Archive For The “News” Category
Maersk has begun the roll-out of its next-generation IoT connectivity devices for its fleet of refrigerated containers (reefers). The aim is to install the new devices across all reefers in the Maersk fleet over the coming years.
“As real-time access and data availability grow increasingly vital for our cold chain customers, the deployment of our next-generation IoT devices will provide them with a more reliable data flow throughout the container journey,” says Bruce Marshall, Head of Reefer Cargo at Maersk.
Maersk is currently completing the roll-out of its new digital connectivity platform aboard 450 vessels, providing the foundation for future cargo tracking and management solutions.
“Our fleet’s new digital platform has created a foundation for the future. The next step is to replace all existing IoT devices across our reefer fleet with the latest generation of technology, and we have already begun this work. After years of operating with several generations of devices, this upgrade will standardize our devices and deliver a more consistent customer experience,” said Marshal
“Since 2019, Maersk has offered customers access to the visibility product Captain Peter, which enables them to monitor their cargo from the moment the goods are sealed in the container through to delivery at the final destination.”
“For reefer customers, confidence that data is always available is crucial. That experience will improve once our entire reefer fleet is fitted with the latest generation of connectivity devices. The upgrade will also provide the foundation to introduce new features that will further strengthen the customer offering in the future. We want to develop our current offering from being a visibility product into a tool that helps customers interpret data and provides recommended actions.”
By Kenneth Cavallaro ALC Boston
While the technology of our modern world has many advantages for the trucking industry, it also carries a significant financial risk of stolen loads. There is a very real threat of not knowing who is behind a computer screen when attempting to book a load. Verisk CargoNet reported almost $725 million in stolen cargo in 2025 alone, an alarming 60% increase from 2024. Food and beverages were the top target. Combatting this criminal threat to protect both ourselves and our customers must be a priority.
Verifying dispatcher or driver names and contact information was previously enough. Now, the burden has increased as technology has advanced. While technology opens the possibility of scammers, thankfully, it also can be utilized for protection. VIN numbers can be tracked on platforms such as Highway to eliminate the possibility of a fraudulent dispatcher. Much like a fingerprint, the VIN contains specific details about a vehicle’s origin, make, model, engine type, and production year. This code plays a vital role in vehicle identification, enabling access to essential information crucial to ownership, safety, and compliance.
Brokers can also utilize services like Carrier411 to identify a carrier attempting to book more freight than they have capacity for by comparing the truck count against the number of active loads. A final layer of protection is to verify the carrier on FMCSA to ensure the carrier has an active USDOT status and safety metrics. Once a truck is confirmed to be legitimate and in transit, tracking apps offer additional protection. Apps such as MacroPoint, FourKites, and even our very own ALC Carrier app let the customer see where a driver is in real time. Having that information offers peace of mind until a load is safely delivered.
The American Transportation Research Institute believes cargo theft costs the industry more than $18 million per day. If the Senate passes the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), our industry will benefit from a law-enforcement task force charged with pursuing these criminal rings. This would create a division within Homeland Security that could help our industry for the better. Until this becomes a reality, we must remain vigilant in verifying drivers and dispatchers to stop criminals and prevent costly cargo theft.
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Kenneth Cavallaro, Jr. is a Carrier Manager in the Boston office. He began his career at the Allen Lund Company in February of 2019. Kenneth has been in the transportation industry since May of 1999. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Salem State University.
kenneth.cavallaro@allenlund.com
Citrus from South Africa has now packed about 65 percent of its estimated volumes and has shipped close to the same amount.
Since early June, it has had weekly container arrivals into Philadelphia, with a weekly service into Savannah, operated by MSC. It has also loaded 2x its dedicated vessels with Seatrade. The first of these arrived just after 4th of July, and the second arrived the last week of July.
The product entered the U.S. market during the 1st week of June with sufficient supply. While each season is different, the Summer Citrus from South Africa organization remains committed to managing supply and demand as it complements domestic U.S. production when it is unavailable.
