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.
Strawberry shipments from Florida are looking good for the next two months, despite recent cold snap which did not do any long-lasting harm to the strawberry plants.
Well-Pick of Watsonville, CA also has operations in the Sunshine state and notes the peak shipping season is just beginning and will continue into April. The grower/shipper expects its volume to be as good if not a little better than a year.
A main concern at this point in the season every year is if the weather becomes too warm. This can shorten the season and the distance the berries can be hauled in good condition.
Plant City area strawberries – grossing about $2800 to Chicago; $3800 to New York City.
Columbian ag exports have set a new record reaching $8.496 billion in 2021, with 27 countries having opened their markets to 57 Colombian products through the government’s Health Diplomacy strategy. The announcement was made recently by Colombia’s Ministry of Agriculture.
The main destinations of Colombian exports during 2021 were the United States, with a participation of $3.147 billion, which represents 37.0 percent; Belgium, with $447 million, with a percentage of 5.3 percent; the Netherlands, with $399 million, representing 4.7 percent; and Germany, with $362 million, with a total of 4.3 percent.
Agronegocios reports this figure is 112 percent more than the goal established within the National Development Plan and 20 percent more than the $7.027 billion exported the previous year.
According to the report of the National Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane), traditional products such as coffee, bananas and flowers accounted for 62.8 percent, while non-traditional products represented 37.2 percent.
Among these non-traditional foods, the total amount was $3.162 billion. Colombia saw a considerable increase in beef and offal (the entrails and internal organs of an animal used as food), with a 120.7 percent boost from last year; milk and its derivatives, with 85 percent; Tahiti lime, with 60.3 percent; passion fruit, with 55.1 percent; and avocado, with 50 percent increase over 2020.
The Mexican mango season got going in early January with Ataulfo mangos from the southern areas of Mexico.
GM Produce Sales LLC of Hidalgo, TX. has been importing Mexican mangoes since 1984 and report ideal weather is resulting in heavy volume of yellow mangos from southern Mexico.
However, heaviest volume is seen for March and April which includes St Patrick’s Day (March 17) and Easter (April 17).
While yellow mangos will be in good supply soon, red mango shipments are expected to be delayed.
A late start for Mexican red mangos from some southern areas of Mexico had had bad weather. While light loadings are expected in March, as in recent years, late April, May and June should have much heavier volume leading up to Cinco de Mayo (May 5) and Memorial Day (May 30).
