Weather factors ranging from heat, drought, and a tropical storm among others this season, but overall none apparently were serious enough to greatly affect Eastern apple shipments as sapple loadings are underway.
Rice Fruit Co. of Gardners, PA started with Honeycrisp and ginger gold in mid-August, a week later than last year and a little lighter on volume Gala shipments started the third week of August with similar volumes to 2019.
United Apple Sales of Lyndonville, N.Y reports Western New York apple loadings have went well so far this season. While no bumper crops are predicted, the company is pleased with its Honeycrisp, gala and fuji. Its red delicious was describe as spotty or inconsistent.
United Apple Sales is one of the seven sales-agent partners of Crunch Time, which expects volume to increase by about 30 percent this year. This is happening thanks to additional acreage reaching full production for both SnapDragonn and Ruby Frost, both managed varieties grown only in New York.
The SnapDragon harvest started in New York’s Hudson Valley in early September, followed by the rest of the state a couple of weeks later. Ruby Frost will get underway in early to mid-October.
At Hess Bros. Fruit Co. of Lancaster, PA, the crop volume may be about the same or slightly less, but it’s a different balance of varieties for the company, which has growers in Virginia, Pennsylvania and western New York.
Although an early frost in spring that reduced size of crop a little bit, the firm has more Honeycrisp and gala and fuji than last year, even though it may have the same or little less overall. Virginia growers started harvesting and packing gala and Honeycrisp in mid-August.
Pennsylvania growers started with the same two varieties, plus ginger gold, about August 20. Hudson River Fruit Distributors of Milton, N.Y., started harvesting in late August and early September, said Alisha Albinder Camac, director of operations at her family’s company.
More than 350 miles northwest of the Hudson River Valley-based company, in western New York, volume to be up about 8 to 10 percent from 2019.
United Apple Sales completed harvest of paula red and ginger gold apples, which are early variety, in August.
During the first week of September, galas, mcintosh and early Honeycrisp started. By the end of September, cortland, Snapdragon and empire were underway. Red delicious harvesting began the first week of September, followed by fuji and Pink Lady.
While Washington produces five times more apples than anywhere else in the U.S., it’s no surprise that New York is the leader in volume on the East Coast.
Then come Pennsylvania and Virginia, followed by other states in the region.
For instance, 2020 total apple production nationwide is down 3.4 percent, compared to last season.
Forecast at 30.9 million cartons, New York’s apple production may drop only 1.6 percent compared to 2019. This is on par with the five-year average for volume said Cynthia Haskins.
The East Coast’s two other largest apple-producing states may have the steepest declines, however: Pennsylvania’s projected 10 million cartons is down 17.2 percent, and Virginia’s 3.8 million cartons is down 15.8 percent.
The USDA also reported its Eastern apple production forecast in pounds:
New York with 1.30 billion pounds, compared to 1.32 billion pounds in 2019;
Pennsylvania with 420 million pounds, compared to 507 million pounds in 2019; and
Virginia with 160 million pounds, compared to 190 million pounds in 2019.
Walmart and Condor Properties recently broke ground on a signature brand new state-of-the-art distribution center in Vaughan, ON. On the heels of announcing a major $3.5 billion investment into all aspects of the business, Walmart’s new facility is a next generation 550,000-square-foot distribution center.
“This is a very exciting time for Walmart Canada and our customers across the country. Our new distribution centre is going to be a world-class facility, which will help us grow and make our business better and simpler for our customers,” said Horacio Barbeito, president and CEO of Walmart Canada. “These are challenging times for everyone, but we are investing for growth because we believe in Ontario and Canada’s future and are proud to do business in this great country.”
When the modern facility is operational in 2024, the site will handle ambient general merchandise and food products. More than 70 million cases of Canadians’ favourite products from more than 3,000 suppliers, including big brands to small businesses, will flow through this distribution centre annually — the highest volume of any Walmart facility in the country. The project is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs in Vaughan and benefit the local economy.
The new facility in Vaughan is in addition to a brand new 300,000-square-foot distribution center currently under construction in Surrey, BC. Walmart is also renovating an existing distribution centre in Cornwall, ON.
The distribution centers are part of a suite of investments Walmart Canada is making to generate significant growth and to make the online and in-store shopping experience simpler, faster and more convenient for Walmart’s customers. The investment over the next five years will lead to the use of advanced technologies working alongside associates in a state-of the-art facility to move products as quickly as possible.
California pomegranate shipments are returning to normal this season following two years of being down some.
The Pomegranate Council of Sonoma, CA reports a year ago there was heavy rain and hail during the bloom and a lot of bloom drop led to a crop being about 18 percent below normal.
