Archive For The “News” Category
Nearly all of the fresh asparagus in the U.S. is imported. In 2024, for example, the U.S. imported 515.4 million pounds of asparagus, valued at $646.7 million. Of that, almost 155 million pounds (30%) came from Peru.
Though Mexico claims the title of the largest exporter of asparagus to the U.S. — representing roughly two-thirds of U.S. asparagus imports — Peru’s unique location and climate gives it an interesting asparagus superpower over the competition.
Southern Specialties of Pompano Beach, FL notes Peru is an important source of both green and white fresh asparagus because it provides consistent volume of high-quality product almost year-round. The company is a grower, importer, processor and shipper dealing in Peruvian asparagus.
The majority of Mexican imports happen from January to May, according to data from the International Fresh Produce Association.
When it comes to Peru, it also has a constant presence in the market, which only reduces when Mexico reaches its peak production,” the group noted in a late 2024 report. It also pointed out Michigan, the largest domestic producer of asparagus, has a short season from May to June.
Simply put, Peru supplies the U.S. consumer with quality asparagus during a time U.S. is not in production.
The 2024-2025 Peruvian blueberry season concluded with over 320,000 tons shipped to destination markets, representing a 40% increase year-on-year, according to industry data. The majority of the exports, approximately 55%, were sent to the United States, as noted by Fluctuante CEO David Sandoval.
Sandoval emphasized the need for market diversification, stating, “We need to diversify the countries to which we deliver this product and, above all, focus on opening new markets.” He also highlighted that the industry continues to favor temperature-resistant cultivars, primarily Ventura and Biloxi, due to their resilience against climatic challenges. “Producers have continued to focus on Ventura and Biloxi, and have not yet clearly switched to other premium or licensed varieties.”
The CEO explained that the continued preference for these varieties is driven by return on investment considerations. “For us to develop Sekoya and other licensed varieties, we require a lot of investment, and that investment ultimately has to be reflected when selling the fruit.” He also noted that in the U.S. market, supermarkets show little interest in specific varieties, as blueberries often arrive mixed in final packages, with consumer preferences centering on the fruit’s crunchiness, visual appeal, and freshness.
Sandoval questioned whether further investment in licensed varieties is justified, given the high costs involved. “We are in a productive and exporting development phase, we are the first, and that is to be applauded, but in any case, if we don’t promote it, if we don’t say it, the consumer won’t notice it,” he said.
He observed that Asian markets, especially China, pay premiums for licensed varieties, whereas in the U.S., price differences are minimal. “In some weeks, the price of Ventura and Biloxi is even higher than that of licensed varieties,” he added, suggesting that the transition to newer licensed cultivars remains slow.
Logistics company Crowley has announced a “significant expansion” of ocean shipping services with its first-ever route between the U.S. Northeast and Central America.
Utilizing Crowley’s new, state-of-the-art Avance Class vessels, the five-day transit between the Port of Philadelphia’s Gloucester Marine Terminal and ports in Guatemala and Honduras enables the most timely deliveries of food, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods to and from the Central America Northern Zone, which also includes El Salvador and Nicaragua.
Crowley’s Copán container ship will begin the first voyage on July 3 from Central American to Gloucester City, New Jersey, operated by Gloucester Terminals LLC, a client company of Holt Logistics Corp.
“Customers can count on us to support their growth wherever they operate, including now between Central America and the U.S. Northeast. This best-in-class, non-stop service with our new LNG-powered vessels will deliver the fastest transit times in the market,” said Reinier van Delden, vice president of commercial operations at Crowley Logistics.
“This means less inventory idle time, lower supply chain costs, and longer shelf life for critical products like fresh produce. With significant booking commitments already, we’re excited to bring these vessels to Philadelphia to connect our global customers with access to the regional market using superior, reliable operations provided by Crowley and Gloucester Terminals.”
Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the best-in-class Avance vessels reflect Crowley’s commitment to the maritime industry’s innovation and environmental efficiency that provide the most effective solutions for customers.
“Marine service is an important pillar of Philadelphia’s economy, and Gloucester Terminals is proud to be a partner with Crowley to accomplish this milestone for U.S-Central America trade,” said Christian Holt, sales representative for Gloucester and Holt.
