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Fewer Chilean table grapes will be exported to the United States during its peak export window this season, projecting a 10 percent decline from 2025 volumes. Growers are facing an oversupply of grapes in the international market, plus the South Americans are replacing traditional varieties with newer, more productive grapes.
The US accounts for just over half of Chile’s total table grape exports, with estimates of 34.7 million 18-pound boxes to be shipped this season. The Andean country’s Table Grape Committee forecasts global exports of 63.5 million boxes, down 6.6 percent year-on-year.
The Chilean Table Grape Committee reports the 2026 season will be a year of adjustment, consolidating the varietal replacement with new cultivars, which this year will account for 72 percent. Five years ago, only 36 percent of exported table grapes were new varieties.
The imbalance between supply and demand in the US market is contributing to the pullback. Weekly demand has remained steady for years at between 3.5 million and 4 million boxes, while global supply has expanded.
*****
THE ALLEN LUND COMPANY,TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS:1-800-404-5863.
The California Avocado Commission (CAC) announced its annual early-season crop forecast, projecting 330 million pounds of Golden State-grown fruit.
The estimate includes 310 million pounds of Hass and 20 million pounds of GEM, Lamb Hass, and other avocado varieties.
With continued investment in new plantings and nearly 51,000 productive acres, the commission expects 2026 to be the third consecutive year with a total volume exceeding 300 million pounds.
Some harvesting has already begun, the organization reports, but the peak of promotable volume is expected from April into August.
“Recent rain in California generally was welcomed by growers due to its help with soil and tree health,” said Terry Splane, CAC Vice President of Marketing. “Now there is hope for these sunny days to continue into spring to ensure fruit sizing.”
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Flatbed carriers remained in high demand during the week of March 1-7, with flatbed loads on the DAT One marketplace up 4% and the average spot rate up 4 cents compared to the previous week.
Truckload freight trends from DAT One and DAT iQ
Spot market data for March 1-7, 2026 (Week 10)
Broker-to-carrier 7-day average spot rates for all three equipment segments:
▼ Dry van: $2.36 per mile, down 3 cents week over week
▼ Refrigerated: $2.75 per mile, down 3 cents
▲ Flatbed: $2.70 per mile, up 4 cents and up 18 cents over the last six weeks
The total number of loads posted to the DAT One marketplace settled lower last week, down 4% to 3.3 million. Truck posts fell to 219,869, also down 4%.
Reduced overall capacity, not a surge in freight volumes, continues to drive long-term spot-market pricing trends. With fuel accounting for roughly one-third of truck operating costs, $5 diesel this week could prompt carriers to park their rigs at least temporarily, exacerbating supply-side pressures.
Van: Load posts ease after weather-driven surge
▼ Van loads: 1.31 million, down 8% week over week
▼ Van equipment: 162,354, down 5%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.00 per mile, down 2 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 8.1, down from 8.4
Reefer: Produce markets reset as capacity loosens
▼ Reefer loads: 542,704, down 10% week over week
▼ Reefer equipment: 36,498, down 7%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.38 per mile, down 3 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 14.9, down from 15.3
Flatbed: Upward trajectory
▲ Flatbed loads: 1.49 million, up 4% week over week
▲ Flatbed equipment: 21,017, up 1%
▲ Linehaul rate: $2.33 per mile, up 4 cents
▲ Load-to-truck ratio: 70.3, up from 68.9
Market analysis from Dean Croke, Industry Analyst, DAT Freight & Analytics
Flatbed demand continued to press higher. At $2.33 per mile, last week’s national average spot linehaul rate for flatbed freight was 29 cents higher year over year and 16 cents higher than Week 10 in 2018, when flatbed equipment was in high demand. Flatbed load posts were nearly 47% higher year over year.
The produce reefer market just hit a reset. For the first time in weeks, the USDA Specialty Crops National Truck Rate Report is showing “Adequate” refrigerated truck availability in all 11 geographic regions. The capacity tightness that defined California, Florida, and South Texas over the past month has fully unwound. Florida outbound continued to a four-week pattern of spot-rate declines, Nogales flipped higher on key lanes, South Texas firmed modestly, and California settled into a holding pattern.
Florida’s weather-damaged crop supply continues to shrink the available reefer load pool faster than capacity can tighten. The Lakeland to Atlanta lane at $1,050–1,250 is remarkably soft but still paying carriers around $100 per load more than a year ago based on DAT 7-day rolling average rates. For context, this lane was $2,100–2,300 just four weeks ago.
