Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
El Niño’s impact is proving more severe than expected, even though the cultivated Peruvian blueberry area is 15% larger. according to Proarándanos, the Peruvian blueberry growers and exporters association.
The group has published its fifth export forecast, lowering the September estimate by 4.2%.
According to it latest forecast, Peru is expected to export about 366,000 tons of fresh blueberries in the 2026–27 season. That is 4.2% below the September estimate of 382,000 tons and 4.4% below the 383,000 tons exported in the previous season.
The forecast is based on information from producers and exporters as recent weeks confirm a downward trend, with a significant drop in export volumes despite approximately 15% more acres under production.
By the end of September , Peru had exported 136,000 tons, 18.7% more than the same period of the previous season (115,000 tons). However, this number can be deceptive.
From October through the end of the season, exports are expected to total 229,000 tons, 14.2% below the 268,000 tons recorded during the same period of the 2025–26 season.
The decline is more serious over the next eight weeks, with 108,000 tons projected. This is 48,000 tons less than the previous season (156,000 tons), representing a 31.2% decline.
Nova Scotia’s apple crop is forecast at about 2.2 million bushels in 2026, up roughly 30 per cent from 1.7 million bushels last year, according to the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association.
The province has 2,093 hectares of apple orchards. Following drought conditions in 2025, which resulted in smaller fruit and stressed trees, growers are reporting larger fruit and higher yields this season. Rainfall during summer supported fruit sizing, while a cool spring delayed flowering.
Early apple varieties including Sunrise, Gravenstein, and SweeTango are already being harvested. At Gates U-Pick in Port Williams, harvesting has started for Gravenstein, McIntosh, and Zestar apples, along with Clapp and Bartlett pears. Later apple varieties include Cortland, Red Delicious, and Russet.
At Willowbank U-Pick, Gravenstein harvesting is scheduled to begin on September 12, followed by McIntosh and Cortland later in the month. Honeycrisp is expected around September 25, with Gala, Ambrosia, Golden Delicious, and other varieties following in October.
Growers continue to monitor export conditions. Around 90 per cent of Nova Scotia’s apple exports are shipped to the United States, with Honeycrisp an important variety for this trade. The industry has not reported immediate tariff impacts on apple exports but is monitoring costs for equipment, materials, supplies, and fertilizer.
Ganfer Fresh of Nogales, AZ has announced the addition of Mexican sweet corn to its fresh produce portfolio, marking another step in its expansion strategy to meet evolving U.S. market demands.
The company will cultivate its sweet corn in Sonora and Sinaloa, two prominent Mexican agricultural regions known for fresh produce. It will be available from November to April, a period the company considers key to maintaining a steady supply.
Sweet corn is one of the leading vegetable crops in the United States, ranking among the top three in harvested area and total production. According to the company, the U.S. sweet corn crop was valued at around $809 million in 2022, with over 65% of that value coming from the fresh market.
Mexico has strengthened its role as a supplier to the U.S. market: Mexican sweet corn imports increased by 76% from 2000 to 2020, covering a period normally served by Florida. This is important for Ganfer Fresh, whose season runs from November to April and aligns with a critical supply period for fresh sweet corn in the U.S.
The company explains that this move aims to expand its product range and strengthen supply programs to ensure reliable, seasonal consistency.
Ganfer Fresh is aligning with a growing industry trend by expanding its fresh produce selection. This move takes advantage of favorable agricultural conditions and marketing opportunities in northwestern Mexico.
United States apple production is forecast to fall seven percent in the 2026/27 crop year to approximately 263 million bushels, according to the 2026 Industry Outlook report from industry body USApple.
The forecast, which combines US Department of Agriculture estimates with USApple analysis for states not covered by the annual USDA survey, is also three percent below the five-year average. Because not all regions took part in this year’s adjustment process, the grower organization is not publishing a final industry-adjusted national estimate for 2026/27.
The projected crop is expected to have a farm-gate value exceeding $3 billion, although production prospects vary considerably by region.
