Produce industry headlines: October 16, 2026

Good afternoon! It’s Friday, October 16, 2026. Here’s what’s happening in produce and grocery today.

Links include the smaller US pear crop, tight global blueberry supplies, California citrus facing import competition, and Sprouts’ CTO departure.

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

Top Stories

Fall Creek’s Paul Nselel: “Better berries can grow demand as well as replace older varieties”

Blueberry genetics and nursery company Fall Creek is expanding into raspberries and blackberries following its acquisition of Italy’s Berryplant and sister company Berrytech earlier this year. 

US pear crop to fall by 15 percent this year

The United States pear industry faces another lean harvest. A September report by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service puts the 2026 crop forecast at 650,000 tons, down 15 percent year-on-year. 

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BLUEBERRIES

The global blueberry market is experiencing tight supplies and elevated prices in several European markets as the transition from Northern Hemisphere to overseas fruit continues.

Higher levels of imports could challenge early California citrus demand

The California citrus harvest will be starting the week of November 2nd, making for a slightly later start this year.

Sprouts’ first-ever chief technology officer departs

Jim Bahrenburg has stepped down after three years in the role, marking the first confirmed C-suite change since the company announced a succession plan for CEO Jack Sinclair.