Apples are one of the most consistent produce items for hauling on a year around basis. It can be storage of many months, allowing shippers to only order a truck when there is a buyer for the product. Apples are hardy and usually pose fewer problems as far as quality is concerned. That reduces your chances of claim or load rejection.
During the cold winter months, apples are not subjected to the whims of mother nature such as those faced by vegetable row crops an citrus. Here is a overview of apple loading opportunties, which is mostly in Washington state.
Despite severe crop losses from weather in Michigan and New York, huge crops in Washington state, and to a lesser degree in Pennslvania means plenty of volume for shipping through the end of the season in late summer.
Shipments of eastern apples were pretty much finished by the New Year, with the exception being in Pennsylvania. Rice Fruit Co. in Gardners, PA had a record crop and expects to continue shipping into early summer, which is normal.
As of January 1st about 90 million bushels of fresh-market apples remained to be shipped, which is 10 percent more than last year at the same time. That January total is 11 percent higher than the five-year average.
The amount apples remaining to be shipped are all up compared to a year ago for all five major varieties. Those varieties are fujis, red delicious, galas, golden and granny smiths.
Washington state, Yakima Valley apples – grossing about $5,500 to New York City.