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by New York Apple Sales
With New Zealand KORU® Apple harvest in full swing, KORU® Apple shipments began arriving at USA ports in mid April 13 and are now being distributed mostly by truck to markets across the nation.
The first commercial exports were shipped to the USA in 2013, making this the sixth year for KORU® Apples in the USA market.
Export volumes have been increasing annually, along with production, with this year’s New Zealand crop estimated to reach 180,000 Z-pack equivalents, or about 7.2 million pounds of KORU® Apples.
Andy McGrath, Variety Manager, says, “Being a new apple variety, many of the orchards have not yet reached maturity, so you can expect the volume of KORU® Apples to increase significantly over the next several years as these orchards come into full production. Also, USA plantings will produce good volumes from 2020, making KORU® an all-year-round apple.”
It’s a natural cross between Braeburn and Fuji, and is incredibly crisp, sweet and naturally delicious.
KORU® Apples have a unique orange/red coloring over a yellow background.
With a two-hemisphere production, KORU® growers provide you with the freshest apple possible. Coast to Coast Growers Coop in the USA joined the KORU® team in 2013 with growing regions in Washington State and New York State. New Zealand grown KORU® Apples are picked in March and sold in USA markets from May to September, followed by USA grown KORU® Apples picked in October and sold in USA markets from October to April. Andy McGrath assures consumers that, “Although KORU® Apples store extremely well, the two-hemisphere production means you won’t find a KORU® Apple in the markets over six months from its picking date.”
KORU® apples from New Zealand are sold exclusively in the US by three premier sales organizations. Chelan Fresh-Chelan, WA, Oneonta Star Ranch-Wenatchee, WA, and New York Apple Sales-Glenmont, NY.
By L&M
Billy the Kid Produce, LLC in Deming, NM has entered an agreement with L&M to be their exclusive onion marketer. Both Billy the Kid and L&M are family-owned businesses with strong values and a shared focus on excellent quality and customer service.
“We are honored to be working together with Billy and the Franzoy family to service our customers and help them grow their businesses. Over the years, the Franzoys have made impressive investments in their operation. The scale and progressive nature of their culture made it a natural fit for L&M,” said John Oxford, President & CEO of L&M.
Billy the Kid operates a state-of-the-art facility within 20 miles of all of their onion fields. The packing facility boasts over 100,000 square feet with photo optic sizers and robotic palletizers that ensure maximum efficiency and consistency in sizing, sorting, and stacking.
Billy the Kid will grow approximately 700 acres of onions this season, beginning harvest in late May and continuing through mid-August.
“Our new partnership with Billy the Kid fits very well with L&M’s onion program. Our California crop wraps up at the end of May and we begin harvest on our Kansas crop in mid-August. This partnership will allow for a seamless transition and an uninterrupted supply of quality onions for our customers,” said Derek Ennis, L&M’s Potato & Onion Sales Manager.
“We’re excited to be working with L&M and look forward to a long future together,” said Billy Franzoy, Billy the Kid’s founder and a grower for the partnership.
“For the past 30 years I have represented my family to the onion industry. My decision to step out of onion sales was driven by the fact that I need to spend more time focused on the growth of the Hatch Chile Factory,” said Chris Franzoy, President & CEO, Young Guns. “The decision to hand over the onion marketing reins to L&M was an easy one to make. They have a great track record and are leaders in the industry. I’m very excited for both L&M and Billy the Kid, and I know for a fact there is no better company to represent my family,” he continued.
L&M is a grower and shipper of fresh fruits and vegetables with more than 54 years in the industry, specializing in potatoes & onions; Eastern & Mexican vegetables; and apples, pears & cherries. www.lmcompanies.com
Formed by Billy Franzoy, Billy the Kid Produce has been growing onions since the 1970’s. Today – along with his 4 sons – this 4th generation farming family has become a preeminent onion grower in New Mexico.
California’s Kern County citrus shipments are wrapping up, while new crops of vegetables will be starting soon. Meanwhile, California almonds look promising for the upcoming season. Finally, Black Gold Farms once again is shipping Texas potatoes.
For example, Grimmway Farms of Bakers will kick off its new carrot season with loadings of both conventional and organic carrots starting this week. The firms bi-color corn got underway a week or so ago, plus it’s organic potatoes started shipping in late April.
