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Despite a freeze during bloom, Florida grapefruit has more sugar (brix) and volume should be good this season, according to Riverfront Packing Company of Vero Beach, FL.
Shipping has recently got underway and should continue into mid-March.
Last season Florida shipped 1.35 million standard 90-pound boxes of grapefruit, with a few loadings continuing into April.
While sizing is a bit smaller in general this season, the brix count is up by 10 percent.
Riverfront, which is a grower, shipper and packer, recalls last year’s slower fall start to the domestic citrus season. That was due to an influx of South African grapefruit from South African growers and shippers, who were concerned over a 50 percent tariff threat on imported fruit into the U.S.
This resulted in significant volumes of fruit were sent ahead of those tariffs being implemented, which left Florida growers and shippers not really seeing good loadings until late November/early December. Still, there is some South African fruit in the marketplace as late as January, but it is not nearly to the degree that it was a year ago.
From Idaho to Washington State, Wisconsin and Colorado, potato harvests have finished or are very close being complete, according to Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
In Idaho, Norkotah supplies of larger potatoes remain tight due to average to slightly below-average yields and demand from processors.
Separate reporting indicates that Idaho growers have experienced lower yields and smaller size profiles following frost, heat, warm nights, and wildfire smoke. The Idaho Potato Commission estimates planted acreage at approximately 298,916 acres, around 13,000 acres less than the previous year.
Washington reports a range of potato sizes, although demand for larger tubers is keeping market prices elevated. In Wisconsin, growers completed harvest in mid-October, while Colorado’s remaining harvest was expected to take another one to two weeks.
Despite ongoing harvesting, availability varies by size, grade, and origin. Larger russet potatoes remain more difficult to source for foodservice buyers requiring specific count sizes.
As harvesting concludes, attention will shift to storage conditions, packout rates, and the availability of potatoes meeting market specifications.
Broccoli loadings got underway from North Carolina last week, according to mixed vegetable grower, shipper Jackson’s Farm Company of Autryville, NC.
Harvesting is expected to continue until the middle of December which makes for a seven to eight week harvest window, though some years it has continued into January.
Additionally, some other East Coast states are coming into production with broccoli including Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia with the latter starting its harvest in mid October.
Overall, broccoli loadings have been light for a while because Mexico and California faced adverse weather issues this year. Maine has recently finished its production because it had a colder summer this year and has also had lighter volume.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s started its North Carolina sweet potato harvest in August; began recently curing its product, with packing now underway. Harvesting should continue through mid November.
Great White Fleet Corporation (GWF), an ocean carrier specializing in temperature-controlled logistics, has announced a commercial expansion across its Pan-American and European trade networks. The expansion includes the deployment of its 14th active vessel, 2,000 refrigerated containers, and new multimodal routes ahead of the Q4 2026 peak season.
The Chiquita Enterprise is scheduled to enter service in late 2026. To support the expanded fleet, GWF will add 2,000 refrigerated containers to its rotation by December 2026. The units are equipped with Carrier Transicold’s OptimaLine™ technology, which uses atmosphere control to extend the shelf life of commodities including avocados, berries, citrus, grapes, and other produce during long-distance transit.
GWF is launching three transit corridors in October 2026. A new direct train route will connect the U.S. Midwest via the central rail hub of Harvey, Illinois, to Gulfport, Mississippi, for export into Central America. A direct ocean route from Peru to Philadelphia will serve seasonal produce shipments into the U.S. Northeast. A new ocean service will also connect Guayaquil, Ecuador, directly with U.S. and European ports.
“Deploying the Chiquita Enterprise and injecting 2,000 high-spec reefers into our network directly addresses the industry’s demand for reliable, high-precision cold chain capacity,” said Stefano di Paolo, President of Great White Fleet. “We are protecting our clients’ margins by preserving product quality across longer distances. Our aim, after all, is to be First in Fresh!”
