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The Michigan Apple industry is expecting a high-quality crop of apples in 2026. The majority of apple-producing regions in Michigan report above-average apple crops with exceptional fruit size and color.
Michigan Apple industry representatives have stated that they believe the crop is larger than the USDA estimated 25 million bushels (1.05 billion lbs.) of apples.
“We know the apple crop is above 25 million bushels this year. The quality is amazing and the size is larger, leading to more bushels,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee BB #:157755. “There were some spring weather issues and problems with return bloom this year, but they are localized. Overall, Michigan’s apple crop is looking great.”
Many factors contribute to the size of an apple crop, including weather, bloom conditions and tree health. Michigan Apples are available year-round, and can be found at about 200 farm markets and cider mills in Michigan as well as more than 12,000 retail groceries across the U.S., according to Smith.
On average, Michigan growers harvest about 27.2 million bushels per year. Michigan is in the top three apple producing states, along with Washington and New York. Harvest is underway, with early varieties like Paula Red, Ginger Gold and Gala being the first on the market.
The Michigan Apple Committee has outlined key release dates and flavor profiles for the season’s most anticipated varieties:
• Mid-August (Early Harvesters): Kick off the season with Paula Red (zesty and tart) and Ginger Gold (sweet with a subtle tang), available starting around August 17.
• Late August (Sweet & Crisp Favorites): The popular Gala hits markets around August 24, followed closely by the juicy crunch of Honeycrisp starting August 31.
• September (Tasty Classics): Golden Delicious and McIntosh will be available around September 7, while Red Delicious, Fuji and Jonagold can be found later in September.
• October & Early November (Flavorful Newcomers): The refreshing and floral Ambrosia will be available around October 5, long-lasting EverCrisp picked around October 26, and closing out the Michigan Apple season, the pink, crisp and juicy Cripps Pink available November 2.
Michigan’s apple industry is powered by 850 multigenerational farm families—many now in their fourth or fifth generation—dedicated to growing world-class fruit. Consumers can support local growers by visiting cider mills, farm markets, and agri-tourism destinations, or by choosing Michigan-grown apples at their local grocery store.
The Michigan Apple Committee works on behalf of Michigan apple growers through marketing, research, education, and outreach to increase consumption, support growers, and ensure a strong and sustainable apple industry.
A new campaign spotlights the functional nutrition benefits of mushrooms.
“We’re helping to educate consumers about mushrooms’ role in the MIND diet, a plant-forward eating pattern designed to promote brain health,” commented Cristie Mather, vice president of marketing with the Mushroom Council.
“We know that when Millennial and Gen Z consumers seek foods for their functional benefits, they prioritize cognition and brain health as the top benefit they seek.” As a part of the MIND diet, mushrooms provide several nutrients and bioactive compounds that may play a role in supporting brain health, with ergothioneine (ERGO) being the standout. Mushrooms are one of the top food sources of ERGO with Shiitake, Oyster, King Trumpet and Lion’s Mane especially showing an abundance.
Portabella mushrooms in particular witness a sales surge during the summer months, driven by their ease of use in grilling. Whether grilled whole as a meaty main or burger, large Portabella caps are a natural fit for the flame, and the hot summer sales prove it.
Portabella mushrooms combined with White Button and Crimini/Baby Bella represent the highest volume for the category. Together, these varieties make up more than 90 percent of total volume sold in the U.S. Specialty mushrooms continue to capture the interest of mushroom shoppers with Shiitake being the most popular in terms of volume sold. In addition, significant YOY sales volume increases have been witnessed for Lion’s Mane and Trumpet mushrooms. For the highest-volume varieties, their popularity is driven by the fact that most consumers are very familiar with these mushrooms and appreciate their versatility in recipes and their relevance to a range of cuisines. However, increased awareness of mushrooms’ functional nutrition benefits has become a progressively important driver of consumption. Lion’s Mane for instance is a star of the supplement aisle, helping to deepen awareness of mushroom nutrition.
Hansen Farms in Rupert, ID, launched its annual potato harvest September 14.
The company grows seven potato varieties across approximately 60 fields, including Burbanks, Norkotahs, Clearwaters, Rangers, Reveille, Kings, and Dakotas. Storage facilities on the farm have been readied for the incoming yield, with each storage shed holding up to 10 million pounds of potatoes.
