Posts Tagged “Colorado potato shipments”
New season Colorado potato shipments are underway, but still light in volume, while increasing.
About 250 truck loads were shipping last week.
While we don’t a forecast yet for the 2015-16 shipping season it appears there won’t be any drastic changes in total truck shipments from this past year.
The San Luis Valley planted 52,900 acres of potatoes for the 2014-15 shipping season. With the end of July the region had shipped nearly 14 million cwt of fresh market spuds.
There were 2,561 truck loads shipped during July, compared to 2,291 in July 2014 and 1,839 in 2013. Shipments to date for the 2014-15 seaspm were 30,325 truck loads, compared to 29,344 in 2014 and 31,988 in 2013.
Organic potato acreage continues to increase, and now exceeds 4,000 acres.
Shipments of yellow potatoes also is increasing. It now accounts for 8 to 10 percent of the volume each year nationally. Russet Norkotahs continue to lead the pack in overall potato acreage in the San Luis Valley. Red potato shipments are a much smaller percentage.
Fingerlings and specialty potato shipments also are increasing from the San Luis Valley.
San Luis Valley potato shipments – grossing about $3300 to Cleveland.
Woerner Purchases Cañon Potato
Cañon Potato Co. has been acquired by Woerner Holdings Inc. and Woerner subsidiary H.C. Schmieding Produce Co. will market and distribute potatoes from Cañon’s Center, Colo., facility.
In the deal, Woerner takes on the packing and storage facility of Cañon Potato, which announced its closure in 2013. That’s when the co-owner and a sales veteran left to join a competing Colorado shipper.
Springdale, Ark.-based potato shipper H.C. Schmieding Produce was sold to West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Woerner in April.
Colorado potato shipments continue to remain good and steady out of the San Luis Valley.
Total shipments to date for the current season are 19,980 truck loads, up from 19,124 in 2014. That number remains down from previous years: 2011 had shipments hitting 23,511 year to date in March; 2012 logged 22,754; and 2013 came in at 21,069.
Yellow potato shipments have accounted for just under 16 percent of the 2014-15 crop. In 2014 yellows were slightly over 12 percent, and in the three previous years they were in single-digit percentages.
Red potato shipments slipped a little in 2014-15, down to 5.8 percent from 6.9 percent in 2013-14.
San Luis Valley potato shipments are currently averaging about 750 truck loads per week.
As for the upcoming 2015-16 shipping season, growers just started planting in late April, which is normal, and will continue into May.
With an ongoing drought a major factor in the San Luis Valley’s potato industry, planting this coming season could be down between 8 and 10 percent from last year’s 55,000 acres.
It could be between 50,000 and 52,000 acres, but for now it is uncertain. Acreage in 2014 was bumped up from the previous year’s 49,700 acres.
San Luis Valley potatoes – grossing about $2400 to Chicago; $2200 to Houston.
Here’s a round up of major active potato and sweet potato shipping areas around the U.S.
Sweet Potato Shipments
Louisiana sweet potato shipments are expected to continue through June. The fresh crop is larger this year due to an increase in acreage and higher yields. Nearby Mississippi has a similar situation. Both states are loading anywhere from 375 to 500 truck loads weekly….In California, a little less volume is coming out of the Atwater/Livingston district….However, as usual, Eastern North Carolina continues to be the big player, averaging more volume than the other three states combined.
Louisiana sweet potatoes – grossing about $1800 to Chicago.
Eastern North Carolina sweet potatoes – grossing about $2500 to New York City.
Potato Shipments
Idaho is to potatoes what North Carolina is to sweet potatoes. Idaho is averaging around 1,750 truck load equivalents a week, although rail plays a larger role than with most commodities and shipping areas….Colorado potato shipments rank second at about 750 truck loads a week, with all of it being by truck….Central Wisconsin potato shipments come in third with volume…. Surprisingly, Nebraska is loading about 200 truck loads weekly, although volume is divided between two shipping areas — Imperial in the southwestern part of the state, and O’Neill in the northeastern region.
Western Michigan potato shipments, as well as spuds originating out of Presque Isle, Me are providing light, but steady volume.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5800 to Orlando.
San Luis Valley, CO potatoes – grossing about $2900 to Atlanta.
From South Texas to North Dakota here are some loading opportunities for fresh produce being shipped from the Central Time Zone (except Colorado).
In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, both grapefruit and oranges are moving in steady volume. Meanwhile, Mexican product is crossing the border at McAllen, Tx ranging from tropical fruit to tomatoes, and vegetables, with truck shortages reported. There’s also cabbage being loaded from the Winter Garden District just south of San Antonio. There also is light volume of West Texas potatoes being shipped out of the Hereford area and Eastern New Mexico.