“These new ocean and rail connections greatly expand service offerings and improve destination flexibility,” added Simon Cole, Director at GWF. “By linking Chicago directly to Gulfport, and opening faster lanes out of Peru and Ecuador, we are giving global shippers the agility they need in a dynamic supply chain environment.”
The California Valencia shipments are ending, while the California Navel season started on a limited basis in mid October, according to a recent press release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Valencia
- California Valencia supplies are expected to ship through late October
- Current stocks are dominated by 56- and 72-count sizes; choice-grade fruit is most plentiful
- Small-size fruit (113- to 138-count oranges) will be extremely limited for the rest of the Valencia season
- Sugar levels range from 13 to 15 Brix; high sugar levels such as this typically result in a shorter shelf-life
Navel
- Limited California Navel harvesting began last week; volume will ramp up over the next three to four weeks
- Stocks will be dominated by 88- and 113-count sizes; fancy grade fruit is most prevalent
- Sugar levels range from 10 to 12 Brix
- This early variety fruit requires gassing for 72+ hours
- Expect prices for small sizes to inch down as Navel yields increase
Chilean grape exports are forecast to increase to primary markets this season led by the U.S.
Increases are forecast across all major markets. The United States is expected to continue accounting for about 50% of shipments, with 34.0 million boxes (+15%). Europe is forecast to reach 15.1 million (+16%), while Asia is expected to total about 6.0 million (+16%). Other destinations are forecast to receive about 12.9 million boxes (+20%), representing about 19% of the total.
Frutas de Chile’s Table Grape Committee has issued its first forecast for the 2026–27 season, projecting shipments of 67.9 million 8.2-kilo boxes, up 16.5% from the 58.3 million boxes exported in 2025–26.
Licensed varieties are expected to reach 49.1 million boxes, up 13.8% from the previous season, accounting for 72.2% of the total. Red Globe is expected to rebound to 11.7 million boxes (+30.6%), while other traditional varieties are projected to total around 7.2 million (+15%).
White grape exports are expected to reach 27.8 million boxes, up 17.7%, with licensed varieties accounting for 95.4% of the total. Sweet Globe (around 8.0 million boxes), Autumn Crisp (7.7 million) and Timpson (3.2 million) are expected to drive nearly 87% of the group’s growth.
Red varieties, excluding Red Globe, are expected to reach 24.0 million boxes (+12.7%), while black varieties are projected to remain stable at around 4.5 million. By region, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, and O’Higgins are expected to contribute approximately 96% of the projected growth.
Food science researchers at Shinshu University, in Nagano, Japan, identified a naturally present compound in blueberries that could help muscle cells break down stored fat, Science Daily reports.
The substance, pterostilbene, promoted lipid breakdown and increased the activity of genes associated with fatty acid oxidation in laboratory-cultured mouse muscle cells. The findings were published in July in the journal Food Bioscience.
Pterostilbene is a polyphenol found in blueberries, grapes, and other berries. The researchers said the findings could support further investigation into food-derived compounds for functional foods or nutritional ingredients targeting muscle fat metabolism.
Led by Associate Professor Takakazu Mitani, the research team found that pterostilbene targets PPARδ, a protein that regulates fatty acid metabolism.
Unlike compounds that directly activate PPARδ, pterostilbene appears to prevent the protein from breaking down, increasing the amount available inside cells. Shinshu University said the resulting increase in PPARδ activity promoted genes involved in lipid metabolism.
The treated cells subsequently showed a greater capacity to break down stored fat and use fatty acids.
The study also found that pterostilbene reduced fat accumulation inside the cultured muscle cells without disrupting normal cell growth or differentiation.
The research comes as interest grows in bioactive compounds found in fruits and berries and their potential links to metabolic functions. However, the study used cultured mouse muscle cells, and the results do not establish that eating whole blueberries or consuming pterostilbene would produce the same effects in humans.
