Pharr, Texas: A celebration for the “Start of the Produce Season 2020-2021” was held on October 8, 2020 at the Pharr International Bridge, which seems appropriate for a bridge that crossed 190,174 fresh produce truckloads in FY2020 – more than any other international bridge in the US.
Over 65 percent of all the fresh produce crossing from Mexico through Texas is crossed at the Pharr International Bridge. Plans are already in place to expand the bridge by another 4 lanes in order to expedite crossings.
“In addition to the bridge expansion, three other projects are up for bids on October 2021,” said Luis Bazan, Pharr Bridge Director. “Under the DAP 16 [Donations Acceptance Program] these projects include an expansion of the dry dock, a cold inspection facility and the regional agriculture lab and training center.” Funding is already approved for these projects, according to Bazan.
Founded in 1942, the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) promotes, advocates, educates and represents the nearly $8 billion in fresh produce that is either grown in the state or calls Texas the first point of US-arrival for North American distribution.
WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON – In early August, the first estimate for Washington apple shipments predicted a crop volume of 134 million boxes (40 lb.), on par with the previous season of 133 million boxes. Since the time of the initial estimate, extreme windstorms, wildfires on the West Coast, and more accurate reporting of crop load on the trees as harvest progressed, suggest a lighter total crop volume for the 2020-21 apple harvest.
Expectations are for a 5-10 percent reduction in crop volume as a result of the adverse weather events. This would place the revised estimate at between 32.3 million and 31.6 million boxes to be shipped.
Over Labor Day weekend, a strong windstorm resulted in apples being knocked off the tree and some growers sustaining damage to their trellis systems. Fueled by the wind event, wildfires burning in Washington and other West Coast states have produced intense smoky conditions, delaying harvest a few days as some areas have had to halt operations.
Washington apple growers and orchard crews started picking Galas in late August and have since moved on to Honeycrisp. Harvest in Washington typically begins mid-August and lasts into November. Red Delicious, Fuji and Cosmic Crisp® will be harvested in October and the season will wrap up with Granny Smith and Cripps Pink in November.
Demand for Washington apples has been high in response to elevated health-conscious and bulk-purchase behavior by consumers. Volume of apples shipped during this time period is slightly lower than last season, but overall movement is good.
Washington is the leading producer of apples, representing 65 percent of all U.S. fresh apple production. The state exports one-third of its fresh crop to over 60 markets worldwide, accounting for 95 percent of all U.S. apple exports.
The Washington Apple Commission is a non-profit, promotional organization dedicated to marketing and advertising fresh Washington apples internationally.
Washington apple shipments to Chicago – grossing about $5200.
While good volume of Peruvian imported sweet onions from Peru is now occurring, volume will be off a little from last season.
Bland Farms LLC of Glennville, GA reports the Peruvian crop overall is pretty good, although the coronavirus pandemic has led to labor shortages, with drivers hauling back to ports and restrictions on the number of workers allowed at port facilities.
A short Vidalia onion crop this year led Bland Farms to import its first Peruvian onions August 1, about two weeks earlier than usual.
Potandon Produce of Idaho Falls, ID ships Peruvian onions under the Green Giant Fresh label, started importing onions in mid August.
Keystone Fruit Marketing Co. of Greencastle, PA also got an early start with its Mayan Sweets, imported from Peru.
A merger has been announced by Washington Fruit & Produce Co. and Yakima Fresh to sell apples, cherries and pears.
The new partnership, Washington Fruit Sales, merges Yakima Fresh with the Washington Fruit & Produce sales team, according to a news release. Roche Fruit Co., which has marketed fruit through Yakima Fresh, continues to do so, while owning and operating its farming and packing operations.
Tommy Hanses, CEO of Washington Fruit & Produce, said he and his partners, Don and Doug Gibson of Mount Adams Fruit Co., are excited to work with the Roche Fruit and Yakima Fresh teams.
“We share many of the same values and philosophies, including commitment to quality and excellence in all that they do,” Hanses said. “The fit between these organizations enhances our ability to serve the needs of our customers.”
Washington Fruit & Produce was founded in 1916, and Roche Fruit was founded two years later.
“We have known the Washington Fruit team and organization for years and believe the opportunity to partner with another long-term, quality focused, family owned organization is really unique and will resonate with our customers,” Michael Roche, president said.
