It seems that unpredictable weather has affected the produce industry harder this year than last year. Cost of inputs, commodity pricing volatility, and weather unpredictability limit the fresh produce sector as a vital industry for feeding a growing global population sustainably, according to a ProducePay survey that explored business stability for produce stakeholders in the United States and Latin America.
Highlights from the survey include commodity pricing volatility, business stability, business impact, worsening challenges, concerns about the future, and produced waste. When it comes to producing waste, about 60% of respondents estimate that more than 10% of their produce is wasted, degraded, or damaged due to supply chain inefficiencies. One example of unpredictable weather was the effect that it had in California regarding the table grapes industry. When Hurricane Hillary damaged nearly 25 million boxes of California table grapes, companies took proactive steps to find solutions and bridge supply gaps by looking for supplies elsewhere.
Countries like Peru and Chile were able to fill in the gaps left by Hurricane Hillary. Mexico's crossings of asparagus 2023 crop through Arizona, California, and Texas are expected to remain about the same.
The trading standard is fairly slow, large, and moderate. Prices are generally unchanged, and standards are lower. 11‐pound cartons/crates bunched green large mostly 30.75 and standard mostly 22.75. Extra services included. Wide range in quality. Peru imports of asparagus 2023 crop through South Florida ports of entry are expected to remain about the same. Trading white moderate, green fairly slow. Prices white slightly higher, green slightly lower. 11‐pound cartons bunched green jumbo and extra‐large mostly 28.75‐30.75, large mostly 28.75‐31.75, standard mostly 26.75‐28.75, and small mostly 20.75‐24.75. White large 27.75‐28.50. Supplies moderate. Most shippers are reporting larger-size profiles.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov