Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
By Pacificpro Sales LLC, Belleville, WA
Good volume shipments are expected this entire season through the summer into new crop, on the primary varieties.
The entire 2023 Washington apple crop is currently in storage and controlled atmosphere rooms and is shaping up to be a great season for growers and consumers alike.
The harvest began in mid- August with the Gala variety and finished in November with the latest season variety to be harvested, the Pink Lady. Estimates put the total crop size in the 134 million box range. This is up over the 5-year average and a significant increase from the 2022-23 crop of 104 million boxes, a 29% increase.
The large crop is due to the ideal growing season in the spring and summer of 2023. The lack of any significant freezes after the bloom, no significant hailstorms or other weather damage, and 90-degree temperatures this summer resulted in a very clean crop with great sizing, color, crispness and flavor.
The warm days but not overly hot days, which would be more than 100 degrees, are great for sizing and sweetness, and when coupled with the cooler nights, results in great color and condition.
The Gala variety tops the list as the largest volume Washington apple variety this season at roughly 20% of the total crop or 26.5 million boxes, followed by the Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Fuji.
The iconic Red Delicious has been usurped in recent years by the Gala as the largest Washington variety. The Honeycrisp saw a significant jump in total volume this year due to the larger crop and better quality resulting in higher pack-outs.
The newest broadly grown variety, the Cosmic Crisp, continues to grow in both availability and popularity, accounting for roughly 5% of this season’s total Washington crop.
Winter Iceberg and leaf lettuce shipments from the California and Arizona deserts have been practically non existent for the past week due the cold and wet weather. The situation could last into mid February.
The desert region received ¾” – 1+” of rain between Sunday, January 21 and Monday, January 22. Many growers were forced to cancel harvesting operations due to extremely muddy field conditions, according to Markon of Salinas, CA.
Over the past three weeks, the region has experienced freezing morning temperatures followed by above-normal humidity, and now significant rainfall. The erratic weather has caused many quality and shelf-life concerns to develop which will last for two to three weeks at minimum.
Markon inspectors are working with suppliers to minimize some of the following issues in lettuce and tender leaf items, but many cannot be avoided completely:
- Bottom rot
- Decreased case weights for commodity lettuce items
- Discoloration and/or decay on epidermal blistering and peeling
- Dirt/mud on the product
- Increased mildew pressure
- Premature pinking in some commodity and/or value-added salads or Washed & Trimmed leaf lettuce packs
- Reduced shelf-life potential
- Yellowing leaves/discoloration
- Ordering for quick turns is highly recommended
CHARLOTTE, NC – Dole Food Company recently announced the launch of a new weekly vessel service that will call the Northeast United States that started December 31, 2023.
The expanded service will increase capacity of tropical fresh fruits, including Dole branded bananas, pineapples, dragon fruit, mangoes and limes coming to the US from Colombia, Honduras and Guatemala into the Port of Wilmington, DE.
The service will deploy two 1,200 FEU container vessels, MV Robin-2, and MV Robin-5 in a 14-day rotation,with one of these vessels making weekly ports of call in Santa Marta, Colombia, Puerto Castilla, Honduras, and a new port of service in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala before landing in Wilmington, DE each Saturday.
Both additional vessels entering the expanded service will allow for optimum freshness of the fruit through increased sourcing options, discharges, and port rationalization. These vessels allow for increased fuel efficiency of our service derived from slow speed operation.
All other existing Dole shipping services will be unchanged.
Dole Ocean Cargo Express, the company’s commercial marine transportation service is also utilizing these vessels with the introduction of the Mayan Express Service between the Northeast United States and Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The new service will expand ocean network coverage providing an additional alternative to North Central America to and from the Port of Wilmington, DE.
“Dole is excited to expand our service level into the Northeast, bringing even more fresh tropical fruit to market,” stated Nelson Montoya, President of Dole Fresh Fruit North America. “Both existing and future Dole customers can be equally excited at this growth in our service as we continue our journey to make the world a healthier place.”
About Dole Food Company
Dole Food Company, part of Dole plc, is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education.
Los Angeles, CA – Pacific Trellis Fruit, LLC. dba Dulcinea Farms, the owner of the Dulcinea® brand, announced that after several years of successful production trials, they will be expanding the sourcing of their PureHeart® Mini Seedless Watermelon from Guatemala beginning in January 2024 and extending into April.
Product shipped will arrive via the West Coast Port Hueneme, California, as well as to the East Coast, through Port Everglades, Florida.
“We are extremely excited about this development as it will expand our ability to deliver Dulcinea PureHeart mini watermelons 52 weeks per year, “explained Rob Markel, VP of Sales – Melons at Pacific Trellis Fruit. “At this time, we are also growing the melons in both Los Mochis and Colima, Mexico, and the fruit to market ships through Nogales, AZ.”