South Texas produce shipments- grossing about $3100 to Orlando.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments
Central Wisconsin is the nation’s third largest potato shipping area and is averging about 200 truck loads weekly. Truck supplies are very tight.
Wisconsin potatoes – grossing about $3400 to Dallas.
Red River Valley Potato Shipments
Red potatoes out of the North Dakota/Minnesota Red River Valley are moving in steady volume. Truck supplies are very tight.
Red River Valley potatoes – grossing about $2000 to Chicago.
Colorado Potato Shipments
The second largest potato shipping state is Colorado. Truck supples are very tight for produce being shipped out of the San Luis Valley.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $2400 to Chicago.
From Wisconsin to Michigan and Nebraska; and for good measure we’ve thrown in Colorado; for a look at produce loads.
Wisconsin Produce Shipments
Central Wisconsin potato shipments have leveled off to about 500 truckloads per week.
Wisconsin potatoes – grossing about $1000 to Chicago.
About the only other produced items being shipped from the Badger state are cranberries from such as areas as Tunnel City and Toma, or Babcock. There’s also some cabbage coming out of Southeastern Wisconsin.
Nebraska Potato Shipments
Nebraska potato shipments are averaging about 200 truckloads weekly. The Cornhusker state has two primary potato shipping areas. One is at O’Neill in the Northeastern part of the state, while the other is at Imperial, in the Southwestern are of the state.
Nebraska potatoes grossing about $2125 to Dallas.
Michigan Produce Shipments
Michigan potato shipments remain light, but continue to gradually increase.
Michigan also has increasing volume with apples, and onions, although all these items are modest in comparison to the leading states of Washington (apples) and Idaho (potatoes and onions). There are about 300 truckloads of apples being shipped weekly, while potatoes are less than half of this volume.
Michigan apples – grossing about $1000 to Chicago, while onions are grossing about 20 percent less.
Colorado Potato Shipments
The San Luis Valley will become more volume as the harvest has pretty much been completed. Volume is gradually increasing and currently averaging over 600 truckloads per week.
Colorado potatoes shipments – grossing about $2300 to Houston,.
Here’s a round up of loading opportunities from three leading potato shipping states — Idaho, Colorado and Wisconsin.
Idaho Potato Shipments
Most of Idaho’s potatoes are grown and shipped from the eastern part of the state. Loadings got off to a slower start than hoped for this season, but are now picking up. Acreage is believed to be up about 8,000 acres and that has a lot of shippers in other areas of the country gnashing their teeth because prices are in the tank. So there will be no shortage of spuds for hauling this season out of Idaho — unless something major like the late blight virus hits. Idaho, easily is the nation’s largest potato shipper. It is currently moving about 1,700 truckload equivalents per week – and would be shipping even more product, if there was not a shortage of trucks.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5800 to New York City; $3200 to Chicago.
Colorado Potato Shipments
In the San Luis Valley of Colorado, there has been an eight percent increase in acreage this season, or about 5,000 acres more by some estimates. The state as a whole has about 60,200 acres of spuds in the ground, of which about 54,200 acres is in the San Luis Valley. Shipments of mostly russets are underway. Colorado is averaging about 300 truckloads of potatoes being shipped a week, but volume is expected to increase.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $2300 to San Antonio.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments
About 500 truckload equivalents of potatoes are being shipped from Central Wisconsin each week.
Wisconsin potatoes – grossing about $3150 to Atlanta.
There has been a tremendous increase in Washington state blueberry shipments in recent years. We’ll also look at some potato loading opportunities in the Western half of the United States.
Washington Blueberry Shipments
Blueberry shipments have increased nearly five-fold over the past eight years. Check out these numbers.
2006 18.4 million pounds
2007 28.5 million pounds
2010 60 million pounds
2013 80 million pounds
2014 projected at 90 million pounds
Washington is fourth in U.S. blueberry production with 10,000 acres of berries from 175 growers The state’s blueberry season runs from June through August while processed ‘blues’ are available year round. Washington blueberries are grown in Skagit, Clark, Lewis, Snohomish, Thurston, Whatcom, Chelan, Yakima and Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, and Grant Counties.
Washington/Oregon potatoes
The majority of Washington potato shipments are now underway with a similar time frame as last year.
Oregon potato shipments will suffer due to an expected a decline of about 700 acres this season, but water concerns will likely affect even more shipments. Water availability is a concern in both Malheur County and the Klamath Basin, and yields most likely will be affected.
Colorado Potato Shipments
In southeastern Colorado, San Luis Valley potato acreage is up 8.5 percent this season. Total acreage is 54,200, compared to 49,700 last season. The harvest and shipments will start in earnest around September 10th.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $1650 to Dallas.
