“We believe that there are great synergies between our two companies that include exclusive varietal potatoes, innovative packaging and products, expanded organic offerings, customer analytics and an expanded supply of fresh potatoes” Tom Hughes, president and CEO of EarthFresh Farms, said in a news release. “Our combined team will consist of over 400 employees dedicated to servicing our customers.”
Established in 1963, EarthFresh is a North American produce company specializing in potatoes, carrots and onions. With the completion of this transaction, EarthFresh now has nine packing facilities in Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island, according to the release.
With the expanded packing locations, EarthFresh said it will be able to service North American customers within 24 hours from its packing facilities. The company said it will maintain proven MountainKing brands that include premium products like Steakhouse Russets, Butter Golds, Butter Reds and Butter Russets.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – LGS Specialty Sales a leading importer of citrus, avocados, grapes, and persimmons, shares an update on the transition from southern hemisphere fruit to Moroccan citrus.
“This year, we are thankful for an earlier start to the Moroccan season with a healthy supply of mandarins we anticipate through April,” said Luke Sears, president, and founder of LGS Specialty Sales. “LGS’ strategy to ensure consistent supply of fruit for our customers revolves around the plans we implement with importers to meet demand each year.”
The company collaborates with select growers around the world to provide its customers with high-quality, in-season fruit sourced from the finest growing regions known for having optimal climate and soil conditions. During this time of year, Moroccan fruit not only offers more variety to the U.S. market, but also offers better positioning as it relates to supply chain efficacy.
“Due to Morocco’s location, we are able to give our customers competitive import pricing that is cost effective,” said Sears. “We want the industry to know that LGS is a 365-day supplier of all things citrus and we’re here to help support year-round!”
LGS concluded the southern hemisphere season strong with Cara Caras, Grapefruit, Mandarins and Minneolas. Chilean W. Murcotts are currently holding steady with supply expected through Thanksgiving and Moroccan citrus becoming available at the beginning of November.
Press release from Markon Cooperative, Salinas, CA
Temperatures along major West Coast and Southwestern growing regions have cooled significantly since last week’s heatwave.
Areas such as the Salinas, San Joaquin, and Santa Maria Valleys, as well as Oxnard and the California/Arizona desert growing regions were all impacted. Several key commodity and value-added fruits and vegetable items such as broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and leafy greens are exhibiting heat-related quality and shelf-life issues.
Challenges that Markon inspectors are currently observing include but are not limited to:
Broccoli:
Brown bead
Dehydration
Hollow core
Insect pressure
Pin rot
Cauliflower:
Insect pressure
Mold spots
Lettuce:
Bottom rot/decay
Dehydration
Fringe burn
Growth crack
Insect pressure
Internal burn
Long core/seeder
Mildew pressure
Shortened shelf-life
Sun scalding
Strawberries:
Bruising
Decreased size
Shortened shelf-life
Soft texture
Leafy Greens:
Bolting/seeder
Dehydration
Insect pressure
Mildew pressure
Shortened shelf-life
Yellowing
Markon suppliers are working to mitigate these challenges by selecting the cleanest product and culling supplies with serious defects. However, harvesting and processing crews cannot completely avoid all of these heat-related issues.
Although the heatwave has passed, we can expect to feel the effects for two more weeks, or possibly longer.
Markon inspectors are monitoring supplies closely and will update as needed. Ordering for quick turns and maintaining the cold chain is critical for maximizing the quality and shelf-life of perishable produce items.
According to the first estimate of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, the country expects to export 135,501 tons, 3.2% more than the previous year. Of the total, 80,5012 tons will be of fresh blueberries (-6.7%) and 55,000 tons of frozen blueberries (+22.2%).
“This drop of almost 7% in fresh blueberry exports is not bad news for us but reflects the varietal replacement that is taking place in the industry, which will allow us to deliver better fresh blueberries to the markets. New varieties within this season’s shipments are expected to increase by 26%, amounting to more than 16 thousand tons,” according to the committee.
The United States is the main market for about 50% of Chile’s blueberries and the main destination for it fresh fruits in general.
Idaho and Oregon are unrivaled when it comes to U.S. onion growing, packing and shipping regions.