The researchers plan to investigate whether the mechanism can be reproduced in animal models and if it could be associated with improved fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
A cooler, unsettled weather pattern has replaced last week’s heat across key West Coast growing regions, according to a press release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Sporadic showers, increased humidity, and prolonged morning moisture are forecast for most regions starting Wednesday, October 21, and continuing through Thursday, October 22. Markon is working with growers to pack orders ahead where necessary to ensure 100% fulfillment. Harvesting crews will take measures to keep field-packed boxes as clean and dry as possible.
Salinas Valley, Santa Maria & Oxnard
- Showers are expected Wednesday through Thursday, with estimated rainfall totals of 0.30″ to 0.75″ in the
- Salinas Valley and 0.50″ to 1.25″ across Santa Maria and Oxnard growing areas
- Dry conditions will return by the weekend
Huron
- Approximately 0.25″ to 0.40″ of rainfall can be expected between Tuesday and Thursday
- Dry conditions will return by the weekend
Arizona/California Desert Region
- Warm weather will continue through midweek before temperatures dip later in the week
- Breezy conditions and isolated showers are possible, with rainfall generally expected to remain below 0.05″
Field Outlook
Production and loading delays can be expected over the next several days, pending field conditions, particularly in Salinas, Santa Maria, Huron, and Oxnard.
Rain-related challenges that may develop, including but are not limited to:
- Bottom rot, decay, increased mildew pressure, premature pinking, shortened shelf-life in commodity and value-added lettuce items
- Bruising, decay, soft texture, rain damage, reduced yields, and shortened shelf life in strawberries
- Pin rot, decay, bead discoloration, hollow core, increased mildew pressure, and shortened shelf life in broccoli
- Black mold and shortened shelf life in cauliflower
Reduced yields and variable case weights remain possible in affected row crop commodities.
Markon inspectors will closely monitor commodity and value-added lettuce and tender leaf items and will update further as needed. Ordering for quick turns is recommended; strict cold-chain management remains critical to maximizing product quality and shelf life.
An overlap is expected this fall with transition from imported citrus to domestic production.
Lange Farms of St. Louis, MO reports following a season laden with weather challenges, inconsistent arrival quality and periods of heavy supply, attention is now turning to whether improving fall demand will be sufficient to absorb incoming fruit.
During the Southern Hemisphere season, the company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lange Companies in St. Louis, sources citrus from South Africa, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Argentina, providing flexibility as growing conditions, quality and availability shift between origins.
With California production is just getting underway, but imported and domestic fruit are expected to overlap more than usual.
Lange generally aims to work through imported citrus by the end of October as California production comes online. This year, however, imported supplies could remain in the market into November, making inventory management and timing particularly important. Improving fall demand could help absorb some of that supply, but the amount of imported fruit still moving toward North America will remain a key factor in how smoothly the transition develops.
Wisconsin accounts for 70% of cranberries grown in the United States and more than half of the world’s cranberry crop, according to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.
Cranberries are native to Wisconsin, where sandy, acidic soils, wetlands, and water availability provide suitable growing conditions. According to the University of Wisconsin State Climatology Office, these soil conditions can be traced to a periglacial lake that existed 14,000 to 18,000 years ago.
The crop is also adapted to Wisconsin winters. Cranberries require chilling hours at temperatures between 32 and 45 degrees to enter dormancy and store energy for the following growing season.
Cranberry harvesting in Wisconsin predates statehood. Native American tribes, including the Ho-Chunk, harvested wild cranberries for food, medicine, and fabric dyes. Commercial cultivation later developed around existing marshlands. In 1867, Wisconsin legislation allowed cranberry growers to build dams and establish their own bogs.
According to UW-Madison professor Amaya Atucha, infrastructure has also contributed to the state’s position in the U.S. cranberry sector. Wisconsin has a concentration of cranberry growers and associated businesses, including Ocean Spray, as well as investment in cranberry research.
Cooperation between growers is another feature of the sector, with equipment shared between farms when needed.
