The addition of local crops is boosting produce supplies just in time for some exciting sales promotions. Eastern farming areas are ramping up with local-grown vegetables. Current markets are mostly moderate to good with fairly good demand.

Delta Fresh Sales LLC in Nogales, AZ, announced the addition of Pedro Balderrama to its sales staff. Balderrama, a Nogales native, brings eight years of produce sales experience with him. He was most recently employed at SunFed in its Nogales office.  

“I am very excited to be joining such a great and well-respected organization,” said Balderrama. “I look forward to working very close with the Delta Team and expand our vegetable program.”

The Mexican avocado industry celebrated the first-ever delivery of fresh avocados across the border from the Mexican state of Jalisco into the United States. The agreement was first announced in 2021 by Mexican authorities with the United States to allow avocado imports from the additional Mexican state.

Poor growing conditions and shipping delays continue to affect produce prices.

Take asparagus for example: Average FOB prices are currently 20 percent higher than the previous week. At more than $31, asparagus prices are closing in on the extreme levels of 2013 and 2017.

Stemilt is looking to elevate the purchase size of the organic category and bulk Artisan Organics peaches and nectarine with new random-weight recyclable pouch bags. Stemilt Marketing Director Brianna Shales said retailers should include the pouch bags to ensure catching the organic ring at checkout.

Produce is a very important component to Connecticut agriculture. The state is home to 5,500 farmers who have a combined 400,000 acres of working land in production. That generates about $4 billion in economic activity and provides approximately 20,000 jobs.