U.S. fruit imports into the U.S. for 2020 lost a decade of momentum, although there were gains for fresh citrus and frozen fruit, according to new USDA data.
Imports under the ‘Fruits and Preparations’ category – which includes all fresh, frozen and processed fruit – rose marginally to $19.9 billion in 2020 from $19.8 billion in 2019.
The minor increase comes in contrast to the impressive and steady annual growth the category has witnessed since 2010, when imports were registered at $10.4 billion.
The largest category, ‘Other Fresh Fruit’ – which includes avocados, bananas, and berries – held steady at $10.1 billion. Avocados dropped by 12 percent to $2.3 billion, bananas dropped by 2 percent to $1.9 billion, blueberries fell by 5 percent to $982 million, and strawberries declined by 2 percent to $819 million.
Deciduous fruit imports also remained flat at $2.2 billion. Table grapes rose by 4 percent to $1.7 billion, but apples fell by 18 percent to $110 million.
Meanwhile, fruit juices fell by 13 percent to $1.8 billion and processed fruit rose by 2 percent to $1.8 billion.
Citrus imports rose by 11 percent to $1.4 billion, driven mainly by growth in mandarins and to a lesser extent in oranges.
Frozen fruit rose by 26 percent to $1.1 billion, fresh melons fell by 12 percent to $607 million, while dried fruit rose by 10 percent to $520 million, and prepared fruit grew by 14 percent to $504 million.
Looking at the different supplying countries across the total fruit category, imports from Mexico and Chile both fell by 3 percent to $8.2 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively.
Peru was the biggest winner of the top five countries, with imports into the U.S. growing by 17 percent to $1.7 billion. Meanwhile, imports from Guatemala fell by 2 percent to $1.9 billion, while from Costa Rica they rose by 2 percent to $1.1 billion.
Volume with Mexican produce crossings at Nogales set a record in February and it should only increase in the coming weeks.
Ciruli Bros. of Rio Rico, AZ is shipping bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, some hot pepper varieties and tomatoes from the West Mexico growing region. The company says crossings at the border during February has set a record for volume.
The shipper also has launched its Champagne mango program a little earlier this year from Oaxaca, Chiapas and Michoacán. Volume is steady and the company hopes to keep this momentum for the next four months.
At MAS Melons & Grapes in Rio Rico, Ariz., it will continue with core items including several varieties of table grapes, honeydew melons, seedless watermelons.
The shipper also is increasing its volumes on soft squashes such as Italian, yellow and gray, as well as on cucumbers and hard squashes, mainly kabocha, butternut and spaghettis.
The company also is producing a new variety of melons it’s calling Orange Candy. The variety has bright yellow skin with light orange flesh.
Fresh Farms of Rio Rico, Ariz., is loading a wide array of dry vegetables, with increased volumes in varietal corn, green beans and watermelon.
The company will have increased volume of green and red grape varieties from the Jalisco growing region, which has been under development for several years. Jalisco grapes will enter the marketplace around Mid-March and ship to the end of April.
The early grapes are experiencing very strong demand from retailers. The early grapes from Mexico are especially well-timed this year, when Chile is expected to struggle with late season quality.
Grapes from the major production area in Sonora, Mexico, about 800 miles to the north of Jalisco, typically begin in early May. However, the Sonora harvest could be slightly later this year because of cooler weather there.
Orlando, Florida – The National Mango Board (NMB) projects the total volume of mangos shipped to the United States over the next two months to be 34 percent higher year-over-year. The 2021 Guatemalan season is expected to be about 40 percent higher year-over-year compared to 2020, which was cut short due to COVID-19.
The Guatemalan mango season began the last week of February and is expected to run until the first week of June, with a projection of approximately 4 million boxes. The 2020 season was cut about four weeks short due to the pandemic, resulting in 2.8 million boxes, or about 20 percent less volume than projected. From 2015 to 2019, the average shipment from Guatemala was about 3.8 million boxes.