This season shipments are expect to be about 6 million to 6.5 million 25-pound box equivalents. Typically 20 to 25 percent of California’s pomegranates are exported.
The council reports continuing heavy demand from overseas markets, although there is a lot of uncertainty regarding transportation as airlines reduce flights and ships are not making deliveries at the same rates they have in the past.
The California pomegranate harvest normally starts south of Bakersfield in the Wheeler Ridge area in mid- to late August.
The early varieties start shipping the second week of October, until the wonderful variety comes on, which accounts for about 70 percent of the harvest.
While a few pomegranates are grown in Utah, Georgia, Texas and Arizona, 95 percent or more of the domestic pomegranates are grown in California between Bakersfield and Fresno.
Growers harvest pomegranates as long as they can, often well into November.
U.S. mango imports are expected to remain lower at least through September, reports the National Mango Board (NMB) of Orlando, FL.
The organization reports arrivals from the three Latin American countries currently harvesting – Mexico, Haiti and Brazil – are expected to be 9 percent lower from last year through September. Overall, this year, the NMB is forecasting the three countries to ship 85.2 million boxes, compared to 88.1m shipped over the same period last year.
Volume from Mexico – by far the biggest producer – for the season is projected to be about 3 percent lower from a year ago. Haiti is expected to see a 33 percent increase, while Brazil’s volumes are expected to be flat.
There are currently two main mango varieties available in the market: Kent (45 percent) and Keitt (43 percent). There are also limited supplies of Tommy Atkins, Ataulfo/Honey, Manila Rosa and Madame Francis.
Even though 2020 retail produce sales are up nearly 13 percent, the U.S. Sweet Potato Council in Dillsburg, PA., reports the COVID-19 shutdown of restaurants, foodservice and schools wiped out 34 percent of the market for sweet potatoes.
North Carolina leads the nation in sweet potato shipments, and Nash Produce of Nashville, N.C. reports a great looking crop. This is despite prolonged heat waves and a brush with Hurricane Isaias, which brought much-needed rain without hurting the crop.
Nash has increased its acreage for both conventional and organic varieties. The company’s growers expect began harvesting around September 1st.
Bland Farms of Glennville, GA will have its first crop in two years and is optimistic because of good growing conditions. Bland has 500 acres of sweet potatoes and harvest take place from the last half of August to late October.
Consumers’ financial strength is closely related to how well U.S. retailers’ fresh produce departments perform, according to an IRI representative.
Jonna Parker, the company’s Team Lead for Fresh, said that IRI primary shopper research found that if Americas were to receive a second stimulus check from the U.S. government, they would be more likely to spend it on meat and produce than other food and beverages.
“In all, 21% of consumers said they would buy more meat, 20% more produce and 7% would purchase restaurant meals more often,” she said in a joint report by 210 Analytics, IRI and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). “This shows the fresh produce department performance is closely tied to financial strength.”
Consumers were also asked how the loss of a weekly unemployment benefit of $600 might affect shopping behavior.
“The top answer among current beneficiaries of the benefit was ‘buy less meat’ at 35%, followed by ‘buy fewer fresh fruits and vegetables’ at 29%, ‘buy fewer premium products’ at 24%, ‘switch more purchases to store brands versus national brands’ at 19%, and ‘buy fewer convenient meals to instead cook from scratch’ at 18%,” Parker said.
The joint report noted that fresh produce sales at U.S. retail in the week ended August 9 were up 9.5% year-on-year – putting it below the 12-13% weekly growth seen during July. Year-to-date through August, fresh produce department sales are up 11.1% over the same time period in 2019.
Frozen fruit and vegetables increased the most, up 27.4%. Joe Watson, VP of Membership and Engagement for the PMA, said that economic pressure “tends to have big impacts on grocery shopping”, including channel choice, the type of items and quantity bought, and the importance of price and promotions.
“During the next few weeks and months, it will be important to highlight the great value of fresh produce and home cooking,” he said. “At the same time, consumers appreciate help with recipe ideas and meal planning as that is an increasing area of struggle. We will also keep an eye on back-to-school that will look very different this year, which will once more impact year-over-year trending.”
Athens, GA.– Carrier Transicold’s sleek new high-efficiency Vector™ HE 19 unit delivers the greatest cooling and freezing capacities of any domestic intermodal container refrigeration system in its thin-profile class. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies.
“The Vector HE 19 unit is trim and high performing, delivering more BTUs of cooling per hour per RPM than any model in the thin-profile class – as much as 36% more efficient than its competition,” said Bill Maddox, senior manager, Product Management, Carrier Transicold. “With its modern new design, the Vector HE 19 unit delivers 16% greater deep-frozen capacity and 20% more refrigeration capacity than its class competitor.”
