Archive For The “News” Category
Easy-peel citrus varieties should increase in popularity which is expected to result in those products surpassing navel oranges in the next few years as the most consumed fresh citrus in the U.S., according to Rabobank research.
In an April report, the company showed South America has greatly increased its exports in the past five years. Since the mid-1990s, U.S. mandarin consumption has surpassed domestic production, and now imports account for about one-third of domestic consumption.
“Availability of mandarins in the U.S. increased at a compound annual growth rate of 6% during the past decade to about 7 pounds per person per year. If the trend continues, in the next few years mandarins will surpass oranges as the most-consumed fresh citrus in the U.S. The attractive combination of convenience, healthfulness, and taste will continue driving consumer demand for mandarins in the U.S.”
Acreage in California has increased more than sixfold in the past 20 years, reaching 67,000 acres in 2021, while acreage in Florida has declined due to phytosanitary pressures, the report said.
At the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo today, Carrier Transicold introduced its eCool family of electric transport refrigeration and cooling products for heavy-duty tractors and trailers, as well as medium- and light-duty trucks. The eCool portfolio encompasses solutions for a wide range of applications to fulfill customer needs for more sustainable solutions that reduce emissions and respond to changes in the regulatory environment. More details are provided in the news release, and a photo is included.
Thank you for giving this your editorial consideration.
Tom Cunningham
For Carrier Transicold
412-486-0076
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mary Udry
706-357-7242
Carrier Transicold’s Electric eCool Series Drives Efficient, Sustainable Transport Refrigeration
LONG BEACH, Calif., May 10, 2022 – Carrier Transicold today showcased a range of electric transport refrigeration and cooling products as part of the eCool™ series, which help lower emissions for customers across the cold chain. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.
The eCool family, which includes sustainable solutions for heavy-duty tractors and trailers, as well as medium- and light-duty trucks, was featured by Carrier Transicold during the 2022 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center.
“Our eCool portfolio encompasses solutions for a wide range of applications to fulfill our customers’ need for more sustainable solutions that reduce emissions and respond to changes in the regulatory environment,” said Dave Kiefer, Director of Product Management and Sustainability, Carrier Transicold.
“Fundamentally, all eCool products help to push emissions toward zero by using electricity to power the systems, but the technology for each product varies based on what is best for the specific application,” Kiefer continued. “Elimination of the diesel engine also reduces noise, which is especially appreciated when operating in urban and suburban areas.”
The eCool products showcased by Carrier Transicold at the ACT Expo included:
- Vector eCool™ refrigerated trailer system powered by ConMet eMobility – The new system sustainably creates its own power using leading-edge energy recovery and storage to operate an all-electric Vector trailer refrigeration unit. In the Americas, Carrier formed a strategic alliance with ConMet eMobility to offer the PreSet Plus® eHub™ system, which uses innovative in-wheel motor technology to capture and store clean, regenerative energy for the refrigeration unit. Global foodservice distribution leader Sysco is piloting a Vector eCool system to explore ways this new technology can help the company achieve its 2030 climate reduction goals. The Sysco trailer was featured and operable, emissions-free in the Carrier Transicold booth at the ACT Expo.
- Supra eCool™ truck refrigeration unit –An electric complement to Carrier Transicold’s Supra diesel truck refrigeration units, which operates via its own battery module in non-electric truck applications or via the truck’s power supply in battery-electric vehicle applications. When it goes into service in 2023, it will help fleets operating in California that are subject to new regulations requiring adoption of zero-emission systems for truck refrigeration.
- Neos 200e for light-duty vehicles – This latest addition to the Neos platform adds compatibility with battery-electric vehicles, greater operating efficiency and more capacity than the model it succeeds.
- ComfortPro electric auxiliary power unit (APU) – The new lithium-ion battery-powered version of Carrier Transicold’s electric APU outperforms electric systems using conventional absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries, providing up to 17 hours of continuous air conditioning. Exclusive features include a variable-speed compressor, cabin pre-cool lock and a high-power battery pack that is independent from the tractor’s lead-acid battery.
Carrier Transicold eCool products can also use refrigerants such as R-452A that have a significantly lower global warming potential than R-404A, the longtime standard refrigerant used in most transport refrigeration systems.