“This new route creates faster and more efficient pathways connecting Northeast Atlantic business owners to international customers. We are thrilled to partner with Crowley, another generational family-owned business. Together, with over 200 years of dedicated customer service, we focus on creating jobs, driving economic growth, and making a positive impact in the Philadelphia-South Jersey communities.”
The new route between Philadelphia and Central America expands on Crowley’s operations in the Northeast Atlantic, where it has served Puerto Rico, the Eastern Caribbean and the Virgin Islands with a regular container service for more than 70 years.
C&S Wholesale Grocers LLC and SpartanNash have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which C&S will acquire SpartanNash for a purchase price of $26.90 per share of SpartanNash common stock in cash, representing total consideration of $1.77 billion, including assumed net debt.
The transaction price represents a 52.5% premium over SpartanNash’s closing price on June 20, of $17.64, and a premium of 42% to its 30-day volume-weighted average stock price as of June 20, according to a news release.
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
SpartanNash’s previously announced quarterly cash dividend of 22 cents per common share will continue to be paid on June 30, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 13, the release said.
”This is an exciting opportunity for our team members, partners and, notably, our customers. C&S and SpartanNash share many of the same values, including a strong emphasis on customers, teamwork and our communities. Together, we are uniting some of the most advanced capabilities and boldest innovations in the distribution market to better serve communities across the nation,” said C&S CEO Eric Winn.
“At C&S, we have a legacy of braggingly happy customers, and our team members strive every day to take care of our customers’ stores as if they are our own,” Winn added. “The combination of our two companies’ capabilities puts our collective customers’ stores and our own retail stores at the center of the plate, supporting their ability to thrive in a highly dynamic and competitive environment. Our customers need us more than ever, and we are building a sustainable platform for our team members to be able to support them long into the future.”
“We are energized by the opportunities this combination provides for our associates and customers,” said SpartanNash President and CEO Tony Sarsam. “With our organizational values in close alignment, there will be exciting new career opportunities for our people and a continued commitment to a ‘people first’ culture. For our customers, this transaction creates the necessary scale, efficiency and purchasing power needed to enable independent retailers to compete more effectively with larger big-box chains. Neighborhood grocers are essential pillars of our communities that we want to preserve and strengthen. A thriving hometown grocery store supports local farmers, bolsters the local economy and enhances the overall health and well-being of the community.”
Strategic rationale includes, according to the release:
- Complementary food distribution networks to better support independent retailers — Together, the combined company will operate almost 60 complementary distribution centers covering the U.S. and will serve close to 10,000 independent retail locations, with collectively more than 200 corporate-run grocery stores.
- Greater efficiency and scale expected to result in lower prices for grocery shoppers — Being able to operate at a larger scale, supported by the combined innovative capabilities of the two companies, enables a more efficient supply chain as well as an ability to secure the best possible delivered cost of goods and promotional discounts, which are expected to translate to better pricing for community retailers and at the shelf for consumers. Profit margins in the grocery industry are very low — averaging only 1.6% — and customers and consumers deserve the best value for food and household goods. The stability of the combined organization will allow the combined company and its customers to better compete against various extremely large global grocers in the U.S. food-at-home space, a more than $1 trillion annual industry.
- Preserves accessible, affordable nutrition and pharmacy services in local communities — Nearly half of all U.S. counties have at least one pharmacy desert (a 10-mile radius with no retail pharmacy), and an estimated 5.6% of the country’s population lives in a food desert. Providing families with access to fresh food, essential prescription medications and health services is at the core of the combined company’s operations, distributing to community retailers and operating corporate grocery stores and pharmacies.
The transaction is expected to close in late 2025, subject to certain customary closing conditions, including, among other things, SpartanNash shareholder approval and applicable regulatory approvals, according to the release. C&S has obtained financing commitment letters for the transaction. Wells Fargo has provided a debt financing commitment for the transaction.
Solomon Partners is serving as the exclusive financial adviser to C&S. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal adviser to C&S and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal adviser to C&S in connection with its debt financing, the release said, adding that BofA Securities Inc. is serving as exclusive financial adviser to SpartanNash. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as legal adviser to SpartanNash.
