Chilean exports of blueberries and table grapes both experienced year-on-year declines in the first quarter of 2022 amid severe logistical issues and higher costs.
Blueberry exports between January and March fell by 5 percent in volume to 89,478 tons and 9 percent in value to $429 million FOB, national association Fedefruta reports.
Meanwhile, table grapes dropped by 2 percent in volume to 253,300 tons and 16 percent in value to $397 million FOB.
In preseason forecasts, blueberry exports for the 2021-22 season had been pegged on par with last season, while table grapes made been expecting a big increase of around a quarter.
Despite the declines for the second and third most exported fruits over the period, growth in the leading category – cherries – was enough to lift overall fruit exports by 4 percent in volume to 933,000 tons and 7 percent in value to $2.7 billion.
“In a season in which we did not have weather problems, this harvest was impacted by the logistical bottleneck in the national ports, and in the delay of journeys and the increase in freight and input costs,” comments the president of Fedefruta, Jorge Valenzuela.
“Without a doubt, we have never had this problem at this level, due to freight costs that have tripled. There is fruit that is not being harvested because it is more expensive to ship than to leave it on the tree.
He added that because of the delay in logistics, about 4,000 containers of Chilean cherries did not arrive on time to the markets in China.
“Before the New Year we had a very good campaign, but the problems were seen after that holiday. We have a perishable product must arrive at the right times, and this season it was very difficult to comply. A lot of fruit was at sea for a long time,” he said.
Regarding blueberries, “I would not like to talk about percentages, but many loads of blueberries have been damaged. We have received information that blueberries have been the fruit most complicated by this logistical crisis. The loss of condition is naturally reflected in no sales and falling prices”.
Arlington, VA – FMI—the Food Industry Association recently released its 2022 Power of Produce report, revealing 25% of shoppers ranked price as the number one factor when making fresh produce purchasing decisions, followed by appearance (19%), health benefits (19%) and ripeness (15%). The report also offers insights on consumers’ produce shopping habits related to health and well-being and heightened preference for locally grown and convenience options.
“In the past, the clear number one factor when buying fresh produce was appearance and quality,” says Rick Stein, vice president of fresh foods for FMI. “However, this year’s survey showed that item price is now the number one factor produce consumers consider—on par with appearance and quality. In addition to price, consumers are focusing on items with prolonged shelf-life, buying less or finding substitutes. At the same time, we see more shoppers concentrate on health and well-being when making fresh produce purchasing decisions and a strong desire for convenience.”
Shoppers Link Produce to Health Benefits
For most shoppers (96%), picking from the produce aisle is considered an investment in personal health and well-being. Consumers increasingly associate fresh produce with digestive health, weight management and disease management. In fact, one-third of consumers who pay a lot of attention to health and nutrition tend to see fresh produce as playing a central role in their diet, and six-in-ten shoppers purchase fruits and vegetables to deliver on specific health benefits. This positive association has spurred higher demand for more information about nutrition, health benefits, recommended daily amounts, and other health-centric insights.
Consumers Crave Convenience
From pre-cut and pre-washed options to grab-and-go and ready-to-serve solutions, convenience remains the top value-add for produce shoppers. The report found that nearly half of shoppers frequently purchase convenient vegetable (45%) and fruit (48%) solutions. This popularity among consumers led to value-added fruits and vegetables making up 14.4% of total fresh product sales in 2021. The share of shoppers expecting to purchase more value-added produce remains high at 27%, while only 5% anticipate they will purchase less.
Locally Grown Outperforms All Other Attributes
Fifty-six percent of consumers say they want their produce department to carry more fruits and vegetables that are locally grown, followed by grown in the USA (54%). Such distinctions are most effective when paired with specific locally sourced definitions, like a certain mile radius or state lines. However, the definition of the term differs depending on the area of the country in which the shopper lives and the generation to which they belong.
As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a wide range of members across the value chain — from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services — to amplify the collective work of the industry. www.FMI.org
U.S. total fruit imports by value soared by a quarter to a new record over January and February this year, with fresh, frozen and processed categories all seeing double-digit growth.
USDA data shows imports over the two months rose by 23 percent year-on-year to $4.9 billion.
In the previous four years over the same two months, the import value had always totalled between $3.7 billion and $4 billion.
