Author Archive
A study from Western New England University (WNE) suggests that regularly eating grapes can positively impact muscle gene expression, with particularly strong effects in females.
The research, recently published in the journal Foods, found that daily grape consumption alters muscle gene expression in ways that promote lean muscle mass and reduce markers of muscle degeneration.
“This study provides compelling evidence that grapes have the potential to enhance muscle health at the genetic level,” said Dr. John Pezzuto, senior investigator of the study and professor and dean of the WNE College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Alterations in muscle gene expression resulted in male and female muscle characteristics becoming more similar on a metabolic level.
The Role of Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics, the study of how diet influences gene expression, played a central role in this research. Grapes, rich in natural compounds called phytochemicals, have been shown to impact various aspects of health, from heart and kidney function to skin and eye health.
In this study, researchers examined the effects of consuming two servings of grapes per day on muscle gene expression patterns. The results demonstrated that grape consumption altered over 20,000 genes, significantly influencing muscle metabolism.
The study also revealed that genes associated with good muscle health—such as those linked to lean muscle mass—were elevated, while genes tied to muscle deterioration were suppressed. These findings suggest that dietary interventions, like adding grapes to one’s diet, could serve as a complementary approach to traditional muscle maintenance strategies, such as exercise and protein-rich nutrition.
Future Research Directions
The WNE research team aims to further investigate the mechanisms behind these genetic changes and determine how quickly they occur in human subjects. As the field of nutrigenomics continues to evolve, this study opens the door for new dietary approaches to muscle health across different age groups.
After a historic deep freeze reduced Pacific Northwest production to a 40-year low, fewer pears are expected in supermarkets.
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association reported that this year’s crop is expected to be 31% lower than the five-year average.
Since 80% of the pears in the U.S. come from the Northwest, experts say consumers should expect fewer pears on grocery store shelves.
“There’s certainly still a Northwest pear crop, but it was significantly smaller due to that damage,” said Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.
Additionally, the affected pears are expected to exhibit “russet,” a brown ring caused by frost-damaged blossoms. Even though the taste is the same, their appearance can be off-putting to buyers.
Strawberry prices are starting to ease due to increased availability. Quality has improved in all regions, according to a news release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Santa Maria, CA
- Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available
- The fall crop has passed its peak; volume is downtrending
- Size currently ranges from 12 to 16 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; color is improving daily
- White shoulders have been reported
Oxnard, CA
- MFC Strawberries are available
- The season is at its peak and will end in mid-April
- Volume is steady
- Size currently ranges from 10 to 16 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; color is deep red color and flavor is sweet
Mexico (into South Texas)
- Peak season has passed
- Size currently ranges from 16 to 24 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; uneven ripening and light bruising have been reported
- Harvesting will run through mid-March
Florida
- MFC Strawberries are available
- The season will run through mid-March due to the late start and cooler weather
- Volume has increased
- Size currently ranges from 12-16 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; some misshaped berries have been reported due to January’s cold snap
The Chilean Citrus Fruit Committee has reported that exports totaled 397,417 tons during the 2024 season, slightly down from 399,824 tons in 2023. This represents a moderate 0.6% year-on-year.
“The start of the 2024 season was impacted by drought conditions, especially in the Coquimbo region,” said the committee Executive Director Monserrat Valenzuela. She added that “the rains that came later in the season arrived after the typical start of the clementine harvest, which affected the yield of this variety.”
In Chile, clementines are grown across 9,884 acres with 70% of the total area in the northern Coquimbo Region, according to the Natural Resources Information Center (CIREN).
“There has been a recovery of lemon orchards following the 2022 frost,” Valenzuela noted, “which has contributed to an increase in export volumes.”
Markets and competition
The United States remained the leading market for Chilean citrus, with exports of 50,353 tons of clementines, 60,467 tons of lemons, 128,958 tons of mandarins, and 97,602 tons of oranges during the 2024 season.
Fruit guild Frutas de Chile highlighted Japan as another key destination, particularly for lemon exports.
“The United States is undoubtedly the main market for Chilean citrus. In the 2024 season, it received 98% clementines, 95% of mandarins, 93% of oranges, and 63% of lemons. Lemons also have a growing market in Japan and South Korea, which received 21,000 tons and 10,200 tons, respectively,” said Valenzuela.
Regarding competition, Chile faces strong challenges from South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Peru, and Uruguay.
“South Africa and Australia maintain a steady supply of high-quality oranges, while South Africa and Argentina also offer strong competition in lemons. Peru, with its easy-peeler varieties, is always a significant competitor,” Valenzuela explained.