Despite declining 8% week over week, dry van load post volumes were 53% higher than the same period last year and nearly double the 10-year average (excluding the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022).
With diesel pushing $5 a gallon, it’s worth noting that, unlike most loads moving under contract, there is no separate fuel surcharge on a spot rate. Carriers and brokers negotiate a single all-in rate per mile, and because spot loads are booked close to the pickup date, that rate is expected to already reflect current diesel prices.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates DAT One, North America’s largest truckload freight marketplace; DAT iQ, the industry’s leading freight data analytics service; the Convoy Platform automated freight-matching service; Trucker Tools, the leader in load visibility; and Outgo, the financial services platform for truckers. Check out the latest DAT iQ Market Update every Tuesday or on demand: https://www.youtube.com/DATLoadBoards.
Load and truck posts refer to the number of posts on the DAT One marketplace during Week 10 (March 1-7). Load volume refers to the number of loads moved. Rates are aggregated from invoice data submitted to DAT iQ. dat.com
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIES: 1-800-404-5863.
Orange juice, a daily drink in Brazilian households, not only plays a key role in the country’s citrus economy but also offers significant health benefits.
Beyond its well-known nutritional contribution, research suggests that OJ might positively affect the gut microbiota, playing a key role in preventing metabolic diseases.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Food Research Center (FORC) at the University of São Paulo (USP), analyzed the impact of orange juice on the composition of intestinal bacteria. The investigation was supported by the local citrus industry organization, Fundecitrus.
The research focused on the effect of orange juice from the Pera and Moro varieties in individuals with obesity and insulin resistance. The results showed positive changes in participants’ intestinal microbiota, indicating a beneficial effect on gut bacterial composition.
According to FORC researcher Aline Alves de Santana, obesity is associated with various factors, including an imbalance in the gut microbiota. This variance can promote systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
“Diet plays a fundamental role in microbiota modulation, and diets rich in fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are beneficial for intestinal health,” she explained.
Furthermore, the research team observed favorable changes in the digestion and metabolism of bioactive compounds present in oranges. These ingredients are linked to reduced inflammatory processes in the body, which could improve metabolic status and overall health.
The findings reinforce the relevance of orange juice not only as a popular beverage and driver of the citrus sector but also as a functional food with the potential to positively impact intestinal and metabolic health.
With a strong supply of lemons and other varieties, Bee Sweet Citrus of Fowler, CA reports that they’re well-suited to tackle Lenten (which started February 18 for 40 days) and springtime citrus promotions.
“With the start of Lent, we often see a rise in lemon consumption as many families turn to meatless meals,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Communications Monique Mueller. “Lemons not only enhance the flavor of pescatarian dishes, but are also a popular ingredient in springtime beverages and desserts.”
Currently, Bee Sweet Citrus is harvesting lemons from California’s Central Valley and Central Coast. The field team reports that this season’s lemon crop boasts exceptional quality and flavor.
“Lemon supply is very good right now. We increased harvest ahead of current rain events, so we have plenty of inventory ready to ship,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Harvesting and Grower Relations Randy Stucky. “We are picking full-color fruit and packing immediately after it arrives from the field, which will extend shelf life and improve fruit quality at the store level.”
In addition to lemons, Bee Sweet Citrus has a robust line of varieties that would complement Easter and other seasonal promotions. The company’s Meyer lemons, Royal Red oranges, and Cara Cara oranges would best suit desserts, while its grapefruit, Minneola tangelos, mandarins, and Navel oranges would make great on-the-go snacks.
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Whether you are looking to load citrus in California and Florida, or even Texas or Arizona, good volume is reported, along with strong demand.
The USDA reports domestic growers produced just over 5 million tons of citrus during the 2024-25 season, a slight drop from 2023-24.
California continues to account for a huge share at 84 percent, followed by Florida at 13 percent, and Texas and Arizona for the remaining 3 percent.
Although California orange production fell for season by nearly 1 percent to 45.2 million boxes, tangerine and mandarin volumes rose by 11 percent, while lemons and grapefruit increased by 5 percent each.
California Citrus Mutual of Exeter, CA represents citrus growers and notes navels continue to lead the pack, although easy peelers such as mandarins continue to gain popularity.