“In addition, the watermelon from Guatemala is currently undergoing Fair Trade Certification, which is a rigorous and globally recognized sustainable sourcing model that improves livelihoods, protects the environment, and builds resilient, transparent supply chains” added Markel.
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About Pacific Trellis Fruit
Pacific Trellis Fruit® is one of North America’s top year-round importers, growers, and marketers of premium fresh fruit, including melons, grapes, stonefruit, cherries and citrus. In 2014, Dulcinea® was acquired by Pacific Trellis Fruit and became their consumer-facing brand. Dulcinea is the pioneer of the PureHeart® personal seedless watermelon, the Tuscan-Style® cantaloupe and SunnyGold® yellow mini seedless watermelon. Pacific Trellis Fruit also features Kiss Melons, a line of high quality, great tasting melons. Pacific Trellis’ corporate headquarters is in Los Angeles, CA, with sales offices in Fresno, CA, Gloucester, NJ, and Tucson, AZ.
The trade group U.S. Apple Association of Falls Church, VA held a webinar following the December 1st update on the amount of apples remaining in storages.
Chris Gerlach, USApple’s director of industry analytics, said the total figure was about 190 million bushels — 140 million of those bushels are in fresh apples while 51 million remain in processing.
“The last time we had a total holding of this size in November it was the November 2014-15 season with 188 million bushels — 144 million bushels in fresh and 44 million bushels in processing,” Gerlach said. “For the most part, we’re right on par with the production with the fresh crop there.”
Gerlach said one deviation from the 2014-15 figures is the number of apples in processing this season. He suspected with a down market last year, processors used the opportunity to fill holdings then.
“It’s a big year,” said Gerlach, who added that fresh apple holdings are closer to 40% greater than a year ago.
Washington state contributes the majority the year-over-year growth. The state is up 38% over last season, which is equivalent to 42 million bushels and about 90% of total growth in the U.S.
New York state’s 15 million bushels is 10% of the national growth; its crop is up 44% year over year.
Michigan shows a 6% decrease year over year, but at 12 million bushels, it is down only 1 million bushels from 2022 and still above the state’s five-year average.
“These states account for about 94% of remaining storages,” Gerlach said.
Honeycrisp, gala, red delicious, granny smith and fuji make up 76% of the total apple holdings. Gerlach said USApple pulled Envy out of the “other varieties” category to track its growth individually moving forward. Apple growers harvested 4.2 million bushels of Envy apples this season.
Cosmic Crisp experienced a 41% year-over-year growth with 9.5 million bushels harvested this year.
Gerlach noted that there are two mindsets for how this year’s crop moved through before December. He said if using the figures set in August by the USDA, it looks like a sluggish movement of apples in storage. However, Gerlach said he suspects the crop is higher than projected and therefore moving at a better rate.
He said the figures in the USApple movement tracker shows a 17.8-million-bushel differential between November and December, up 81% year over year, with varieties coming in and out of storage. Gerlach suspects with apples coming in and going out of storage, that figure could be higher. Washington state moved 16.3 million bushels in November, which is up 97% year over year.
Gerlach said by comparison, using the 2014-15 season, data from the tracker shows only 14 million bushels for November. So, apple movement this season tracks considerably higher.
“With the 18-million-bushel figure, we are exceeding the net movement in the November 2014 time frame,” he said. “There’s no reason to think we’re dragging our heels.”
Gerlach noted net movement of varieties show gala moving 4.4 million bushels, up 74% year over year. Honeycrisp movement is up 105% at 3.7 million bushels. Movement of granny smith apples is up 204% at 3 million bushels. Red delicious rounds out the top four with 2.1 million bushels, up 53%.
Florida’s strawberry strawberry shipments are gradually ramp up and should hit peak volume in time to make deliveries for Valentine’s Day, February 14.
The Sunshine State strawberry season got underway in early to mid-November, and supplies slowly increased throughout December.
Gem-Pack Berries LLC of Irvine, CA is partnering with Parkesdale Farms of Plant City, FL. The companies expect to have peak volume the week of Valentine’s Day.
On a note of caution, the company is monitoring for Botrytis and Chile thrips. Botrytis is a fungus causing a gray mold and appears as white specks or brown spots on the pedals which spread to the flower. Chile thrips are microscopic pests that damage the strawberry leaves and fruit itself.
Parkesdale Farms expects similar volume to a year ago with ample supplies throughout the season.
Gem-Pack also will offer Well-Pict-brand proprietary strawberry varieties grown in Florida.
