Author Archive
A prolonged heat event is expected to impact the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys this week, with temperatures climbing into the upper 90s and low 100s in inland growing areas. Persistent heat stress is expected to accelerate crop maturity and create additional quality and shelf-life challenges across several commodities, according to a July 28 press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Markon inspectors are monitoring commodity and value-added items closely for heat-related challenges such as:
Strawberries
- Increase in soft fruit and bruising susceptibility
- Reduced shelf-life potential
- Lower yields
- Smaller berry size
Broccoli
- Increased hollow core and/or pin rot
- Higher Diamondback Moth pressure
Lettuce (Iceberg, Romaine, Green Leaf)
- Dehydration
- Increased long core/seeder, and internal burn pressure
- Stronger insect pressure (aphid, gnats, lygus, thrip)
- Greater variability in case weights due to additional trimming
- Premature pinking in value-added salads
- Reduced shelf-life potential
Tender Leaf Items
- Accelerated growth leading to weaker cell structure
- Increased yellowing, dehydration, and seeder development (arugula, cilantro)
- Reduced shelf-life potential
Impacts from the heat wave could last for over two weeks. Ordering for quick turns is highly recommended and as always, strict cold-chain management is critical for maximizing quality and shelf-life.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Pharr International Bridge seized cocaine valued at $3,723,654 in a single enforcement action.
“The threat of illicit narcotics is constant, but so is our vigilance. This interception is a powerful reminder that our CBP officers are on duty 24/7, employing every resource to detect and deter those who attempt to exploit our borders,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo Port of Entry.
The seizure occurred on June 24 at the Pharr International Bridge when CBP officers referred a commercial tractor-trailer hauling a shipment manifested as “cucumbers” for a secondary inspection. A canine inspection resulted in an alert, and a nonintrusive imaging system scan revealed anomalies in the trailer. Upon physical inspection, CBP officers discovered 112 packages containing a total of 126.5 kilograms (278.88 lbs.) of suspected cocaine hidden within the trailer.
The narcotics have an estimated street value of $3,723,654.
CBP officers seized the narcotics, tractor, and trailer. Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated a criminal investigation.
Mexico continues to be the main supplier of limes to the U.S. and Canada on a year around basis, but Columbia and Peruare are seen playing bigger roles in the future.
Go Fresh Produce of Toronto, Ontario reports weather factors in Mexico has disrupted Mexican lime shipments for much of the first five months of the year, but supplies and quality have become more consistent since June.
In addition to Mexico, Colombia also exports limes to North America. The country continues to increase volume and providing more consistent, and reliable supplies. Lime volume from Colombia during the first quarter of 2026 was very stable and the country increased its export volume with 20 to 25 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Peru shows a considerable increase in export volume to the U.S. market with a growth rate of 60 percent. Although the quality of arrivals as well as the size curve have been more stable this year, the country remains an origin that’s in a learning and improvement curve.
Both Honduras and Guatemala maintain stable volumes within a moderate range, and the North American market continues to absorb their fruit consistently.
Post-harvest losses continue to pressure the fresh produce industry, with moisture loss, oxidation, and physical damage during storage and transport accounting for a significant share of wasted product. As supply chains lengthen and retailers demand longer shelf life with less spoilage, packaging technology is playing an increasingly central role in how growers, processors, and distributors manage quality from farm to shelf.
Temperature fluctuations, exposure to oxygen, and inconsistent handling between harvest and retail remain among the most common causes of quality degradation in fresh produce. For exporters in particular, extended transit times raise the stakes, since even minor packaging shortcomings can result in product arriving at its destination in unsellable condition. This has pushed many operations to reassess how they package goods at the point of processing, rather than relying solely on cold chain logistics.
Vacuum packaging is one tool addressing these issues. By removing air from a package before sealing, vacuum sealing slows oxidation and limits the conditions that support microbial growth, which can extend usable shelf life for suitable products. The technology is not applicable to all fresh produce, but it has found practical use across categories including herbs, mushrooms, dried fruits, processed and cut vegetables, and prepared or ready-to-eat foods, where air exposure is a primary driver of quality loss. Commercial chamber vacuum sealers, used widely in food processing and packaging facilities, allow operators to apply consistent vacuum levels across batches, which supports more predictable shelf-life outcomes compared with manual or less controlled sealing methods.
