Idaho apple shipments will provide the most loading opportunities since 1999, while Texas citrus is cranking up. Meanwhile, bad news from Chile as a killer freeze will take its toll on imports.
Idaho certainly isn’t a Washington state, or even a New York state, or Michigan when it comes to apple shipments, but it does provide moderate loading opportunities. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Idaho has a bumper apple crop this season….Of course, as is often the case, Idaho is shipping plenty of potatoes – and needs more trucks.
What is normally thought of as a potato shipping state, has an estimated 70 million pounds of apples this year, believed to be the largest in 15 years. With harvest winding down, yields have been great and apple quality is reported excellent, while growers are scrambling to find as many bins as possible.
Idaho’s apple harvest generally begins around the first part of September and is mostly wrapped up by the end of October, though some picking extends into November.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $1700 to L.A.; $5700 to New York City.
Texas Citrus Shipments
Harvesting of both grapefruit and oranges out of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas is well underway. Volume has been light thus far, but shipments should increase significantly by the week of November 10th. Good quality is reported and loadings should be available through next April.
Texas citrus – grossing about $2500 to Chicago.
Chilean Fruit Hit by Freeze
Lightning seems to have struck twice in Chile as frosts last week devastated crops in some southern growing regions, with one large producer estimating between 30-100 percent crop loss for fruits including kiwifruit, blueberries, cherries and apples. The freeze occurred October 8-9. We’ll keep you updated since Chile is a primary exporter of fresh produce to the U.S., with produce arriving at ports on both coasts, particularly during the winter months.