11.00, baled 5 10-pound film bags non-size A mostly 10.00.

COLUMBIA BASIN WASHINGTON AND UMATILLA BASIN OREGON 2019 CROP — Shipments (159-152-149, Includes exports 37-36-38) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading carton 50-70s active, others moderate. Prices carton 50-70s higher, carton 40s lower, others generally unchanged. Russet Norkotah U.S. One baled 10 pound film bags size A mostly 7.00-8.00, baled 5 pound film bags size A mostly 8.00-9.00; 50 pound cartons 40s mostly 11.00-12.00, 50-70s 13.00-14.00, 80s 11.00-13.00, 90s 10.00-12.00. 100s 9.00-11.00, U.S Two 50 pound sacks 10 ounce minimum mostly 6.00-7.00.

FLORIDA 2020 CROP — Shipments (141-126-111) — Movement expected to seasonally decrease. Trading Fairly Active. Prices U.S. One Round Red size A higher, others generally unchanged. Round Red U.S. One 50 pound cartons size A mostly 19.00-23.50, size B mostly 26.00-27.50, Creamers 3/4-1 5/8 inches mostly 30.50-35.75; 50 pound sacks size A mostly 17.50-21.75, size B mostly 24.50-24.75, U.S. Two 50 pound sacks size A mostly 12.75-16.50, size B mostly 16.75-18.75. Yellow Type U.S. One 50 pound cartons size A mostly 32.50, size B mostly 18.50; 50 pound sacks size A mostly 30.75, size B mostly 16.75.

CENTRAL WISCONSIN 2019 CROP — Shipments (109-107-104) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Generally Unchanged. Russet Norkotah U.S. One baled 5 10-pound film bags size A mostly 10.00-11.00, baled 10 5-pound film bags size A mostly 11.00-12.00; 50 pound cartons 40s-70s mostly 18.00-19.00, 80s mostly 17.00-18.00, 90s mostly 14.00-15.00, 100s 13.00-14.00.

HEREFORD-HIGH PLAINS TEXAS — Shipments (62-69-69) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

ARIZONA DISTRICT 2020 CROP — Shipments (22-29-27) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

MICHIGAN — Shipments (43*-45*-27) — Movement expected to continue seasonal decline. Trading Slow. Prices Unchanged. U.S. 1 size A baled 5 10-pound bags Russet Norkotah 11.50-12.50, baled 10 5 pound bags mostly 12.50-13.50. Supplies in few hands. (* revised)

NEBRASKA 2019 CROP — Shipments (36-31-18) — Movement expected to be about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

KLAMATH BASIN OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT — Shipments (22-14*-15) — Movement expected to remain about the same. supplies in too few hands to establish a market. (*revised)

MINNESOTA-NORTH DAKOTA (RED RIVER VALLEY) 2019 CROP — Shipments (15-12-10) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Remaining supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

NORTHERN COLORADO DISTRICT 2019 CROP — Shipments (7-0-0) — Movement expected decrease seasonally. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.

CANADA (NEW BRUNSWICK) CROSSINGS THROUGH MAINE POINTS — Movement expected to decrease slightly. Trading Slow. Prices Unchanged. USOne/CDOne baled 10 5-pound film bags size A mostly 11.00, baled 5 10-pound film bags non-size A mostly 10.00.

Squash

SOUTH GEORGIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (20-24-17) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices Yellow Crookneck small lower, medium unchanged, others higher. ½ and 5/9 bushel cartons Zucchini small 14.35-16.85 medium 12.35-14.85, Yellow Straightneck small 16.35-16.85 medium 14.35-14.85; 3/4 bushel cartons Yellow Crookneck small 14.35-14.85 medium 8.35 8.85. Quality generally good.

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA — Shipments (10-6-4) — Supply insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. LAST REPORT.

VIRGINIA — Shipments very light. Movement expected to increase as more growers begin harvesting. Current supplies are very light and insufficient to establish market. FIRST REPORT.

Squash, spaghetti

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA Crossings — (19-19-12) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading Moderate. Prices Generally Unchanged. 1 1/9 bushel cartons small mostly 12.95, medium mostly 16.95-18.95, large mostly 18.95. Quality generally good.