Additionally, Carrier Transicold’s telematics platform can be used with transport refrigeration units in the eCool family to provide remote temperature monitoring, unit location and movement details, as well as battery status and system performance.
Energy efficiency is critical to Carrier’s progress in reducing its customers’ carbon footprint by more than one gigaton, while also achieving carbon neutral operations by 2030, as outlined in its bold Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Goals.
For additional details about Carrier Transicold’s eCool family of electric products, turn to the experts in Carrier Transicold’s North America dealer network.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature-controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 50 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. For more information, visit transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain, on Facebook at Carrier Transicold Truck/Trailer U.S. & Canada and on LinkedIn at Carrier Transicold Truck Trailer Refrigeration.
By Zach Griebling, ALC Denver
Last year in the summer of 2021, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, two of the largest reservoirs in North America, reached an all-time low. Over time there have been different megadroughts that have occurred throughout history, the one we are currently in has lasted over 22 years. During these unprecedented times ranchers and produce farmers have dealt with water shortages as well as wildfires.
In February 2022, the federal government announced that they would not be deliveringwater to farmers in California’s agricultural belt which provides roughly 25% of our nation’s food. The federal government operates the Central Valley Project in California, a complex system of dams, reservoirs, and canals. This is the fourth time in the last decade that farmers of the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta have received no federal aid from the government.
With the uncertainty of the amount of water that will be available to farmers this year, we could see loads out of California drop, creating problems for carriers on the West Coast that depend on produce out of this area to support their business. California growers may need to shift their plans for acreage in the state if they have an option elsewhere. Other growing regions will need to pick up the slack because some crops traditionally grown in California will likely come from more local areas, which will further strain transportation needs. We will be watching to see how Mother Nature may affect rates not only in California but around the country.
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Zach Griebling is a transportation broker in the ALC Denver office.
Per-capita availability of U.S. fresh blueberries and raspberries at the retail level has more than doubled in the past decade, according to USDA data.
From 2010 to 2019, per-capita availability of blueberries at retail has grown from 1 pound to 2.1 pounds, a twofold-plus gain. During the same period, per-capita retail availability of raspberries has also more than doubled, from 0.3 pounds in 2010 to 0.80 pounds in 2019.
Strawberries still represent the most widely consumed fresh berry, with the USDA reporting 5.3 pounds retail per capita in 2019.
However, that number is down about 19% from 6.6 pounds in 2010, the USDA said.
Per-capita consumption of blueberries from 2010 to 2019, in pounds, was:
- 2010: 1.0;
- 2011: 1.2;
- 2012: 1.2;
- 2013: 1.3;
- 2014: 1.4;
- 2015: 1.5;
- 2016: 1.6;
- 2017: 1.6;
- 2018: 1.8; and
- 2019: 2.1.
Per-capita consumption of fresh raspberries from 2010 to 2019, in pounds, was:
- 2010: 0.2;
- 2011: 0.3;
- 2012: 0.3;
- 2013: 0.3;
- 2014: 0.7;
- 2015: 0.8;
- 2016: 0.7;
- 2017: 0.8;
- 2018: 0.7; and
- 2019: 0.8.
Per-capita consumption of strawberries from 2010 to 2019, in pounds, was:
- 2010: 6.6;
- 2011: 6.8;
- 2012: 7.4;
- 2013: 7.4;
- 2014: 7.3;
- 2015: 7.1;
- 2016: 6.8;
- 2017: 6.3;
- 2018: 5.9; and
- 2019: 5.3.
Peruvian fresh asparagus continues to enjoy a prominent place in the U.S. market. In 2021, U.S. imports from Peru increased 9% over the previous year, according to USDA statistics, to 224,871,286 pounds. Ranked as a principal source country for fresh asparagus, Peruvian imports account for almost US $274 million annually.
At the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association’s (PAIA) May 12, 2022 meeting, members discussed industry topics and other points related to the continued supply from Peru. “As a significant source of fresh asparagus, Peruvian supply contributes to keeping U.S. retail and foodservice stocked with a consistent, quality supply of this fantastic product,” says Walter Yager of Alpine Fresh in Doral, Florida, and Co-Chair of PAIA. “Our upcoming supplies look excellent and should allow for great promotional and sales opportunities.”
