From Peruvian imported mangoes, to Oregon pears and Washington apples, here’s an update on opportunities to haul produce.
Peru plans to export 10.5 million boxes to the U.S. this season, up from 7.8 million boxes last season. An early start in Peru and continued big imports from Ecuador pushed mango volumes up in December, and fruit arrivals should remain in good volume through January.
Ecuadorian mango volumes peaked through the week of Dec. 21 before sliding and by mid-January Peru should account for most of the volume.
About 65 percent of the late December arrivals were slated for the East Coast, 35 percent for the West Coast, because of faster delivery times to the East Coast.
Oregon Pear Shipments
Jackson County, Oregon where Medford is located, is one of the state’s big pear-growing regions. The rest of the state’s commercial pear trees are mostly in the Hood River area. Together, those two regions account for about 25 percent of pear shipments in the U.S.
Washington Apple Shipments
Washington apple and fruit shipments were hit last season due to the 2015 drought. The Washington State Department of Agriculture reports drought caused 85 percent of the state to be in “extreme drought” status at the drought’s peak in late August. The result of the heat and lack of rain caused Washington apples to suffer a 5 percent drop in loadings and a 7 percent decline in blueberry shipments.