Posts Tagged “feature”
California strawberry loadings are expected to remain ample throughout the season.
The California Strawberry Commission of Watsonville, CA projects weekly volumes between 7 and 8 million trays through August, supporting sustained retail promotions and consistent market availability during key demand periods.
California, which accounts for approximately 90 percent of US strawberry production, is expected to see a slight expansion in planted area.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), acreage in the Golden State is projected to increase by two percent year-on-year to about 43,700 acres. This growth, combined with the introduction of new varieties, is expected to support an uplift in fresh output.
“We project an increase in overall fresh production compared to 2025, based on a slight increase in acreage and the new varieties now in production,” Christian says. Peak shipments are expected between May and August, aligning with historical consumption trends.
Despite some pest pressure linked to warm conditions, growers continue to report strong crop performance. Overall, the market outlook points to a well-supplied season characterized by strong production fundamentals, good fruit quality, and continued promotional opportunities.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found that anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for the deep red color in dark sweet cherries, may help slow the spread of one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.
Published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in July 2025, the study examined the chemopreventive effects of dark sweet cherry extracts rich in anthocyanins, as well as their potential to complement chemotherapy with doxorubicin, on the spread and growth of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Using a mouse model, researchers divided test subjects into four groups: a control group, a preventive anthocyanin group, a chemotherapy-only group (using doxorubicin), and a combined treatment group. Anthocyanins were administered 1 week before implantation, and tumor growth was tracked over multiple days after tumors formed.
Results showed that treatments that included anthocyanins resulted in slower tumor growth, reduced cancer spread to multiple organs, and altered gene activity linked to metastasis and treatment resistance.
According to the research, mice given anthocyanin-rich cherry extracts before tumor development showed slower tumor growth with no noticeable side effects.
The tumor was suppressed earlier in mice taking both the dark sweet cherry extract and undergoing chemotherapy than in those only treated with chemotherapy. They also maintained their body weight, and some even gained some.
Mice treated with chemotherapy alone experienced slowed tumor growth, only later in the study, and at times lost weight.
Antocyanin treatments also reduced the spread of cancer to the lungs beyond what was observed with no treatment or chemotherapy alone, and lowered the likelihood of cancer spreading to other organs, although the number and size of tumors varied among individual animals.
Texas A&M University Research Scientist Giuliana Noratto Stevens says these findings are important because TNBC is considered one of the most aggressive cancers due to its rapid cell division, higher likelihood of spreading, and difficulty in treating.
Unlike other breast cancer types, TNBC lacks key molecular targets—such as hormone receptors and HER2 protein expression—making it more difficult to treat and more prone to spreading to organs such as the lungs and brain.
Further research is needed to better understand how these compounds behave in the body, including their absorption, safety, and effectiveness in clinical settings, Noratto emphasizes. However, she adds that the findings point to new avenues for exploring how fruit-derived compounds could contribute to cancer treatment strategies.
By Makenna Christensen ALC Logistics
For over half a century, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has leveraged its unique ability to secure federal EPA waivers to set emissions standards that have dramatically reduced pollution and improved air quality across California. While CARB deserves credit for its historic accomplishments, its recent trajectory has sparked concern. The agency’s mandate to achieve carbon neutrality in the freight and logistics sector will be nearly impossible without widespread, bipartisan buy-in. Further, without a massive expansion of our electrical grid and a full-scale overhaul of supporting infrastructure, we risk placing an impossible burden on the carriers that keep goods moving across the United States.
