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During the recent Peruvian Agroexports 2024 webinar organized by intelligence firm Fluctuante, ProHass General Manager Arturo Medina presented key figures achieved by the country’s avocado industry.
Medina discussed the global landscape of Hass avocado production, highlighting that Mexico leads production surface with 600,000 acres. The nation is followed by Peru with 190,000 acres, Colombia (96,000 acres), Chile (67,000 acres) and California (50,000 acres).
Medina noted that Peru shares commercial sales with Mexico, Colombia, the United States, Kenya, and Australia. He pointed out that, in recent years, the sector has not experienced significant growth in cultivated acres; instead, it has shown modest increases. However, he did mention that there has been an increase in cultivation in the Peruvian highlands.
One key aspect he highlighted was the structure of the Peruvian avocado industry, which comprises 29,000 Hass avocado producers. He explained that 26,000 of these producers cultivate less than 12 acres, and 21,000 have less than 2.5 acres.
Regarding production, Medina indicated that Peru’s total output last year surpassed 1.1 million tons. He added that there are approximately 25,000 acres not yet in production, suggesting that growth will continue. Additionally, he mentioned that 21,000 acres are six years old and can further increase production.
The main production areas include La Libertad with 44,500 acres, followed by Lima and Ica with 32,000 acres each, and Lambayeque with 29,600 acres. Medina also emphasized the importance of Ancash, Ayacucho, and Huancavelica as emerging areas with favorable conditions for cultivation.
In 2024, Peru exported 550,000 tons of avocados, achieving an average yield of 22.5 tons per acre, with certain companies projecting yields of up to 82 tons per acre. Medina described the previous year as challenging, noting that while quality was good, the fruit was smaller in size.
Trade
The growth of the Peruvian avocado sector is not only about cultivated acres and production; business projections are crucial for strategizing and maintaining profitability. Medina projected a 20% growth for the current year, stating, “I honestly believe it will be much more.” He confidently stated that by 2030, they aim to reach 2.2 billion pounds of production.
While this growth is promising, he cautioned the industry to consider its strategy for handling increased volumes, emphasizing that quality will be essential for differentiation in the market, particularly regarding dry matter content.
From 2011 to 2024, Peru’s avocado crop volume increased by 619%. Analyzing export markets, Medina noted that Europe has maintained a 62% share of exports over the last three years, followed by the United States at 13%. He regarded Chile as a significant market, calling it “our local market.”
For the current year, he pointed out that production is down 10% compared to 2023, leading to an 11% reduction in exports to the United States, an 8% decrease in shipments to Chile, and a 28% decline in exports to China. This shift occurred as prices in Europe improved, prompting some exporters to focus on that market instead.
“The consumption of Peruvian avocado in Europe is spectacular,” he stated.
Peak season for Peruvian avocados is June, July, and August, when 70% of the volume is shipped to Europe. He stressed the importance of organization and quality during this peak period.
For the U.S. market, Mexico dominates as the primary supplier, accounting for 80% of the volume, with Peru holding a mere 5%. Medina expressed the goal of expanding Peru’s presence in this competitive market, noting improvements in fruit quality this year.
As for Asia, shipments decreased by 29% in 2024 due to a preference for European markets. He explained that early in the previous season, many export shipments to Asia were made, but concerns over dry matter led to numerous rejections of fruit.
Currently, Peruvian avocados have access to 67 different markets, and there are hopes for improved shipping times via the Port of Chancay, which could significantly reduce transfer times. Additionally, efforts continue to open new markets in Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.
U.S. potato growers continue to ship a strong 2024 crop out of storage as the year progresses, and they anticipate an equally solid crop for 2025.
Potatoes USA of Denver, total grocery store fresh potato sales were up 3% last year to about 4.8 billion pounds. Dollar sales were down about 5%, however, to just over $4 billion.
Russet potatoes were the top-selling variety, accounting for 64% of potato sales, followed by yellow (16%), red (11%) and white (4%).
The Idaho Potato Commission of Eagle, ID describes the crop this year a “beautiful.”
Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, ID reports growing and harvest conditions were excellent. The grower/shipper wrapped up harvest faster than ever, breaking records for acres harvested per day.
