Pleasanton, Calif., — DeltaTrak® has introduced the next generation FlashLink Mini PDF In-Transit Logger.
According to Frederick Wu, President and CEO of DeltaTrak, “The FlashLink Mini PDF has been upgraded to include our patented Shadow Log® feature which sets it apart from other brands. Shadow Log® means that temperature data is recorded even if a shipper forgets to start the unit, so receivers will always be able to download trip data when a load arrives.”
The reports also have a new look, including both F° and °C scales on one chart, making it user friendly for receivers worldwide. Reports are automatically generated when the logger is plugged into the USB port of a PC, tablet, or printer, where they can be saved and shared by email in PDF and CSV formats.
The FlashLink Mini PDF has a compact, single use design that incorporates a USB connector and on-board software, making it quick and easy to access data without special reading devices or installing software. One model can be used for all domestic and export trips up to 85 days, so shippers don’t have to stock multiple brands with various recording periods.
These accurate, reliable temperature recorders are ideal for compliance with Food Safety, HACCP, FSMA, and global regulations, to verify if products have been kept within their proper temperature range. Each unit comes mounted on a bright green shipping card, making it easy to locate when a shipment arrives. A peel-away barcode label with the logger serial number can be attached to shipping documents and scanned into the shipper’s ERP system for complete traceability.
The FlashLink Mini PDF In-Transit Logger is an essential tool to help shippers, third party logistics companies, importers and exporters ensure consumer safety and deliver high quality products that are safe to eat.
About DeltaTrak® DeltaTrak® is a leading innovator of cold chain management, environmental monitoring and food safety solutions for the food, produce, life science, and chemical industries.
Arisan Organics brand peaches and nectarine shipment got underway last week from Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA.
Volume organic stone fruit loadings will pick up quickly by the end of the month, according to a news release. Peak shipments will occur from early August to early September.
Stemilt’s first Artisan Organic peach variety of the season is zee lady, and Sierra rich and sweet dream will be the bulk of the August shipments, with August lady wrapping up the season in September. Grand bright, honey haven and August bright are the company’s main organic nectarine varieties, according to the release.
Stemilt’s stone fruit is all organic, and the company’s organic program is celebrating a 30-year anniversary this year.
The company’s organic peaches and nectarines primarily are grown by the Douglas family in southcentral Washington.
“The Douglas family have farmed for four generations and knows how this region’s climate affects their organic crops,” Brianna Shales, Stemilt’s communications manager said in the release. “They have spent years perfecting the art of growing organics and they have found what works and what doesn’t.”
SALINAS, Calif. – Taylor Farms is pleased to announce the acquisition of Earthbound Farm from Danone, SA. We are grateful for Danone’s stewardship of Earthbound Farm during the past two years and for the opportunity to return ownership of this organic fresh produce leader to local roots and family ownership.
Earthbound Farm will join the Taylor Farms Retail Group and help lead growth in the dynamic organic fresh produce category. We will build on Earthbound Farm’s tradition of organic authenticity, new variety development and quality focus with expanded regional organic growing and processing capability to better serve Earthbound Farm’s customers and consumers across North America.
ABOUT TAYLOR FARMS
Taylor Farms is a leading North American producer of salads and healthy fresh foods. Taylor Farms is grounded in a commitment to quality, innovation, sustainability and food safety. Taylor Farms is family owned and based in “The Salad Bowl of the World” Salinas, California. www.taylorfarms.com
Michigan vegetable shipments have been underway for months, but will be peaking in August and September.
The state actually ships produce the year around, although apples make up its fruit shipments during the winter. Likewise most winter vegetable shipments consist of potato and onion repacking operation with the product sourced from other areas.
But right now the focus on fresh summer and fall produce loadings.
In 2018, Michigan shipped the equivalent of 50.8 million 40-pound cartons of fresh fruits and vegetables, according the USDA.
The state’s total shipments were slightly less than 53.2 million 40-pound equivalent cartons shipped in 2017 and 9 percent lower than the 55.8 million 40-pound cartons shipped by the state in 2016.