Bee Sweet Citrus of Fowler, CA sees strong demand and volume for its leading products, Navel oranges, lemons, and mandarins.
Wonderful Citrus Cooperative of Delano, CA is one of the largest volume players with citrus and is particularly excited about the growth of its mandarin easy peel Wonderful Halos.
The company also reports over the past five years it has seen excellent increases with lemons, which has been exceeded only by mandarins.
Kimball Produce Sales of Pacifica, CA reports lemons as it leading volume item, followed by California navels, Valencias, and limes.
On the down side, Wonderful Halos revealed strong weather problems in December and early January, including heavy rain and dense fog lasting nearly four weeks, created significant challenges across the citrus industry.
These conditions impacted crop yields and quality, contributing to lower overall production industrywide during the front half of the winter season.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. in Valencia, CA, describes recent times with large volume crops as competitive but encouraging, despite a challenging global marketplace and early-season weather-related disruptions.
For the current 2025-26 season, Sunkist report fruit size has been larger than prior years with Navel oranges running about 8 percent above 2024-25 as harvest ramps up, while Cara Cara oranges are showing a 12 percent crop increase.
In easy-peelers, Sunkist’s clementine mandarins were similarly up 19 percent versus the previous season. For lemons, the company is seeing strong volume gains across districts, supported by increased domestic and export movement.
StePac PCC, a leader in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) for fresh produce, is offering a solution to tackle the challenges associated with long transit times.
For example, the long distance between origin and destination, dragon fruit faces a weeks-long trek that threatens its quality. This adds insult to injury, as the industry is already grappling with falling prices from a glut of pitahaya (dragon fruit) in the US and Mexico.
To stay ahead in the now-crowded domestic pitahaya market, growers and shippers must outsmart the clock or risk delivering lackluster fruit.
StePac PCC’s packaging is designed specifically for dragon fruit. The company’s new product is a tailored version of the proprietary Xtend® MA/MH packaging and aims to preserve the shelf life of pitahayas en route from Ecuador to the US and Europe.
StePac notes company engineers mold these materials into different formats, including pallet shrouds, bin liners, and, in this case, a film to protect pitahayas.
The company reports the film was carefully crafted for pitahayas, which are prone to dehydration and wilting due to their high respiration rate.
The packaging was designed to slow this process down by balancing oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations. The film also controls moisture to maintain the fruit’s firmness and protruding bracts, and preserves its vibrant, glossy appearance throughout the trip.
Pitahaya has been traditionally shipped loose or in basic packaging formats providing little to no control over the internal atmosphere or humidity, offering limited protection during long sea voyages. Right now, the packaging allows the fruit to withstand sea shipments of three weeks or more.
Shelf-life extension varies depending on conditions, but this significantly exceeds what is achievable with traditional packaging.
The fruit is a fast-growing, high-value product with strong global demand facing significant postharvest challenges during long-distance shipments.
Growers were struggling to reach distant markets in acceptable condition, which made dragon fruit a natural candidate for a tailored modified packaging.
The Company studied pitahaya’s respiratory behavior, moisture sensitivity, and postharvest challenges for three years.
StePac then adjusted film permeability to create the optimal internal atmosphere under real supply chain conditions and collaborated with growers and shippers to test the product.
Repeated trials were conducted with frequent field visits, and optimization of postharvest handling protocols, as well as refinement of the packaging design to ensure consistent performance.
As far as pricing, it is noted exporters report benefits such as reduced waste, improved quality, and access to new markets, which generally outweigh the additional packaging costs by yielding higher returns.
The company is currently working to scale its proprietary packaging to other fruits, since each deal comes with its own set of challenges.
Fruits and vegetables have very different respiration rates, sensitivities to low oxygen, and critical to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations, as well as different moisture requirements.
The first containers of Bright Bounty Moroccan mandarins arrived over a month ago, officially kicking off the Morocco mandarin program. Early arrivals are showing outstanding color and excellent internal quality.
The Bright Bounty Morocco mandarin season will run from February through April.
Crop reports from Morocco indicate a strong mandarin season overall. With indications of fruit drop impacting California supply, Moroccan mandarins provide a strategic solution for maintaining consistent availability.
“We’re really excited about the quality coming out of Morocco this season,” said Alden Guptill, sales manager of Bright Bounty/DiSilva Fruit. “With strong sugars, great color and reliable timing, Morocco Mandarins give our customers confidence and continuity.”