“The need to explore new markets remains a challenge to prevent the U.S. from becoming a ‘monomarket’ for Chilean citrus,” added the executive director of the Chile Citrus Committee.
The USDA’s citrus forecast for February shows that the Florida citrus industry continues to struggle. Production volumes for all categories are projected to drop year over year.
The state’s all-orange forecast, released by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board, is 11.5 million boxes, down 500,000 from the January forecast. This represents a 36% drop from last season’s final production.
The forecast consists of 4.50 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, and Navel varieties) and 7.00 million boxes of Valencia oranges.
The report indicates that Valencia oranges’ current fruit size is below average and is projected to remain below average at harvest.
For non-Valencia oranges, the Row Count survey conducted January 28-29, 2025, showed 95% of the early and mid-season rows, excluding Navels, are harvested.
Grapefruit forecast
With 62% of the grapefruit rows harvested, the report shows that overall grapefruit production is forecast to be down 100,000 boxes from January. Total grapefruit output is expected to be 1.10 million boxes, down from last season’s 1.78 million.
However, white and red grapefruit’s final size are above average.
The total lemon output is forecast at 600,000 boxes, carried over from the January forecast.
Tangerines and Mandarins
Even though the forecast for tangerines and tangelos increased by 50,000 boxes from the January forecast, the total output expected for the season is still 22% lower than the 450,000 boxes during the previous season.
By Charlie Fabricant ALC Corporate
The United States has experienced an unprecedented increase in severe weather events, with 2023 accounting for the highest annual total of severe storms and one of the highest financial costs on record. Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, regarding severe storms, i.e., storms that cost the country $1B or more, “The 1980–2024 annual average is 9.0 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2020–2024) is 23.0 events (CPI-adjusted).” It is estimated that 23% of all road delays can now be attributed to weather, directly costing the industry between $2 and $3.5 billion dollars annually, not even including rising insurance premiums and maintenance costs. The total economic loss associated with climate risk in supply chains will reach $120 billion annually by 2026. As shippers plan for uncertainty, what kind of logistics partner will they be able to trust to be as adaptable as the times demand? Let’s discuss.
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the supply chain collapse that went with it, emphasized the need for companies to add both resilience and flexibility to their business operations. The same lessons apply to the climate crisis. Traditional supply chains are already being disrupted, whether it’s due to drought conditions causing the Panama Canal to reduce shipments, more frequent and powerful hurricanes damaging both ports and roadways, or fluctuating temperatures and precipitation patterns making winter storms harder to predict. With an uncertain regulatory market and technological changes, the logistics world is looking at a significant shakeup.
Traditional wisdom has long heralded asset-based carriers for reliability and brokers for flexibility. However, as market dynamics change, so do long-held industry advantages. More and more shippers are shortening their bid timelines, acknowledging the increased market volatility over recent years. As mini bids take up a growing amount of total volume, carriers need to be able to adjust to constantly changing lanes and prices. Although brokers work with asset-based carriers to service our customers, they do not have the same large capital expenditures that make rapid operations adjustments difficult. As with everything in the transportation sector, collaboration is crucial, but as climate disruptions and regulations increase, brokers are better positioned to assist customers with sourcing resilient and flexible transportation options.
*****
Charlie Fabricant graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with a double major in Economics and Human & Organizational Development with a minor in Environmental Sustainability. He joined the Nashville office as an undergraduate intern in 2021 and became a transportation broker along with the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) coordinator. In 2024, he was promoted to ESG programs manager.
charlie.fabricant@allenlund.com
In a recent apple holdings report, the U.S. Apple Association, notes the number of fresh apples in storage as of Feb. 1, 2025, is 92.7 million bushels, which is 5% less than inventories reported in February 2024 but still 12% more than the five-year average.
Gerlach said processing apples are also down 5% year over year at 37.5 million bushels, but still 8% higher than the five-year average.
Washington state still tops the list with 107,395,238 bushels of apples in holding. That number is down slightly from the 2023-24 season, but still higher than the five-year average, according to the report. The state moved 2,839,525 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 9,129,998 bushels of fresh apples in controlled-atmosphere storage.
New York is second with 10,282,460 bushels of apples in holding. That number is slightly higher than the 2023-24 season and higher than the five-year average. The state moved 247,163 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 327,749 bushels of fresh apples in controlled-atmosphere storage.
Michigan has 6,143,000 bushels of apples in holding, which is down from both 2023-24 and the five-year average. The state moved 39,528 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 1,936,749 bushels of fresh apples in controlled-atmosphere storage.
