Archive For The “News” Category
Everyone’s favorite toast topping may soon claim even more space on US produce shelves, with the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) projecting that shipments will bring avocado volumes to surpass three billion pounds by the end of 2025. The unprecedented avocado volumes signal just how deeply the “green gold” has rooted in American eating habits.
“This is a landmark moment for the avocado industry,” says HAB Executive Director Emiliano Escobedo. “Surpassing 3 billion pounds is not just a number—it’s a testament to the tireless efforts of producers, importers, and marketers who have worked together to meet the growing demand for avocados in the US market.”
HAB says the projected avocado volume represents a four percent increase from 2024 and reflects the ongoing consumer interest in avocados as a versatile, nutrient-dense product. The organization attributes the growth to coordinated promotions, enhanced supply-chain management, and sustained work to ensure year-round quality and availability.
Pineapple has made Costa Rica the world’s leading pineapple exporter and a symbol of the country’s commitment to quality, innovation, and responsible production, according to the Trade & Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER).
Between January and September 2025, pineapple exports reached $992 million, with more than 1.5 million tons shipped worldwide. The fruit accounts for 35 percent of Costa Rica’s agricultural exports and reaches 44 international markets, with the United States (54 percent), Belgium (12 percent), and Spain (8 percent) among the top destinations. Its strong presence in Europe reflects a growing preference for products that combine flavor, traceability, and wellbeing.
“Costa Rican pineapple today stands as a global benchmark for excellence. Its taste, quality, and innovation have positioned it as a favorite in the world’s leading markets. In an increasingly competitive environment, at the Trade & Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica we work to sustain and expand this leadership, opening new opportunities for our exporters and sharing with the world a product that embodies the best of Costa Rica: health, sustainability, and trust,” said Laura López, CEO of PROCOMER.
Costa Rican pineapples are cultivated mainly in the northern, southern, and Caribbean regions of the country, where tropical climates and fertile soils create ideal growing conditions. The industry generates over 81,000 direct and indirect jobs, stimulating rural economies and strengthening the livelihoods of agricultural communities united by a shared principle: producing with care and quality.
BEING THANKFUL FOR HOW WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED, WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LIVING IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH.
WISHING EACH OF YOU A BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING! WHETHER YOU ARE ABLE TO BE HOME WITH LOVED ONES, OR ARE ON THE ROAD, MAY YOU FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE GOOD LORD WATCHING OVER YOU AND THOSE YOU LOVE.
AND MAY GOOD BLESS THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
2025 is expected to end with Peru breaking a new record in agricultural exports, with projections indicating it will exceed $14 billion.
Fresh Fruit, a Latin American commercial intelligence firm, reports the country had already exported $11.02 billion worth of agricultural products by October, representing an 18 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
At its current pace, Peru was expected to surpass its total agroexports for 2024 by mid-November, six weeks before the end of the year.
October is a key month for Peruvian agriculture, as it’s the peak season for blueberries and grapes. The 30-day period saw a five percent dip in exportsl from a year ago, which experts mainly attribute to a weaker-than-expected blueberry season.
Average prices dropped to $4.49 per 2.2 lbs. from $6.22 the previous year, cutting blueberry revenues for the month from $600 million in 2024 to $450 million in 2025.
Blueberries continue to lead the agroexport portfolio, with 300,000 tons shipped for $1.79 billion, a 29 percent increase in volume and a 5 percent rise in value compared to the same period in 2024. The decline in global prices was offset by higher yields.
Avocados followed as the second most important product, with over 877,000 tons exported for $1.6 billion, up 42 percent in volume and 18 percent in value, despite a 17 percent decline in average price.
Meanwhile, supported by the overlap of two campaigns, table grapes generated nearly $900 million, reinforcing their role as a core export crop.
The United States remained the leading market, absorbing 33 percent of total exports, about $3.6 billion, mainly blueberries, coffee, and grapes.
The latest data confirms that Peru’s agroexport success is no longer tied to a single product or region. With nearly 15 products already surpassing $100 million in exports, the country has built a diversified, resilient agricultural export sector.
The United States has solidified its position as a strategic market for table grapes. Over the past 20 years, imports have increased by 27 percent, a direct result of an ongoing upward and dynamic trend driven by marked consumer preference for healthy, high-quality products, according to a report by Latin American industry data broker Fluctuante.
