A deep dive into the USDA’s latest economic forecast shows horticultural exports remaining steady at $35.5 billion. Canada remains a top market for American fresh fruits and vegetables.

Data for the growth and practices of controlled environment agriculture remains fragmented. Global automation specialist Autogrow and Agritecture Consulting aim to change that.

President Trump has promised American farmers up to $16 billion through USDA programs – an amount estimated to equal the impact of “unjustified retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods” according to a recent USDA news release. This is the second package in as many years.

Hot weather this spring has led to a snowpack of less than 50 per cent of normal for mid-May for the number one apple-producing state. That’s a development worth watching for all Canadian growers experiencing a spring of variable weather.

Fyffes Ireland is launching a banana band that can withstand the rigours of shipping through the cold chain while claiming a sustainable, fully recyclable paper. It’s an example of more alternatives to come in the produce industry.

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.