Beyond shelf-life extension, vacuum packaging is increasingly viewed through a sustainability lens. Reducing spoilage during storage and transit lowers food waste, while more stable shelf life gives processors and distributors greater flexibility in inventory planning and order fulfillment. For exporters managing longer transit windows, this can translate into fewer rejected shipments and reduced losses across the supply chain.
Equipment manufacturers serving this space include Promarksvac Corporation, which produces commercial chamber vacuum sealers and vacuum packaging equipment for food processing, packaging, and industrial applications. Introvac is another supplier in the sector, offering commercial vacuum packaging and sealing equipment aimed at businesses seeking dependable, repeatable packaging performance across production runs.
As fresh produce supply chains continue to navigate rising logistics costs and sustainability expectations, packaging equipment manufacturers are likely to keep refining vacuum sealing systems to handle a broader range of products and throughput demands. For an industry where product quality can be lost in the space between harvest and shelf, continued advances in food packaging equipment are expected to remain a focus area for processors and exporters alike.
Valencia supply from California is strong. “We’re seeing that the crop is heavier than last year. Depending on the growing district, some areas are seeing a lot more volume than others. Overall it’s a good, solid crop this year, and the market doesn’t seem to be straining to absorb it,” says C.J. Buxman of Sunny Cal Farms, Reedley, CA.
The industry as a whole is underway with Valencia production, with some starting as early as April. Production will continue through October for many. What is seen in the industry right now is similar to historical trends in that harvest tends to come down during the beginning summer months with some customer programs on pause. At the end of July and onward, both harvest and volume start to pick up to match demand.
Meanwhile, while Valencia demand is good, prices are indicative of the greater supply meeting that steady demand. “Prices aren’t as high as last year—nothing astronomical out of the gate, but they’re holding steady,” says Buxman, noting the demand for smaller fruit is stronger than larger fruit, which is typical in most years on Valencias.
With Mexico wound down, the crop is a key one in the state. “California Valencias hold a very important place in the juice market, especially given how much volatility there’s been in the global orange juice supply,” Buxman adds.
Argentine citrus exports experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2026, according to the country’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. Lemons spearheaded the surge, with volumes rising 76 percent and export value soaring 129 percent to $26 million.
Total citrus shipments reached 50,085 tons—a 50 percent increase in volume. Total export value hit $108 million, marking a 36 percent year-on-year rise, according to data from the Undersecretariats of Agri-Food Markets and Regional Economies of Argentina.
Lemons are currently in peak season, whereas the orange harvest is not expected to start until late July.
Despite adverse weather, the season is benefiting from strong demand in the Northern Hemisphere.
Shipments of white dragon fruit are starting to pick up.
“There was a small gap in fruit from Ecuador for about two weeks and that caused prices to go up,” says Alan Goldberg of A&B Tropical Produce, Miami, FL. “However, now that there is more fruit coming in this week, prices should be back into the high teens. They had been in the low to mid $20s for that short gap.”
The volume coming in from Ecuador is similar to this time last year and both fruit sizing and quality have been average.
Meanwhile, Florida will begin its production of dragon fruit soon and its season usually goes three to four months. “The Florida season is looking good. The growing conditions have been favorable for the most part, so we may have some earlier than usual dragon fruit production,” says Goldberg, noting that it will continue to ship Ecuadorian white dragon fruit along with fruit from Florida. “That’s because Florida doesn’t put out the kind of production that comes in from offshore. If anything, it just puts a bit of pricing pressure on Ecuador.”
Also given the fact that fuel rates always come into play with pricing on products that are imported–and fuel rates continue to increase–that could put even more pricing pressure on Ecuador.
As for the demand for dragon fruit, it is average though there are hopes that it will strengthen given the warmer weather that is coming on across the country.
California walnut shipments continue as a new season approaches with good volume expected.
Carriere Family Farms of Glenn, CA relates inventories are low, but overall movement continues. Currently, most inshell walnuts from California have been sold, which is good since Chile has entered the market selling primarily inshell walnuts.