While Michigan ships fruits and vegetables every month of the year, volume will increase seasonally this summer and fall. Last year, 14 percent of total annual Michigan produce shipments occurred in August, increasing to 15 percent in September.
The top 10 fresh produce commodities for the state in 2018, in 40-pound carton equivalents, were:
Apples, 6.9 million cartons, down 13 percent from 7.9 million cartons in 2017;
Potatoes: 5.65 million cartons, down 4 percent from 5.91 million cartons in 2017;
Watermelons (seeded and unseeded): 2.46 million cartons, up 5 percent from 2.35 million cartons in 2017;
Cucumbers: 2.05 million cartons, down 7 percent from 2.21 million cartons in 2017;
Onions: 1.14 million carton, down 16 percent from 1.36 million cartons in 2017;
Bell peppers: 985,000 cartons, down 26 percent from 1.33 million cartons in 2017:
Cabbage: 880,000 cartons, down 15 percent from 1.04 million cartons in 2017;
Squash: 880,000 cartons, up 4 percent from 847,500 cartons in 2017;
Celery: 862,500 cartons, down 33 percent from 1.28 million cartons in 2017;
Blueberries: 672,500 cartons, down 32 percent from 982,500 cartons in 2017;
Tomatoes (all types): 655,000 cartons, down 33 percent from 975,000 cartons in 2017;
Sweet corn: 562,500 cartons, down 5 percent from 592,500 cartons in 2017;
Asparagus: 272,500 cartons, down 8 percent from 297,500 cartons in 2017; and
Peaches: 117,500 cartons, down 4 percent from 122,500 acres in 1970.
Long-term acreage trends
The USDA’s Census of Agriculture reveals most Michigan fruit and vegetables experienced an acreage decline in the past 10 years, though there are exceptions.
Acreage figures for Michigan fruits and vegetables in 2017, compared with 2007:
Apples: 38,563 acres in 2017, down 13 percent from 44,189 in 2007;
Peaches: 2,863 acres in 2017, down 47 percent from 5,400 acres in 2007;
Grapes: 13,127 acres in 2017, down 11 percent from 14,701 acres in 2007;
Blueberries: 22,959 acres in 2017 (no data for 2007);
Celery: 2,078 acres in 2017, up 6 percent from 1,968 acres in 2007;
Carrots: 3,473 acres in 2017, down 37 percent from 5,499 acres in 2007;
Onions: 2,495 acres in 2017, down 46 percent from 4,592 acres in 2007;
Cucumbers: 34,409 acres in 2017, down 16 percent from 40,820 acres in 2007;
Lettuce: 1,027 acres in 2017, up 17 percent from 876 acres in 2007;
Bell peppers: 1,876 acres in 2017, up 19 percent from 1,577 acres in 2007;
Potatoes (fresh market and processing): 30,750 acres in 2017, up 19 percent from 1,577 acres in 2007;
Sweet corn: 8,466 acres in 2017, down 11 percent from 10,885 acres in 2007;
Strawberries: 870 acres in 2017, down 29 percent from 1,229 acres in 2007; and
Raspberries: 532 acres in 2017, down 19 percent from 654 acres in 2007.
Domestic pears are back in season as California has just begun shipments.
California pear shippers are predicting they will harvest 2.28 million packages of Bartlett pears this summer, which is slightly more than last year’s crop of just over 2 million packages. In addition to Bartlett, the primary variety grown in California, the state is anticipating another 500,000 boxes of other varieties led by Golden Bosc. Additional heirloom varieties to be offered include Sunsprite, Starkcrimson, Red pears, traditional Bosc, Comice, Seckel and French Butter along with a limited supply of organic varieties.
The River Delta growing region in California will be first to harvest of Bartletts July 22 with the Mendocino growing area harvest predicted for August 5 and Lake County to begin August 12. Pears are sold by 4 California pear shipping companiess that include: David J. Elliot & Son and Greene and Hemly Inc., both of Courtland; Rivermaid Trading Company, Lodi; and Scully Packing, Finely.
This means that retailers and consumers can look forward to having fresh U.S. pears in their stores again instead of buying pears from other countries or from storage.