Wish Farms of Plant City began picking Florida strawberries the first week of November, which is about a week earlier than usual with average berry size and above average quality.
Peak season for Wish Farms is expected to be mid-February to early March, with volume similar to other seasons.
California Gian Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA started harvesting Florida strawberries the second week of November, but cooler than normal weather had kept its volume below normal.
But volume had not reached normal numbers as of mid-December because of unusually cool weather. Still the company expects total volume to be similar to last season, shipments extending through March and into early April.
Astin Strawberry Exchange LLC has 2,000 acres of strawberries this year, with decent volume expected by January 20, with peak season likely coming after Valentine’s Day, but earlier if weather is warm in January.
The company notes an early Easter of March 31 will be good for Florida strawberry shipments with peak volume occurring from mid-February to mid-March.
After two years of figures marked by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 brought an improvement in export volumes for Ecuadorian bananas, with 316.35 million boxes shipped to international markets, according to a recent report by the Association of Ecuadorian Banana Exporters (AEBE) latest report.
The U.S. posted a moderate increase in imports of this product, totaling 28.44 million boxes in 2023 with a 9% share of shipments.
The report has statistical data collected by DATACOMEX and the Banana Statistical Observatory, considering consolidated figures up to November 2023.
During 2021 and 2022, the sector experienced an accumulated 14% drop in shipments, with the European Union and Russia as the main destinations. Although figures remain below pre-pandemic levels, exports rose 6% in 2023.
In 2023, 91.86 million 40-pound boxes were shipped to the EU, while in 2022 exports to said market totaled 78.00 million boxes, an 18% increase for this destination.
In the case of Russia, shipments totaled 67.28 million boxes in 2023, with a slight 4% decrease year-on-year, as shipments stood at 70.08 million boxes in 2022.
As for other markets, the U.S. posted a moderate increase in imports of this product, totaling 28.44 million boxes in 2023 with a 9% share of shipments.
Africa also reported an increase in Ecuadorian banana imports. In 2023, 3.83 million additional boxes were exported to this region, reaching 17.64 million boxes and a 6% share of overall shipments.
On the other hand, Asia bought 3.62 million additional boxes compared to 2022, reaching a 6% share.
In total, the ten main brands of Ecuador shipped 118.16 million boxes to international destinations, thus placing 37.35% of the domestic banana supply abroad. Dole and Global Village stand out as the main ones.
The EU and Russia maintained their positions as main markets, accounting for 29% and 21% of total shipments, respectively.
In 2023, 91.86 million 40-pound boxes were shipped to the EU, while in 2022 exports to said market totaled 78.00 million boxes, an 18% increase for this destination.
In the case of Russia, shipments totaled 67.28 million boxes in 2023, with a slight 4% decrease year-on-year, as shipments stood at 70.08 million boxes in 2022.
Africa also reported an increase in Ecuadorian banana imports. In 2023, 3.83 million additional boxes were exported to this region, reaching 17.64 million boxes and a 6% share of overall shipments.
On the other hand, Asia bought 3.62 million additional boxes compared to 2022, reaching a 6% share.
In total, the ten main brands of Ecuador shipped 118.16 million boxes to international destinations, thus placing 37.35% of the domestic banana supply abroad. Dole and Global Village stand out as the main ones.
A new report from the USDA predicts Chilean mandarins and lemon exports will increase for the 2023-24 season.
The USDA forecasts that Chilean lemon production will grow by 6.7% in 2023-24, while exports are expected to grow by 8.8%.
While Chilean orange production is expected to dip slightly, Chile’s mandarin area planted has grown rapidly over the past 10 marketing years due to high profits, the USDA report said. As a result, Chilean mandarin exports in 2023-24 are forecast to grow by 7.3%.
Chilean exporters are attempting to diversify their export markets beyond the U.S. In March 2023, Chile gained access to the Mexican market for lemons, clementines and mandarins under an inspection system that avoids fumigation, improving the quality conditions and increasing shelf life.
The report said Chilean lemon acreage for 2023-24 is forecast at 20,139 acres, up 1% from the previous season.
Lemon area planted in Chile grew from 14,606 acres in the marketing year 2016-17 to 19,968 acres in the marketing year 2022-23.
“In the Valparaiso and Coquimbo regions, citrus became a viable alternative to other crops such as avocado because of its high price and low water requirement,” the report said. “According to Post sources, Chilean lemon producers are currently focused on increasing productivity and yields by better managing water use and disease.”
The USDA forecasts Chilean lemon output to grow by 6.7% to 175,000 metric tons in 2023-24 due to the increase in area planted.