Kern Ridge Growers of Arvin now has carrot shipments, with bell peppers set to start by early June. Dan Andrews Farms of Bakersfield will get underway with watermelons in June, as well as cantaloupe and honeydew in July.
Sun World International is currently shipping grapes out of the Coachella Valley to be followed by Arvin grapes in early July.
Kern County carrots and vegetables – grossing about $6100 to Atlanta.
California Almond Shipments
California’s 2017 almond acreage is estimated at 1.33 million acres, up 7 percent from the 2016 acreage, which had 1.24 million acres. The almond harvest typically begins in August.
Of the total acreage, 1 million acres were bearing and 330,000 acres were non-bearing, with preliminary bearing acreage for 2018 estimated at 1.07 million acres. California has nearly 6,000 almond growers. Five California counties have 73 percent of the total bearing acreage: Kern, Fresno, Stanislaus, Merced and Madera.
The leading almond variety continues to be nonpareil, followed by monterey, butte, carmel and padre.
Texas Potato Shipments
Black Gold Farms, based in Grand Forks, ND is now shipping red potatoes from its operation in Pearsall, Tx. The growing and shipping operation, located Southwest of San Antonio, has been growing red potatoes in Pearsall since 2011, though its potato growing operation there started in 1992 with chipping potatoes,
Black Gold Farms is shipping from its Pearsall facility as well as from its Arbyrd, Mo., facility, with the Texas crop expected to ship through early June, when the Missouri crop will be ready.
The past few weeks have seen California strawberry shipments ramping up for Mother’s Day and good volume will continue beyond…Meanwhile the first shipment of South African citrus will be arriving in the U.S. within a couple of weeks.
For example, California Giant Berry Farms and Well-Pict Inc., both based in Watsonville, have seen volume recently doubling on a weekly basis.
While most of the California strawberry shipment for Mother’s Day is coming out of the Santa Maria district, Salinas volume also is building.
The California Strawberry Commission reports the Salinas/Watsonville district has 13,233 acres of strawberries this season, which will account for 39 percent of the state’s strawberry acreage.
Last year, the district had 13,570 acres and accounted for 37 percent of the state’s strawberry acreage. The area shipped more than 102 million trays of strawberries in 2017, up from 100,820,365 trays in 2016.
Most shippers are expecting volume in 2018 to be similar to last year’s.
Rain in mid-March really had an adverse affect on strawberry shipments for Easter this year. In addition to Santa Maria, Salinas and Watsonville, strawberry shipments also have been coming out of Ventura County.
Summer Citrus From South Africa’s Planning Session Leads To Positive 2018 Season
by Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA)
CITRUSDAL, South Africa – Easy Peelers, followed by Navels and Star Rubies from South Africa, will start to arrive in containers in the United States towards the end of May, with the first conventional vessel arriving the third week of June at the port of Philadelphia. To support a successful 2018 season, members from across the U.S. and Western & Northern Cape came together in March for the Annual Planning Meeting, hosted by SCSA, to review sales and marketing plans, production volumes, shipping schedules, and category trends.
It is expected be a good season despite the challenges associated with the droughts occurring in the Western Cape. With international best practices, innovation and the latest technology, growers are able to maximize their resources in these difficult times to produce an increased volume of good looking crop.
The San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market has shortened its name to The SF Market. It also is rebranding with a new look to highlight the market’s role in the Bay Area’s food economy. The market’s 31 produce vendors include wholesalers, distributors and online grocery delivery companies, according to a news release.
The rebranding effort comes as the market has signed a 60-year lease with the City of San Francisco and recognition as a historic asset by San Francisco’s Legacy Business Registry. The SF Market name and logo, developed by Trinity Brand Group, will be on the market’s website, on market signage and on merchant trucks, according to the release.
“With its innovative track record of helping food businesses grow at every stage and size, The SF Market has played an instrumental role in how the Bay Area has evolved into a leading food destination,” Matthew Youngblood, co-founder of Trinity Brand Group, said in the release.
“We have been thrilled to have the expertise of Trinity Brand Group behind us as we took this important step to rebrand our organization,” Larry Brucia, president of the board of directors, said in the release. “Through our collaboration with Trinity and the roll-out of our new look, our goal is to increase awareness of the enormous positive impact of The SF Market and to connect with food purveyors and the community in a bigger, better and more meaningful way than ever before.”
The SF Market is currently working on a $96 million reinvestment project to upgrade and expand the facility in Bayview-Hunters Point, including an 80,000-square-foot building, according to the release.
