Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
An early production surge is giving importers in the United States and Europe a head start on the winter Chilean cherry import season.
The Chilean cherry is considered a premium fruit in China, and producers are hoping to charm shoppers worldwide as the Andean country looks to diversify one of its star products.
Honeybear Brands, based in Minnestoa, is already moving fruit into retail, while Spain’s CMR Group recently unloaded Europe’s first sea container of off-season Chilean cherries. Both companies report strong crop conditions in Chile and expect steady volumes through the holidays.
Honeybear Brands, reports the company is estimating shipments at approximately 125 to 150 loads.
Honeybear Brands continues to position itself as a key supplier for cherry winter demand, highlighting the fruit’s versatility and convenience. The company only imports Chilean fruit; believing it is a superior product to other growing regions in South America.
The company brings Chilean cherries into Washington state and Philadelphia, and says the dual-port model allows it to co-load imported cherries with its domestic apple programs.
The importer expects to expand its cherry program in the coming weeks with additional origins and other stone fruit items.
Chilean exporter Copefrut over 70 years of experience with cherries, apples, kiwifruit, and plums as strategic crops in Chile and foreign markets such as the US.
The company shipped over 3,000 tons of fruit to the US in 2024, with apples accounting for nearly half and cherries for 831 tons.
The firm works directly with some US and Canadian retailers, but that the majority of the crop enters the market through importers on both coasts. Copefrut’s plan in the mid- and long-term is to grow across all fronts, but apples are already ahead, with the company observing a 30 percent year-on-year increase in market share in 2024.
Westside Produce/Classic Fruit reports the U.S. domestic melon season winds down in October and Imports take over. Most melon consumption in the U.S. comes from domestic grown product, so imported supplies over the winter are typically lighter in volume.
It’s around this time that growers and shippers start gearing up to import the seasonal fruit from global suppliers such as Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
During the winter months, Westside Produce/Classic Fruit’s melons come from their offshore operations in Guatemala, the world’s main supplier.
This year, the company is reporting incoming fruit is looking great, and supply is sufficient for a steady flow that will last through the holiday season.
Growing conditions are noted to be better than the past few years, with far fewer major weather problems. Quality and yields should be very good.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKER, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Southern Specialties, of Pompano Beach, FL is a grower, importer and distributor of specialty produce, and reports a strong year across the board as it heads into the final months of the year.
As the industry transitions into the fall season, the 35 year-old company once again turns attention to one of its key Florida-grown programs — its green bean operation.
The company’s green beans are marketed under its Southern Selects label, along with a number of private-label programs for major retailers and foodservice distributors. Southern Specialties sources and processes the beans through its Florida operations.
Besides Florida-grown green beans, Southern Specialties also uses its South Florida base as a critical gateway for imported counter-seasonal products.
This allows the company to complement Florida-grown crops with imported items such as asparagus, baby vegetables and berries from Guatemala, Mexico and Peru.
The company points out about 96 percent of the asparagus consumed in the U.S. comes from either Peru or Mexico and is one of the leading growers and importers of Peruvian asparagus, which enters the Port of Miami and is then distributed nationwide. Southern Specialties also grow and distribute asparagus from Mexico, as well as seasonally available Michigan asparagus.
Having the Port of Miami and Port Everglades nearby provides an important logistical advantage, especially during the busy fall and holiday months.
Both ports are strong receivers for product coming from throughout South and Central America, which can distributed along north-south and east–west corridors that allows the company to reach about 80 percent of the U.S. population within two days.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
California strawberry supplies remain extremely limited due to the rains and lower temperatures of the past two weeks. Mexican berries (into South Texas) and Florida-grown supplies are increasing; quality is improving. Expect prices to decline slowly over the next 10 days, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Santa Maria and Oxnard, California
- Harvesting has been minimal this week as growers are allowing fruit to mature
- Winter production is expected to begin by late December
Mexico (into South Texas)
- Supplies are increasing
- Quality problems include white shoulders, skin bruising, and green tips
- This market is active
Florida
- Cooler weather has slowed growth, but supplies are slowly increasing
- Defects include white shoulders and green tips
- Size ranges from 17 to 22 berries per 8/1-pound clamshells
Baja, Mexico (into California)
- Shipments are beginning to cross after last week’s border blockades ended
- Rainy weather slowed production
- Quality ranges from fair to good
- Size ranges from 19-24 per 8/1-pound clamshells
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
An otherwise relatively some California grape growing season was disrupted in mid-October when an unusually strong storm crossed key production areas from Bakersfield to Visalia.