Yager and Co-Chair Jay Rodriguez of Crystal Valley Foods in Miami, Florida, will continue leading PAIA during 2022 and 2023, providing consistency for the association’s vision and activities. “Peru is a significant contributor to the U.S. consumer’s table and we want to ensure an uninterrupted supply of this nutritious item,” says Rodriguez. “For over 20 years, our association has been dedicated to improving trade in Peruvian asparagus. It’s such an important vegetable for our customers, both retail and foodservice, and for consumers as well.”
The association will focus efforts in 2022 on working with trade press, supermarkets and consumers to education more about the benefits of fresh asparagus. As U.S. consumers look for alternative, interesting, and healthy products, the association anticipates increasing consumption and demand for fresh asparagus in 2022.
For more information about PAIA, visit:
peruvianasparagusimportersassociation.com
PAIA Mission Statement:
The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association (PAIA) is an organization of US companies involved in the trade of importing fresh Peruvian asparagus within North America. We are committed to improving the process and present a united forum through which dialogue and progress is achieved. We represent the industry to the trade and focus on issues of political and logistical importance.
By Jenilee Curley, ALC Phoenix
A drought can adversely affect many sides of the supply chain industry, in particular, produce.
In areas that rely on rainfall for agricultural production, a drought can reduce crop harvest numbers and greatly affect farm profitability. Droughts can also affect the amount of snowfall and water flow needed for diversions to transport water to irrigated farmlands. These nfluences can lead to undesirable outcomes across all levels of the economy.
On a local level, farm income is reduced and the food processing sector is negatively impacted. On a national level, produce experiences price increases. The drought the Western U.S. is now experiencing has a lot to do with climate change and has had an enormous bearing on the agricultural industry. In particular, the Southwestern states of California and Arizona, where about two-thirds of the country’s vegetables, fruits and nuts are produced.
According to the California Department of Food & Agriculture, “California alone averages $50 billion in annual revenue in the agriculture industry.” In the past year, the drought has caused a $1.2 billion direct loss in California agriculture.
The snowfall in Nevada and Colorado mountains are a big contributor to the Colorado River, but with hotter weather in recent years, the snow melts a lot sooner in the year. This has consequently led to snowmelt contributing less and less water with each succeeding year.
The Colorado River is the core of the Southwest. Since the 1920s it has been providing water and power to seven states, including the 30 Native American tribes that reside in the Colorado River Basin. Until recently, the river has been running dry due to the severe drought. Lake Powell and Lake Mead are amongst the largest reservoirs in the United States. In 2000 they were full, but today only sit at 30% capacity, according to Brad Udall at Colorado State University.
Out of major concern, the water leaders in Arizona, Nevada and California signed an infamous drought agreement in 2019 that allows states to cut back on water usage. This cut back has been a huge strain on communities in California and Arizona, shrinking water supplies to tens of millions of people and farms that produce 90% of the country’s green leafed vegetables. Cruel evidence can be seen in Pinal County in Arizona, where acres of once planted land now lay unplanted, deserted by their previous farmers. Farmers fear that a decline in farm productivity, as a result of water shortages, will result in less profit for them.
A consequence of higher costs to maintain water supplies, will lead to higher produce prices for consumers across the country.
“This production increase in costs is affecting local governments as well as workers who transport food products.”, said Danny Merkley, director of water resources for the California Farm Bureau. Dwindling wells and dried up canals from less ground water to go around prompted President Joe Biden to sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill in November. The bill will help provide several billion dollars to Arizona and California farms.
With produce season around the corner, only time will tell which direction this year’s produce season should follow. The produce season in the Southwest will depend on the elasticity of supply and demand. What is certain, though, is this drought is harming our farmlands and as a result we need to better conserve our water usage. If we do not, we’ll find ourselves in an even tighter supply chain.
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Jenilee Curley is a transportation broker in the ALC Phoenix office. She attended Arizona State University and received a degree in Supply Chain Management, before obtaining a Master’s in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from Grand Canyon University.
By Lisa Towner, ALC Portland
Cherry season is right around the corner. The Pacific Northwest cherry season typically begins in early June and continues until late August.
A typical season will see 20-25 million boxes of cherries harvested in Oregon and Washington. Cherries are generally picked, chilled, and loaded onto a truck within 24-48 hours. Peak season usually coincides with the 4th of July. Many refrigerated carriers across the country plan their loads around cherry season every year.
