National Shipments: Sweet Potatoes, WA Apples, Grapefruit, Pineapples

National Shipments: Sweet Potatoes, WA Apples, Grapefruit, Pineapples
003Here’s a round up of produce shipments, ranging from sweet potatoes from the four leading states, to Washington apples, Texas grapefruit and pineapple imports.
Due to dry weather Mississippi sweet potato shipments are down this season along with yields of the crop.  The state has over 100 sweet potato growers with 23,200 acres of the crop.  That is up about 12 percent from acreage planted in 2014.  Mississippi, as well as neighboring Louisiana, plus the Atwater, Livingston district in California, are all averaging between 40 and 50 loads of sweet potatoes being shipped weekly.  By contrast, the industry leading North Carolina is shipping nearly 300 truck loads a week, primarily from the eastern part the of state.

Washington Apple Shipments

The Washington state apple harvest is virtually finished.  Estimates now vary between a low of 110 million bushels and a high of 115 million bushels to be shipped this season.  There will still be plenty of opportunities for apple haulers, even with the small crop.

Washington apple shipments – grossing about $4400 to Chicago.

Texas Grapefruit Shipments

The Texas grapefruit harvest, which got underway in late September should continue through April.  Normal shipments are seen this season, with heaviest volume occurring during January and February from the Lower Rio Grande Valley.  About a 25 percent decrease is expected compared to last year’s record-crop of 150 million bushels.

Texas grapefruit, oranges, as well as numerous imports from Mexico – grossing about $2200 to Atlanta.

Pineapple Imports

El Nino weather conditions had hit Costa Rica pineapple exports, where most pineapple are sourced this time of the year.  As a result, shipments of the fruit to the United States and are now about 17 percent below normal.   The lower volume is expected until January.

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