Produce industry headlines: January 16, 2026

Good afternoon! It’s Friday, January 16, 2026, ahead of a three-day weekend for much of the country, including at Blue Book Services. Here’s what’s happening in fresh produce.

Read analysis on Aldi strategy, what a USDA-endorsed healthy meal looks like, restaurant growth projections for 2026, crop updates on Chilean grapes, lemons, and weather problems in the West, and more.

As always, have something to share, send us your feedback at news@bluebookservices.com.

Top Stories

The Friday Checkout: Aldi is doing more than expanding — it’s building a fanbase

The discount retailer is sharpening its image as a destination where shoppers can have fun while saving money.

We Went Shopping for the $3 Dinner—and Actually Found It

Wall Street Journal reporters in Boston and New Orleans buy the agriculture secretary’s suggested budget meal.

Fitch Ratings predicts modest growth for restaurants

Fitch Ratings restaurant analyst Jose Luis Rivas provided an outlook during this week’s ICR Conference in Orlando, FL.

Alico completes $26.8MM sale of 2,950-acre Florida citrus grove

Alico, Inc. completed the sale of a large citrus grove in Hendry County, FL as part of its ongoing shift from traditional citrus production toward a land-based business model.

Chilean table grape season kicks off with an eye on US-Peru supply balance

A grape analyst says the spring was mild, allowing for good development of the vineyards, which has led to a 64 million box estimate.

PRO*ACT Crop Update: Citrus squeeze a part of challenges out west

The update says growers still feel the squeeze on small citrus, but carrots have become the next challenge out west.

California Lemon Growers Face Uphill Battle as Argentine Imports Saturate Domestic Market

Growers call for a rebalanced trade policy as shifting global supplies and phytosanitary changes have turned a small competitor into a much bigger one.