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The Washington State Tree Fruit Association’s storage report dated June 6 reveals Washington apples remaining in storage stand at approximately 35 million boxes, compared to 38 million boxes at the same time last year. However, inventory levels vary by variety. The reduced volume in certain varieties can be attributed to smaller crop yields and strong movement early in the season.
There is ample volume of varieties like Honeycrisp available across Washington State, according to Superfresh Growers of Yakima, WA.
Still, there are tighter supplies of Red Delicious and Gala apples compared to previous years. These reduced inventories are largely the result of crop size and steady movement throughout the season.
Superfresh Growers apples are harvested from throughout the Pacific Northwest, from northern Oregon to the southern Canadian border.
As for timing, the 2025-26 Washington apple season began on schedule, with Gala and Honeycrisp harvest starting in early August, with the other varieties following their typical harvest windows. As for the current crop, apples are expected to continue to ship until the transition to new-crop fruit, which begins in August via an expected smooth transition.
The company continues to ship all core apple varieties, including Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Red Delicious, as well as Cosmic Crisp® apples and its proprietary variety, Autumn Glory®, industry-wide, inventories are tighter for certain varieties than last year.
Growing conditions have been generally favorable across the company’s growing regions for the 2026-2027 apple crop.
Replacing solid snacks with small amounts of almonds can lead to healthier diets, especially for children and teenagers, according to a 2025 study.
Researchers from the Aix-Marseille Université in France and the University of Washington set out to assess the nutritional impact of replacing popular processed snack foods with 30 or 50 grams of almonds in the diets of children ages 4 through 19 and American adults.
“Our research found swapping sugary and/or salty snacks such as cookies, cakes, candy and chips for nutrient-rich almonds has great potential for increasing essential nutrients and lowering saturated fat, added sugars and sodium,” says Adam Drewnowski, Director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington.
The study showed that the switch resulted in diets higher in protein, fiber, unsaturated fats, and magnesium, and lower in saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium, increasing overall diet quality, even without any other dietary changes.
The study, funded by the Almond Board of California, used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected between 2017 and 2023.
Researchers used computer-based simulations to test various scenarios. These included adding almonds to match for calories (adding enough nuts to match half or the total of a particular snack’s calories), or adding 30g or 50g of them without removing or changing any other element.
The researchers then assessed each scenario by evaluating nutrient density, excess nutrients, and adequacy of essential nutrients. The dataset was also analyzed based on overall compliance with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), which were current at the time of the research.
On average, solid snacks provided 329 calories a day, just under 16 percent of the total energy requirements. Only 58 of those calories (less than three percent of the total) came from healthy snacks such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and plain yogurt.
Replacing all solid snacks or even just half of the less healthy snacks with almonds brought diets closer to meeting DGA recommendations, with the greatest impact in children aged 4 to 13.
“These improvements were largely the result of significant drops in saturated fat, added sugars, sodium and refined grains,” said the Almond Board of California in a statement. “There were also significant increases in protein, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, fiber and magnesium.”
There was also an improvement in the nutrient density of diets without leading to weight gain, said the organization.
A 1-ounce serving of almonds provides six grams of protein, four grams of fiber, 13 grams of unsaturated fat, only one gram of saturated fat, and 15 essential nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, and vitamin E.
According to the research, while the greatest effects on diet quality were seen with the larger serving size, even the 30-gram portion led to significant improvements and moved diets closer to recommendations.
Despite the positive results, the Almond Board of California and the researchers were adamant that the study has limitations, as modeling studies based on existing data show associations but cannot prove cause and effect.
Bell peppers are seeing an abundance of supply right now for shipping.
Maui Fresh International LLC of Los Angeles reports colored bells are especially abundant. The company’s main commodity is bell peppers which it ships from throughout the U.S. as well as Mexico, Canada and the Netherlands.
This follows a winter that saw more limited supply due to not only freezing temperatures in Florida which affected that crop, but also a hot winter in Mexico.
As for this season, mild weather has contributed to a later start in regions such as Coachella. Additionally, the Canadian bell pepper season also saw a delayed start.
The delays were caused by overcast and rainy conditions, and now product is producing at the same time.
In California, Maui Fresh has production from Coachella, Bakersfield as well as Oxnard and Santa Maria.
Meanwhile demand continues to be steady. Pepper consumption generally stays even throughout the year with fixed contracting for top items such as choice greens and reds in foodservice and bagged peppers at retail.
The Chilean citrus export season is projected to see an increase, with the U.S. being the primary export market.
