Florida Classic Growers Inc. of Dundee- FL looks to start harvesting Central Florida fields the last week of March.
The shipper expects to have blueberries through the month of April and into the first week of May.
Freezing temperatures in January may have delayed the start of the harvest about a week later than normal, but the outlook for the crop remains good.
With berries from Mexico and Chile expected to fade at the end of March, Florida blueberries will be in prime position for big demand during April.
The Florida blueberry crop is doing well despite a pretty hard freeze.
Generally, Florida blueberry acreage is increasing, but not as rapidly as a decade ago. The number of growers may be declining as smaller growers leave the business.
The USDA reported that Florida’s blueberry acreage in 2020 was 4,400 acres, up from 3,500 acres in 2010 but down from 5,100 acres in 2019.
Watermelon is a unique fruit with compounds that may have health effects throughout the body, supporting normal cardiovascular and metabolic health, a new study has found.
According to a new comprehensive review of the scientific literature on watermelon, eating watermelon regularly may help promote health. This research paper, authored by Britt Burton-Freeman, Ph.D., and colleagues from Illinois Institute of Technology was recently published in the journal Current Atherosclerosis Reports.
“Research is unveiling the health-promoting potential of watermelon. The current literature review provides evidence that watermelon intake and citrulline supplementation lower blood pressure in human trials. Although more research is needed, favorable effects on lipids/lipoprotein metabolism are emerging based on the data we reviewed and reported in preclinical models,” said lead author Burton-Freeman.
According to the research, watermelon contains essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. It also contains the amino acids citrulline and arginine, which both act as a precursor to nitric oxide, a molecule that plays a role in blood pressure regulation, lipid reduction and glucose control. Polyphenols and carotenoids, particularly lycopene, are also abundant in watermelon.
The nitric oxide benefits of citrulline and arginine coupled with the bioactivity of polyphenols and carotenoids found in watermelon suggests that this fruit may support normal cardio-metabolic health.
Burton-Freeman and colleagues reviewed the preclinical and clinical trial evidence published from 2000 to 2020 to assess watermelon intake and citrulline (a signature compound found in watermelon) on cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes, and to identify future directions important for establishing dietary guidance and recommendations.
They explored studies related to the whole fruit as well as citrulline supplementation, focusing on key cardio-metabolic risk factors. More research is needed to confirm findings of the studies identified in this literature review.
The investigators concluded that watermelon provides a combination of nutrients and phytochemicals working across multiple mechanisms to induce biological effects. Citrulline and arginine are central to these cardio-metabolic effects, and polyphenols, lycopene, potassium and magnesium contribute as well.
Continued research is needed to determine the level of sufficient intake for clinical outcomes and will also need to be studied in a variety of populations. Research on the whole fruit and its products (i.e., juice) is also needed to help determine the level of sufficient intake.
The research identified additional potential benefits from watermelon consumption that warrant further research, such as body weight control (possibly through satiety mechanisms), glucose control, and brain and gut health.
Low fruit intake is one of three dietary factors associated with death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), as are high salt intake and low whole-grain intake. These dietary factors affect people regardless of age, sex and other socio-demographic variables.1 Recent research also shows that eating a variety of fruit helps reduce the risk of T2DM2, while the amount of fruit and the type of fruit selected provide cardiovascular benefits
Vanguard International USA, Inc. of Issaquah, WA is reported its Peruvian grapes supplied by Jack Salute are looking exceptional with great size, color, and taste. The bunch formation is just where it should be.
Harvesting is approaching the end of the red variety grapes, with the season wrapping up the last month with green variety grapes.
The operations are moving seamlessly with a steady and organized flow from fruit picking, then onto the packing house, and finally sending the grapes off in vessels. The harvest has entered the last half of the season and optimism is surrounding the final half of this 2021-2022 grape season in terms of both fruit quality and market demand.
The U.S. is the number one destination for Peruvian grape exports.
U.S. organic fresh produce imports are surging, according to USDA import statistics.
Mexico is a leading source of imported organic produce, according to the USDA, and top organic produce imports tracked by the agency include avocados, blueberries, greenhouse peppers, bananas and mangoes.
Value of U.S. imports of Mexican produce, for the December 2020 through November 2021 period, were:
Avocados: $171.4 million, up 44% from 2020 and 2019;
Blueberries: $138.7 million, up 40% from 2020 and up 133% from 2019;
Greenhouse peppers: $85.2 million, up 18% from 2020 and up 31% from 2019;
Bananas: $84.4 million, up 5% from 2020 and up 44% from 2019;
Mangoes (September through May): $22.8 million, up 51% from 2020 and up 96% from 2019;
Mangoes (June through August): $22.8 million, up 60% from 2020 and up 180% from 2019;
Squash: $20.2 million, down 17% from 2020 and up 3% from 2019;
Bell peppers (field): $18.5 million, up 64% from 2020 and up 186% from 2019;
Raspberries: $15.9 million, no comparison available;
Strawberries: $9.78 million, no comparison available; and
Blackberries: $8.55 million, no comparison available.
U.S. imports of Peruvian organic produce are increasing fast, according to USDA statistics
Value of U.S. imports of Peruvian produce for the December 2020 through November 2021 period, were:
Blueberries: $134.1 million, up 125% from 2020 and up 185% from 2019;
Bananas: $40.8 million, up 4% from 2020 and down 4% from 2019;
Ginger: $29.02 million, up 27% from 2020 and up 131%;
Avocados: $15.9 million, down 4% from 2020 and down 7% from 2019; and
Mangoes (September through May): $6.2 million, up 3% from 2020 and up 20% from 2019;
Ecuador is a leading supplier of organic bananas to the U.S. market. Value of U.S. imports of Ecuador produce, for the December 2020 through November 2021 period, were:
Bananas: $122.7 million, up 4% from 2020 and down 4% from 2019; and
Mangoes: $2.5 million, down 15% from 2020 and down 30% from 2019.