Despite a freeze during bloom, Florida grapefruit has more sugar (brix) and volume should be good this season, according to Riverfront Packing Company of Vero Beach, FL.
Shipping has recently got underway and should continue into mid-March.
Last season Florida shipped 1.35 million standard 90-pound boxes of grapefruit, with a few loadings continuing into April.
While sizing is a bit smaller in general this season, the brix count is up by 10 percent.
Riverfront, which is a grower, shipper and packer, recalls last year’s slower fall start to the domestic citrus season. That was due to an influx of South African grapefruit from South African growers and shippers, who were concerned over a 50 percent tariff threat on imported fruit into the U.S.
This resulted in significant volumes of fruit were sent ahead of those tariffs being implemented, which left Florida growers and shippers not really seeing good loadings until late November/early December. Still, there is some South African fruit in the marketplace as late as January, but it is not nearly to the degree that it was a year ago.
From Idaho to Washington State, Wisconsin and Colorado, potato harvests have finished or are very close being complete, according to Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
In Idaho, Norkotah supplies of larger potatoes remain tight due to average to slightly below-average yields and demand from processors.
Separate reporting indicates that Idaho growers have experienced lower yields and smaller size profiles following frost, heat, warm nights, and wildfire smoke. The Idaho Potato Commission estimates planted acreage at approximately 298,916 acres, around 13,000 acres less than the previous year.
Washington reports a range of potato sizes, although demand for larger tubers is keeping market prices elevated. In Wisconsin, growers completed harvest in mid-October, while Colorado’s remaining harvest was expected to take another one to two weeks.
Despite ongoing harvesting, availability varies by size, grade, and origin. Larger russet potatoes remain more difficult to source for foodservice buyers requiring specific count sizes.
As harvesting concludes, attention will shift to storage conditions, packout rates, and the availability of potatoes meeting market specifications.
Broccoli loadings got underway from North Carolina last week, according to mixed vegetable grower, shipper Jackson’s Farm Company of Autryville, NC.
Harvesting is expected to continue until the middle of December which makes for a seven to eight week harvest window, though some years it has continued into January.
Additionally, some other East Coast states are coming into production with broccoli including Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia with the latter starting its harvest in mid October.
Overall, broccoli loadings have been light for a while because Mexico and California faced adverse weather issues this year. Maine has recently finished its production because it had a colder summer this year and has also had lighter volume.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s started its North Carolina sweet potato harvest in August; began recently curing its product, with packing now underway. Harvesting should continue through mid November.
Great White Fleet Corporation (GWF), an ocean carrier specializing in temperature-controlled logistics, has announced a commercial expansion across its Pan-American and European trade networks. The expansion includes the deployment of its 14th active vessel, 2,000 refrigerated containers, and new multimodal routes ahead of the Q4 2026 peak season.
The Chiquita Enterprise is scheduled to enter service in late 2026. To support the expanded fleet, GWF will add 2,000 refrigerated containers to its rotation by December 2026. The units are equipped with Carrier Transicold’s OptimaLine™ technology, which uses atmosphere control to extend the shelf life of commodities including avocados, berries, citrus, grapes, and other produce during long-distance transit.
GWF is launching three transit corridors in October 2026. A new direct train route will connect the U.S. Midwest via the central rail hub of Harvey, Illinois, to Gulfport, Mississippi, for export into Central America. A direct ocean route from Peru to Philadelphia will serve seasonal produce shipments into the U.S. Northeast. A new ocean service will also connect Guayaquil, Ecuador, directly with U.S. and European ports.
“Deploying the Chiquita Enterprise and injecting 2,000 high-spec reefers into our network directly addresses the industry’s demand for reliable, high-precision cold chain capacity,” said Stefano di Paolo, President of Great White Fleet. “We are protecting our clients’ margins by preserving product quality across longer distances. Our aim, after all, is to be First in Fresh!”
