Posts Tagged “feature”
On the heels of successful asparagus and sweet corn seasons, Todd Greiner Farms Packing, LLC, based in Hart, MI, starts its fall shipping season, with a full lineup of pumpkins and winter squash starting the week of Labor Day (September 1).
Known for premium asparagus and summer sweet corn, TGF is quickly becoming a go-to source for seasonal Michigan-grown vegetables. This fall, the company will be shipping traditional orange pumpkins, white pumpkins, and heirloom varieties, as well as winter squash including acorn, spaghetti, and butternut.
“We’re proud to bring the same quality and service our customers expect from our spring and summer programs into the fall,” said Blake Hansen, National Sales Manager. “Retailers can count on us to deliver picture-perfect pumpkins and flavorful winter squash that are ready to move in produce and seasonal displays.”
Michigan is consistently ranked among the top five pumpkin-producing states in the United States, harvesting nearly 90 million pounds annually. TGF sources only the best seed varieties, ensuring that each harvest yields some of the largest, most vibrant Jack-O’-Lantern pumpkins in the Midwest. Whether for carving, decorating, or culinary use, TGF ships pumpkins nationwide to meet the seasonal surge in demand.
In 2024 alone, Americans spent over $750 million on carving pumpkins for Halloween, with approximately 145 million shoppers purchasing pumpkins at an average of $5.26 each. This fall item isn’t just festive—it’s profitable, driving consumer foot traffic and impulse buys in retail settings.
“Our pumpkins consistently stand out for their size, shape, and color,” Steve Rudat, Account and Supply Chain Manager. “Whether you’re looking for truckloads of uniform bins or decorative assortments with heirlooms and whites, our goal is to help you build successful, eye-catching seasonal programs.”
TGF’s fall offering also includes robust volumes of Michigan-grown winter squash, with promotable volumes of acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash ready to ship alongside pumpkins starting in early September. With Michigan ranked #1 nationally in winter squash production, TGF brings a critical combination of quality, consistency, and Midwest sourcing that today’s retail buyers are seeking.
Todd Greiner Farms is rooted in Michigan’s specialty crop leadership. As the second-most agriculturally diverse state in the United States, Michigan ranks #1 in asparagus, cucumbers for pickling, winter squash, tart cherries, and multiple dry bean varieties, and is a top producer of apples, blueberries, and summer squash.
With its year-round growing partnerships, packing infrastructure, and now expanded sales and marketing programs, TGF is positioned to represent and ship Michigan’s best produce throughout all four seasons.
About Todd Greiner Farms Packing, LLC.: Todd Greiner Farms Packing, LLC., located in Hart, MI, is a family-owned and operated fruit, vegetable, and evergreen grower/packer/shipper. Since its founding in 1994, TGF has maintained a reputation for quality and integrity, operating two packing/shipping facilities and holding a Primus Labs – Superior food safety rating. TGF’s diverse product offerings include asparagus, cherries, zucchini, sweet corn, peaches, hard squash, pumpkins, apples, and evergreens.
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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.
As part of its 2025 Outlook Conference, the U.S. Apple Association announced its first official crop estimate for the 2025-26 season.
Using both USDA data as well as insights from state representatives, the association projects about 278.5 million bushels, which is up about 1.3% from the 2024-25 season estimate. These figures are slightly down from the USDA estimate of about 290.1 million bushels. This figure, though, is about 3.6% above the five-year average.
One thing Chris Gerlach, vice president of insights and analytics with the U.S. Apple Association, points out that this crop estimate will not necessarily reflect the true size of the 2025-26 harvest.
“That’s a capacity number that is not necessarily what’s going to be picked and packed,” he says.
State estimates
Leading the country in production is Washington, with a forecast record crop of about 180 million bushels, which is up 1.1% year-over-year.
Gerlach says he also coordinated to get additional context behind these figures and the state representatives he spoke with indicated a mild summer and ideal weather has set the crop up well. He says the insiders he talked to say gala and red delicious will be smaller than average but good color and quality while Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp and fuji will have a good medium to large profile.
“Discipline will be required to leave smaller fruit on the tree — money will be tight to pick everything,” he says.
New York, taking the No. 2 spot, will come in with about 30.5 million bushels, which is about a 0.7% decrease from last season.
Insiders tell Gerlach that a cold and wet spring and a hot and dry summer have impacted the crop this year. Gerlach reports insiders told him growers in the state struggled with chemical thinners this year, which may have impacted size. The state expects to have good volume with a light Honeycrisp season this year, light processing varieties such as Idared and Rome but a decent red delicious crop this year.
In the third spot, Michigan projects to be up about 10% with about 30 million bushels. A cold spring and thinning issues impacted the crop, but Gerlach says insiders told him the crop is shaping up well. Insiders indicate Honeycrisp and gala volume will be up this year in the state, but fuji will be down.
Fourth in production in the country, Pennsylvania production, forecast at 10.5 million bushels, will be up about 2% year-over-year.
Gerlach says state representatives indicate fruit is clean and sizing well. As far as varieties, Honeycrisp and fuji volumes will be down this year and gala volumes will be up. Insiders indicate variable volumes on red delicious and processing varieties.
“Effective thinning after the April freeze in Pennsylvania and a wet May can lead to a larger crop,” he says.
Virginia, in the fourth spot, forecasts to be down by 50% to 2.75 million bushels.
“A considerable frost freeze event in April was preceded by three days of warm weather, which maximizes that impact,” Gerlach says. “The natural thinning event will reduce volume but may help sizing.”
In terms of volume, insiders from Virginia tell Gerlach that gala, golden delicious and granny smith look to be in good supply, but York, red delicious and pink lady will be down this year.