Planning for its 2026 season began very early, as this program requires a focus and a massive amount of coordination and effort to execute it well. Early on, the organization was able to inform the trade that it did not have the bumper crop from last year, especially on oranges. However the organization prides itself on having premium product and that it will maintain continual communications to the trade as information becomes available.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Pharr International Bridge seized cocaine valued at $3,723,654 in a single enforcement action.
“The threat of illicit narcotics is constant, but so is our vigilance. This interception is a powerful reminder that our CBP officers are on duty 24/7, employing every resource to detect and deter those who attempt to exploit our borders,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo Port of Entry.
The seizure occurred on June 24 at the Pharr International Bridge when CBP officers referred a commercial tractor-trailer hauling a shipment manifested as “cucumbers” for a secondary inspection. A canine inspection resulted in an alert, and a nonintrusive imaging system scan revealed anomalies in the trailer. Upon physical inspection, CBP officers discovered 112 packages containing a total of 126.5 kilograms (278.88 lbs.) of suspected cocaine hidden within the trailer.
The narcotics have an estimated street value of $3,723,654.
CBP officers seized the narcotics, tractor, and trailer. Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated a criminal investigation.
Mexico’s 2026 tomato production is forecast at 2.6 million metric tons (MMT), a 9 percent decrease
from 2025, according to a report from the USDA.
This is mainly a result of the continued imposition of a 17 percent antidumping duty on U.S.
imports of Mexican tomatoes, reduced profit margins for producers, and weather conditions. This
reduction in production is expected to contribute to a forecasted 9 percent decrease in tomato exports to
1.8 MMT in 2026. The United States remains Mexico’s top export market for tomatoes, typically
importing over 90 percent of Mexico’s exportable supply.
Mexican tomato production is expected to continue the downward trend that began in 2023. For calendar
year (CY) 2026, tomato production is forecast to decrease 9 percent to 2.6 MMT. This is mainly a result
of ongoing market disruptions (including the 17 percent antidumping duty on U.S. imports of Mexican
tomatoes), reduced profit margins for producers, and unfavorable weather conditions. Planted area is
forecast at 38,000 hectares for CY 2026, an 11 percent decrease from CY 2025. Post also expects a
reduction in area dedicated to open skies planting in favor of shifting production to protected systems,
including greenhouses and shaded structures.
In July 2025, the U.S. government terminated the 2019 suspension agreement with Mexico and imposed
an antidumping duty of 17.09 percent on most Mexican fresh tomato imports. This duty, combined with
the appreciation of the Mexican peso in 2025 and early 2026, has squeezed profit margins for many
Mexican tomato producers and exporters. The value of the Mexican peso increased by 14 percent in
2025 and 2 percent through April 2026. Mexican tomato exports typically enter the U.S. market through
negotiated contracts in fixed U.S. dollar (USD) prices or the spot market. The peso appreciation has
reduced the number of pesos Mexican exporters receive for each dollar of tomato sales to international
markets. According to industry reports, these factors have also led to some consolidation in the market
and growers transitioning to other crops in the face of uncertainty.
Mexico produces tomatoes in 31 out of 32 states and utilizes three production methods for tomatoes:
open skies (low tech), shaded infrastructure with some automatic irrigation (medium tech), and
greenhouse and substrate production with advanced irrigation (high tech). Protected agriculture (medium
and high tech) is the main mechanism for tomato production in Mexico, representing about 65 percent of
total production. Low tech producers obtain between 45 to 75 MT per hectare. Medium tech offers
yields that reach an estimated 140 to 215 MT per hectare. High tech producers (especially the specialty
In July 2025, the U.S. government terminated the 2019 suspension agreement with Mexico and imposed
an antidumping duty of 17.09 percent on most Mexican fresh tomato imports. This duty, combined with
the appreciation of the Mexican peso in 2025 and early 2026, has squeezed profit margins for many
Mexican tomato producers and exporters. The value of the Mexican peso increased by 14 percent in
2025 and 2 percent through April 2026. Mexican tomato exports typically enter the U.S. market through
negotiated contracts in fixed U.S. dollar (USD) prices or the spot market. The peso appreciation has
reduced the number of pesos Mexican exporters receive for each dollar of tomato sales to international
markets. According to industry reports, these factors have also led to some consolidation in the market
and growers transitioning to other crops in the face of uncertainty.
