Mexican tomato exports will set a new record in 2021.
The USDA reports Mexico is already broke a record in 2020, with the value of shipments increasing by 20.5 percent and volume increasing 5.1 percent over the previous year.
Between January and March 2021 tomato exports totaled $829 million reflecting an increase of 5.1 percent year-over-year, with almost all of those shipments destined to the U.S.
Restaurant and hotel industry re-openings in the U.S. and Mexico, plus the renegotiation of the Tomato Suspension Agreement, and higher export prices have led to more tomato plantings.
Tomatoes already were the most exported agricultural product by Mexico, with a constant growth in recent years.
In terms of volume, Mexican tomato exports were 579,000 tons, reflecting an increase of 9.5 percent in the first quarter of 2021.
The USDA estimates Mexican tomato exports for the 2021-2022 season (October-September) will total 1.83 million tons, 2 percent higher than the previous cycle. While for the 2020-2021 season, the USDA estimates exports will be 1.8 million tons.
Following fewer plantings and shipments a year ago due to the pandemic, it appears New York state vegetable shippers are back on track with more normal volume this season.
Turek Farms, King Ferry, NY reports volume was down about 20% in 2020, but this year, more normal volumes are seen.
Located in the Finger Lakes region, Turek also grows and ships broccoli, Brussels sprouts and a few other items. By mid-July, loadings of cabbage, summer squash, and sweet corn were underway.
Reeves Farms of Baldwinsville, increased vegetable acres by about 5%, slowly as the market demands, but like everyone else is planning no significant increases in acreage. The company begin picking sweet corn the second week of July 10. Summer squash started a in mid June 16. Cucumber shipments were launched in late June 27.
Torrey Farms of Elba in western New York has about the usual amount of cabbage, and grow in a five-county region. By mid July Torrey Farms was shipping green beans, zucchini and yellow squash, cucumbers and cabbage. Harvesting cabbage continues into November, and some of it will go into storage, possibly into December. The firm will ship cabbage through May.
Besides the storage crop, the new crop of onions just got underway a few days ago and continue into October.
On the North Fork of Long Island, Satur Farms of Cutchogue has a cold storage and shipping facilities in nearby Calverton. Satur Farms has its usual mix and varieties of leafy greens. The volume is similar to past seasons.
Minkus Family Farms of New Hampton, started shipping onions at the beginning of August.
A compound in avocados could lead to improvements in leukemia treatment, according to a study by the University of Guelph of Ontario.
The compound, avocatin B, targets an enzyme known as VCLAD that scientists have identified for the first time as being critical to cancer cell growth, Dr. Paul Spagnuolo, Department of Food Science said.
The study focused specifically on acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This form largely affects adults over the age of 65, and fewer than 10 percent of patients survive five years after diagnosis.
Dr. Spagnuolo explained that leukemia cells have higher amounts of VLCAD involved in their metabolism.
“The cell relies on that pathway to survive,” he said, “This is the first time VLCAD has been identified as a target in any cancer.”
After screening various nutraceutical compounds in search of one that would inhibit the enzyme, the research team found that avocatin B provided the best results.
The compound had previously been researched for its potential in diabetes prevention and weight management. Now, Spagnulo sees a potential usage in leukemia patients.
“VLCAD can be a good marker to identify patients suitable for this type of therapy. It can also be a marker to measure the activity of the drug,” he said. “That sets the stage for the eventual use of this molecule in human clinical trials.”
This could answer a call for less toxic drug options in the treatment of AML. Currently, around half of patients with AML over 65 will enter palliative care while others will go through chemotherapy.
REEDLEY, CA — Fruit World, a family-owned, grower-shipper of organic and conventional fruit and the largest California grower of organic Thomcord grapes, started shipping this popular variety at the end of July, with good volumes available from mid-August through early-October. Thomcord seedless grapes are a hybrid of Concord and Thompson Seedless grapes, with the rich, full Concord flavor and the tender skin and seedless qualities of the Thompson.
Seven years since planting, Fruit World’s Thomcord vines are now fully mature and heavy with luscious purple clusters. “The recent warm weather in California’s Central Valley is rapidly increasing the color and brix, so we’ll begin harvesting 7-10 days earlier than last year,” said CJ Buxman, co-founder of Fruit World.
Fruit World Thomcord grapes are shipped in 10 x 2 lb recyclable and compostable paper totes, with bright, colorful graphics. The company will also be shipping 20 x 1 lb clamshells.