Washington produce – grossing bout $1050 to Los Angeles.
Here’s a preview of Georgia peach shipments and South Carolina peach shipments, which will be starting soon. Additionally, most loading opportunities for potatoes around the country these day are limited mostly to three states.
Shipments of Georiga peaches will be light, especially when loadings get underway the first half of May, thanks in part to a late March freeze. The first half of June will also see lighter-than-normal volume. However, with the maturing of later variety Georgia peaches, the month of July should experience more normal shipments.
Most of the peach shippers are located in the Fort Valley area, just south of Macon.
South Carolina peach loadings typically follow Georgia’s start about a week or so later. Carolina peaches also were hit by that March freeze and if anything, suffered more damage than Georgia. Intial reports indicate South Carolina lost at least half of its peach crop. The only sales of Carolina peaches in May and June will be locally. There should be better volume in July.
Potato Shipments
Although there are a few other states in the mix when it comes to current potato shipments, Idaho easily is leading the pack, followed by Colorado and Wisconsin.
Wisconsin and Colorado russet potato shipments should remain steady heading into summer. However, volume from the nation’s biggest shipper, Idaho, could decline some in May and June.
Idaho is averaging about 1700 truckload equivalents of spuds being shipped each week. Colorado is a distant second with around 600 truckloads weekly, and Wisconsin is third at about 300 truckloads per week.
In the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota about half of the sheds continue to ship, mostly red potatoes. Some of those packinghouse will close for the season anytime now, others will be following in May and only one or two sheds will still be shipping in June.
Idaho potato shipments – grossing about $3000 to Chicago.
Colorado potato shipments – about $2900 to Atlanta.
Wisconsin potato shipments – about $34oo to New York City.
Total potato loadings from U.S. shipping areas are expected to be down five percent for the 2013-14 shipping season, but spud haulers shouldn’t really notice a difference, since it is such a large crop. A similar sitution exists with Canadian potato shipments.
Overall, the two countries combined means there are only three percent fewer potatoes for loading in North America. The total is still a huge 501 million cwt. (per hundred weight).
Of that amount, about 398 million cwt. of the potatoes will be shipped from U.S. production areas than the previous season, according to USDA statistics. Canada will provide about 103 million cwt. of loads, two percent more than the previous year.
The U.S. had about 942,000 acres of potatoes planted, down from about 1 million acres the year before. However, yields rose from 423 cwt to 427 cwt per acre. Acreage also was down in Canada but yields were up significantly, rising from 274 cwt to 292 cwt per acre.
Here’s a glimpse at a few of the major potato shipping states.
Idaho Potato Shipments – The state ships a lot of spuds by rail, but trucks still transport the majority of the loads. Most pick ups orginate from the Upper Valley and the Twin Falls – Burley District. Idaho is averaging around 1,650 truckload equivalents of potatoes being loaded each week.
You should gross about $4350 to Atlanta.
Colorado Potato Shipments – The San Luis Valley is averaging nearly 700 truck loads of potatoes per week.
You should gross about $4100 to New York City.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments – Most loads are originating from shippers within a 50 mile radius or so of Stevens Point in the Central part of the state.
You should gross around $1400 to Cleveland.
Washington Potato Shipments
Spud loadings are originating out of the Columbia Basin and just across the state line in Oregon’s Umatilla Basin. There’s about 325 loads of potatoes a week soming out of here. They are also shipping even more onions than spuds – about 800 loads a week.
You should gross about $3000 to Chicago.
Here’s a glimpse of produce loading opportunities from across the country, ranging from Florida, to Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and California.
Florida Produce Shipments
There has been a decline of about 14 percent for orange shipments this season compared to a year ago. Florida’s decline is primarily due to the disease citrus greening. So far, Florida has pretty much dodged the winter freezing weather bullet of Mother Nature.
As for Florida strawberries, warmer temperatures in the first week of February, with highs in the 70s and 80s, expects to boost production – and shipments – just in time for shipments for Valentine’s Day. January cold fronts had caused strawberry shipments from the Plant City area to be slashed by about 25 percent.
Florida citrus and strawberries – grossing about $2000 to New York City.
Colorado Potato Shipments
San Luis Valley potato shipments are fairly steady from week-to-week, averaging about 750 truck loads weekly.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $1750 to Dallas.
Idaho/Oregon Onions
Onions are being shipped from Eastern Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon. Volume is averaging over 800 truck loads per week.
Idaho-Oregon onion shipments – grossing about $510o to Atlanta.
Desert Produce Shipments
Most of the nation’s winter veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, head lettuce and romaine are being shipped out of the desert area of California’s Imperial Valley and at Yuma, AZ. Moderate volume is reported.
Desert vegetable shipments – grossing about $6300 to New York City.