Posts Tagged “California avocado shipments”
California avocado shipments should hit 369 million pounds, a 70 percent increase over last season.
Unlike a year ago when shipments were limited primarily to the Western states, much wider distribution is possible, according to the California Avocado Commission.
The forecast for the big increase in shipments is attributed increased rains resulting in improved health of the trees and a better fruit set.
California avocado shipments remain relatively light, but will be increasing through March, with peak volume continuing from April through the summer, with smaller supplies lasting into September.
Despite a much larger crop, California avocado shipments will be going mainly to markets in California and the Western states. California avocado volume pales in comparison to shipments from Mexico, which is the primary supplier to two thirds of the U.S.
U.S. imports had significant increases in Hass avocados from all Latin American origins through September this year, the USDA reports.
Total imports from the region rose by 20 percent over last year during a nine-month period.
The growth came amid the lowest California avocado shipments in a decade, which created a supply gap for overseas producers.
A lot of the increase was due to Mexico with its rising avocado volume.
But there were also substantial increases in percentage terms from Peru, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia.
U.S. imports from Peru – the next biggest origin – rose by 24 percent, which is more than triple the amount imported from Peru in 2016, and also comes amid a 15 percent reduction in total Peruvian exports this season.
Chilean exports to the U.S. rose by 61 percent in 2019 through September. This increase came despite the Chilean avocado indsutry also forecasting lower total supplies from a year ago for the 2019-20 season.
Meanwhile, the U.S. imported five-times more Hass avocados from the Dominican Republic.
And U.S. imports from Colombia rose eight-fold from in August 2017 under a restrictive export protocol. This was eased a little earlier last year and an significant increase in avocado shipments to the U.S. is seen over the next few years.
As the California avocado shipping season is virtually over, imports from Mexico, which have been lighter than usual, will increase significantly in the months ahead.
Mexico shipped about 2 billion pounds of avocados to the U.S. during its 2018-19 season, up from about 1.9 billion pounds for the 2017-18 season.
However, Mexican avocado imports crashed last summer. For example, during the last week of June, Mexico shipped only about 8.6 million pounds to the U.S., off from about 30 million pounds in 2018.
Volume from Mexico should gradually start to build in October and November, as the main crop begins harvesting, with January through August being the heart of the season.
Peruvian avocado exporters also had an off year, but still managed to ship more avocados to the U.S. than last year to help fill the gap caused by short crops in California and Mexico.
The Peruvian Avocado Commission reports Peruvian growers will ship an estimated 189 million pounds of avocados to the U.S. this season compared to 180 million last season.
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The Chilean Avocado Importers Association reports Chilean avocado growers are expected to export about 65 million pounds of avocados to the U.S. during the 2019-20 season, which is similar to volume exported during the past two seasons.
California avocado shipments should total 190 million to 200 million pounds of avocados by the time their season ends this month, compared to just over 360 million pounds last year, according to the California Avocado Commission.
Calavo Growers Inc., Santa Paula, Calif., expected to finish its California crop by the end of August, said Rob Wedin, vice president of sales and marketing.
Brooks Tropicals Inc. of Homestead, FL notes Florida is expected to ship about 800,000 bushels of green-skin avocados this season, which began in May and can continue as late as April. The company accounts for about 40 percent of Florida’s avocado volume.
American avocado observers point to optimism about the coming year, with some industry experts predicting overall avocado volume in the U.S. from all sources could reach 3 billion pounds.
LGS Specialty Sales of New Rochelle, N.Y., is importing more Spanish fruit including lemons, clementines and Vanilla Persimmons, also known as rojo brillante.
LGS also imports and distributes citrus, grapes and avocados. The Spanish fruit is grown in the Valencia and Murcia regions. The company imports lemons from Spain year-round.
“Spain’s Mediterranean climate consistently grows exceptional fruit and we are excited to export more of their products to provide the U.S. market with top-quality produce year-round,” Rebekah McMurrain, persimmons category manager at LGS, said in a news release. “Both Spanish lemons and ready-to-eat Vanilla Persimmons are favorite varieties in Europe and we are pleased to offer them to U.S shoppers.”
The Vanilla Persimmon, a hybrid of the hachiya and fuyu varieties, is available now through February, according to the release. Like the fuyu, it is ready to eat.
California Avocados
California avocado shipments for the 2018-19 season are expected to plunge by nearly 50 percent compared to the 2017-18 season.
The California Avocado Commission 2018-19 preseason crop estimate for all varieties is 175 million pounds, with 167 million pounds of the hass variety.
The lower volume is due to various weather factors including a severe heat wave in July 2018.
Because of the expected drop in shipments, most avocado loads will be destined to California and other western markets.
Shipments will be building into March with peak availability from April through August.
Fewer Mexican avocado shipments are expected through September as there will be a transition from the old to the new crop.
Mission Produce Inc. of Oxnard, CA expects both the size of the fruit as well as the tonnage out of Mexico to be off a little through most of the month of September as the industry moves into the flora loca — or off-bloom — avocado crop, which bridges the gap between the old crop and the aventajada crop, which will get underway in the fall.