California’s storage levels have been depleted, which is good. However there are still walnut kernels still in inventory, with decent movement. The company expects to have less than 100,000 tons of product left in inventory going into new crop. Part of this volume is most likely committed already.
The outlook for the 2026 harvest is a big crop, which is concerning to growers experiencing greater supply than demand.
This has resulted in the past few years, more trees being taken out, with acreage decliningfrom more than 400,000 to about 376,000 producing acres today. Despite the smaller acreage, 2025 saw the 2nd largest crop ever, amounting to about 810,000 tons.
While there is another big crop on the trees, the final crop size will depend on how summer develops. Carriere is hopeful for slightly lower volume compared to 2025. A crop of about 750,000 to 775,000 tons would be manageable, but total acreage needs to continue to drop for the industry to become profitable again.
Researchers investigated whether consuming one avocado per day for six months could affect cognitive function in adults with central obesity.
The study was conducted as an ancillary project of the multicenter Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (HAT), which examined the effects of avocado consumption on visceral adiposity. Cognitive outcomes were assessed among participants at the Loma Linda University study center.
A total of 251 participants with elevated waist circumference were randomly assigned either to consume one avocado per day (AVO) or avoid avocado consumption (CON) for six months. No additional dietary guidance was provided. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and after the intervention period, including measures of memory, processing speed, executive function, simple reaction time, and working memory reaction time.
A total of 241 participants completed the trial. Participants were 69.7% female and 53.1% white, with a mean body mass index of 33.4 ± 5.7. Ages ranged from 25 to 84 years, with a mean age of 49.6 ± 13.3 years.
The results showed that working memory reaction time improved over the six-month period for all participants. However, researchers found no differences between the avocado and control groups across any of the cognitive domains measured.
The study also found no interaction between age and the intervention. Two-way interactions involving age and time, as well as the three-way interaction between age, time, and intervention group, were not statistically significant.
Researchers noted that avocados contain fiber, carotenoids, antioxidants, polyphenols, and monounsaturated fat, nutrients that have previously been associated with cognitive health.
However, the findings indicate that consuming one avocado per day for six months, without additional lifestyle modifications, did not alter cognitive function in adults with central obesity across the age groups included in the study.
The researchers concluded that further work is needed to determine whether avocados may contribute to healthy cognitive aging when incorporated into broader dietary strategies, particularly among normal-weight individuals and metabolically vulnerable populations.
Chilean kiwifruit exports have shot up 16 percent this season, including product destined for the United States. Meanwhile, a full crop of avocados for exports is being reported from Chile.
The South American country has been struggling since 2012 when disease issues crippled the kiwi industry.
The Chilean Kiwifruit Committee reveals favorable growing and harvest conditions helped the industry achieve one of its key objectives: securing maturity across producing regions.
Growers delayed harvests a few days to increase yields and improve maturity. Favorable fall weather, including the absence of significant frosts and limited rainfall disruption, supported harvest operations.
Despite high quality across production areas, some growers reported a higher share of smaller fruit, due to a longer flowering period, which often leads to uneven fruit development.
The committee reports US demand has returned to historical levels after buyers adopted a more cautious approach in 2025 amid tariff uncertainty. European imports of Chilean kiwis have also increased, supported by lower availability of Greek fruit and quality challenges reported in that market.
Demand remains steady across Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina. Meanwhile, India continues to emerge as one of the most important growth markets for Chilean kiwifruit exports.
Avocado Exports
New Zealand is gearing up for a bumper crop of 7.8 million trays for the current 2026/27 season. But this larger-than-usual crop is also set to bring one of the largest export campaigns the sector has seen in recent years, with 4.8 million trays destined for international markets, according to local news outlet SunLive.
New Zealand Avocado reports estimates remain uncertain and are still subject to crop load, harvest timing, fruit quality and changing market conditions. However, if forecasts hold, shipments would approach record volumes set by the industry in 2021.
As a result, the industry has expanded its export plans, and with pack-out rates projected to rise up to 60 percent, the local market might see lower volumes than last year.