Most Chilean lemon exports occur between June and September, typically peaking in July or August, to Northern Hemisphere markets. The lemon production area spans from the Coquimbo region, in the north of the country, to the O’Higgins region in the central south, the report said. The Metropolitana region, in the central part of Chile, holds 41.1% of the lemon area planted, making it the top-producing region.
For the marketing year 2023-24, Chilean lemon exports will grow 8.8% and total 74,000 metric tons.
The USDA said more than 60% of Chilean lemon exports go to the U.S., making it the top market among export destinations.
Chilean orange production will dip by 2.2% and total 175,000 metric tons in 2023-24, the report said. Planted area for oranges in Chile declined 1% in the last year to 15,567 acres, according to the report.
Orange planted area has declined 15% from 18,258 acres in 2011-12 as producers shifted to mandarins and lemons because of their higher profitability, the report said. Chile’s Metropolitana region is still the top orange-producing region in Chile, holding 39.3% of the orange area planted, followed by the O’Higgins region, which holds 31.3% of the area planted.
Chilean orange exports will decrease by 5.5% and total 90,000 metric tons in 2023-24 compared with the previous year.
In Chile, the orange marketing year starts April with the beginning of the harvest season, with the report noting that the bulk of Chilean orange exports is between July and September each year and peaks around August.
The largest market for Chilean oranges is the U.S., which represented 93% of total exports in 2022-23, the report said.
Chilean mandarin/tangerine production in 2023-24 will increase by 7.1% and total 287,000 metric tons.
The USDA said the mandarin area planted has increased by nearly 2,500 acres per year and will reach nearly 30,000 acres in 2023-24.
“Due to high profits, mandarin area planted grew significantly in the past ten marketing years,” the report said. “Specifically, the W. Murcott variety became a viable alternative to replace other crops such as oranges or table grapes.”
The Coquimbo region is the top mandarin production region in Chile, holding 47.4% of the total acreage. The O’Higgins and the Valparaiso regions, in the central part of the country, hold 21.9% and 20.7% of the area planted, respectively.
Area planted in all mandarin-producing regions grew in the past three marketing years.
For 2023-24, the USDA projects that Chilean mandarin/tangerine exports will increase by 7.3% to 250,000 metric tons.
Chile exports mandarins from April until December, peaking around September.
The top export market for mandarins is the U.S., which receives 95% of Chilean mandarin exports.
Export volumes from Peru, Ecuador and Brazil rose 24% between the week ending Dec. 9, 2023, and the previous week, according to a report from the National Mango Board of Orlando, FL. was over 1.2 boxes.
Brazil
Brazil reached over 12 million boxes for the season, with approximately 265,798 for the week of Dec. 9.
During the same week last year, volume shipped from Brazil was 111,612 boxes for a total of nearly 9.4 boxes.
Ecuador
Ecuador is currently shipping the highest volumes out of the three countries with nearly 810,000 shipped during the week.
That week’s volume is about 45.2% higher than what was shipped the previous week.
The country has shipped over 4 million boxes for the season.
Perú
The volume shipped from Peru was approximately 91,212 boxes for a total of 419,508 boxes for the season. The week’s volume is about 42% higher than what was shipped the previous week.
During the same week last year, volume shipped from Peru was 1.1 million boxes for a total of nearly 2.5 boxes
U.S. fresh apples remaining in storage totaled 124.4 million bushels in a Dec. 1 report from the U.S. Apple Association (USApple). That figure is up 33% more than inventories reported this same time last year and 20% more than the five-year average for December, the association said.
USApple also said that processing apples totaled 48.5 million bushels, which is up 19% over the same reporting time last year. The 48.5-million-bushel figure is 17% more than the five-year average for the month.
Washington leads the states in apple holdings, according to the report, with 23,399,776 42-pound bushels of fresh apples in regular storage and 81,986,890 42-pound bushels of fresh apples in controlled atmosphere storage, according to the association.
USApple reports gala leads all varieties in fresh apples in controlled storage with 18,758,807 42-pound bushels, while red delicious comes in second with 17,853,167 42-pound bushels of fresh apples in controlled atmosphere storage. Pink Lady/cripps pink tops all varieties in fresh apple holdings in regular storage with 3,893,710 42-pound bushels, and Honeycrisp is second with 3,580,764 42-pound bushels of fresh apples in regular storage.
According to the association, Honeycrisp leads all processing apples in controlled-atmosphere storage with 7,482,773 42-pound bushels, and golden delicious comes is second with 3,711,724 42-pound bushels in controlled-atmosphere storage. Golden delicious also leads processing apples in regular storage with 1,809,405 42-pound bushels, and assorted other varieties are secon with 1,803,082 42-pound bushels in regular storage.