Compounding this pressure is a federal government locked in a decades-long battle over climate policy. As federal waivers are granted and revoked with each change in presidential administration, the resulting regulatory whiplash makes long-term business planning nearly impossible.
| When President Trump took office last year, he made clear that many Biden-era waivers would not survive his second term. Rather than simply revoking them, his administration worked with Congress to successfully invoke the Congressional Review Act (CRA) against three specific EPA waivers. These CRA resolutions not only void the EPA waivers, but they also permanently ban the EPA from issuing any ‘substantially similar’ rules without formal approval from Congress. California responded by filing a lawsuit against the federal government that challenges the constitutionality of the resolutions; the case is ongoing. Faced with a federal roadblock, California lawmakers are attempting to circumvent the federal government entirely with Assembly Bill 1777. This legislation would give CARB and other air regulators the power to regulate “indirect sources of pollution.” By labeling warehouses, railyards, and ports as ‘pollution centers,’ the state shifts the burden of emissions reduction squarely onto the shoulders of shippers and receivers across California. If passed, AB 1777 will likely face intense litigation. For many shippers and receivers, these ‘indirect source rules’ are more than just a legislative threat; they are a present-day reality. In recent weeks, CARB has quietly ramped up enforcement of its Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) regulations. Under these rules, large facilities receiving refrigerated shipments must either report every TRU that enters their gates or sign a declaration, under penalty of perjury, that they will not permit non-compliant units on-site. Ultimately, state and federal regulators remain deadlocked in a high-stakes political chess match. But it isn’t the politicians who will suffer the consequences; it’s the U.S. supply chain and everyday consumers who are left to navigate the chaos. ***** Makenna Christensen graduated from Marquette University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Human Resources. In July of the same year, she joined the Allen Lund Company as a Software Marketing Coordinator for ALC Logistics. She is a proud alumna of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council’s Apprenticeship Program, Class of 2024. makenna.christensen@alclogistics.com |
Zespri’s RubyRed kiwifruit exports to the US are projected to triple this year, with the fruit hitting store shelves by mid-April.
New Zealand’s kiwi powerhouse Zespri also is bringing its berry-flavored RubyRed variety to retailers in Australia, Vietnam, and Canada.
Zespri credits this expansion to a bumper crop, with production jumping from three million trays in 2025 to five million, or 18,000 tons. This season, thanks to increased volume and demand, RubyRed will reach shoppers in 16 markets.
Zespri notes that RubyRed Kiwifruit has quickly captured North American taste buds, especially the US, and now plays a key role in launching the company’s sales season.
The company reports consumers are loving its bright red colour and sweet, berry-like taste, and it’s also attracting new and younger consumers to the kiwifruit category, as well as the wider fruit category.
Fowler, CA based Bee Sweet Citrus shipping department has launched an online check-in platform for drivers picking up fruit at their facility. This custom digital portal enables seamless two-way communication between drivers and shipping clerks, ensuring a hassle-free pickup experience, the press release read.
“Our new, custom-built shipping portal offers an easy and effective way for drivers to check in for their pick-ups prior to arrival,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Shipping Manager Salvador Rivera. “By using our portal, drivers minimize unnecessary wait times at our facility, and the system is conveniently accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.”
Before the portal, all drivers checked in at Bee Sweet Citrus’ shipping office using paper forms to provide shipment, driver, and product details. These forms required manual verification by the company’s shipping clerks, making the process time-consuming—especially if errors occurred.
Each day, up to 150 carriers move through Bee Sweet’s shipping department. With 24 available docks and cross-docking capabilities, maintaining an efficient check-in process is essential for drivers, customers, and Bee Sweet Citrus’ shipping team.
“After a driver checks into our portal, a clerk can digitally confirm their information and assign a pick-up time,” Rivera continued. “An authorization code is then sent to the driver to enter the facility, followed by further instruction regarding their shipment.”
The portal also allows drivers to select their preferred language for all communications, further supporting Bee Sweet’s commitment to a smooth check-in process.
To access the portal, drivers should visit https://shipping.beesweetcitrus.com/. For questions, call Bee Sweet’s shipping department at 559-834-4214.
A grower, packer and shipper of premium California citrus, Bee Sweet Citrus is a leader in today’s agriculture industry. Founded in 1987, Bee Sweet Citrus is a family owned and operated company and provides approximately 10 different citrus varieties to its consumers! Located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, Bee Sweet is focused on innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction.