Currently arriving are Nadorcott variety mandarins. Very similar to Murcotts in both flavor and appearance, offering excellent eating quality and easy-peel characteristics that resonate with consumers. The program will be available in one- through five-pound bags, making it well-suited for everyday sales as well as promotional activity.
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
The devastation of the freeze in Florida about a month ago is now being fully realized with the report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
From blueberries to strawberries and citrus, as well as sugar cane and vegetables, losses were heavy.
A preliminary estimate reveals $3.1 billion from winter’s freeze.
The strawberry and blueberry industries were the hardest hit, according to the report. The former suffered an estimated production loss of approximately 80 percent of the remaining harvest, which roughly translates into $306.9 million in losses.
As far as blueberries are concerned, the extreme cold killed floral buds, led to dropped fruit, and caused plant limbs to break under the weight of cold protection. Growers reported the freeze will not only affect this year’s harvest, but harvests for years to come, the FDACS notes.
Estimated production losses in the Florida blueberry industry preliminarily total 90 percent of the crop, translating to freeze damage valued at approximately $78.5 million.
Meanwhile, citrus, the Sunshine State’s most important crop, suffered the loss of 15 percent of its trees due to freeze damage, along with a huge financial blow estimated at $675 million.
The grand total encompasses tree and infrastructure damage, estimated at $327 million and $41.5 million, respectively, as well as total losses for damaged fruit totalling $85.2 million.
The FDACS report also includes a freeze-damage forecast, with losses calculated at $220.5 million.
The industry will face an average annual loss in productivity of 27 percent that will persist for several years before returning to pre-storm production, the state agency explains.
“It is estimated that 80 percent of the total acres of citrus in Florida were significantly affected by the freeze damage,” the report continued.
As a big vegetable producer, Florida also experienced great freeze losses in commodities such as snap beans, bell peppers, eggplants, artichokes, broccoli, and leafy greens, among others. The FDACS calculates that losses in this category amount to $554.6 million.
Tomato and bell pepper producers lost 80 percent of their crops right before the middle of the season, resulting in $164 million and $108 million in losses, respectively. Sweet corn losses, meanwhile, amount to $255 million and potatoes to $79.1 million.
Watermelons were also affected, with an estimated 33 percent production loss. With the entire growing season still ahead, the state agency estimated a financial blow of $65.4 million.
Florida is also a major sugarcane producer, with an industry worth $1.6 billion in 2025. The sector suffered a significant blow, as freeze damage will not only affect the current season crop, but those to come. Estimated production losses total 35 percent and are valued at $1.65 billion, with current-season losses of $576 million.
With the offshore melon season in full force, the Melon Alliance consisting of Westside Produce of Firebaugh, CA and Classic Fruit of Fresno, CA reports steady improvement as production stabilizes following early seasonal challenges.
Looking ahead, the outlook for the remainder of the offshore season remains highly positive. As the industry starts to move out of winter and into spring production soon, interest from retailers continues to grow. “Once we get through February and into our spring production, we’ve seen strong interest from retailers as promotional opportunities have been limited up to this point,” said Ferguson. “As the weather begins to warm and daylight hours extend, melon promotions give consumers an early taste that summer is close. These months typically provide the best eating and best looking melons of the offshore season.”
In addition, the offshore melon program has also played a critical role in strengthening the Alliance between Westside Produce and Classic Fruit, particularly in ensuring reliability and consistency for customers during transitional supply periods.
“Our strengthened alliance with Classic Fruit has allowed us to build even stronger working relationships with our already outstanding customer base,” said Mark George, vice president of sales at Westside Produce. “This ensures our customers that we will work hard to cover their melon needs every week of the year, giving them that uninterrupted supply.”
The offshore season began with weather-related challenges that impacted the first production cycle, causing temporary market fluctuations. “Weather was an issue in the early part of the growing season where yields were negatively impacted during the first cycle,” said Tom Ferguson, vice president of East Coast sales for Classic Fruit. “Lower production resulted in higher markets on both cantaloupe and honeydew, which peaked in early January. As production stabilized by mid-January, markets have started to settle to more historical levels.”
Despite these early hurdles, the alliance’s offshore program has remained resilient, supported by strong grower relationships and a unified supply strategy. A key advantage of the program has been Classic Fruit’s Fair Trade Certified offerings, which continue to resonate with customers.
