National Produce Loadings

Easter is Sunday, April 8th and is always big for such items as strawberries and asparagus.  California will be just about the only place shipping such items for Easter as Mexican strawberries will be pretty much finished for the season, while California “grass” from the desert may not have the greatest volume with its season just getting underway.  California strawberries will have the market to itself with Florida and Mexico shipments finished.   California berries will be heaviest out of the Oxnard district, with lighter volume coming out of Santa Maria.

Ready for PieIn Michigan, apple shipments continue from the Western Part of the state, primarily from the Grand Rapids area.  The state should ship about 23 million cartons, down some from its record setting season that had 28 million cartons of apples.

In the Appalachian district of  Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia about 50 truckloads of apples are being shipped each week.   New York state is loading about 200 truckloads of apples weekly from the Hudson Valley, as well as Central and Western areas of the state.

Southern California berries, citrus grossing – about $5600 to New York City.

Western Michigan apples – $3200 to Dallas.

Central New York apples – $3150 to Boston.