Idaho domestic truck shipments in 2023 amounted to 575.2 million pounds, with export truck shipments from the state accounting for 24.4 million pounds. Oregon was close behind, with the state accounting for 385.8 million pounds of domestic truck shipments and 44.3 million pounds of export truck shipments.
Idaho’s combined domestic and export truck shipments of onions totaled over 599 million pounds in 2023, up 16% from 515.9 million pounds in 2022. Oregon’s combined domestic and export shipments topped 429 million pounds in 2023, up 8% from 398 million pounds in 2022.
Idaho and Oregon shippers loaded onions every month of 2023, with peak supply from September through April.
In 2023, Idaho accounted for 14% of the U.S. domestic shipments and Oregon accounted for 10%.
Together the states accounted for about 1 in 4 domestic onions shipped in 2023.
Shoppers around the country are finding SnapDragon apples in their local grocery stores. Crunch Time Apple Growers of Lockport, NY, a cooperative of more than 150 family growers across New York state, began harvesting this year’s crop last month.
“We’re looking forward to bringing SnapDragon apples back to an ever-growing list of retailers,” said Jessica Wells, Crunch Time Apple Growers’ executive director. “Thanks to additional acreage reaching maturity, this year’s harvest is up by 20%. We hope that means more people than ever before can experience the Monster Crunch of SnapDragon apples! We look forward to working with new retailers to bring SnapDragon apples to their customers this season!”
In addition to the increased harvest volume, many growers report that the apples’ color has developed nicely and the apples are trending larger than last season’s. An early spring led the trees to bloom and the fruit to set earlier than last year, driving an early harvest.
In the coming weeks, SnapDragon apples will arrive at a roster of retailers including both longtime sellers of the variety and newcomers. Shoppers can expect to find SnapDragon apples at stores including Aldi, BJ’s, Food Lion, The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, H-E-B, Lowes, Publix, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Sprouts, Target, Tops, Walmart, Wegmans and Whole Foods.
The latest United States 2024 California Citrus Acreage report shows a significant increase in bearing acres for mandarins and mandarin hybrids.
According to the report, the estimated statewide bearing acreage for mandarins increased from 66,000 acres in 2021-22 to 69,000 acres in 2022-23, a total increase of 3,000 acres.
The citrus acreage data is a compilation of questionnaire responses mailed to all citrus growers in the National Agricultural Statistics Service database. The mailing was sent in January 2023 and producers had to update the information with new plantings, removals, and any corrections.
The 2023 California Mandarin Objective Measurement Report by the California Department of Food and Agriculture indicated an 8% increase in fruit set per tree from the previous year.
The detailed California citrus acreage report shows that 64,933 acres of mandarins and mandarin hybrids are bearing fruit.
The report shows a decrease of 500 grapefruit-bearing acres, an increase of 1,000 lemon-bearing acres, and a decrease of 1,000 Valencia oranges-bearing acres. Navel oranges bearing acres remained the same.
SunDate of Coachella, CA has had near perfect growing conditions this season helping pave the way for the company to meet the increasing demand for dates, both domestically and globally.
The packer, shipper has a year around demand for dates.
Last year’s crop faced significant challenges due to a hurricane that did a lot of damage and as the season went on, volume was off significantly.
Currently, the company is optimistic about the upcoming season as shipments just got underway recently.
Thanks to ideal growing conditions the 2025 crop, the weather has been perfect, with one of the hottest summers on record in Coachella, which is exactly what dates need, the company reports.
Gee Whiz of Orondo, WA, a leading grower of Washington apples and cherries and the only producer of the Hunnyz™ apple variety, announces that for the first season since the variety was introduced, volume is expected to extend into late spring 2025.
“We are so pleased to be able to meet more of the demand that has culminated since we first introduced Hunnyz™ in 2022,” said Brian Traum, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We have reached a production level in terms of tree maturity and consistent fruit quality that will help us extend the Hunnyz™ season well into May 2025. We are proud of this achievement and cannot wait for those first boxes to hit store shelves!”
