News
Oaxaca & Chiapas Operations Resume
Yesterday, in a blog post, I reported that packhouse operations in Mexico had been forced to shut down after the Mexican Army killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, on February 22nd in Tapalpa, Jalisco. The operation — carried out by Mexican special forces with US intelligence support —…
Continue ReadingA Rainy Peru Update
Our friends at Pachamama Farms report that volumes are dropping week by week as seasonal rains move through the Motupe, Jayanca, and Olmos micro-regions. Most active harvest at this point is concentrated in the late Piura area, with a handful of small growers still working in the Casma region. Organic fruit is extremely limited…
Continue ReadingUSDA Suspends Mexican Packing Operations
Yesterday, February 22, the Mexican Army killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), triggering immediate and widespread violence and civil unrest across multiple Mexican states. In direct response, the U.S. government has suspended all USDA personnel from operating inside the packhouses and in and field work. Currently,…
Continue ReadingTeeter Tottering Onset Pricing
Disclaimer: This crop report, like many I write, is told through the lens of Crespo Organic Mangoes, where I’m intricately and joyously embedded. Tis’ the mango season – though at retail it barely feels like it yet. That’s changing now. Despite some early movement from southern Oaxaca, the organic mango pipeline from packhouse to…
Continue ReadingMaxxing Crespo Organic Mangoes
Disclaimer: This post is a promotional marketing post created as part of my work with Crespo Organic Mangoes. Maxxing Mangoes = don’t just have the program — work the program In the context of mangoes—and more specifically Crespo Organic Mangoes—“maxxing” means making the most of your mangoes by being purposeful about the direct-trade relationship from…
Continue ReadingSweeten Top Trends with Mangoes
The trend days are here, and I’ll be honest—I really enjoy this end-of-year moment of predictions. Preparing for a new year, and in my case a new mango season, means trying to understand what’s coming, not as certainty but as direction. Trends help anticipate change and identify opportunity. They inspire and offer strategic guidance based…
Continue ReadingSLOP & The Return to Authenticity
A year ago, most of us were pointing to global flavor trends, pricing pressure, or convenience as the forces shaping what came next. As people now reflect on 2025, many are understandably highlighting what moved, what sold, and what “worked” based on the realities as opposed to predictions. I can generally get behind the positive…
Continue ReadingPeruvian Mango Season Begins
I’m (somewhat) sorry I haven’t been as consistent with my Crop Reports lately — Vietnam and everything else pulled me out of my usual rhythm. But I’m back at my desk full-time now and easing into my regular weekly reports as I reconnect with folks in both Peru and the U.S. I’ll also have regular…
Continue ReadingOff-Shore (& California) Starts Now!
Typically, I write crop reports through the lens of organic mangoes. Sometimes the information overlaps with conventional, sometimes it doesn’t—but my goal is always to give the clearest picture of what’s happening in organics by considering the entire category and industry, focusing on the origin of the moment and the market nuances that matter to…
Continue ReadingThe Cut That Converts
Every year, as Summer Mango Mania (#MuchosMangoes) hits its final stride, our displays still flush with fruit and peak #MangoJoy, I like to shine light on the ROI of the Crespo Organic Mango program—not just the Summer Mango Mania promotion itself, but the unique approach Crespo takes year after year that continues to maintain momentum…
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