Brian Hansen, fourth-generation farm operations manager at Hansen Farms, says the preparation process runs up to ten months ahead of the first day in the fields. “We actually start preparing for harvest in the wintertime,” Hansen says. “Last December we started going through machinery, planning on any kind of changes that we were going to make from an operation standpoint and how we set up our machinery. That carries all the way through spring and summer, and you can see behind [us] we’ve got equipment starting to get set up. We test run things, we look for just problems that we can fix to help deliver the best quality potato that we can.”
Beyond machinery, the heat Idaho has experienced this summer has added pressure on the operation. Hansen says elevated temperatures over recent years have accelerated crop aging and made moisture management more difficult. “The hot conditions have impacted our crop over the last three to five years, I would say. It makes it age more quickly; it’s harder to keep the moisture that we need in the fields. That heat has definitely played a role in potato quality for this year.”
The dry summer also raises concerns about the following season. Hansen says water conservation is a topic now entering conversations in a way it has not before. “I think this is the first year where we’re actually hearing and seeing people talk about conserving more water and cutting that water back. Hoping that we have a good winter because next year I think is when we’re really going to see an impact on water availability.”
According to a monthly survey, the total number of apples in storage on Aug. 1, 2026, was 23 million bushels, seven percent less than last August’s total of 25 million bushels. Data are not yet available to calculate the July five-year average.
Michigan did not report holdings for August 2026. Michigan’s holdings two months ago (June 2026) were 1.3 million bushels. It is assumed that a portion of those apples remain. Michigan also did not report their storages in July 2026, so movement will not be inflated by unreported August holdings.
Fresh apple holdings this August totaled 16 million bushels, 13 percent less than the inventories reported for last August. Processing holdings totaled 7 million bushels, 11 percent more than last year on August 1.
With a late Labor Day (Sept. 7) this year, Butch’s Best of Capac, MI shipped it first loads of pumpkins in late August. Shipments typically begin around Labor Day.
The broker/distributor/fresh cut packer has over 18 pumpkin growers in eight states and Canada growing a variety of pumpkins including regular pumpkins, heirlooms, ornamental, pie pumpkins and a painted pumpkin program, most of which run through the end of October. It also has Delicata squash which goes until December. The company also ships a number of other vegetables.
An unknown this year is how many pumpkins there are scattered across many regions due to drastic weather differences. Some areas like Indiana got 10-12 inches of rain and parts of it and Ohio got 90 mile per hour winds. It was a very perfect growing season for everyone and then it got really wet in a lot of places. By contrast some regions were dry. For example, parts of Michigan and New York were pretty dry.
Meanwhile Texas had weeks of extreme heat this summer, while those other growing regions were dealing with that excessive rain, flooding, high winds and hail. For this reason Butch’s Best has diversified its suppliers to be from eight states and Canada.
This all comes amidst an already challenging growing year following freezes in Florida and heat in the Midwest, the Northeast and California. That’s pushed numerous crops out too fast.
Storms and flash flooding across central Ohio in late August caused losses for pumpkin growers ahead of the state’s autumn picking season.
Pumpkin patches across Ohio are preparing for the picking season, which generally starts during the first half of September. Some growing areas experienced heavy rainfall, winds, flooding, and crop losses during the storms.
Sam’s Pumpkin Patch in Pickerington lost around 50 per cent of its pumpkin crop to flooding. The farm covers 20 acres (8.1 hectares) and primarily grows pumpkins and gourds. The company has contacted other growers with available supplies to avoid closing for the remainder of the season.
Other pumpkin-growing areas were less affected. Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm in Radnor received heavy rainfall, but its crop avoided wind damage.
Overall, U.S. pumpkin shipments got off to a strong start this season.
The new season Northwest pear harvest was launched July 27, a little earlier than the normal mid-August start.
Since there was no carryover inventory from the previous year, new harvest arrived with fresh momentum. The season began in Medford, Oregon and is moving north through Mid-Columbia, Oregon, and into Yakima and Wenatchee, Washington.
“Following a smaller crop in 2024 and an abundant crop in 2025, this year’s pear crop is expected to be normal in size,” says Barbara Ruhs with USA Pears.
Recently, wildfires in Washington’s Okanogan region have affected some pear-growing communities. Because the situation is still evolving, it is too soon to determine the full impact on this year’s crop.
The fruit sized up well due to a mild winter and limited frost pressure. As a result, Bartlett pears are larger in size and supply of smaller fruit is more limited this season. While sizing is larger, it is too early to know which varieties will deliver the strongest final yields. Pears rely on cold storage to develop their natural sweetness and must continue to perform well through handling, storage, and distribution.
