Posts Tagged “feature”
LYNDEN, Wash. — A simple addition to the plate may help support both metabolic and brain health as we age. New research published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that adding red raspberries to a meal improved post-meal blood sugar responses and enhanced cognitive performance within hours.
Red raspberries are naturally rich in polyphenols, plant compounds known to influence metabolic and inflammatory processes relevant to brain health. To better understand this connection, researchers tested whether adding 25 g of freeze-dried red raspberry powder to a high-carbohydrate, moderate-fat meal could influence post-meal metabolic responses and cognitive performance in adults ages 55 to 70 who are overweight or obese.
After eating the raspberry-containing meal, participants experienced a smaller rise in blood sugar and a lower insulin response compared with the control meal. Blood samples collected after the meal also showed reduced neuroinflammatory responses in laboratory testing, suggesting a potential protective effect on the brain following meals.
Participants also performed better on a standardized battery of cognitive tests within hours of eating the raspberry meal. Researchers observed improvements in learning and memory tasks, including fewer errors and more efficient problem-solving strategies.
Importantly, these benefits were observed after just one meal that included freeze-dried red raspberry powder, highlighting the potential for immediate post-meal effects.
“As we age, maintaining healthy blood sugar and cognitive function becomes increasingly important,” said Britt Burton-Freeman, PhD, MS, Director of the Center for Nutrition Research, Illinois Institute of Technology. “These results show that adding red raspberries into your daily diet may have some metabolic and cognitive benefits that are important to all of us as we age.”
Frozen Washington red raspberries make it easy to enjoy these benefits year-round. Harvested at peak ripeness and frozen within hours to help preserve flavor and nutrients, they can be quickly added to smoothies, oatmeal, sauces and everyday meals. Shoppers can find frozen Washington red raspberries in the freezer aisle by looking for “Product of the USA” on the label.
While longer-term studies are needed, the findings add to growing research showing how everyday dietary choices can help support metabolic and brain health.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON RED RASPBERRY COMMISSION
The Washington Red Raspberry Commission (WRRC) represents the growers and processors who produce 90% of the American-grown frozen red raspberries. Grown specifically for freezing, Washington red raspberries are picked at peak ripeness and frozen within hours to preserve their bold flavor, vibrant color and natural nutrition. These berries are the product of generations of farming expertise and sustainable practices, crafted for quality, air-chilled for food safety and available year-round. WRRC promotes the taste, health benefits and versatility of frozen Washington red raspberries while sharing the story of the American farmers behind every berry. Learn more at redrazz.org.
All tomato varieties are extremely tight. Round tomatoes are especially scarce this week and will remain so through April, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Round
Florida
- The South Florida season is just getting underway
- Supplies are limited
- Average volume is not expected until early May
Mexico
- Yields are extremely low, with only a few growers offering pallet quantities
- Production should remain constrained through next week
- Markon recommends substituting the Roma variety
- Quality is mixed
Roma
Florida
- Supplies are limited
- Romas are more available than rounds
- Yields are forecast to increase over the next two weeks
- Mexico
- Stocks are tight
- Production levels will remain below normal through next week
- Quality ranges from fair to average
- Prices are rising as buyers use Romas to cover round tomato demand
- Grape and Cherry
- Florida
- Supplies remain extremely limited following the January/February freeze
- Mexico
- Volume is declining as the Sinaloa season winds down due to unfavorable weather and disease pressure in the fields
- Summary
- Supplies remain extremely tight across all tomato varieties; rounds are the most limited
- Markets are elevated (record-level for this time of year), and buyers are using Romas to cover round demand
- Order flexibility (size/variety) and quick product rotation are recommended due to reduced shelf life
- Near-term relief is limited: some improvement may begin in mid-April (including grape/cherry supplies as new fields come online), but Florida growers are not expected to reach typical round volume until early May
Total load posts on DAT One dropped to 3.58 million last week, a 12% decrease from the previous week, as the market seemed to pull back after the quarter ended and before Easter, according to a press release from DAT.
Truck posts fell across dry van and reefer categories, while flatbed capacity slightly increased. With fuel costs continuing to rise, national average broker-to-carrier spot rates increased across the board.