Hunnyz™ apples are quickly gaining retail appeal due to their uniquely exceptional crunch and mouthwatering sweet tang. Several national retailers have conducted blind taste testing of leading apple varieties with internal focus groups and Hunnyz™ have repeatedly ranked #1 in flavor. This bi-color apple is a cross between CrimsonCrisp® and Honeycrisp and provides a perfectly balanced flavor that rivals all others.
“Because Gee Whiz® is the only apple producer to grow this particular variety, we are able to control the growing practices of this fruit to an exacting degree that ensures every Hunnyz™ apple tree is delivering the same sweet, crunchy eating experience with every bite”, added Traum.
In addition to the larger volume this apple season, Hunnyz™ will be available in more pack styles including tray pack, pouch bags, and Euro style bags. The first harvest of Hunnyz™ apples will ship in early October 2024 and supply is expected to carry into May 2025. For additional information, please visitwww.geewhizfruit.com.
About Gee Whiz
For nearly 100 years, Gee Whiz has been a leading grower, packer, and shipper of apples, cherries, and other tree fruit. Known for their innovative growing practices that dramatically impact the quality and flavor of their fruit, Gee Whiz has been a leader in the development of new apple varieties and planting methods. In 1972 the company planted the first commercial crop of Granny Smith Apples in Washington State. With two primary growing locations nestled along the Columbia River in central Washington state: Orondo and Vantage, Gee Whiz fruit reflects the pristine elements found in these ideal growing environments. From the orchard crew to the order fulfillment team and everyone in between, the company’s collective mission is to achieve one singular outcome… packing the very best eating experience into every single box for 100% shopper satisfaction. For more information, please visitwww.geewhizfruit.com.
A recent survey conducted by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. found that grocery consumers across key demographic groups have reached a breaking point and are seeking out lower-cost goods.
RRD’s annual “2024 CPG + Grocery Consumer Report” speaks to how inflation is continuing to influence consumer purchasing behavior, according to a news release. The report is based on a survey of more than 1,800 adults in the U.S.
According to the survey, 55% of shoppers said they’ll stay loyal to the store they shop at most often — particularly baby boomers (61%) and affluent consumers (64%) — while 45% are open to changing stores for greater savings, particularly millennials (50%).
“Consumers are becoming more judicious with their purchasing decisions, in large part due to the continued impact of external factors including inflation,” Beth Johnson, grocery industry expert and director of client strategy at RRD, said in the release. “These factors are testing the loyalty of shoppers, making it more important than ever for marketers to rethink how they engage with buyers. Brands will need to meet shoppers where they are by emphasizing value and savings to hold their attention.”
Top findings from the survey include:
88% of consumers express frustration with rising prices across categories, including groceries, gas and restaurants. This sentiment was most associated with grocery shopping overall (86%), driven by the rising costs of food and beverages (80%).
87% of baby boomers and 79% of households with $100,000 or more in income express concern or frustration over food and beverage prices.
Consumers are adjusting their shopping behaviors by stocking up during sales (41%), purchasing fewer items (37%), switching to less-expensive name brands (37%), switching from name brands to private-label brands (35%), using more coupons and discounts (34%) and by sticking to their shopping lists (32%).
Coupon redemption in mass and variety/discount stores increased by 9% and 37%, respectively, compared to the first half of 2023.
Regarding store selection, 68% of consumers prioritize convenience and proximity to their homes, with baby boomers valuing close proximity the most (76%).
Many shoppers (32%) also report prioritizing an engaging shopping experience, even if the store is farther away than others — particularly Generation Z (39%), millennials (37%) and parents (38%).
Shoppers are making it clear about what they want from their grocery stores and consumer packaged goods brands: convenience, value and personalization, according to the release.
Consumers reported prioritizing a variety of factors including relevant deals (59%), personalized discounts (55%) and tailored recommendations (52%).
Staying local was also shown to be important to shoppers, with 57% preferring to shop at stores that feature locally grown, raised or produced products and 56% reporting that they would like to see more advertising for products produced or grown close by, according to the release.
For retailer or brand selection, fair prices are deemed to be the biggest priority for consumers (58%), up 5 percentage points compared to last year. High-quality products (45%) and coupons and discounts (41%) are also driving factors for shoppers. Notably, data privacy (39%) is also influencing consumers’ decision-making, up 19 percentage points from last year, the release said.