Moving into the next quarter of the Washington apple shipping season, the industry has continued to revise crop estimates downward, according to the Produce Alliance LLC of Chicago.
Current projections place the crop near 130 million boxes, compared to early-season expectations of 140 plus million boxes. The adjustment has largely been driven by lower-than-anticipated pack-out
percentages across several varieties, reducing the overall number of fresh market cartons available.
At this point, the crop is estimated to be roughly 8% smaller than last season, which has begun to
tighten the supply picture as the storage season progresses.
Sizing continues to be one of the primary challenges this season. The crop skewed larger overall, and
smaller sizes that were packed (113–175 ct) are being heavily directed into retail bag programs, which are currently paying a premium over traditional tray pack markets.
As a result, foodservice and wholesale channels are seeing tight availability on the smaller counts. Washington will continue to ship fruit from controlled atmosphere storage with good overall quality, but the combination of reduced pack-outs, smaller storage inventories, and strong retail bagdemand is expected to keep markets firm.
The latest US Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) report comes bearing good news and a revised forecast for the Florida citrus industry, up two percent from the previous January estimate.
The good news comes following a devastating February freeze that wreaked havoc on the state’s blueberry and strawberry fields.
Florida will end the season with 12.2 million boxes, down only one percent from the previous year. Non-Valencia oranges will account for 4.7 million boxes, while Valencia orange numbers remain unchanged at the category’s end of the season in January, with a projection of 7.5 million boxes.
The effects of the cold snap might have been more evident in variables such as Valencia orange fruit size and droppage, which were below and above average, respectively.
The estimate for other Florida grapefruit production is up four percent, says the report, sitting at 1.25 million boxes—50,000 more in January. In the citrus breakdown, white grapefruit forecast is down 20 percent, while red grapefruit is up by 70,000 boxes, reaching 1.17 million.
Lemon growers are also celebrating, as the category’s forecast is up 29 percent since January, reaching 900,000 boxes. Meanwhile, tangerine and tangelos production will be up 13 percent, says the USDA, sitting at 450,000 boxes.
The agency’s citrus report also included revised estimates for other producing states, including California, Arizona, and Texas.
In the Golden State, all-orange production is expected to increase to 48.5 million boxes, up six percent since January. Lemons are also up to 26 million boxes, while tangerines and mandarins are up 11 percent and sit at 30 million boxes. The state’s grapefruit forecast remains unchanged at 4.3 million boxes.
Down south, the forecast for Texas oranges kept steady, with a slight one percent increase, leaving production at 910,000 boxes. Grapefruit did take a hit, with a 10 percent decrease that reduced the production estimate to two million boxes.
The lemon projection for Arizona was also down, though a bit more dramatically. The state estimate decreased by more than 20 percent, to 950,000 boxes.
The next and final USDA forecast for the 2025/26 season will be published on July 10.
Truckload freight volumes rose across all major equipment types in March while a sharp jump in fuel costs pushed spot and contract rates to their highest levels in more than two years, reported DAT Freight & Analytics, provider of the industry’s leading load boards and freight analytics.
The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which measures demand for truckload services, increased month over month, reflecting strong early-season demand to move retail goods, produce, and construction and industrial equipment:
• Van TVI: 253, up 12% compared to February
• Reefer TVI: 196, up 7%
• Flatbed TVI: 314, up 18%
Spot pricing: Fuel drives freight rates higher
National average truckload spot rates increased in March, driven almost entirely by fuel cost recovery:
• Spot van rate: $2.52 per mile, up 11 cents from February
• Spot reefer rate: $2.97 per mile, up 9 cents
• Spot flatbed rate: $3.09 per mile, up 37 cents
Spot rates, which are negotiated between the freight broker and carrier as all-in rates with no separate fuel surcharge, were substantially higher across all modes year over year. The average spot van rate was up 53 cents from March 2025, the reefer rate was up 70 cents, and spot flatbed rates increased 56 cents.