Freight trends from DAT One and DAT iQ
Spot market data for March 29-April 4, 2026 (Week 14)
▲ Dry van: $2.40 per mile, up 7 cents week over week
▲ Refrigerated: $2.79 per mile, up 5 cents
▲ Flatbed: $2.92 per mile, up 11 cents
Van: Loads and trucks both eased
▼ Van loads: 1,355,940, down 14% week over week
▼ Van equipment: 151,400, down 2%
▲ Linehaul rate: $2.04 per mile, up 7 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 9.0, down from 10.1
Reefer: Capacity and loads retreated together
▼ Reefer loads: 651,807, down 15% week over week
▼ Reefer equipment: 38,533, down 4%
▲ Linehaul rate: $2.43 per mile, up 5 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 16.9, down from 19.0
Flatbed: Trucks ticked up as loads fell
▼ Flatbed loads: 1,572,902, down 9% week over week
▲ Flatbed equipment: 21,178, up 1%
▲ Linehaul rate: $2.55 per mile, up 11 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 74.3, down from 82.0
Market analysis from Dean Croke, Industry Analyst, DAT Freight & Analytics
The national average flatbed rate rose by 11 cents to $2.55 a mile, marking the largest weekly increase in over a decade. The rate is now at its highest in four years and 40 cents higher than in the same period last year. The national dry van load-to-truck ratio dropped to 9.0 last week, influenced by a 14% decline in load posts and a 2% decrease in equipment posts.
Is last week’s 9% drop in flatbed load posts a blip or the beginning of a trend? In a strong flatbed market, volumes usually peak later in May. Still, flatbed load posts are significantly above historical averages—up 28% from last year.
California’s four-week produce lull has ended, according to the latest USDA AMS Specialty Crops National Truck Rate Report. Every California region shifted to a “Slight Shortage” designation for trucks this week—a notable move from “Adequate”—and rates increased across the board.
Imperial/Coachella and Santa Maria set new rate baselines without week-over-week comparisons, indicating a structural increase. Note that USDA’s expanded commodity mix from Imperial/Coachella now includes blackberries, blueberries, and bok choy, along with the usual lettuce, broccoli, and leafy greens. South/Central District produce categories have also been reset to include avocados, artichokes, and radishes.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates DAT One, North America’s largest truckload freight marketplace; DAT iQ, the industry’s leading freight data analytics service; the Convoy Platform automated freight-matching service; Trucker Tools, the leader in load visibility; and Outgo, the financial services platform for truckers. Check out Dean Croke’s latest DAT iQ Market Update: https://www.youtube.com/DATLoadBoards.
Load and truck posts refer to the number of posts on the DAT One marketplace during Week 14 (March 29-April 4). Load volume refers to the number of loads moved. Rates are aggregated from invoice data submitted to DAT iQ and based on actual loads moved. dat.com
The Peruvian avocado industry continues to expand, with rising export volumes reflecting both improved productivity and stronger international demand. As shipments grow, industry leaders are increasingly focused on maintaining market balance and ensuring that supply growth aligns with global demand, according to USDA Market News.
Peru exported 722,754 tons of Hass avocados in 2025, representing a 38 percent increase year-on-year, according to trade commission PromPerú. This growth reflects the sector’s continued development and expanding presence in international markets.
Importantly, the increase has not been driven by the rapid expansion of planted area. Instead, industry representatives emphasize that gains have come primarily from productivity and orchard management improvements.
Arturo Medina, general manager of ProHass, noted that the expansion reflects “consistent improvement in productivity, technical management, and commercial planning rather than a substantial rise in surface area.”
In fact, the total area planted with avocados remained relatively stable at 83,529 hectares in 2025, suggesting that higher yields and improved coordination across the industry have been the main drivers of export growth.
While Europe remains dominant, Peru has been gradually diversifying its export destinations. Shipments to the United States increased by more than 50 percent, while exports to Asian markets rose nearly 40 percent, reflecting growing demand in countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea. Industry leaders increasingly view Asia as a key long-term growth market.
According to Medina, “Asia is no longer a complementary market, but a strategic growth axis for Peruvian avocado.” Efforts to expand into these markets have included improving phytosanitary standards and adapting logistics to support longer shipping distances. As export volumes increase, industry participants emphasize the importance of coordination across the supply chain to maintain stable market conditions.
The increased fruit volume also poses challenges for market planning. “The Hass avocado market is quite strong at the moment, but from mid-March on, effective collaboration with distribution channels will be essential to maintain prices,” said Fernando Hidalgo, manager of Cultivemos.
Managing shipment timing and destination diversification will continue to play a key role in maintaining price stability. The Peruvian avocado sector is increasingly characterized by greater coordination, diversified markets, and improved productivity, according to PromPerú. The country’s ability to expand exports while maintaining market stability highlights the industry’s growing maturity.
At the same time, balancing supply growth with demand will remain a key priority as production continues to increase in the coming years. For exporters, the focus is shifting from rapid expansion to strategic market management—ensuring that the rising Peruvian avocado supply can be absorbed smoothly across global markets.
