Strawberry and raspberry supply is at peak quality and volume across California's Central Coast, with Watsonville and Salinas leading production. According to grower Paola Martin, this season started earlier than usual as warmer winter temperatures accelerated crop development across multiple growing regions.

For buyers, this is a window of strong availability and favorable quality across two high-demand berry categories simultaneously. An earlier-than-usual start means the peak window could also shift earlier, potentially compressing the high-volume period before summer heat stress sets in.

With the Cyclospora outbreak creating broad consumer anxiety around fresh produce, strong supply visibility and clean food safety records could be a real differentiator for California Central Coast shippers right now. Worth leaning into promotional activity while quality is at its best.

If its acquisition of Giant Eagle is approved, Kroger would overtake Costco to become the second-largest grocery retailer in the United States by market share. The deal represents a significant consolidation move in an already competitive retail landscape.

For the produce industry, a larger Kroger means more centralized buying power, more leverage in supplier negotiations, and potentially broader distribution for preferred vendors. It also raises the stakes for suppliers currently in Giant Eagle's network who will need to compete for shelf space within Kroger's existing category management structure.

This deal is still pending regulatory review, so watch for FTC commentary and any conditions placed on the merger — produce category management and regional sourcing commitments are often points of focus in retail merger reviews.

Peru's agricultural exports are projected to reach $5.4 billion, with blueberries emerging as one of the strongest performers thanks to higher export volumes, improved prices, and an earlier start to the season. The data reflects a strong first half for Peruvian fresh produce flowing into North American and European markets.

Peru is a critical off-season supplier for North America, particularly for blueberries, asparagus, and table grapes. The strong performance this year has been supported by favorable growing conditions and competitive pricing — but El Niño is now looming as a potential disruptor for the second half of 2026 and into 2027.

Buyers sourcing Peruvian blueberries, asparagus, or grapes should watch El Niño developments closely. If weather patterns shift, the supply and pricing advantages that made Peru a strong performer this year could reverse quickly heading into the fall and winter import window.

The Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement hosted a webinar walking growers, shippers, and buyers through what science currently understands about Cyclospora and what risk-reduction steps are available. The session covered both confirmed prevention strategies and the significant gaps that remain in detection and attribution.

The timing matters. With the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history still under active investigation and Taylor Farms' iceberg program disrupted, the industry is looking for practical guidance. The LGMA webinar signals that the trade's primary food safety body is trying to get ahead of the narrative with grower-level action steps rather than waiting on federal regulators.

For buyers and category managers still navigating sourcing decisions on romaine, iceberg, and mixed greens, this is worth a closer read. The webinar content may help frame supplier conversations around what GAP protocols are actually defensible right now.

Schnucks announced it will permanently close its Bridgeton, Missouri, distribution facility in March 2027. The regional Midwest grocer's sole company-owned warehouse handles supply for its store network, meaning the closure signals a full move toward third-party or outsourced distribution.

For produce suppliers, a regional grocer exiting its own distribution infrastructure often reshapes how orders are placed, consolidated, and fulfilled. Third-party DC relationships can change lead times, order minimums, and the supplier contacts that buyers interact with daily.

It's worth monitoring how Schnucks structures its new distribution arrangement and whether that creates any transition gaps or new requirements for current produce vendors serving the chain.

Ecuador's phytosanitary and agricultural authorities have confirmed a second case of Tropical Race 4 (TR4), the fungal disease that devastates banana plantations, and have activated a contingency plan to contain its spread. Ecuador is one of the world's largest banana exporters and a critical supplier of bananas to North American markets.

TR4 is a soil-borne pathogen with no cure — once it establishes in a growing area, it can effectively render land unusable for Cavendish banana production for decades. The confirmation of a second case suggests the first detection was not an isolated incident, raising the stakes for Ecuador's export capacity.

This is a slow-moving but serious long-term threat to banana supply. Watch for additional case confirmations and whether containment efforts are successful — any spread to major production zones in Guayas or Los Ríos provinces would have direct implications for North American banana availability and pricing.

Blueberry growers in Michigan are reporting lower-than-expected yields as harvest continues, following winter injury and several spring frosts. At least one grower noted that crop losses during harvest have been less severe than originally feared, but the overall crop is still running below normal.

Michigan is one of the top blueberry-producing states in the country, and its summer crop is a key domestic supply source as Pacific Northwest production peaks. Reduced Michigan volume arriving simultaneously with strong BC and PNW supply could create regional pricing divergence depending on how buyers are sourced.

With blueberry prices already softening due to seasonal supply increases, watch for how Michigan volume shortfalls affect the mid-summer market balance — particularly for buyers relying on Midwest-origin fruit.