Peru is predicted to surpass Chile as the region’s leading fruit exporter in 2025, which would be a significant shift in South American trade dynamics.
The General Directorate of Agricultural Policies under Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), reports Peru’s fruit export value is expected to reach $10.194 billion, slightly outpacing Chile’s forecast of $9.979 billion.
This milestone reflects more than a decade of rapid growth in Peru’s agricultural industry. From 2012 to 2022, Peruvian agricultural exports grew at an impressive average annual rate of 11%, almost double the 6.1% rate recorded by Chile. The 2024 figures already show the narrowing gap, with Peru’s exports totaling $9.185 billion—just short of Chile’s $9.403 billion.
The surge in Peru’s agricultural trade is primarily attributed to its booming fruit exports, which have grown at an average annual rate of 19.6% between 2010 and 2024. In contrast, Chile’s fruit export growth in the same period was 6.8%. Should this trend continue, Peru’s fruit export revenues are projected to reach $11.064 billion by 2027, placing it well ahead of Chile by approximately 9%.
Peru’s fruit export success has been driven by high-demand products such as blueberries and avocados, which have far outpaced Chilean exports in these categories. While Chile still leads slightly in table grapes, favorable weather conditions and improved cultivation practices could see Peru claim the global top spot in grape exports in 2025.
Globally, Peru is set to become the fifth-largest fruit exporter in 2025, overtaking Chile and trailing behind Spain, the Netherlands, Mexico and the US. Within Latin America, this transition marks a significant realignment, with Mexico, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica being the primary exporters. Peru’s rise to regional leadership signifies its strengthening role on the global fruit trade map.
Colombia’s exports to the United States increased from 5 percent to 15 percent, with several produce items showing increases during the first quarter of 2025.
This growth triples the 5 percent increase recorded by the country’s total exports to the rest of the world, according to Redagricola, using figures from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE).
A highlight of the report is the boost in non-mining and energy exports, which reached $2.413 billion, representing a 25 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Among the products that registered the greatest sales increases were unroasted coffee, with a 124 percent increase. Banana sales grew by 51 percent, while Hass avocados increased by over 300 percent. There were also increases in flowers, citrus fruits, and cocoa.
By region, Antioquia was the main exporter with more than $686 million, followed by Bogotá and Cundinamarca. Furthermore, regions such as Meta, Caldas, Casanare, and Cauca registered growth exceeding 100 percent, demonstrating positive momentum in non-traditional regions. In total, 23 of the 28 exporting departments surpassed $1 million in sales to the U.S.
In response, the president of the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Colombia), María Claudia Lacouture, highlighted the importance of seizing opportunities with the U.S.
“The impact of seizing opportunities with the U.S. is undeniable. The numbers speak for themselves,” she said.
Lacouture also asserted that these results make it clear that strengthening relations with the U.S. is a priority.
“We need to keep diplomatic channels open and work on common interests. Opportunities exist, and we must seize them,” Lacouture said.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a lot of change on Americans when it came to food. Restaurants were closed. We had to wonder if we needed to disinfect our groceries for a while. That obsession with making sourdough started up.
But apparently people started eating more fresh fruit and vegetables too.
The USDA Economic Research Service released a report on the impacts of COVID-19 on food spending and diet on May 20. The report found that — as is common with negative economic events — the pandemic shifted American’s food purchasing behavior.
The report — U.S. Household Food Spending Post COVID-19 and the Implications for Diet Quality by ERS research agricultural economists Abigail Okrent and Eliana Zeballos — compared changes in household food spending in different groups before, during and after the pandemic (2016 to 2022).
“Economic recessions and slowdowns have profoundly influenced spending patterns on food as consumers navigate tighter budgets and uncertainty,” according to the report. “These changes in food consumption behaviors can have enduring effects on health, persisting long after a recession ends.”
Pandemic food purchasing
The economic shocks of the pandemic were unique compared to previous economic shocks in a few ways, according to the report. The main one was the closure of restaurants and stay-at-home orders around the country.
“This prompted significant shifts in the ways people purchased and acquired food, such as increased online shopping and home cooking,” the report said. More consumers bought food at grocery stores — referred to as food at home (FAH) in the report — during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic years of 2016 to 2019.