The company already is planning for the upcoming 2025 crop saying it should be similar to the current one.
Eagle Eye Produce grows and packs russet, red and yellow potatoes. Norkotah russets are the top sellers followed by Burbanks. Red and yellow potatoes make up about 20% of the company’s volume.
The firm ships potatoes year-round by transitioning through key growing regions across the U.S.
Wada Farms Marketing Group of Idaho Falls, ID, offers primarily russet, red and yellow varieties.
Quality of the current storage supply remains sound, the company notes.
Wada supplies potatoes year-round due to its diverse network of growers and will soon plant its 2025 storage crop.
Volume in 2025 should be similar to the 2024 crop.
In the North Dakota/Minnesota region, red potatoes have been a favorite since they were first planted in 1946, reports the Northland Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, MN.
This current crop is a good with the red and yellow fresh market varieties holding up well. The current season is pretty much a mirror what the valley had last year.
A small number of suppliers are now harvesting iceberg and leaf lettuce in the Huron, California growing region, according to a news release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Desert supplies will remain available through the week of April 7, but Salinas will become a bigger player starting next week. Current iceberg supplies in Huron are exhibiting high weights and strong quality.
Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Iceberg Lettuce is available. Leaf lettuces such as romaine and green leaf are struggling with elevated insects at the base of the heads (mostly small black gnats). Harvesting crews will be trimming heavily to reduce insects but cannot eliminate them all.
Heading towards the final weeks of the Chilean table grape export season of 2024-25, plenty of volume is expected although it appears the market will not be as saturated as it has been in previous weeks.
Portal Agro Chile reports about 66 million boxes will be exported, a growth of 2.3 percent compared to the previous season. By week 6 of the current season, exports had already reached 14 million boxes, driven by the implementation of the “System Approach” in the regions of Atacama, Coquimbo, and Valparaíso, which has allowed for more efficient delivery of fruit to destination markets, according to Trading Logistics Management (TLM).
There was an increase in volume resulting in the accumulation of 8 million boxes due to fear of a port strike resulting in market saturation. Additionally, there was strong competition from Peru, South Africa, and India, whose harvests have flooded both the North American and European markets with fruit.
Grape volumes are expected to be more down and more manageable in April 2025, as arrival volumes make possible better management of supply and demand.
Avocados from Mexico says it promotes the heart-healthy benefits and good fats of avocados, and to mark National Nutrition Month. This includes supporting the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good Initiative, Eat Smart Program, which encourages people to make informed choices about nutrition.
Avocaods From Mexico says avocados are good sources of fiber, with 3 grams per one-third of a medium avocado, as well as healthy fats.
The Healthy for Good Initiative, Eat Smart Program promotes an overall balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and sources of healthy fats. Avocados From Mexico is a national supporter of this initiative, and its “Good Fats Meet Great Taste” campaign reinforces the importance of making informed food choices, according to a news release.
“Avocados From Mexico taste good and are good for you, making them a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants to eat healthy without compromising on taste,” Alvaro Luque, CEO of Avocados From Mexico, said in the release. “This program spotlights all the benefits that make avocados a nutritional powerhouse, including good fats and key nutrients that support heart health. Avocados are a versatile, delicious add to nearly any recipe, proving that eating healthy can — and should — be fun.”
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA is ramping up its domestic blueberry shipments.
A promising start to the domestic blueberry season has come with early season harvests underway, the company said in a news release.
Conventional blueberry production is ramping up, with the Florida season commencing the week of March 17th and Georgia is anticipated to begin the first week of April. California’s Central Valley will follow suit, with harvests expected to begin in early May, ensuring a consistent supply of fresh, conventional blueberries, the company said.
On the organic front, Oxnard, CA, is currently experiencing peak production, yielding high-quality fruit, said California Giant, adding that these supplies will be supplemented by organic harvests from the Central Valley beginning in early April.
California Giant also said it will highlight the availability of its premium Giant Blueberries. These large (20-millimeter-plus) berries are now available in a new label design, selected by California Giant’s consumer audience.
