Gem-Pack Berries LLC of Irvine, CA and and Red Blossom Sales Inc. of Salinas, CA merged last October and combined the companies now has about 5,000 acres of strawberries in Florida, Mexico and California, as well as raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.
Gem-Pack reports the expansion now allows year around shipments of berries with the ability to continue growing.
During the next three months, strawberry shipments will be heavy, creating more opportunities to work on branding with retailers.
The company is a major shipper of strawberries. It will increase strawberry volume by 15 percent this year. Although, it has a few new items.
It is shipping pineberries out of Florida, as well as new blackberry varieties from Mexico. The company also added raspberries to its product line.
The company also offers organic strawberries out of Baja, Mexico, and Watsonville, CA.
Plenty of good volume is expected with Mexican mangoes this spring and summer, with shipments already well ahead of last year.
Importers received 31.7 million 8.8-pound boxes of mangoes from January 20 to March 20 this year, an increase from the 28 million boxes shipped at the same time a year ago, according to USDA.
During 2021, the U.S. received the equivalent of about 138.3 million 8.8-pound boxes of mangoes, up from approximately 132.1 million boxes in 2020.
Mexican mangoes start arriving in the U.S. in February and should continue into September.
Circuli Bros. LLC of Rio Rico, AZ reports growing regions experienced unusually dry weather this season, helping produce some exceptional mangoes.
Sweet Seasons of Pharr, TX has a wide selection of mangoes from February to August.
Varieties include criollo, ataulfo, keitt, Manilla rosa/carabao, yellow criollo, tommy atkins, irwin, kent and others. Baby green mango, ataulfo and tommy atkins are the most popular. A variety called mango criollo verde could be on the horizon from Sweet Seasons.
Quality is good this season, and volume should be up. April to May is Sweet Seasons’ peak shipping period for mangoes.
Amazon Produce Network of Vineland, N.J., offers mangoes year-round, and is the companies’ biggest volume commodity.
The operation sources mangoes from all the major growing areas, including Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Guatemala.
During April, the company imports mangoes from Guatemala, primarily for the East Coast, and from Mexico mostly for the West Coast.
The Kroger Co. will expand its delivery through the addition of a spoke facility in Oklahoma City powered by the Ocado Group. As a continuation of Kroger’s successful entry into Florida in 2021, Oklahoma will serve as another new geography for the company, bringing innovation and modern e-commerce to the area, extending the grocer’s reach and ability to provide its customers anything, anytime, anywhere.
“We’re excited to extend the Kroger fulfillment network to Oklahoma City, a new geography for our operation and an integral part of our strategy to achieve the doubling of our digital sales and profitability rate by the end of 2023,” said Gabriel Arreaga, Kroger’s senior vice president and chief supply chain officer. “This grocery delivery service is an innovative addition to the expanding digital shopping experience available to our customers. The spoke facility will provide unmatched, impeccable customer service and improve direct access to fresh food in areas eager for the variety and value offered by Kroger.”
The 50,000-square-foot spoke facility will collaborate with the hub in Dallas, serving as a last-mile cross-dock location that efficiently expands Kroger’s grocery delivery services and extends its reach to customers up to 200 miles from the hub. The facility is expected to become operational later this year and will employ up to 191 full-time associates.
Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said Kroger Delivery “underpins the permanent shift in grocery consumer behavior and elevates our position as one of America’s leading e-commerce companies.” Through the delivery network, the company now serves customers in Florida, as an example, without traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
The delivery network relies on highly automated fulfillment centers. At the hub sites, more than 1,000 bots whizz around giant 3D grids, orchestrated by proprietary air-traffic control systems in the unlicensed spectrum. The grid, known as The Hive, contains totes with products and ready-to-deliver customer orders.
smiling young girl with red sweatshirt holding artichoke in an artichoke field
By Diana McClean, Ocean Mist Farms
I often sing the praises of artichokes being easy to prepare, fun to eat and a great ingredient in salads to desserts. However, today I want to make sure that you are aware of the superior nutrition benefits found in this edible flower bud! Immunity and nutrition is top of mind for many of now as we protect ourselves from cold and flu season (COVID too).
I’ve listed eight nutritional highlights from gut boosting properties to fatigue-fighting benefits found in fresh artichokes and backed by science. Hang onto this information as you decide on the fresh veggies to add to your shopping list and meal rotation.
1. Gut Boosting
Artichokes contain both prebiotics and probiotics which have been shown to positively impact the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota, leading to improved immunity, digestion, and nutrient absorption. The gut microflora is essential for inhibiting pathogenic bacteria growth which is essential for a healthy gut!
2. Anti Inflammatory
Artichokes have long been used as a digestive aid to reduce inflammation and therefore symptoms of IBS, including bloating, abdominal pain, and cramps, as well as reducing both diarrhea and constipation through normalization of GI mobility. Extracts from artichoke leaves have also been used to reduce IBS symptoms and evaluated in at least two clinical studies.
