Today, we’re going to bounce around the U.S. a little bit. First, we’ll give a glimpse at loading opportunities as the volume increases for Eastern apple shipments. We’ll also go to Colorado and the new onion shipping season, before finishing up with a look at the annual growing volume with sweet onions from Peru at various American ports.
Average shipments of apples from the three leading Eastern states are expected this season, and loadings have started in recent weeks.
New York Apple Shipments
The Empire State had a big crop last season and will be down only slightly this season at 30 million bushels. Loadings originate out of the Hudson and Champlain Valleys, as well as from central and western areas of the state.
Hudson Valley apples – grossing about $3400 to Atlanta.
Pennsylvania Apple Shipments
Pennsylvania also is expecting normal apple shipments, with a forecast of 11.8 million bushels for the season. Initial light volume started in mid August with early varieties of fruit from towns such as Gardners and Fairfield.
Virginia Apple Shipments
Some weather issues should result in Virginia apple shipments being about 75 t0 80 percent of a full crop. Shipments originate from communities ranging from Charlottesville to Timberville. Virginia expects to ship about 4,285 bushels this season.
Colorado Onion Shipments
Colorado onions shipments have moved into good volume from the Northeastern part of the state. Loadings should remain fairly steady into January.
Peruvian Onion Imports
Imports of sweet onions from Peru are now arriving at various U.S. Ports. Good, steady volume of Peruvian onion shipments should be available from ports well into the first quarter of 2015. Over the past decade or so, Peru has come to fill a void with sweet onions, because domestic sweet onion supplies are pretty much depleted by this time of the year.