Posts Tagged “California stone fruit shipments”
The California stone fruit season is at its peak. Favorable growing conditions have increased supplies compared to years past, according to Markhon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Peaches
- The season will wrap up in mid-October
- Size is dominated by large sizes (54- and 56-count fruit)
- Quality is very good: sugar levels typically range from 10 to 11 Brix
- Expect steady markets and ample supplies over the next four to six weeks
Plums
- The California season is at its peak
- California supplies are expected to run through the first week of October
- Size is dominated by small fruit (60- and 64-count stocks)
- Expect very good quality; sugar levels typically range from 14 to 17 Brix
- After the California season wraps up, plums will be sourced from Chile until mid-January
Nectarines
- The season will wrap up in mid-September
- Size is dominated by large sizes (54- and 56-count fruit)
- Quality is very good: sugar levels typically range from 11 to 12 Brix
- Expect steady markets over the next three to four weeks
Good volume and strong quality are seen this season by Trinity Fruit Sales Co. of Fresno, CA, for shipments of California peaches, nectarines and plums.
California apricot volume is just now coming on, while peaches and nectarines will be available in good volume by the third week of May, with plums by the first week of June.
Good volume of California stone fruit shipments will continue through September.
Trinity Fruit expects to have about 500,000 cases of organic stone fruit in 2021 and possibly 6 million cartons of total stone fruit volume
There was result in more fruit than last year, and perhaps better quality fruit as well.
Industry wide, plum volume may be down slightly, but peaches and nectarines are expected slightly above a year ago.
The San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market has shortened its name to The SF Market. It also is rebranding with a new look to highlight the market’s role in the Bay Area’s food economy. The market’s 31 produce vendors include wholesalers, distributors and online grocery delivery companies, according to a news release.
The rebranding effort comes as the market has signed a 60-year lease with the City of San Francisco and recognition as a historic asset by San Francisco’s Legacy Business Registry. The SF Market name and logo, developed by Trinity Brand Group, will be on the market’s website, on market signage and on merchant trucks, according to the release.
“With its innovative track record of helping food businesses grow at every stage and size, The SF Market has played an instrumental role in how the Bay Area has evolved into a leading food destination,” Matthew Youngblood, co-founder of Trinity Brand Group, said in the release.
“We have been thrilled to have the expertise of Trinity Brand Group behind us as we took this important step to rebrand our organization,” Larry Brucia, president of the board of directors, said in the release. “Through our collaboration with Trinity and the roll-out of our new look, our goal is to increase awareness of the enormous positive impact of The SF Market and to connect with food purveyors and the community in a bigger, better and more meaningful way than ever before.”
The SF Market is currently working on a $96 million reinvestment project to upgrade and expand the facility in Bayview-Hunters Point, including an 80,000-square-foot building, according to the release.
Stone Fruit Shipments
California stone fruit shipments have just got underway, with a later and lighter start.
Giumarra Cos. office in Reedley, CA, started harvesting white and yellow peaches and yellow nectarines this past week. The company plans to begin its white nectarines and apricots new week, followed by plums a few days later.
Simonian Fruit Co. of Fowler, CA kicks off its stone fruit season about May 20th, about a week later than normal.
Over the past decade an estimated 30 percent of stone fruit trees in California’s San Joaquin Valley have been yanked out of the ground. This has resulted in fewer stone fruit shipments for produce truckers.
Growers and shippers in many instances replaced the trees with other crops, primarily because they were flooding the market every year, resulting in lower prices.
California stone fruit shipments are underway and moving into good volume. You should also be aware that shipments will be heavier the first half of the shipping season for peaches, plums and nectarines. While all supplies will be lighter the last half of the season, plums will be in particular short supply. Stone fruit supplies will be best during May and June, but tailing off in July.
Produce growers tend to increase plantings as volume declines from year-to-year and prices for product increase. However, unlike potatoes and most other vegetables items it will take stone fruit growers at least five to 10 years to replace trees and have fruit bearing trees for higher shipments.
With California’s winter weather being one of the warmest on recent record this year, the state’s stone fruit shipments have been fluctuating more than normal.
San Joaquin Valley stone fruit – grossing about $4600 to Chicago.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $5400 to Atlanta.
California stone fruit shipments have started within the past couple of weeks and volume is building.
These items, primarily peaches, plums and nectarines – and to a lesser extent apricots – play a key role every spring and summer in determing how high produce rates will go out of California.
Early indications point to average volume for stone fruit this season – at the very best. Before it is over, total shipments could be below average.
Peach shipments started the third week of May, followed a week later by plums and nectarines. Most California stone fruit loadings occur during a 90-day period spread out between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The San Joaquin Valley really gets humping as we enter July when table grape shipments crank up. Grapes seems to be one of the few crops in recent years that have had record setting volume.
Stone fruit – grossing about $5200 to Chicago.