Lower Rio Grande Valley shipments are looking good for the coming months.
The International Produce Association of Mission, TX reports ideal growing conditions.
Val Verde Vegetable of McAllen, TX reports truck supplies are expected to be adequate for produce shipments. It was only two years South Texas shippers were scrambling for trucks. The company cited one factor then was when electronic logbooks were just being implemented.
Citrus Shipments
Texas citrus shipments are looking good for the 2019-20 season. The USDA predicts the non-Valencia orange shipments at 2.05 million boxes, down 2.2 million boxes from a year ago. However, this is up the 1.53 million boxes two years ago. Texas Valencia orange volume is forecast at 650,000 boxes, an increase from 290,000 boes last year and 350,000 cartons two years ago.
Texas grapefruit shipments is predicted to be 5.7 million boxes, down from 6.1 million boxes a year ago but up from 4.8 million boxes two years ago.
The USDA said that domestic grapefruit shipments in calendar year 2018 totaled 191.5 million pounds, down from 203.6 million pounds in 2017 and also off from 205.8 million pounds.
However, grapefruit exports from Texas totaled 16.5 million pounds, up from 5.9 million pounds in 2017 and 1.3 million pounds in 2016.
2018 shipments of Texas oranges totaled 106.7 million pounds, up from 99.1 million pounds in 2017 and higher than 103.6 million pounds in 2016.
Vegetable Shipments
During November, volume was building kale, cilantro and cabbage with excellent quality reported.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that Texas cabbage shipments in 2018 totaled 85.7 million pounds, down from 120.5 million pounds in 2017 and off from 128.7 million pounds 2016. Shipments peaked December to March.
Texas shipments of greens totaled 13.1 million pounds in 2018, down from 14.1 million pounds in 2017.
Texas onion growers finished planting in November. South Texas onions are available March into July.
In 2018, shipments of Texas onions totaled 283.7 million pounds, compared with 199.2 million pounds in 2017 and 209.2 million pounds in 2016.
Acreage of onions in south Texas has not yet been estimated, but acreage in the past couple of years has ranged from 6,500 to 7,500 acres.
The “great grandfather” of onion varieties is the 1015, but now there are many more varieties, including the 1105, the 1110 and others.
“I don’t think the trucking situation is going to be a factor like it was two years ago when e-log (requirements) started up. There is plenty of equipment around.”
Citrus
Prospects are looking good for Texas citrus in the 2019-20 season.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast the non-valencia orange output at 2.05 million boxes, down from 2.2 million boxes last year but up from 1.53 million boxes two years ago. Valencia orange output in Texas is forecast by the USDA at 650,000 boxes, up from 290,000 boxes last year and 350,000 cartons two years ago.
Texas grapefruit production is forecast at 5.7 million boxes, down from 6.1 million boxes a year ago but up from 4.8 million boxes two years ago.
“The Texas citrus crop had a great bloom and a good set,” Galeazzi said. “We’re expecting to see some very good sizes of grapefruit and oranges.”
The USDA said that domestic grapefruit shipments in calendar year 2018 totaled 191.5 million pounds, down from 203.6 million pounds in 2017 and also off from 205.8 million pounds.
However, grapefruit exports from Texas totaled 16.5 million pounds, up from 5.9 million pounds in 2017 and 1.3 million pounds in 2016.
2018 shipments of Texas oranges totaled 106.7 million pounds, up from 99.1 million pounds in 2017 and higher than 103.6 million pounds in 2016.
Looking ahead
Kale, parley, cilantro and cabbage were increasing in November, and quality in the field has been stellar, Galeazzi said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that Texas cabbage shipments in 2018 totaled 85.7 million pounds, down from 120.5 million pounds in 2017 and off from 128.7 million pounds 2016. Shipments peaked December to March.
Texas shipments of greens totaled 13.1 million pounds in 2018, down from 14.1 million pounds in 2017.
Texas onion growers will finish up planting in November. South Texas onions are available March into July.
In 2018, shipments of Texas onions totaled 283.7 million pounds, compared with 199.2 million pounds in 2017 and 209.2 million pounds in 2016.
Acreage of onions in south Texas has not yet been estimated, but acreage in the past couple of years has ranged from 6,500 to 7,500 acres.
The “great grandfather” of onion varieties is the 1015, but now there are many more varieties, including the 1105, the 1110 and others.