Stone Fruit Shipments
California stone fruit shipments have just got underway, with a later and lighter start.
Giumarra Cos. office in Reedley, CA, started harvesting white and yellow peaches and yellow nectarines this past week. The company plans to begin its white nectarines and apricots new week, followed by plums a few days later.
Simonian Fruit Co. of Fowler, CA kicks off its stone fruit season about May 20th, about a week later than normal.
Imported Mexican grapes will still be good, but a little less than an year ago. Meanwhile Texas red potato shipments have started.
Green seedless grapes in Mexican have taken biggest hit for the new 2018 season, dropping 30 percent from a total of 4.4 million cases in 2017 to 3.1 million cases this year.
Early green seedless are expected to be down 28 percent to 2.6 million cases. Early green seedless production in 2017 was 3.6 million cases. Red seedless varieties this year will be off 23 percent from 10.1 million cases a year ago. The 2018 estimate is for 7.8 million boxes of red seedless table grapes.
Red seeded, black and other varieties are each expected to be off 15 percent this spring. Red seeded export production this year is estimated to be 584,000 cases. Black grape volume is anticipated to be 1.1 million boxes. Other varieties should total 713,000 boxes.
Mexican grape shipments a year busted all records hitting 16 million cases.
Peak shipments for green seedless would be the third week of May through June.. Peak shipments for red seedless will be similar.
Some good news for produce truckers hauling grapes out of Nogales is there has been a 50 percent increase in inspectors at the Nogales crossing. This is expected to reduce delays at the border.
Mexican vegetables and watermelon crossing at Nogales – grossing about $6800 to New York City.
Texas Red Potato Shipments
by MountainKing Potatoes
HOUSTON, TX – MountainKing Potatoes, one of the world’s largest growers of potato varieties, has started the harvest of its Texas new crop of red potatoes.
Grown in the Rio Grande Valley, south central Texas and the western section of the state’s panhandle, MountainKing’s Texas Reds are harvested fresh daily, pre-cooled and packed to order in specially-marked 5-pound bags.
“Our Texas Reds have been a consistent seller…,” says John Pope, vice president of sales and marketing for MountainKing Potatoes. “All signs point to a very solid harvest this year.”
Pope explains the firm and waxy texture of the Texas Reds help them maintain their shape when boiled. Plus, their high moisture content creates a more flavorful potato salad while their thinner skins make for a brighter, more attractive presentation. The product also is suitable for grilling and mashing.
Besides their great look and taste, MountainKing’s Texas Red Potatoes are packed with 35 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C and 16 percent of dietary fiber, a strong selling point for health-conscious shoppers.
Based in Houston, MountainKing grows, packs, markets and distributes fresh potatoes to grocers across the United States. Currently, about one million U.S. households enjoy MountainKing products every week.
Mexican produce crossing the border at Pharr, Tx – grossing about $3800 to Chicago.
Optimism abounds at Del Monte Fresh Produce as the domestic blueberry shipments progress. Also, Monsanto is looking to genetically alter strawberry to get a sweet taste and longer shelf life.
Del Monte Fresh
By Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc.
Coral Gables, FL – Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. (Del Monte) is optimistic about the domestic blueberry season that spans between March and September. It began in the south and eastern states, continued to California in April, and later into British Columbia.
Del Monte’s Chilean import blueberry season finished with increased volumes over the prior years and it continues to expand to meet the growing interest from retailers and food service customers.
“The demand for fresh blueberries in the United States has grown steadily over the past decade. Per capita consumption more than tripled since 2005, exceeding 1.5 pounds per person,” said Dennis Christou, VP Marketing N.A. “Del Monte has been a key player in growing and shipping premium blueberries in Chile for more than 25 years and we continue to expand our operations to meet this growing demand. A major advantage we have is our Del Monte Fresh Cut business which these products support.”
The Mexico blueberry season will begin in early fall.
About Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. is one of North America’s leading marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. markets its products in North America under the Del Monte® brand (as well as other brands), a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for more than 125 years.
Sweeter Strawberries
by Erin Brodwin, Business Insider
In a move aimed at securing a place in the rapidly evolving food technology scene, the agricultural giant Monsanto has invested $125 million in a gene-editing startup called Pairwise.