Squash, yellow straightneck

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA Crossings — (23-17-8) — Movement expected to decrease sharply as most shippers are finished for the season. 4/7 bushel cartons supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. Quality variable. Light and sporadic crossings expected to continue through June 6. LAST REPORT

Squash, zucchini

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA Crossings — (73-65-40) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading Moderate. Prices small-medium generally unchanged, other higher. 4/7 bushel cartons small and small-medium mostly 10.95, medium mostly 8.95. Quality variable.

Tomatoes

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS Crossings (158-155-152) — Movement expected to decrease slightly. Trading fairly active. Prices Generally Unchanged. Vine Ripes cartons 2 layer 4x4-4x5s mostly 16.95-18.95, 5x5s mostly 14.95; 25 pound cartons loose 4x5 -5x5 size mostly 13.95-14.95, 5x6 size mostly 12.95. Quality generally good. Most present shipments from prior booking and/or previous commitments.

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA — Shipments (213-155-141) — Movement expected to remain about the same as most growers finish for the season. Trading Active. Prices Generally Unchanged. Extra services included. Mature Greens 85% U.S.One or better 5x6 size 17.95, 6x6 size 17.95, 6x7 size 17.95. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA Crossings — (78-49-83) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early very active, late moderate. Prices Generally Unchanged. Vine Ripes cartons 2 layers 4x4-4x5s 16.95-18.95, 5x5s 14.95-16.95, 5x6s mostly 12.95. Quality generally good.

U.S. SHIPPING POINTS — Shipments (30-29*-10) — Greenhouse. No prices reported. (* revised)

FLORIDA WEST DISTRICT AND SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT — Shipments (0-0-3) — Light harvest has begun and expected to continue for the next 5 days. Expect sufficient number of shippers for first F.O.B. within 7 days.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA Crossings — (6-7*-2) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issue the week of June 14. (*revised)

CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Harvest expected to begin the week of May 31. Most shippers expect to be fully underway the week of June 14. Quality expected to be generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issue the week of June 21.

Tomatoes, cherry

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA Crossings — (3-3*-2) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first F.O.B report is expected to be issue the week of June 14. (* revised)

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA — Shipments (3-2-1) — Movement expected to remain about the same as most growers finish for the season. Trading Active. Prices Generally Unchanged. Extra services included. Flats 12 1-pint basket with lids 16.95-17.95. Quality generally good.

Tomatoes, grape

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA Crossings— ( 17-15-15) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Available supplies very light. Trading Active. Prices Higher. Flats 12-1 pint containers with lids medium-large supplies 16.95. 20 pound cartons loose medium-large supplies insufficient to establish a market. Quality generally good.

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA — Shipments (26-18-11) — Movement expected to remain about the same as most growers finish for the season. Trading Active. Prices Higher. including palletizing and cooling. Flats 12 1-pint containers with lids 15.95-16.95. 20 pound cartons loose 29.95-33.95. Quality generally good.

FLORIDA WEST AND SOUTH CAROLINA DISTRICT — Shipments (0-2-10) — Light harvest has begun and expected to continue for the next 5 days. Expect sufficient volume for first F.O.B. within 7 days.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS Crossings — (5-3-7) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early very active, late active. Prices pints higher, cartons slightly higher. Flats 12 1-pint containers with lids medium-large mostly 9.95-10.95 and 20 lb carton loose medium-large mostly 16.95-17.95. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA Crossings — (#-#-0) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Most shippers expect to be fully underway the week of June 7. Supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issue the week of June 14. (# less than 50,000 lbs)

Tomatoes, plum

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA — Crossings (267-162-189) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading early very active, late active. Prices much higher. 25 pound cartons loose Roma extra large and large mostly 16.95, medium 12.95-14.95. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS Crossings — (99-89-105) — Movement expected about the same. Trading early fairly active, late active. Prices much higher. Roma 25 pound cartons loose extra large mostly 16.95-17.95, large mostly 13.95-14.95, medium 12.95-13.95. Quality generally good.

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA — Shipments (64-58-45) — Movement expected to remain about the same as most growers finish for the season. Trading Active. Prices Higher. Extra services included. 25 pound cartons loose extra large 17.95, large 17.95, medium 17.95. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA — Crossings (51-39*-35) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading Active. Prices 25 pound cartons loose Roma extra large and large mostly 18.95. Quality generally good. (* revised)

CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Harvest expected to begin the week of June 7. Most shippers expect to be fully underway the week of June 14. Quality expected to be generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issue the week of June 21.