According to data provided by the Citrus Committee of industry body Frutas de Chile, the current campaign is set to grow six percent in volume, reaching 530 thousand tons. In 2025, the South American country shipped 499,204 tons of citrus to international markets.
Local industry news outlet Diario Frutícola reported that the sector has been experiencing sustained growth since 2022, driven by lemons and oranges and strengthened by the stability of mandarins.
The United States remains the main destination for Chilean citrus, accounting for 80 percent of exports.
According to data provided by Frutas de Chile, lemons should establish themselves this season as the fastest-growing category in the country’s citrus portfolio, with shipments set to reach 131,000 tons. This represents a 14 percent increase over the 115,050 tons exported in 2025.
Oranges are also on the rise and are projected to grow 10 percent compared to 2025, reaching 134 thousand tons.
For clementines, the estimate is 75,000 tons, representing a five percent increase over the previous season, when the sector exported 71,550 tons.
Meanwhile, mandarin exports are projected to remain stable, reaching 190,000 tons. The estimate is less than one percent above the 2025 total of 190,910 tons.
Approximately 70 percent of California’s cantaloupe crop is produced in the San Joaquin Valley, where harvest began June 29, which is right on schedule, notes Garrett Patricio, President of Classic Fruit Company of Fresno, CA and chairman of the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, who stressed shippers are expecting promotable volume to be available by early July.
“The good news is that we expect strong cantaloupe volume beginning in early July and continuing throughout the remainder of the summer,” Patricio said. “Consumers and retailers can look forward to a steady supply of high-quality California cantaloupes once the San Joaquin Valley season gets underway.”
About 75 percent of all cantaloupes consumed in the United States are grown in California. As the San Joaquin Valley harvest gets underway, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board is launching an expanded consumer marketing campaign designed to drive demand throughout the summer season.
In the meantime, unusual weather patterns severely impacted melon production in California’s Imperial Valley and the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Growers had extremely limited supplies of all melon varieties, including cantaloupe, during the last half of June.
The 250th anniversary, also called the Semiquincentennial, commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history, honor contributions of Americans past and present, and envision the future for the next generations.
Similar to a year ago, supplies of North Carolina sweet potato are tight in the final months of the 2025-26 shipping season.
Triple J Produce of Sims, NC reports volume close to that of last year.
Tight supply has also impacted exporting plans for sweet potatoes from the state, due to less volume and the need to supply domestic customers.
The lower supply traces back to sizing during the growing season. Cooler temperatures set in during October combined with a lack of rain resulting in the remaining part of the crop that hadn’t been harvested yet not sizing up. That part of the crop is shipping now.
Georgia sweet corn shipments started last month and peak volume should continue through mid July.
Shipments are expected to last through the end of the month.
Grower/shipper Rogue River Farms of Clewiston, FL has added acreage in Georgia so it would be able to go further into July with sweet corn supply from the region. That will allow it to have Georgia sweet corn throughout July and until production transitions to the local deals across the country.
As for the rest of the summer season, Rouge River Farms has production ahead in two other regions–Virginia and Ontario, Canada. The Canadian production is on schedule to start at the end of July/early part of August, while early assessments of the crop are positive. The plantings are strong right now. The company is hoping for more heat units in Canada to help keep the crop moving. The Virginia crop is looking very similar.
Oceanside, CA — Oppy and its grower partner Oceanside Pole are preparing for a well-paced and high-quality 2026 tomato season with strong volumes, an early start and continued demand for premium, vine-ripened tomatoes.
The 2026 crop is expected to deliver approximately 2.1 million cases of rounds and 750,000 cases of Romas, with harvest beginning in late June and volumes building steadily through July into peak production in August, September and early October. An earlier start this season is expected to help spread volume more evenly, creating greater flexibility week to week.
Grown in Oceanside, Southern California, Oceanside Pole tomatoes come from a multigenerational operation led by the Singh family, who have been farming in the region since 1939. As the only pole-grown tomato farm west of the Mississippi producing at commercial scale and the last remaining vine-ripe tomato grower in Southern California, the program offers a unique combination of heritage, scale and consistency.
Oceanside Pole tomatoes are vine-ripened and never gassed, harvested only when ready to ensure strong flavor and Brix. Packed once, they maintain quality and shelf life from field to customer. With an upgraded packing line and the ability to ship within 24 hours in many cases, the program supports retail, foodservice and wholesale customers across North America and export markets.