Chile is a significant supplier of organic blueberries and apples to the U.S.
Value of U.S. imports of Chilean produce for the December 2020 through November 2021 period were:
Blueberries: $84.8 million, up 26% from 2020 and up 44% from 2019; and
Apples: $21.1 million, up 4% from 2020 and down 36% from 2019.
Imports of organic bananas to the U.S. from Colombia totaled $76.7 million in 2021, up 24% from 2020 and up 28% from 2019.
U.S. imports of organic pears from Argentina totaled $9.2 million in 2021, up 19% from 2020 and down 2% from 2019. U.S. imports of organic lemons from Argentina totaled $1 million in 2020, up 374% from 2020 and up 281% from 2019.
New Zealand organic apple shipments to the U.S. totaled $22.7 million in 2021, up 14% from 2020 and down 9% compared with 2019.
Exports of avocado from Peru are expected to grow by 8 to 10 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year. Growth likely will be with exports to Europe, but supply problems in the U.S. could change these projections.
An article in Agaria.pe cites numbers from Peruvian avocado growers’ association ProHass. It notes 2021 was already a year of substantial growth, increasing 20 percent compared to 2020 to hit 483,00 tons of shipped fruit.
This increase was mainly expected to come from exports destined for the Netherlands which supply the EU.
The season for Peru avocados starts in April or early May, when it ripens enough to reach the quality for the U.S. market. According to the report, this allows Peru to get in on consumption trends associated with July 4th and the Labor Day long weekend in September.
Last year Peru’s trade minister lauded the growth registered in the value of Peru’s avocado exports. At the time it was noted 2021 exports, not including the final two months of August and September, were already up 14 percent compared to the entire 2020 season.
Strawberry shipments are about 15% ahead of where it was this time last at California Giant Berry Farms, based in Watsonville, CA.
The growing/shipping operation also has a year-round supply of sustainably grown fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.
California Giant Berry Farms expects to begin peak strawberry shipments from its Southern California ranches in late March. Oxnard began picking strawberries the first week of January will quickly ramp up it approaches peak volume in March.
The Santa Maria spring crop began harvest the second week of January and will double in volume week after week through March.
Some Red River Valley potato shippers could finish a little earlier than usual this year because North Dakota and Minnesota growers planted fewer acres of red potatoes in 2021. Drought conditions also reduced yields.
This could result in storage inventories being depleted four to six weeks ahead of normal.
The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association of East Grand Forks, MN reports some of the region’s 13 shippers will be finishing in March and April, rather than in May.
In the Northern Plains Region, potatoes are grown on about 70,000 acres in North Dakota and 8,800 acres in Minnesota. Growers planted fewer acres of red potatoes in 2021,
Global logistics company C.H. Robinson of Eden Prairie, MN and Waymo Via of Mountain View, CA, the trucking and local delivery unit of autonomous driving technology company Waymo, have formed a long-term strategic partnership to mutually explore the practical application of autonomous driving technology in logistics and supply chains.
The partnership combines the benefits of Waymo’s innovative autonomous driving technology, the Waymo Driver, with C.H. Robinson’s Navisphere technology, which is the world’s most-connected logistics platform.
The collaboration will focus, initially, on running multiple pilots in the Dallas-Houston transportation lane, with Waymo Via autonomous trucks hauling C.H. Robinson’s customer freight. During and after the pilots, the companies will collaborate to shape the future development and expansion of autonomous driving technology as an additional transportation solution. This will provide much-needed capacity, help improve the carrier and driver experience and address the business challenges posed by long-term driver shortages.
“We are excited to partner with Waymo Via to explore how autonomous driving technology can help bring increased capacity and sustainability into our logistics strategies. Together, we are going to harness this emerging freight technology and its potential on behalf of customers and carriers,” said Chris O’Brien, Chief Commercial Officer at C.H. Robinson. “We believe there is a real opportunity to bring our scale and information advantage to bear to help develop transportation solutions for them and their ability to participate in and benefit from AV. C.H. Robinson is also best positioned to represent the role of drivers and small and mid-size carriers in a more autonomous future.”
“We look forward to this collaboration with C.H. Robinson, both for their deep roots and experience in logistics and transportation, but also as a company that shares our vision of how technology and autonomous trucking can change our industry for the better,” said Charlie Jatt, Head of Commercialization for Trucking at Waymo. “C.H. Robinson’s size, scale and platform gives us access to rich and unique transportation data along with customer relationships and pilot opportunities to help bring our Waymo Via solution to the market.”
Bobalu Berry Farms is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and the Jones Family has announced it has transitioned to a fully integrated company.
Headquartered in Oxnard, CA, Bobalu for the first time will ship California fresh strawberries 12 months a year. In the past it has typically relied on fresh volume from Mexico during the winter months after the Santa Maria fall crop concludes, and before the spring season kicks off in Oxnard.
However, for the first time as the 60th anniversary is celebrated in 2022, the company has added a fall Oxnard crop in addition to Santa Maria’s fall program that will come on a bit later carrying fresh California fruit into 2023. Now Oxnard will be the first and the last district harvesting each year for the company within the state. The addition of the crop from Mexico will compliment domestic fruit providing a beneficial overlap during the holidays.
Bobalu points out in 2021 it introduced software integration as part of its expansion plans.
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.