However, the import volume did not rise at the same pace as the value, growing by just 7 percent year-on-year. But they still hit a record of 2.6 million tons.
Looking at the value, the ‘other fruit category’ – which is by far the largest and includes avocados, berries and bananas – rose by 19 percent to $2.5 billion. The rise was driven primarily by avocados and blueberries.
The citrus category saw the biggest growth, almost doubling to $253 million. That increase was driven by mandarins and limes.
The other categories listed by the USDA – deciduous, juices, processed, frozen, melons, dried and prepared – all experiencing growth ranging from the mid-teens to the mid-twenties.
Of the top-five supplying countries, import growth was largest from Mexico and Peru – at 27 percent each. Next was Chile, up 14 percent, Guatemala, up 11 percent, and Costa Rica, up 6 percent.
Do you want to live another decade? A new study shows a plant-rich diet can add 10 years to your life.
The study, published in PLOS Medicine, examined a diet which was heavy on fruits, vegetables, beans and grains. According to the models, a 20-year-old who went all-in on the plant-based diet could add 10 years to their life. Even just making a partial change could add six years of life expectancy. And, an 80-year-old who started a plant-based diet could add three years to their life.
The study was conducted by scientists at the University of Bergen, Norway, and titled “Estimating Impact of Food Choices on Life Expectancy: A Modeling Study.
“A sustained dietary change may give substantial health gains for people of all ages both for optimized and feasible changes. Gains are predicted to be larger the earlier the dietary changes are initiated in life,” according to the study authors.
Like the Alliance for Food and Farming’s popular residue calculator, which clearly and visually shows consumers how safe their favorite fruits and vegetables are, the study authors created their own calculator, Food4HealthyLife, where users can calculate how dietary changes can impact their life expectancy.
This new study complements decades of research that verifies consumption of fruits and vegetables prevents diseases, boosts immune function, promotes better health, improves cognition and increases lifespan. It is worth noting that most of these positive health studies were conducted using conventionally grown produce.
The overwhelming nutritional benefits of a produce-rich diet and the equally impressive science showing the safety of all fruits and vegetables is why consumers should ignore efforts by certain groups who attempt to discourage consumption of popular produce items by using inaccurate and inflammatory safety claims.
With only one in 10 of Americans eating enough each day, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control, consumers should be urged to eat whatever produce they enjoy and is accessible and affordable for them. Organic and conventionally grown – both are safe and can be eaten with confidence.
Let science be your guide and don’t let anyone or any group discourage you from eating the fruits and vegetables you prefer.
Peppers shipments for Prime Time International are winding down from Mexico and transitioning to the Coachella Valley.
For the next two and one-half months the California desert will be primary source of shipments for the company, based in La Quinta, CA.P
Prime Time is growing and shipping green, red, and yellow Bell peppers, along with white and bi-color sweet corn, eggplant and chilies.
The company continues to pack hot house Bell peppers, asparagus and sweet mini peppers in various regions across Mainland and Baja Mexico throughout the summer.
The transition to the Coachella Valley is underway now and will continue to migrate north in early summer to the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast of California. The California desert’s warm, dry climate allows for peak growing conditions in the springtime.
Volume, quality and size peak in April, May and early June in Coachella.
The Coachella Valley has had a warm winter and early spring, leading Prime Time to expect an earlier start to the season. Sweet corn and Bell peppers are starting nearly two weeks earlier than usual for Prime Time. The company usually begins peak volume for the Memorial Day weekend, and this is expected again this season.
Helping the North American refrigerated trucking industry reap the benefits of telematics to improve operational efficiencies, expand cold chain compliance and add value for its customers, Carrier Transicold is now making telematics a standard feature on its most popular trailer refrigeration units. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.
“Each year since its introduction, our telematics solution has been helping a rapidly increasing number of refrigerated fleets manage and monitor mission-critical data from their trailer assets,” said David Brondum, Director of Telematics, Carrier Transicold. “By offering telematics as standard for our X4™ series and Vector™ 8000 series trailer and rail refrigeration units, it is easier than ever for customers in the United States and Canada to benefit from the considerable advantages provided by the industry’s premier IoT solution.”
The innovative web-based interface of the telematics solution provides continuous visibility of cold chain assets via a centralized data stream that shows trailer temperatures, location and movement. The platform can also enable remote control of refrigeration unit settings.
