Based on average annual per captia consumption, raspberries and blackberries were the fastest-growing fruit categories in the produce department during the period from 2006-08 to 2016-18.
This is according to Roland Fumasi, vice president and senior analyst for RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness, Fresno, CA. This was part of a presentation he gave to the North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association of Pittsboro, NC recently.
Conventional raspberry shipments rose from 216.5 million pounds in 2018 to 236.4 million pounds in 2019, according to the USDA.
Blackberry volume was down slightly year over year from 174.4 million pounds in 2018 to 168.3 million pounds in 2019.
Most fresh-market raspberries come out of California. Fresh-market blackberries are grown primarily in California and from such states as Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Ohio.
Volume of berries for Naturipe Farms LLC of Estero, FL is about the same as last year and currently has good volumes of blackberries and raspberries along with blueberries and strawberries.
Well-Pict Inc. of Watsonville, CA now is shipping raspberries from the Salinas/Watsonville area. Heaviest volume is expected to continue through October and possibly November.
For Main Street Produce Inc of Santa Maria, CA, this is the third year to be shipping raspberries. Volume is increasing 30 percent a year and will continue until November.
HBF International LLC of McMinnville, OR started shipping blackberries in mid-June and will continue into September.
Ample volume for the summer berries is seen by growers and shippers, despite some weather issues, for a few growing areas, but on the whole, shipments of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries look promising for the next few months.
Last year, U.S. blueberry growers shipped 1.2 billion pounds of wild and highbush blueberries.
Gourmet Trading Co. of Los Angeles report blueberries will be shipping out of several areas, including Georgia, North Carolina, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Michigan and New Jersey, between now and fall.
Peruvian blueberry exports have started earlier than in other years, as the harvest got undereway in June with volume slowly increasing.
Larger volumes of blueberries from Peru should be available in the U.S. starting in late July and going into August and September.
The North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association of Pittsboro, N.C. reports most fresh-market summer raspberries are shipped from California.
Fresh-market blackberries are grown primarily in California and a few other states, including Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Ohio.
Raspberries had a 15.4 percent compounded annual growth rate in U.S. per capita consumption from 2006-08 to 2016-18. Blackberries had a growth rate of 11.6 percent.
Demand for conventional raspberries rose from 216.5 million pounds in 2018 to about 236.4 million pounds in 2019.
Blackberry movement was down slightly, from 174.4 million pounds in 2018 to 168.3 million pounds in 2019.
Exports of citrus from Chile should have a 4 percent increase over last year totalling 347,000 metric tons (MT).
The boost is coming primarily from higher easy peeler volumes, with navel volume slightly lower than last year and lemon volume about the same.
North America continues to lead as Chile’s primary export market for citrus. Chile has been meeting strong market demand for clementines, with exports through June, an impressive 38 percent ahead of the same time last season.
Good volumes of easy peelers will be available through October. Clementine shipments have recently wrapped up, and mandarin shipments started in mid June.
U.S. retail grocery prices increased 0.8 percent in May and are running nearly 5 percent above a year ago, according to the USDA.
The USDA’s June Food Price report said retail grocery prices were increasing faster than prices for food sold at restaurants. Prices for food sold at restaurants increased by 0.4 percent from April to May, and stood 2.9 percent higher than May 2019. For food sold at grocery stores, prices jumped 0.8 percent from April to May. Compared with a year ago, retail grocery prices in May were 4.8 percent higher than a year ago.
For all of 2020, the USDA now predicts retail grocery prices will increase 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent. Restaurant food prices are projected to increase in a range from 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent in 2020, according to the agency.
Inflation for fruits and vegetables increased 0.7 percent from April 2020 to May 2020 and is up 1.5 percent compared with a year ago. The USDA said labor costs have risen because of COVID-19.
“With some exceptions, most fresh-market vegetable growers rely on human labor to produce and place a crop into supply channels,” the USDA report said. “It is anticipated that skilled labor will be scarcer and procedural changes to comply with recommended social distancing may reduce productivity.” Inflation for fresh vegetables rose 0.9 percent from April to May, while fresh fruit increased 0.2 percent.
For the year, retail inflation for fruits and vegetables is projected to increase as much as 1 percent, according to the report.
Nearly 4,000 tons of South African fresh fruit recently arrived at the Port of Philadelphia, which officially kicked of exports to the U.S.
The June 19 arrival included 3,800 pallets of clementines and navel oranges, according to a news release.
The ship, Everest Bay, arrived at the port’s Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, N.J.
“We are proud to continue this fruitful partnership with summer citrus providers in South Africa,” Leo Holt, president and CEO of Holt Logistics, which operates Gloucester Terminals, LLC, said. “Keeping our food supply chain robust and intact is of the highest concern for our staff and many partners.”
The ship left the port of Cape Town on May 31. Ships containing citrus from South Africa will arrive weekly until October, the end of the summer citrus growing season.
Associated Wholesale Grocers of Kansas City, KS plans to complete a new distribution hub in Hernando, MS., in 2023.
AWG decided to undertake the project following a review of the company’s growth trajectory and the capabilities and sustainability of its current facilities, according to a news release.