Steve Smith, general manager of Yakima Fresh, said the merger provides the company with an “exceptional opportunity.”
“The breadth and depth of our combined programs is very exciting,” Smith stated.
Yakima Fresh was founded in 2005, by three Yakima apple companies — Hansen Fruit & Cold Storage Inc., Roche Fruit Co. LLC, and Yakima Fruit & Cold Storage Co. Inc. — and Stadelman Fruit LLC, Zillah, Wash.
Starr Ranch Growers, Wenatchee, Wash., announced this spring it will be marketing Stadelman Fruit’s crops.
CMI Orchards, Wenatchee, also formed a partnership this spring with Yakima Fruit and Cold Storage Co.
Stemilt Growers, Wenatchee, became the marketer of cherries and apples from Hansen Fruit in 2018.
Imported Brazilian mangoes are increasing as mango shipments from Mexico are winding down. Imports from Ecuador and Peru will start arriving soon.
Ciruli Bros. LLC of Rio Rico, AZ is in its third season and is now handling mangoes year-round.
On average, over the past five years, the U.S. received nearly 32 million 4-kilogram (8.8-pound) boxes of mangoes from South America annually, according to the USDA.
Brazil has shipped about 8.2 million boxes to the U.S. annually, Ecuador about 12 million boxes and Peru about 11.6 million boxes.
South America accounts for about 28 percent of total U.S. volume.
Brazil, which ships from August to December, exports primarily the tommy atkins variety and a few kent and ataulfo (or honey) varieties; Ecuador ships tommy atkins and some kents and ataulfos from October to January; and Peru exports kents and a few ataulfos from November to March.
Ciruli Bros. reports quality of the mangoes varies by country. Much of the quality is determined by the transit times by boat which may take a couple of weeks.
Product from Ecuador can reach the U.S. in six or seven days, while the trip from Peru takes 11 days, and the voyage from Brazil can take 14 or 15 days. Freska Produce International LLC of Oxnard, CA, was kicking off its mango program from Brazil in late August with shipments to the East Coast.
CarbAmericas Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, FL. has been importing offshore mangoes for more over 25 years.
The company received its first fruit of the season from Brazil in late August.
Central American Produce Inc. of Pompano Beach, Fla. started its mango program from Brazil in early September.
WENATCHEE, WA: Furthering its commitment to being a one-stop-shop for retailers looking for premium apples, pears and cherries grown in Washington State, CMI Orchards LLC reports continued expansion for the company. Strategic partnerships with Yakima Fruit, as well as with Pine Canyon Growers, in addition to significant internal growth, has added over 4 million boxes to CMI’s manifest.
“This is all a part of a long-range plan for strategic growth to better serve our customers,” said CMI President, Bob Mast. “The design began to unfold back in 2018 when CMI Orchards added Pine Canyon Growers as a grower, packer and shipper. This addition greatly strengthened our manifest and our progress has enabled us to team up with another great partner in Yakima Fruit.”
“Yakima Fruit, formerly connected to Yakima Fresh, has a highly desirable manifest that greatly bolsters our offerings, including exceptional early Honeycrisp and high-colored genetic strains of Honeycrisp, Gala and Fuji,” said Mast. “The partnership also adds considerable Cosmic Crisp volume.” According to Mast, the partnership was executed on March 20, 2020.
As a result of recent growth, CMI reports the following increases in their core, organic and branded offerings: Granny Smith (+89%), Gala (+44%), Pink Lady (+92%), Fuji (+62%), Honeycrisp (+62%), and organic Honeycrisp (+47%). According to CMI, their total organic crop has surpassed 3.5 million boxes, which is made up of increases in core organic varieties such as Gala, Fuji and Honeycrisp, in addition to branded organics which create opportunities for retail pricing tiers that help boost sales. In 2020, CMI will bring the first Washingtongrown EverCrisp to market, and will launch the very first harvest of organic EverCrisp nationwide.
Mast reports that in addition to high production orchards, the Yakima Fruit partnership brings an opportunity to strategize on future plantings with available unplanted acreage to best meet the needs of CMI’s retailer and consumer preferences for both apples and cherries. “CMI is thrilled with the opportunity this blank slate provides and is looking into planting early cherry varieties, licensed branded apples and cherries, as well as high flavor, high quality core apple varietals.”