“To ensure top quality, most shippers will be hand-selecting the largest fruit first and pre-conditioning so consumers can enjoy ripe, ready-to-eat fruit from the beginning of our season,” says Chris Zanobini, Executive Director of the California Pear Advisory Board.
“Now is the time for retail stores nationwide to begin planning promotions for these early season, freshly harvested California pears,” stresses Zanobini. “In fact, marketing research clearly shows the early summer pear season is absolutely the most profitable for retail pear sales.”
When the harvest started, California had the only freshly harvested pears available.
California growers believe in harvesting and marketing the traditional way versus using controlled atmosphere storage or chemically treating the fruit for longer storage life. So, California can offer a fresh pear for its entire shipping period.
California pears have a rich history as one of the first tree fruits planted and sold commercially in the nation. Some 60 farming families continue to produce pears in California on orchards that can be over 100 years old.
“Today’s California pears are grown by fourth and fifth generation families who are farming the same land their grandparents and great-grandparents did during the California Gold Rush,” explains Zanobini. “The California Bartlett pear is truly heirloom variety and we want consumers to enjoy the rich history of our farming community as much as they enjoy our pears.”
Pleasanton, Calif. — DeltaTrak® has introduced the next generation FlashLink Real-Time Mini Loggers.
The next generation FlashLink In-Transit Real-Time Mini Logger offers an extended battery life and is a cost-effective real-time logger providing temperature, humidity, and location information utilizing GSM cellular technology. Shipments are tracked worldwide using DeltaTrak’s ColdTrak 24/7 cloud service. Reliable up-to-the-minute information can be accessed securely anywhere with user login and password on a standard web browser using a PC or any internet-ready device.
Using the same cloud-based dashboard, the next generation FlashLink Reusable Real-Time Mini Data Logger monitors truck cool down. The logger alarm limits can be set to loading temperature and an alert will be sent so that dock supervisors know which trucks are ready, and improve efficiency by streamlining the loading process.
“The FlashLink Real-Time Mini Loggers help our customers closely track temperature before it reaches a dangerous level,” according to Frederick Wu, President and CEO of DeltaTrak. “and, are cost-effective real-time data loggers that are easy to integrate into our customers’ existing SOPs (standard operating procedures). Equally important, the data and reporting are extremely valuable tools for traceability and audit purposes.”
For the in-transit logger, DeltaTrak offers two models, one for most domestic shipments with a 15-day logging duration and data uploaded every 10 minutes, and a second model for longer trips with a 60-day logging duration and data uploaded every 60 minutes, ideal for export shipments. For the reusable logger, shippers can program their own trip duration and logging intervals.
The ColdTrak web portal provides enhanced features and allows growers and shippers the option to upload documentation and archive data for FSMA, HACCP and regulatory compliance. Customers can customize high/low alarm settings, and alerts are automatically sent when out-of-range conditions occur.
The FlashLink In-Transit Real-Time Mini Logger is mounted on a highly visible shipping card which makes the units easy to locate inside a trailer or container. Each unit comes charged and ready-to-use. Shippers can simply start the logger with the one-button activation and place it in their loads. The FlashLink Reusable Real-Time Mini Data Logger is configurable and customers can recharge it after each trip to allow unlimited uses.
The FlashLink Real-Time Mini Loggers are a great solution for anyone that needs up-to-the-minute information on the temperature of their products. For a demonstration, please visit Stand 1-VV09 at THAIFEX 2019. About DeltaTrak® DeltaTrak® is a leading innovator of cold chain management, environmental monitoring and food safety solutions for the food, produce, life science, and chemical industries.
Both retail and farm-level prices for fresh vegetables have been revised upward for 2019.
In the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Price Outlook report of June 25, the agency reported that although fresh vegetable prices decreased 1% from April to May, prices are 5.2% higher than in May 2018. “The price indexes for all fresh vegetable components (potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, and other fresh vegetables) continued to show strong year-over-year growth,” the USDA said in the report.
“Following a 1.1% increase in 2018, this month’s forecast for fresh vegetable prices has again been revised upward, with expectations for an increase in a range between 3% and 4% in 2019.”
