2019 is expected to see retail food prices increase in a modest range of between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent, despite above-average inflation for fresh vegetables.
The would result in 2019 being the fourth year in a row with deflating or lower-than-average inflating retail food prices, according to the USDA’s recent Food Price Report.
The 20-year historical annual average for retail food price inflation is 2 percent. Last year, retail food prices rose 0.4 percent, the first increase in three years.
Restaurant food prices are now rising faster than supermarket food prices, while retail food prices and restaurant price inflation increased at similar rates from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Restaurant food prices have increased at a higher clip since 2009.
Higher labor and overhead costs for restaurants largely account for the difference in cost structures, the report said.
For that reason, decreasing commodity and wholesale prices have influenced supermarket pricing more than restaurant prices, the report said.
In 2020, supermarket food prices are again projected to increase between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent. Both fresh vegetables and fresh fruit are expected to see retail price increases in 2020 below the 20-year historical average, according to the report.
The USDA reports restaurant food prices in 2020 are forecast to increase in a range between 2 percent and 3 percent, similar to recent years.
The USA Today mention reads “(the drop) is a natural fit for this agricultural city, – About 90% of the winter lettuce and greens consumed in the U.S. are grown in the Yuma area.” The second annual event takes place in historic downtown Yuma and is hosted by Visit Yuma.
The 8-foot-by-8-foot, lighted, stylized head of lettuce was created by Penn Signs to go along with the theme “Lettuce Celebrate.” The embellished Iceberg head will be lowered from a crane at 10 p.m., to sync up with the ball drop in Times Square in New York City, and again at midnight.
The Iceberg Drop was among a list of unique drops to include a bug, other eats and a pinecone too. The other featured events are the Flea Drop in Eastover, North Carolina, Sartori Big Cheese Drop in Plymouth, Wisconsin, PEEPS Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and The Great Pinecone Drop in nearby Flagstaff, Arizona
The public is encouraged to attend the Iceberg Drop to ring in 2020. The event features DJ Bobby McClendon of BMC Productions and Entertainment starting at 8 p.m. and Radical Rewind leads up to the drop times, making a festive celebration on Main Street in Historic Downtown Yuma. Many restaurants and bars in the downtown area will be open late, and Visit Yuma will have beer and wine available for sale in the street, and complimentary party favors as long as supplies last.
About 2 billion pounds of avocados will be imported from Mexico this season — an increase of about 6 percent over last year.
Though Mexico ships avocados year-round, particularly heavy volume comes from October through May.
McDaniel Fruit Co of Fallbrook, CA expects good volumes and quality coming from Mexico this season.
Calavo Growers Inc. of Santa Paula, CA expects peak volume to occur from January to April. The company expects some reduction in volume by the end of March or mid-April.
At Del Rey Avocado, Inc. of Fallbrook, CA plans on plenty of Mexican avocado imports through May.
During the past three years, an average of 80 percent of the avocados consumed in the U.S. were imported from Mexico..
While shipments from Mexico normally decline some during the summer, Mexican avocado imports dominates avocado volume in the U.S. every month of the year.
Volume has increased nearly 100 percent since 2010,
Avocados from Mexico were first allowed into the U.S. in 1997, but only to a limited number of Northeastern and Midwestern states and only during the winter.
Gradually, the number of states increased, and by 2007, the fruit was allowed in nationwide on a year-round basis.
McDaniel Fruit Co. of Fallbrook, CA was one of first companies to import when the U.S. market was opened to Mexican avocados and has seen significant growth in volume over the past two decades.
A modest decline in Chilean fruit exports for the 2019-20 season is forecast by the USDA primarily because of a drought and fewer plantings.
In its annual fruit report release recently Chilean table grapeexports in 2019-20 will decline 3 percent, while apple exports will be off 7 percent and pear exports down 10 percent..
Grape Exports
Chile’s table grape planted area for exporting in 2019-20 is projected unchanged at about 118,000 acres. The USDA reports table grape production will drop due to droughts throughout the country and will have a pronounced effect in the central Chile regions of Valparaiso, Metropolitana, and O’Higgins. On the other hand, the northern regions of Atacama and Coquimbo have enough water reserves.
The USDA said traditional table grape varieties, including crimson seedless and thompson seedless, are declining in volume. Newer varieties, such as arra-15, timco, and sweet celebration continue to increase in production. Chile’s 2019-20 grape output is estimated at 805,000 metric tons, down 3 percent from a year ago.