The Vector HE 19 unit is Carrier Transicold’s first North American transport refrigeration system to use the next-generation refrigerant R-452A exclusively. Developed for lower environmental impact, R-452A has a global warming potential about half that of the refrigerant traditionally used in transport applications.
About 40% thinner than a traditional intermodal refrigeration unit, the Vector HE 19 unit is especially well suited for 53-foot domestic intermodal containers because it optimizes space utilization within, improving shipping efficiency over rail and highway. Up to 7% more cargo can be carried – 15 pallet rows, rather than 14.
As with other models in the Vector platform, the new unit features patented E-Drive™ technology developed by Carrier Transicold. With E-Drive technology, a high-output generator is direct-coupled to a diesel engine to power a uniquely all-electric refrigeration system. Intelligent controls automatically activate individual components, such as the compressor and fans, running only what it needs, precisely when needed, so components run less and last longer than traditional counterparts.
The simplified refrigeration architecture eliminates many routine-maintenance parts used in conventional transport refrigeration units, such as vibrasorbers, clutches, shaft seals, alternators, drive belts and pulleys.
The Vector HE 19 unit has integrated electric standby, enabling the unit to be plugged into a power source when parked, eliminating emissions and noise from the refrigeration unit engine, conserving fuel and reducing operating costs. E-Drive technology delivers the unit’s full rated refrigeration capacity when on standby, unlike add-on standby systems that add weight and complexity without delivering full capacity.
The Vector HE 19 unit can be coupled with Carrier Transicold’s eSolutions™ telematics system for remote monitoring of system operation and container temperatures, and for enhanced capabilities, such as remote software updates, data downloads and system diagnostics.
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature-controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For 50 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies.
Good volume with California fruit shipments are occurring this fall, led by table grapes, which has a number of new, later varieties. It no longer is simply a “summer” fruit.
The California Fresh Fruit Association of Fresno represents 13 commodities that are in season. Table grapes are the Number one fall fruit, with 60 percnt or more of the crop being shipped after September 1st.
Table grapes kick off their season in the spring in California’s Coachella Valley, and the program moves to the San Joaquin Valley in July.
If the late season grape quality holds and depending upon volume and how early South American grapes start arriving in the U.S., West Coast grapes can be shipped into January, even though the harvest is over.
A number of other commodities still are being shipped as well. Stone Fruit generally winds down in September, but some growers have late-season peaches, plums and nectarines that shipped into October. Late plums are the best bet this season.
California pears are shipped during the fall as well.
An estimated that 35 to 40 percent of the state’s fresh fruit is exported. California exports fruit throughout the world, including, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and additional countries.
We have been inundated with information, some mostly correct, some not, specific to COVID-19. I don’t know about you, but I am quite exhausted by it all. Every one of us is on a different journey because of the pandemic, and I personally continue to recognize that a person’s opinion is just that…their opinion. I do think it is safe to say, that we are all trying to manage and figure out our own journey through life as we deal with COVID-19. Keeping it Fresh is distributed to many of our perishable/produce customers, and I wanted to take the opportunity in this issue to bring to your attention some of the great philanthropy that is taking place during this crazy time. Many of these growers/shippers work with the Allen Lund Company in everyday business, but many also donate food to Navidad en el Barrio, a project that has existed since 1972, and one that ALC has supported since 2004. So, a hearty thank you from the Allen Lund Company and the recipients of these generous donations to:
Dole Food Company gives 2.2 Million Pounds of Fresh Produce to Communities in Need
We still have quite a road ahead, and we wish all of our industry friends the best as we maneuver through our current challenges.
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Nora Trueblood is Director of Marketing and Communications, Allen Lund Company Corporate of La Canada, CA. She began her career with ALC in 2002 as Director of Marketing & Communications. Prior to joining the company, Trueblood worked as the event manager with the Montrose Arts Council and Alpine Dance in Montrose, CO, had her own production and event planning company and spent 7 years with Lorimar Television.
South Mill Champs of Kennett Square, PA., has acquired Loveday Mushroom Farms of Winnipeg, Manitoba, allowing it to ship product to all major population areas in North America within 48 hours.
The company also has launched a number of new products including stuffed mushroom caps — and large crimini mushrooms stuffed with flavored cheese. They come in spinach and artichoke, Mediterranean and pizza flavors.
Minute Mushrooms, part of the growing value-added line of products offered by South Mill Champs, come in three varieties — Sautéed Portabella Mushrooms, Garlic Herb marinated mushrooms and Steak Sizzlers portabella mushrooms and onions — and provide a 60-second solution to mushroom side dishes and add-ons at home.
The company reports despite challenges presented by COVID-19, South Mill Champs will have an additional 15 million pounds of mushrooms in 2021 to support continued growth.