3. Anti- Aging
Artichokes rank No. 1 over all vegetables in terms of antioxidant count, according to research conducted by the US Department of Agriculture. A recent study testing polyphenols in artichokes found them to be potential anti-inflammatory agents by protecting the lymphatic vessels from oxidative damage as well as improving the expression of genes involved in anti-aging processes.
4. Appetite- Reducing
People who incorporate more fiber into their meals generally report feeling more satiated and eat less. Prebiotic fiber like inulin, which is found in artichokes, appear to have additional benefits in terms of healthier body weight.
Researchers found that daily prebiotic consumption reduces appetite, lowers body weight and/or fat mass, and improves glucose tolerance.
5. Sleep- Promoting
A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial found that supplementation of magnesium helped improve subjective measures of insomnia, sleep efficiency, and sleep time as well as early morning awakening in elderly people.
Just one medium artichoke contains 77 mg of magnesium, almost 20 percent of the recommended daily intake.
6. Blood Sugar Balancing
Often referred to as “good bacteria”, probiotics are similar to the bacteria found naturally in the body; prebiotics such as the inulin in artichokes stimulate the growth and health of these probiotics “good bacteria”. In a recent review study, researchers concluded that probiotics can help reduce inflammation, increase insulin sensitivity and reduce autoimmune response.
7. Fatigue Fighting
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. Poor gut flora has been linked to decreased nutrient absorption and therefore less efficient energy production. Since artichokes are a good source of pre-and pro-biotics, they can help combat fatigue and promote increased energy for those who regularly consume them.
8. Special Diet-Friendly
Because artichokes are gluten and grain-free, dairy-free, nut and nightshade-free, and low in carbohydrates and fat, they fit into any diet and lifestyle. Whether you prefer paleo, vegetarian, vegan, Whole30, and/or keto, artichokes can be a welcome part of your diet.
Increased inspections of commercial vehicles, including trucks carrying fresh produce from Mexico to the U.S., is delaying deliveries during a time of excess supply chain disruptions.
This is tied to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowing to strengthen border protections and inspections in response to the Biden Administration’s plans to end pandemic emergency health orders that allowed federal officials to turn away migrants seeking asylum.
The Texas Border Truck Inspection Enforcement Action is one of the measures, which allows for state inspections after U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspections.
Several trade groups have written to Abbott to reconsider what these actions do to cross border trade and ultimately to consumers of these products.
Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas Bwrote:
Texas has some of the most secure Commercial Ports of Entry anywhere along the U.S. border. Officers use sophisticated technology to see through the trailers and catch illicit cargo and prevent human smuggling.
Adding an additional Texas DPS inspection once trucks have crossed the border is causing serious delays with no commensurate increase in border safety.
Unfortunately, delays from DPS inspections mean that up to 80% of perishable fruits and vegetables have been unable to cross daily. This is causing losses of millions of dollars a day for employers and employees who have been idled.
Trucks are waiting over 24 hours to cross the border. Customers are unable to load product from their Texas suppliers. Transportation shortages are increasing as available trucks are stuck waiting in line to cross the border.
Food shortages will rise as we head into Easter. Trucks are running out of diesel fuel to run refrigerated units on the trailers, resulting in catastrophic damage to highly perishable fresh fruits and vegetables. This means that even when a truck is able to cross the border eventually, the product could be damaged significantly.
If DPS inspections stopped today, it would take over a week for the supply chain to return to normal. Unfortunately, the loss of inventory, freshness, and sales will never be recovered, and these losses are a direct economic loss to Texas companies, and lost sales to their customers around North America.
Dante Galeazzi, CEO/president of Texas International Produce Association Bwrote:
Last night, commercial trucks crossing the Pharr International Bridges were in a miles long line that took until nearly 2am this morning to clear the bridge. Today, the line is at a stand-still as trucks are crawling out of the import lot. Many carriers and brokers are reporting hours of non-movement.
Border security is an important element of this region, but so is the trade that keeps millions of Texans employed. According to a study from Texas A&M, fresh produce arriving from Mexico not only employs nearly 8,000 Texans but is also responsible for $850M in economic impact to the state. Further, our industry is in the midst of the ‘Easter Pull’ in which grocery stores are ordering products for the holiday promotion. The execution of this order has wreaked havoc up and down our supply chain and is likely to leave state store shelves with limited fresh produce supplies.
Warehouses have staff sitting idle, with no trucks to unload. Buyers in other parts of the country cannot understand why their product is not available. US trucking companies are losing money as they sit around for days with no loads to haul. I have even heard from a member that a trucking company is refusing to send trucks south of San Antonio out of concern there will be no cargo available. This is destroying our business and the reputation of Texas. I foresee companies making plans to move their business to New Mexico and Arizona. TIPA urges your office to modify this action. We implore you to work with the Department of Homeland Security on a more effective process which meets the country’s need for security while balancing our dependency on efficient trade.