The USDA said the index of farm-level vegetable prices increased by 3.6% in May and was up 9.6% since the same time last year. The farm-level vegetable producer price index declined 1.7% in 2018, but the USDA now calls for an increase of 11% to 12% in producer prices for vegetables this year.
The USDA said the index for producer prices for fruit decreased 3.7% in May and was 15.9% lower since a year ago. After a decrease of 1.9% in 2018, the USDA said fruit prices at the farm level in 2019 are expected to decrease between 4% and 5%.
Pacific Northwest blueberry shipments have been soaring in recent years.
Each season new records for blueberry shipments have been broken. Oregon blueberry shipments hit 134 million pounds last season, while and Washington State, which had only 18 million pounds in 2006, shipped 130 million pounds in 2018.
As the per capita consumption of blueberries in North America continues to increase faster than any other berry category, a reported 70 percent of the high bush blueberry production in the United States is currently in the West.
Within the five years it is expected Washington will exceed 200 million pounds, primarily due to new plantings.
Organic “blues” are also a major part of the blueberry industry accounting for nearly 25 percent of Oregon volume. In Washington, 90 percent of fresh blueberry production is organic.
With 20,000 pounds or more being harvested per acre, the Pacific Northwest has some of the highest blueberry yields in the world.
WINTER SPRINGS, FL – Watermelon on menus has grown by 54 percent in the past four years, according to a recent MenuTrends Research study commissioned by the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) and conducted by Datassential. The Board commissions menu trend research every other year in order to understand the opportunity watermelon has in foodservice and benchmark watermelon’s presence year-over year.
Now in its 5th year, the Board’s Foodservice program, spearheaded by Director Megan McKenna, is seeing a record number of operators interested in assistance with ideation, usage ideas, education and promotion support.
In addition to current menu usage, the study reveals
emerging trends that originate in foodservice, as well as opportunities for
growth. McKenna can point to this data – such as popular flavor pairings or
unique usage – when helping regional and national chains, independents,
“groceraunts,” sporting venues, hospitality and education sectors with new and
innovative offerings.
“Using the Datassential research to highlight watermelon’s
unique flavor profile really resonates with operators,” said McKenna. “Now that
watermelon is squarely in ‘Proliferation’ in the usagemenu adoption cycle, more
Chefs than ever before are open to watermelon’s year-round versatility.”
According to the study, between 2017 and 2018 watermelon
limited time offers (LTOs) launched in all months of the year but one.
Historically watermelon LTOs have taken place in the summer months illustrating
its move to a year-round product.
Additional findings of note include the following:
Watermelon
is found more often on casual and fine dining menus but has seen growth across
all segments.
National
chains are featuring and expanding the use of watermelon more often and at a
faster pace than regional chains and independents.
Watermelon
ranks 22nd among most popular fruits and 3rd among
greatest four-year growth.
One
in ten restaurants serving alcoholic beverages feature a drink with watermelon,
more than doubling in the last ten years.
Dewitt, MI — Michigan asparagus shippers completed their season in the final days of June, completing a season that lasted 6 to7 weeks.
USDA is currently reporting that this year’s fresh market production reached an all-time high of 14 million pounds. On the flip side, the market for processed asparagus reached an all-time low this year, at just 7 million pounds.
With ideal weather conditions and superb quality, the major setback for Michigan Asparagus again took the form of imported asparagus flooding the market during Michigan’s growing season. Imports were coming from Peru and Mexico.
Rainy conditions this spring created ideal growing conditions, helping roots soak up plenty of rainwater and produce the juicy spears that Michigan is known for. Cooler temperatures allowed producers to stay on top of harvesting the quickly growing crop. “When the weather gets hot, the asparagus just shoots up.” Explains John Bakker, Executive Director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, “Under the right conditions, we’ll see up to 10 inches of growth in a single day. Those are the days that require us to go through a field two or three times to harvest. If a grower gets behind, they’ll have to mow the field and lose that part of the harvest – that’s why the mild temperatures we had this season are so important.”
This year’s ideal conditions created steady, predictable growth and superb quality asparagus. Spears harvested throughout the state displayed excellent tip quality, delicious fresh flavor, and desirable thickness.