In 2020, Fruit World shipped their organic Thomcord grapes across the United States, in addition to air freighting to customers in Asia. “While we anticipate this year’s crop to be heavier than in 2020, last year we sold out in mid-September,” Brianca Kaprielian, co-founder of Fruit World added. “We encourage retailers to contact us early to confirm their orders and meet the high consumer demand for this popular variety.”
In 2020, Fruit World shipped their organic Thomcord grapes across the United States, in addition to air freighting to customers in Asia. “While we anticipate this year’s crop to be heavier than in 2020, last year we sold out in mid-September,” Kaprielian added.
About Fruit World: Fruit World is a fresh produce company with generations of history. Fruit World grows and ships the most flavorful fruit in California—including organic and conventional citrus, organic grapes, organic stone fruit, and more.
In 2011, the market opened the doors at 6700 Essington Ave., welcoming buyers to its fully enclosed, fully refrigerated 686,000-square-foot facility, according to a news release.
The market is home to 19 wholesale produce businesses that employ hundreds of people in both union and non-union positions and donate more than 2 million pounds of fresh produce to local charities every year.
“We are proud to pave the way as a leader in cold chain management, product safety, staging, loading, security and recycling,” market general manager Mark Smith said in the release. “In addition to establishing the highest global standards for distributing produce, our goal is to divert as much waste from the landfill as we possibly can. Through anaerobic digestion and other environmentally friendly practices, we’ve reduced our waste stream by about 80% and continue to focus on that last 20%.”
Three market business leaders weighed in on what the market means to them:
“We couldn’t have asked for a better facility to showcase our produce. The bright, clean (and of course ‘cool’) and spacious market that has become our home has been great for the merchants and all of the customers who shop at the PWPM.”
Strong growth with the production of South African citrus, mainly soft citrus, new orange varieties, lemons and limes is estimated to continue in the 2020-21 shipping year, according to a new report from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
The expected growth, is based on the increase in area planted, improved yields, high level of new-plantings coming into full production, and the minimal impact of COVID-19 on labor and input supply. The increase is expected to be partially offset by drought conditions in some production areas of the Eastern Cape, and hail damage in some production areas of Mpumalanga, according to the report.
Duty free exports of all citrus types to the United States under the African Growth Opportunity Act reached a peak of 91,402 metric tons in 2020 and are expected to continue their strong annual growth in 2021, as the U.S. is still considered a premium market.
The value of U.S. imports of South Africa citrus totaled $94.9 million, up 72% from $55.3 million in 2019 and up 45% from $65.5 million in 2018.
Citrus in South Africa is grown across the country mainly in the Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Kwa Zulu Natal, Northern Cape and North West provinces, according to the report. A total of 233,092 acres was planted to citrus in South Africa in 2020, a 9% increase from 214,507 acres in 2019. This growth trend is estimated to continue in 2021, based on the significant investments and aggressive new plantings of soft citrus, lemons, and new varieties of oranges.
While oranges are the biggest citrus type produced in South Africa and account for 48% of the total citrus area planted, the report said there has been notable growth in the area planted to soft citrus (25%) and lemons/limes (19%). This growth is driven by the attractive investment returns, profit margins from soft citrus and lemon production, and a spike in global demand.
Healthy food selection. Shopping bag full of fresh vegetables and fruits. Flat lay food on table
U.S. food expenditures generally followed several predictable trends over the past 25 years. But 2020 was an exception as people in the U.S. spent approximately $1.56 trillion on food, which was a 5.3 percent reduction from the $1.65 trillion spent in 2019, according to a USDA report.
The disruption of trends in food spending is attributed to the pandemic limiting mobility of U.S. consumers and the economic recession coming with it for most of 2020.
The drop from 2019 to 2020 was only the second time total food expenditures decreased over the last 25 years, with the other time in 2009 during the Great Recession.
The decrease in total food spending in 2020 was driven by an 18.3 percent drop in spending at restaurants and the like. Because of the additional cost of eating away from home, that decrease outweighed an 8.5 percent increase in food-at-home (FAH) spending as consumers shifted to buying more food from retailers.
In April of last year, U.S. consumers spent about two-thirds of their food dollars at FAH retailers, the highest value on record. FAH and food-away-from-home (FAFH) spending increased 7.9 percent and 36.2 percent, respectively, from April to May 2020.