Mixed berry yields are tightening throughout the industry. Blueberry demand outpaces available supplies. Blackberry and raspberry volume is average, but quality is generally good, with minimal defects despite recent heat, according to an April 2 press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Blueberries
- Prices are elevated
- The Chilean and Peruvian seasons have ended; import shipments have officially concluded
- Mexican-grown supplies are meeting current demands
- The Florida/Georgia growing region is set to begin production next week on a limited basis
- Stocks will remain snug through April, then increase once California’s San Joaquin Valley season starts in early May
Blackberries/Raspberries
- Markets are up
- Harvesting is past its seasonal peak in Central Mexico; labor challenges are also impacting overall availability
- Limited production has begun in Baja, Mexico
- Expect tight stocks through March; volume will start to increase in April
Strawberries
California’s key growing regions—Santa Maria, Oxnard, Salinas, and Watsonville—are benefiting from clear forecasts and ideal growing conditions. Quality is improving across all districts. Pricing is beginning to trend downward as supplies increase.
Santa Maria, California
- Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available
- Berry size is medium; counts have gotten smaller, averaging 18 to 22 pieces per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; issues include bruising and white shoulders
- Prices will inch down as weather conditions improve
- Oxnard, California
- MFC Strawberries are available
- Berry size is medium; counts have gotten smaller, averaging 18 to 22 pieces per 1-pound clamshell
- Defects are minimal; growers report some white shoulders and packing-related bruising
- Markets will ease as weather conditions improve
- Watsonville/Salinas
- Berry size is large; counts range from 10-15 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Volume is increasing daily
- Most of the damaged fruit has been culled
- Prices will begin to decrease as weather conditions improve
With the Southern Hemisphere’s prune harvest now complete, Sunsweet Growers forecasts a six percent tightening in global supply for the 2025/26 season, totaling 193,000 metric tons. This shortfall is set to stabilize prices and protect profit margins, especially for the coveted larger, premium fruit.
The estimate marks the third year of a smaller production trend, sitting 10 percent below the 2023/24 crop.
The company reports that Chile, the leading producer and exporter of dried plums, has produced an average-sized crop of approximately 75,000 metric tons of marketable fruit.
However, this is not enough to balance out the unexpectedly small harvests from Argentina and California.
Argentina’s prune production has declined again due to reduced planted area and adverse weather, including frost, Zonda winds, and hail. The company estimates the current harvest at 15,000 metric tons, similar to the 2024/2025 harvest. Last year, producers harvested less than half of the projected 32,000 tons.
Further north, California harvested a smaller crop in August 2025 compared to the previous two years, with an estimated output of 64,000 metric tons. The decrease, the company said, is the result of accumulated stress from the prior year.
On a brighter note, Sunsweet Growers emphasized that California’s fruit quality is exceptional, with high sugar content and excellent size.
As total production is expected to fall short by about 12,000 metric tons, consumption remains steady. According to the company, the trend toward healthier snacking continues to support strong demand for prunes. But that’s not necessarily a good thing, as supply-demand imbalance is expected to increase costs, particularly as carryover inventories are projected to reach historic lows.
The California pistachio industry’s volume is expected to slow over the next five years, while farmgate value is expected to increase, Rabobank’s market insights branch, RaboResearch, reports.
According to the financial entity, the industry is entering a mature phase, with bearing acreage growth expected to level off by 2030. As output declines, prices are projected to increase, which forecasts say will push the industry over the $3 million valuation this season.
According to RaboResearch, the average annual California pistachio output will remain below two billion pounds this season, and production in the next five years will track under that threshold.
The 2025/26 season is projected to reach 1.6 billion pounds, a 40 percent year-over-year increase, though still below the initial 1.8 billion-pound industry estimate.
For 2026/27, the report projects a more conservative output range between 970 million and 1.23 billion pounds.
This season’s California pistachio projected outcome contrasts with the 2020/21 and 2022/23 seasons, when supply exceeded consumption and pricing suffered.
April 13th has been set as the official pack date for the 2026 Vidalia onion season, marking the day growers can begin packing and shipping the world-famous sweet onions to retailers across the country.
“For the 2026 season, growers planted approximately 10,200 acres of Vidalia onions across the production region,” said Omar Cruz, Chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee. “Our farmers work year-round to grow and harvest a crop that meets the high standards consumers expect from the Vidalia name. We are excited to bring another outstanding crop to market.”
Vidalia onion growers rely on generations of agricultural knowledge combined with modern growing practices to produce the crop. Onions are carefully planted, harvested, and cured before being packed and shipped to grocery stores nationwide.
The Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 established the official growing region and legally protected the “Vidalia” name, ensuring that only onions grown in this specific area of Georgia can be marketed as Vidalia onions.