In addition to growing per capita consumption—averaging 8.64 pounds per person in 2023—viral trends and promotional campaigns have led to the incorporation of premium varieties such as Cotton Candy, Sweet Globe, and Candy Dreams into the American market.
As a result, imports have become a crucial element in ensuring product availability throughout the year, consolidating the US as one of the leading table grape buyers and consumers in the world.
The evolution of table grape supplying countries
In 2005, the US imported 611,000 tons of fresh grapes, with Chile, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru as its leading suppliers, said Fluctuante.
But the market has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past twenty years. By 2024, imports reached 777,000 tons, reflecting not only increased consumption but also a reconfiguration of suppliers.
Currently, the US table grape market is distributed among five supplying countries: Chile, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. The first three maintain solid positions, and while Brazil and South Africa inject smaller volumes, they hold solid positions as complementary players, ensuring continuous supply.
Together, this scenario reflects how the market has diversified and become more competitive, driven by the new dynamics of a demanding American consumer.
In 2005, Chile led fresh grape exports to the United States with 439,000 tons. Although shipments fell to 317,000 tons in 2024, the Andean country maintains first place thanks to its off-season production and strategic access to Pacific routes, Fluctuante says. Varietal replacement and the commitment to higher-quality fruit have been key to sustaining Chile’s position in an increasingly competitive market.
Meanwhile, in 2024, Peru moved up to become the second-largest US supplier of fresh grapes, hitting the market with 226,000 tons. This meteoric growth is in part explained by the country’s ability to cover the demand window that peaks during the winter months, when US production slows down. Additionally, Peru has been able to capitalize on delayed Chilean shipments, positioning itself as a reliable alternative to ensure continuity of supply.
Fluctuante says Peruvian success is a result of the country’s favorable agroclimatic conditions, which allow for counter-seasonal production, the expansion of cultivated areas, and the diversification of high-demand varieties such as Sweet Globe. But that’s not all, as Peru’s weather has also helped the country meet with rigorous quality standards required by the US market. The Andean country also features highly efficient logistics chains, which ensure a constant flow of fruit to the American market.
Fueled by the country’s geographical proximity, lower logistical costs, and its ability to supply fruit during strategic months of high demand, Mexico has also strengthened its presence in the US table grape market.
In 2005, the United States imported 153,000 tons of fresh grapes from Mexico. In 2024, this number reached new heights with 214,000 tons, solidifying the country’s position as the third-largest supplier of table grapes to the US.
Additionally, Mexico has a well-established harvest season and production concentrated mainly in Sonora, right by the US-Mexico border, which reinforces the country’s ability to offer consistent and quality shipments.
In preparation for what is expected to be a blooming strawberry season in the coming months, Main Street Produce of Santa Maria, CA is expanding its strawberry program with broadened shipping operations across multiple key growing regions in Central Mexico, Baja California, Florida, Santa Maria, and Oxnard.
“Our commitment has always been to provide exceptional strawberries our customers can rely on throughout the year,” said Chris Rivera, director of sales and marketing at Main Street Produce. “As consumer demand continues to grow, we’ve strategically expanded our operations to ensure a consistent, high-quality supply reaching key retail markets across the United States.”
With production spanning several growing regions, Main Street Produce is able to maintain a consistent supply chain, reduce seasonal gaps and better serve its retail and food service partners throughout the year. Both conventional and organic products are offered year-round.
“Each growing region contributes uniquely to our ability to serve customers seamlessly,” Rivera added. “By broadening our footprint, we’re strengthening our year-round supply chain and reaffirming our dedication to delivering premium fruit with the quality and reliability Main Street Produce is known for.”
In addition to this geographic expansion, Main Street continues to invest in its grower relationships and logistics network to ensure timely deliveries and peak product condition.
With expanded shipping from Central Mexico, Florida, Santa Maria, and Oxnard, the company is well-positioned to support customers throughout the spring, summer, and beyond, providing dependable, high-quality fruit and reinforcing its long-standing commitment to excellence and innovation in the berry category.
