The International Fresh Produce Association is publicly pressing for stable, open, and science-based trade policies ahead of the upcoming USMCA review. IFPA's position centers on the belief that fair trade frameworks are essential to keeping fresh produce supply chains functioning across North America.

This adds industry association weight to an already crowded policy moment. With grower coalitions, congressional leaders, and trade groups all mobilizing around the USMCA review, IFPA's statement signals the produce sector is coordinating its voice at the highest levels. The July review timeline is not moving.

For buyers and category managers, any disruption to USMCA terms would ripple directly into sourcing costs and cross-border produce flow. Worth watching what specific asks IFPA escalates as the review date approaches.

California Giant Berry Farms says Pacific Northwest blueberry harvesting is on track to kick off around mid-to-late June, setting up strong, promotable volume expected to run through the heart of summer. The transition from California growing regions to PNW is proceeding normally.

After a rough start to the Northern Hemisphere blueberry season and an anticipated Peruvian record crop on the horizon, domestic summer supply looking on track is genuinely good news for buyers. PNW blueberries — primarily from Oregon and Washington — are a critical volume driver for summer promotional programs.

Category managers planning July and August blueberry features should have solid supply to work with if timing holds. Keep an eye on whether El Niño-related heat events affect PNW growing conditions as the season builds.

Truckload spot rates rose across all three equipment types in May despite lower overall freight volumes, according to DAT data. The driver isn't demand — it's a shrinking capacity base that's keeping rates elevated even when fewer loads are moving.

For produce shippers, this is a meaningful signal. Tighter capacity during a period of high summer volume — stone fruit, melons, berries — means the cost of moving perishables isn't coming down anytime soon. Carriers have less slack in the network than the load count implies.

Watch for this to compound as summer produce peaks in July. If capacity stays constrained and volumes pick back up, spot rates could push meaningfully higher heading into the heart of the season.

Colombian Hass avocado demand in the U.S. market is picking up, according to Coltropicos' commercial director Daniela Santo. The shift is partly driven by Peruvian fruit redirecting heavily into Europe this season, leaving more room for Colombian supply to establish itself in North America. Availability this season has been lower than in prior years, which has kept pricing under pressure despite the demand uptick.

Colombia has been steadily building its U.S. avocado presence as an alternative origin to Mexico and Peru. With Peru's season potentially cutting short due to coastal heat and its export volume concentrated in Europe, Colombian fruit could play a more meaningful role in filling U.S. shelf space than in recent seasons.

Buyers managing avocado programs this summer should track Colombian volume closely — if Peruvian supply stays concentrated in Europe, Colombian fruit could become a more reliable bridge origin heading into the late summer window.

The U.S. garlic market is in a seasonal transition, with supply from Argentina winding down and Mexico stepping in as the primary source. Traders report receiving Mexican garlic for the past four weeks, but movement is being complicated by elevated gas prices adding cost to logistics.

This comes on top of an already difficult garlic market. Prices previously collapsed due to a Chinese import surge, and now the domestic supply shift is happening into a cost-pressured freight environment. Yield shifts in key growing regions are adding further uncertainty to near-term availability.

For buyers, this is a moment to watch pricing closely — the combination of a supply transition, logistics cost pressure, and a market still recovering from oversupply makes garlic unusually unpredictable right now.

Sprouts Farmers Market has confirmed it will debut in New England in 2028, with plans to open 30 to 40 stores across the region. In the near term, the specialty grocer is also opening locations in Savannah, Georgia, and Tallahassee, Florida, continuing its aggressive national expansion.

New England has no existing Sprouts presence, making this a significant greenfield opportunity for the produce-forward banner. The region is densely populated and currently dominated by traditional grocers, giving Sprouts a clear lane to target health-conscious shoppers. Sprouts consistently over-indexes on fresh produce, organic, and specialty items.

For produce suppliers, a 30-to-40 store New England rollout represents meaningful new distribution at a retailer known for strong produce program investment. Growers and category managers with organic or specialty offerings should be watching the timeline closely.