A prolonged heat event is expected to impact the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys this week, with temperatures climbing into the upper 90s and low 100s in inland growing areas. Persistent heat stress is expected to accelerate crop maturity and create additional quality and shelf-life challenges across several commodities, according to a July 28 press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Markon inspectors are monitoring commodity and value-added items closely for heat-related challenges such as:
Strawberries
- Increase in soft fruit and bruising susceptibility
- Reduced shelf-life potential
- Lower yields
- Smaller berry size
Broccoli
- Increased hollow core and/or pin rot
- Higher Diamondback Moth pressure
Lettuce (Iceberg, Romaine, Green Leaf)
- Dehydration
- Increased long core/seeder, and internal burn pressure
- Stronger insect pressure (aphid, gnats, lygus, thrip)
- Greater variability in case weights due to additional trimming
- Premature pinking in value-added salads
- Reduced shelf-life potential
Tender Leaf Items
- Accelerated growth leading to weaker cell structure
- Increased yellowing, dehydration, and seeder development (arugula, cilantro)
- Reduced shelf-life potential
Impacts from the heat wave could last for over two weeks. Ordering for quick turns is highly recommended and as always, strict cold-chain management is critical for maximizing quality and shelf-life.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Pharr International Bridge seized cocaine valued at $3,723,654 in a single enforcement action.
“The threat of illicit narcotics is constant, but so is our vigilance. This interception is a powerful reminder that our CBP officers are on duty 24/7, employing every resource to detect and deter those who attempt to exploit our borders,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo Port of Entry.
The seizure occurred on June 24 at the Pharr International Bridge when CBP officers referred a commercial tractor-trailer hauling a shipment manifested as “cucumbers” for a secondary inspection. A canine inspection resulted in an alert, and a nonintrusive imaging system scan revealed anomalies in the trailer. Upon physical inspection, CBP officers discovered 112 packages containing a total of 126.5 kilograms (278.88 lbs.) of suspected cocaine hidden within the trailer.
The narcotics have an estimated street value of $3,723,654.
CBP officers seized the narcotics, tractor, and trailer. Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated a criminal investigation.
Mexico continues to be the main supplier of limes to the U.S. and Canada on a year around basis, but Columbia and Peruare are seen playing bigger roles in the future.
Go Fresh Produce of Toronto, Ontario reports weather factors in Mexico has disrupted Mexican lime shipments for much of the first five months of the year, but supplies and quality have become more consistent since June.
In addition to Mexico, Colombia also exports limes to North America. The country continues to increase volume and providing more consistent, and reliable supplies. Lime volume from Colombia during the first quarter of 2026 was very stable and the country increased its export volume with 20 to 25 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Peru shows a considerable increase in export volume to the U.S. market with a growth rate of 60 percent. Although the quality of arrivals as well as the size curve have been more stable this year, the country remains an origin that’s in a learning and improvement curve.
Both Honduras and Guatemala maintain stable volumes within a moderate range, and the North American market continues to absorb their fruit consistently.
Post-harvest losses continue to pressure the fresh produce industry, with moisture loss, oxidation, and physical damage during storage and transport accounting for a significant share of wasted product. As supply chains lengthen and retailers demand longer shelf life with less spoilage, packaging technology is playing an increasingly central role in how growers, processors, and distributors manage quality from farm to shelf.
Temperature fluctuations, exposure to oxygen, and inconsistent handling between harvest and retail remain among the most common causes of quality degradation in fresh produce. For exporters in particular, extended transit times raise the stakes, since even minor packaging shortcomings can result in product arriving at its destination in unsellable condition. This has pushed many operations to reassess how they package goods at the point of processing, rather than relying solely on cold chain logistics.
Vacuum packaging is one tool addressing these issues. By removing air from a package before sealing, vacuum sealing slows oxidation and limits the conditions that support microbial growth, which can extend usable shelf life for suitable products. The technology is not applicable to all fresh produce, but it has found practical use across categories including herbs, mushrooms, dried fruits, processed and cut vegetables, and prepared or ready-to-eat foods, where air exposure is a primary driver of quality loss. Commercial chamber vacuum sealers, used widely in food processing and packaging facilities, allow operators to apply consistent vacuum levels across batches, which supports more predictable shelf-life outcomes compared with manual or less controlled sealing methods.