About Main Street Produce:
Founded in 1976, Main Street Produce is a premier producer and distributor of high-quality strawberries, delivering freshness and consistency to retail and foodservice customers across North America. Main Street takes pride in managing every step of the process — from farming to cooling and shipping, ensuring berries are handled with care and delivered fresh. With decades of experience, sustainable farming practices and a commitment to quality, the company delivers top-notch fruit directly from its fields to store shelves.
The Port of Savannah handled 486,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units in September, an increase of 35,280 TEUs or eight percent compared to the same month last year. For the period from July 1 to September 30, Savannah’s container trade is up 4.7 percent, or 66,845 TEUs.
“We’re focused on berth, rail, truck gate, and container yard operations to offer the best service in these competitive times for our customers,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch.
The executive said the point of entry is consistently delivering operational metrics, such as 50-minute trucker turn times for dual moves at port gates and an average rail dwell of 22 hours.
It was GPA’s busiest September for total rail lifts, at 51,235 containers, up 21 percent or nearly 9,000 lifts compared to September 2024.
For the fiscal year to date, GPA achieved total rail lifts of nearly 150,000, an increase of 4.7 percent. The Appalachian Regional Port set a record of 4,453 container lifts last month, an increase of 48 percent or 1,450 lifts. Since July, the ARP has handled 11,465 containers, up 1,340 or 13 percent.
The Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal also posted strong performance, moving 46,782 containers, up 19 percent, or 7,530 lifts, in September. Mason Mega Rail has moved more than 138,400 containers through September of this fiscal year, an increase of 5,380 lifts, or 4 percent, compared to the same period a year earlier.
The Port of Savannah completed 316,889 truck gate transactions in September, counting both import and export container moves. Turn times for dropping off or picking up a single container averaged 32 minutes in September.
Dual export-import moves averaged 50 minutes. Dual moves, in which a driver drops off an export and picks up an import container, account for approximately 80 percent of truck transactions at the Port of Savannah, reducing trips and emissions. Truck drivers serving the Port of Savannah complete an average of six to eight turns per day, representing the industry’s best supply chain speed through a container port.
Expansion outlook for Georgia
Construction of Berth 4 is ongoing with an expected completion in 2027.
“Market cycles are a normal part of business and are reflected in supply chain flow. We’re focused on adding new berth capabilities to help our RoRo customers compete strongly in the future,” Lynch added.
Philadelphia, PA — PhilaPort recently announced that it has acquired the Mustin Yard Property from Norfolk Southern Corporation.
Located adjacent to PhilaPort’s SouthPort Marine Terminal, the 152-acre Mustin Yard represents the last available land at the nexus of deep water, rail, and highway access.
Originally part of the former Philadelphia Navy Yard, the site has long been viewed as a critical asset for the Port’s future growth.
This acquisition marks a major milestone in PhilaPort’s long-term development strategy and aligns with the recently released PhilaPort Strategic Plan: Destination 2040.
The acquisition of Mustin Yard will allow PhilaPort to significantly expand its cargo handling capacity, attract new business, and create family-sustaining jobs across the region. After setting records in both container volumes and new automobile imports in 2024, PhilaPort is poised for its next phase of growth.
The site includes a fully developed intermodal transfer facility, which Norfolk Southern and PhilaPort are committed to activating with operational capabilities. This will enhance logistics reach for port users and local shippers, further integrating maritime and rail freight systems to support regional and national supply chains.
PhilaPort and Norfolk Southern finalized the transaction on September 30th.
About PhilaPort: The Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort), is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of port facilities along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, as well as strategic planning throughout the port district. PhilaPort works with its terminal operators to improve its facilities and to market those facilities to prospective port users around the world. Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania.
Guatemala’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food (MAGA) reports the country has shipped over 14 million kg (32 million pounds) of fresh mangoes to the United States in eight months.
The figure is already higher than last year’s export shipments of 30.86 million pounds, and can be attributed to higher supply from Guatemala.
The government agency says it inspected 20.9 million kilograms of fresh mango at authorized packing plants from January to August, of which 71 percent was designated for export to the United States.
n a press release, it said Guatemala’s compliance with the US phytosanitary requirements, which include hydrothermal treatment, reaffirms its cooperation and commitments with U.S. authorities, strengthening the competitiveness of the national agricultural sector.