The alliance could tee up Monsanto, long known for its controversial dealings with farmers and its role in popularizing genetically modified organisms, to introduce some of the first produce made using the blockbuster gene-editing tool Crispr. Sweeter strawberries with a longer shelf life could be among the earliest offerings.
The tool allows scientists to accurately target specific problem areas within the genome of a living thing, opening up the potential to tweak the DNA of everything from row crops like corn and soy to produce like apples and asparagus to make the produce taste sweeter, last longer on the shelf, and even tolerate drought or flooding.
Spring weather conditions have gradually improved California’s Salinas Valley produce shipments, which had been hampered by rain and cold weather.
Still, some shippers such as Tanimura & Antle Inc. of Salinas see volume being lighter than normal on some items in late May and early June because of planting delays.
At the same time growing conditions and ultimately shipments are expected to better than in 2017, which had even worse weather conditions.
Salinas Valley vegetable crop acreage increased slightly from 286,637 acres in 2015 to 290,987 acres in 2016, the latest year for which statistics are available from the Monterey County agricultural commissioner’s office.
There has been a significant decline in artichoke acreage in Monterey County, from 7,242 acres in 2006 to 4,050 in 2016.
Weather has been a problem for impacted overall artichoke production for a number of years. This has resulted in the nation’s largest artichoke grower Ocean Mist Farms of, Castroville, CA
deciding to diversify artichoke growing locations to include areas such as the Coachella Valley, rather than concentrate all of its volume in Monterey County.
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, based in Salinas, completed its desert lettuce shipments the last week of March after finishing up other vegetable crops in mid-March. Most Salinas vegetable shipments got underway in early March, but a spring rain descended on the area the last few days of the month, bringing most of the harvests to a halt, and resulting in quality issues. The quality of Salinas vegetables has improved with the weather.
Another Salinas produce company, Coastline Family Farms, started its Salinas vegetable season April 9th following a few days of rains. Early season leaf lettuce and romaine hearts showed some signs of blister and peel because of an early spring frost, but apparently has experienced a significant improvement in quality since.
Lucky Strike Farms of Burlingame, CA., expects to have a steady vegetable deal this season.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $8300 to New York City.
Asparagus loadings out of Michigan have started. Meanwhile, here’s an update on how many potatoes remain to be shipped for the 2017-18 shipping season.
Michigan asparagus shipments are just getting underway and will continue into late June with good volumes coming in time for the Memorial weekend, May 26 – 28.
One of the larger Michigan asparagus companies that grows, packs and ships is Todd Greiner Farms Packing LLC of Hart, MI. The company recently completed a 20,000-square-foot addition to its packinghouse, which is the second expansion in the last year. This includes two new controlled atmosphere/cold storage rooms and two new shipping and receiving docks. Greiner Farms also ships other vegetables and watermelons.
Vidalia Onion Shipments
Vidalia certified sweet onions are grown in 20 southeastern Georgia counties by 80 farmers and available in the spring and summer months. However, the majority of the onions are located in only two counties. In 2017, Georgia shippers had almost 230 million pounds of Vidalia onions. Similar volume is seen this season, and shipments got underway April 20th.
U.S. Potato Shipments
U.S. potatoes remaining in storages to be shipped as of April 1st were up 2 percent from year-ago. The USDA reports the 13 major potato shipping states held 134 million cwt. of potatoes in storage. Potatoes in storage accounted for 33 percent of the fall storage states’ 2017 production, 1 percent more than last year.
Idaho potatoes remaining to be shipped totaled 50 million cwt. off 4 pecent from 52 million cwt. from last year. As a percent of production, Idaho potato stocks represented 38 percent of the state’s 2017 production, up 1 percent from a year ago.
In Washington, the state with the second-highest amount of potatoes remaining in storage, the USDA reported 30 million cwt. of potatoes. That was up 3.4 percent from 29 million cwt. the same time a year ago. Washington’s stocks accounted for 30 percent of 2017 potato shipments, up from 27 percent in 2016.
Idaho potatoes from Twin Falls area to New York City – grossing about $5300.
Washington potatoes from the Columbia Basin – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
By Green Giant
Salinas, CA – Green Giant™ Fresh has launched a new line of fresh vegetable Meal Bowls with six distinct world flavors. All bowls are microwave-safe and ready in just minutes making them a convenient meal option for time-starved consumers and people who are on the go but don’t want to forego nutrition or flavor for fast foods or quick meals. Just heat, stir in included sauce/seasoning packet and enjoy!
