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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.
Blueberry shipments in the United States typically occur from spring to late September and Florida kickoffs off the nation’s first fruit.
Florida is the eighth-largest blueberry-growing state, alongside Oregon, Washington, Georgia, New Jersey, and Michigan, Maine, North Carolina and California. Depending on the weather, growers typically begin harvesting in late March.
Observers of Florida blueberries are generally seeing a crop of 20 million pounds, which is considered normal.
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association expects lower than last year, with more normal tonnage after last year’s oversupply.
FBGA optimism is boosted since Georgia’s blueberry season seems to be a little later than usual this year, not starting until late April, early May.
Although Mexican production is seen for April, it is believed volume will be light at that point.
ELGIN, MN – Honeybear Brands, a leading grower, marketer and developer of premium conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries, is urging retailers to remind shoppers to eat more fiber rich apples this March, in an effort to help them reduce their risk of certain cancers.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. and the risk is growing in younger adults. In fact, the number of people under 55 who’ve been newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer has nearly doubled since 1995. As a result, the American Cancer Society has issued new recommendations for people to start regular screening at age 45 rather than 50.
What’s increasing the risk? Experts point to the American diet — processed food, low-fiber, high-fat meals. But a high-fiber diet is a significant preventative measure against colon cancer. Apples are a powerhouse of fiber, thanks to their skin, and are packed with phytochemicals — such as flavonoids and polyphenols — that may help fight certain cancers.
“As younger adults see their risk for this disease increase, we want to encourage them to add more fiber to their daily diets. Apples are an easy way to do this. A portable snack, or an easy ingredient in a meal, apples are within reach and very affordable,” said Kristi Harris, Marketing Director, Honeybear Brands, in a recent press release.
Honeybear Brands is supporting this Colorectal Cancer education effort at retail, offering point of sale promotional materials featuring the recognized blue ribbon this March.
“We want to trigger that connection for shoppers looking to make informed choices at store level and the blue ribbon symbolizes the importance of gut health,” said Harris.
The company is also working with My Food Gal, a food blogger on a social media campaign to inspire consumers to follow her easy, high fiber recipe that features the delicious combination of apples, oats and peanut butter.
The California/Arizona weather forecast calls for a heatwave in the desert vegetable growing region, according to a news release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA
Temperatures will climbed into the mid-80°s through last weekend and may reach triple digits by Wednesday, March 26.
Growers will adjust harvesting schedules and pack ahead to avoid peak temperatures as much as possible. Markon inspectors will be closely evaluating commodity and value-added desert row crops while working with suppliers to minimize heat-related challenges.
Markon First Crop (MFC) Lettuce items will become difficult to attain as the desert season winds down; Markon Best Available (MBA) will be substituted as needed.
California Crema label avocados will be shipped exclusively by Index Fresh of Corona, CA into the summer. The company is a global avocado production, distribution and marketing company.
California Crema avocados are the Gem variety — gold-flecked, creamy and in season annually between April and July, while supplies last, according to a news release.
Index Fresh said California Crema avocados are harvested by California farmers, pack flavor and nutritional density and pair resilience with responsibility. The offering is sold bagged and in bulk with eye-catching, innovative packaging, the company said.
Index Fresh cites the rich, creamy avocados are already staples of California cuisine and the go-to ingredient for restaurants and home chefs that want to deliver on exceptional flavor. The company partners with farmers who have invested years in cultivating a promotable level for the 2025 crop.
Index Fresh said Gem avocados are often associated with farming practices that strive to minimize their environmental impact, like growing on compact trees that have a more dense and efficient fruit set, producing more within a smaller footprint. The fruit grows inside a lush canopy, where they are insulated from direct sun and more resilient to extreme weather, the release said.
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.
Blueberry shipments in the United States typically occur from spring to late September and Florida kickoffs off the nation’s first fruit.
Florida is the eighth-largest blueberry-growing state, alongside Oregon, Washington, Georgia, New Jersey, and Michigan, Maine, North Carolina and California. Depending on the weather, growers typically begin harvesting in late March.
Observers of Florida blueberries are generally seeing a crop of 20 million pounds, which is considered normal.
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association expects lower than last year, with more normal tonnage after last year’s oversupply.
FBGA optimism is boosted since Georgia’s blueberry season seems to be a little later than usual this year, not starting until late April, early May.
Although Mexican production is seen for April, it is believed volume will be light at that point.
ELGIN, MN – Honeybear Brands, a leading grower, marketer and developer of premium conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries, is urging retailers to remind shoppers to eat more fiber rich apples this March, in an effort to help them reduce their risk of certain cancers.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. and the risk is growing in younger adults. In fact, the number of people under 55 who’ve been newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer has nearly doubled since 1995. As a result, the American Cancer Society has issued new recommendations for people to start regular screening at age 45 rather than 50.
What’s increasing the risk? Experts point to the American diet — processed food, low-fiber, high-fat meals. But a high-fiber diet is a significant preventative measure against colon cancer. Apples are a powerhouse of fiber, thanks to their skin, and are packed with phytochemicals — such as flavonoids and polyphenols — that may help fight certain cancers.
“As younger adults see their risk for this disease increase, we want to encourage them to add more fiber to their daily diets. Apples are an easy way to do this. A portable snack, or an easy ingredient in a meal, apples are within reach and very affordable,” said Kristi Harris, Marketing Director, Honeybear Brands, in a recent press release.
Honeybear Brands is supporting this Colorectal Cancer education effort at retail, offering point of sale promotional materials featuring the recognized blue ribbon this March.
“We want to trigger that connection for shoppers looking to make informed choices at store level and the blue ribbon symbolizes the importance of gut health,” said Harris.
The company is also working with My Food Gal, a food blogger on a social media campaign to inspire consumers to follow her easy, high fiber recipe that features the delicious combination of apples, oats and peanut butter.
The California/Arizona weather forecast calls for a heatwave in the desert vegetable growing region, according to a news release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA
Temperatures will climbed into the mid-80°s through last weekend and may reach triple digits by Wednesday, March 26.
Growers will adjust harvesting schedules and pack ahead to avoid peak temperatures as much as possible. Markon inspectors will be closely evaluating commodity and value-added desert row crops while working with suppliers to minimize heat-related challenges.
Markon First Crop (MFC) Lettuce items will become difficult to attain as the desert season winds down; Markon Best Available (MBA) will be substituted as needed.
California Crema label avocados will be shipped exclusively by Index Fresh of Corona, CA into the summer. The company is a global avocado production, distribution and marketing company.
California Crema avocados are the Gem variety — gold-flecked, creamy and in season annually between April and July, while supplies last, according to a news release.
Index Fresh said California Crema avocados are harvested by California farmers, pack flavor and nutritional density and pair resilience with responsibility. The offering is sold bagged and in bulk with eye-catching, innovative packaging, the company said.
Index Fresh cites the rich, creamy avocados are already staples of California cuisine and the go-to ingredient for restaurants and home chefs that want to deliver on exceptional flavor. The company partners with farmers who have invested years in cultivating a promotable level for the 2025 crop.
Index Fresh said Gem avocados are often associated with farming practices that strive to minimize their environmental impact, like growing on compact trees that have a more dense and efficient fruit set, producing more within a smaller footprint. The fruit grows inside a lush canopy, where they are insulated from direct sun and more resilient to extreme weather, the release said.