Vidalia onions are grown exclusively in a 20-county production region in South Georgia, where the area’s unique soil composition and mild climate create the ideal environment for developing the onions’ signature sweet flavor.
The official pack date is carefully determined each year after close monitoring of weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop maturity to ensure that only onions meeting the industry’s strict quality standards reach the market.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Mexico is the leading supplier of fresh berries and this trend is expected to continue in 2026 as the USDA predicts in a March report, an increase in production of four percent.
Mexico’s total shipments of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries will reach approximately 1.2 million metric tons this year.
This steady growth reflects a broader transformation within Mexico’s berry industry. Producers are investing in improved plant varieties, adopting modern cultivation techniques, and refining harvest schedules to better align with high-demand periods in international markets.
At the center of this expansion are key producing states, including Baja California, Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Michoacán. The San Quintín region in Baja California stands out as a major contributor. In 2025 alone, it produced more than 112,000 metric tons of strawberries, second only to Michoacán, which remains the country’s top producer.
Strawberries continue to dominate Mexico’s berry industry, accounting for 54 percent of total production. However, blueberries are emerging as a fast-growing segment. Mexican growers are increasingly targeting premium export windows, particularly in the spring, when competition from countries like Peru is lower in the US market.
Berry production in Mexico is concentrated in two main periods: from late winter to early summer (January through June), and again in late autumn (November to December). Output typically declines during the summer months, when supplies reach their lowest levels of the year.
ORLANDO, FL — For the one in three (98 million) Americans living with prediabetes, a surprising fresh fruit pairing may hold promise for heart health.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that adding one avocado and a cup of mango to your daily routine may help support key markers of cardiovascular health. Adults with prediabetes who enjoyed this combination daily for eight weeks saw improvements in blood vessel function and diastolic blood pressure – two important indicators of cardiovascular wellness.
Conducted by researchers at Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), the study asked adults with prediabetes to follow an Avocado-Mango (AM) diet – adding one medium Hass avocado and a cup of fresh mango to their daily meals and snacks for eight weeks. A calorie-matched control group followed a similar diet, with avocado and mango replaced by calorically comparable carbohydrate-based foods. Those on the AM diet saw meaningful improvements in blood vessel function, which supports healthy circulation, and diastolic blood pressure, a key factor in long-term heart health, compared to the control group.
Blood vessel function improved significantly in participants on the AM diet. They experienced a significant increase in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) – a key measure of endothelial function (blood vessel health) – to 6.7%, compared with a decline to 4.6% in the control. This suggests a meaningful improvement.
Diastolic blood pressure also significantly improved, particularly among men. In the control group, men saw an average central blood pressure increase of 5 points (mmHg), while those on the AM diet experienced a reduction of about 1.9 points – a difference that can be clinically significant if sustained. These benefits occurred without changes in calorie intake or body weight, suggesting that nutrient-dense fruits like avocado and mango may support cardiovascular health without major lifestyle changes.
“This research reinforces the power of food-first strategies to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk, particularly in vulnerable populations like those with prediabetes,” said Britt Burton-Freeman, PhD, Principal Investigator and Professor at Illinois Tech. “It’s an encouraging message: small, nutrient-dense additions—like incorporating avocado and mango into meals and snacks—may support heart health without the need for strict rules or major dietary overhauls.”
The Avocado-Mango group also saw increases in fiber, vitamin C, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fat – nutrients tied to cardiovascular wellness – without changes in calorie intake or body weight. Select kidney function markers, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), also improved. While no significant differences were found in cholesterol, blood sugar, or inflammation, the findings highlight the value of adding nutrient-rich fruits to the diet, especially for those at risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Together, mango and avocado offer a unique combination of nutrients that may help support heart health:
Mango has fiber (2g/serving, 7% DV) and is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin C (50% DV), which may support blood sugar control, weight management, and overall cardiovascular wellness. Avocado is a good source of fiber (3g/serving*, 11% DV), important for managing cholesterol levels, blood sugar and body weight. In addition, avocado contributes heart-healthy fats (6g unsaturated fats), which can lower the risk of heart disease by helping to reduce LDL cholesterol, and potassium (250mg, 6% DV), important for maintaining healthy blood pressure.
The complementary nutrient profiles of these two fruits offer a simple, satisfying way to nourish the body and support cardiovascular wellness.
Looking for ways to enjoy this nutrient-dense combination in everyday meals? Try adding avocado and fresh mango to salads, smoothies, or grain bowls for a flavorful, heart-healthy twist, with easy recipes like Mango Avocado Tuna Ceviche or an Avocado and Mango Topper.