In the fifth spot, Oregon projection is forecast to be up 40% year-over-year with an estimated crop size of 3.9 million bushels.
Variety estimates
Remaining in the top spot is gala, with a projected 47 million bushels or about 16% of U.S. production. Red delicious remains in the second spot with about 39 million bushels, or about 13% of total U.S. production. Honeycrisp is up a spot, coming in third with 34 million bushels or 12% of the U.S. total production. Rounding out the top five are granny smith at 32 million bushels, 11% of U.S. total production, and fuji at 25 million bushels or 9% of the U.S. total production.
Gerlach says this year’s forecast shows pink lady and Cosmic Crisp both trending upward.
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Almond shipments will reach 3 billion pounds, a 10% increase from 2024’s crop, according to the 2025 USDA-NASS California Almond Objective Measurement Report estimate.
This objective estimate is 7% higher than the USDA-NASS’s May subjective forecast and surpasses the 2024 harvest of 2.73 billion pounds. The 2024 crop was 2.5% below the previous year’s objective estimate, reflecting the difficulty of precise forecasting amid fluctuating weather and economic conditions.
“The Objective Measurement reflects the hard work by California almond growers during uncertain times,” said Almond Board of California CEO Clarice Turner. “While shipping has remained consistently strong, we know uncertainty remains surrounding future trade policies. We continue to engage with trade partners and stakeholders to encourage constructive solutions that support fair and stable trade so California almonds can continue to be enjoyed by consumers around the world.”
Weather during the bloom period was variable, with storms bringing rain, wind, and hail that hindered bee activity and blossom development. Conditions improved in early March with warm temperatures accelerating crop progress.
Mild spring temperatures and timely rainfall supported nut growth and reduced heat stress in orchards, with reports indicating lower-than-normal pest and disease pressure. Harvest is expected to start on schedule.
The USDA-NASS forecasted yield per acre for 2025 is 2,160 pounds, up from 1,980 pounds in 2024. The average nut set per tree is projected at 4,364 nuts, an increase of 7% from last year, with Nonpareil trees averaging 4,526 nuts. This is up 9% year-on-year.
Kernel weight averaged 1.60 grams across sampled varieties, representing a 0.6% decrease from 2024. The Nonpareil variety specifically averaged 1.60 grams, down 2% from the previous year.
The 2025 report is based on actual almond counts using a statistically rigorous methodology. Sampling was conducted from May 24 to June 28, covering 1,892 trees in 946 orchards. USDA-NASS produces the Objective Report, Subjective Forecast, and Nursery Survey annually to support industry decision-making.
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A recent study published in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association investigated the potential health benefits of mango consumption for postmenopausal women. The research focused on how eating approximately two servings (330 grams or about 1.5 cups) of mango daily over a two-week period affected blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California Davis and financially supported by the National Mango Board, involved 24 women aged 50 to 70 with overweight or obesity (BMI 25–40). Participants refrained from eating mangos before the study and then incorporated daily mango intake during the two-week period. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and related health markers were measured at baseline, and then at specified intervals following mango consumption.
Results indicated that two hours after eating mangos, participants experienced a reduction in systolic blood pressure by approximately 6 points (6.3 mmHg) and a decrease in mean arterial pressure by 2.3 mmHg. Additionally, fasting total cholesterol decreased by nearly 13 mg/dL, and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol decreased by about 13 mg/dL.
A subsidiary follow-up study with six participants assessed the effects on blood glucose and insulin responses. Compared to white bread, mango consumption resulted in smaller increases in blood glucose and more favorable insulin responses.
Researchers suggest that dietary strategies, such as including fresh mangoes, may support cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women, a group at increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to metabolic changes associated with menopause. However, they note that further research is necessary to confirm and expand upon these initial findings.
Washington and Oregon grower/shippers cite favorable growing conditions this season should result in good-quality onion shipments out of Washington and Oregon.
Washington is the nation’s top onion producer and grew about 21 million cwt of onions in 2024, up from about 20 million cwt in 2023, according to USDA. Oregon produced 14,189,000 cwt of onions, up from 13,747,000 in 2023.
Eagle Eye Produce of Iona, ID reports onion acreage is up slightly this year due to the acquisition of the Baker and Murakamai warehouse in Ontario, OR. As a result the company has more supply than ever.
The company started harvesting its eastern Oregon crop in late July, which is slightly earlier than usual, and will continue through September.
Eagle Eye Produce ships out of storage through April from facilities in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Following that, it will transition to fresh-field onions from California, New Mexico and Texas.
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California Giant Berry Farms reports higher volumes of blueberry production, both conventional and organic, in the Pacific Northwest.
The organization expects Oregon’s strong volumes to last through the end of September,while British Columbia’s peak production hit the first week of August and will span most of the month.
Washington is set to produce steady volumes through early September. According to the Washington Blueberry Commission, the state’s 2025 harvest is shaping up to be a record-breaker, Agronometrics reports.
Last year, Washington produced its largest haul ever, and early reports suggest that in 2025, the state could meet or exceed last year’s 210 million pounds.
Quality in Oregon is also projected to be favorable, thanks to excellent spring weather and snowpack.
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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.
Texas watermelons this year have high quality and high yields, according to the Texas Watermelon Association of McAllen, TX.
With multiple cuttings of the crop combined with hot weather shipments are expected to continue into October. Hot weathers translates to high consumer demand for watermelons, the association notes.
About half of Texas-grown watermelons stay in and around the Lone Star State. The remainder are mostly shipped to other parts of the country, with some TWA members targeting larger eastern markets, including New York, and western growth areas, such as Colorado. There, they compete with international imports from Mexico, which are redistributed nationwide.
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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.”