Mexico produces tomatoes in 31 out of 32 states and utilizes three production methods for tomatoes:
open skies (low tech), shaded infrastructure with some automatic irrigation (medium tech), and
greenhouse and substrate production with advanced irrigation (high tech). Protected agriculture (medium
and high tech) is the main mechanism for tomato production in Mexico, representing about 65 percent of
total production. Low tech producers obtain between 45 to 75 MT per hectare. Medium tech offers
yields that reach an estimated 140 to 215 MT per hectare. High tech producers (especially the specialty
tomatoes growers) can obtain between 250 and 300 MT per hectare. The most advanced production
methods include greenhouse infrastructure, controlled climate, substrate as a soil, and drip irrigation
with minerals that support ideal plant growth.
Mexico produces a broad range of tomato varieties that are ripened on the vine, including traditional
varieties (Round and Roma) and specialty varieties (Cherry, Grape, and Heirloom).
Produce marketing firm Fresh Farms with offices in Rio Rico, AZ and Kingsburg, CA is entering the Baja tomato season on a good footing, aligning seamlessly with the end of the Sonora crop. This strategic transition allows the company to maintain consistent supply while capitalizing on favorable growing conditions in Baja, where growing weather has been optimal.
In a press release, the company explained that, unlike various key growing regions across the US and Mexico, where weather remains a crucial factor affecting the market, Baja’s stable climate provides a strong foundation for high-quality production. This, they said, puts the firm in an advantageous position as the season begins.
Demand for premium tomatoes remains strong among Fresh Farms’ core customers, the firm said, with buyers opting for reliable suppliers capable of delivering consistent quality. The company expects to deliver just over 1 million cases of Roma tomatoes from late June through November.
“This volume outlook reflects both confidence in production and the ability to meet sustained customer demand throughout the season,” read the document.
According to the producer marketer, tomato markets have remained stable in recent weeks, providing a solid pricing environment.
Furthering an already positive outlook, ongoing weather challenges in other growing regions could tighten availability of high-quality tomatoes in the near future. This scenario, the company said, may strengthen its position, as consistent supply becomes increasingly valuable.
“We remain committed to its proven strategy: strengthening existing partnerships while actively developing new relationships, particularly along the US West Coast. By combining reliability, quality, and strategic growth, the company is well-positioned to deliver a successful and stable Baja tomato season,” the firm concluded.
Approximately 70 percent of California’s cantaloupe crop is produced in the San Joaquin Valley, where harvest began June 29, which is right on schedule, notes Garrett Patricio, President of Classic Fruit Company of Fresno, CA and chairman of the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, who stressed shippers are expecting promotable volume to be available by early July.
“The good news is that we expect strong cantaloupe volume beginning in early July and continuing throughout the remainder of the summer,” Patricio said. “Consumers and retailers can look forward to a steady supply of high-quality California cantaloupes once the San Joaquin Valley season gets underway.”
About 75 percent of all cantaloupes consumed in the United States are grown in California. As the San Joaquin Valley harvest gets underway, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board is launching an expanded consumer marketing campaign designed to drive demand throughout the summer season.
In the meantime, unusual weather patterns severely impacted melon production in California’s Imperial Valley and the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Growers had extremely limited supplies of all melon varieties, including cantaloupe, during the last half of June.
The 250th anniversary, also called the Semiquincentennial, commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history, honor contributions of Americans past and present, and envision the future for the next generations.