April 2022 saw record low temperatures in Washington and Oregon. A cold spring brings many obstacles for local cherry growers. Several publications have predicted cherries to start later and the crop to be smaller than usual. Some predict the overall crop will be between 20% and 35% smaller than in the previous five years.
The Seattle Times warned that a cool April will also affect bees, as they struggle to pollinate the cherry blossoms. Less fruit available will also mean each box will have increased value due to basic supply and demand. This is a stark contrast to what growers were facing last year. In April 2021, the Pacific Northwest saw record high temperatures that reduced the cherry crop by 20%, according to Fruit Growers News.
Overall, many growers remain optimistic as the season approaches. Delayed cherry harvest in some growing regions may extend the season, which could be profitable for cherry producers in the Pacific Northwest. Most growers agree that the fruit will be high quality and ready for consumers to enjoy in the first few weeks of June.
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Lisa Towner began her career with the Allen Lund Company as a transportation broker in 2002. She was promoted to assistant manager in the Portland office in 2015. In 2022, Towner was promoted to manager ALC Portland. Her transportation career began back in 2000 when she worked at the corporate headquarters for a national LTL company.
A completion of integration of its platform with leading transportation management software (TMS) provider Freightflow was recently announced by Trucker Tools, which provides a full portfolio of digital freight management tools and mobile apps for truckload carriers and brokers.
Freightflow of Reno, NV is a cloud-based TMS built primarily for produce grower/shippers and brokers to manage the complex transportation needs of the perishable produce industry. Its software is currently used by grower/shippers, wholesalers and distributors, and produce-focused 3PLs to plan and execute timely transportation of goods to market while driving efficiencies and costs savings.
Trucker Tools provides trip planning, shipment visibility, predictive freight matching, automated booking and digital document management solutions for brokers and carriers involved in truckload transportation.
Freightflow notes the integration enables Freightflow customers to seamlessly post available loads in Smart Capacity and quickly find a matching carrier.
When using the Trucker Tools mobile driver app, capacity providers can then accept the load, book it automatically, set up automated tracking and submit electronic documents to speed load management and payment. Shipper and carrier also benefit from an expanded pool of available carriers, with both grower/shipper and carrier working on a common, proven digital management platform that automates many formerly manual tasks.
Over 95 percent of Freightflow’s traffic moves with refrigerated carriers.
Reliable, constantly updated in-transit visibility is critical for produce goods, and the Trucker Tools app updates shipment location status as frequently as every five minutes. That combined with predictive freight matching and one-click booking really helps customers streamline workflows, respond faster to the carrier, and reduce the overall time it takes to book and tender a load. That is a significant benefit to all entities, the grower/shipper, wholesaler, distributor, 3PLs and carriers.
Started in 2013, the Trucker Tools mobile driver app has been downloaded by some 1.7 million truckers and is actively used by nearly 190,000 small-fleet operators of 10 trucks or less. Nearly 350 freight brokerages and 3PLs use the Smart Capacity digital freight-matching, automated booking and load tracking suite.
Interest in the Trucker Tools mobile app remains strong among owner-operators and the small fleet truckload community, as it has continued to rank as one of the top downloaded apps in any given month in transportation.
The Trucker Tools mobile app is available for Android- and Apple-powered smartphones and is provided free of charge to independent truckers and small fleets. In addition to predictive load-matching, capacity visibility, automated booking and tracking, the all-in-one app has 17 of the most sought-after resources and tools drivers want for managing their business while on the road.
About Trucker Tools:
Trucker Tools, based in Reston, Va., is the leading provider of trip planning, shipment visibility, predictive freight matching and automated booking solutions for the transportation industry. Its ground-breaking Smart Capacity® platform uses accurate, real-time data and powerful algorithms to optimally match freight by predicting when and where capacity will become available, days in advance. The company’s popular driver smartphone app has been downloaded by over 1.7 million owner operators and small-carrier fleets to access information and services conveniently while on the road. Included in the smartphone app is Book It Now®, the industry’s first digital load booking app that automates and streamlines the load search and booking process for drivers and brokers, saving time and money. Trucker Tools load tracking solution is a robust feature in the app that connects drivers with carriers and freight brokers, automating the provision and collection of real-time shipment tracking and eliminating manual check calls. Visit Trucker Tools at www.truckertools.com
MONTEREY, CA — Total organic fresh produce sales for the first quarter of 2022 increased by 4 percent from the same period last year, topping $2.3 billion for the quarter, according to the Q1 2022 Organic Produce Performance Report released exclusively by Organic Produce Network and Category Partners.