This increase may be due in part to the stimulus checks and increased unemployment benefits that were provided with the enactment of the CARES Act at the end of March 2020. However, FAFH spending in May 2020 was still lover than the previous year, while FAH spending was higher.
The last quarter of 2020 saw monthly increases in FAH spending, an expected outcome of colder weather and holiday meal preparation, which resulted in record-high FAH spending in December.
FAFH spending decreased in November by 10 percent and showed a slight increase in December but remained well below 2019 levels.
While COVID-19 vaccine distribution for select groups began in the United States in December 2020, the post-pandemic landscape of the economy remains unclear.
The USDA, Economic Research Service will continue to monitor the effects of the pandemic on food expenditures as more data become available and will examine possible long-lasting behavioral changes in the way people purchase food.
Washington potato acreage has increased this season, but is still short of what it once was.
The Washington State Potato Commission reports nearly 160,000 acres is forecast, up about 5,000 acres from 2020, but down about 5,000 acres from the state’s maximum potato acreage.
Harvest got undeway in the first half of July in the Columbia Basin with red and yellow potatoes, followed by russet potatoes the last week of July.
Washington also ships red potatoes and there has been increasing volume with gold potatoes.
“In a lot of other areas (in the U.S.), there’s been a swapping where red acres are going down and yellow acres are going up, but we’ve been able to maintain our red acres because of the great quality (of the state’s red potatoes),” the commission reports. “We’ve been able to maintain our red acres, but there is a growing interest in yellow potatoes, so we’re starting to see more of more of those grown.”
There are two major potato growing regions in Washington, the biggest consisting of the Columbia Basin, which accounts for about 90% of the state’s potato production. Growers there typically ship potatoes to the fresh market and to processors.
In Northwest Washington’s Skagit Valley, growers raise potatoes strictly for the fresh market.
U.S. organic sales soared to new highs in 2020, jumping by a record 12.4 percent to $61.9 billion.
It marked the first time that total sales of organic food and non-food products have surpassed the $60 billion mark, and reflected a growth rate more than twice the 2019 pace of 5 percent, according to the 2021 Organic Industry Survey released Tuesday by the Organic Trade Association.
Black beans, flour, and chicken broth are not typically out of stock. They were in 2020. In that unprecedented year, organic’s reputation of being better for you and the planet positioned it for dramatic growth.
In almost every organic food aisle, demand jumped by near-record levels, propelling U.S. organic food sales in 2020 up a record 12.8 percent to a new high of $56.4 billion. In 2020, almost 6 percent of the food sold in the United States was certified organic.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused consumer dollars to shift almost overnight from restaurants and carry-out to groceries, with traditional staples and pantry and freezer items flying off the shelves. Consumer habits were upended, online grocery shopping and grocery deliveries exploded, and new products were tried as families ate three meals a day at home.
“The pandemic caused abrupt changes in all of our lives. We’ve been eating at home with our families, and often cooking three meals a day. Good, healthy food has never been more important, and consumers have increasingly sought out the Organic label. Organic purchases have skyrocketed as shoppers choose high-quality organic to feed and nourish their families,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association. Batcha announces the new data Tuesday at Organic Day at Natural Products Expo West.
Stocking the pantry, refrigerator and freezer with organic
Leading the charge for healthy food was the desire for fresh produce. Fresh organic produce sales rose by nearly 11 percent in 2020 to sales of $18.2 million. Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables also jumped with frozen sales alone rising by more than 28 percent. Including frozen, canned and dried products, total sales of organic fruit and vegetables in 2020 were $20.4 billion. More than 15 percent of the fruits and vegetables sold in this country now are organic.
Pantry stocking was overwhelmingly the main growth driver in 2020. As bread making and cookie baking took kitchens across the country by storm, sales of organic flours and baked goods grew by 30 percent.
Consumers also turned to “meal support” products to help them in the kitchen. Sales of sauces and spices pushed the $2.4 billion condiments category to a growth rate of 31 percent, and organic spice sales jumped by 51 percent, more than triple the growth rate of 15 percent in 2019.
Meat, poultry & fish, the smallest of the organic categories at $1.7 billion, had the second-highest growth rate of nearly 25 percent.
Supply constraints
“The only thing that constrained growth in the organic food sector was supply,” said Angela Jagiello, Director of Education & Insights for the Organic Trade Association. “Across all the organic categories, growth was limited by supply, causing producers, distributors, retailers and brands to wonder where numbers would have peaked if supply could have been met!”
