Latest News From Produce Crops

USDA trade statistics show that Mexico was the largest supplier of mangoes in 2023, accounting for 63% of the value of U.S. mango imports in 2023.

Elizabeth Mitcham, director emeritus of the Postharvest Technology Center, talks about innovations in postharvest technology, challenges to delivering fresh fruits and vegetables and the future of postharvest research.

Sunkist’s National Display Contest for its California Star Ruby grapefruit will award prizes to the produce managers of the top three winning stores.

The world of table grapes has expanded exponentially from traditional red and green varieties to today’s plethora of cultivars with appearance, flavor and size characteristics.

Mexican mango supplies for Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Ciruli Bros. will continue to increase through April, peaking for the Cinco de Mayo holiday, says Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer.

A proposed rule from the USDA would implement a recommendation from the South Texas Onion Committee to increase the assessment rate by 3 cents.

Retailers can capture significant California cherry sales by promoting “pedal to the metal” to the end of the season, says Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers.

The USDA plans to buy the fruit for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs.

Mango demand is strong and Mission Produce says it's looking forward to the ramp-up of the Mexican mango season to supply customer ripe programs all spring and summer.

Good-quality spring table grapes now are arriving from Mexico’s Jalisco growing area, and U.S. grape shipments from California’s Coachella Valley should get started in May.

Despite supply challenges, the mango market continues to grow, says Dan Spellman, director of marketing for the National Mango Board.

Vivid displays, discounts and recipe inspiration are part of the marketing effort to include avocados in the lead-up to Cinco de Mayo.

The packer, grower and distributor of pears, apples and stone fruit says promotions and geo-targeting sales of fuji apples are keys to success this spring and summer.

The California-based marketer expects about 5 million pounds of Gem avocados this season, with the peak hitting in May.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is accepting applications for a new trade advisory committee called the Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee.

Yakima, Wash.-based Superfresh Growers expects its Northwest cherry crop to be available in late May and extend into August.

Mexico’s 2024 avocado production is forecast at 5% up over 2023, according to a new USDA annual report.

Peak volume of California cherries is expected on May 18 for the Dinuba, Calif.-based marketer.

With the arrival of spring comes the onset of a plethora of nutritious fruits and vegetables from California’s bountiful Santa Maria Valley.

The Morris, Minn.-based company says the move is aligned with its sales strategy in the eastern U.S.

Soil Health Institute becomes the fourth environmental nongovernmental organization to join PSA, while Walther Farms and DeGroot’s Vegetable Farms joined as grower associates.

Stemilt Growers expects its California cherry season to start toward the end of April, translating to promotable volumes leading into Memorial Day and through early June.

In the heart of California’s vibrant strawberry-growing regions, anticipation is high for the 2024 season with industry insiders upbeat about crop quality and volume. 

Distributors of Mexican tomatoes say the Florida Tomato Exchange’s claim that Mexican tomato imports suppressed U.S. grower prices over the winter is off base.

As one of the largest lemon suppliers in California, Sunkist is expanding its program offerings, adding multiple organic lemon growers this season to meet consumer and customer demand for year-round supply.

Congress is allocating an additional $500,000 in federal funding on top of $1 million granted last year to expand the program into California.

The company plans for a free event to celebrate all things banana on April 17 in Florida, and it invites fans to share bright and yellow memories through social media posts.

In the U.S. Apple Association’s latest report, fresh and processing apple numbers remain higher than last year and the five-year average for holdings.

Red and yellow dragon fruit and rambutan are among fruit and vegetable supplier’s new offerings.

The first of T&G Global’s premium new season Envy branded apples have departed Aotearoa New Zealand, bound for China.

This summer, Mission Produce says it will be sourcing avocados from California, Mexico and vertically integrated farms in Peru — and mangoes primarily from Mexico, with supplemental volume from Guatemala and Nicaragua.

The marketer doesn’t anticipate any gaps in its California cherry supply this season, says Chris Kurylo, vice president of strategic business development.

Available in a 40-pound carton or 2-pound bag, the Los Angeles-based grower-packer-shipper says the California flat sweet onions cater to both retail and foodservice customers.

More normal harvest timing for California cherries is setting the stage for a successful season, California cherry shippers say.

Expanding per capita consumption, increasing imports and moderate retail growth in sales point to a strong category, data and industry leaders indicate.

Massachusetts-based brand Morning Kiss Organic said it expects good supplies for the season, which runs through June.

The company says it expects strong imports of Autumncrisp and Ruby Rush grapes for the season that will begin in mid-May.

The kiwifruit marketer has planned marketing around the season's first shipments of New Zealand kiwifruit, set to hit stores mid-May.

The Chilean Citrus Committee estimates that global citrus exports from Chile will reach 383,000 tons this season, a 4% decline from 2023.

In his season forecast, Drew Lerner, senior agricultural meteorologist and president of World Weather, shared with USApple members how he sees a relatively favorable growing season.

The vegetable seed breeder says it added marketing and project management to its combined North and Central American operations.

The research team on a national fire blight grant will host several webinars covering topics including antibiotic resistance, pathogen movement and plant defense.

Signaling that approval is on the horizon, the USDA says it has developed a pest-risk analysis for imports of hass avocados from Guatemala.

After discovering the invasive pest in the southeastern part of the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has added Greene County to a quarantine.

Vestaron, a manufacturer of peptide-based biocontrols for the specialty crop industry, says it will tap into Simplot Grower Solutions' network of clients and retail operations to expand its reach.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service added Quebec to its prohibited import list to prevent the spread of the European cherry fruit fly.

Continued inflation industrywide, coupled with an unfavorable exchange for growers, is making life difficult for growers and distributors of fresh fruits and vegetables from West Mexico.

With sweet onion sales accounting for 35% of the onion category, retail promotional efforts involving endcap displays, bins and cross-merchandising can increase market share, says the marketer's vice president of sales.

Wynne, Ark.-based Matthews Ridgeview Farms is optimistic for a strong spring sweetpotato season, says Autumn Campbell, sales manager.

From vibrant artichokes to crisp lettuce varieties and colorful cauliflower, farms across the Golden State are poised to deliver fresh and nutritious vegetables, boosted by optimal weather conditions.