Connected fleets can improve operations by optimizing refrigeration equipment usage, achieving greater efficiency and helping to manage refrigeration unit maintenance. Depending on configuration and service plan, customer benefits include:
• Trailer temperature monitoring and control for compliance and accountability.
• Automatic notifications as trailers arrive and depart from geofenced areas.
• Real-time alerts if a warning condition occurs on a unit in service.
• Refrigeration unit performance monitoring for fuel efficiency and product protection.
• Labor-saving wireless data transfer for remote setpoint management, pre-trip diagnostic routines, hands-free trailer precooling and more.
• Door switch monitoring to track deliveries and identify potential theft situations.
• Improved refrigeration unit uptime made possible by continuous analytic and diagnostic information about refrigeration units.
“The system’s unit analytics provide a unique advantage for Carrier customers,” Brondum said. “No other telematics solution provides as much insight about Carrier Transicold units, because it was developed and qualified specifically for Carrier Transicold equipment.”
For fleets to take advantage of their built-in telematics systems, commissioning by an authorized Carrier Transicold dealer is required along with selection of a data plan.
Three plans are available: 1) Monitor, 2) Two-way Monitor and Control and 3) Monitor and Enhanced Control, adding exclusive capabilities for data downloads, remote software updates and adjustments to Carrier Transicold IntelliSet™ control configurations.
Standard hardware includes the 4G LTE communications module, antenna and wiring harness. Optional peripheral components such as fuel sensors, temperature probes, door switches and solar panels can be specified as needed. Customers who take advantage of Carrier Transicold’s telematics system will benefit from value-added data insights that come from future releases of the company’s Lynx Fleet™ application.
When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ended longer border inspections he had implemented April 15, it was good news for produce haulers and produce shippers. The policy was started nearly a week earlier. However, some think it may be weeks before the supply chain gets back to normal.
The immigration policy decision came as Texas is trying to stop the open border policies of the Biden administration. It resulted in gridlock and hundreds of millions of lost dollars and delays in shipments including produce items such as avocados and strawberries.
Abbott’s move ultimately created a logjam of trucks between the U.S. and its largest goods trading partner. Vegetable producers say their produce is spoiling in idling trucks and they are losing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Nearly $9 billion of fresh produce crosses the Texas border from Mexico each year, said Dante L. Galeazzi, CEO and president of the Texas International Produce Association. And for the past week, that produce has been held hostage, with businesses and goods “being used as bargaining chips,” Galeazzi was quoted as saying.
What used to be a routine border crossing turned into a 30-hour wait for some trucks. Meanwhile, the fruits and vegetables in those trucks spoiled, leaving some produce department shelves sparse or empty in advance of the holiday weekend, he said.
“It could take a week or longer, up to probably three weeks, before the supply chain realigns,” Galeazzi said.
Losses to fruit and vegetable producers are estimated to be more than $240 million, said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
Consumers will also pay a price as producers look to recoup some of their losses and supplies run low.
Americans can expect to spend more on strawberries, avocados and asparagus, with the impacts being felt the heaviest in the Midwest and Northeast, Jungmeyer said.
It could ultimately take several weeks for supply chains to recover from the weeklong slowdown at the border, said Matthew Hockenberry, a Fordham University assistant professor who studies supply chains and logistics.
“It’s also just so hard to predict, because there’s so much supply instability right now,” he said, noting that China’s latest wave of lockdowns and the war in Ukraine are causing even more disruptions.
“The amount of supply uncertainty is so high that to add another straw here to the camel’s back is a dangerous proposition.”
Mexican grape shipments for 2022 should reach a new high, surpassing 25 million boxes, a 19.5 percent increase compared to last year, according to the Mexican Table Grapes Growers Association (AALPUM).
In a press confernce, the AALPUM president Marco Antonio Camou, AALPUM and the Fresh Produce Association of Americas (FPAA) reported what is expected for Mexican table grapes.
The largest volume is red seedless varieties at 46.9 percent, followed by white seedless varieties at 41.08 percent, then black seedless varieties at 5.97 percent and cotton candy at 4.70 percent.
The first harvest is expected for the beginning of May, with picking accelerating from May 15th onward. The early season should produce some 7.4 million boxes through May, followed by peak season with 16.59 million boxes in June. Finally the late season, in July, should produce around 1.45 million boxes of table grapes.
