A new crop of russets is now being shipped by Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, ID. These will be followed shortly by the harvesting of red and yellow potatoes.
Eagle Eye is introducing new pack styles with the new season, according to a news release, including Harvest Select half-and-half bags for russet, red and yellow potatoes. The company has a range of retail and foodservice packs under several brand names, with the option of private-label packs.
“Growing conditions for this upcoming crop have been excellent,” Coleman Oswald, director of sales, said in the release. “We are enthusiastic about what we are seeing in the fields at this point, and we are eager to get this new season underway.”
Eagle Eye Produce owns and operates warehouses and packing facilities in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and California, according to the release.
Steady California fig shipments started in July following relative light movement in May and June.
Last year, the state shipped between 10 million to 12 million pounds of fresh figs. Overall, about 27 million pounds of fresh and dried figs were shipped. Volume for the 2020 season should be similar to last year.
All of the U.S. dried figs and 98 percent of the fresh figs are grown commercially in California.
The state has over 100 fig producers who grow on 9,300 acres, mostly in and around Madera, Fresno and Merced in Central California.
Several varieties of figs are grown in the state.
The most common are black mission, available from mid-May to November; kadota, late June to October; brown turkey, early June to November; and calimyrna, July to September.
Sierra, a newer variety with a light-colored skin and a sweet Riesling flavor, almost has replaced the calimyrna.
About 60 percent of the state’s figs are dried, with the remainder being fresh.
The Specialty Crop Co. of Madera, CA farms half of the state’s fresh and dried figs and grows just about every variety.
The company started its main crop with the brown turkey variety in mid July.
Black mission will follow, then the sierra will come on. The last variety will be a relatively new one called the tiger fig, available from mid-August until Oct. 1.
About one-third of the company’s figs are sold as fresh, the rest are dried.
Western Fresh Marketing Services Inc. of Madera grows only fresh-market figs.
The company has the southernmost field in California in the Coachella Valley, where it shipped the brown turkey variety until mid-July.
The firm returns to the Coachella Valley in September and picks until Christmas — the latest season for fresh figs.
By Jennifer Brearley Transportation Broker, ALC Richmond
In Tuesday’s article, we discussed some of the most important things to consider when selecting a carrier for sensitive, refrigerated loads. In addition to carrier vetting, it is also crucial to ensure that hot product is not being loaded into the trailer and equipment failure or human error are avoided. Below are some tips that could help you steer clear of these issues leading to rejected loads and claims. Prevent hot loads before they get on the truck.
Refer trailers are not designed to set product temperature. They are designed to maintain it.
Freshly picked loads that sit on the dock in extreme heat waiting to be loaded may be out of temperature tolerance at loading. According to the article, The Keys to Preventing Rejected Loads in Refrigerated Transportation, “as much as 32% of all cargo is loaded at the wrong temperature. Poor loading practices like these can result in loads spoiling in transit if the temperature is incorrect. No matter how chilled the reefer is, the temperature is going to rise – this causes condensation, which results in spoilage.”
Ensure the driver understands proper pulping practices. Prior to loading, and during unloading drivers should pulp and record temperatures of at least every other pallet of the product loaded on to their trailer.
Drivers should be instructed not to accept the warm products at the shipper. Once they sign for it, they are responsible for it.
Document all communication with the driver and the shipper regarding temperature discrepancies prior to loading.
In transit pulping when possible is preferred as well. Newer refrigerated trailers have advanced temperature monitoring that will notify the driver and dispatch if something is wrong which is helpful in today’s world where most loads are sealed.
Avoid equipment failure and human error.
Proper routine maintenance is a must. Loading an unknown carrier with a sensitive product is a huge risk. The vast majority of loads hauled pick up and deliver without incident. A temperature claim resulting from poorly maintained equipment will result in unrecoverable costs and damaged relationships. Ask drivers you are unfamiliar with about their maintenance routines. You will be able to tell pretty quickly how diligent they are about it. There are up to 200 possible alarm codes in newer reefer units. That can be 200 potential problems. Add to that a damaged chute, leaking trailer, or damaged seal and the risk of loss multiplies.
Incorrect unit settings can happen for a number of reasons. Human errors can result in a ruined load. -20°F instead of 20°F are vastly different and such errors result in a disaster for the cargo inside the trailer. Regular communication from pick up through delivery is crucial. It is easy to assume that the temperature today is the same as it was yesterday. This is a dangerous assumption.
Educate yourself on the products your customer ships, the methods the shipper utilizes for loading trucks, and the general function of refrigerated trailers. This is the most important part of the vetting process. In order to effectively communicate with the carrier, you have to know what you are talking about. Rejected loads are undoubtedly something we want to avoid. While these vetting processes may not prevent every rejected load, they can certainly help to lower if not eliminate the avoidable ones. (Part I was published on July 28th.)
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Jennifer Brearley began working for the Allen Lund Company in February of 2019 as a transportation broker. She joined the company with five years of domestic and international shipping experience. Brearley attended Western Governors University and received a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies.
The West, the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes have been selected by Kroger for its next three automated fulfillment centers.
