Importer LGS Specialty Sales of New Rochelle, NY says it is now receiving South African Star ruby grapefruit ahead of schedule.
The company’s volumes of early summer star ruby grapefruit are now available for shipment out of New Jersey, according to a news release.
“Our customers continue to partner with LGS Specialty Sales because we work to secure fresh produce, like grapefruit, when the market is in need,” Luke Sears, president and founder of LGS Specialty Sales, said in the release. “If a retailer is having a hard time sourcing import grapefruit right now, look no further.”
LGS Specialty Sales sources grapefruit from the company’s farms in the fruitful Mediterranean-like climate of South Africa, where the weather is optimal for high-quality citrus, the release said. South African Star Ruby grapefruit will be available through October.
Washington Fruit Growers’s of Yakima, WA began cherry shipments in early June and will continue through most of July and possibly into early August.
Good volume with cherries is expected this season as the company packs both organic and conventional fruit, with packing locations at its main plant at Washington Fruit & Produce in Yakima and the other being at Dallesport, WA., closer to Oregon on the Columbia River.
Washington Fruit Growers expects to pack a larger volume of cherries compared with a year ago.
Market conditions caused fruit to be diverted from the fresh market in 2023.
Recent studies reveal that orange peel extracts may help combat cardiovascular disease, offering a new use for this often-wasted citrus byproduct.
According to the American Heart Association, of Hispanic adults over 20 in the United States from 2015 to 2018, 52.3% of men and 42.7% of women had cardiovascular disease, a condition that caused 31,864 deaths among men and 26,820 among women of all ages.
Research has shown that some intestinal bacteria help in the development of cardiovascular disease. When they feed on certain nutrients during digestion, these bacteria produce Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). According to researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, TMAO levels may help predict future cardiovascular disease.
With the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Florida’s UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center professor Yu Wang and her research team studied the potential of orange peel extracts, rich in beneficial phytochemicals, to reduce TMAO and trimethylamine (TMA) production. The scientists experimented with two types of extracts: a polar fraction and an apolar fraction.
To obtain the different polarity fractions, the scientists used polar and nonpolar solvents in the orange peels.
“Imagine your salad dressing, whatever is in the water or vinegar part is the polar fraction; whatever is in the oil away from the water is the non-polar fraction,” Wang said in remarks reported by the University of Florida.
“The solvents we used were not exactly like water and oil, but they have similar polarity,” she added.
According to the university, study results showed that extract of the non-polar fraction of orange peel effectively inhibits the production of harmful chemicals. The researchers also identified a compound called feruloyl putrescine in the extract of the polar fraction of orange peel, which also significantly inhibits the enzyme responsible for the production of TMA.
“This is a novel finding that highlights the potential of feruloyl putrescine in health by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Wang said.
The finding in orange peel is significant because 5 million tons of peels are produced each year during juice production in the United States. Nearly 95% of Florida oranges are used to make juice, with half of the peels going to livestock feed, and the rest going to waste.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers the natural extracts in orange peel to be safe for human consumption. Therefore, Wang hopes to put them to better use.
“The findings suggest that orange peels, often turned into waste in the citrus industry, can be reused as valuable health-promoting ingredients, dietary supplements, or food ingredients. Our research paves the way for the development of functional foods enriched with these bioactive compounds, providing new therapeutic strategies for heart health,” Wang said.
I had just been hired by a fresh produce publication in the fall of 1974, and by far, the biggest controversy in the trucking industry was Congress looking to deregulate trucking (and other transportation modes). No one at the newspaper, including myself, knew anything about trucking, much less the profound effects deregulation would have. It was known that most agricultural commodities were exempt from the regulations, but most produce hauls also required a regulated haul on the return trip. I immediately began reading all I could about the subject and tapping into the knowledge of those in the industry. Fortunately, I attended the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association’s trucking division meeting at a hotel near the Kansas City International Airport. It was there that I met Allen Lund of the Allen Lund Company. A friendship quickly developed, and I had someone who was much respected in the industry, intelligent, always made himself available, and had a heart of gold. I can honestly say I’ve never met a better man in my life and I continue to benefit from having known him. Even though Mr. Lund is no longer with us, his values remain steadfast in the Allen Lund Company today.
I became the primary writer on transportation issues and had covered it extensively when Congress passed the Motor Carrier Act of 1980. Some of the major accomplishments of deregulation was ending legalized rate fixing by the large trucking companies, and ending their protected regular routes. Rate wars slashed freight rates, and small trucking companies and owner-operators could negotiate directly with shippers instead of having to lease to a carrier. Deregulation allowed contract rate-making with the regulatory review and opened the door for truck brokers to more efficiently provide match-ups between the demand for transport services and the availability of carriers.
