Latest News From SPECIAL REPORT: Year in Produce

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While a mid-December “phase one” trade agreement with China lifted spirits and forestalled any escalation in the trade war with China, it did not immediately remove Chinese tariffs on fresh produce.

Food safety issues, particularly E. coli outbreaks, continued to disrupt the industry in 2019, even as the Food and Drug Administration announced a New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative.

The Commerce Department’s decision in May to withdraw an agreement suspending an anti-dumping investigation on Mexican tomatoes entering the U.S. set off a contentious debate on imported tomatoes in 2019.

Major retailers including Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons have continued to invest in their e-commerce capabilities this year as the industry prepares for a future in which Amazon is a larger player in grocery.

In 2019, business consolidation and acquisitions were a continued theme across all aspects of the fresh produce industry. Below are some of the more noteable moves of the past 12 months.

For the first time in years, two weather events have created a significant challenge to marketers of potatoes over the winter and spring months.

Produce companies and grocery retailers continued to look for more ways to reduce food waste in 2019 as federal government agencies announced a major initiative around that same goal.

The concept of sustainable packaging has been in the minds of both companies and consumers for many years. That being said, in 2019 sustainable packaging hit an all time trending high.

As consumer interest in topics like locally grown food, sustainability, food deserts and urban agriculture continues to grow, innovative produce companies continue to meet demand.

Plant-based diets seemed to be all the rage in 2019, making it a hot topic among industry professionals trying to determine the best ways to market, sell and promote fruits and vegetables to consumers.

Some Mexican avocado growers went on strike in late October, impeding harvest crews from entering orchards.

In June, Kroger sent suppliers a letter outlining a new 90-day payment plan designed to make operations more efficient for the retailer. Produce industry groups quickly pushed back.

Conversation around traceability accelerated in 2018 as more foodborne illness outbreaks were connected to fresh produce, including two more to romaine lettuce.

In 2018, Florida growers were still grappling with the fallout from 2017’s Hurricane Irma, which caused more than $760 million in damage to the state’s citrus industry.

Retailers around the country rushed to build out grocery pickup and delivery capabilities after the acquisition of Whole Foods Market by Amazon in the summer of 2017.

The implementation of Electronic Logging Data regulations and volatile truck rates combined to make trucking and transportation big issues in 2018.

The competitive grocery landscape prompted numerous bankruptcies and acquisitions in 2018, along with consolidation in the meal kit space.

Consolidation on the supply side of fresh produce marketers was a theme for 2018, headlined by the Fresh Del Monte Produce purchase of Mann Packing and the 45% stake in Dole Food acquired by Ireland-based Total Produce.

Fresh produce exporters found themselves in the crossfire of the Trump administration’s trade priorities in 2018.

2018 was not a good year for fans of romaine lettuce and was even worse for romaine marketers.

There have been worse years for weather, but 2017 was one where Mother Nature’s hand changed many fruit and vegetable markets.

The first half of 2017, both Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market were struggling in a competitive landscape, but in June, that all changed.

California saw about half its avocado crop in 2017 compared to the previous year, and growers were optimistic for a big 2018 to capture ever-growing demand.

Discount supermarket Aldi has been in the U.S. for decades but continues to see growth with a unique value/quality mix. Well, it was unique until this summer, when Lidl opened its first stores in the U.S.

One of the reasons the produce industry generally supported the election of President Trump was his business experience and positions, including reducing the regulatory burdens.

As a candidate, Donald Trump called NAFTA the worst trade deal ever. But he didn’t pull the U.S. out of it as president in 2017.

Innovative produce marketers continue to meet consumer needs, and needs consumers didn’t know they had, through value-added products.

The organic market took no dramatic leaps in 2017, just continued its steady sales growth spurred by consumer demand.

Consumers want local fruits and vegetables, but in places where it’s too cold half the year, they’re mostly out of luck. Greenhouse vegetable growers are changing that.

Citrus greening disease or huanglongbing (HLB) remains a devastating enemy, but attack plans and potential solutions are beginning to appear.