The Giant Blueberries, known for their size and flavor, undergo rigorous sorting on a Unitec sorting line at California Giant’s Santa Maria, Calif., packing facility, the company said. The company said this process ensures that only the highest-quality berries, selected for color, firmness, size and other quality indicators, are packaged into each clamshell.
California Giant said it continues to deliver on its mission to provide the best berry experience by offering a year-round supply of fresh berries that represent the highest standards for quality and consistency.
There is much research demonstrating that fruits are a rich source of these nutrients. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2020-2025, the underconsumption of some of the nutrients provided by fruits is considered a public health concern.
Dietary guidelines by the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate the amount of fruit recommended for a nutritionally adequate diet has remained the same since 2005.
According to these entities, about 80% of the U.S. population consumes less fruit than the recommended amount.
A recent examination by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) indicated that, on average, U.S. consumers have been eating and drinking less fruit since the turn of the 21st century.
Estimates from the ERS Loss Adjusted Food Availability Data show per capita U.S. total fruit availability declined from 0.95 cup equivalents per person per day in 2003 to 0.82 cup equivalents per person per day in 2021, a 14% drop, the report shows.
Additionally, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), collected at the individual level, similarly show total fruit intake in the United States declined 7% from 1 cup equivalent per person per day in 2003–04 to 0.93 cup equivalents per person per day in 2017–18.
Fruit consumption is measured in fresh, canned, frozen, and dried products, as well as 100% juice.
The ERS Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data product and NHANES both show U.S. consumers drank less fruit juice over time, on average.
Children are eating more fruit at school; Senior adults are eating less fruit overall
The fruit density of children’s diets increased from an average of 0.55 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2003–04 to 0.74 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2017–18.
In-school meals have contributed to increased consumption by children. The fruit density of children’s diets when eating at school increased from 1 cup equivalent per 1,000 calories in 2003–04 to 1.36 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2017–18.
However, seniors and working-age adults do not fare as well as children in meeting dietary fruit guidelines. In 2017–18, seniors consumed 0.59 cups of fruit per 1,000 calories, which is 0.16 cup equivalents less fruit per 1,000 calories than in 2003–04.
Regardless, children and adults, including seniors, consistently have fallen short of Federal guidelines. From 2017 to March 2020, only 23.2% of children and 14.7% of adults met the DGA’s fruit recommendations for their age and sex group.
Fruit consumption levels tied to health behaviors and awareness
ERS researchers also sought to understand how individual and societal factors relate to being in low—or high-consuming groups. They found the most significant factors in predicting high consumption are health behaviors, including engaging in physical activity and not smoking, and health knowledge captured by awareness of USDA’s MyPlate, a tool used to visualize recommendations for a healthy diet.
On the other hand, those who have these healthy behaviors and knowledge were less likely to be low-fruit consumers. Researchers also found income and fruit prices were not strongly associated with low or high consumption.
The Vidalia onion season is set to begin, as Georgia’s agriculture commissioner and the Vidalia Onion Committee say the sweet onions will start shipping to grocery stores April 15, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a news release.
With nearly 10,000 acres planted in Southeastern Georgia, which is considered normal, Vidalia Onion Committee of Vidalia, GA is expecting an average crop with both yields and quality. This is despite weather issues ranging from Hurricane Helen to receiving five to six inches of snow.
In 2024, 6.5 million 40-pound boxes were collected thanks to near perfect weather and exceptional yields, VOC reported. That was up from 4.3 million boxes in 2023, when the onions endured freezing temperatures and reduced acreage.
Bland Farms of Glennville, GA is ready to start shipping Vidalia onions as soon as the official pack date is announced by the Vidalia Onion Advisory Panel, which should be in mid-April.
The company sees this year’s crop being a bit smaller in volume due to some colder, rainy weather during the growing season. However, it should be a solid crop in line with a typical season.
Growers generally ship Vidalias through Labor Day.
G&R Farms of Glennville, GA will be ready to start shipping Vidalia onions in mid-April as the crop is progressing well. The size and quality of this year’s Vidalia onion crop are reported as excellent.
Shuman Farms of Reidsville, GA has expanded its operations following the Generation Farms acquisition.
The acquisition in 2024 has given the company the ability to increase its storage, packing capacity and overall efficiency.
