Sweet potatoes have moved from a holiday staple to a year-round workhorse—and the U.S. market data now reflects that shift. The Packer reports that per-capita sweet potato consumption has nearly doubled over the last two decades, driven by broader everyday usage and more product formats showing up across retail and foodservice. For food businesses, that …
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Frozen foods are having a very specific kind of moment right now: not the “stock up for emergencies” moment, but the “solve dinner on a Tuesday” moment. The growth isn’t coming from novelty flavors or flashy packaging. It’s coming from two things buyers can actually build around—convenience that works and protein that feels like a …
Crop News, May 2026 United States Pears: Export demand into Mexico continues to be a key outlet for Pacific Northwest pears late in the season. Shippers report the usual late-season shrink and lower pack-out versus earlier estimates, with remaining fruit moving through standard packaging programs. Cherries: California’s cherry season moved into full activity earlier than …
Continue reading “European Potato Inventories Keep Spot Trade Quiet as the Season Nears Turn”
Food safety teams across the frozen food supply chain continue to prioritize prevention-focused programs that support consistent, validated controls from ingredient receiving through packaging and distribution. Industry resources are increasingly being organized into clear, implementation-ready formats that can be integrated into existing food safety systems and training. The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has consolidated …
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Snacks have always lived at the intersection of convenience and critique, but the MAHA movement is pulling that tension into sharper focus. What was once a debate driven mostly by consumer sentiment is now moving into the realm of definitions, labels, and enforceable guardrails—making snacks one of the most exposed categories in the center store. …
Airline catering has always been a logistics game, but the past few years have pushed it into a new operating reality: tighter turnaround windows, higher compliance expectations, and less tolerance for variability on the line. Whether meals are assembled in large hub kitchens or regional commissaries, the winners are ingredients that behave predictably—across shifts, across …
Continue reading “Airline Catering Runs on Precision – and IQF Produce Helps Deliver It”
Global food-system risk is back in the spotlight — not as a single event, but as a stack of pressures that can compound quickly. The Packer recently highlighted this dynamic through the lens of climate and macroeconomic risk modeling, pointing to a world where shortages don’t have to be universal to feel disruptive in specific …
Summer menu cycles move fast. Limited-time beverages roll out, seasonal bakery items rotate in, and operators want fresh, bright flavors without adding prep bottlenecks or supply risk. That’s where IQF cranberries make a lot of sense: they deliver a bold tart pop and strong visual appeal, while giving food and beverage teams the consistency and …
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Frozen foods are shifting from “nice to have” to “built into the plan.” New retail research highlighted at AFFI-CON signals that more households are intentionally using frozen items to map out weekday meals, manage budgets, and reduce waste. For manufacturers, private-label teams, and foodservice operators, this isn’t just a consumer convenience story—it’s a demand signal …
Continue reading “Frozen is Becoming a Planned Ingredient, Not Just a Backup”
Cauliflower demand keeps expanding beyond the fresh case. In soups, frozen meal kits, and private label vegetable SKUs, cauliflower has to do its job consistently—hold texture, portion cleanly, and fit into automated or high-production environments without becoming a labor or yield problem. That’s where a uniform smaller cut can make a meaningful difference. Consistency That …
Continue reading “A Smarter Cauliflower Cut for Soups, Meal Kits, and Private Label Veg Programs”
Packaging is one of the most “invisible” cost drivers in food and beverage—right up until it moves. With conflict-related disruption in and around the Strait of Hormuz, resin-linked packaging inputs are facing upward pressure, and food and drink manufacturers should expect the effects to show up in procurement conversations fast. For teams managing frozen, dairy, …
Winter weather in Florida continues to ripple through North American produce supply, and the market is still working through the after-effects. Freeze-related crop damage across key Florida regions reduced near-term availability and pushed more demand toward import channels, particularly western Mexico. The result: spring deals are moving, but buyers should expect elevated conditions to persist …
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Dried mango is a strong inclusion for trail mix because it adds bright color, a recognizable tropical flavor, and an upscale visual cue that makes the whole mix feel more premium. It also helps create contrast in the bite—chewy fruit against crunchy nuts and seeds—so the blend feels more dynamic. What matters most for trail …
Logistics conditions are shifting again as the Middle East conflict adds uncertainty to key trade lanes and energy supply. For frozen fruit and vegetable buyers, the immediate issue isn’t just “what’s available,” but how reliably product can move and what that means for lead times, routing, and total landed cost. FreshPlaza reporting points to higher …
Continue reading “Middle East Disruptions Showing Up in Freight and Fuel Planning”
Market Overview Mexico continues to be one of the world’s most important broccoli producers, ranking among the top global suppliers with estimated production of approximately 739,000 metric tons in 2026. The country remains a critical source for North American markets due to its proximity, year-round growing capability, and strong processing infrastructure. As the industry transitions …
Continue reading “Mexico Broccoli Market Report: Spring-Summer 2026 Outlook”