Category: Analysis

We dedicate this Christmas week newsletter to members of the produce supply chain who keep things moving even during the holiday week.

In this Christmas edition, Pamela and Greg examine indoor farm Plenty leaving Compton, CA, for greener (strawberry) operations in Virginia; Canada's food cost outlook in 2025 looks like higher prices for consumer; and Grubhub is paying a hefty fine for "junk fees."

We are a little over a week from Christmas celebrations, and produce markets are ripe with the anticipation of strong holiday demand. But before we can get to Christmas and all things merry and bright, an astronomical event is just around the corner.

When CEO Rodney McMullen said Kroger would be fine without approval of its merger with Albertsons, I asked “But how does Albertsons feel about that?”  

Week #49 is experiencing major price decreases in several commodities we’ve covered in the past few weeks. However, the decreases are not enough to tip the scale on average index prices.

With the rise of Ecuador as a supplier and better conditions in Latin America, 2024-25 looks more promising. In this graphic by Agtools, see the story of bananas over the past few seasons in charts and graphics.

The holiday weekend has ended, but the annual produce industry Thanksgiving hangover looks a little different than usual. Rain in the West and impacts from Milton and Helene are creating gaps in supply, impacting produce prices.

A large swath of commodities are in the line of fire on the West Coast. The supply of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, oranges, and blackberries all have the potential to be negatively impacted by inclement weather this week.

The Farm Bill is often thought of as a policy that solely impacts farmers, but its implications go much further, directly affecting the lives of non-farming consumers and farmworkers.

The Thanksgiving pull has arrived, and produce markets have more than a few things to be grateful for.