Vidalia onions are grown in a unique region spanning 20 counties in south Georgia.
Avocado shipments remain limited. Harvesting was curtailed in Mexico last week due to Benito Juarez Day. Expect elevated prices for the next three weeks as Mexican growers are uncertain about the potential tariffs scheduled to begin April 2, 2025, according to a news release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Mexico
- All sizes are tight; the Benito Juarez holiday is limiting production
- Size and grade substitutions may be requested to fill orders
- Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening within a case) has been reported
- Expect elevated markets and tight supplies for the next four weeks
California
- New crop production is in full swing
- California supplies will help fill the void from Mexican-grown product
- Supplies are dominated by medium sizes (48- through 60-count fruit)
- Quality is good; firm fruit has been reported even when ripe
- Expect high prices; demand is strong due to Mexican shortages
Colombia
- Imports will ship into the East Coast through May; these supplies only account for 5% of U.S. demand
- The crop is currently dominated by small sizes (60- to 84-count fruit)
- Quality is comparable to that in Mexico; texture is creamy and oil content is high
The Federal Maritime Commission, the United States’ shipping regulator, has warned it may bar entry to ships from countries found to be causing choke points at key locations around the world.
Splash 247 reports that the FMC has opened an investigation into transit constraints at international maritime chokepoints, particularly the effects of foreign governments’ laws, regulations, or practices, as well as the actions of owners or operators of foreign-flag vessels on shipping conditions in these passages.
The shipping routes under investigation include the English Channel, the Malacca Strait, the Northern Sea Passage, the Singapore Strait, the Panama Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Suez Canal.
“Remedial measures the Commission can take in issuing regulations to address conditions unfavorable to shipping in U.S. foreign trade include refusing entry to U.S. ports by vessels registered in countries responsible for creating unfavorable conditions,” the FMC warned yesterday.
The global trading order has been torn up since Donald Trump returned to power in Washington, D.C. The new administration has lashed out with tariffs, claims on the Panama Canal, and plans to charge Chinese-built ships calling in the US, among a string of policies that have unsettled world trade.
During the recent Peruvian Agroexports 2024 webinar organized by intelligence firm Fluctuante, ProHass General Manager Arturo Medina presented key figures achieved by the country’s avocado industry.
Medina discussed the global landscape of Hass avocado production, highlighting that Mexico leads production surface with 600,000 acres. The nation is followed by Peru with 190,000 acres, Colombia (96,000 acres), Chile (67,000 acres) and California (50,000 acres).
Medina noted that Peru shares commercial sales with Mexico, Colombia, the United States, Kenya, and Australia. He pointed out that, in recent years, the sector has not experienced significant growth in cultivated acres; instead, it has shown modest increases. However, he did mention that there has been an increase in cultivation in the Peruvian highlands.
One key aspect he highlighted was the structure of the Peruvian avocado industry, which comprises 29,000 Hass avocado producers. He explained that 26,000 of these producers cultivate less than 12 acres, and 21,000 have less than 2.5 acres.
Regarding production, Medina indicated that Peru’s total output last year surpassed 1.1 million tons. He added that there are approximately 25,000 acres not yet in production, suggesting that growth will continue. Additionally, he mentioned that 21,000 acres are six years old and can further increase production.
The main production areas include La Libertad with 44,500 acres, followed by Lima and Ica with 32,000 acres each, and Lambayeque with 29,600 acres. Medina also emphasized the importance of Ancash, Ayacucho, and Huancavelica as emerging areas with favorable conditions for cultivation.
In 2024, Peru exported 550,000 tons of avocados, achieving an average yield of 22.5 tons per acre, with certain companies projecting yields of up to 82 tons per acre. Medina described the previous year as challenging, noting that while quality was good, the fruit was smaller in size.
Trade
The growth of the Peruvian avocado sector is not only about cultivated acres and production; business projections are crucial for strategizing and maintaining profitability. Medina projected a 20% growth for the current year, stating, “I honestly believe it will be much more.” He confidently stated that by 2030, they aim to reach 2.2 billion pounds of production.