“The story this season really varies by region,” said Chris Gerlach, USApple vice president and author of the report. While conditions have improved in areas that experienced drought last year, parts of the Mid-Atlantic have faced significant weather-related challenges that are expected to weigh on production.
According to USDA’s figures, Washington will remain the leading US apple-producing state, with an estimated 176 million bushels, down two percent from the previous season and valued at more than $2 billion. New York is forecast to produce 32 million bushels, down 10 percent, while Michigan is projected at 25 million bushels, a one percent decline.
The sharpest reductions are expected in Pennsylvania and Virginia, where spring freeze damage is projected to cut production by 58 percent and 48 percent, respectively. Where states submitted their own estimates, they diverge from USDA: USApple puts New York at 29 million bushels and Virginia at 1.3 million, while Michigan’s industry representatives said USDA’s figure is too low without offering an adjusted number.
Gala is expected to remain the leading US apple variety, with production approaching 42 million bushels, equivalent to about 16 percent of total domestic supply. Red Delicious is forecast at approximately 30 million bushels, followed closely by Granny Smith, also near 30 million.
The varietal mix continues to shift, reflecting changing consumer preferences and market conditions. Over the past five years, production of Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp and Pink Lady/Cripps Pink has increased, while Gala, Red Delicious and Fuji production has declined.
The industry enters the season after a difficult 2025/26 marketing environment. US growers produced another large crop well above the five-year average, while flat domestic demand and exports below historical levels contributed to low farm-gate prices for many varieties. Rising production costs further pressured grower margins.
Exports remain critical for US apple growers
International markets remain an important outlet for US apples. Fresh apple exports during the 2025/26 crop year reached nearly 45 million bushels, up two percent year-on-year, while imports fell 12 percent to approximately 4 million bushels. This produced a trade surplus of nearly 41 million bushels, valued at more than $1 billion.
Mexico and Canada were the two largest export markets, accounting for 39 percent and 19 percent of US fresh apple exports, respectively. Combined, they purchased nearly $650 million worth of US apples.
Mississippi’s sweet potato harvest began in the last week of August 2026, with timely rainfall supporting crop development despite hot and dry conditions affecting other crops in the state.
Lorin Harvey, sweet potato specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said rainfall arrived at key stages of the growing cycle. “It’s a strong-looking crop, but you can never really tell until you start digging,” Harvey said. “We got timely rains, which will probably be the biggest factor for this year’s success.”
Growers planted about 35,800 acres of sweet potatoes this year, an increase of almost 10 per cent. Sweet potato area in Mississippi has increased nearly 25 per cent over the past five years.
Harvey attributed the expansion to lower yields in 2025, which resulted in higher demand and prices, as well as low prices for other agricultural commodities.
Planting started in late April for many growers, with cooler temperatures allowing plants to establish before summer heat arrived.
Among the challenges facing domestic onion growers and shippers this season are costs, a fact of life trucking can certainly relate to.
Race-West Company Inc. of Clarks Summit, PA reports significant challenges for onion growers and shippers because of continued driver shortages, ever rising fuel costs, and an aging driver pool. All of these factors that continue to tighten the availability of transportation.
The average price of Number 2 diesel fuel in the U.S. is over $6 per gallon, unless you are in California, where it is over $8 per gallon.
Race-West, a grower, shipper and distributor, notes the new crop of onions across the U.S. and Canada look good and are in strong supply. While total volume may be good this season good, acreage is less than last year because of too many onions and poor markets.
Growers should have adequate supply through winter and spring.
Race-West longs for a resurgence of railroad involvement to help adjust transportation costs downward. However, rail service continues to be poor with excessive transit times and an inadequate supply of rail cars.
Most of the ginger in North America comes in from Peru and is mostly organic. China remains the other major source, particularly for conventional ginger. However, at this time of year Peru has a clear seasonal advantage in terms of maturity and quality, according to Viva Tierra Organic of Mount Vernon, WA.
