Fresh Talk
Wholesale avocado prices were already sizzling hot before the U.S. suspended Mexican hass imports on Feb. 11 because of a security threat to one of their inspectors in Michoacan.
The U.S. economy is lousy with inflation, and that is putting consumers in a sour mood.
LinkedIn discussion group reveals farmers and most produce folks are “glass-half-full” people.
The Packer’s Tom Karst wants to know what you think makes for the most efficient fresh produce packing operation today?
“Troubling but temporary.” That’s what I called McDonald’s decision to remove salads from its menu during the early days of the pandemic.
Movement is down and prices are up for fresh produce compared with this time a year ago.
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was a lot like any other time.
Truckers are sounding off against the idea of speed limiters on trucks, and fresh produce is being invoked as one point in their arguments against the devices.
From all that we are all told by marketing pros, consumers love the idea of “getting to know” growers, the folks who put food on their plates.
Strawberries got a boost this year, claiming No. 2 fruit in the 2022 Fresh Trends study, with just over 56% of those surveyed saying they have purchased fresh strawberries in the past twelve months.
Reducing food waste is the responsibility of all parts of the supply chain and a central tenet of sustainability goals.
Other than the Fed raising interest rates a fraction, what can be done about inflation?
You have seen the billboard on the side of the highway: “One (insert state name) farmer feeds X number of people and YOU.”
One of The Packer’s first mentions of sustainability and packaging (apart from some back-and-forth banter about RPCs and corrugated cartons) appeared in coverage from the 2005 PMA Fresh Summit event.
What does the “industry” need from the government?
While attending the International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference, I visited with a produce professional in the tech space.
How many thousands of pounds of “perfectly good” romaine lettuce have been tossed in the past ten days?
Compared to immigration-related tweets and tirades in Washington, D.C., the fate of the stoic farm bill is considerably less entertaining.
As inexplicable as it may seem, exports of fresh fruits and vegetables for January to August are basically unchanged from the same period a year ago.
With more than 4,000 comments filed already, input is due Oct. 10 on the FMCSA’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking on hours of service rule regulations for commercial truck drivers.
My recent Fresh Talk post about the resiliency of exports was a little too glib and simplistic for one West Coast produce exporter.
I received a welcome email this morning from a one-time employee at The Packer.
The premium paid for organic produce is a moving target, and it is far from standard for fresh produce commodities.
Check out the above chart showing the shortfall in shipments of romaine in early December compared with a year ago.
Everyone is a critic, but some are better than others.
“Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya: Good afternoon, good evening, and good night!” was the cheery greeting from Truman Burbank in 1998 movie The Truman Show.
It seems crazy that President Trump is still considering options to close the U.S.-Mexico border.
Of course, President Trump won’t close the border. But what if he did?
To say there is pushback against the idea of creating another pilot program to allow drivers under 21 to operate commercial trucks is putting it mildly.