Maturity and decay problems have been occurring with a significant amount of imported peaches and nectarines from Chile arriving at various USA ports. This is just a word of caution to check out the product before loading to help reduce you chances of a claim or rejected load. Make sure your cutomer knows the condition of the product going into the trailer. Chilean plum quality has been reported generally better than peaches and nectarines.
All three Chilean stone fruit items are expected to be providing good loading opportunties though March.
Total Chilean nectarine volumes have been around 10 percent less than last season through early March, while plum volumes are up 10 percent. This has presented a problem to those receivers you normally deliver to because different types of stone fruit have been maturing at different times in Chile and delaying fruit arriving at the same time at American ports.
Chilean peach volumes are down 10 percent compared to last year.
Peach and nectarine loadings will be on ending as March closes, while plums should be available for hauling into early April.
Chilean table grape shipments also have been off some this season. A total of about 1,400 truckloads of grapes are arriving by boat at various USA ports each week.
Port of Long Beach Chilean grapes – grossing about $4000 to Chicago.