Good volume shipments of Jersey Fresh peaches should be available from very early July until mid September, according to the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council.
Bonnie Lundblad, chair of the Council said, “Our season usually begins with the yellow-fleshed variety Sentry around July 4, with a sprinkling of very early white and yellow fleshed peaches. Our final shipments are around September 15, with the heaviest volume concluding around Labor Day. The late season varieties include Encore, Autumn Glo, Flame Prince and the new variety Tiana.”
Most shipments are destined for New Jersey and the New England and mid Atlantic Regions, from mid-July through Labor Day.
Joe Nichols owner of Nichols Orchards, in Franklin Township on the southern end of Gloucester County reports a lighter than normal crop of peaches and nectarines. Nichols a longtime member of NJPPC, feels he has maybe about 60% because of some spring low temperature injury.
We expect to have peaches and nectarines to wholesale throughout the summer. Since we sell tree-ripened fruit, we expect a strong demand.”
John Maccherone, NJPPC member, with his father Santo John are owners of Circle M Farms in Salem County, New Jersey. They have a full crop of peaches and nectarines this season. “We have many varieties of white and yellow-fleshed peaches and nectarines, most of which are being thinned for improved fruit size and quality,“ said Maccherone. “We expect a much better season with good demand compared to 2021 when the pandemic hampered our marketing program.” The Maccherones pack and wholesale under the Circle M label. They also sell Circle M peach cider drink, growing in popularity at Eastern US Farm Markets.
The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council is a 72-year-old voluntary organization of peach growers, wholesalers, distributors and allied industry that market products needed by the peach industry.
Walmart is expanding its DroneUp delivery network to 34 sites by the end the year, providing the potential to reach 4 million U.S. households across six states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah and Virginia. This provides the company with the ability to deliver over 1 million packages by drone in a year.
“We continue to expand our delivery operations to help customers get the items they need when they need them, and it’s been an exciting journey,” said David Guggina, senior vice president of innovation and automation. “From Express delivery, where customers can have items delivered to their doorsteps in as little as two hours, to InHome, where they can get those orders placed right into their refrigerators, we’re proud to offer customers multiple options that help them save time and money.”
Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., customers will be able to order from tens of thousands of eligible items for delivery by air in as little as 30 minutes. Customers can order items totaling up to 10 pounds.
After completing hundreds of deliveries within a matter of months across its existing DroneUp hubs, Walmart has seen how drones can offer customers a practical solution for getting certain items, fast. “More importantly, we’ve seen a positive response from our customers that have used the service,” said Guggina. “In fact, while we initially thought customers would use the service for emergency items, we’re finding they use it for its sheer convenience, like a quick fix for a weeknight meal. Case in point: The top-selling item at one of our current hubs is Hamburger Helper.”
Participating stores will house a DroneUp delivery hub inclusive of a team of certified pilots, operating within FAA guidelines, that safely manage flight operations for deliveries. Once a customer places an order, the item is fulfilled from the store, packaged, loaded into the drone and delivered right to their yard using a cable that gently lowers the package.
DroneUp will also offer local businesses and municipalities aerial drone solutions in areas like insurance, emergency response and real estate. For example, a local construction agency can work with DroneUp to monitor on-site job progress through aerial drone photography.
Walmart said the added revenue help offset the cost of delivery and it also serves the entire drone industry by gathering more flight data to expand drone operations in a safe and regulated way.
Guggina said: “Our founder Mr. Sam once said, ‘I have always been driven to buck the system, to innovate, to take things beyond where they’ve been.’ We’re doing just that with drone technology, making it a feasible solution that we know customers and communities will enjoy.”
Lemon shipments from Chile began in late April, the same week as the previous season, as reported by the Citrus Committee of Chile.
In the first week of May 20,098 tons of this fruit were shipped, with an accumulated volume of 193 tons, a figure that reflects a decrease of 93% compared to the same date in 2021. 64% of this volume has been destined for the U.S. and the rest for Japan.
Earlier this spring, the Citrus Committee, projected Chile would export a volume of 90,000 tons, which is equivalent to 11 percent less than the previous season.
Blueberries in New Jersey for 2021 had a production value of $78 million. New Jersey annually ranks in the top six in the U.S. in the production of blueberries. Farmers in the Garden State harvested 41 million pounds of blueberries on 7,500 acres last year.