Gala tops the varieties in holding, with 19,396,774 bushels of fresh and processing apples, which is higher than the 2023-24 season and the five-year average. Red delicious is second with 17,068,616 bushels of fresh and processing apples in holding, which is down from 2023-24 and the five-year average.
Granny smith is third with 15,331,791 bushels of fresh and processing apples in holding, which is down from 2023-24, but up from the five-year average. Honeycrisp is fourth with 12,659,696 bushels of fresh and processing apples in holding, which is down from the 2023-24 and five-year average figures. Cosmic Crisp rounds out the top five with 12,447,619 bushels of apples in holding, which is up from both 2023-24 and the five-year average.
Fresh Farms of Rio Rico, AZ looks to continue its double-digit growth as the company transitions its extensive grape program from South America to Mexico in late April and then to California later this season.
The grower/shipper notes Mexico plays a crucial role in the company’s operations, as it provides the highest volume of grapes during the season.
A part of Grupo Molina, a family-owned company based in Hermosillo, Mexico, Fresh Farms also offers a wide variety of vegetables, including hard and soft squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, peppers and watermelons.
The company is placing a particular focus this year on tomatoes, with a significant increase in production, along with growth in other vegetable varieties, both organic and conventional.
Naturipe Farms has announced the ramp-up of shipments for Sweet Selections Blackberries, offering retailers a premium blackberry option.
These berries are grown in Mexico and feature sweet and large berries of the proprietary “Fenomenal” variety, developed through Naturipe’s breeding program.
With supplies increasing steadily through May, the company expects a consistent and reliable supply of Sweet Selections Blackberries, ensuring they can confidently meet customer demand with this premium product, the company said in a release.
Sweet Selections Blackberries are designed to meet the increasing demand for high-quality, sweet blackberries.
Persistent rain has cancelled harvesting in the Santa Maria/Oxnard, California, growing regions for Sunday, February 16 through Tuesday, February 18. Demand exceeds supply in all California growing regions, according to a news release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
The Santa Maria and Oxnard regions received almost two inches of rain in the last week. Suppliers did not harvest again until Wednesday, February 19.
Quality will be a challenge, with concerns including excessive bruising and pin rot.
Shippers will rely on transfers of Mexican-grown fruit to supplement California shipments through next week. Last week also saw days that were too rainy to harvest in the Santa Maria and Oxnard growing regions.
A study from Western New England University (WNE) suggests that regularly eating grapes can positively impact muscle gene expression, with particularly strong effects in females.
The research, recently published in the journal Foods, found that daily grape consumption alters muscle gene expression in ways that promote lean muscle mass and reduce markers of muscle degeneration.
“This study provides compelling evidence that grapes have the potential to enhance muscle health at the genetic level,” said Dr. John Pezzuto, senior investigator of the study and professor and dean of the WNE College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Alterations in muscle gene expression resulted in male and female muscle characteristics becoming more similar on a metabolic level.
The Role of Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics, the study of how diet influences gene expression, played a central role in this research. Grapes, rich in natural compounds called phytochemicals, have been shown to impact various aspects of health, from heart and kidney function to skin and eye health.
In this study, researchers examined the effects of consuming two servings of grapes per day on muscle gene expression patterns. The results demonstrated that grape consumption altered over 20,000 genes, significantly influencing muscle metabolism.
The study also revealed that genes associated with good muscle health—such as those linked to lean muscle mass—were elevated, while genes tied to muscle deterioration were suppressed. These findings suggest that dietary interventions, like adding grapes to one’s diet, could serve as a complementary approach to traditional muscle maintenance strategies, such as exercise and protein-rich nutrition.
Future Research Directions
The WNE research team aims to further investigate the mechanisms behind these genetic changes and determine how quickly they occur in human subjects. As the field of nutrigenomics continues to evolve, this study opens the door for new dietary approaches to muscle health across different age groups.
After a historic deep freeze reduced Pacific Northwest production to a 40-year low, fewer pears are expected in supermarkets.
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association reported that this year’s crop is expected to be 31% lower than the five-year average.
Since 80% of the pears in the U.S. come from the Northwest, experts say consumers should expect fewer pears on grocery store shelves.
“There’s certainly still a Northwest pear crop, but it was significantly smaller due to that damage,” said Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.
Additionally, the affected pears are expected to exhibit “russet,” a brown ring caused by frost-damaged blossoms. Even though the taste is the same, their appearance can be off-putting to buyers.