The passage of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 revolutionized the trucking industry, leading to the emergence and growth of third-party logistics (3PL) providers. This shift benefited the American public by reducing transportation costs, lowering consumer prices, and improving service quality. Over the years, the 3PL industry has evolved into a sophisticated sector integral to global supply chains, leveraging advanced technologies to optimize operations. The legacy of early industry leaders, such as Allen Lund, continues to inspire innovation and excellence, demonstrating the enduring benefits of deregulation for the economy and consumers alike.
*****
Bill Martin earned a journalism degree from Oklahoma State University and served as a journalist in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He worked as a reporter for a daily newspaper before writing about transportation and fresh produce for a weekly publication. Combining his expertise, he launched the Produce Trucker’s Network, which aired for 20 years on 60 radio stations across the U.S. and Canada. He retired in 2014, but created haulproduce.com in 2012, which continues today. September 3, 2024, marks his 50th anniversary in long haul trucking and fresh produce.
Gem Tomato & Vegetable Sales of Hamburg, Ark has some of the first domestic vine-ripe tomatoes available for the summer season.
Shipments from Arkansas typically start in early June when the Florida season, which is mostly mature-green tomatoes, is winding down. The California crop usually doesn’t begin until later.
Loadings for Arkansas tomatoes typically last about six week and wrap up around the middle of July or so. It results in a nice window between Florida and California.
Triple M Farms in Hamburg, Ark has a similar season ships tomatoes through out the Midwest, including St. Louis, Iowa and as far east as Pittsburgh, PA. The company grows round, roma, grape and cherry tomatoes with excellent flavor, quality and shelf life.
About 80% of the company’s crop is pre-sold or committed to buyers who have been customers for decades.
California’s Westside melon season should get underway by early July, right on schedule, and growers expect ample supplies of melons this summer.
Cantaloupe volume should reach 14 million 40-pound cartons, up from just over 13 million cartons last year, according to the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board of Dinuba, CA.
Del Mar Packing in Westley, Calif., has a full line of conventional and organic melons. This year, the company has added organic seedless and seeded watermelons.
Harvesting of conventional honeydew and cantaloupe melons will start first week of July for Del Mar Packing the company expects to be shipping nationwide through October.
Because of the large number of watermelon growers throughout the nation, the company concentrates on West Coast customers for its watermelon program.
Volume will be the same as last year for many items, but there will be added supplies of organic and conventional hami melons and a few more conventional honeydews at Del Mar Packing.
Classic Fruit Co. of Fresno, CA is in the second year of an alliance with Westside Produce of Firebaugh, CA.
The alliance provides the companies with more opportunities to supply fruit to customers on a year-round basis.
The two companies had worked together for more than 25 years before forming an official partnership. Now they have an integrated sales, growing, harvesting, crewing and shipping operation that combines Classic Fruit Co.’s offshore program and Westside’s operations.
The companies will transition from Yuma, AZ, and start shipping cantaloupes and honeydews from the Firebaugh area July 1.
Turlock Fruit Co. Inc. of Turlock, CA grows cantaloupes, honeydews and several kinds of mixed melons.
Cantaloupes are just starting with honeydews following the first week of July. Specialty melons should be underway by July 10.
U.S. apple exports to Mexico had a big increase the during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same time frame a year ago, according to the latest data from the USDA.
Mexico accounts for 35% of the total share of U.S. fresh apple exports, reaching a volume of over 440 million pounds during Q1 of 2024, up from nearly 298 million pounds during the same period in 2023.
In 2023, U.S. apple exports to all destinations grew 6% in value compared to 2022, reaching $926 million.
That year, exports to Canada, the second-largest market for the product, dropped to $166 million in value, an 18% drop. This trend seems to remain in the present season as volumes to the country in Q1 dropped from over $204 million in 2022-23 to just about $190 million in 2023-24.
However, in these two destinations, the U.S. enjoys the largest share of apple imports, with 84% in Canada, above Chile and New Zealand, and 96% in Mexico, with limited competition from Chile.
The U.S. Apple Association, reports an “exceptional” harvest had led to an unprecedented amount of apples remaining in storage level.
Earlier this year, apple growers reported they were struggling with oversupply, saying they were finding it increasingly difficult to secure buyers for their surplus.
Experts have reported this may be the biggest year for U.S. apple production on record.
The USDA’s latest Non-citrus Fruits and Nuts reports estimated a total of 270 million bushels of apple production with Washington leading national production reaching 181 million bushels.
Georgia growers expect a strong spring/summer season despite a late start in some regions caused by heavier-than-usual spring rains.
“This year, growing conditions have been generally favorable,” said Matthew Kulinski, director of marketing for the Georgia Department of Agriculture. “We anticipate a robust season.”