The company does not expect to see huge tonnage from the flora loca crop, although the fruit size should be fairly normal, but will lean toward the smaller sizes.
Although finding big fruit was a challenge in August and continues to be in September, for a driver hauling product, it doesn’t matter.
There also is expected to be higher quality avocados from the flora loca crop, than with the old crop, where the percentage of No. 2-grade fruit exceeded 20 percent.
Calavo Growers Inc. of Santa Paula, CA has noted the current summer crop from Mexico is pretty good, but it is not great. However, the company expects to see good volume out of Mexico this fall, similar to last year.
2016 was the first year Mexico had a smaller crop for export to the U.S., and now Mexico is coming back with its second good crop in a row.
The Giumarra Cos. of Los Angeles observes the Mexico avocado season has several blooms, allowing the country to ship product the year-round. As a result, Giumarra and many other U.S. avocado shippers rely heavily on Mexico.
Currently, California avocado shipments are winding down as the season comes to a close. Meanwhile, the Mexican flora loca crop is comparatively light. This is very typical as July, August and September always have fewer avocado shipments.
by Index Fresh
Riverside, C.A. — California avocado shipments are is well underway, with strong weeks occurring since March and promotable volumes ahead for the remainder of the season. Excellent quality has been driving strong demand as California Hass fills retailer shelves and enhances restaurant offerings.
The California harvest is estimated to be about a third complete, leaving Hass volume for the summer into September. Volume was available for strong shipments leading up to the key avocado holidays of Memorial Day and the 4th of July and will be good as well for Labor Day. Index Fresh is excited about providing quality fruit and promotional support for these summer celebrations.
Index Fresh rolled out the first GEM program in mid-April with positive support from retail and growers. The GEM is a new variety with exciting visual, flavor and peelability attributes, that presents an opportunity to excite the consumer and expand the avocado category as a complement to Hass.
The 2018 California season is off to a strong start, with tremendous opportunity ahead for the rest of the year.
ABOUT INDEX FRESH
Index Fresh is a worldwide marketer of avocados, sourcing from all major growing regions around the globe, including California, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. Through its dedication to quality, consistency, and innovation, Index Fresh continues to be a leader in the industry. Over the years the company has earned its reputation for quality and integrity with an unwavering commitment to honesty, hard work, and providing outstanding results to their partners — growers and trade alike.
Headquartered in California, the company has facilities spread across Texas, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, and Illinois. Early this year, Index Fresh also started operations at its new packing, bagging, and ripening facility in Pharr, TX.
California has avocados commercially produced by more than 2,000 growers in the golden state.
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Southern California avocados – grossing about $8300 to New York City.
2018 will be a big rebound for California avocado shipments, if some observers are correct. Conventional avocado volume is expected to hit 2.275 billion pounds in 2017.
The Hass Avocado Board of Mission Viejo, CA believes there will be a 90 million-pound increase from 2,189 billion pounds in 2016. There should be a lot more avocados for hauling next year, with early projections ranging from 400 million to 425 million pounds. Those statistics include avocados from California, Peru, Chile and the Dominican Republic.
Mexico exported 1.7 billion pounds of avocados to the U.S. the shipping year ending in June, which was off from the original estimate of almost 2 billion pounds.
U.S. avocado volume has been increasing an average of about 15 percent over the past 10 to 15 years, but 2017 was the first year when the total shipments declined.
As supplies of California and Peruvian fruit taper off in late August and into early September, loading opportunities will be limited until Mexico’s aventajada crop starts ramping up in September. California’s 200-million-pound crop was about half the size of last year’s.
With Mexico’s next crop starting in September, it is expected to significantly boost loading opportunities with an expected 1,000 or more trucks per week. Mexico will hit its stride after Labor Day,with 45 million to 50 million-pound being shipped a week.
Peru doubled its exports to the U.S. this year compared to 2016, according to the Peruvian Avocado Commission in Washington, D.C.
Peruvian growers will export 140 million pounds of avocados to the U.S. this summer, compared with 70 million pounds last year, and next year’s crop should be even larger.
About Hass Avocado Board
The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is an agriculture promotion group established in 2002 to promote the consumption of Hass Avocados in the United States. A 12-member board representing domestic producers and importers of Hass Avocados directs HAB’s promotion, research and information programs under supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Funding for HAB comes from Hass avocado producers and importers in the United States.
Ventura County cabbage and greens – grossing about $6900 to New York City.
While rain drenched California citrus isn’t having significant quality problems, that could change during the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, here’s a look at avocado shipments from Mexico and California.
The bottom line is citrus growers don’t know what long-term effect the recent rains will have on the crop as navels and cara cara navels hit peak loadings. Excessive rain and moisture can adversely affect low-hanging fruit on trees, so packinghouses are running a little slower to monitor spoilage.
