Mission Produce just received antitrust clearance from Mexico's Federal Economic Competition Commission for its pending acquisition of Calavo Growers, marking a significant milestone in closing one of the biggest deals in fresh produce in years. Mexico is the dominant supplier of avocados to North America, so getting regulatory sign-off there is a critical step. The deal still needs to clear any remaining conditions before it's officially done.

If completed, the combined company would be a dominant force in North American avocado sourcing, ripening, and distribution — with deep infrastructure on both sides of the border. For buyers, this consolidation means fewer large-scale avocado suppliers to negotiate with and potentially different dynamics on pricing and availability.

Watch for further regulatory updates and what the combined entity's commercial strategy looks like once integration begins. This will reshape avocado category management conversations for retailers and foodservice operators alike.

U.S. specialty crop growers are ramping up pressure on lawmakers ahead of the 2026 Farm Bill, arguing that the current system leaves fruit and vegetable producers with far fewer protections than commodity crop growers like corn and soybean farmers. Key asks include better crop insurance, stronger risk management tools, and improved market access programs. The 2026 Farm Bill debate is already heating up as midterm elections put agriculture policy in the spotlight.

For produce growers already dealing with weather losses, rising input costs, and tariff uncertainty, the gap in federal safety net coverage is a genuine vulnerability. A bad season for a commodity farmer can trigger insurance payments; a bad season for a strawberry or tomato grower often just means losses.

This is a long-game policy fight, but buyers and suppliers should pay attention — the outcome will shape what crops get grown, where, and at what scale over the next several years.

New Mexico is kicking off its onion harvest this week, with the bulk of the crop expected to come in starting next week and continuing through August. The region, alongside California's central San Joaquin Valley, is a major source of summer domestic onion supply for North American buyers. The crop is moving on schedule, which is good news for category managers planning summer promotions.

Onion supply has been running long this season overall, with prices under sustained pressure. Adding New Mexico volumes to the mix will keep the market well-supplied and competitive through the summer months. For buyers, this is a window to lock in favorable pricing.

Watch harvest pace and sizing reports as the season progresses — any weather disruption during the August tail end of harvest could shift the supply picture quickly.

A new Farmer & Rancher Policy Sentiment Survey from Farm Journal shows that rising input costs and tariff uncertainty are the top worries for U.S. farmers heading into the 2026 midterm election cycle. The April 2026 survey captured sentiment across commodity and specialty crop producers, painting a picture of an industry under serious financial strain. Federal policy instability is adding anxiety on top of already-tight margins.

For the produce industry specifically, this sentiment reflects what growers have been feeling on the ground — input costs are up, tariffs have disrupted both import supply and export markets, and there's little clarity on what policy looks like going forward. This kind of stress eventually shows up in planting decisions, acreage cuts, and supplier exits.

With midterms approaching, agriculture policy is going to be a political flashpoint — and how that plays out could have real implications for produce pricing and supply well into 2027.

Drought conditions across North Carolina are squeezing this season's peach crop, with growers expecting smaller volumes than usual. On the upside, the dry weather is keeping disease pressure and insect issues manageable — one grower noted that a dry year is scary but survivable, while a wet year can be devastating. Still, the volume hit is real and will affect what's available from this key eastern growing region.

This adds to an already complicated summer stone fruit picture. Texas and Georgia peach crops have also faced challenges this season from insufficient chill hours and freeze events, meaning multiple sourcing regions are under pressure simultaneously. Buyers relying on domestic eastern peaches should plan for tighter availability.

Keep an eye on harvest progress and sizing reports out of the Carolinas over the coming weeks — quality may be solid, but volume constraints will likely push prices higher.

Louisiana's citrus industry is in decline, battered by citrus greening disease, hurricane damage, saltwater intrusion, and rising production costs. Growers and researchers are increasingly turning to protected cultivation — essentially greenhouse-style systems — along with integrated pest management and new disease-resistant planting material just to keep production viable. The sector is fighting for its survival.

Citrus greening has devastated Florida's industry for years, and Louisiana is now facing a similar trajectory. As more domestic citrus acreage disappears from the Gulf Coast region, North American buyers become more dependent on imports and remaining western U.S. production to fill volume needs. This is part of a broader domestic citrus contraction story.

For buyers, the takeaway is straightforward: domestic citrus supply options continue to narrow, and sourcing flexibility and import relationships are becoming more important to protect supply continuity.

Michigan's tart cherry growers are facing a sector in serious distress after the 2025 crop came in at just 49.4 million kg — well below historical norms. The industry is grappling with a multi-year stretch of low production, falling grower returns, and rising input costs all hitting at the same time. Michigan normally accounts for nearly 70% of U.S. tart cherry output, so when that state struggles, the whole category feels it.

Import pressure is compounding the pain, squeezing domestic growers who are already operating on thin margins. This isn't a one-season blip — it's a structural problem that's been building for years and is now reaching a critical point for growers trying to stay in business.

Buyers and category managers who source tart cherries for processing, juice, or retail should expect continued supply tightness and price pressure. If the sector keeps contracting, long-term sourcing relationships and pricing assumptions may need to be revisited.