About Oppy
Growing, marketing and distributing fresh produce from around the globe for over 165 years, Vancouver, BC-based Oppy discovers and delivers the best of the world’s harvest. With over 50 million boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on every continent moving through its supply chain annually, Oppy offers popular favorites from avocados and berries to apples and oranges year-round, alongside innovative seasonal specialties. Over the years, Oppy has introduced North Americans to a number of items across its diverse produce range, including Granny Smith, JAZZ and Envy apples, as well as green and gold kiwifruit.
Berries, especially blueberries and strawberries, are widely regarded as a healthy food choice, not only for their nutritional value, but also for their potential brain health benefits. Neurologists point to their antioxidant content as one reason to include them regularly in the diet, whether fresh or frozen.
“I try to eat blueberries every week,” said David B. Babitt, neurologist at UTHealth Houston Neurosciences Neurology – Texas Medical Center and assistant professor in neurology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “They seem to have one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants and neuroprotective compounds of any fruit, perhaps rivaled only by pomegranates, açaí berries, or cranberries. And blueberries are delicious.”
Much of the attention surrounding berries comes from their polyphenols, antioxidants also found in other deeply coloured fruits and vegetables. These compounds help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both linked to aging and chronic disease.
“Polyphenols are beneficial for cardiovascular health, supporting the heart and arteries that keep blood flowing to the brain,” Babitt said.
Blueberries and strawberries are also valued for being low in calories and high in fibre, helping people feel fuller for longer. They may also help manage blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
Research has linked regular consumption of strawberries and blueberries with better performance on memory and thinking tests in older adults, as well as slower cognitive decline over time. While berries are not a cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they can form part of a brain-healthy diet.
Babitt stressed that no single food can protect brain health on its own. “Blueberries are one piece of a healthy diet,” he said. “Eating blueberries in isolation is not going to prevent Alzheimer’s or other dementias.”
He noted that overall health also depends on managing blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep habits, while staying physically active and socially engaged.
Blueberries and strawberries can easily be added to oatmeal, yoghurt, smoothies, salads, or eaten on their own. Babitt aims to eat them at least once a week, although daily consumption is even better.
Frozen berries can also be a practical option. “Frozen fruits are generally known to have the same nutritional content as fresh,” Babitt said. “They’re great for longer storage, usually cheaper, and easy to use in smoothies or shakes.”
One downside is that blueberries can develop mold quickly. Babitt recommends checking containers carefully before buying, rinsing berries with baking soda or vinegar, and storing them in the refrigerator’s low-humidity fruit drawer.
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association’s storage report dated June 6 reveals Washington apples remaining in storage stand at approximately 35 million boxes, compared to 38 million boxes at the same time last year. However, inventory levels vary by variety. The reduced volume in certain varieties can be attributed to smaller crop yields and strong movement early in the season.
There is ample volume of varieties like Honeycrisp available across Washington State, according to Superfresh Growers of Yakima, WA.
Still, there are tighter supplies of Red Delicious and Gala apples compared to previous years. These reduced inventories are largely the result of crop size and steady movement throughout the season.
Superfresh Growers apples are harvested from throughout the Pacific Northwest, from northern Oregon to the southern Canadian border.
As for timing, the 2025-26 Washington apple season began on schedule, with Gala and Honeycrisp harvest starting in early August, with the other varieties following their typical harvest windows. As for the current crop, apples are expected to continue to ship until the transition to new-crop fruit, which begins in August via an expected smooth transition.
The company continues to ship all core apple varieties, including Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Red Delicious, as well as Cosmic Crisp® apples and its proprietary variety, Autumn Glory®, industry-wide, inventories are tighter for certain varieties than last year.
Growing conditions have been generally favorable across the company’s growing regions for the 2026-2027 apple crop.
Replacing solid snacks with small amounts of almonds can lead to healthier diets, especially for children and teenagers, according to a 2025 study.
Researchers from the Aix-Marseille Université in France and the University of Washington set out to assess the nutritional impact of replacing popular processed snack foods with 30 or 50 grams of almonds in the diets of children ages 4 through 19 and American adults.
“Our research found swapping sugary and/or salty snacks such as cookies, cakes, candy and chips for nutrient-rich almonds has great potential for increasing essential nutrients and lowering saturated fat, added sugars and sodium,” says Adam Drewnowski, Director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington.
The study showed that the switch resulted in diets higher in protein, fiber, unsaturated fats, and magnesium, and lower in saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium, increasing overall diet quality, even without any other dietary changes.
The study, funded by the Almond Board of California, used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected between 2017 and 2023.
Researchers used computer-based simulations to test various scenarios. These included adding almonds to match for calories (adding enough nuts to match half or the total of a particular snack’s calories), or adding 30g or 50g of them without removing or changing any other element.