Exports of table grapes will fall again in 2019-20 after an off year in 2018-19. Last season, Chile’s table grape exports decreased by 10.5 percent in volume compared with 2017-18, totaling 654,479 metric tons. Table grape exports to the U.S. and China fell by 10 percent while exports to South Korea grew by 27.7% last season. Even with the decline last year, the U.S. took 45 percent of Chile’s total exports in 201-8-19, with 295,149 metric tons shipped to the U.S.
Competition from Peru early in the season has pulled Chilean grape prices down and created a greater emphasis for late-season exportst.
The USDA projects Chilean grape exports to China will grow as exporters focus their promotion funds and marketing efforts in reaching that market. Chile’s total grape exports for 2019-20 are projected at 640,000 metric tons, down from 660,000 metric tons in 2018-19.
Apple Exports
Chile’s apple acreage this season is projected at near 80,000 acres, 6 percent less than 2018-19. Increased competition from Peru and low prices for traditional varieties contributed to the acreage decline.
Last season, Chile’s total fresh apple exports decreased by 10 percent in volume and 8.4 percdent in value compared with the 2017-18 season, with totals of 618,324 metric tons in volume and $557 million in value.
2018-19 exports of Chilean apples were diversified to customers in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Far East, but the U.S. was rated as the top buyer of Chilean apples.
For the upcoming season, apple exports to China, Taiwan, India, and Vietnam are expected to increase. Total Chilean apple exports for 2019-20 are projected at 656,500 metric tons, off 7 percent from 705,000 metric tons last season.
Pear Exports
Chilean pear acreage now is estimated at nearly 18,000 acres, about 11.5 percent fewer compared with 2018-19. Last season, Chile’s pear exports increased by 1.4 percent in volume over the previous year reaching 123,914 metric tons.
Top Chilean export markets for pears include Russia, Colombia, the Netherlands and Italyt.
Chilean pears also were exported to China starting in April with the opening of that market. For 2019-20, the USDA projects total Chilean pear exports at 117,000 metric tons, 10 percent lower compared with 130,000 metric tons in 2018-19.
There is a tendency to purchase more strawberries and mandarins in families with kids 17 and under than homes without kids.
“Although households without kids represent a larger buyer group, families are more likely to ‘overindex,’ or spend more dollars per category, in relation to other demographic groups,” the United Fresh Produce Association wrote in its latest FreshFacts on Retail report. “Families particularly overindex in fruit sales, which is supported by strawberries and mandarins ranking as the top two most popular items for families.”
Along with strawberries and mandarins, raspberries, apples and bell peppers resonated with households with kids of all ages. Grapes, avocados and carrots were more popular for families with children under 12, while families with kids 13-17 had potatoes, cooking greens and lettuce in their top 10 list.
United Fresh noted that digging more deeply into the numbers is worthwhile because doing so provides understanding of how households are using those items.
“For example, bell peppers overindex more strongly than carrots across all family groups; however, bell peppers are almost exclusively consumed by the adults while carrots have a higher consumption rate among children,” United Fresh wrote. “Knowing not only what products families buy but who and how they consume it can influence your marketing strategy and even package design.”
JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Crowley Logistics has added 300 new refrigerated (reefer) cargo containers to its industry-leading equipment fleet just in time for the peak perishables shipping season.
The additional units, which are all 40-foot-long, high cubes built to Crowley’s exacting standards, further demonstrates the company’s focus on offering customers the most reliable and efficient equipment in the market. These units have wireless asset monitoring technology, which will provide continuous monitoring as the reefers transit from origin to destination, both at sea and over land, to ensure the cold chain is maintained the entire time goods are moving.
“The acquisition of these containers is part of our continued commitment to maintain the best conditioned equipment for our customers and in the right quantities to meet their needs during peak season and throughout the rest of the year,” said Steve Collar, senior vice president and general manager, Crowley Logistics. “We have a staff of experts that continuously evaluates our fleet and its ability to meet customer needs. If we see there is opportunity for enhancements, we make investments to ensure we have the right equipment available at the right time.”
Crowley’s industry-leading equipment, combined with grower and farm services such as load planning and equipment sanitation, make Crowley a trusted partner for refrigerated shippers. Crowley provides in-transit services including location and temperature monitoring. The company ensures quality and dependable arrival through services like customs clearance, fumigation options, refrigerated storage and last-mile deliveries.
