We are three weeks from Christmas; which commodities are being naughty and which are being nice?

The strawberry market, which has seen sky-high prices, declined 5 percent for the first time in months. Strawberry markets typically peak during the early weeks of December and descend steadily as California winds down and Mexico and Florida pick up production. This year has seen abnormally high prices for an extended period due to an early end to the summer season.

The rising price of groceries is the leading obstacle for shoppers globally, according to Statista. As consumers look for ways to contend with the prices, Side Delights suggests the emerging trend of upcycling as an economical and sustainable solution. Upcycling is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials or unwanted products into new materials and is used for everything from packaging to produce.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is working to provide healthy meals for kids and their families.  Recently Village Farms Fresh has become part of this effort through a team volunteer endeavor in conjunction with its Mercy Kitchen location, which provides meals to a variety of children’s after school programs in the greater Orlando, FL, area.

Southern Specialties has a produce portfolio that includes baby squash, baby carrots and other baby vegetables, as well as broccolettes and clipped greens, all available under the company’s Southern Selects label.  

Its main Southern Selects product is asparagus, which it grows, imports and markets in bulk presentations for retail and foodservice and is available in conventional, organic and in value-adding offerings in a variety of pack sizes.

A trio of operators participating in the controlled environment agriculture space reported a bright future with potential for significant growth, especially in the organic category, at a seminar held during the recent Organic Growers Summit.

Florida produce is so good that it isn’t just popular in the Sunshine State, it’s renowned the world over. One key organization that is committed to supporting Florida’s growers is the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, which is the state’s leading full-service specialty crop organization.

Since 1943, the FFVA has promoted an array of crops, including vegetables, citrus, tropical fruit, berries, and more, with the mission to enhance Florida’s produce business and foster a competitive environment for producing and marketing these crops.