The researchers then assessed each scenario by evaluating nutrient density, excess nutrients, and adequacy of essential nutrients. The dataset was also analyzed based on overall compliance with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), which were current at the time of the research.
On average, solid snacks provided 329 calories a day, just under 16 percent of the total energy requirements. Only 58 of those calories (less than three percent of the total) came from healthy snacks such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and plain yogurt.
Replacing all solid snacks or even just half of the less healthy snacks with almonds brought diets closer to meeting DGA recommendations, with the greatest impact in children aged 4 to 13.
“These improvements were largely the result of significant drops in saturated fat, added sugars, sodium and refined grains,” said the Almond Board of California in a statement. “There were also significant increases in protein, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, fiber and magnesium.”
There was also an improvement in the nutrient density of diets without leading to weight gain, said the organization.
A 1-ounce serving of almonds provides six grams of protein, four grams of fiber, 13 grams of unsaturated fat, only one gram of saturated fat, and 15 essential nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, and vitamin E.
According to the research, while the greatest effects on diet quality were seen with the larger serving size, even the 30-gram portion led to significant improvements and moved diets closer to recommendations.
Despite the positive results, the Almond Board of California and the researchers were adamant that the study has limitations, as modeling studies based on existing data show associations but cannot prove cause and effect.
Bell peppers are seeing an abundance of supply right now for shipping.
Maui Fresh International LLC of Los Angeles reports colored bells are especially abundant. The company’s main commodity is bell peppers which it ships from throughout the U.S. as well as Mexico, Canada and the Netherlands.
This follows a winter that saw more limited supply due to not only freezing temperatures in Florida which affected that crop, but also a hot winter in Mexico.
As for this season, mild weather has contributed to a later start in regions such as Coachella. Additionally, the Canadian bell pepper season also saw a delayed start.
The delays were caused by overcast and rainy conditions, and now product is producing at the same time.
In California, Maui Fresh has production from Coachella, Bakersfield as well as Oxnard and Santa Maria.
Meanwhile demand continues to be steady. Pepper consumption generally stays even throughout the year with fixed contracting for top items such as choice greens and reds in foodservice and bagged peppers at retail.
The Chilean citrus export season is projected to see an increase, with the U.S. being the primary export market.
According to data provided by the Citrus Committee of industry body Frutas de Chile, the current campaign is set to grow six percent in volume, reaching 530 thousand tons. In 2025, the South American country shipped 499,204 tons of citrus to international markets.
Local industry news outlet Diario Frutícola reported that the sector has been experiencing sustained growth since 2022, driven by lemons and oranges and strengthened by the stability of mandarins.
The United States remains the main destination for Chilean citrus, accounting for 80 percent of exports.
According to data provided by Frutas de Chile, lemons should establish themselves this season as the fastest-growing category in the country’s citrus portfolio, with shipments set to reach 131,000 tons. This represents a 14 percent increase over the 115,050 tons exported in 2025.
Oranges are also on the rise and are projected to grow 10 percent compared to 2025, reaching 134 thousand tons.
For clementines, the estimate is 75,000 tons, representing a five percent increase over the previous season, when the sector exported 71,550 tons.
Meanwhile, mandarin exports are projected to remain stable, reaching 190,000 tons. The estimate is less than one percent above the 2025 total of 190,910 tons.
Approximately 70 percent of California’s cantaloupe crop is produced in the San Joaquin Valley, where harvest began June 29, which is right on schedule, notes Garrett Patricio, President of Classic Fruit Company of Fresno, CA and chairman of the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, who stressed shippers are expecting promotable volume to be available by early July.
“The good news is that we expect strong cantaloupe volume beginning in early July and continuing throughout the remainder of the summer,” Patricio said. “Consumers and retailers can look forward to a steady supply of high-quality California cantaloupes once the San Joaquin Valley season gets underway.”
About 75 percent of all cantaloupes consumed in the United States are grown in California. As the San Joaquin Valley harvest gets underway, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board is launching an expanded consumer marketing campaign designed to drive demand throughout the summer season.
In the meantime, unusual weather patterns severely impacted melon production in California’s Imperial Valley and the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Growers had extremely limited supplies of all melon varieties, including cantaloupe, during the last half of June.
The 250th anniversary, also called the Semiquincentennial, commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history, honor contributions of Americans past and present, and envision the future for the next generations.
Similar to a year ago, supplies of North Carolina sweet potato are tight in the final months of the 2025-26 shipping season.
Triple J Produce of Sims, NC reports volume close to that of last year.
Tight supply has also impacted exporting plans for sweet potatoes from the state, due to less volume and the need to supply domestic customers.