The reefer containers will be received in Santo Tomas, Guatemala, to accommodate Central America’s heavy northbound reefer season, which runs through May 2020. The new containers are equipped with Carrier’s high efficiency PrimeLINE® refrigeration units, incorporating several changes to further boost efficiency and reliability.
Since 2014, Crowley has invested over $150 million in new cargo equipment for its fleet. Today, the company operates more than 51,500 pieces of owned and leased intermodal equipment. The equipment’s diverse sizes and strategic locations throughout the U.S, Central America and the Caribbean provide customers a variety of solutions to meet demands.
About Crowley Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 127-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family- and employee-owned company that provides marine solutions, energy and logistics services in domestic and international markets. Crowley operates under four business units: Crowley Logistics, a logistics supply chain division that includes ocean liner services; Crowley Shipping, which encompasses ownership, operations and management of conventional and dual fuel (LNG) vessels, including tankers, container ships, multipurpose, tugboats and barges; engineering; project management; and naval architecture through its subsidiary Jensen Maritime; Crowley Fuels, a fuel transportation, distribution and sales division that also provides liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related services; and Crowley Solutions, which focuses on government services and program management, government ship management, expeditionary logistics and government-oriented freight transportation services, as well as marine salvage and emergency response through its 50 percent ownership in Ardent Global.
Export volumes have broken a historic record as the Chilean lemon season comes to a close.
The Chilean Citrus Committee reports the South American country exported 90,500 metric tons (MT), a growth of 2.5 percent over last season.
The U.S. remains the primary market for exports, accounting for 62 percent of the volume. Japan is second with 22 percent, followed by Europe with 8 percent.
While we may be five months or so away from a new season of California avocado shipments, shippers already are talking about a big increase in volume compared to last season.
The previous season, which ended only about three months ago, had shipments limited mostly to California and other western states. Whle there is no official estimate, industry expectations point to volume reaching 350 to 370 million pounds for the 2020 season, up from about 215 million pounds in 2019.
The California Avocado Commission, which represents growers and shippers, believe the bigger crop will extend the season compared with this year, with shipments expanding well beyond the western states.
The California avocado shipping season typically runs from early spring through late summer, but in 2020 it should start earlier and go longer because of the larger crop.
Two typical New Year’s resolutions are eating healthier and being a bit more adventurous. But why wait till the New Year? Start your adventure before or during the holidays with this Garlic Roasted Spicy Green Beans with Almonds recipe!
Green beans are a classic, especially at this time of the year, but bring something new to the table by adding red pepper flakes and almonds! It takes essentially no extra time but adds a whole new dimension to the flavor and a slight crunch to the texture that will keep you coming back to this recipe. Of course, the main ingredient that will determine the flavor and taste of this dish is the green beans themselves. That’s why we want to bring your attention to Harvest Sensations. Buying produce from Harvest Sensations isn’t a mere transaction, they pride themselves in delivering the produce you deserve.
They focus entirely on sourcing and importing quality, organic ingredients in order to make the globe their local backyard. Your produce comes right from a farmer out of the U.S., Mexico, or Central and South America. And if you want assurance that you’re getting the best, Harvest Sensations is proud to be globally certified through multiple organizations including Global Food Safety Initiative and National Organic Standards.
They’re dedicated to their customers and the environment equally, committed to great service and products while also maintaining an active commitment to the environment. They have a sustainability plan based on viability, accountability, responsibility, and investment.
That’s how you know you’ll be receiving top of the line green beans! Which means a magnificent source for vitamins A, C, and K along with folic acid and fiber for you and everyone else at your table. This translates directly into your health, promoting a good mood, bone health, and even clocking carcinogenic effects.
Best of all, this recipe is easy! Check out the three steps to your adventure below:
Ingredients:
12 oz raw Harvest Sensations green beans, ends trimmed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons sliced almonds
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Place the green beans in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil and then season with red pepper flakes, sea salt, and fresh cracked pepper and toss.
On a parchment lined baking sheet, spread the green beans in a single layer. Roast for 15 minutes before removing beans from the oven to add minced garlic and sliced almonds. Mix all together and spread into a single layer again and roast for an additional 5 minutes until green beans are cooked through and the garlic and almonds are lightly golden.