Plans for expanding this line are already in the works, while the original Meal Bowl flavors include:
- Burrito Bowl
- Fried Rice Bowl
- Pad Thai Bowl
- Rancheros Bowl
- Buddha Bowl
- Ramen Bowl
The bowls are comprised of different Green Giant Fresh value-added vegetable mixes and blends including items from their Cauliflower Crumbles® line—the original chopped cauliflower product that kicked off the riced/chopped veggie craze in 2016—and items from their 2017 Vegetable Noodles line.
Each vegan-friendly meal bowl comes with a sauce/seasoning packet that’s full of flavors ranging from sweet and tangy to zesty and savory. Other bowl additives include roasted chickpeas (Buddha Bowl) and dry roasted edamame (Ramen Bowl). Other protein preferences (e.g. chicken, shrimp, beef, tofu, egg) can also be easily added to any of the bowls, delivering the versatility to customize bowls to any palate, or to create a complete rounded meal.
“We know consumers are on the go and looking for healthy and nutritious foods, swaps and meal alternatives,” said Jamie Strachan, chief executive officer, Green Giant Fresh. Continuing, “Our meal bowls line was developed in response to this demand, then refined and perfected with our premium vegetable products, along with desirable flavors that give each bowl its distinctive personality.”
About Green Giant™ Fresh
Green Giant™ Fresh is an industry-leading fresh vegetable brand in the U.S. with a full line of commodity vegetables, as well as many first-to-market products. Their comprehensive line of fresh vegetables – covering every major commodity and vegetable category – is complemented by their extensive line of unique and innovative value-added items.
As the only fresh produce brand featuring Box Tops for Education™ clips, Green Giant Fresh has contributed over $2 million to this worthy cause, which benefits America’s K-8 schools nationwide. Box Tops clips can be found on over 100 of their products. Related website: GreenGiantFresh.com
by New York Apple Sales
With New Zealand KORU® Apple harvest in full swing, KORU® Apple shipments began arriving at USA ports in mid April 13 and are now being distributed mostly by truck to markets across the nation.
The first commercial exports were shipped to the USA in 2013, making this the sixth year for KORU® Apples in the USA market.
Export volumes have been increasing annually, along with production, with this year’s New Zealand crop estimated to reach 180,000 Z-pack equivalents, or about 7.2 million pounds of KORU® Apples.
Andy McGrath, Variety Manager, says, “Being a new apple variety, many of the orchards have not yet reached maturity, so you can expect the volume of KORU® Apples to increase significantly over the next several years as these orchards come into full production. Also, USA plantings will produce good volumes from 2020, making KORU® an all-year-round apple.”
It’s a natural cross between Braeburn and Fuji, and is incredibly crisp, sweet and naturally delicious.
KORU® Apples have a unique orange/red coloring over a yellow background.
With a two-hemisphere production, KORU® growers provide you with the freshest apple possible. Coast to Coast Growers Coop in the USA joined the KORU® team in 2013 with growing regions in Washington State and New York State. New Zealand grown KORU® Apples are picked in March and sold in USA markets from May to September, followed by USA grown KORU® Apples picked in October and sold in USA markets from October to April. Andy McGrath assures consumers that, “Although KORU® Apples store extremely well, the two-hemisphere production means you won’t find a KORU® Apple in the markets over six months from its picking date.”
KORU® apples from New Zealand are sold exclusively in the US by three premier sales organizations. Chelan Fresh-Chelan, WA, Oneonta Star Ranch-Wenatchee, WA, and New York Apple Sales-Glenmont, NY.
By L&M
Billy the Kid Produce, LLC in Deming, NM has entered an agreement with L&M to be their exclusive onion marketer. Both Billy the Kid and L&M are family-owned businesses with strong values and a shared focus on excellent quality and customer service.
“We are honored to be working together with Billy and the Franzoy family to service our customers and help them grow their businesses. Over the years, the Franzoys have made impressive investments in their operation. The scale and progressive nature of their culture made it a natural fit for L&M,” said John Oxford, President & CEO of L&M.
Billy the Kid operates a state-of-the-art facility within 20 miles of all of their onion fields. The packing facility boasts over 100,000 square feet with photo optic sizers and robotic palletizers that ensure maximum efficiency and consistency in sizing, sorting, and stacking.