The season is expected to extend longer this year, past the U.S. independence day of July 4th into the middle of that month.
It was noted growers have been working with the planted crop to reduce the peak experienced in the past in May and June, and instead offer a more steady constant supply of the fruit.
Also, there are some expectations due to the delayed arrival of Chilean grapes, there will be some overlap between the stock of the two countries.
Shipping will continue from Nogales, AZ and other forward distribution points until mid‐July.
In addition to cotton candy, there are several hundred thousand boxes of exotic flavored varieties. In this estimate these varieties are included in their respective color group.
As low fruit and vegetable consumption continues to contribute to diet-related chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, two new research studies find regular mango consumption may improve diets and help manage key risk factors that contribute to chronic disease.
Specifically, these new studies report findings in two areas: 1) mango consumption is associated with better overall diet quality and intake of nutrients that many children and adults lack at optimum levels, and 2) snacking on mangos may improve glucose control and reduce inflammation in contrast to other sweet snacks.
With mangos consumed widely in global cuisines and 58% of Americans reporting snacking at least once a day in 20211, this new research provides added evidence that regularly consuming mangos may have health advantages and be relevant to cultural dietary preferences and current eating patterns.
Mango consumption associated with higher diet quality and better intakes of nutrients of concern in children and adults
A recent observational study found positive outcomes in nutrient intakes, diet quality, and weight-related health outcomes in individuals who consume mangos versus those who do not2. The study, published in Nutrients in January 2022, used United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2018 data to compare the diets and nutrient intakes of mango consumers to people who did not consume mangos.
Both studies were supported by funds from the National Mango Board.
The study showed that children who regularly ate mango had higher intakes of immune-boosting vitamins A, C and B6, as well as fiber and potassium. Fiber and potassium are two of the four “nutrients of concern” as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which means many Americans are not meeting recommendations for these.
In adults, researchers found similar results, showing that mango consumption was associated with significantly greater daily intakes of fiber and potassium but also vitamins A, B12, C, E and folate, a vitamin critical during pregnancy and fetal development. For both children and adults, consuming mango was associated with a reduced intake in sodium and sugar, and for adults was associated with a reduced intake of cholesterol.
“We have known for a long time that there is a strong correlation between diet and chronic disease,” says Yanni Papanikolaou, researcher on the project. “This study reveals that both children and adults eating mangos tend to have significantly better diet quality overall along with higher intakes of fiber and potassium compared with those who don’t eat mangos. It is also important that mango fits into many diverse cuisines. Whole fruits are under consumed, and mango can encourage fruit consumption especially among growing diverse populations.”
Snacking on mangos associated with better glucose control and lower inflammation
In addition to these broad benefits of mango consumption, a separate pilot study, published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases in 2022 looked at mango as a snack and found that consuming whole mangos as a snack versus a control snack had better health outcomes in overweight and obese adults3. Given 97% of American adults consume snacks that contribute up to 24% of their daily energy intake4 this study sought to compare snacking on 100 calories of fresh mango daily to snacking on low-fat cookies that were equal in calories.
Twenty-seven adults participated in the study, all classified as overweight or obese based on Body Mass Index (BMI) and reported no known health conditions. Participants were given either mango or low-fat cookies as a snack while maintaining their usual diet and physical level for 12 weeks, and after a four-week wash-out period the alternating snack was given for another 12 weeks.
Researchers measured the effects on glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, liver function enzymes and inflammation. At the end of the trial period, findings indicated that mango consumption improved glycemic control (an individual’s ability to manage blood glucose levels, an important factor in preventing and managing diabetes) and reduced inflammation.
Results showed there was no drop in blood glucose when participants snacked on low-fat cookies. However, when snacking on mangos there was a statistically significant (p= 0.004) decrease in blood glucose levels at four weeks and again at 12 weeks, even though there was twice as much sugar, naturally occurring, in the mangos compared to the cookies. Researchers also observed statistically significant improvements to inflammation markers, total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC) and C-reactive protein (CRP), when snacking on mangos. TAC is a measurement of overall antioxidant capacity, or how well foods can prevent oxidation in cells. CRP is biomarker used to measure inflammation in the body. The research suggest that the antioxidants abundant in mangos offered more protection against inflammation compared to the cookies.
