Imports and Exports
As the Mexican grape season begins, importers will be seeing an expected 22-million carton crop this season, a one-third increase from last season.
Terra Exports, Las Vegas, has hired Manuel Escandon, who is based in Chile, as part of its South American expansion.
Government leaders in Canada say they will soon “refresh” a list of U.S. commodities targeted for retaliatory tariffs and hinted the new list could include apples.
With the Trump administration shifting some federal employees away from the border to deal with increased illegal immigration, commercial shipments of produce from Mexico are taking longer to cross into the U.S.
The Hass Avocado Board is seeking new members for domestic grower and importer seats on the board.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Pharr, Texas, seized more than $6 million worth of methamphetamine concealed in a shipment of fresh honeydew melons.
The latest numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that the import share of the U.S. fresh vegetable supply continues to rise.
The Packer’s Tom Karst visited the morning of April 12 with Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, about the upcoming Viva Fresh show in San Antonio and border issues.
Hillary Brick, senior vice president of marketing at the Giumarra Cos., Los Angeles, has retired after more than 26 years at the company.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, former governor of Georgia, said the conclusions in a study from the University of Georgia — his alma mater — about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement are “flat wrong.”
Mexican tomato growers proposed a new tomato suspension agreement to the Commerce Department on May 22, but Florida tomato growers gave it an icy reception.
Cherry, grape, cranberry and tree nut producers are among U.S. growers who will receive direct payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture this year to offset damage caused by retaliatory tariffs.
The Chilean Kiwifruit Committee is kicking off its first marketing campaign for North America, following rising volumes of the Fruit arriving in the U.S. each season.
Sun World Innovations, Palm Desert, Calif., has chosen a group of companies to import and market proprietary grapes in North America.
Exports of apple, pears, and grapes continue to rise from South Africa, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
President Trump said Monday that a trade “understanding” has been reached with Mexico.
Financial Times reports say President-elect Donald Trump has asked Robert Lightizer to return as U.S. trade representative.
The USDA said it concluded the risks of introducing or spreading plant pests or noxious weeds from imported fresh hass avocado fruit can be successfully mitigated using a systems approach.
Funded projects include aligning pesticide regulatory systems and harmonizing maximum residue limits on exported produce and more.
USDA trade numbers show Mexico accounted for 91% of total U.S. fresh tomato imports in 2023.
USDA reports that total U.S. tomato imports of Mexican tomatoes totaled $2.7 billion in 2023, up from $2.47 billion in 2022.
The Global Port Tracker Report says major container ports have seen a surge in imports because of potential increases in tariffs.
Volume of U.S. fresh potatoes sent to Mexico was up 55% from October 2023 through September 2024, the USDA reports.
Table grape production is projected to rise as California makes a full recovery from last year’s damage from Hurricane Hilary.
Mexican hass avocado imports contributed $4.2 billion to the U.S. GDP according to data in a report issued by the Avocado Institute of Mexico.
The country’s avocado production in the marketing year from July 2024 to June 2025 is expected to be up 33.3% from the previous season.
The additional funding will help specialty crop growers expand agricultural exports to Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and South and Southeast Asia.
U.S. imports of greenhouse-grown organic bell peppers from November 2023 to October 2024 were up 52% from the same period the previous year.