Billy the Kid will grow approximately 700 acres of onions this season, beginning harvest in late May and continuing through mid-August.
“Our new partnership with Billy the Kid fits very well with L&M’s onion program. Our California crop wraps up at the end of May and we begin harvest on our Kansas crop in mid-August. This partnership will allow for a seamless transition and an uninterrupted supply of quality onions for our customers,” said Derek Ennis, L&M’s Potato & Onion Sales Manager.
“We’re excited to be working with L&M and look forward to a long future together,” said Billy Franzoy, Billy the Kid’s founder and a grower for the partnership.
“For the past 30 years I have represented my family to the onion industry. My decision to step out of onion sales was driven by the fact that I need to spend more time focused on the growth of the Hatch Chile Factory,” said Chris Franzoy, President & CEO, Young Guns. “The decision to hand over the onion marketing reins to L&M was an easy one to make. They have a great track record and are leaders in the industry. I’m very excited for both L&M and Billy the Kid, and I know for a fact there is no better company to represent my family,” he continued.
L&M is a grower and shipper of fresh fruits and vegetables with more than 54 years in the industry, specializing in potatoes & onions; Eastern & Mexican vegetables; and apples, pears & cherries. www.lmcompanies.com
Formed by Billy Franzoy, Billy the Kid Produce has been growing onions since the 1970’s. Today – along with his 4 sons – this 4th generation farming family has become a preeminent onion grower in New Mexico.
California’s Kern County citrus shipments are wrapping up, while new crops of vegetables will be starting soon. Meanwhile, California almonds look promising for the upcoming season. Finally, Black Gold Farms once again is shipping Texas potatoes.
For example, Grimmway Farms of Bakers will kick off its new carrot season with loadings of both conventional and organic carrots starting this week. The firms bi-color corn got underway a week or so ago, plus it’s organic potatoes started shipping in late April.
Kern Ridge Growers of Arvin now has carrot shipments, with bell peppers set to start by early June. Dan Andrews Farms of Bakersfield will get underway with watermelons in June, as well as cantaloupe and honeydew in July.
Sun World International is currently shipping grapes out of the Coachella Valley to be followed by Arvin grapes in early July.
Kern County carrots and vegetables – grossing about $6100 to Atlanta.
California Almond Shipments
California’s 2017 almond acreage is estimated at 1.33 million acres, up 7 percent from the 2016 acreage, which had 1.24 million acres. The almond harvest typically begins in August.
Of the total acreage, 1 million acres were bearing and 330,000 acres were non-bearing, with preliminary bearing acreage for 2018 estimated at 1.07 million acres. California has nearly 6,000 almond growers. Five California counties have 73 percent of the total bearing acreage: Kern, Fresno, Stanislaus, Merced and Madera.
The leading almond variety continues to be nonpareil, followed by monterey, butte, carmel and padre.
Texas Potato Shipments
Black Gold Farms, based in Grand Forks, ND is now shipping red potatoes from its operation in Pearsall, Tx. The growing and shipping operation, located Southwest of San Antonio, has been growing red potatoes in Pearsall since 2011, though its potato growing operation there started in 1992 with chipping potatoes,
Black Gold Farms is shipping from its Pearsall facility as well as from its Arbyrd, Mo., facility, with the Texas crop expected to ship through early June, when the Missouri crop will be ready.
The past few weeks have seen California strawberry shipments ramping up for Mother’s Day and good volume will continue beyond…Meanwhile the first shipment of South African citrus will be arriving in the U.S. within a couple of weeks.
For example, California Giant Berry Farms and Well-Pict Inc., both based in Watsonville, have seen volume recently doubling on a weekly basis.
While most of the California strawberry shipment for Mother’s Day is coming out of the Santa Maria district, Salinas volume also is building.
The California Strawberry Commission reports the Salinas/Watsonville district has 13,233 acres of strawberries this season, which will account for 39 percent of the state’s strawberry acreage.
Last year, the district had 13,570 acres and accounted for 37 percent of the state’s strawberry acreage. The area shipped more than 102 million trays of strawberries in 2017, up from 100,820,365 trays in 2016.
Most shippers are expecting volume in 2018 to be similar to last year’s.