Van and reefer spot linehaul rates—the portion of the truckload rate excluding fuel—surged toward the end of March as shippers rounded out Q1, but actually declined month over month, falling 9 cents and 13 cents, respectively. Flatbed was the exception: the average linehaul rate rose 13 cents.
“Linehaul rates were still under pressure through most of March, which tells you demand hasn’t fully caught up yet,” said Ken Adamo, DAT Chief of Analytics.
The national average diesel fuel surcharge surged across all equipment types, compressing linehaul margins even as total rates climbed. Last month’s average van fuel surcharge rose from 41 cents to 61 cents per mile, the highest since late 2022. The reefer surcharge climbed 22 cents, to 67 cents per mile, and the flatbed surcharge rose 24 cents, to 73 cents per mile.
“For context, monthly average van fuel surcharges averaged around 40 cents per mile throughout most of 2025,” Adamo said. “The March reading represents a 50% increase from that baseline.”
Contract rates: Moving higher with fuel
Contract freight rates increased sharply in March, driven largely by the same fuel-cost dynamics that affect the spot market.
• Contract van rate: $2.72 per mile, up 20 cents month over month
• Contract reefer rate: $3.10 per mile, up 22 cents
• Contract flatbed rate: $3.43 per mile, up 30 cents
As shippers and carriers navigate RFP season in this environment, Adamo offered a pointed assessment of current trucking industry trends and freight pricing strategies. “Right now, the smartest players are pricing contracts based on where they believe the market is going and being transparent about those assumptions, leaving room to adjust if conditions change,” Adamo said.
For previous TVI reports, visit: https://www.dat.com/news-releases
About the Truckload Volume Index
The DAT Truckload Volume Index measures monthly changes in loads with a pickup date during that month. A baseline of 100 equals the number of loads moved in January 2015, based on data from DAT RateView, part of the DAT iQ freight analytics platform, which tracks rates paid on actual shipments. Benchmark spot rates reflect invoice data for hauls of 250 miles or more, offering a consistent view of truckload demand and spot rate trends across the United States and Canada.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates the DAT One truckload freight marketplace; Convoy Platform, an automated freight-matching technology; DAT iQ analytics service; Trucker Tools load-visibility platform; and Outgo factoring and financial services for truckers. Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights, informed by nearly 700,000 daily load posts and a database exceeding $1 trillion in freight market transactions.
Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, DAT continues to set the standard for innovation in the trucking and logistics industry. Visit dat.com for more information.
The 2025/26 winter in Southern California was the warmest on record, and the result is an early bloom for table grapes in the San Joaquin Valley. Growers and shippers see the season starting two to three weeks earlier than usual.
Hronis Inc. of Delano, CA reports if the warm trend continues they could be harvesting grapes by the week of June 15. The grower/shipper notes other producers in the area and even stretching to Mexico are reporting similar sightings, with estimated harvest timelines varying by location.
Pandol Bros. of Delano, CA refers to communications among other area growers who indicate harvesting may be anywhere from 15 to 23 days early, but he’s cautious about such predictions. The harvest is still two months away and a lot can happen to affect it.
The Southern San Joaquin Valley starting the season at the end of June would still be early, as table grape picking typically starts around the first and second weeks of July.
If the season does get underway earlier this could extend the shipping season. Loadings typically last into December or January.
U.S. diesel fuel prices are rising anywhere from 11 to 49 percent depending upon what part of the country one is looking at, according to the International Fresh Produce Association.
For an industry built on speed and temperature control, these increases are not just incremental—they are structural. Cold chain logistics, from refrigerated trucks to ocean containers, depend heavily on fuel stability. As surcharges are added across ocean, air, and land transport, the cost of simply moving fresh produce is climbing in real time.
There are early signs of adjustment. Freight markets are resisting sharper increases due to underlying demand softness, with some carriers offering discounts below announced rates. However, structural risks remain.
Truckers are certainly feeling the pain. According to the U.S. Department of Energy the average cost of number 2 diesel fuel for April 13th was $5.39 per gallon, compared to $4.80 on March 9. A year ago the average price was $2.15.