Buying more food at grocery stores compared to restaurants and other “food away from home” venues changed how consumers spent money on different food categories.
“On the one hand, 2020 had little to no association with spending on dairy, fats and oils, poultry, eggs, fish and seafood, beverages, and desserts,” the report summarized. “On the other hand, spending during 2020 was higher than 2016 to 2019 levels for vegetables (7%), other FAH not elsewhere classified (7%), grains (6%), and prepared meals (6%).”
Some of these shifts continued into the pandemic in 2021, with vegetable spending up 8% and fruit spending up 7% compared to the 2016 to 2019 levels. In 2022, which the report used as a post-pandemic benchmark, spending behavior began to trend back toward pre-pandemic levels with some exceptions. This included spending on vegetables, which was still up 5% in 2022 compared to 2016 to 2019 levels.
The report authors highlighted this trend as potentially beneficial.
“Given that vegetable and fruit consumption has largely been flat over the past few decades and well below [Dietary Guidelines for Americans] recommendations overall, such a shift in spending could lead to better adherence to DGA recommendations.”
Fruit and vegetable buying trends overall
The report also found some key differences in food spending across different demographic groups regardless of year. For example, the report found that urban households spend more on fruit and vegetables compared to their rural counterparts. Similarly, West Coast households spend the most on fruit and vegetables overall out of the U.S. geographic regions.
Racial and ethnic demographic details also played a role in food spending behaviors, regardless of the year.
“Independent of income and other covariates, non-Hispanic Asian households spent more on fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish and seafood, and eggs, and less on processed red meats and beverages than non-Hispanic White, Black, and Native American/Pacific Islander/multiracial households,” the report found.
The report also noted that there were some seasonality trends in food purchasing at grocery stores — but not at restaurants — that was seen across all years in review.
“In particular, spending on fruits tended to be higher in the spring ($20 more per capita) and summer months ($20) compared to fall (-$6) and winter months (base), whereas vegetable consumption was unaffected by the seasons.”
The report authors speculated that the seasonality in fruit consumption, even in the face of expanded trade that means fresh fruit is reliably available year round, “may indicate consumers prefer to eat seasonal fruit produced within the United States.”
Enstructure, the operator of Port Wilmington in Delaware, announced it has signed a long-term agreement with Chiquita Brands to continue and further expand its partnership as the company’s mid-Atlantic distribution hub.
In a press release, Enstructure said the agreement builds upon an existing partnership built in 1988 between Chiquita and the Port of Wilmington, which positioned the port as the brand’s mid-Atlantic supply chain operation. Since then, Port of Wilmington has become the brand’s largest port operation in North America.
The Port is operated by Enstructure under a long-term concession agreement as part of a public-private partnership at Port Wilmington with the owner, Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC), a State of Delaware entity.
“This agreement marks a significant milestone for Enstructure, the State of Delaware, and DSPC,” said Enstructure Co-CEOs Matthew Satnick and Philippe De Montigny. “We are reinforcing our commitment to the perishable fruit industry, investing in the port’s customers and infrastructure, and increasing job opportunities for our workforce, all while enhancing the quality of service we provide to long-standing partners like Chiquita.”
Pacific Trellis Fruit Company, owner of the Dulcinea Brand, entered a long-term joint venture agreement with Desert Ghost, a Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, farming entity owned by the Carrillo family of Caborca.
Luis Carrillo also owns UVEX, a large table grape operation located in Caborca. Several years ago, Desert Ghost acquired a ranch in Hermosillo known as Campo La Colorada. Desert Ghost invested significant capital in developing the land by installing irrigation systems, building cold storage and packing house facilities, offices and a state-of-the-art pack line for all table grape pack styles, including all types of clam shells, according to a news release.
The focus in this ranch has always been on new proprietary varieties that can supply the best quality fruit in the early part of the season. New plantings of flames, Ivory, Krissy, Midnight Beauty, Ruby Rush and Autumncrisp soon followed, the release said.
“Over the past six years, we have evaluated many varieties and identified the ones that are better suited for our region. In this second phase of our project, we can focus on those cultivars that have proven to perform great,” Carrillo said.