Tamara Dardari ALC Marketing
As the seasons shift from summer to fall, the produce harvest undergoes a major transformation. Shipping lines transition from delicate summer fruits to autumn produce like apples, pears, cranberries, pumpkins, potatoes, squash, and many more delicious foods. This shift also creates regional capacity surges across the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest, where a lot of these crops originate. Along with this change comes a transition in the equipment used to transport these perishable goods. While fall fruits still require temperature control from refrigerated vans, many autumn vegetables can be safely transported in insulated dry vans. With vented air circulation, dry vans create a safe environment for moving perishables while reducing fuel costs compared to refrigerated trucks.
This balance between temperature control and efficiency is becoming increasingly critical as extreme heat waves across the contiguous U.S. cost the economy an estimated $18.5 billion annually. Compared to the damage that localized disasters like tornadoes or hurricanes cause, extreme heat affects a wide range of geographic regions for weeks at a time. For shippers moving fresh produce or frozen goods, this prolonged exposure makes it difficult to find reliable refrigerated equipment. This matters because shippers must find trustworthy, vetted carriers with high-performing refrigerated units, pre-cooling compliance, and modern technology.
Since the summer heat doesn’t seem to be ending with fall approaching, it is important to know what measures to take to keep your trucks and freight in the best condition. Protecting perishable cargo starts with strict pre-cooling protocols that ensure the trailer reaches its optimal set-point temperature before loading. Carriers must complete thorough pre-trip equipment inspections and verify proper cargo spacing to maintain continuous airflow throughout the trailer. By combining disciplined prep work with routine in-transit temperature monitoring, drivers can detect heat spikes early, safeguard product quality, and ensure on-time, damage-free deliveries through late-season heatwaves.
*****
Tamara Dardari graduated from Chapman University in May of 2025 with a BA in Strategic and Corporate Communication and a minor in Creative and Cultural Industries. She started her career with the Allen Lund Company in the Marketing department last October.
tamara.dardari@allenlund.com
The USApple forecast for Washington state’s 2026-27 season stands at 176 million bushels, valued at around $2 billion. The figure is two percent below the 2025/26 crop and accounts for 62 percent of US apples for the upcoming season.
The decline is volume represents a five to 10 percent drop from the 2025-26 production.
Shipments have been pretty strong since the start of the year, which has helped create a better supply and demand balance in the market. This trend is expected to continue into the new crop year
Commercial acreage in top apple-producing states has been declining. Washington state has led the way by removing 3,000 planted acres since 2022.
The Washington State Apple Commission reports state growers expect a smaller Honeycrisp season since it’s an off-year for the variety. However, the decline might be easily offset by the expansion of Cosmic Crisp, the Washington State-developed cultivar that in May was renewed to be grown exclusively in North America by Washington growers for five more years.
Washington exports about one-third of its apple production.
It is well known that avocados are not only delicious but also pack a number of health benefits. However, that list of good-for-you effects is ever-growing, and researchers at Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences just added to the roster.
In a June 2026 study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, the academics reveal that incorporating a single avocado into a daily diet can lower key heart disease risk factors in adults with obesity by four percent.
“If people want to improve the quality of their diet, making one small change might be a more feasible strategy than attempting to change their entire diet,” said Janhavi Damani, postdoctoral scholar at Penn State and first author of the study.
he study centers on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, whose number and size play a distinct role in cardiovascular health.
LDL particles act like delivery trucks for “bad” cholesterol. Adults with abdominal obesity tend to have a higher concentration of smaller particles, which can easily squeeze into artery walls, leading to plaque buildup. Over time, this results in restricted blood flow, increasing blood pressure during physical exertion or stress, effectively elevating heart attack risk.
“Imagine two people with the same high levels of LDL cholesterol. Person A carries their cholesterol in fewer, larger LDL particles, and Person B carries their cholesterol in more, smaller LDL particles. Person B’s heart disease risk would be higher because their overall particle count is higher even though a test of their LDL cholesterol would look identical,” Damani explained.
Over six months, participants eating a daily avocado saw their LDL particle count drop by 49 nanomoles per liter, translating into a four percent reduction in the risk of heart disease.
Although the reduction is modest compared to a full dietary makeover, researchers stressed that the findings reflect realistic habits.
“In the course of people’s normal lives, avocado consumption contributes to a healthier diet,” noted Kristina Petersen, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State and senior author of the study.
The six-month trial analyzed data from 786 adult participants aged 25 and older.
Subjects were selected based on waist circumference measurements indicating abdominal obesity—greater than 40 inches for men and greater than 35 inches for women.