The lower supply traces back to sizing during the growing season. Cooler temperatures set in during October combined with a lack of rain resulting in the remaining part of the crop that hadn’t been harvested yet not sizing up. That part of the crop is shipping now.
Georgia sweet corn shipments started last month and peak volume should continue through mid July.
Shipments are expected to last through the end of the month.
Grower/shipper Rogue River Farms of Clewiston, FL has added acreage in Georgia so it would be able to go further into July with sweet corn supply from the region. That will allow it to have Georgia sweet corn throughout July and until production transitions to the local deals across the country.
As for the rest of the summer season, Rouge River Farms has production ahead in two other regions–Virginia and Ontario, Canada. The Canadian production is on schedule to start at the end of July/early part of August, while early assessments of the crop are positive. The plantings are strong right now. The company is hoping for more heat units in Canada to help keep the crop moving. The Virginia crop is looking very similar.
Oceanside, CA — Oppy and its grower partner Oceanside Pole are preparing for a well-paced and high-quality 2026 tomato season with strong volumes, an early start and continued demand for premium, vine-ripened tomatoes.
The 2026 crop is expected to deliver approximately 2.1 million cases of rounds and 750,000 cases of Romas, with harvest beginning in late June and volumes building steadily through July into peak production in August, September and early October. An earlier start this season is expected to help spread volume more evenly, creating greater flexibility week to week.
Grown in Oceanside, Southern California, Oceanside Pole tomatoes come from a multigenerational operation led by the Singh family, who have been farming in the region since 1939. As the only pole-grown tomato farm west of the Mississippi producing at commercial scale and the last remaining vine-ripe tomato grower in Southern California, the program offers a unique combination of heritage, scale and consistency.
Oceanside Pole tomatoes are vine-ripened and never gassed, harvested only when ready to ensure strong flavor and Brix. Packed once, they maintain quality and shelf life from field to customer. With an upgraded packing line and the ability to ship within 24 hours in many cases, the program supports retail, foodservice and wholesale customers across North America and export markets.
About Oppy
Growing, marketing and distributing fresh produce from around the globe for over 165 years, Vancouver, BC-based Oppy discovers and delivers the best of the world’s harvest. With over 50 million boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on every continent moving through its supply chain annually, Oppy offers popular favorites from avocados and berries to apples and oranges year-round, alongside innovative seasonal specialties. Over the years, Oppy has introduced North Americans to a number of items across its diverse produce range, including Granny Smith, JAZZ and Envy apples, as well as green and gold kiwifruit.
Berries, especially blueberries and strawberries, are widely regarded as a healthy food choice, not only for their nutritional value, but also for their potential brain health benefits. Neurologists point to their antioxidant content as one reason to include them regularly in the diet, whether fresh or frozen.
“I try to eat blueberries every week,” said David B. Babitt, neurologist at UTHealth Houston Neurosciences Neurology – Texas Medical Center and assistant professor in neurology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “They seem to have one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants and neuroprotective compounds of any fruit, perhaps rivaled only by pomegranates, açaí berries, or cranberries. And blueberries are delicious.”
Much of the attention surrounding berries comes from their polyphenols, antioxidants also found in other deeply coloured fruits and vegetables. These compounds help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both linked to aging and chronic disease.
“Polyphenols are beneficial for cardiovascular health, supporting the heart and arteries that keep blood flowing to the brain,” Babitt said.
Blueberries and strawberries are also valued for being low in calories and high in fibre, helping people feel fuller for longer. They may also help manage blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
Research has linked regular consumption of strawberries and blueberries with better performance on memory and thinking tests in older adults, as well as slower cognitive decline over time. While berries are not a cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they can form part of a brain-healthy diet.
Babitt stressed that no single food can protect brain health on its own. “Blueberries are one piece of a healthy diet,” he said. “Eating blueberries in isolation is not going to prevent Alzheimer’s or other dementias.”
He noted that overall health also depends on managing blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep habits, while staying physically active and socially engaged.
Blueberries and strawberries can easily be added to oatmeal, yoghurt, smoothies, salads, or eaten on their own. Babitt aims to eat them at least once a week, although daily consumption is even better.
Frozen berries can also be a practical option. “Frozen fruits are generally known to have the same nutritional content as fresh,” Babitt said. “They’re great for longer storage, usually cheaper, and easy to use in smoothies or shakes.”
One downside is that blueberries can develop mold quickly. Babitt recommends checking containers carefully before buying, rinsing berries with baking soda or vinegar, and storing them in the refrigerator’s low-humidity fruit drawer.