Border Trade Alliance president Britton Mullen said: The Border Trade Alliance believes strongly that cross-border trade and travel efficiency should be balanced with security.
We oppose any state-level action that results in an inspection process that duplicates the inspections already performed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, whose work at the land border ports of entry is informed by highly attuned risk assessment models, intelligence gathering, and a commitment to the agency’s dual mission of enforcement and facilitation. While border states like Texas have an important role to play in ensuring truck safety and code compliance, the state should be working in collaboration with CBP, not engaging in a new inspection scheme that will slow the movement of freight, which will only exacerbate the country’s supply chain crisis and put even more upward pressure on consumer prices. The BTA urges the Governor’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security to work cooperatively to meet the country’s security and economic needs.
At the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition Spring Meeting in El Paso April 11, Abbott said, “Texans demand and deserve an aggressive, comprehensive strategy to secure our border—not President Biden’s lackluster leadership. As the federal government continues to roll back commonsense policies that once kept our communities safe, our local law enforcement has stepped up to protect Texans from dangerous criminals, deadly drugs, and illegal contraband flooding into the Lone Star State. Texas will always be a law-and-order state, and I thank our law enforcement officers who have answered the call to protect and serve their fellow Texans in the federal government’s absence in securing our border.”
Zespri’s 2022 export program is underway, with the first 1.15 million trays of kiwifruit now on their way to Japan.
The MV Solent Star is the first of a planned 72 ships set to deliver a crop estimated to be over 190 million trays (or 680,000 MT) of fruit to Zespri’s global markets, according to a company statement.
Zespri Chief Global Supply Officer Alastair Hulbert said that “demand for Zespri Kiwifruit is incredibly strong across our global markets and this season we’re expecting another large and great-tasting crop of fruit,”
“We’re looking at exporting more than 115 million trays of SunGold kiwifruit and around 70 million trays of Green in 2022, and this season also marks our first commercial volumes of Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit which will be available to consumers in New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and China,” he added.
While global demand for kiwifruit remains strong, the industry is facing a number of headwinds this season given the ongoing impact COVID-19 is having on labor availability.
Port congestion is a matter that has company officials on alert, the statement said.
In total, Zespri expects to undertake four charter sailings to North Europe, 12 to the Mediterranean, six to the US West Coast and 50 to Zespri’s Asian markets, and to send around 20,000 containers of kiwifruit this season.
“The continued use of charter vessels will be important in our ability to avoid much of the congestion we’re seeing at container ports, and we’re also looking at new options this season such as partnering with T&G Global to co-ship fruit to North America,” Hulbert said.
The first shipment under these conditions is expected for April.
The 2022 season has the potential to be another record-breaking year with more kiwifruit produced than ever before. A forecast of at least 190 million trays will need to be harvested, overtaking last year’s record of over 177 million trays. On average, each tray has around 30 pieces of kiwifruit.
High consumption of vegetables alone won’t help prevent heart disease in adults who are deficient in physical activity and other lifestyle factors, according to a new study.
In the study of about 400,000 middle-aged adults in the United Kingdom with a 12-year follow-up, higher consumption of raw but not cooked vegetables was associated with lower heart disease risk.
However, researchers at Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Population Health and other institutions said even the benefit of raw vegetables to reduce heart disease was probably not as important as other lifestyle factors, including physical activity, smoking, drinking, fruit consumption, red and processed meat consumption, and use of vitamin and mineral supplements.
“This study suggests the need to reappraise the evidence on the burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to low vegetable intake in the high-income populations,” the research summary said.
The study was published Feb. 21 in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
Mollie Van Lieu, vice president of nutrition and health for the International Fresh Produce Association, said she wasn’t surprised to see the research results.
“We know that contributors of poor heart health are obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and a host of other factors from eating an excess of foods that aren’t fresh fruits and vegetables,” Van Lieu said. “If an individual continues to eat a diet high in sugar, sodium, unhealthy fats and refined ultra-processed carbohydrates, we cannot expect vegetables to singularly fix the harm that those foods cause.”
That being said, there is “no question” that a healthy dietary pattern must include a wide variety of vegetables, said Van Lieu, and that increasing consumption of whole and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables can help individuals reduce consumption of other foods that contribute to poor health.
“We don’t want studies like this to distract from the importance of growing consumption,” she said. “But what studies like this can point to is that we need an overall nutrition strategy that addresses all the factors that contribute to poor dietary health and prevents our population from consuming the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.”
Taylor Wallace, principal and CEO of the Think Healthy Group and adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies for George Mason University, said the United Kingdom study adjusted for far more variables than a typical study.