The facility in the West will be 300,000 square feet, the facility in the Pacific Northwest will be 200,000 square feet, and the facility in the Great Lakes will be 150,000 square feet, according to a news release. The exact locations of the new centers have yet to be revealed.“Kroger and Ocado are building an e-commerce ecosystem across the U.S. that will deliver unrivaled online experiences to more customers, in more ways and in more markets,” Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado Solutions, said in the release. “Spanning a range of automated (customer fulfillment center) sizes, these three new sites will be key parts of this growing and flexible fulfillment network. Alongside the scale and wider benefits of larger CFCs, smaller-format and mini CFCs will allow Kroger to reach more geographies with Ocado’s automation, while also catering to a wide range of options for delivery
Kroger and Ocado Solutions, which specializes in automated warehouses for online grocery order fulfillment, has an agreement to build 20 facilities with Kroger.
“Kroger is incredibly excited to construct three additional industry-leading customer fulfillment centers across the country in relationship with Ocado to bring fresh food to our customers more conveniently than ever before,” Robert Clark, Kroger’s senior vice president of supply chain, manufacturing and sourcing, said in the release. “Through our strategic partnership, we are engineering a model for these regions, leveraging advanced robotics technology and creative solutions to redefine the customer experience.”
Previously announced locations for Kroger automated fulfillment centers are:
Lettuce shipments to retailers have been relatively strong since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, while foodservice business has been down, but generally seems to be improving.
Over 1,800 truck loads of Iceberg and Romaine lettuce are being shipped weekly from the Salinas Vally.
Coastline Family Farms of Salinas, CA reports loadings destined to retailers has been booming, while restaurants and other foodservice has been hit hard. The company’s primary items are Iceberg lettuce, romaine, romaine hearts, green leaf and red leaf lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and green onions.
Misionero Vegetables of Gonzalez, CA ships Earth Greens Organics and Garden Life lines, which include leafy greens and lettuce items.
The Nunes Co. Inc. of Salinas reports good crops with iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, romaine, romaine hearts and celery.
Church Brothers of Salinas says INSV continues to be a problem in the Salinas Valley. INSV is Impatiens Necrotic Spot. The virus causes a wide variety of symptoms including wilting, stem death, stunting, yellowing, poor flowering, ‘chicken pox-like’ sunken spots on leaves, etches or ring spots on leaves, and many others. When loading, you should look for such symptoms.
The grower shipper has its Tender Leaf program which includes specialty items such as the new Tuscan Tender Leaves mix, Ready Leaf, Tuscan Baby Romaine — a hybrid leaf that makes for a creative, healthy serving vehicle — and romaine wraps.
Church Brothers’ major leafy green/lettuce items are iceberg, romaine, green leaf, and butter lettuce.
Dole Food Co. of Charlotte, N.C. markets 11 Dole-branded leafy green/lettuce products, including arugula, butter lettuce, chard, endive, green leaf lettuce, iceberg lettuce, kale, radicchio, romaine and spinach.
The company also offers 66 packaged salad varieties including its popular Chopped!, Slawesome! and Premium salad kit lines, salad mixes and slaws.
The company’s growers experienced hardly any pest or disease problems this season.
Salinas lettuce is grossing – about $6500 to Atlanta.
California almond shipments for the 2020 crop are predicted to increase 18 percent this year, totalling 3 billion pounds.
The USDA reports last year’s shipments was 2.55 billion pounds.
The Almond Board of California notes Domestic and export shipments are up so far this year and global demand stronger than ever. The average nut set per tree is 5,645, up 21 percent from the 2019 almond crop.
The Nonpareil average nut set is 5,621, up 27 percent from last year’s set. The average kernel weight for all varieties sampled was 1.51 grams, down 2 percent from the 2019 average weight.
Almond production and shipments original throughout California’s Central San Joaquin Valley.
VACAVILLE, Calif. — Mariani Packing Company, the world’s largest independent family-owned producer of dried fruit, announced they are continuing their rich history of innovation by launching new Probiotic Single-Serve Packs. Based on the success of their best-selling Probiotic Dried Fruit line and consumer demand for on-the-go packaging, the new Probiotic Single-Serve Packs will come in a weekly 7-day supply carton, in two fruit varieties: Probiotic Apricots and Probiotic Prunes, in 1.4 oz each pack.
Mariani’s dried apricots and dried prunes contain soluble fiber, acting as a prebiotic, that may be a fuel source for probiotics to thrive. They are also naturally sweet, with no sugar added, and a good source of antioxidant vitamins A and E, vitamins B6, B12, potassium, and iron.
The GanedenBC30® probiotic active cultures in Mariani’s Probiotic Apricots and Probiotic Prunes are 10x more effective than yogurt cultures in surviving the transit through the harsh stomach environment into the gut. Just 1 serving per day may safely support your digestive health and immune system. GanedenBC30 is recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA, as well as vegan, gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, and Halal certified.
“Today’s consumers are looking for convenient, healthy and on-the-go solutions that are nutritious and delicious. The new Mariani Probiotic Single-Serve Packs combine the natural prebiotics found in fruit with GanedenBC30 Bacillus Coagulans GBI-30, 6086® probiotics to help boost immune and digestive wellness anywhere they are; at home, work, school, or travel,” states Bob Hyland, VP, Global CPG Sales & Marketing.