Gold nugget variety mandarins and Ojai pixie tangerines — late season specialty varieties, also recently got underway by Sunkist Growers. Additionally, California Star Ruby grapefruit shipments are about to start.
While quality issues down the road are a question mark, more certainty is that the 2017 harvest will end earlier this season. Instead of lasting until the Fourth of July, shipments will end in early June.
Total tonnage harvested in 2017 is expected to be 15 to 19 percent less than a year ago.
Southern California citrus, avocados – grossing about $4500 to Atlanta.
Avocado Shipments
Shipments of Mexican avocados through south Texas in February this year totaled about 135.1 million pounds (3,3375 truck loads), compared with 166.25 million pounds (4,150) shipped in February last year.
U.S. volume of hass avocados from all sources (California and Mexico) in March will total about 187 million pounds (4,675 truck loads), down from about 199.3 million pounds (4,975 truck loads) in March 2016.
Southern California avocados shipments have been delayed by rains this season, although the state’s volume is light compared with Mexico. Only about 4 percent of total shipments in late came from California.
Mexico’s crop estimate has been reduced to 1.6 billion pounds (55,000 truck loads) and final estimates may be even less.
Mexico is shipping about 30 million pounds per week (750 truck loads) compared with normal volumes in the 40 million pounds (1,000 truck loads) per week range as supplies are quickly running out.
Still, Mexico is expected during the next six to eight weeks to ship between 27 million (675 truck loads) to 32 million pounds per week,
California avocado shipments should end its season with about 195 million (4,875 truck loads) compared to nearly 400 million pounds in 2016. Larger avocado crops are often followed by smaller crops the next year.
California loadings could increase by mid-March and into April to 8 to 10 million pounds per week. This would compare to shipments as high as 15 million pounds per week a year ago.
Imported Mexican avocados, tropical fruits and vegetables through South Texas – grossing about $2700 to Chicago.
Washington state apple shipments are expected to be down a little this season. Meanwhile, Mexican avocado loadings to the U.S. are increasing.
A forecast of 132.9 million boxes of fresh apples has been made for the for 2016-17 shipping season, up 15 percent from last year’s 115 million box crop. However, this is down 6 percent from 2014’s record 141.8 million boxes.
Reflecting a smaller crop, overall exports for the 2015-16 crop year were off about 30 percent from the record 2014-15 season. Current season to date shipments through mid July were about 29.7 million cartons, down from 44.3 million cartons the same time in 2015.
Exports for both Canada and Mexico totaled 52 percent of all exports. The top three U.S. apple export markets for 2015-16 were Mexico, Canada and India. With the bigger 2016 Washington crop, this year should be a bounce-back season for Washington exports.
Yakima Valley apples – grossing about $5200 to Atlanta.
Avocado Shipments
Untimely rains in California resulted in avocado shipments being down on the summer crop. Meanwhile, the primary Mexican avocado shipments are yet to ramp up.
Through June, yearly volumes were running well ahead of last year’s pace, with 660 million pounds shipping during the three months of April, May and June alone, up from 549 million pounds in the same period the previous year.
However, in July and August, volumes fell 15 percent, from 378 million pounds in 2015 to 320 million pounds this year. Shipments are expected to be approaching normal by November.
As of Sept. 14, primary Mexican avocado shipments were running two or three weeks behind last year’s crop, though volumes were ramping up in the first half of the month. It is projected about 81.5 million pounds would ship in the first two weeks of September, down just slightly from the same period last year.
The summer California avocado shipments will likely wind up being just two-thirds the size of the preseason estimates, due to rains starting in mid-June, more than a month later than normal.
It still is likely be the first week of October before Mexican imports by the U.S. begin ramping up, with loadings moving into the 40 million to 45 million pound-per-week range.
Shipments of both avocado and mangoes are on the rise and will continue to increase as we get further into the year.
California avocado shipments are now providing steady loadings for produce truckers from both southern California and the San Joaquin Valley. The California harvest is now exceeding 10 million pounds per week and will continue to increase through the spring. Shipments are expected to peak in late June, and remain strong throughout 2016. A significant dip in avocado shipments is not expected until after the Super Bowl, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
While California avocado shipments tend to be hauled to markets in the western half of the U.S., much of the avocado supply for U.S. markets is coming from Mexico, which tends to serve destinations in the eastern half of the U.S. Mexican avocado shipments also are heavy this year, with the majority of imports crossing the border at McAllen, Tx.
Huron head lettuce and San Joaquin Valley citrus – grossing about $5600 to New York City.
Mango Imports
Mexican mango shipments imported to the USA were unseasonably low during March. For the week ending on March 19, 1.2 million boxes arrived from Mexico, making it 4.8 million boxes for the season. That is down from the same week in 2015, when 1.5 million boxes arrived and 5.9 million boxes had come in for the season. However, mango imports are now on the rise and big volume supplies are crossing the border from Mexico, as well as arriving at US ports by boat from Guatemala.
Lower Rio Grande Valley citrus, Mexican mangos, tomatoes, vegetables – grossing about $2600 to Chicago.