The Michigan Apple industry is expecting a high-quality crop of apples in 2026. The majority of apple-producing regions in Michigan report above-average apple crops with exceptional fruit size and color.
Michigan Apple industry representatives have stated that they believe the crop is larger than the USDA estimated 25 million bushels (1.05 billion lbs.) of apples.
“We know the apple crop is above 25 million bushels this year. The quality is amazing and the size is larger, leading to more bushels,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee BB #:157755. “There were some spring weather issues and problems with return bloom this year, but they are localized. Overall, Michigan’s apple crop is looking great.”
Many factors contribute to the size of an apple crop, including weather, bloom conditions and tree health. Michigan Apples are available year-round, and can be found at about 200 farm markets and cider mills in Michigan as well as more than 12,000 retail groceries across the U.S., according to Smith.
On average, Michigan growers harvest about 27.2 million bushels per year. Michigan is in the top three apple producing states, along with Washington and New York. Harvest is underway, with early varieties like Paula Red, Ginger Gold and Gala being the first on the market.
The Michigan Apple Committee has outlined key release dates and flavor profiles for the season’s most anticipated varieties:
• Mid-August (Early Harvesters): Kick off the season with Paula Red (zesty and tart) and Ginger Gold (sweet with a subtle tang), available starting around August 17.
• Late August (Sweet & Crisp Favorites): The popular Gala hits markets around August 24, followed closely by the juicy crunch of Honeycrisp starting August 31.
• September (Tasty Classics): Golden Delicious and McIntosh will be available around September 7, while Red Delicious, Fuji and Jonagold can be found later in September.
• October & Early November (Flavorful Newcomers): The refreshing and floral Ambrosia will be available around October 5, long-lasting EverCrisp picked around October 26, and closing out the Michigan Apple season, the pink, crisp and juicy Cripps Pink available November 2.
Michigan’s apple industry is powered by 850 multigenerational farm families—many now in their fourth or fifth generation—dedicated to growing world-class fruit. Consumers can support local growers by visiting cider mills, farm markets, and agri-tourism destinations, or by choosing Michigan-grown apples at their local grocery store.
The Michigan Apple Committee works on behalf of Michigan apple growers through marketing, research, education, and outreach to increase consumption, support growers, and ensure a strong and sustainable apple industry.
A new campaign spotlights the functional nutrition benefits of mushrooms.
“We’re helping to educate consumers about mushrooms’ role in the MIND diet, a plant-forward eating pattern designed to promote brain health,” commented Cristie Mather, vice president of marketing with the Mushroom Council.
“We know that when Millennial and Gen Z consumers seek foods for their functional benefits, they prioritize cognition and brain health as the top benefit they seek.” As a part of the MIND diet, mushrooms provide several nutrients and bioactive compounds that may play a role in supporting brain health, with ergothioneine (ERGO) being the standout. Mushrooms are one of the top food sources of ERGO with Shiitake, Oyster, King Trumpet and Lion’s Mane especially showing an abundance.
Portabella mushrooms in particular witness a sales surge during the summer months, driven by their ease of use in grilling. Whether grilled whole as a meaty main or burger, large Portabella caps are a natural fit for the flame, and the hot summer sales prove it.
Portabella mushrooms combined with White Button and Crimini/Baby Bella represent the highest volume for the category. Together, these varieties make up more than 90 percent of total volume sold in the U.S. Specialty mushrooms continue to capture the interest of mushroom shoppers with Shiitake being the most popular in terms of volume sold. In addition, significant YOY sales volume increases have been witnessed for Lion’s Mane and Trumpet mushrooms. For the highest-volume varieties, their popularity is driven by the fact that most consumers are very familiar with these mushrooms and appreciate their versatility in recipes and their relevance to a range of cuisines. However, increased awareness of mushrooms’ functional nutrition benefits has become a progressively important driver of consumption. Lion’s Mane for instance is a star of the supplement aisle, helping to deepen awareness of mushroom nutrition.
Hansen Farms in Rupert, ID, launched its annual potato harvest September 14.
The company grows seven potato varieties across approximately 60 fields, including Burbanks, Norkotahs, Clearwaters, Rangers, Reveille, Kings, and Dakotas. Storage facilities on the farm have been readied for the incoming yield, with each storage shed holding up to 10 million pounds of potatoes.