These new Probiotic Single-Serve Packs are the latest in Mariani’s full line of Probiotic dried fruit including Probiotic Cranberries, Raisins, Apricots, Berries & Plums and Prunes, available nationwide at Albertsons/Safeway, Walmart and most major retail grocery stores or online at www.mariani.com
About Mariani Packing Company Mariani Packing Company, Inc. is the world’s largest independently and family-owned producer of dried fruits. Since 1906, the Mariani family has been providing premium quality dried fruit to consumers and customers all over the world. The Mariani family of products can be found in over 40,000 retail outlets in the United States and in over 65 countries worldwide.
The nation’s leading apple shipper, Washington state, is experiencing lower than normal exports of apples, which is resulting in more product being shipped to domestic markets.
Strong Washington State summer apple shipments indicate potentially record demand for apples that will be harvested in the coming weeks. Since June 1, Washington State apple shipments have eclipsed 2018 by a whopping 29 percent, and 2017 by 30 percent. There have been more than 10 straight weeks of +2 million-box shipments
In a typical year, roughly a third of the state’s apple crop is exported. At the end of the current shipping season, which concludes in early September, that share could be as low as 26 percent. The primary reason is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult to predict domestic volume and exports.
Mexico and India currently are the top importers of Washington apples. But stay-at-home orders, particularly in India, where the virus has seen a surge, has kept consumers out of markets and stores and has contributed to a reduction in demand.
It’s the middle of
summer and 97° here in Virginia and throughout the country. The summer demand
for refrigerated fresh products under tight deadlines is at its peak. Allen
Lund Company specializes in moving this type of product, successfully
transporting thousands of produce loads a year. But, what happens when your
load is rejected? This is one of the most frustrating challenges in
refrigerated transportation. Rejected loads can lead to insurance claims,
contract loss, and a damaged reputation.
How can we prevent
avoidable cases of rejected loads and the claims associated with them?
Vet the carriers and
drivers moving the loads. Allen Lund Company’s database employs a rigorous
vetting process. There is a wealth of resources available when choosing a carrier
to represent you.
Verify that the chosen
carrier has reefer breakdown AND spoilage coverage on their policy.
Seek product
exclusions from the carrier’s insurance company.
Refer to internal
notes regarding the carrier’s communication practices, past performance, and
on-time percentage. A late perishable load rarely works out well.
Consider known history
the carrier has moving refrigerated product.
Ask the potential
carrier/driver the right questions. Verify that they are experienced in moving
temperature-sensitive products.
Trust but verify. You
will come across the good, the bad, and the ugly. Take it all into account when
considering whether to do business with a carrier.
In addition to ensuring that you entrust your load with the right carrier, it is also important to prevent hot loads before they get on the truck as well as avoid equipment failure and human error. On Tuesday, August 4 in Keeping it Fresh article, we will continue to discuss the best ways to avoid these problems and guarantee your refrigerated load makes it to the final destination unharmed.
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Jennifer Brearley began working for the Allen Lund Company in February of 2019 as a transportation broker. She joined the company with five years of domestic and international shipping experience. Brearley attended Western Governors University and received a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Fellsmere, Fla. – As COVID-19 concerns escalate around the country, consumers are seeking immunity-boosting ingredients to incorporate in their diets. While it may be common knowledge that leafy greens are an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients, there is a lesser known variety that reigns supreme when it comes to health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranks watercress at the top of their list of Powerhouse Fruits and Veggies, the foods most strongly associated with reduced chronic disease risk.
B&W Quality Growers watercress is revered by health experts and
restaurant chefs for its health benefits and flavor, but home chefs have yet to
realize its full potential. Watercress boasts
many healthy features, including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and
anti-bacterial properties, 28 vitamins, minerals and compounds, and it provides
a great source of Vitamin C, proven to reduce cold and flu symptoms.
The vibrant green
watercress from B&W Quality Growers, the world’s largest grower of
distinctive baby leaves, is versatile and adds a peppery crunch to many dishes.
It can be used in salads, smoothies, appetizers, entrees, and more.
“Self-care has become so important these days, and what better way to
take care of you and your family than to feed them the most nutritionally-dense
food on the planet,” says Mark DeLeo, CEO,
B&W Quality Growers. “Not only is watercress packed with vitamins and
minerals, it is deliciously versatile enough for chefs to create memorable takeout dishes and home cooks to spice up family favorites.”
About B&W Quality Growers For 150 years B&W Quality Growers has produced distinctive
baby leaves® with unique flavor profiles including green
watercress, exclusive red watercress, baby arugula, red kale, and baby spinach.
With year-round availability from seasonal farms spanning eight states, B&W
grows, packs and ships premium quality leaves to retail, wholesale, foodservice
and specialty customers across North America and Europe. B&W’s products are
certified Kosher, food safety compliant and naturally packed for maximum
freshness. Learn more about B&W at www.bwqualitygrowers.com.