While organic fresh produce sales continued to grow in Q1, overall volume declined due to elevated pricing. Conventional produce showed the same pattern, with sales up 7 percent for the quarter (totaling $16.8 billion) and volume declining by 2.7 percent.
Higher average retail pricing in Q1 is responsible for most of the sales gains of produce items, with conventional produce average pricing up more than 10 percent compared to Q1 of last year. By contrast, organic fresh produce pricing rose just below 5 percent, suggesting it has been able to absorb more of the increased costs related to the current inflationary environment.
“There are some strong takeaways from the Q1 data, most notably that overall volumes remain elevated from Q1 2019, before the Covid pandemic drove double-digit sales and volume gains at retail,” said Tom Barnes, CEO of Category Partners. “We believe the second quarter of this year will tell a similar story as we move further away from 2020 when the pandemic shuttered most foodservice, causing supermarket sales to soar.”
Packaged salads continued to dominate in total organic dollars, reaching nearly $400 million for the quarter, a gain of 1.5 percent year-over-year. The berry category (which includes strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries) grew 9.3 percent in sales from Q1 2021, with strawberries posting gains in both dollars and volume of more than 16 percent. Blueberries, on the other hand, were down 7 percent in dollars and 19 percent in volume from the previous year.
“While organic fresh produce volume declined for the first time in a long while, organic dollar sales continue to grow even after consecutive years of growth due to higher prices across the entire produce department,” said Matt Seeley, CEO of Organic Produce Network. “There remains room for growth of organic fresh produce as long as suppliers remain aware of not only the rising costs of organic produce but also the opportunity presented by a significantly larger increase in conventional produce prices.”
The southern region of the US continued to show the most year-over-year improvement, with dollar growth rising 8 percent, and volume up 3.6 percent. The Northeast was the weakest region, with dollars declining 1.1 percent and volume down 7.7 percent.
The Q1 2022 Organic Produce Performance Report utilized Nielsen retail scan data covering total food sales and outlets in the US over the months of January, February, and March of this year. The full Q1 2022 Organic Produce Performance Report is available on the Organic Produce Network website here.
OPN is a marketing organization serving as the go-to resource for the organic fresh produce industry. The company’s mission is to inform and educate through a strong digital presence with an emphasis on original content and complemented by engaging live events that bring together various components of the organic produce community. The OPN audience includes organic producers, handlers, distributors, processors, wholesalers, foodservice operators, and retailers. www.organicproducenetwork.com
BOGOTA, CO – Goldenberry Farms™ has begun shipping the initial boxes of Sweet Sugar Mangos™, an ultra-sweet and miniature mango variety, trademarked by the company. These naturally grown tree mangos easily fit in the palm of your hand and are unique due to their ability to be eaten with their skin, giving it the nickname of “lunchbox mango.”
The Sweet Sugar Mango has a red, fragrant flesh with a sweet juicy taste and a brix level of 22. Unlike some other exotic mangos, Sweet Sugar Mangos™ do not have a fibrous taste. These miniature mangos are grown naturally, non-GMO, and have a peak harvest season of April through September.
Sweet Sugar Mangos™ are exclusively grown commercially in the Magdalena Region of Colombia, close to Santa Marta on the Caribbean Coast. The tropical environment and unique locale create an ideal microclimate for this specialty fruit. The small fruit is highlighted for its extreme popularity in the region.
“This variety is really special, it is smaller and more sweet and fragrant than the Ataulfo and Honey mango, and much more convenient to eat. It’s very popular with parents and children who really love the fact that they can be eaten without peeling,“ commented brand Development Director Christopher Palumbo.
Sweet Sugar Mangos™ are offered commercially in 2 kilo (4.5 pound) cases, which hold between 18-24 mangos each. Specially branded retail kits and mini boxes are available to merchandise the Sugar Mangos™ in store.
Goldenberry Farms™ expects to offer up to 6,000 cases weekly of Sugar Mangos™ and Sweet Sugar Mangos™. The fruit is available to customers globally, and pending the final permissions for entering the USA market, which is expected for this season.