D.R. Walcher halts expansion

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:36:54 GMT

The COVID-19 pandemic has put some expansion plans on hold at D.R. Walcher Farms in North Fairfield, Ohio, said Ken Holthouse, partner.

“We were planning an expansion at Walcher, adding onto the building and getting into some bagged product eventually, but the way the COVID thing has hit, we’re waiting,” he said.

“We need to get this season behind us. The whole world wants 2020 to go into the history.”

The planned expansion includes a 20,000-square-foot canopy at Walcher’s 10-year-old packingshed, Holthouse said.

“We’re pretty large into the fall squash and fall decorative items; you have to get it out of the sun as much as pos-sible and we don’t have a whole lot of space,” he said.

“We’re going to wait on that for the time being.”

Sister company Holthouse Farms in Willard, Ohio, has added about 15,000 square feet in the past three years, Holthouse said.

“There’s a new loading dock extension, a new office complex and a box storage barn,” he said.

Related Content:

Ohio suppliers ready for heavy retail sales this season

FDA proposes heightened traceability rules for certain produce

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:46:49 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed new traceability rules that seek elevated record-keeping for many fresh produce items, from all fresh-cut products to leafy greens and tomatoes.

Starting Sept. 23, there will be a 120-day public comment period on the new rule through the Federal Register. A draft is available for viewing until then. The rule is a key component of the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety and implements the long-awaited Section 204 of Food Safety Modernization Act.

Frank Yiannas, FDA deputy commissioner for food policy and response, said the agency seeks to harmonize and standardize record-keeping process to ease investigations. The FDA will still allow paper records, but all companies in the supply chain should be able to submit an electronic spreadsheet containing traceability information within 24 hours.

“More generally, the FDA encourages all food businesses to maintain their traceability records electronically whenever possible, to expedite the identification of traceability information when needed to address threats to public health,” according to an FDA news release.

Yiannas acknowledged that many in the produce industry have adopted voluntary traceability standards, whether through the Produce Traceability Initiative or the California/Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.

But the current one-step forward, one step back requirement, is lacking, according to the FDA.

“These requirements form a baseline for traceability recordkeeping, but they provide limited information to effectively and rapidly link shipments of food through each point in the supply chain,” according to the FDA release. “This — and the fact that recordkeeping systems can be largely paper-based and lack a universal lexicon throughout industry — can make it difficult to trace a product to its original source when necessary.

Formerly referred to as “high-risk foods,” the Food Traceability List includes these items — and any items made with them:

Cucumbers, all varieties;
Fresh herbs, all varieties;
Leafy greens, including all lettuces and kale, chicory, watercress, chard, arugula, spinach, pak choi, sorrel, collards, and endive;
All melons, including watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe
Peppers, all varieties;
Sprouts; all varieties;
Tomatoes; all varieties;
Tropical tree fruits, including mangoes, papayas, lychees, starfruit and guavas; and
Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.

The FDA is highlighting what it calls Critical Tracking Events (CTEs), which includes growing, receiving, transforming (fresh-cut), and shipping. For each CTE, the FDA wants entities to maintain records (known as Key Data Elements/KDEs) including:

Traceability lot code;
Date the product was received;
When it was shipped; and
A description of the product.

“In addition, those subject to the rule would also be required to create and maintain records related to their internal traceability program, which would help regulators better understand a firm’s recordkeeping practices and traceability operations,” according to the release.

The industry will become familiar with the new terminology (CTE, KDE); Yiannas said a big step to standardization is a common language shared by all in the supply chain.

According to a statement from the California LGMA, it and its sister organization in Arizona appear to be in compliance with the proposed FDA rules.

“We want to assure our customers and consumers that members of the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement are already required to have traceback systems in place,” according to the statement. “This has been part of the LGMA requirements since the organization was formed in 2007.

“As with any other aspect of our program, the LGMA is committed to making any necessary improvements to protect consumers,” according to the LGMA’s statement.

Related stories:

New Era of Smarter Food Safety is upon us

California LGMA survey looks at members’ traceability plans

Groups urge FDA to require better traceability for leafy greens