While this growth is promising, he cautioned the industry to consider its strategy for handling increased volumes, emphasizing that quality will be essential for differentiation in the market, particularly regarding dry matter content.
From 2011 to 2024, Peru’s avocado crop volume increased by 619%. Analyzing export markets, Medina noted that Europe has maintained a 62% share of exports over the last three years, followed by the United States at 13%. He regarded Chile as a significant market, calling it “our local market.”
For the current year, he pointed out that production is down 10% compared to 2023, leading to an 11% reduction in exports to the United States, an 8% decrease in shipments to Chile, and a 28% decline in exports to China. This shift occurred as prices in Europe improved, prompting some exporters to focus on that market instead.
“The consumption of Peruvian avocado in Europe is spectacular,” he stated.
Peak season for Peruvian avocados is June, July, and August, when 70% of the volume is shipped to Europe. He stressed the importance of organization and quality during this peak period.
For the U.S. market, Mexico dominates as the primary supplier, accounting for 80% of the volume, with Peru holding a mere 5%. Medina expressed the goal of expanding Peru’s presence in this competitive market, noting improvements in fruit quality this year.
As for Asia, shipments decreased by 29% in 2024 due to a preference for European markets. He explained that early in the previous season, many export shipments to Asia were made, but concerns over dry matter led to numerous rejections of fruit.
Currently, Peruvian avocados have access to 67 different markets, and there are hopes for improved shipping times via the Port of Chancay, which could significantly reduce transfer times. Additionally, efforts continue to open new markets in Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.
U.S. potato growers continue to ship a strong 2024 crop out of storage as the year progresses, and they anticipate an equally solid crop for 2025.
Potatoes USA of Denver, total grocery store fresh potato sales were up 3% last year to about 4.8 billion pounds. Dollar sales were down about 5%, however, to just over $4 billion.
Russet potatoes were the top-selling variety, accounting for 64% of potato sales, followed by yellow (16%), red (11%) and white (4%).
The Idaho Potato Commission of Eagle, ID describes the crop this year a “beautiful.”
Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, ID reports growing and harvest conditions were excellent. The grower/shipper wrapped up harvest faster than ever, breaking records for acres harvested per day.
The company already is planning for the upcoming 2025 crop saying it should be similar to the current one.
Eagle Eye Produce grows and packs russet, red and yellow potatoes. Norkotah russets are the top sellers followed by Burbanks. Red and yellow potatoes make up about 20% of the company’s volume.
The firm ships potatoes year-round by transitioning through key growing regions across the U.S.
Wada Farms Marketing Group of Idaho Falls, ID, offers primarily russet, red and yellow varieties.
Quality of the current storage supply remains sound, the company notes.
Wada supplies potatoes year-round due to its diverse network of growers and will soon plant its 2025 storage crop.
Volume in 2025 should be similar to the 2024 crop.
In the North Dakota/Minnesota region, red potatoes have been a favorite since they were first planted in 1946, reports the Northland Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, MN.
This current crop is a good with the red and yellow fresh market varieties holding up well. The current season is pretty much a mirror what the valley had last year.
A small number of suppliers are now harvesting iceberg and leaf lettuce in the Huron, California growing region, according to a news release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Desert supplies will remain available through the week of April 7, but Salinas will become a bigger player starting next week. Current iceberg supplies in Huron are exhibiting high weights and strong quality.
Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Iceberg Lettuce is available. Leaf lettuces such as romaine and green leaf are struggling with elevated insects at the base of the heads (mostly small black gnats). Harvesting crews will be trimming heavily to reduce insects but cannot eliminate them all.
Heading towards the final weeks of the Chilean table grape export season of 2024-25, plenty of volume is expected although it appears the market will not be as saturated as it has been in previous weeks.
Portal Agro Chile reports about 66 million boxes will be exported, a growth of 2.3 percent compared to the previous season. By week 6 of the current season, exports had already reached 14 million boxes, driven by the implementation of the “System Approach” in the regions of Atacama, Coquimbo, and Valparaíso, which has allowed for more efficient delivery of fruit to destination markets, according to Trading Logistics Management (TLM).
There was an increase in volume resulting in the accumulation of 8 million boxes due to fear of a port strike resulting in market saturation. Additionally, there was strong competition from Peru, South Africa, and India, whose harvests have flooded both the North American and European markets with fruit.