Strawberry prices are starting to ease due to increased availability. Quality has improved in all regions, according to a news release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Santa Maria, CA
- Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available
- The fall crop has passed its peak; volume is downtrending
- Size currently ranges from 12 to 16 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; color is improving daily
- White shoulders have been reported
Oxnard, CA
- MFC Strawberries are available
- The season is at its peak and will end in mid-April
- Volume is steady
- Size currently ranges from 10 to 16 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; color is deep red color and flavor is sweet
Mexico (into South Texas)
- Peak season has passed
- Size currently ranges from 16 to 24 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; uneven ripening and light bruising have been reported
- Harvesting will run through mid-March
Florida
- MFC Strawberries are available
- The season will run through mid-March due to the late start and cooler weather
- Volume has increased
- Size currently ranges from 12-16 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; some misshaped berries have been reported due to January’s cold snap
The Chilean Citrus Fruit Committee has reported that exports totaled 397,417 tons during the 2024 season, slightly down from 399,824 tons in 2023. This represents a moderate 0.6% year-on-year.
“The start of the 2024 season was impacted by drought conditions, especially in the Coquimbo region,” said the committee Executive Director Monserrat Valenzuela. She added that “the rains that came later in the season arrived after the typical start of the clementine harvest, which affected the yield of this variety.”
In Chile, clementines are grown across 9,884 acres with 70% of the total area in the northern Coquimbo Region, according to the Natural Resources Information Center (CIREN).
“There has been a recovery of lemon orchards following the 2022 frost,” Valenzuela noted, “which has contributed to an increase in export volumes.”
Markets and competition
The United States remained the leading market for Chilean citrus, with exports of 50,353 tons of clementines, 60,467 tons of lemons, 128,958 tons of mandarins, and 97,602 tons of oranges during the 2024 season.
Fruit guild Frutas de Chile highlighted Japan as another key destination, particularly for lemon exports.
“The United States is undoubtedly the main market for Chilean citrus. In the 2024 season, it received 98% clementines, 95% of mandarins, 93% of oranges, and 63% of lemons. Lemons also have a growing market in Japan and South Korea, which received 21,000 tons and 10,200 tons, respectively,” said Valenzuela.
Regarding competition, Chile faces strong challenges from South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Peru, and Uruguay.
“South Africa and Australia maintain a steady supply of high-quality oranges, while South Africa and Argentina also offer strong competition in lemons. Peru, with its easy-peeler varieties, is always a significant competitor,” Valenzuela explained.
“The need to explore new markets remains a challenge to prevent the U.S. from becoming a ‘monomarket’ for Chilean citrus,” added the executive director of the Chile Citrus Committee.
The USDA’s citrus forecast for February shows that the Florida citrus industry continues to struggle. Production volumes for all categories are projected to drop year over year.
The state’s all-orange forecast, released by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board, is 11.5 million boxes, down 500,000 from the January forecast. This represents a 36% drop from last season’s final production.
The forecast consists of 4.50 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, and Navel varieties) and 7.00 million boxes of Valencia oranges.
The report indicates that Valencia oranges’ current fruit size is below average and is projected to remain below average at harvest.
For non-Valencia oranges, the Row Count survey conducted January 28-29, 2025, showed 95% of the early and mid-season rows, excluding Navels, are harvested.
Grapefruit forecast
With 62% of the grapefruit rows harvested, the report shows that overall grapefruit production is forecast to be down 100,000 boxes from January. Total grapefruit output is expected to be 1.10 million boxes, down from last season’s 1.78 million.
However, white and red grapefruit’s final size are above average.
The total lemon output is forecast at 600,000 boxes, carried over from the January forecast.
Tangerines and Mandarins
Even though the forecast for tangerines and tangelos increased by 50,000 boxes from the January forecast, the total output expected for the season is still 22% lower than the 450,000 boxes during the previous season.
By Charlie Fabricant ALC Corporate
The United States has experienced an unprecedented increase in severe weather events, with 2023 accounting for the highest annual total of severe storms and one of the highest financial costs on record. Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, regarding severe storms, i.e., storms that cost the country $1B or more, “The 1980–2024 annual average is 9.0 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2020–2024) is 23.0 events (CPI-adjusted).” It is estimated that 23% of all road delays can now be attributed to weather, directly costing the industry between $2 and $3.5 billion dollars annually, not even including rising insurance premiums and maintenance costs. The total economic loss associated with climate risk in supply chains will reach $120 billion annually by 2026. As shippers plan for uncertainty, what kind of logistics partner will they be able to trust to be as adaptable as the times demand? Let’s discuss.