Beyond shelf-life extension, vacuum packaging is increasingly viewed through a sustainability lens. Reducing spoilage during storage and transit lowers food waste, while more stable shelf life gives processors and distributors greater flexibility in inventory planning and order fulfillment. For exporters managing longer transit windows, this can translate into fewer rejected shipments and reduced losses across the supply chain.
Equipment manufacturers serving this space include Promarksvac Corporation, which produces commercial chamber vacuum sealers and vacuum packaging equipment for food processing, packaging, and industrial applications. Introvac is another supplier in the sector, offering commercial vacuum packaging and sealing equipment aimed at businesses seeking dependable, repeatable packaging performance across production runs.
As fresh produce supply chains continue to navigate rising logistics costs and sustainability expectations, packaging equipment manufacturers are likely to keep refining vacuum sealing systems to handle a broader range of products and throughput demands. For an industry where product quality can be lost in the space between harvest and shelf, continued advances in food packaging equipment are expected to remain a focus area for processors and exporters alike.
Valencia supply from California is strong. “We’re seeing that the crop is heavier than last year. Depending on the growing district, some areas are seeing a lot more volume than others. Overall it’s a good, solid crop this year, and the market doesn’t seem to be straining to absorb it,” says C.J. Buxman of Sunny Cal Farms, Reedley, CA.
The industry as a whole is underway with Valencia production, with some starting as early as April. Production will continue through October for many. What is seen in the industry right now is similar to historical trends in that harvest tends to come down during the beginning summer months with some customer programs on pause. At the end of July and onward, both harvest and volume start to pick up to match demand.
Meanwhile, while Valencia demand is good, prices are indicative of the greater supply meeting that steady demand. “Prices aren’t as high as last year—nothing astronomical out of the gate, but they’re holding steady,” says Buxman, noting the demand for smaller fruit is stronger than larger fruit, which is typical in most years on Valencias.
With Mexico wound down, the crop is a key one in the state. “California Valencias hold a very important place in the juice market, especially given how much volatility there’s been in the global orange juice supply,” Buxman adds.
Argentine citrus exports experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2026, according to the country’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. Lemons spearheaded the surge, with volumes rising 76 percent and export value soaring 129 percent to $26 million.
Total citrus shipments reached 50,085 tons—a 50 percent increase in volume. Total export value hit $108 million, marking a 36 percent year-on-year rise, according to data from the Undersecretariats of Agri-Food Markets and Regional Economies of Argentina.
Lemons are currently in peak season, whereas the orange harvest is not expected to start until late July.
Despite adverse weather, the season is benefiting from strong demand in the Northern Hemisphere.
Shipments of white dragon fruit are starting to pick up.
“There was a small gap in fruit from Ecuador for about two weeks and that caused prices to go up,” says Alan Goldberg of A&B Tropical Produce, Miami, FL. “However, now that there is more fruit coming in this week, prices should be back into the high teens. They had been in the low to mid $20s for that short gap.”
The volume coming in from Ecuador is similar to this time last year and both fruit sizing and quality have been average.
Meanwhile, Florida will begin its production of dragon fruit soon and its season usually goes three to four months. “The Florida season is looking good. The growing conditions have been favorable for the most part, so we may have some earlier than usual dragon fruit production,” says Goldberg, noting that it will continue to ship Ecuadorian white dragon fruit along with fruit from Florida. “That’s because Florida doesn’t put out the kind of production that comes in from offshore. If anything, it just puts a bit of pricing pressure on Ecuador.”
Also given the fact that fuel rates always come into play with pricing on products that are imported–and fuel rates continue to increase–that could put even more pricing pressure on Ecuador.
As for the demand for dragon fruit, it is average though there are hopes that it will strengthen given the warmer weather that is coming on across the country.
California walnut shipments continue as a new season approaches with good volume expected.
Carriere Family Farms of Glenn, CA relates inventories are low, but overall movement continues. Currently, most inshell walnuts from California have been sold, which is good since Chile has entered the market selling primarily inshell walnuts.
