Persian Lime: From a decorative element to an indispensable food
In the Hispanic market, the per capita consumption of lime is 7.2 kg per year, unlike the world average, which according to FAO, is 2...
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Agtools Analysis
These are industry articles by members of the Agtools staff, written for industry sites or publications.
Agtools Inc.
- Jan 30
Lettuce by the numbers
Domestic iceberg lettuce volume was down in 2022, and while Mexico increased its shipments to the U.S., it wasn’t enough to keep prices...
Paola Ochoa
- Dec 1, 2022
Sweet Potato: A Special Guest for the Holidays
The sweet potato is part of the traditional diet of all Hispanics and can be eaten with or without the skin, baked, roasted, boiled, or...
Juanita Gaglio
- Nov 16, 2022
Sweet potatoes by the numbers
Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons are the biggest for sweet potatoes, where demand and volume are the highest of the year. While...
Juanita Gaglio
- Oct 19, 2022
The pumpkin market by the numbers
There’s no better symbol for autumn than the fresh pumpkin. Consumers typically have no problem finding them, whether they’re in the...
Juanita Gaglio
- Sep 29, 2022
Apples by the numbers
The U.S. is the world’s second largest apple producer, and its citizens consume more apples than any other fruit but one. The apple...
Paola Ochoa
- Sep 12, 2022
Tropical Fruits: Queens of Social Media
Although they used to be available only at certain times or seasons, nowadays tropical fruits can be enjoyed all year round and thus take...
Juanita Gaglio
- Aug 22, 2022
Inside the mushroom business
Mushrooms have seen modest growth the past few years, as they’ve been recognized for their culinary options and health benefits. More...
Juanita Gaglio
- Aug 9, 2022
Inside bell peppers’ growth
Bell pepper volume in the U.S. grew 12 percent in 2021 from the previous year, with Mexico supplying nearly two-thirds of that. Canada...
Paola Ochoa
- Jul 28, 2022
Is eating grapes the same as exercising?
Grapes are one of the first crops grown by humans for consumption. This crop had a profound value for ancient people: it marked the...
Juanita Gaglio
- Jun 27, 2022
Inside papayas’ growth
The volume of papayas shipped to the U.S. grew by 20 percent from 2020 to 2021, and it’s reflected in growing levels of consumption from...
Paola Ochoa
- May 30, 2022
Onion: A Global Ingredient and Plant Insulin
The first consumption of onion dates to more than 5,000 years ago, in the Middle Ages. It was so highly valued that it functioned as a...
Juanita Gaglio
- Apr 24, 2022
A look at rising demand for asparagus
Asparagus volume in the U.S. rose 25 percent from 2020 to 2021, with nearly two-thirds coming from Mexico and almost one-third from Peru....
Paola Ochoa
- Mar 24, 2022
The Potato: From Garden Ornament to Main Food in Our Diet
To learn a little about this tuber, let’s go to its origins. The first potato crops originated some 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, just north...
Paola Ochoa
- Feb 17, 2022
What is the Cost of Suspending Mexican Avocado Exports?
Avocado trading has been experiencing difficult times over the past few days due to the suspension of imports from Mexico. The order came...
Paola Ochoa
- Jan 10, 2022
Cilantro: Do You Hate it or Love it?
Cilantro is the most widely used aromatic herb globally, especially in Latin America, China, and India. It is believed to come from the...
Paola Ochoa
- Jan 3, 2022
Can You Imagine A Purple Carrot?
The carrot first appeared in Central Asia, spreading its cultivation to Europe and the rest of the world. Initially, the variety of this...
Paola Ochoa
- Dec 1, 2021
Bell Peppers, the kings of flavor and vitamin C
Peppers were domesticated approximately 6,000 years ago in Mesoamerica. Its history is closely related to the Aztec Empire and,...
Paola Ochoa
- Aug 26, 2021
The Path of Fruits and Vegetables During 2021
Although this year has been a little easier to bear than last year following the coronavirus outbreak that appeared in China in December...
Paola Ochoa
- Jul 23, 2021
Cantaloupe, a Low-Calorie Superfood
Cantaloupe has been cultivated for more than 4,000 years in various parts of the world. The Greeks were already growing it before the...
Matt DeBoer
- Jan 17, 2021
Mexican blueberries gain U.S. market share
Seeing how 2021 is being billed as the year of the fruits and vegetables, it is only fitting that we start the year off with a squabble...
Paola Ochoa
- Jan 7, 2021
Pineapple, one of the fruits most impacted by COVID-19
The pineapple is a native fruit of America, historically it was known for its rarity, and more than 500 years ago, it became a symbol of...
David Wilson
- Dec 22, 2020
A look ahead to the winter iceberg lettuce market
The pandemic in 2020 disrupted retail and foodservice demand for lettuce, and that will affect plantings in 2021. A look at volume and...
Raul Lopez
- Dec 17, 2020
The numbers behind avocados’ record 2020
As the end of the year 2020 grows closer, the numbers for avocado consumption keep growing. In a year that most of the industries have...
Matt DeBoer
- Dec 3, 2020
A look ahead to the winter onion market
There has been nothing steady about 2020 when it comes to produce, and onions were not immune to the pandemic this year. Multiple farmers...
David Wilson
- Dec 1, 2020
What to expect in the banana market in 2021
An analysis of the banana market in 2020 show several volume spikes in the spring as retail adjusted to changing consumer demand early in...
Paola Ochoa
- Nov 24, 2020
Strawberries in 2020 are a tale of supply and demand, not pandemic
The national strawberry market in 2020 appears to have been influenced much more by traditional factors, such as weather and...
Matt DeBoer
- Nov 10, 2020
Canada gets in on U.S. potato demand
One thing is usually consistent in an election year. Whatever party loses, some voters threaten to move to Canada for the next four...
Raul Lopez
- Nov 4, 2020
Tomato prices rise, showing signs for strong Q4
The tomato industry has weathered the pandemic well, and this fall, both volume and prices are higher than the past two years. One of the...
Paola Ochoa
- Nov 2, 2020
THE PRICE BEHAVIOR OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN 2020
After the coronavirus outbreak in China in December last year and its subsequent global expansion, consumers are experiencing a time of...
Miguel Montero
- Oct 26, 2020
The data behind the orange’s amazing 2020
Oranges have seen unprecedented success with strong consumer demand at retail during the pandemic. Below are some charts and data points...
Raul Lopez
- Oct 14, 2020
Mexico takes larger share of U.S. bell pepper market in 2020
Despite the turbulence in the economy this year, the bell pepper continues to be a strong crop in multiple regions. However, as a side...
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