“Between our exceptional domestic apples, premium managed varieties, year-round supply and commitment to innovation, we are perfectly positioned to serve the growing needs of the market,” said Mast. “CMI is already known within the industry as a leader for new branded items and organics, and this partnership will enable us to continue to pioneer advancements in these areas while expanding our fruit supply, meeting the needs of all of our customers. “We are very proud to welcome the Yakima Fruit team to the CMI Orchards Family and look forward to a long-lasting partnership,” Mast said.
ABOUT THE COMPANIES
CMI Orchards, founded in 1989, is the sales and marketing arm of McDougall and Sons, Columbia Fruit Packers, Double Diamond Fruit Company, Highland Fruit Company and Pine Canyon Growers. With 9 warehouses locations throughout the State of Washington, this new partnership will add one additional packing shed, greatly increasing CMI’s production capacity and efficiencies.
Yakima Fruit was incorporated in 1949 by the Cohodas Brothers Company of Michigan, a wholesale produce distribution company with branches throughout Michigan and Wisconsin. Following World War II service with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Herbert L. Frank relocated to Yakima, Washington to assume management of the recently acquired packing and storage facility. Subsequently, Yakima Fruit was managed by Lawrence C. Frank and then Michael C. Wilcox, a third-generation grower with sales and marketing experience. In April 2018, a majority interest in Yakima Fruit was acquired by Pioneer Partners LLP, an investment subsidiary of the Hancock Natural Resources Group.
There will be over 1 million more barrels of North American cranberries this year, according to the Cranberry Marketing Committee. One barrel unit weighs 100 pounds.
Hableman Bros. Co. of Tomah, WI reports North America’s three major cranberry-producing regions are Massachusetts, Quebec and Wisconsin. The Badger state is easily the largest shipper of fresh cranberries as well as cranberries destined for processing. Only about 3 percent of the total crop goes to the fresh market.
Habelman Bros. Co. is one of the world’s largest fresh market cranberry producers and in 2020, the grower’s harvest is expected to began the third week of September. Harvest should run through October, with packing and shipping continuing through mid-December.
Traditionally, about 55 percent of the fresh cranberry crop is packed and sold in November. Twenty-five percent is packaged and sold in December. The balance is sold in the front end of the season — September and October. Some of that early volume is shipped to Canada, where Thanksgiving is celebrated six weeks before Thanksgiving in the United States. This year the Canadian Thanksgiving is October 12.
Habelman is a fourth-generation company, which was founded in 1907.
Banana exports from Ecuador were boosted 9 percent during the first four months of 2020 despite the challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Between January and April 2020 the country managed to increase volumes to 139 million boxes, according to the country’s banana industry body AEBE. That came despite some logistical issues in the country and in the destination markets. The uptick in shipments was driven by strong year to year growth in January and February, with more moderate growth in March and April.
The AEBE reports spot market prices were unsustainably low, currently sitting at almost half of the minimum amount that exporters must pay growers by law. As of June 15, a box of bananas was fetching around $3.50 on the spot market, while the pricing floor for payments to growers is currently $6.30.
In the first four months of the year Ecuador sent 29 percent of its bananas to the European Union, 21 percent to Russia, 15 percent to the Middle East, 9 percent to the U.S., and 7 percent to the Far East. Other major Latin America banana exporters – Costa Rica, Colombia, and Guatemala – also managed to notch increases during the start of 2020.
In the first quarter, Costa Rica saw a 9 percent rise to 33 million boxes and Colombia boosted volumes by 19 percent to 29.6 million boxes. The figures mark a recovery in production levels in both countries after they were hit by adverse weather last year.
Guatemala’s banana exports rose by 10 percent in the quarter to 30.8 million boxes. Costa Rica, Colombia, and Guatemala sent 53 percent, 75 percent and 8 percent of their shipments to the U.S market respectively, with the former two also sending 15 percent and 13 percent to the European Union.
Michigan apple shipments are pegged at 21.9 million boxes this season, which is down less than 3 percent from a year ago.
North Bay Produce Inc. of Traverse City, MI is shipping its main varieties such as gala, Honeycrisp, mcintosh and golden delicious.