“We are off to an excellent start, and we anticipate it being a good year,” said Paul Macrie, who owns and operates Macrie Brothers Blueberry Farms of Hammonton, NJ with his brothers Nick and Mike. “From what we have seen early on, we think we will harvest a good volume with the juicy, larger-sized berries New Jersey is known for. We expect to be in full production mode within the next week or two.”
The Macrie Brothers have been growing blueberries in New Jersey since 1953. What started as a 26-acre farm has now blossomed into an 800-acre operation. The Macrie Brothers are also an active member of the New Jersey Blueberry Industry Advisory Council.
The blueberry season for New Jersey lasts through the end of July, which is National Blueberry Month. During the peak of blueberry season, production can be as high as 250,000-300,000 crates per day. Eating blueberries is beneficial to health as they are known as the “King of Anti-Oxidants.” Blueberries are low in calories and high in nutrients.
Extra caution is advised if you plan on hauling last season storage potatoes out of Idaho. Some quality problems such as shoulder bruising and hollow heart are being reported.
The problem apparently is resulting from pressure and shoulder bruising (soft, external indents) because of constant contact with adjacent potatoes, or the floor, while the raw product sits in storage piles. Hollow heart (small, irregularly shaped internal craters) develops internally during the season when potatoes grow faster than normal due to adverse weather.
Idaho potato shippers are depleting their supplies from storage, and the Norkotah crop has been exhausted, leaving the Burbank variety until new crop arrives.
Burbanks will be the only variety available for shipping until the new crop of Norkotahs become available in August. Some suppliers expect a potential 7to 14 day shipping gap in early August.
New crop Norkotah harvesting is expected to begin in early August.
Storage supplies are available from many growing areas besides Idaho, including Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
Cucumbers… I didn’t know this… and to think all these years I’ve only been making salads with the cucumbers…
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your taps, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back theshine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!
Easy-peel citrus varieties should increase in popularity which is expected to result in those products surpassing navel oranges in the next few years as the most consumed fresh citrus in the U.S., according to Rabobank research.
In an April report, the company showed South America has greatly increased its exports in the past five years. Since the mid-1990s, U.S. mandarin consumption has surpassed domestic production, and now imports account for about one-third of domestic consumption.
“Availability of mandarins in the U.S. increased at a compound annual growth rate of 6% during the past decade to about 7 pounds per person per year. If the trend continues, in the next few years mandarins will surpass oranges as the most-consumed fresh citrus in the U.S. The attractive combination of convenience, healthfulness, and taste will continue driving consumer demand for mandarins in the U.S.”
Acreage in California has increased more than sixfold in the past 20 years, reaching 67,000 acres in 2021, while acreage in Florida has declined due to phytosanitary pressures, the report said.
The Chilean citrus season kicked off in mid-April when the first shipment of clementines set sail for the U.S. market.
Chile will supply clementines, mandarins, navels and lemons to the U.S. market, with promotional support starting in June and continuing through October, according to a news release.
The current total Chilean Citrus forecast across categories is as follows:
Clementines: 45,000 tons
Mandarins: 120,000 tons
Navels: 90,000 tons
Lemons: 90,000 tons
Logistical and climatic issues have impacted overall volume, resulting in an anticipated 12% decrease from 2021. Nonetheless, Juan Enrique Ortuzar, president of the Chilean Citrus Committee, remains optimistic about the industry’s future.
“We are facing a challenging season in many respects, but citrus has grown into an incredibly strong, year-round category,” Ortuzar said in the release. “Chilean citrus volume has increased by 25% over the past five years. With our quality proposition, we believe there will continue to be growth opportunities.”
The U.S. received 88% of all Chilean citrus exports in 2021, with 97% of clementines and mandarins shipped to the U.S. Volume will be lower this year, especially for clementines, where a volume decrease of 35% is anticipated, but the U.S. will continue to receive the majority of Chilean citrus exports. To support this volume, the Citrus Committee is finalizing a robust marketing campaign that will help build demand and drive sales at the retail level.
At the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo today, Carrier Transicold introduced its eCool family of electric transport refrigeration and cooling products for heavy-duty tractors and trailers, as well as medium- and light-duty trucks. The eCool portfolio encompasses solutions for a wide range of applications to fulfill customer needs for more sustainable solutions that reduce emissions and respond to changes in the regulatory environment. More details are provided in the news release, and a photo is included.