Jagiello, who spearheads the coordination of the survey for the association, also noted that because of the pandemic, not only ingredients were taxed, but packaging—bottle lids, pouches, corrugated cardboard, bottles for dietary supplements—was in short supply as were workers and drivers to transport product, making it hard for producers to ramp up processing to meet consumer demand.
Steady growth in non-food sector
The organic non-food category did not see the same exceptional growth in 2020 as organic food, but its growth held steady with prior years. Sales of organic non-food products reached $5.4 billion, up 8.5 percent and only slightly below the 9.2 percent reported in 2019.
Reflecting the pandemic and as in the conventional market, organic sales were driven by personal hygiene, hand sanitizers and cleaning products. Sales of organic household products saw record growth of 20 percent.
Textiles and fibers, the biggest category of the organic non-food sector, saw sales slow as stores closed, and clothes buying dipped. That said, the category fared better than expected given its ties to brick-and-mortar retail and the shutdown of that sales channel for a significant period of time. For the year, U.S. organic fiber (linens, clothing and other textiles) sales grew at a rate of 5 percent, compared to 12 percent in 2019, reaching sales of $2.1 billion.
What’s ahead in the “new normal”
While the growth in organic food sales is not expected to continue at 2020’s fast rate, organic food sales are expected to stay on a strong growth path in 2021. It’s anticipated that the grocery industry at large will get a lasting lift from the pandemic for the foreseeable future as many consumers continue to cook more at home.
“We’ve seen a great many changes during the pandemic, and some of them are here to stay,” said Batcha. “What’s come out of COVID is a renewed awareness of the importance of maintaining our health, and the important role of nutritious food. For more and more consumers, that means organic. We’ll be eating in restaurants again, but many of us will also be eating and cooking more at home. We’ll see more organic everywhere – in the stores and on our plates.”
This year’s survey was conducted early in 2021 from January through March 2021 and was produced on behalf of the Organic Trade Association by Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ). Nearly 200 companies completed a significant portion of the in-depth survey. Executive summaries of the survey are available to the media upon request. The full report can be purchased; online orders can be placed on this page.
“Rates keep going higher and higher, adding difficulty to the already complex produce industry.”
Intergrow Greenhouses, a farming company located in Upstate NY, focusing on the production and sale of greenhouse grown tomatoes, is thankful to have their own private trucking fleet to help service their customers. Stating the primary goal of their own fleet is to give the best possible service to top tier retail customers. Understanding the importance of “On-time, In-Full” is fresh, perishable produce they have taken transportation into their own hands!
“When you contract a load through an outside broker or carrier you lose some of the visibility and control required to really deliver the best service possible. That’s why we’ve invested in our own fleet and in a freight market like this it has really paid off having the ability to run our own loads.” Explains Dirk Biemans, President of Intergrow Greenhouses.
“Although we are close to major markets, there is a lot of freight needing to be moved in this area of the US and there is, and has been more demand than supply in the market. That’s why we are so grateful to be running some of our own trucks.” Says Bill Cook, a 30yr transportation veteran and current Logistics Manger at Intergrow Greenhouses. “During the peak season we have as many as 50+ loads a week shipping out of our facilities, of course our own band of guys can’t handle of that high volume, so they remain on our retail accounts, providing consist and reliable transportation for the business. “ Currently expanding their business with another 10acre greenhouse, Intergrow says they are first and foremost a grower and farmer but saw the need to deliver consistent quality service to their customers in order to grow their business. “Here at Intergrow we’re not only striving for the highest quality product but also reliability. Our customers need to have confidence we can deliver of premium product, reliably and consistently throughout the year.” says Kris Gibson, VP of Sales and Marketing “This last part of the puzzle, transportation, has really helped us grow these past years.”
As rates increase Intergrow has also seen their own fleet benefiting them in other ways… cost control. “Our own transportation costs have increased as well, but in a controlled in regimented manor.” Says Biemans. “We are not at the mercy of the market for some of our most important loads. “Rates keep going higher and higher making it adding difficulty to the already complex produce industry. No matter the freight market you are expected to deliver product under your contracted price.”
Intergrow is currently looking to hire additional drivers to their fleet and asks anyone interested to email Bill Cook at logistics@intergrowgreenhouses.com.