“These new ocean and rail connections greatly expand service offerings and improve destination flexibility,” added Simon Cole, Director at GWF. “By linking Chicago directly to Gulfport, and opening faster lanes out of Peru and Ecuador, we are giving global shippers the agility they need in a dynamic supply chain environment.”
The California Valencia shipments are ending, while the California Navel season started on a limited basis in mid October, according to a recent press release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Valencia
- California Valencia supplies are expected to ship through late October
- Current stocks are dominated by 56- and 72-count sizes; choice-grade fruit is most plentiful
- Small-size fruit (113- to 138-count oranges) will be extremely limited for the rest of the Valencia season
- Sugar levels range from 13 to 15 Brix; high sugar levels such as this typically result in a shorter shelf-life
Navel
- Limited California Navel harvesting began last week; volume will ramp up over the next three to four weeks
- Stocks will be dominated by 88- and 113-count sizes; fancy grade fruit is most prevalent
- Sugar levels range from 10 to 12 Brix
- This early variety fruit requires gassing for 72+ hours
- Expect prices for small sizes to inch down as Navel yields increase
Chilean grape exports are forecast to increase to primary markets this season led by the U.S.
Increases are forecast across all major markets. The United States is expected to continue accounting for about 50% of shipments, with 34.0 million boxes (+15%). Europe is forecast to reach 15.1 million (+16%), while Asia is expected to total about 6.0 million (+16%). Other destinations are forecast to receive about 12.9 million boxes (+20%), representing about 19% of the total.
Frutas de Chile’s Table Grape Committee has issued its first forecast for the 2026–27 season, projecting shipments of 67.9 million 8.2-kilo boxes, up 16.5% from the 58.3 million boxes exported in 2025–26.
Licensed varieties are expected to reach 49.1 million boxes, up 13.8% from the previous season, accounting for 72.2% of the total. Red Globe is expected to rebound to 11.7 million boxes (+30.6%), while other traditional varieties are projected to total around 7.2 million (+15%).
White grape exports are expected to reach 27.8 million boxes, up 17.7%, with licensed varieties accounting for 95.4% of the total. Sweet Globe (around 8.0 million boxes), Autumn Crisp (7.7 million) and Timpson (3.2 million) are expected to drive nearly 87% of the group’s growth.
Red varieties, excluding Red Globe, are expected to reach 24.0 million boxes (+12.7%), while black varieties are projected to remain stable at around 4.5 million. By region, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, and O’Higgins are expected to contribute approximately 96% of the projected growth.
Food science researchers at Shinshu University, in Nagano, Japan, identified a naturally present compound in blueberries that could help muscle cells break down stored fat, Science Daily reports.
The substance, pterostilbene, promoted lipid breakdown and increased the activity of genes associated with fatty acid oxidation in laboratory-cultured mouse muscle cells. The findings were published in July in the journal Food Bioscience.
Pterostilbene is a polyphenol found in blueberries, grapes, and other berries. The researchers said the findings could support further investigation into food-derived compounds for functional foods or nutritional ingredients targeting muscle fat metabolism.
Led by Associate Professor Takakazu Mitani, the research team found that pterostilbene targets PPARδ, a protein that regulates fatty acid metabolism.
Unlike compounds that directly activate PPARδ, pterostilbene appears to prevent the protein from breaking down, increasing the amount available inside cells. Shinshu University said the resulting increase in PPARδ activity promoted genes involved in lipid metabolism.
The treated cells subsequently showed a greater capacity to break down stored fat and use fatty acids.
The study also found that pterostilbene reduced fat accumulation inside the cultured muscle cells without disrupting normal cell growth or differentiation.
The research comes as interest grows in bioactive compounds found in fruits and berries and their potential links to metabolic functions. However, the study used cultured mouse muscle cells, and the results do not establish that eating whole blueberries or consuming pterostilbene would produce the same effects in humans.