Grape volumes are expected to be more down and more manageable in April 2025, as arrival volumes make possible better management of supply and demand.
Avocados from Mexico says it promotes the heart-healthy benefits and good fats of avocados, and to mark National Nutrition Month. This includes supporting the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good Initiative, Eat Smart Program, which encourages people to make informed choices about nutrition.
Avocaods From Mexico says avocados are good sources of fiber, with 3 grams per one-third of a medium avocado, as well as healthy fats.
The Healthy for Good Initiative, Eat Smart Program promotes an overall balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and sources of healthy fats. Avocados From Mexico is a national supporter of this initiative, and its “Good Fats Meet Great Taste” campaign reinforces the importance of making informed food choices, according to a news release.
“Avocados From Mexico taste good and are good for you, making them a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants to eat healthy without compromising on taste,” Alvaro Luque, CEO of Avocados From Mexico, said in the release. “This program spotlights all the benefits that make avocados a nutritional powerhouse, including good fats and key nutrients that support heart health. Avocados are a versatile, delicious add to nearly any recipe, proving that eating healthy can — and should — be fun.”
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA is ramping up its domestic blueberry shipments.
A promising start to the domestic blueberry season has come with early season harvests underway, the company said in a news release.
Conventional blueberry production is ramping up, with the Florida season commencing the week of March 17th and Georgia is anticipated to begin the first week of April. California’s Central Valley will follow suit, with harvests expected to begin in early May, ensuring a consistent supply of fresh, conventional blueberries, the company said.
On the organic front, Oxnard, CA, is currently experiencing peak production, yielding high-quality fruit, said California Giant, adding that these supplies will be supplemented by organic harvests from the Central Valley beginning in early April.
California Giant also said it will highlight the availability of its premium Giant Blueberries. These large (20-millimeter-plus) berries are now available in a new label design, selected by California Giant’s consumer audience.
The Giant Blueberries, known for their size and flavor, undergo rigorous sorting on a Unitec sorting line at California Giant’s Santa Maria, Calif., packing facility, the company said. The company said this process ensures that only the highest-quality berries, selected for color, firmness, size and other quality indicators, are packaged into each clamshell.
California Giant said it continues to deliver on its mission to provide the best berry experience by offering a year-round supply of fresh berries that represent the highest standards for quality and consistency.
There is much research demonstrating that fruits are a rich source of these nutrients. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2020-2025, the underconsumption of some of the nutrients provided by fruits is considered a public health concern.
Dietary guidelines by the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate the amount of fruit recommended for a nutritionally adequate diet has remained the same since 2005.
According to these entities, about 80% of the U.S. population consumes less fruit than the recommended amount.
A recent examination by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) indicated that, on average, U.S. consumers have been eating and drinking less fruit since the turn of the 21st century.
Estimates from the ERS Loss Adjusted Food Availability Data show per capita U.S. total fruit availability declined from 0.95 cup equivalents per person per day in 2003 to 0.82 cup equivalents per person per day in 2021, a 14% drop, the report shows.
Additionally, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), collected at the individual level, similarly show total fruit intake in the United States declined 7% from 1 cup equivalent per person per day in 2003–04 to 0.93 cup equivalents per person per day in 2017–18.
Fruit consumption is measured in fresh, canned, frozen, and dried products, as well as 100% juice.
The ERS Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data product and NHANES both show U.S. consumers drank less fruit juice over time, on average.
Children are eating more fruit at school; Senior adults are eating less fruit overall
The fruit density of children’s diets increased from an average of 0.55 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2003–04 to 0.74 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2017–18.
In-school meals have contributed to increased consumption by children. The fruit density of children’s diets when eating at school increased from 1 cup equivalent per 1,000 calories in 2003–04 to 1.36 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2017–18.
However, seniors and working-age adults do not fare as well as children in meeting dietary fruit guidelines. In 2017–18, seniors consumed 0.59 cups of fruit per 1,000 calories, which is 0.16 cup equivalents less fruit per 1,000 calories than in 2003–04.
