Many mainstream American commodity groups are worried about China’s May 13 retaliation on an array of goods. Chinese tariffs will rise anywhere from five to 25 per cent on June 1, including frozen vegetables.
Fresh produce continues to lead all perimeter departments in growth in the U.S. according to the United Fresh Produce Association’s Q1 2019 edition of FreshFacts on Retail report. Broccoli is one of four fresh commodities, along with avocados, blueberries and raspberries -- that experienced the greatest growth in 2019 Quarter 1.
McCain Foods Foods USA Inc., the world’s largest producer of frozen French fries, is investing $300 million in its Othello, Washington potato processing facility. The expanded plant will require 11,000 more acres of potatoes to fill capacity.
The U.S. is reassigning up to 750 border guards from ports of entry along the country’s southern border, to assist in processing migrant crossings from Mexico. Shipments of fresh produce into the U.S. can expect a slowdown for an unspecified period.
EarthFresh Farms of Burlington, Ont. announced its expansion into the southeastern U.S. with an advanced technological packing plant and distribution centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
The new 140,000 sq. ft. facilities will operate as EarthFresh Atlanta.
President Donald Trump says he’s asked China to immediately remove all tariffs on U.S. agricultural products, according to Bloomberg news service. That would be a boon to American farmers, especially soybean producers, but a significant ripple effect could follow in the agricultural exports of other countries.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s recently announced intent to withdraw from the 2013 Tomato Suspension Agreement has raised the concern of an American coalition of nearly 80 businesses and industry associations. Canada is watching closely for any unintended consequences if the pull-out goes ahead on May 7.
About 90 per cent of the asparagus acreage in Germany is covered with film. That’s because white asparagus is considered the German king of vegetables. The season kicks off in April.
The U.S. and China have started to outline commitments in principle on the stickiest issues in their trade dispute, marking significant progress, according to one Asia news outlet.
Canadian association leaders, growers and suppliers recently united under one pavilion at Fruit Logistica for a third consecutive year. This year’s February 6-8, 2019 event in Berlin billed itself as the world’s largest fresh produce trade show.