Rain in mid-March really had an adverse affect on strawberry shipments for Easter this year. In addition to Santa Maria, Salinas and Watsonville, strawberry shipments also have been coming out of Ventura County.
| Summer Citrus From South Africa’s Planning Session Leads To Positive 2018 Season
by Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) CITRUSDAL, South Africa – Easy Peelers, followed by Navels and Star Rubies from South Africa, will start to arrive in containers in the United States towards the end of May, with the first conventional vessel arriving the third week of June at the port of Philadelphia. To support a successful 2018 season, members from across the U.S. and Western & Northern Cape came together in March for the Annual Planning Meeting, hosted by SCSA, to review sales and marketing plans, production volumes, shipping schedules, and category trends. It is expected be a good season despite the challenges associated with the droughts occurring in the Western Cape. With international best practices, innovation and the latest technology, growers are able to maximize their resources in these difficult times to produce an increased volume of good looking crop. |
|
The San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market has shortened its name to The SF Market. It also is rebranding with a new look to highlight the market’s role in the Bay Area’s food economy. The market’s 31 produce vendors include wholesalers, distributors and online grocery delivery companies, according to a news release.
The rebranding effort comes as the market has signed a 60-year lease with the City of San Francisco and recognition as a historic asset by San Francisco’s Legacy Business Registry. The SF Market name and logo, developed by Trinity Brand Group, will be on the market’s website, on market signage and on merchant trucks, according to the release.
“With its innovative track record of helping food businesses grow at every stage and size, The SF Market has played an instrumental role in how the Bay Area has evolved into a leading food destination,” Matthew Youngblood, co-founder of Trinity Brand Group, said in the release.
“We have been thrilled to have the expertise of Trinity Brand Group behind us as we took this important step to rebrand our organization,” Larry Brucia, president of the board of directors, said in the release. “Through our collaboration with Trinity and the roll-out of our new look, our goal is to increase awareness of the enormous positive impact of The SF Market and to connect with food purveyors and the community in a bigger, better and more meaningful way than ever before.”
The SF Market is currently working on a $96 million reinvestment project to upgrade and expand the facility in Bayview-Hunters Point, including an 80,000-square-foot building, according to the release.
Stone Fruit Shipments
California stone fruit shipments have just got underway, with a later and lighter start.
Giumarra Cos. office in Reedley, CA, started harvesting white and yellow peaches and yellow nectarines this past week. The company plans to begin its white nectarines and apricots new week, followed by plums a few days later.
Simonian Fruit Co. of Fowler, CA kicks off its stone fruit season about May 20th, about a week later than normal.
Imported Mexican grapes will still be good, but a little less than an year ago. Meanwhile Texas red potato shipments have started.
Green seedless grapes in Mexican have taken biggest hit for the new 2018 season, dropping 30 percent from a total of 4.4 million cases in 2017 to 3.1 million cases this year.
Early green seedless are expected to be down 28 percent to 2.6 million cases. Early green seedless production in 2017 was 3.6 million cases. Red seedless varieties this year will be off 23 percent from 10.1 million cases a year ago. The 2018 estimate is for 7.8 million boxes of red seedless table grapes.
Red seeded, black and other varieties are each expected to be off 15 percent this spring. Red seeded export production this year is estimated to be 584,000 cases. Black grape volume is anticipated to be 1.1 million boxes. Other varieties should total 713,000 boxes.
Mexican grape shipments a year busted all records hitting 16 million cases.
Peak shipments for green seedless would be the third week of May through June.. Peak shipments for red seedless will be similar.
Some good news for produce truckers hauling grapes out of Nogales is there has been a 50 percent increase in inspectors at the Nogales crossing. This is expected to reduce delays at the border.
Mexican vegetables and watermelon crossing at Nogales – grossing about $6800 to New York City.
Texas Red Potato Shipments
by MountainKing Potatoes
HOUSTON, TX – MountainKing Potatoes, one of the world’s largest growers of potato varieties, has started the harvest of its Texas new crop of red potatoes.
Grown in the Rio Grande Valley, south central Texas and the western section of the state’s panhandle, MountainKing’s Texas Reds are harvested fresh daily, pre-cooled and packed to order in specially-marked 5-pound bags.
“Our Texas Reds have been a consistent seller…,” says John Pope, vice president of sales and marketing for MountainKing Potatoes. “All signs point to a very solid harvest this year.”
Pope explains the firm and waxy texture of the Texas Reds help them maintain their shape when boiled. Plus, their high moisture content creates a more flavorful potato salad while their thinner skins make for a brighter, more attractive presentation. The product also is suitable for grilling and mashing.
