Pompano Beach, FL-based Southern Specialties is anticipating a drop in volume this year of its Peruvian asparagus deal, but it still expects to maintain its market share as the entire deal has taken a volume hit.

“Volume is down significantly from Peru this year. El Nino temperatures and weather conditions are not helping the asparagus production,” said Carlos Solf, the company’s director of procurement, adding that the weather has resulted in “very low yields this year.”

Though the volume of Peruvian asparagus expected to be exported to the U.S. market this fall will be down, Crystal Valley Foods believes the trend toward value-added options will continue to increase.

With increases in volume from both its imported and domestic sources, Maurice A. Auerbach Inc. is experiencing double digit growth in its year-round asparagus program.

The Southeast Produce Council released its annual What’s New? consumer research in a sold-out educational session at Southern Innovations. Pioneering organizations will provide additional innovation-focused presentations in the What’s New? Theater at the exhibit floor.

Green Giant announced several fall 2023 innovations, including the expansion of its popular Green Giant Restaurant Style sides and Green Giant Riced Veggies lines, along with an exciting new veggie-based release: Green Giant Dino Veggie Tots. In total, nine new products will be available in the freezer aisle at select grocers nationwide this month.

With the addition of robotic sorters and automatic palletizers, Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, ID, has completed a two-year technology upgrade that makes liberal use of artificial intelligence and has significantly reduced its labor needs.