“An issue with nutrition epidemiology (in general) is that you can easily ‘overcorrect,’ which leads to null findings,” he said. “The ‘residual confounding’ argument the authors give in the conclusion works the opposite way, too … its more likely they overcorrected and lost the effect. Just because its cloudy outside doesn’t mean the sun isn’t shining.”
Another limiting factor in the study, Wallace said, was that intake of vegetables was assessed only once at baseline.
“This makes the study a very weak and ill-designed prospective cohort study that has limited utility,” he said. “Cohort studies that show beneficial effects of vegetables (of all forms) used validated food frequency questionnaires many times over a 12-year period, as dietary patterns often change. This is not a good measure of food intake at all.”
In addition, he said the study couldn’t account for cooking methods, such as whether vegetables were fried, baked or boiled. Those diverse types of cooking methods may have very different influences on cardiovascular disease and overall health, Wallace said.
“Not accounting for factors like this is equivalent to throwing dice down a roulette table and then claiming the game is impossible to win at because you lost,” he said.
Also, he said findings not reported in the abstract but apparent in the supplemental files show that adjustment for all the covariates didn’t make a difference in regard to all-cause mortality. “There was still a large protective effect of cooked and raw vegetables,” Wallace said.
In general, he said, the study data goes against what has consistently and frequently been reported in systematic reviews and other epidemiological analyses.
California navel orange shipments as winding down, although loadings are expected through the end of May.
Markon Cooperative Inc. of Salinas, CA reports supplies of smaller sizes (113s and 138s) are tightening, with elevated prices expected for the remainder of the navel season.
Valencias
California’s Valencia harvest will begin around the first week of May and run through September
Expect stocks to be dominated by larger 72- and 88-count sizes
Navels
California Navels are expected to ship through the end of May
Small sizes (113- and 138-count fruit) are diminishing as the crop matures. Quality and taste are exceptional Southern San Joaquin Valley oranges and other citrus – grossing about $9000 to New York City.
The Flavor Tree Fruit Company of Hanford, CA., is gearing up for good volume cherry shipments this season. Peak loadings will occur in May.
The company reports there have been ideal growing conditions in California in all of its cherry-growing regions.
Although the business doesn’t see the high yields of a year ago, it expects larger sized fruit. That still should translate into good volume overall.
The Flavor Tree Fruit Company has been preplaning as much as possible in all areas of logistics. This includes earlier than normal ordering of packaging and materials months in advance of the season before it was even know how big the crop would be.
The company also expressed concern over the availability of transportation during the season due to skyrocketing diesel fuel prices, etc.
Stemilt Growers LLC, headquartered in Wenatchee, Wash. kicks off its domestic cherry season in the Golden State and operates as Chinchiolo Stemilt California, which has a cherry-packing facility located in Stockton, CA. The company’s cherries are grown in both new and established districts in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
The company holds a unique position in the cherry industry, boasting the longest cherry season.
Stemilt expects to harvest cherries in late April, with good volume in early May. Peak volumes should run for three consecutive weeks beginning around May 9 through Memorial Day.
The company is looking forward to the possibilities of more 5 River Islands cherries from the Delta region in California.
As Port Manatee’s newest non-aggregate customer, Chiquita will begin cargo delivery of their bananas to Port Manatee on a bi-weekly schedule. Previously, Chiquita Bananas arrived at local grocers by truck delivery after cargo delivery to Port Everglades.
During a Port Authority meeting recently, Port Manatee Executive Director Carlos Buqueras announced a new customer to Port Manatee – Chiquita.
After thanking the port authority and port staff for their support and efforts, Buqueras called the accomplishment a “big deal” citing the arrangement with a world-renowned customer, Chiquita Banana.
“These bananas can be delivered directly to your local supermarkets instead of being trucked for hours from other parts of Florida,” Buqueras explained.
The direct import to Port Manatee will not only spare the bananas a several-hour commute by truck for distribution to Manatee supermarkets but the import is also expected to cut back on pollution and fuel consumption previously expended for their highway delivery to the region.
The newly announced arrangement with Chiquita Banana comes after the October 2021 announcement that Port Manatee had reached an extended lease agreement with decades-long customer, Florida-based Del Monte unit in Coral Gables, through at least 2026.
Port Manatee reported a 53.3 percent year-over-year increase in the number of 20-foot-equivalent container units crossing its docks, reaching 135,660 twenty-foot equivalents (TEUs) in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2021.
Chiquita is already chartering space on Del Monte vessels that are arriving at the port, and Chiquita Banana containers have already begun to move across the docks at Port Manatee.
Port Manatee is a county-owned deepwater seaport located in the eastern Gulf of Mexico at the entrance to Tampa Bay in northern Manatee County, Florida. It is one of Florida’s largest deepwater seaports and also regarded as the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal. The port handles a variety of bulk, breakbulk, containerized, and heavy-lift project cargoes.