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the supply chain collapse that went with it, emphasized the need for companies to add both resilience and flexibility to their business operations. The same lessons apply to the climate crisis. Traditional supply chains are already being disrupted, whether it’s due to drought conditions causing the Panama Canal to reduce shipments, more frequent and powerful hurricanes damaging both ports and roadways, or fluctuating temperatures and precipitation patterns making winter storms harder to predict. With an uncertain regulatory market and technological changes, the logistics world is looking at a significant shakeup.
Traditional wisdom has long heralded asset-based carriers for reliability and brokers for flexibility. However, as market dynamics change, so do long-held industry advantages. More and more shippers are shortening their bid timelines, acknowledging the increased market volatility over recent years. As mini bids take up a growing amount of total volume, carriers need to be able to adjust to constantly changing lanes and prices. Although brokers work with asset-based carriers to service our customers, they do not have the same large capital expenditures that make rapid operations adjustments difficult. As with everything in the transportation sector, collaboration is crucial, but as climate disruptions and regulations increase, brokers are better positioned to assist customers with sourcing resilient and flexible transportation options.
*****
Charlie Fabricant graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with a double major in Economics and Human & Organizational Development with a minor in Environmental Sustainability. He joined the Nashville office as an undergraduate intern in 2021 and became a transportation broker along with the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) coordinator. In 2024, he was promoted to ESG programs manager.
charlie.fabricant@allenlund.com
In a recent apple holdings report, the U.S. Apple Association, notes the number of fresh apples in storage as of Feb. 1, 2025, is 92.7 million bushels, which is 5% less than inventories reported in February 2024 but still 12% more than the five-year average.
Gerlach said processing apples are also down 5% year over year at 37.5 million bushels, but still 8% higher than the five-year average.
Washington state still tops the list with 107,395,238 bushels of apples in holding. That number is down slightly from the 2023-24 season, but still higher than the five-year average, according to the report. The state moved 2,839,525 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 9,129,998 bushels of fresh apples in controlled-atmosphere storage.
New York is second with 10,282,460 bushels of apples in holding. That number is slightly higher than the 2023-24 season and higher than the five-year average. The state moved 247,163 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 327,749 bushels of fresh apples in controlled-atmosphere storage.
Michigan has 6,143,000 bushels of apples in holding, which is down from both 2023-24 and the five-year average. The state moved 39,528 bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 1,936,749 bushels of fresh apples in controlled-atmosphere storage.
Gala tops the varieties in holding, with 19,396,774 bushels of fresh and processing apples, which is higher than the 2023-24 season and the five-year average. Red delicious is second with 17,068,616 bushels of fresh and processing apples in holding, which is down from 2023-24 and the five-year average.
Granny smith is third with 15,331,791 bushels of fresh and processing apples in holding, which is down from 2023-24, but up from the five-year average. Honeycrisp is fourth with 12,659,696 bushels of fresh and processing apples in holding, which is down from the 2023-24 and five-year average figures. Cosmic Crisp rounds out the top five with 12,447,619 bushels of apples in holding, which is up from both 2023-24 and the five-year average.
Fresh Farms of Rio Rico, AZ looks to continue its double-digit growth as the company transitions its extensive grape program from South America to Mexico in late April and then to California later this season.
The grower/shipper notes Mexico plays a crucial role in the company’s operations, as it provides the highest volume of grapes during the season.
A part of Grupo Molina, a family-owned company based in Hermosillo, Mexico, Fresh Farms also offers a wide variety of vegetables, including hard and soft squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, peppers and watermelons.
The company is placing a particular focus this year on tomatoes, with a significant increase in production, along with growth in other vegetable varieties, both organic and conventional.
Naturipe Farms has announced the ramp-up of shipments for Sweet Selections Blackberries, offering retailers a premium blackberry option.
These berries are grown in Mexico and feature sweet and large berries of the proprietary “Fenomenal” variety, developed through Naturipe’s breeding program.
With supplies increasing steadily through May, the company expects a consistent and reliable supply of Sweet Selections Blackberries, ensuring they can confidently meet customer demand with this premium product, the company said in a release.
Sweet Selections Blackberries are designed to meet the increasing demand for high-quality, sweet blackberries.
Persistent rain has cancelled harvesting in the Santa Maria/Oxnard, California, growing regions for Sunday, February 16 through Tuesday, February 18. Demand exceeds supply in all California growing regions, according to a news release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
The Santa Maria and Oxnard regions received almost two inches of rain in the last week. Suppliers did not harvest again until Wednesday, February 19.
Quality will be a challenge, with concerns including excessive bruising and pin rot.
Shippers will rely on transfers of Mexican-grown fruit to supplement California shipments through next week. Last week also saw days that were too rainy to harvest in the Santa Maria and Oxnard growing regions.