When the joint venture with PTF was signed earlier this year, Desert Ghost embarked on a massive project to remove the Ivory and Krissy blocks and plant back new vines with Early Sweet, Ruby Rush and Applause varieties. The rest of the prepared open ground has also been planted with new blocks of Honey Pop, more Ruby Rush and Early Sweet, the release said.
“We have a 14-year relationship with Pacific Trellis, and we are thrilled to go into this new phase of the project with a company that shares our commitment to quality, and we look forward to continuing to expand our program,“ Carillo said.
“PTF has had a long-standing relationship with the Carrillo family, and this opportunity provided us with a chance to lay a cornerstone in our Mexican table grape program with an aligned strategic partner,” said Earl McMenamin, senior sales executive and category manager for Mexico and California Grapes. “We look forward to an exciting future with these new additions to our table grape portfolio.”
With an existing Mexican grape program that sources 1.5 million boxes from all districts, including Guaymas, Hermosillo and Caborca, this joint venture is a significant enhancement that will bring PTF’s total program close to two million boxes in three years, the release said, adding that the Mexican grape program, along with their large South American and California programs, allows PTF to supply customers with premium table grapes 365 days a year.
By Iyer Amruthur ALC San Antonio
You weren’t born yet; there’s no record you can follow back, the digital and paper trail buried deeper than your local fiber cables, allowing you to read this periodical! I’m, of course, talking about 1200 BCE, when historians theorize that the first ocean trade route began. Thankfully, dusty naval logs and old boxes of hardtack are not what we’re here for. We’re here to talk about something pretty topical in today’s economic world: tariffs. A tariff is critical to trade, as it is a tax or duty paid upon importing a certain good or product class from another country. They can range from small to cripplingly large in terms of fees. They’re almost as old as trade, but not quite. The United States issued its first tariff back on July 4, 1789, 286 years ago. It levied a charge per ton of goods brought into the USA towards the selling party, such as wine, beer, and coffee.
Fast-forwarding to modern times, tariffs are a common and omnipresent part of trade. Discussions about tariff policy have evolved into a raucous, entropic, and engrossing conversation. The effects are wide-ranging and sweeping. As you can imagine, the cost of goods and services has wild implications, almost a butterfly effect on a country’s economy and even its partners. Let’s take the example of a simple tariff on imported aluminum and steel. Every car frame, CNC-turned bolt, or screw, down to the cost of buying a new truck and trailer for transport, is affected. When the cost of goods and manufacturing starts to balloon, the implications and effects become pervasive.
A more expensive sheet of aluminum can lead to layoffs, higher purchasing costs, slower development times, cutting corners, and, in some cases, the collapse of a brand or product category. I’m sure you all remember when eggs became a bit “pricey”, and we saw quite an explosion of creative, if not tasty, substitutes for the traditional American breakfast. A tariff can also vary in terms of total cost, ranging from minor to major, and levying vastly different impacts on the respective industry.
To give an example, the USA recently placed a 25% tariff on Mexican Imports (for non-USMCA-compliant goods). In order for goods to avoid this, they must be compliant under standards requiring a large majority of the final “product” to be built within the USMCA region. The regional clause allows Mexico to avoid 87% of all tariffs on goods, including cars, machinery, electrical equipment, agricultural goods, beer, and spirits. Along with a base 10% tariff for all other countries, these policies were put into play in March of this year.
Tariffs can often be implemented as a trade tool, but are also used as a reactionary or punitive measure. For instance, the tariffs levied against Mexico were cited as a deterrent and countermeasure to an influx of drugs into the USA, where efforts perceived by Mexico were assessed as “lax”, as well as solving a growing trade imbalance between the USA and Mexico. This gives the USA an opportunity to “level” the playing field by encouraging outside companies to invest in USA-based production, pressure foreign competitors to “play ball”, and aid in job creation.
Tariffs are simple, effective, and potent measures to control global and domestic trade. However, they also have wide-ranging implications that extend across both macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions. Let us look forward to a future of balanced and healthy trade!
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Iyer Amruthur is a national sales manager in the ALC San Antonio office and has been with the company for three years. He attended The University of Georgia where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, with a minor in Communications.
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