Michigan Fresh Marketing LLC of Comstock Park, MI grows a number of variety and kicked off the season several weeks ago with it early variety apples, ginger gold and paula red.
The company also has an early Honeycrisp, called a Premier, that started August 22nd; SweeTango, and Wildfire, stared a few days later.
Gala kicked off the company’s traditional varieties on September 7, with mcintosh, Smitten; Honeycrisp, empire, jonathan and jonagold, and golden delicious over the next three weeks.
Red delicious, fuji, idared, braeburn and topaz get underway this month, while and Evercrisp and Pink Lady, start in November.
Berry marketer Sun Belle Inc. has agreed to acquire the business and property of CoolHouse Distribution Center, LLC in Laredo, Texas. The acquisition adds a fifth Sun Belle distribution center to company operated facilities in Jessup, Maryland; Miami, Florida; Schiller Park, Illinois; and Oxnard, California.
CoolHouse’s three-year old facility has 35,000 square feet of refrigerated and freezer space on 11.4 acres of land. The building was designed to be doubled in size and is strategically located between Laredo’s two international bridges across the Rio Grande, the Colombia Solidarity Bridge and the World Trade Bridge. The Port of Laredo is the largest inland port of entry in the US and is currently the nation’s top US gateway for international trade.
CoolHouse Distribution Center was established in 2017 by Lucy Montemayor and her father Rodolfo Delgado, principals of well-known customs broker Rodel International, Inc. CoolHouse provides client-specific value-added services including quality inspections, sorting, repacking, labeling and building orders. Currently CoolHouse transloads and handles an average of 50-60 trucks daily. The facility is certified to handle organics, is Kosher certified, and is approved by US Customs to transload In-Bond shipments with Canadian and European destinations.
Janice Honigberg, president of Sun Belle Inc., announced that Sun Belle has purchased 100% of CoolHouse Distribution Center and will maintain the existing CoolHouse third party business under the CoolHouse banner. Lucy Montemayor will join Sun Belle as general manager of the Laredo distribution center.
“I have known and worked with Lucy for more than 20 years and have always been impressed by her expertise and integrity,” said Honigberg. “She has done amazing work in building a state of the art facility and a thriving business with the utmost attention to quality and detail. I am delighted that she will be an integral part of our Sun Belle team, and look forward to her leadership as we grow CoolHouse, establish Sun Belle Laredo, and install new blueberry packing and heat seal lines.”
Montemayor said she is excited to join forces with Sun Belle. “Janice and others strongly urged me to start CoolHouse to help meet the growing need for transloading and other services. We designed our facility from the ground-up in such a way that the warehouse can be expanded by another 35,000 feet in the same configuration. We built it with expansion in mind – I’m confident that Sun Belle will benefit greatly from this foresight as its business continues to grow.”
Honigberg added, “We have long known that a Sun Belle refrigerated handling and distribution center in Texas was our next step. This took on greater importance following our recently announced long-term exclusive marketing and distribution agreement with Giddings Mexico.” Under that agreement, Sun Belle markets all of Giddings Mexico’s conventional and organic blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
Patricio Cortes, general manager and co-founder of Giddings Mexico, said, “We are extremely pleased that Sun Belle is establishing a distribution center in Laredo. As we continue to increase our berry production in many diverse growing areas throughout central and northern Mexico, we are confident that this centralized distribution center will add significant customer support and real time responsiveness so that the freshest product delivers from our farms to retailers and to consumers.”
Honigberg noted that in addition to CoolHouse, a sales and distribution company named Sun Belle Laredo will also be established to deliver berries directly to customers in the south and southwest and for customer pick-ups. “Between our five distribution centers we can service retailers and food service providers throughout the country with even better efficiency and coverage.”
Sun Belle Inc. was established in Washington, DC in 1986 by Honigberg and is the exclusive marketer of the Sun Belle and Green Belle brands. The company distributes conventional and organic blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries; certified biodynamic organic cranberries and blueberries; golden berries and red currants; and green house and specialty produce. In addition to the new warehouse in Laredo, Texas, Sun Belle also has distribution facilities and sales teams in Jessup, Maryland; Miami, Florida; Schiller Park, Illinois; and Oxnard, California.