“Our industry is ever-changing, and it is our mission to provide our member-retailers all of the products, services and tools they need to compete favorably in all markets served, all at the best possible cost,” CEO David Smith said in the release. “This new facility has capabilities that checks all of those boxes. We are excited to be able to significantly expand what we stock and ship to our member stores while becoming more efficient and cost-effective in our operations.
“This new facility will be a critical component in our plan to build a safer, better and more efficient supply chain,” Smith said. “In addition to becoming the primary supply source for the region, we will also leverage this new operation as an expanded variety source to all of our facilities and member stores. This will create more value throughout the supply chain for AWG and our members.”
Operations from two distribution centers in the area — in Memphis, TN., and in Southaven, MS. — will eventually be consolidated into the new facility.
The plans are subject to incentives approval, which is being finalized with local and state leaders.
AWG has partnered with Witron, which specializes in creating food warehouse automation and order picking systems, on the project.
“The Witron system is integrated into every area of the new facility; the handling of case and pallet goods, ambient temperature, refrigerated perishables and frozen foods, as well as the handling of individual unit products,” AWG wrote. “This will increase throughput of products, increase efficiencies, improve accuracy and reduce loss due to damaged goods.”
“This in turn will allow AWG and member stores to realize savings across transportation, inventory management, as well as experience enhanced pick accuracy and lower salvage rates,” AWG wrote. “All of this will result in cost savings for AWG members while still maximizing the integrity and safety of the food supply chain.”
Observers of Michigan apples report the crop is looking good for 2020, but we haven’t heard any specifics as to how it compares to an average of 25 million bushels shipped in a normal season. That old crop will wrap up in July before the new season kicks off with early varieties in late August.
We should have a better idea when an official crop size estimate is released at USApple’s Outlook conference, Aug. 20-21, which will be online this year.
Many growers have signed on with managed varieties in Michigan, such as Smitten, Sweet Tango, Kiku, and more. In addition, EverCrisp has become exceedingly popular in the winter months, as it stores well.
There also are more traditional varieties such as Honeycrisp, Gala and Fuji . There is less volume due to lower demand for such varieties as Jonathan and Romes, among others.
The Michigan Apple Commitee reports it is aiming toward expansion beyond the Great Lakes region. Michigan Apples are shipped to 32 states and exported to 18 countries.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – LGS Specialty Sales, a leading importer of citrus, avocados, grapes, and persimmons shares an overview of the various commodities offered throughout the summer months. During the summer citrus season, LGS sources lemons, navels, minneolas, mandarins and cara cara oranges to the U.S. for its Darling Citrus® line.
While LGS imports lemons regularly throughout the year, the company is experiencing a strong summer lemon season from Argentina and Chile.
** Argentinian lemon season began in May and will last throughout August.
** Chilean lemon season began in late June and anticipates going through early October.
LGS provides other varieties of citrus throughout the summer and looks forward to the arrival of the following fruit:
Navel season takes place from July through October.
Minneola season is also on the horizon from mid-July through September. LGS anticipates a similar season to last year with a slight increase in volume.
Mandarin season – W. Murcottswill also be available in mid-July from Peru followed by Chile. The mandarins are showing a great color and brix/acid ratio, which results in a sweeter fruit.
Cara Cara season will be available late July through September.
About LGS Specialty Sales, Ltd.
LGS Specialty Sales, Ltd. has been importing fruit from select growers around the world for close to 30 years. Today, LGS is a leading importer of clementines, oranges, avocados, grapes, lemons, minneolas, cara cara oranges and persimmons.
Idaho-grown red potatoes continues to be shipped due to investments in storage technology by Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, ID.
“Historically, the storage crop Idaho-grown red potatoes during this time of year see pressure bruising and the quality dips below strict guidelines to where suppliers look to pull from other regions,” Jared Neville, commodity director, said in a news release. “This new proprietary storage method has allowed us to better control our quality to where we can continue to sell our local product.”
With a prolonged season, Eagle Eye’s red potatoes are integrated with its other year-round programs. The facility allows for one-stop shopping, with Idaho russets, reds, yellows and value-added products available.
“We are proud to be able to continue to supply our customers directly with product grown, packed, and shipped by us,” Neville said.
The company offers retail and foodservice pack styles under several brands names, with private label packing available, and a national sales and marketing team to support a global customer base,
California strawberry shipments are on track to beat last year’s 202 million trays by a little over 16 million.
Naturipe Berry Growers of Salinas, CA finished its Santa Maria berry shipments the first week of June and then shifted to the Watsonville area.
May and June are peak months for California strawberries.
Early in the season, shippers were loading in Oxnard, Santa Maria and Watsonville.
Volume remained strong through June, will have a seasonal decline in July and August.
Bobalu Berries of Oxnard, CA hit peak loadings in mid-June. Although the company has been a longtime grower, this is the first year Bobalu Berries is shipping its own product.
The grower has an interesting location north and west of Santa Maria, close to the ocean, similar to the Watsonville area.
Watsonville-Salinas will be the primary area in California shipping strawberries as the season progresses, but that area is significantly larger than the state’s other berry growing regions.
Naturipe’s volume likely will end up equal to or a little more than last year.
Main Street Produce Inc. of Santa Maria likely will continue to ship strawberries from that area until December.
The company’s volume will be up about 15 percent over last year.