Georgia produces an extensive assortment of fruits and vegetables at this time of year, including peaches, Vidalia onions, blueberries, watermelons, tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet corn.
Volume statewide should be up slightly compared to last year, with a substantial improvement for peaches and blueberries, Kulinski said.
Baker Farms in Norman Park, Ga., will market collards, kale, turnips, mustard, broccoli, beets, chard, cilantro, parsley, cabbages, zucchini and several kinds of squashes, said Heath Wetherington, chief operating officer.
The area received more rainfall than usual, but the storms were spaced out and temperatures were mostly normal.
Volume should be similar to last year at Baker Farms.
Beet sales should be up in response to increased demand, but the cabbage market has been tough, Wetherington said, probably because of oversupply in the Southeast.
“The market has been strong on some items, such as broccoli and beets, but very weak in others,” he said.
Prices of greens have been consistent, which allows the company “to plan ahead pretty accurately for the year without taking many hard, unexpected losses.”
Reidsville, Ga.-based Shuman Farms began shipping Vidalia onions in mid-April and will continue through Labor Day, said John Shuman, president and CEO.
The company has expanded its Vidalia onion program by 30% after acquiring the assets of Vidalia, Ga.-based Generation Farms, he said.
Packing capabilities also have been bolstered, and capital improvements to existing facilities have increased the firm’s storage capacity by nearly 25%, Shuman added.
Bland Farms, Glennville, Ga., will offer Vidalia sweet onions in a variety of sizes until early August then switch to its Peruvian program followed by Mexico, said CEO Troy Bland.
“We harvested a fantastic crop this year,” he said. “We are packing and shipping high-quality Vidalia sweet onions.”
Bland Farms accounts for about 25% of Vidalia sweet onion volume and plants more crops every year, he said.
The sweet onion market should be similar or slightly higher than the past two years, Bland said.
Fresh Farms, doing business as MJ International Marketing, Rio Rico, AZ announces a significant milestone in its journey of growth and expansion. With the recent acquisition of a new farm in California, Fresh Farms reaffirms its commitment to excellence and innovation in the agricultural industry.
For over 40 years, the Molina family has been cultivating table grapes and a wide variety of fresh vegetables. With the founding of “Las Mercedes,” their flagship farm in Mexico, the Molina Group embarked on a path of continuous growth and achievement.
“Decades of exploration and hard work allow us to supply grapes starting in mid-March from our farms in Jalisco, followed by production from our Sonoran ranches in May and June and subsequently from California starting in July and suppling customers through November,” said Juan Pablo Molina, General Manager of Fresh Farms.
In 2006, their vision for direct market connection led to the establishment of Fresh Farms, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey which further solidified their presence, laying the groundwork for planned international expansion.
In 2011, Fresh Farms made a significant leap with the acquisition of Visalia Produce Sales, a California-based company renowned for its expertise in table grapes, citrus, and specialty fruits. This strategic move enhanced Fresh Farms’ market position and its growth trajectory.
Today, Fresh Farms is acknowledged as a hallmark of excellence in the industry, with sales offices in Mexico, Arizona, and California, supported by a top-notch sales team.
Volumes from California are ramping up, reaching 15.5 million pounds in week 20. In terms of imports, Colombia is second to Mexico, with 3.3 million pounds imported into the U.S. during week 20. Peru earned third place for imports with 2.4 million pounds.
The latest report from Avobook shows that in week 20, Mexican avocado exports to the U.S. dropped below 40 million pounds for the first time since 2023, reaching 33.4 million pounds.
Projections from the Hass Avocado Board show that volumes from Peru should peak between weeks 29 and 31, reaching 18 million pounds.
Colombia is currently at its peak season, and volumes are expected to remain above 1 million pounds per week until August.
In week 20, Mexican avocado exports to the U.S. were lower than in 2023, when the country exported around 45 million pounds.
California’s Avocado Commission report they expect good volumes through the July 4th holiday, after which shipments will decrease.
“Demand in April was quite strong and the percentage of the crop harvested this year is ahead of last year. In early May, about 25% of the California avocado crop has been picked,” said Terry Splane, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission.
The report shows outside the U.S., Canada is the main destination of Mexican avocados. The state of Michoacan has sent 58% of its exports (excluding the U.S.) to Canada.
Jalisco exported over 60% of its avocados to the U.S. between weeks 1 and 15 of 2024, followed by Canada with just over 17%.
For Michoacan, Asia is its second-largest export market, with almost 25% of its exports (excluding the U.S.).
The total inventory of conventional and organic Hass avocados registered in the U.S. on week 20 was 67.7 million pounds of which 37 million pounds came from Mexico, 24 million from California, and 4.7 million from Colombia. The remainder came from the Dominican Republic and Peru.