The shipper, importer, exporter Peruvian reports ginger is entering one of its strongest quality periods of the year, with fully mature product now arriving in North America. At the same time, however, abundant low-priced ginger is putting pressure on the market.
Unlike many seasonal crops, Peru’s ginger supply does not simply start and stop. Different production cycles mean new crops can begin as early as April, when young and more delicate ginger is typically flown into the market. By June, ocean shipments become more common as the product reaches sufficient maturity to withstand the journey. By this time of year, however, the crop has reached full maturity.
This is now fully 100 percent mature ginger, with peak quality from Peru now through the end of the calendar year.
Despite the favorable quality window, the current market is under pressure because of an excess of Peruvian ginger in North America, partly linked to changes in European imports. New European rules were implemented for Peruvian ginger entering Europe to address Ralstonia. This has adversely affected Peruvian garlic exports, with some European buyers shifting toward Chinese ginger. This is resulting in more Peruvian product being exported to, and flooding, the U.S. market.
Cantaloupe and honeydew loadings from the Central San Joaquin Valley have good and steady most of the summer, but with shorter days volume is declining. The transition to the fields of Arizona should occur with the first harvest in mid October.
Classic Fruit Company Inc. of Fresno, CA reports local melon harvests are winding down and demand for California melons remains good. A relatively smooth transition to Arizona is expected.
The grower, packer and shipper also has some later acres in the Central Valley overlapping with Arizona just as a safety precaution in case there are any unexpected problems. The crops are spread out across different areas within the two regions because if a virus or pest problem were to be persistent, we don’t want it to affect the entire crop in that area.
The company also imports melons during the winter months.
Shipments of pummelos from Florida have just got underway as Chilean imports are now winding down.
Size and flavor are the best in years, reports Noble Citrus of Winter Haven, FL. Despite a freeze last spring, the grower/shipper notes volume is expected to match a year ago, but the brix and quality should be even better.
Following its Florida pummelo season are the Autumn Honey and Noble Juicy Crunch tangerine seasons, with the latter being the company’s proprietary premium tangerine. Tree health is noted to be excellent as the company expects expanded volume for both varieties from Florida.
This year, along with importing Chilean citrus–primarily lemons, navels and mandarins, which started at the beginning of July, and later Cara Caras and Minneolas at the end of July–the company is adding a new sourcing region to its mix. This winter it will now source fruit from California and along with Chile and Florida, it will give retailers and wholesalers a continuous supply program.
Noble Citrus has added Golden Star Citrus of Woodlake, CA to its mix of suppliers, starting in January 2027.
This allows the company to ship Navels, Cara Caras or Red Navels, and lemons January through May. Then in June, as California production winds down, Chilean imports start picking up and will go through September. After that, mid-October through December is the window for Florida-grown navels and lemons. In all, this provides 12 months of fresh navels and navel/orange juicing.
Markon Cooperative has introduced its year-round Markon First Crop (MFC) Mandarin brand program, giving members consistent access to premium-quality, Markon-brand Mandarins year-round, according to the Salinas, CA based company in a press release.
This program reinforces Markon’s commitment to quality and supply continuity by delivering a recognizable brand backed by industry-leading food safety standards.
Program Highlights
- Available year-round for loading at 4Earth or California Central Valley through a combination of domestic and imported production. USA: October through May. Peru/Chile: May through October
- Primarily packed with small to medium sizes (24- to 28-count fruit)
- Packed in a volume-filled 30-pound carton averaging 160-180 pieces per box
- MFC packaging provides a consistent appearance and enhanced food safety recognition for members and operators
Member Impact
- Ensures uninterrupted year-round Mandarin availability under the Markon brand
- Larger volume-filled pack provides excellent value and merchandising flexibility for foodservice operators
- Supports program consistency with a single brand offering across both domestic and imported seasons
- Backed by Markon’s established food safety and quality standards, delivering confidence from field to fork