Applewood Fresh, a Sparta, Michigan-based apple grower, packer, and shipper operating under parent company FirstFruits Farms, announced a new strategic sales partnership with Belding Fruit Storage, Inc. of Belding, Michigan. Through the partnership, Applewood Fresh will serve as the sales and marketing function for Belding Fruit’s apple program, further strengthening supply capabilities and customer support throughout the Midwest and East Coast.
Belding Fruit Storage, Inc. operates one of the largest apple storage facilities in the eastern United States, with storage capacity exceeding one-half million bushels. The partnership brings together two long-standing Michigan apple organizations with shared commitments to quality, service, and strategic partnerships.
“This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our presence in the marketplace as a multi-regional supply entity,” said Lon Hudson, national sales director of FirstFruits.
The expanded program will offer customers access to a robust lineup of conventional, core, and high-flavor apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, EverCrisp, SweeTango, Fuji, Gala, and Red Delicious, among others. The partnership also enhances the companies’ ability to offer stronger volumes and an extended shipping season.
“We are excited about this partnership and the opportunity to serve as the sales function for Belding’s group of generational growers and experienced staff,” said Scott Morrison, general manager of Applewood Fresh. “Partnering with them strengthens our supply chain with additional supply, capacity, storage, and cross-docking opportunities. Additionally, access to fruit grown in other regions of the state will help mitigate seasonal weather fluctuations.”
“This partnership represents an important step forward for Belding Fruit Storage and our growers. By aligning our storage and packing capabilities with Applewood Fresh’s sales expertise, we are creating a stronger, more focused path to market for Michigan apples.” said Curt Norberg, president Belding Fruit Storage.
Together, the companies aim to strengthen partnerships through expanded regional supply, increased flexibility, and collaborative planning designed to drive long-term category growth.
The California table grape industry is navigating a period of contraction, according to the latest data from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The report reveals a continued downward trend in total planted area, totaling 118,000 acres in 2025, a slight 1.7 percent decrease from the previous year.
Notably, while bearing acreage remained steady at 115,000 acres, non-bearing acreage, which generally represents future production, saw a 40 percent drop.
Released at the end of April, the survey was conducted in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Table Grape Commission.
A closer look at the 2025 data shows a slight but consistent decline from the 125,000 total acres recorded in 2023, underscoring a tightening of the state’s table grape footprint.
The sharp reduction in non-bearing acreage, which fell from 5,000 acres in 2024 to just 3,000 in 2025, suggests a cautious approach to new plantings among California growers, though the USDA doesn’t provide an interpretation of this number in particular.
Despite the overall reduction, Flame Seedless remains the state’s leading table grape variety with a total of 10,506 planted acres, a slight dip from the 10,547 acres reported in 2024.
Other dominant traditional varieties also experienced marginal declines compared to the previous year, but remained steady overall. Autumn King went from 6,338 to 6,312 acres, while Scarlet Royal reached 6,047 acres, down from 6,056. Red Globe decreased slightly to 5,205 acres from 5,255, and Crimson Seedless remained nearly flat at 4,692 acres.
While many well-established varieties saw reductions, a few newer or proprietary varieties showed resilience or modest growth, consolidating the shift toward green cultivars over reds. Sweet Globe acreage increased slightly to 1,748 acres, up from 1,712, while Great Green (also known as Green Envy or Big Green) grew to 1,146 acres from 1,125.
Finally, the consumer-favorite Autumn Crisp kept a steady footprint at 4,154 acres, matching its 2024 total. However, with 448 non-bearing acres, the cultivar was Golden State growers’ main choice for new plantings, reflecting its already widely reported commercial success.
he USDA noted that the data reflect significant vine removals, with over 21,000 acres pulled across all grape types in the past 12 months.
As the industry moves forward, these figures signal a strategic consolidation focused on maintaining existing bearing vines while significantly scaling back on new development.