The researchers plan to investigate whether the mechanism can be reproduced in animal models and if it could be associated with improved fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
A cooler, unsettled weather pattern has replaced last week’s heat across key West Coast growing regions, according to a press release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Sporadic showers, increased humidity, and prolonged morning moisture are forecast for most regions starting Wednesday, October 21, and continuing through Thursday, October 22. Markon is working with growers to pack orders ahead where necessary to ensure 100% fulfillment. Harvesting crews will take measures to keep field-packed boxes as clean and dry as possible.
Salinas Valley, Santa Maria & Oxnard
- Showers are expected Wednesday through Thursday, with estimated rainfall totals of 0.30″ to 0.75″ in the
- Salinas Valley and 0.50″ to 1.25″ across Santa Maria and Oxnard growing areas
- Dry conditions will return by the weekend
Huron
- Approximately 0.25″ to 0.40″ of rainfall can be expected between Tuesday and Thursday
- Dry conditions will return by the weekend
Arizona/California Desert Region
- Warm weather will continue through midweek before temperatures dip later in the week
- Breezy conditions and isolated showers are possible, with rainfall generally expected to remain below 0.05″
Field Outlook
Production and loading delays can be expected over the next several days, pending field conditions, particularly in Salinas, Santa Maria, Huron, and Oxnard.
Rain-related challenges that may develop, including but are not limited to:
- Bottom rot, decay, increased mildew pressure, premature pinking, shortened shelf-life in commodity and value-added lettuce items
- Bruising, decay, soft texture, rain damage, reduced yields, and shortened shelf life in strawberries
- Pin rot, decay, bead discoloration, hollow core, increased mildew pressure, and shortened shelf life in broccoli
- Black mold and shortened shelf life in cauliflower
Reduced yields and variable case weights remain possible in affected row crop commodities.
Markon inspectors will closely monitor commodity and value-added lettuce and tender leaf items and will update further as needed. Ordering for quick turns is recommended; strict cold-chain management remains critical to maximizing product quality and shelf life.
An overlap is expected this fall with transition from imported citrus to domestic production.
Lange Farms of St. Louis, MO reports following a season laden with weather challenges, inconsistent arrival quality and periods of heavy supply, attention is now turning to whether improving fall demand will be sufficient to absorb incoming fruit.
During the Southern Hemisphere season, the company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lange Companies in St. Louis, sources citrus from South Africa, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Argentina, providing flexibility as growing conditions, quality and availability shift between origins.
With California production is just getting underway, but imported and domestic fruit are expected to overlap more than usual.
Lange generally aims to work through imported citrus by the end of October as California production comes online. This year, however, imported supplies could remain in the market into November, making inventory management and timing particularly important. Improving fall demand could help absorb some of that supply, but the amount of imported fruit still moving toward North America will remain a key factor in how smoothly the transition develops.
Wisconsin accounts for 70% of cranberries grown in the United States and more than half of the world’s cranberry crop, according to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.
Cranberries are native to Wisconsin, where sandy, acidic soils, wetlands, and water availability provide suitable growing conditions. According to the University of Wisconsin State Climatology Office, these soil conditions can be traced to a periglacial lake that existed 14,000 to 18,000 years ago.
The crop is also adapted to Wisconsin winters. Cranberries require chilling hours at temperatures between 32 and 45 degrees to enter dormancy and store energy for the following growing season.
Cranberry harvesting in Wisconsin predates statehood. Native American tribes, including the Ho-Chunk, harvested wild cranberries for food, medicine, and fabric dyes. Commercial cultivation later developed around existing marshlands. In 1867, Wisconsin legislation allowed cranberry growers to build dams and establish their own bogs.
According to UW-Madison professor Amaya Atucha, infrastructure has also contributed to the state’s position in the U.S. cranberry sector. Wisconsin has a concentration of cranberry growers and associated businesses, including Ocean Spray, as well as investment in cranberry research.
Cooperation between growers is another feature of the sector, with equipment shared between farms when needed.