Brian Hansen, fourth-generation farm operations manager at Hansen Farms, says the preparation process runs up to ten months ahead of the first day in the fields. “We actually start preparing for harvest in the wintertime,” Hansen says. “Last December we started going through machinery, planning on any kind of changes that we were going to make from an operation standpoint and how we set up our machinery. That carries all the way through spring and summer, and you can see behind [us] we’ve got equipment starting to get set up. We test run things, we look for just problems that we can fix to help deliver the best quality potato that we can.”
Beyond machinery, the heat Idaho has experienced this summer has added pressure on the operation. Hansen says elevated temperatures over recent years have accelerated crop aging and made moisture management more difficult. “The hot conditions have impacted our crop over the last three to five years, I would say. It makes it age more quickly; it’s harder to keep the moisture that we need in the fields. That heat has definitely played a role in potato quality for this year.”
The dry summer also raises concerns about the following season. Hansen says water conservation is a topic now entering conversations in a way it has not before. “I think this is the first year where we’re actually hearing and seeing people talk about conserving more water and cutting that water back. Hoping that we have a good winter because next year I think is when we’re really going to see an impact on water availability.”
According to a monthly survey, the total number of apples in storage on Aug. 1, 2026, was 23 million bushels, seven percent less than last August’s total of 25 million bushels. Data are not yet available to calculate the July five-year average.
Michigan did not report holdings for August 2026. Michigan’s holdings two months ago (June 2026) were 1.3 million bushels. It is assumed that a portion of those apples remain. Michigan also did not report their storages in July 2026, so movement will not be inflated by unreported August holdings.
Fresh apple holdings this August totaled 16 million bushels, 13 percent less than the inventories reported for last August. Processing holdings totaled 7 million bushels, 11 percent more than last year on August 1.
With a late Labor Day (Sept. 7) this year, Butch’s Best of Capac, MI shipped it first loads of pumpkins in late August. Shipments typically begin around Labor Day.
The broker/distributor/fresh cut packer has over 18 pumpkin growers in eight states and Canada growing a variety of pumpkins including regular pumpkins, heirlooms, ornamental, pie pumpkins and a painted pumpkin program, most of which run through the end of October. It also has Delicata squash which goes until December. The company also ships a number of other vegetables.
An unknown this year is how many pumpkins there are scattered across many regions due to drastic weather differences. Some areas like Indiana got 10-12 inches of rain and parts of it and Ohio got 90 mile per hour winds. It was a very perfect growing season for everyone and then it got really wet in a lot of places. By contrast some regions were dry. For example, parts of Michigan and New York were pretty dry.
Meanwhile Texas had weeks of extreme heat this summer, while those other growing regions were dealing with that excessive rain, flooding, high winds and hail. For this reason Butch’s Best has diversified its suppliers to be from eight states and Canada.
This all comes amidst an already challenging growing year following freezes in Florida and heat in the Midwest, the Northeast and California. That’s pushed numerous crops out too fast.
Storms and flash flooding across central Ohio in late August caused losses for pumpkin growers ahead of the state’s autumn picking season.
Pumpkin patches across Ohio are preparing for the picking season, which generally starts during the first half of September. Some growing areas experienced heavy rainfall, winds, flooding, and crop losses during the storms.
Sam’s Pumpkin Patch in Pickerington lost around 50 per cent of its pumpkin crop to flooding. The farm covers 20 acres (8.1 hectares) and primarily grows pumpkins and gourds. The company has contacted other growers with available supplies to avoid closing for the remainder of the season.
Other pumpkin-growing areas were less affected. Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm in Radnor received heavy rainfall, but its crop avoided wind damage.
Overall, U.S. pumpkin shipments got off to a strong start this season.
The new season Northwest pear harvest was launched July 27, a little earlier than the normal mid-August start.
Since there was no carryover inventory from the previous year, new harvest arrived with fresh momentum. The season began in Medford, Oregon and is moving north through Mid-Columbia, Oregon, and into Yakima and Wenatchee, Washington.
“Following a smaller crop in 2024 and an abundant crop in 2025, this year’s pear crop is expected to be normal in size,” says Barbara Ruhs with USA Pears.
Recently, wildfires in Washington’s Okanogan region have affected some pear-growing communities. Because the situation is still evolving, it is too soon to determine the full impact on this year’s crop.
The fruit sized up well due to a mild winter and limited frost pressure. As a result, Bartlett pears are larger in size and supply of smaller fruit is more limited this season. While sizing is larger, it is too early to know which varieties will deliver the strongest final yields. Pears rely on cold storage to develop their natural sweetness and must continue to perform well through handling, storage, and distribution.