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Fewer Chilean table grapes will be exported to the United States during its peak export window this season, projecting a 10 percent decline from 2025 volumes. Growers are facing an oversupply of grapes in the international market, plus the South Americans are replacing traditional varieties with newer, more productive grapes.
The US accounts for just over half of Chile’s total table grape exports, with estimates of 34.7 million 18-pound boxes to be shipped this season. The Andean country’s Table Grape Committee forecasts global exports of 63.5 million boxes, down 6.6 percent year-on-year.
The Chilean Table Grape Committee reports the 2026 season will be a year of adjustment, consolidating the varietal replacement with new cultivars, which this year will account for 72 percent. Five years ago, only 36 percent of exported table grapes were new varieties.
The imbalance between supply and demand in the US market is contributing to the pullback. Weekly demand has remained steady for years at between 3.5 million and 4 million boxes, while global supply has expanded.
*****
THE ALLEN LUND COMPANY,TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS:1-800-404-5863.
The California Avocado Commission (CAC) announced its annual early-season crop forecast, projecting 330 million pounds of Golden State-grown fruit.
The estimate includes 310 million pounds of Hass and 20 million pounds of GEM, Lamb Hass, and other avocado varieties.
With continued investment in new plantings and nearly 51,000 productive acres, the commission expects 2026 to be the third consecutive year with a total volume exceeding 300 million pounds.
Some harvesting has already begun, the organization reports, but the peak of promotable volume is expected from April into August.
“Recent rain in California generally was welcomed by growers due to its help with soil and tree health,” said Terry Splane, CAC Vice President of Marketing. “Now there is hope for these sunny days to continue into spring to ensure fruit sizing.”
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Flatbed carriers remained in high demand during the week of March 1-7, with flatbed loads on the DAT One marketplace up 4% and the average spot rate up 4 cents compared to the previous week.
Truckload freight trends from DAT One and DAT iQ
Spot market data for March 1-7, 2026 (Week 10)
Broker-to-carrier 7-day average spot rates for all three equipment segments:
▼ Dry van: $2.36 per mile, down 3 cents week over week
▼ Refrigerated: $2.75 per mile, down 3 cents
▲ Flatbed: $2.70 per mile, up 4 cents and up 18 cents over the last six weeks
The total number of loads posted to the DAT One marketplace settled lower last week, down 4% to 3.3 million. Truck posts fell to 219,869, also down 4%.
Reduced overall capacity, not a surge in freight volumes, continues to drive long-term spot-market pricing trends. With fuel accounting for roughly one-third of truck operating costs, $5 diesel this week could prompt carriers to park their rigs at least temporarily, exacerbating supply-side pressures.
Van: Load posts ease after weather-driven surge
▼ Van loads: 1.31 million, down 8% week over week
▼ Van equipment: 162,354, down 5%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.00 per mile, down 2 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 8.1, down from 8.4
Reefer: Produce markets reset as capacity loosens
▼ Reefer loads: 542,704, down 10% week over week
▼ Reefer equipment: 36,498, down 7%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.38 per mile, down 3 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 14.9, down from 15.3
Flatbed: Upward trajectory
▲ Flatbed loads: 1.49 million, up 4% week over week
▲ Flatbed equipment: 21,017, up 1%
▲ Linehaul rate: $2.33 per mile, up 4 cents
▲ Load-to-truck ratio: 70.3, up from 68.9
Market analysis from Dean Croke, Industry Analyst, DAT Freight & Analytics
Flatbed demand continued to press higher. At $2.33 per mile, last week’s national average spot linehaul rate for flatbed freight was 29 cents higher year over year and 16 cents higher than Week 10 in 2018, when flatbed equipment was in high demand. Flatbed load posts were nearly 47% higher year over year.
The produce reefer market just hit a reset. For the first time in weeks, the USDA Specialty Crops National Truck Rate Report is showing “Adequate” refrigerated truck availability in all 11 geographic regions. The capacity tightness that defined California, Florida, and South Texas over the past month has fully unwound. Florida outbound continued to a four-week pattern of spot-rate declines, Nogales flipped higher on key lanes, South Texas firmed modestly, and California settled into a holding pattern.
Florida’s weather-damaged crop supply continues to shrink the available reefer load pool faster than capacity can tighten. The Lakeland to Atlanta lane at $1,050–1,250 is remarkably soft but still paying carriers around $100 per load more than a year ago based on DAT 7-day rolling average rates. For context, this lane was $2,100–2,300 just four weeks ago.
