The Trump administration formally declared on July 1 that it will not extend the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, triggering the trade deal's six-year review process under its sunset clause. The decision kicks off a negotiation period during which the three countries must work through the terms of the agreement or risk it expiring entirely.

For produce, the stakes are enormous. USMCA governs the flow of billions of dollars in fresh fruits and vegetables between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada — the same tomatoes, avocados, peppers, and berries that stock American shelves year-round. Any disruption to duty-free access could mean higher costs at every level of the supply chain.

Watch for industry groups to ramp up lobbying pressure as formal negotiations begin. The review process has a defined timeline, but the political dynamics between the three countries will be the real driver of how fast — or how contentiously — this moves.

Kroger and Giant Eagle have signed a definitive agreement for Kroger to acquire the regional supermarket chain. Giant Eagle operates stores across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland, making it a meaningful presence in the Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic markets.

This deal continues Kroger's push to expand its footprint after its blocked attempt to acquire Albertsons. For produce suppliers, a Kroger-Giant Eagle combination means fewer independent buying desks, more centralized procurement, and likely pressure on smaller vendors who relied on Giant Eagle as a distinct sales channel.

Watch for how regulators respond — antitrust scrutiny has been aggressive on grocery mergers in recent years. The outcome will matter to anyone who sells into either banner.

Reefer freight rates into World Cup host cities have diverged significantly from rates in the rest of the country, according to new data. Two weeks ago, host city rates and national rates were rising together — that dynamic has now changed, with host city markets pulling ahead on their own.

The World Cup is generating concentrated demand for refrigerated transport into specific metro areas, creating localized capacity crunches that don't reflect the broader national freight picture. For shippers and buyers moving perishables into affected markets, the cost difference is real and growing.

Anyone routing produce into World Cup host cities should be recalculating freight assumptions — and building in lead time before the tournament's peak traffic windows.

Peruvian avocado exports have crossed the 60 percent mark of the season's total projected volume, but the overall forecast has been revised downward due to adverse weather conditions. Shipments are now expected to finish at levels comparable to 2025 rather than the growth originally anticipated.

Peru is one of the most important avocado origins for the U.S. market, particularly during the window when Mexican supply is transitioning or under pressure. A volume pullback matters for retail availability and pricing as summer demand stays strong.

Buyers managing avocado programs into August and September should watch how the remaining 40% of Peru's season unfolds, especially against the backdrop of already-tighter Mexican supply this year.

California's table grape harvest is fully underway with promotable volumes available ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. Growers are positioned to supply retail and foodservice accounts throughout the summer and into fall as the season builds.

This continues a story that started earlier than expected this year — California grapes came in ahead of schedule and with strong early quality. With Mexico's crop already lighter than normal this season and the Coachella district wrapped, California is now the primary domestic grape source. The holiday weekend is one of the biggest promotional windows of the summer for the category.