USDA Organic Certification to Undergo Changes to Root Out Fraud, Simplify Processes for Growers

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is advancing a common Organic System Plan (OSP) as part of its broader effort to tighten organic oversight while easing paperwork burdens that have weighed on smaller fruit and vegetable growers, according to multiple sources.

The movement follows USDA’s Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule, which took effect March 19, 2024, and expanded certification and traceability requirements across the organic supply chain to curb fraud. The common OSP is meant to create a more uniform baseline for certification...

USDA Report Shows US Agriculture Faces Higher Tariff Barriers Abroad

As of September 16, persistent challenges for US agriculture were said to be foreign markets which remain more protected than the US market, according to the USDA Economic Research Service report.

The USDA report does not call for specific tariff increases or cuts but lays out how US agriculture compares with foreign competitors under current most favored nation (MFN) tariff structures. The report may be used as a benchmark to show where tariff imbalances may influence export access...

PepsiCo Ties Regenerative Agriculture to Crop Resilience, Farmer Viability

PepsiCo is expanding regenerative agriculture efforts across key crop supply chains to prioritize resilience, soil health, and long-term farmer viability, with implications for sugar crops like beets and cane, vegetables like potatoes, and should affect end products across the company's vast portfolio of packaged food and beverages. The goal is to show how farmers can strengthen the economic and environmental health of their farms with regenerative practices that are focused on resilience, according to VP of Sustainability, Margaret Henry.

Farm Groups' Letter Urges Farm Labor Reform as H-2A Costs Squeeze Growers

On August 10, a broad coalition of US agricultural groups urged lawmakers to swiftly pass HR 9535, the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (or SAWA) which would overhaul the H-2A farm labor program through changes to worker eligibility, wage rules, and administrative requirements. The use of foreign labor is an aspect of farming closely tied to production costs, margins, harvest timing, crop acreage, and marketable supply. 

NJ’s Edible Garden Pushes Farm-to-Formula Beyond Herbs Into RTD Whey, Plant-Based Nutrition

Edible Garden is widening its bet on its value-added greenhouse business to bring customers everything from "farm to formula," according to comments during an Expana interview with Edible Garden's CEO Jim Kras. As a result, the team is expanding past culinary herbs into fermented condiments, functional snacks, and plant-based, ready-to-drink (RTD) products, according to multiple company updates.

SAWA Bill Would Reshape US Farmer's Labor Costs

As of June 15, a newly proposed bill called "Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act" (SAWA) would update the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program via changes related to worker eligibility, wage calculations, and administrative procedures, reported Fresh Plaza about a topic that would impact US vegetable growers, and other ag market participants as pressure builds to modernize the temporary visa program for farm labor.

Nomad Foods Invests £2.2 Million in Potato Waffle Production Line

On June 2, leaders at Nomad Foods announced a £2.2 million investment in a new potato waffle production line at their Lowestoft factory in the UK, according to a press release from the owner of frozen vegetable brands like Birds Eye.

The announcement comes as the UK and EU potato markets prepare for the start of the 2026/27 season, and participants keenly await indications of crop volumes, following a year of high supply, according to Expana’s Market Reporter, Craig Elliott...

USTR 2026 National Trade Estimate Report: Highlights Global Barriers to Trade for Commodity Markets 

On March 31, leaders at the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2026 National Trade Estimate (NTE) report, outlining US market access via country specific details that intends to reshape how US trade policy views global markets. The 500+ page report is divided into sections which address the trade environments present between US markets and those of each trading partner as a baseline for producers, importers, and exporters. It seems that the...

Papa Johns Selects Deliverect to Modernize Delivery Operations Across US Restaurants

Papa Johns today announced a strategic partnership with Deliverect to deploy its Smart Dispatch & Delivery Management platform across all Papa Johns restaurants in the U.S. by the end of 2027.

The partnership is part of Papa Johns multi-year initiative to modernize its fulfillment technology stack. The platform enables the brand to execute all orders, whether fulfilled by in-house delivery drivers or third-party service partners, through a single, intelligent system that connects every ordering channel, point-of-sale and delivery workflow into a unified operational delivery...

Campbell’s Acquisition of La Regina Announced Alongside Earnings

On December 9, The Campbell’s Company officials announced plans to acquire a majority stake in an Italian tomato processor called La Regina Di San Marzano, according to the company’s latest earnings report. By the second half of 2026, the acquisition will be complete after two payments toward the total $286 million valuation, according to Campbell's leaders. 

The company entered into definitive agreements to acquire a 49% interest in La Regina, the producer of Rao’s tomato-based pasta sauces...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana’s Weekly Rundown #32

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #32."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

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This week, the US administration has continued to pressure trading partners like India to curb imports of Russian oil as to sanction the country during its war with Ukraine, cited Expana...