“The findings of this study show that antioxidants, fiber and polyphenols abundant in mango may help to offset sugar consumption and aide in glucose control. Antioxidants may also offer protection against inflammation” says Dr. Mee Young Hong, lead investigator on the study and Professor in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University. “Further research is needed but the initial findings are encouraging for people who enjoy sweet snacks.”
Some limitations in this study include sample size, using only one dose of mango, and measuring effects on participants without any pre-existing conditions. Further research should explore optimal dose of mango and examine long-term effects of mango consumption on those with metabolic conditions. It would also be of benefit to compare mango to a fiber-matched control snack to distinguish the effects of fiber versus the bioactive compounds in mangos.
With only 99 calories and over 20 different vitamins and minerals, a 1 cup serving of mango is nutrient-dense, making it a superfood. Because mangos are widely consumed in cultures around the world and United States, research into their health benefits contributes to a better understanding of their place in a healthy diet.
One of the biggest problems the transportation industry is faced with is a truck driver shortage. I have been in this industry for 16 years and this is, by far, the worst I’ve seen it. However, one can argue that this isn’t a new problem. In fact, analysts and industry groups have warned of truck driver shortages for years.
Those of us in the industry have been aware of this problem for a while and have struggled to find drivers to cover loads. But the truck driver shortage has hit the average American much closer to home in the last few years. Empty store shelves caused by pandemic supply chain disruptions are just bringing this ever-growing problem to light and gaining the attention of the American people and lawmakers. No toilet paper = unhappy Americans.
According to the American Trucking Association, the truck driver shortage is currently at 80,000 and could climb to 160,000 by 2030. It has been argued that the truck driver shortage isn’t exactly a shortage. “It’s a recruitment and retention problem,” said Michael Belzer, a trucking industry expert at Wayne State University.
In the U.S., “there are in fact, millions of truck drivers – people who have commercial driver’s licenses – who are not driving trucks and are not using those commercial driving licenses, more than we would even need,” Belzer said. He argues that it is because people have been initially recruited to the job and maybe even trained and then realize that the job is not for them. So then, the problem lies in not just how to keep current drivers actively driving, but also, how to recruit new drivers.
One idea is to help pave the way for drivers under 21 years old to enter interstate trucking. I know…sounds scary, right? I’m currently trying to wrap my head around trying to teach my teenage son how to drive. The thought of teen drivers on the interstate pulling an 80,000 pound machine is more than a little alarming. But, the more I read about it, the more I feel like it could be an avenue worth pursuing.
President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package into law last November. There is a lot included in that hefty price tag, one of which is the bipartisan DRIVE-Safe Act. The DRIVE-Safe Act focuses on one of the biggest obstacles to recruiting younger drivers, the requirement that they are at least 21 years old to drive in interstate commerce. One can obtain a commercial driver’s license at 18 but federal law has prevented them from crossing state lines.
“The DRIVE-Safe Act addresses our industry’s largest challenge by creating an apprenticeship program that will help train the next generation of safe, skilled drivers,” said Dan Van Alstine, who serves on the board of the ATA. The Act recognizes the fact that teen drivers have higher rates of auto accidents so it included added safety and training standards for newly qualified and current drivers. The new drivers must complete at least 400 hours of on-duty time and 240 hours of driving time in the cab with an experienced driver.
Also, every driver will be required to train on trucks equipped with new safety technology including active braking collision mitigation systems, video event capture, and a speed governor of 65 miles per hour or less and automated manual transmissions.
Also aimed at helping the retention and recruitment problem and is a new proposal to create a new refundable tax credit for truckers. On April 1, Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) introduced a bipartisan bill that would create a tax credit just for truck drivers as a way to attract and retain more drivers in the industry. The Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act would create a new refundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for truck drivers holding a valid Class A CDL who drive at least 1,900 hours in the year. This tax credit would last for two years (2022 and 2023). It would also create a new refundable tax credit of up to $10,000 for new truck drivers or individuals enrolled in a registered trucking apprenticeship.
It is too early to know the future of this very newly proposed bill, but one thing is for certain – something needs to change. Just because things have been done a certain way for decades doesn’t mean we should keep doing it that way. Change brings opportunity. Like John F. Kennedy said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
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Harry Balam attended Los Angeles Mission College and began working as a transportation broker in the dry division for ALC in 2006. After two years he moved to the refrigerated division. He currently works as an operations supervisor in the ALC Los Angeles office.
