The new year has brought increased input and transportation expenses to produce suppliers and buyers. Obviously, this puts pressure on winter produce markets that rely on supply from growers in places like Chile and Peru for high-value commodities such as blueberries, grapes, citrus and mangos.

Online registration is open for the 2024 CPMA annual convention and trade show and the International Sustainability Summit, which will be held in Vancouver.

CPMA’s annual trade show is Canada’s largest event dedicated to the fresh fruits and vegetable industry. This year’s show will take place April 23-25 at the Vancouver Convention Centre and will feature over 600 booths representing more than 270 companies from around the world, including, major growers, importers and exporters.

The Peruvian Asparagus Importer’s Association has new co-chairman for 2024-25: Carlos Solf of Southern Specialties for the East Coast Chair and Craig Rolandelli of Jacobs Malcolm & Burtt for the West Coast Chair.

“PAIA Co-Chairmen help guide the association in our efforts to advance the asparagus trade industry and progress the entire asparagus category as a whole,” said Priscilla Lleras, executive director for the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association.

Dole Food Co. launched a new weekly vessel service that will call the Northeast United States that started Dec. 31, 2023. The expanded service will increase capacity of tropical fresh fruits, including Dole branded bananas, pineapples, dragon fruit, mangos and limes coming to the U.S. from Colombia, Honduras and Guatemala into the port of Wilmington, DE.

The California Avocado Commission selected Curious Plot as its new agency of record. In the spring and summer of 2023, the commission began a search to find a new consumer marketing agency that could conduct both consumer advertising and consumer public relations activities, thus streamlining agency management and gaining consistency in voice.