Here is a round up of loading opportunities for domestic pumpkins and sweet potatoes, plus an outlook for hauling imported tropical fruit crossing our southern border – and at various USA ports.
HaulProduce.com subscriber Mark Yackee sent in this message:
” Pumpkin shipments have begun in the tri-state area of Michigan,Indiana, and Ohio. Volume as of September 16th will increase significantly, peaking around October 10th. Crop quality is very good overall and the area looks to ship more than 400 truckloads. Haulers and buyers welcome!” Thank you, Mark!
North Carolina, the nation’s leading shipper of sweet potatoes, could be down as much as 20 or 30 percent for the 2013-14 season. Nationally, sweet potato acreage is off 11 percent, so fewer may be available in other southern states such as Mississippi and Louisiana.
Last season, the USA had 135,500 acres of sweet potatoes planted, but this season there is only 116,100 acres. The weeks prior to Thanksgiving tend to provide the heaviest time for sweet potato shipments, but with harvests running behind schedule due to weather, volume could be off even for this holiday.
Eastern North Carolina sweet potatoes – grossing about $2250 to New York City.
Mississippi sweet potatoes – about $1800 to Chicago.
Fall Tropical Imports
Fall is a strong time for shipments of tropicals, including mangoes, papaya and pineapple. Mexican products will have heaviest crossing into the USA in South Texas, while South American tropicals will be arriving at various ports on both the East Coast and West Coast.
Imports of Mexican mangoes have been particularly heavy, but should be winding down now. However, the Mexican product is quickly being replaced with imports from Brazil.
Consistent imports of papayas and pineapples are predicted this fall.
The year around imports of Mexican limes continues as the old crop is finishing up and the new crop of limes are starting to arrive in the USA.