California’s storage levels have been depleted, which is good. However there are still walnut kernels still in inventory, with decent movement. The company expects to have less than 100,000 tons of product left in inventory going into new crop. Part of this volume is most likely committed already.
The outlook for the 2026 harvest is a big crop, which is concerning to growers experiencing greater supply than demand.
This has resulted in the past few years, more trees being taken out, with acreage decliningfrom more than 400,000 to about 376,000 producing acres today. Despite the smaller acreage, 2025 saw the 2nd largest crop ever, amounting to about 810,000 tons.
While there is another big crop on the trees, the final crop size will depend on how summer develops. Carriere is hopeful for slightly lower volume compared to 2025. A crop of about 750,000 to 775,000 tons would be manageable, but total acreage needs to continue to drop for the industry to become profitable again.
Researchers investigated whether consuming one avocado per day for six months could affect cognitive function in adults with central obesity.
The study was conducted as an ancillary project of the multicenter Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (HAT), which examined the effects of avocado consumption on visceral adiposity. Cognitive outcomes were assessed among participants at the Loma Linda University study center.
A total of 251 participants with elevated waist circumference were randomly assigned either to consume one avocado per day (AVO) or avoid avocado consumption (CON) for six months. No additional dietary guidance was provided. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and after the intervention period, including measures of memory, processing speed, executive function, simple reaction time, and working memory reaction time.
A total of 241 participants completed the trial. Participants were 69.7% female and 53.1% white, with a mean body mass index of 33.4 ± 5.7. Ages ranged from 25 to 84 years, with a mean age of 49.6 ± 13.3 years.
The results showed that working memory reaction time improved over the six-month period for all participants. However, researchers found no differences between the avocado and control groups across any of the cognitive domains measured.
The study also found no interaction between age and the intervention. Two-way interactions involving age and time, as well as the three-way interaction between age, time, and intervention group, were not statistically significant.
Researchers noted that avocados contain fiber, carotenoids, antioxidants, polyphenols, and monounsaturated fat, nutrients that have previously been associated with cognitive health.
However, the findings indicate that consuming one avocado per day for six months, without additional lifestyle modifications, did not alter cognitive function in adults with central obesity across the age groups included in the study.
The researchers concluded that further work is needed to determine whether avocados may contribute to healthy cognitive aging when incorporated into broader dietary strategies, particularly among normal-weight individuals and metabolically vulnerable populations.
Chilean kiwifruit exports have shot up 16 percent this season, including product destined for the United States. Meanwhile, a full crop of avocados for exports is being reported from Chile.
The South American country has been struggling since 2012 when disease issues crippled the kiwi industry.
The Chilean Kiwifruit Committee reveals favorable growing and harvest conditions helped the industry achieve one of its key objectives: securing maturity across producing regions.
Growers delayed harvests a few days to increase yields and improve maturity. Favorable fall weather, including the absence of significant frosts and limited rainfall disruption, supported harvest operations.
Despite high quality across production areas, some growers reported a higher share of smaller fruit, due to a longer flowering period, which often leads to uneven fruit development.
The committee reports US demand has returned to historical levels after buyers adopted a more cautious approach in 2025 amid tariff uncertainty. European imports of Chilean kiwis have also increased, supported by lower availability of Greek fruit and quality challenges reported in that market.
Demand remains steady across Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina. Meanwhile, India continues to emerge as one of the most important growth markets for Chilean kiwifruit exports.
Avocado Exports
New Zealand is gearing up for a bumper crop of 7.8 million trays for the current 2026/27 season. But this larger-than-usual crop is also set to bring one of the largest export campaigns the sector has seen in recent years, with 4.8 million trays destined for international markets, according to local news outlet SunLive.
New Zealand Avocado reports estimates remain uncertain and are still subject to crop load, harvest timing, fruit quality and changing market conditions. However, if forecasts hold, shipments would approach record volumes set by the industry in 2021.
As a result, the industry has expanded its export plans, and with pack-out rates projected to rise up to 60 percent, the local market might see lower volumes than last year.