“We usually see numbers around 4 million total boxes for Guatemala in any given season,” said NMB Executive Director Manuel Michel. “Since the 2020 season was impacted by COVID-19, it will obviously have an effect on year-over-year numbers, but when looking at the averages, our 2021 projection of 4 million boxes is very much comparable to what we usually see.”
Peru and Mexico are currently harvesting, packing, and exporting. The Peruvian season is projected to be about 6 percent lower year-over-year, while the Mexican season (through the end of June) is expected to be about 14 percent higher year-over-year. Mexico’s 2020 mango shipments were also affected by the pandemic during the months of March and April, but the 2021 mango volumes during the same period are projected to be normal when compared to prior years.
“We encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about mango crop projections and shipment information to subscribe to the weekly Mango Crop Report via our website, Mango.org,” Manuel said.
Mission Produce, Inc. of Oxnard, CA (NASDAQ:AVO), a world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados, has announced a year-round mango program.
“We’re entering the mango category as we did the avocado category almost 40 years ago– in a way it never has been done before,” Steve Barnard, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Mission Produce, said. “Mangos offer a long runway with a lot of opportunity– as the number one consumed fruit in the world, adding mangos to our portfolio is a natural addition as we expand our footprint worldwide, without losing focus on avocados.”
“We are in a prime position for market expansion– Mission currently owns 740 acres of mangos in Peru and is on track to source additional fruit from other premier growing regions,” Stephen Fink, Vice President of North American Sales, said.
The USDA in a new report has expanded the variety of vegetables Americans eat over in the last 20 yearst.
The USDA’s Economic Research Service, said from 2000 to 2019, dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables (excluding tomatoes), and legumes increased their combined share of the vegetables available to eat in the U.S. from 16% to 22%.
The total amount of vegetables available decreased by 4% from 417.4 pounds per capita to 400.1 pounds, coming off the low of 369.6 pounds in 2015, said researchers. The USDA’s food availability data for vegetables include fresh, frozen, canned and dried forms, all measured in fresh-weight equivalents, the report said.
Subgroups of vegetables seeing declines, included white potatoes and “other vegetables,” a subgroup containing 16 different vegetables. Availability of white potatoes fell from 138 pounds per capita to 119.1 pounds between 2000 and 2019, and other starchy vegetables fell from 31.3 to 21.2 pounds.
Availability of other vegetables fell from 93.6 pounds per capita to 83.7 pounds; the report said declines in head lettuce, cabbage, and beets in that subgroup were partially offset by increased availability of onions and cucumbers.
Other vegetable subgroups posted increases in supplies available to eat between 2000 and 2019. The red and orange subgroup (minus tomatoes, for which the USDA said availability has remained flat) had the largest increase in availability, growing from 35.1 pounds per capita to 49.0 pounds.
“In terms of growth in availability, sweet potatoes, chile peppers, and bell peppers were the leaders,” the report said.
The increase availability of dark green vegetables from 2000 to 2019 — led by a 47% jump in romaine and leaf lettuce — added variety to American’s vegetable choices.
Higher supplies of kale, spinach, and broccoli also helped boost availability of dark green vegetables from 21.7 pounds per capita in 2000 to 27.5 pounds in 2019, the report said.
A 10% increase in Peruvian avocado exports for the 2021 season are estimated compared to last year.
The Peruvian avocado shipping season is from May through August.
A new report recently released by the USDA forecasts export volume will reach 450,000 metric tons (MT) in 2021, increasing 10 percent by volume compared to the previous year.
Avocado exports already increased 30 percent in 2020, in comparison to 2019, reaching a record of over 410,000 MT.
Although Peru’s avocado exports to the world increased in 2020, exports to the U.S. fell 22 percent by value and 9% by volume to $179 million and 78,665 MT.
International avocado prices in 2020 fell to US mainly due to oversupply.
This change was mostly driven by better pricing in other markets, however, the U.S. still made up 19 percent of total avocado exports last year.
CORAL GABLES, Fla.–Mann Packing Co., Inc. (“Mann”), a subsidiary of Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc., and one of the largest suppliers of packaged vegetables in North America announces the opening of its new facility in Gonzales, CA.