Between 20 and 30mm of rain fell over two days, prompting California grape growers to cover vineyards with protective plastic.
Pandol Brothers, California grower, shipper and importer based in Delano, reported nearly all vineyards have plastic covering ready to be pulled on in case of rain. However, this was an unusually strong storm for October, but it shouldn’t be a problem for most growers.
Some others expressed less optimism. One California grape exporter noted that many vineyards appeared to be uncovered and added that even protected blocks could see increased disease pressure from moisture rising back up from the soil.
The storm also resulted several shippers halting ocean exports to Asian markets, opting to rely solely on air freight to avoid the risk of claims or rejected fruit on arrivals.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
With over 30 percent retail sales growth in the US this year, Zespri kiwifruit is climbing the ranks of America’s fruit isle, now sitting at number 15 and eyeing a top-10 spot.
The New Zealand company reports kiwi is the fastest-growing fruit in the fruit category, and Zespri is the number one kiwifruit brand driving that growth, selling more than 4x the next best-selling brand.
Zespri attributes much of the brand’s momentum to the company’s popular SunGold variety, which is described as sweet, juicy, and very broadly appealing.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
A big crop of walnuts is just getter bigger if the California Walnut Board and Commission (CWBC) is correct in its latest estimate.
The CWBC reports initial forecasts may have been too conservative as the organization estimates a six percent increase over the original 710,000 short tons projected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Thanks to near perfect growing conditions and the harvest still ongoing, the CWBC sees a potential of 750,000 short tons.
The organization observes the kernel size is also two percent larger than the average of the past two years, with optimal color and quality.
Established in 1948, the CWBC represents California walnut growers and handlers.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Comprising over 147 growers in Central New York, Crunch Time Apple Growers of Newark, NY is responsible for 60 percent of the state’s apple production and is excited about its 2025 crop.
Thanks to favorable weather conditions in the months leading up to harvest, both of the cooperative’s exclusive varieties, SnapDragon and RubyFrost, have excellent taste and appearance.
The harvest lasts only a few weeks, and the fruit is showing good storage capabilities for months to come.
Although there is a high-quality fruit crop with favorable weather, Cruch Time sees the challenge of yet another record-breaking season for US apples, which is forecasted to reach a historic production of 278.5 million bushels nationwide.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
The Peruvian Blueberry Growers and Exporters Association (ProArándanos) announced that blueberry exports reached their peak earlier than expected and are projected to decline in the coming months.
According to the organization, Peru’s blueberry shipments reached their highest level during early November, with approximately 21,000 metric tons .
This is a 12.5 percent decrease compared with the projected peak at the start of the season (24,000 metric tons in mid November).
So far, Peru has exported more than 215,000 metric tons of blueberries, accounting for approximately 54 percent of the projected 400,000-ton export volume for the season.
Shipments to the US, Europe, and China have driven growth. To date, 44 percent has been shipped to the US, 35 percent to Europe, and 15 percent to China.
The organization warns that shipments will gradually decline moving forward, reflecting a shorter and lower output than the projected Peruvian berry season.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Ecuador is currently at the height of its mango export season, with Peru building momentum to take the lead through early 2026.
US importers are entering their peak offshore mango season with the seasonal shift in the global supply lines.
Ecuador is currently operating at full speed, and weekly shipments are expected to reach 1.7 million boxes during the second half of November. Total projected shipments stand at 14 million boxes for the season, slightly below 2024’s volume. Shipments will begin winding down in early December and finish by the end of the year.
Peru, the largest offshore supplier to the US, has started its season gradually, with 168,000 boxes shipped by the end of week 43. Volumes are expected to climb steadily through December, reaching 2.5 million boxes per week by early January. The season will peak through the first month of 2026, with total shipments projected at 23.2 million boxes, down 21 percent from last year’s record.
With a smooth handoff from Ecuador to Peru, US markets are well-positioned for steady mango availability through the winter months.
Mexico, the dominant supplier to the US, just closed out a historic season, with exports reaching 95.6 million boxes, the highest volume on record. The North American country continues to supply smaller volumes of irradiated fruit, which now account for ten percent of its total shipments, adding to this year’s 10 million boxes, up sharply from 2.75 million in 2021.
Meanwhile, Brazil is nearing the end of its season with two to three weeks left. Despite early concerns about tariffs, consumer demand held steady even as prices rose, allowing Brazil to ship an expected 9.5 million boxes, comparable to last year’s total.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.