Despite declining 8% week over week, dry van load post volumes were 53% higher than the same period last year and nearly double the 10-year average (excluding the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022).
With diesel pushing $5 a gallon, it’s worth noting that, unlike most loads moving under contract, there is no separate fuel surcharge on a spot rate. Carriers and brokers negotiate a single all-in rate per mile, and because spot loads are booked close to the pickup date, that rate is expected to already reflect current diesel prices.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates DAT One, North America’s largest truckload freight marketplace; DAT iQ, the industry’s leading freight data analytics service; the Convoy Platform automated freight-matching service; Trucker Tools, the leader in load visibility; and Outgo, the financial services platform for truckers. Check out the latest DAT iQ Market Update every Tuesday or on demand: https://www.youtube.com/DATLoadBoards.
Load and truck posts refer to the number of posts on the DAT One marketplace during Week 10 (March 1-7). Load volume refers to the number of loads moved. Rates are aggregated from invoice data submitted to DAT iQ. dat.com
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIES: 1-800-404-5863.
Orange juice, a daily drink in Brazilian households, not only plays a key role in the country’s citrus economy but also offers significant health benefits.
Beyond its well-known nutritional contribution, research suggests that OJ might positively affect the gut microbiota, playing a key role in preventing metabolic diseases.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Food Research Center (FORC) at the University of São Paulo (USP), analyzed the impact of orange juice on the composition of intestinal bacteria. The investigation was supported by the local citrus industry organization, Fundecitrus.
The research focused on the effect of orange juice from the Pera and Moro varieties in individuals with obesity and insulin resistance. The results showed positive changes in participants’ intestinal microbiota, indicating a beneficial effect on gut bacterial composition.
According to FORC researcher Aline Alves de Santana, obesity is associated with various factors, including an imbalance in the gut microbiota. This variance can promote systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
“Diet plays a fundamental role in microbiota modulation, and diets rich in fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are beneficial for intestinal health,” she explained.
Furthermore, the research team observed favorable changes in the digestion and metabolism of bioactive compounds present in oranges. These ingredients are linked to reduced inflammatory processes in the body, which could improve metabolic status and overall health.
The findings reinforce the relevance of orange juice not only as a popular beverage and driver of the citrus sector but also as a functional food with the potential to positively impact intestinal and metabolic health.
With a strong supply of lemons and other varieties, Bee Sweet Citrus of Fowler, CA reports that they’re well-suited to tackle Lenten (which started February 18 for 40 days) and springtime citrus promotions.
“With the start of Lent, we often see a rise in lemon consumption as many families turn to meatless meals,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Communications Monique Mueller. “Lemons not only enhance the flavor of pescatarian dishes, but are also a popular ingredient in springtime beverages and desserts.”
Currently, Bee Sweet Citrus is harvesting lemons from California’s Central Valley and Central Coast. The field team reports that this season’s lemon crop boasts exceptional quality and flavor.
“Lemon supply is very good right now. We increased harvest ahead of current rain events, so we have plenty of inventory ready to ship,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Harvesting and Grower Relations Randy Stucky. “We are picking full-color fruit and packing immediately after it arrives from the field, which will extend shelf life and improve fruit quality at the store level.”
In addition to lemons, Bee Sweet Citrus has a robust line of varieties that would complement Easter and other seasonal promotions. The company’s Meyer lemons, Royal Red oranges, and Cara Cara oranges would best suit desserts, while its grapefruit, Minneola tangelos, mandarins, and Navel oranges would make great on-the-go snacks.
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Whether you are looking to load citrus in California and Florida, or even Texas or Arizona, good volume is reported, along with strong demand.
The USDA reports domestic growers produced just over 5 million tons of citrus during the 2024-25 season, a slight drop from 2023-24.
California continues to account for a huge share at 84 percent, followed by Florida at 13 percent, and Texas and Arizona for the remaining 3 percent.
Although California orange production fell for season by nearly 1 percent to 45.2 million boxes, tangerine and mandarin volumes rose by 11 percent, while lemons and grapefruit increased by 5 percent each.
California Citrus Mutual of Exeter, CA represents citrus growers and notes navels continue to lead the pack, although easy peelers such as mandarins continue to gain popularity.