Joining a lineup of facilities in Salinas, CA, Chualar, CA, Delhi, CA, and Yuma, AZ, the new fifth facility will allow Mann Packing to grow its business, elevate its existing operations to unprecedented new heights and provide an innovative new space to help the brand continue to meet consumer needs.
The new facility, boasts 130,000 square feet of state-of-the-art production for fruit and vegetables with full-fledged automation, increased capacity and with the ability to continue expanding. In addition, the Gonzales facility holds a variety of features designed to strengthen Mann Packing’s focus on food safety and quality, including its full cold chain from reception of raw material to delivery of finished product to ensure freshness, its improved environmental monitoring program and its updated QMS technology for instant information sharing.
ABOUT MANN PACKING CO., INC.
Founded in 1939 and headquartered in Salinas, CA, Mann Packing Company is one of the largest suppliers of western vegetables, BROCCOLINI® baby broccoli and sugar snap peas in North America. In 2018, Mann’s was acquired by Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc.
ABOUT DEL MONTE FRESH PRODUCE N.A., INC.
Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. is one of North America’s leading marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. markets its products in North America under the Del Monte® brand (as well as other brands) used under license from Del Monte Foods, Inc., a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for over 125 years. Del Monte Fresh N.A., Inc. is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Del Monte Foods, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited, Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd.
Chilean rains hitting the central-southern zone of Chile have had widespread impacts, including damage to numerous fruit crops. However, the citrus industry appears to have been unaffected and is in fact forecasting a rise in exports in 2021 over the previous season.
Crispagold, a citrus and avocado reports on the industry’s export projections and its plans to increase its share of international markets such as China.
This year’s estimates show nearly a 20 percent growth, including at least four million boxes of clementines in the industry.
In 2020, the Chilean citrus industry had a decrease in orange volumes of 5.8 million boxes versus 6.5 million the previous year. This year 15 percent more fruit is seen, which would reach the same level as 2019, over 6 million boxes as an industry.
The U.S. will import 85 and 90 percent of Chile’s clementines and oranges respectively. The U.S. imports 50 to 60 percent of Chilean lemons, with 40 to 50 percent going to Japan and Korea.
Each year Chile exports about 550,000 boxes of oranges, 180,000 boxes of mandarins, 120,000 boxes of clementines, and 35,000 boxes of lemons.
Total imported mango volume by the U.S. over the next two months is expected to be 37 percent higher than last year.
The National Mango Board reports Peruvian mangoes for the 2020-21 season is projected to be about 6 percent less than a year ago. However, two other key origins are expecting increases.
The 2021 Mexican season up to the week of June 12th is projected to be about 15 percent higher than last year.
Meanwhile, the 2021 Guatemalan season is projected to be about 40 percent higher than last season.
Peru and Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca & Michoacán) are currently harvesting and packing, while Guatemala is getting ready to start its season.
There are currently two main mango varieties available in the market: Kent (75 percent) and Ataulfo/Honey (17 percent). There are also limited supplies of Tommy Atkins and Haden.
Demand for new commodities and specialty items continues to increase at the key Nogales point of entry in Arizona.
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) has been monitoring trends for commodities in southern Arizona, and reports new and specialty items continue to add shipping opportunities at the produce hub.
During the past couple of months, commodities have been reintroduced to the area as demand grows for unique products. Additionally, the area has seen sustainable increases in volume for fresh produce.
Nogales continues to expand with new commodities being imported into the U.S. each year, with highlights including figs, pomegranates, Brussel sprouts and lemons.
Southern Arizona continues to import reliable volumes of tomato, watermelon, cucumber, bell pepper, eggplant, and many other key vegetable items. Commodities with the greatest growth include strawberries, broccoli, and radicchio.
California avocado loadings will be 8 percent less for the 2020-21 season and stand at 292 million pounds, compared to a pre-season crop estimate by the California Avocado Commission. This still would be considered an average size crop.
Fall and winter weather events including heavy winds resulted in the slight forecast change, with the reduction occurring in the pre-season months.
The California avocado peak shipping season starts in late April and continues through August, with available volume before and after the peak period.
