The U.S. has partially resumed avocado export operations in Michoacán, Mexico, according to U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson. The announcement comes days after USDA inspectors were pulled from the region following an unspecified security threat against American interests. Johnson did not provide a timeline for a full return to normal operations.

Michoacán produces the vast majority of avocados exported to the United States, and even a brief inspection suspension can create supply gaps and price volatility. A partial resumption is a positive signal, but without full operations restored, volume flowing to U.S. buyers remains constrained.

Watch for how quickly full inspection capacity returns and whether any downstream price movement materializes at the wholesale or retail level in the coming weeks.

Fast-moving wildfires have triggered a state of emergency in Western Canada, with Summerland and Peachland — two communities on the west side of Okanagan Lake — hit hard and all residents forced to evacuate. The Bald Range fire was specifically named in connection with the disaster. Fires were first detected on August 7.

The Okanagan Valley is one of Canada's most important cherry and tree fruit growing regions, and summer fire risk has been an escalating threat in recent years. The timing is particularly damaging, as harvests are typically underway or wrapping up in early August. Smoke damage, heat stress, and evacuation of farmworkers can all affect fruit quality and picking capacity even when orchards themselves aren't directly burned.

Buyers sourcing Canadian cherries or tree fruit should watch closely for supply disruptions and assess whether contingency sourcing from other origins is needed.

California strawberry volume is entering a natural lull as the ever-bearing crop winds down and summer-planted fields are just getting started. According to John Wilkinson of Blazer Wilkinson Gee, LLC, this transition period typically runs quiet through August — roughly six weeks of reduced availability before new supply ramps up.

For buyers, this means the window for heavy strawberry promotions is closing until the summer crop builds volume. When supply tightens seasonally like this, market prices tend to firm up, which affects both retail ad planning and foodservice menu costing.

Category managers should plan promotions around the upcoming supply build rather than the current lull, and watch for signals on quality and volume as the summer-planted crop begins to move.

The FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate Salmonella Javiana outbreak linked to fresh jalapeño peppers sourced from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to restaurants, distributors, and foodservice companies across the U.S. As of August 5, 2026, 345 illnesses had been reported across multiple states.

This outbreak is the root cause of the Taylor Farms jalapeño recall now hitting Kroger, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and other major retailers. Sinaloa is one of Mexico's most important growing states for fresh peppers and vegetables, and an outbreak of this scale is likely to prompt increased scrutiny of jalapeño imports and supply chain traceability.

Buyers and category managers carrying jalapeños should verify sourcing and lot information immediately. Watch for additional recalls, expanded investigation scope, or potential restrictions on Sinaloa pepper imports.

The latest ProduceIQ report from Produce Blue Book finds that softening foodservice demand is now a meaningful headwind for produce markets. Americans are dining out less frequently, and that pullback is working its way back through distribution channels to depress demand at the wholesale level. The report frames this as a demand-side problem more than a supply-side one — even with summer heat in the picture.

This matters because foodservice is one of the largest volume channels for fresh produce, and when restaurant traffic softens, it creates ripple effects across pricing and movement for commodity items like leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. The combination of weak demand and adequate or surplus supply creates tough market conditions for growers and shippers.

Salespeople and category managers should watch for continued softness in foodservice-facing SKUs and consider whether retail promotional activity needs to absorb more volume than usual this season.

California's Department of Food and Agriculture has expanded the Huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine boundary in San Diego County after confirming one HLB-positive residential citrus tree in Fallbrook. The CDFA is also expanding the Asian Citrus Psyllid Bulk Citrus Regional Quarantine Zone 6 in connection with the new detection.

HLB — commonly known as citrus greening — is a bacterial disease spread by the Asian citrus psyllid that has no cure and eventually kills infected trees. It has devastated Florida's citrus industry over the past two decades and its continued spread in California represents a serious long-term threat to domestic citrus supply. Each new confirmed case and quarantine expansion signals the disease is not contained.

The commercial citrus impact in San Diego is limited for now, but watch for how containment efforts progress heading into the fall citrus season, and whether any commercial groves come under increased scrutiny.

H-E-B is accelerating its Fresh Initiatives remodel program in 2026, more than doubling the number of store upgrades compared to previous years. The focus is on grab-and-go sections, a format that has grown significantly as consumers lean into convenience-driven fresh purchases.

H-E-B is consistently ranked among the highest-performing grocery retailers in the U.S. and its strategic moves tend to signal broader industry direction. A major investment in fresh grab-and-go infrastructure reflects continued consumer demand for ready-to-eat and easy-prep fresh options — a format where produce, cut fruit, and fresh salads play a central role.

For produce suppliers and category managers selling into H-E-B or watching Texas retail trends, this remodel push could signal expanded shelf space and volume opportunities in fresh-cut and convenience formats.