Regardless, children and adults, including seniors, consistently have fallen short of Federal guidelines. From 2017 to March 2020, only 23.2% of children and 14.7% of adults met the DGA’s fruit recommendations for their age and sex group.
Fruit consumption levels tied to health behaviors and awareness
ERS researchers also sought to understand how individual and societal factors relate to being in low—or high-consuming groups. They found the most significant factors in predicting high consumption are health behaviors, including engaging in physical activity and not smoking, and health knowledge captured by awareness of USDA’s MyPlate, a tool used to visualize recommendations for a healthy diet.
On the other hand, those who have these healthy behaviors and knowledge were less likely to be low-fruit consumers. Researchers also found income and fruit prices were not strongly associated with low or high consumption.
The Vidalia onion season is set to begin, as Georgia’s agriculture commissioner and the Vidalia Onion Committee say the sweet onions will start shipping to grocery stores April 15, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a news release.
With nearly 10,000 acres planted in Southeastern Georgia, which is considered normal, Vidalia Onion Committee of Vidalia, GA is expecting an average crop with both yields and quality. This is despite weather issues ranging from Hurricane Helen to receiving five to six inches of snow.
In 2024, 6.5 million 40-pound boxes were collected thanks to near perfect weather and exceptional yields, VOC reported. That was up from 4.3 million boxes in 2023, when the onions endured freezing temperatures and reduced acreage.
Bland Farms of Glennville, GA is ready to start shipping Vidalia onions as soon as the official pack date is announced by the Vidalia Onion Advisory Panel, which should be in mid-April.
The company sees this year’s crop being a bit smaller in volume due to some colder, rainy weather during the growing season. However, it should be a solid crop in line with a typical season.
Growers generally ship Vidalias through Labor Day.
G&R Farms of Glennville, GA will be ready to start shipping Vidalia onions in mid-April as the crop is progressing well. The size and quality of this year’s Vidalia onion crop are reported as excellent.
Shuman Farms of Reidsville, GA has expanded its operations following the Generation Farms acquisition.
The acquisition in 2024 has given the company the ability to increase its storage, packing capacity and overall efficiency.
Vidalia onions are grown in a unique region spanning 20 counties in south Georgia.
Avocado shipments remain limited. Harvesting was curtailed in Mexico last week due to Benito Juarez Day. Expect elevated prices for the next three weeks as Mexican growers are uncertain about the potential tariffs scheduled to begin April 2, 2025, according to a news release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Mexico
- All sizes are tight; the Benito Juarez holiday is limiting production
- Size and grade substitutions may be requested to fill orders
- Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening within a case) has been reported
- Expect elevated markets and tight supplies for the next four weeks
California
- New crop production is in full swing
- California supplies will help fill the void from Mexican-grown product
- Supplies are dominated by medium sizes (48- through 60-count fruit)
- Quality is good; firm fruit has been reported even when ripe
- Expect high prices; demand is strong due to Mexican shortages
Colombia
- Imports will ship into the East Coast through May; these supplies only account for 5% of U.S. demand
- The crop is currently dominated by small sizes (60- to 84-count fruit)
- Quality is comparable to that in Mexico; texture is creamy and oil content is high
The Federal Maritime Commission, the United States’ shipping regulator, has warned it may bar entry to ships from countries found to be causing choke points at key locations around the world.
Splash 247 reports that the FMC has opened an investigation into transit constraints at international maritime chokepoints, particularly the effects of foreign governments’ laws, regulations, or practices, as well as the actions of owners or operators of foreign-flag vessels on shipping conditions in these passages.
The shipping routes under investigation include the English Channel, the Malacca Strait, the Northern Sea Passage, the Singapore Strait, the Panama Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Suez Canal.
“Remedial measures the Commission can take in issuing regulations to address conditions unfavorable to shipping in U.S. foreign trade include refusing entry to U.S. ports by vessels registered in countries responsible for creating unfavorable conditions,” the FMC warned yesterday.
The global trading order has been torn up since Donald Trump returned to power in Washington, D.C. The new administration has lashed out with tariffs, claims on the Panama Canal, and plans to charge Chinese-built ships calling in the US, among a string of policies that have unsettled world trade.