Tamara Dardari ALC Marketing
As the seasons shift from summer to fall, the produce harvest undergoes a major transformation. Shipping lines transition from delicate summer fruits to autumn produce like apples, pears, cranberries, pumpkins, potatoes, squash, and many more delicious foods. This shift also creates regional capacity surges across the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest, where a lot of these crops originate. Along with this change comes a transition in the equipment used to transport these perishable goods. While fall fruits still require temperature control from refrigerated vans, many autumn vegetables can be safely transported in insulated dry vans. With vented air circulation, dry vans create a safe environment for moving perishables while reducing fuel costs compared to refrigerated trucks.
This balance between temperature control and efficiency is becoming increasingly critical as extreme heat waves across the contiguous U.S. cost the economy an estimated $18.5 billion annually. Compared to the damage that localized disasters like tornadoes or hurricanes cause, extreme heat affects a wide range of geographic regions for weeks at a time. For shippers moving fresh produce or frozen goods, this prolonged exposure makes it difficult to find reliable refrigerated equipment. This matters because shippers must find trustworthy, vetted carriers with high-performing refrigerated units, pre-cooling compliance, and modern technology.
Since the summer heat doesn’t seem to be ending with fall approaching, it is important to know what measures to take to keep your trucks and freight in the best condition. Protecting perishable cargo starts with strict pre-cooling protocols that ensure the trailer reaches its optimal set-point temperature before loading. Carriers must complete thorough pre-trip equipment inspections and verify proper cargo spacing to maintain continuous airflow throughout the trailer. By combining disciplined prep work with routine in-transit temperature monitoring, drivers can detect heat spikes early, safeguard product quality, and ensure on-time, damage-free deliveries through late-season heatwaves.
*****
Tamara Dardari graduated from Chapman University in May of 2025 with a BA in Strategic and Corporate Communication and a minor in Creative and Cultural Industries. She started her career with the Allen Lund Company in the Marketing department last October.
tamara.dardari@allenlund.com
The USApple forecast for Washington state’s 2026-27 season stands at 176 million bushels, valued at around $2 billion. The figure is two percent below the 2025/26 crop and accounts for 62 percent of US apples for the upcoming season.
The decline is volume represents a five to 10 percent drop from the 2025-26 production.
Shipments have been pretty strong since the start of the year, which has helped create a better supply and demand balance in the market. This trend is expected to continue into the new crop year
Commercial acreage in top apple-producing states has been declining. Washington state has led the way by removing 3,000 planted acres since 2022.
The Washington State Apple Commission reports state growers expect a smaller Honeycrisp season since it’s an off-year for the variety. However, the decline might be easily offset by the expansion of Cosmic Crisp, the Washington State-developed cultivar that in May was renewed to be grown exclusively in North America by Washington growers for five more years.
Washington exports about one-third of its apple production.
It is well known that avocados are not only delicious but also pack a number of health benefits. However, that list of good-for-you effects is ever-growing, and researchers at Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences just added to the roster.
In a June 2026 study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, the academics reveal that incorporating a single avocado into a daily diet can lower key heart disease risk factors in adults with obesity by four percent.
“If people want to improve the quality of their diet, making one small change might be a more feasible strategy than attempting to change their entire diet,” said Janhavi Damani, postdoctoral scholar at Penn State and first author of the study.
he study centers on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, whose number and size play a distinct role in cardiovascular health.
LDL particles act like delivery trucks for “bad” cholesterol. Adults with abdominal obesity tend to have a higher concentration of smaller particles, which can easily squeeze into artery walls, leading to plaque buildup. Over time, this results in restricted blood flow, increasing blood pressure during physical exertion or stress, effectively elevating heart attack risk.
“Imagine two people with the same high levels of LDL cholesterol. Person A carries their cholesterol in fewer, larger LDL particles, and Person B carries their cholesterol in more, smaller LDL particles. Person B’s heart disease risk would be higher because their overall particle count is higher even though a test of their LDL cholesterol would look identical,” Damani explained.
Over six months, participants eating a daily avocado saw their LDL particle count drop by 49 nanomoles per liter, translating into a four percent reduction in the risk of heart disease.
Although the reduction is modest compared to a full dietary makeover, researchers stressed that the findings reflect realistic habits.
“In the course of people’s normal lives, avocado consumption contributes to a healthier diet,” noted Kristina Petersen, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State and senior author of the study.
The six-month trial analyzed data from 786 adult participants aged 25 and older.
Subjects were selected based on waist circumference measurements indicating abdominal obesity—greater than 40 inches for men and greater than 35 inches for women.