Bee Sweet Citrus of Fowler, CA sees strong demand and volume for its leading products, Navel oranges, lemons, and mandarins.
Wonderful Citrus Cooperative of Delano, CA is one of the largest volume players with citrus and is particularly excited about the growth of its mandarin easy peel Wonderful Halos.
The company also reports over the past five years it has seen excellent increases with lemons, which has been exceeded only by mandarins.
Kimball Produce Sales of Pacifica, CA reports lemons as it leading volume item, followed by California navels, Valencias, and limes.
On the down side, Wonderful Halos revealed strong weather problems in December and early January, including heavy rain and dense fog lasting nearly four weeks, created significant challenges across the citrus industry.
These conditions impacted crop yields and quality, contributing to lower overall production industrywide during the front half of the winter season.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. in Valencia, CA, describes recent times with large volume crops as competitive but encouraging, despite a challenging global marketplace and early-season weather-related disruptions.
For the current 2025-26 season, Sunkist report fruit size has been larger than prior years with Navel oranges running about 8 percent above 2024-25 as harvest ramps up, while Cara Cara oranges are showing a 12 percent crop increase.
In easy-peelers, Sunkist’s clementine mandarins were similarly up 19 percent versus the previous season. For lemons, the company is seeing strong volume gains across districts, supported by increased domestic and export movement.
StePac PCC, a leader in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) for fresh produce, is offering a solution to tackle the challenges associated with long transit times.
For example, the long distance between origin and destination, dragon fruit faces a weeks-long trek that threatens its quality. This adds insult to injury, as the industry is already grappling with falling prices from a glut of pitahaya (dragon fruit) in the US and Mexico.
To stay ahead in the now-crowded domestic pitahaya market, growers and shippers must outsmart the clock or risk delivering lackluster fruit.
StePac PCC’s packaging is designed specifically for dragon fruit. The company’s new product is a tailored version of the proprietary Xtend® MA/MH packaging and aims to preserve the shelf life of pitahayas en route from Ecuador to the US and Europe.
StePac notes company engineers mold these materials into different formats, including pallet shrouds, bin liners, and, in this case, a film to protect pitahayas.
The company reports the film was carefully crafted for pitahayas, which are prone to dehydration and wilting due to their high respiration rate.
The packaging was designed to slow this process down by balancing oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations. The film also controls moisture to maintain the fruit’s firmness and protruding bracts, and preserves its vibrant, glossy appearance throughout the trip.
Pitahaya has been traditionally shipped loose or in basic packaging formats providing little to no control over the internal atmosphere or humidity, offering limited protection during long sea voyages. Right now, the packaging allows the fruit to withstand sea shipments of three weeks or more.
Shelf-life extension varies depending on conditions, but this significantly exceeds what is achievable with traditional packaging.
The fruit is a fast-growing, high-value product with strong global demand facing significant postharvest challenges during long-distance shipments.
Growers were struggling to reach distant markets in acceptable condition, which made dragon fruit a natural candidate for a tailored modified packaging.
The Company studied pitahaya’s respiratory behavior, moisture sensitivity, and postharvest challenges for three years.
StePac then adjusted film permeability to create the optimal internal atmosphere under real supply chain conditions and collaborated with growers and shippers to test the product.
Repeated trials were conducted with frequent field visits, and optimization of postharvest handling protocols, as well as refinement of the packaging design to ensure consistent performance.
As far as pricing, it is noted exporters report benefits such as reduced waste, improved quality, and access to new markets, which generally outweigh the additional packaging costs by yielding higher returns.
The company is currently working to scale its proprietary packaging to other fruits, since each deal comes with its own set of challenges.
Fruits and vegetables have very different respiration rates, sensitivities to low oxygen, and critical to elevated carbon dioxide concentrations, as well as different moisture requirements.
The first containers of Bright Bounty Moroccan mandarins arrived over a month ago, officially kicking off the Morocco mandarin program. Early arrivals are showing outstanding color and excellent internal quality.
The Bright Bounty Morocco mandarin season will run from February through April.
Crop reports from Morocco indicate a strong mandarin season overall. With indications of fruit drop impacting California supply, Moroccan mandarins provide a strategic solution for maintaining consistent availability.
“We’re really excited about the quality coming out of Morocco this season,” said Alden Guptill, sales manager of Bright Bounty/DiSilva Fruit. “With strong sugars, great color and reliable timing, Morocco Mandarins give our customers confidence and continuity.”