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Carrier Transicold’s Electric eCool Series Drives Efficient, Sustainable Transport Refrigeration
LONG BEACH, Calif., May 10, 2022 – Carrier Transicold today showcased a range of electric transport refrigeration and cooling products as part of the eCool™ series, which help lower emissions for customers across the cold chain. 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.
The eCool family, which includes sustainable solutions for heavy-duty tractors and trailers, as well as medium- and light-duty trucks, was featured by Carrier Transicold during the 2022 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center.
“Our eCool portfolio encompasses solutions for a wide range of applications to fulfill our customers’ need for more sustainable solutions that reduce emissions and respond to changes in the regulatory environment,” said Dave Kiefer, Director of Product Management and Sustainability, Carrier Transicold.
“Fundamentally, all eCool products help to push emissions toward zero by using electricity to power the systems, but the technology for each product varies based on what is best for the specific application,” Kiefer continued. “Elimination of the diesel engine also reduces noise, which is especially appreciated when operating in urban and suburban areas.”
The eCool products showcased by Carrier Transicold at the ACT Expo included:
Vector eCool™ refrigerated trailer system powered by ConMet eMobility – The new system sustainably creates its own power using leading-edge energy recovery and storage to operate an all-electric Vector trailer refrigeration unit. In the Americas, Carrier formed a strategic alliance with ConMet eMobility to offer the PreSet Plus® eHub™ system, which uses innovative in-wheel motor technology to capture and store clean, regenerative energy for the refrigeration unit. Global foodservice distribution leader Sysco is piloting a Vector eCool system to explore ways this new technology can help the company achieve its 2030 climate reduction goals. The Sysco trailer was featured and operable, emissions-free in the Carrier Transicold booth at the ACT Expo.
Supra eCool™ truck refrigeration unit –An electric complement to Carrier Transicold’s Supra diesel truck refrigeration units, which operates via its own battery module in non-electric truck applications or via the truck’s power supply in battery-electric vehicle applications. When it goes into service in 2023, it will help fleets operating in California that are subject to new regulations requiring adoption of zero-emission systems for truck refrigeration.
Neos 200e for light-duty vehicles – This latest addition to the Neos platform adds compatibility with battery-electric vehicles, greater operating efficiency and more capacity than the model it succeeds.
ComfortPro electric auxiliary power unit (APU) – The new lithium-ion battery-powered version of Carrier Transicold’s electric APU outperforms electric systems using conventional absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries, providing up to 17 hours of continuous air conditioning. Exclusive features include a variable-speed compressor, cabin pre-cool lock and a high-power battery pack that is independent from the tractor’s lead-acid battery.
Carrier Transicold eCool products can also use refrigerants such as R-452A that have a significantly lower global warming potential than R-404A, the longtime standard refrigerant used in most transport refrigeration systems.
Additionally, Carrier Transicold’s telematics platform can be used with transport refrigeration units in the eCool family to provide remote temperature monitoring, unit location and movement details, as well as battery status and system performance.
Energy efficiency is critical to Carrier’s progress in reducing its customers’ carbon footprint by more than one gigaton, while also achieving carbon neutral operations by 2030, as outlined in its bold Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Goals.
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature-controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 50 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. For more information, visit transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain, on Facebook at Carrier Transicold Truck/Trailer U.S. & Canada and on LinkedIn at Carrier Transicold Truck Trailer Refrigeration.
New Jersey is one of the top 10 producers nationally for blueberries, cranberries (processed), spinach, squash and many other crops, according the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
Consalo Family Farms of Vineland, NJ grows a full line of produce in New Jersey, with a history in the state dating back to 1927.
There are more than 100 different varieties of produce grown in New Jersey. These items range from methi, to daikon radishes, and bok choy plus more traditional items like cilantro, dill, romaine lettuce, and beets.
New Jersey grown produce is shipped by truck to retailers up and down the East Coast. Vegetable loadings begin in April and usually extending into November for some crops. New Jersey blueberries are available June through early August.
Sunny Valley International of Glassboro, NJ, has been a leading marketer of New Jersey stone fruit and blueberries for nearly 30 years.
