From now into 2019 low retail price inflation is anticipated for fresh fruits and vegetables, according to a USDA report. Also, FreshCloud has been introduced by AgroFresh.
In the recently released Food Price report, the department notes fresh vegetable prices fell 0.2 percent from May to June, and now are 0.8 percent less than in June 2017. The USDA reports retail fresh vegetable prices are expected to remain steady with last year, changing between -0.5 to 0.5 percent in 2018 and then increasing 1.5 to 2.5 percent in 2019.
Prices for fresh fruits fell 1.2 percent from May to June but are up 1.9 percent compared with June 2017. The report said that despite citrus prices rising 2.3 percent, prices for apples and bananas fell 0.4 percent, and prices for all other fruits fell 4 percent from May to June.
The USDA forecasts fresh fruit prices to increase 1.5 to 2.5 percent in 2018 and rise 2 to 3 percent in 2019.
The report observes farm level fruit prices are forecast to drop between 2.5 to 3.5 percent and drop another 3 to 4 percent in 2019. Farm-level vegetable prices are forecast to drop between 6 and 7 percent this year and decline an additional 2.5 to 3.5 percent in 2019.
AgroFresh Launches FreshCloud
AgroFresh Solutions Inc. of Philadelphia has launched a new tool to predict the freshness of produce.
Known as the FreshCloud platform, the tool uses data to monitor produce quality through the supply chain, according to a news release.
The release notes the new technology will allow users to predict produce freshness, quality and optimal consumption timing.
AgroFresh recently acquired Verigo, whose technology will help AgroFresh improve fruit quality, leading to less food waste.
“As the world becomes increasingly data-driven, our commitment to high-quality fresh produce requires not only the best chemistry and expertise, but also the best information technology to ensure freshness across the supply chain and increased logistical efficiency to minimize waste,” AgroFresh CEO Jordi Ferre said in the release.
Verigo’s technology forms the foundation of FreshCloud Transit Insights. The acquisition also revamped AgroFresh’s AdvanStore offering, now called FreshCloud Storage Insights.
FreshCloud Predictive Screening, part of the FreshCloud platform, will predict the risk of disorder development during storage by analyzing gene expression at commercial harvest.