Currently arriving are Nadorcott variety mandarins. Very similar to Murcotts in both flavor and appearance, offering excellent eating quality and easy-peel characteristics that resonate with consumers. The program will be available in one- through five-pound bags, making it well-suited for everyday sales as well as promotional activity.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
The devastation of the freeze in Florida about a month ago is now being fully realized with the report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
From blueberries to strawberries and citrus, as well as sugar cane and vegetables, losses were heavy.
A preliminary estimate reveals $3.1 billion from winter’s freeze.
The strawberry and blueberry industries were the hardest hit, according to the report. The former suffered an estimated production loss of approximately 80 percent of the remaining harvest, which roughly translates into $306.9 million in losses.
As far as blueberries are concerned, the extreme cold killed floral buds, led to dropped fruit, and caused plant limbs to break under the weight of cold protection. Growers reported the freeze will not only affect this year’s harvest, but harvests for years to come, the FDACS notes.
Estimated production losses in the Florida blueberry industry preliminarily total 90 percent of the crop, translating to freeze damage valued at approximately $78.5 million.
Meanwhile, citrus, the Sunshine State’s most important crop, suffered the loss of 15 percent of its trees due to freeze damage, along with a huge financial blow estimated at $675 million.
The grand total encompasses tree and infrastructure damage, estimated at $327 million and $41.5 million, respectively, as well as total losses for damaged fruit totalling $85.2 million.
The FDACS report also includes a freeze-damage forecast, with losses calculated at $220.5 million.
The industry will face an average annual loss in productivity of 27 percent that will persist for several years before returning to pre-storm production, the state agency explains.
“It is estimated that 80 percent of the total acres of citrus in Florida were significantly affected by the freeze damage,” the report continued.
As a big vegetable producer, Florida also experienced great freeze losses in commodities such as snap beans, bell peppers, eggplants, artichokes, broccoli, and leafy greens, among others. The FDACS calculates that losses in this category amount to $554.6 million.
Tomato and bell pepper producers lost 80 percent of their crops right before the middle of the season, resulting in $164 million and $108 million in losses, respectively. Sweet corn losses, meanwhile, amount to $255 million and potatoes to $79.1 million.
Watermelons were also affected, with an estimated 33 percent production loss. With the entire growing season still ahead, the state agency estimated a financial blow of $65.4 million.
Florida is also a major sugarcane producer, with an industry worth $1.6 billion in 2025. The sector suffered a significant blow, as freeze damage will not only affect the current season crop, but those to come. Estimated production losses total 35 percent and are valued at $1.65 billion, with current-season losses of $576 million.
With the offshore melon season in full force, the Melon Alliance consisting of Westside Produce of Firebaugh, CA and Classic Fruit of Fresno, CA reports steady improvement as production stabilizes following early seasonal challenges.
Looking ahead, the outlook for the remainder of the offshore season remains highly positive. As the industry starts to move out of winter and into spring production soon, interest from retailers continues to grow. “Once we get through February and into our spring production, we’ve seen strong interest from retailers as promotional opportunities have been limited up to this point,” said Ferguson. “As the weather begins to warm and daylight hours extend, melon promotions give consumers an early taste that summer is close. These months typically provide the best eating and best looking melons of the offshore season.”
In addition, the offshore melon program has also played a critical role in strengthening the Alliance between Westside Produce and Classic Fruit, particularly in ensuring reliability and consistency for customers during transitional supply periods.
“Our strengthened alliance with Classic Fruit has allowed us to build even stronger working relationships with our already outstanding customer base,” said Mark George, vice president of sales at Westside Produce. “This ensures our customers that we will work hard to cover their melon needs every week of the year, giving them that uninterrupted supply.”
The offshore season began with weather-related challenges that impacted the first production cycle, causing temporary market fluctuations. “Weather was an issue in the early part of the growing season where yields were negatively impacted during the first cycle,” said Tom Ferguson, vice president of East Coast sales for Classic Fruit. “Lower production resulted in higher markets on both cantaloupe and honeydew, which peaked in early January. As production stabilized by mid-January, markets have started to settle to more historical levels.”
Despite these early hurdles, the alliance’s offshore program has remained resilient, supported by strong grower relationships and a unified supply strategy. A key advantage of the program has been Classic Fruit’s Fair Trade Certified offerings, which continue to resonate with customers.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.