Besides their great look and taste, MountainKing’s Texas Red Potatoes are packed with 35 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C and 16 percent of dietary fiber, a strong selling point for health-conscious shoppers.
Based in Houston, MountainKing grows, packs, markets and distributes fresh potatoes to grocers across the United States. Currently, about one million U.S. households enjoy MountainKing products every week.
Mexican produce crossing the border at Pharr, Tx – grossing about $3800 to Chicago.
Optimism abounds at Del Monte Fresh Produce as the domestic blueberry shipments progress. Also, Monsanto is looking to genetically alter strawberry to get a sweet taste and longer shelf life.
Del Monte Fresh
By Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc.
Coral Gables, FL – Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. (Del Monte) is optimistic about the domestic blueberry season that spans between March and September. It began in the south and eastern states, continued to California in April, and later into British Columbia.
Del Monte’s Chilean import blueberry season finished with increased volumes over the prior years and it continues to expand to meet the growing interest from retailers and food service customers.
“The demand for fresh blueberries in the United States has grown steadily over the past decade. Per capita consumption more than tripled since 2005, exceeding 1.5 pounds per person,” said Dennis Christou, VP Marketing N.A. “Del Monte has been a key player in growing and shipping premium blueberries in Chile for more than 25 years and we continue to expand our operations to meet this growing demand. A major advantage we have is our Del Monte Fresh Cut business which these products support.”
The Mexico blueberry season will begin in early fall.
About Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. is one of North America’s leading marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. markets its products in North America under the Del Monte® brand (as well as other brands), a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for more than 125 years.
Sweeter Strawberries
by Erin Brodwin, Business Insider
In a move aimed at securing a place in the rapidly evolving food technology scene, the agricultural giant Monsanto has invested $125 million in a gene-editing startup called Pairwise.
The alliance could tee up Monsanto, long known for its controversial dealings with farmers and its role in popularizing genetically modified organisms, to introduce some of the first produce made using the blockbuster gene-editing tool Crispr. Sweeter strawberries with a longer shelf life could be among the earliest offerings.
The tool allows scientists to accurately target specific problem areas within the genome of a living thing, opening up the potential to tweak the DNA of everything from row crops like corn and soy to produce like apples and asparagus to make the produce taste sweeter, last longer on the shelf, and even tolerate drought or flooding.
Spring weather conditions have gradually improved California’s Salinas Valley produce shipments, which had been hampered by rain and cold weather.
Still, some shippers such as Tanimura & Antle Inc. of Salinas see volume being lighter than normal on some items in late May and early June because of planting delays.
At the same time growing conditions and ultimately shipments are expected to better than in 2017, which had even worse weather conditions.
Salinas Valley vegetable crop acreage increased slightly from 286,637 acres in 2015 to 290,987 acres in 2016, the latest year for which statistics are available from the Monterey County agricultural commissioner’s office.
There has been a significant decline in artichoke acreage in Monterey County, from 7,242 acres in 2006 to 4,050 in 2016.
Weather has been a problem for impacted overall artichoke production for a number of years. This has resulted in the nation’s largest artichoke grower Ocean Mist Farms of, Castroville, CA
deciding to diversify artichoke growing locations to include areas such as the Coachella Valley, rather than concentrate all of its volume in Monterey County.
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, based in Salinas, completed its desert lettuce shipments the last week of March after finishing up other vegetable crops in mid-March. Most Salinas vegetable shipments got underway in early March, but a spring rain descended on the area the last few days of the month, bringing most of the harvests to a halt, and resulting in quality issues. The quality of Salinas vegetables has improved with the weather.
Another Salinas produce company, Coastline Family Farms, started its Salinas vegetable season April 9th following a few days of rains. Early season leaf lettuce and romaine hearts showed some signs of blister and peel because of an early spring frost, but apparently has experienced a significant improvement in quality since.
Lucky Strike Farms of Burlingame, CA., expects to have a steady vegetable deal this season.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $8300 to New York City.
Asparagus loadings out of Michigan have started. Meanwhile, here’s an update on how many potatoes remain to be shipped for the 2017-18 shipping season.
Michigan asparagus shipments are just getting underway and will continue into late June with good volumes coming in time for the Memorial weekend, May 26 – 28.
One of the larger Michigan asparagus companies that grows, packs and ships is Todd Greiner Farms Packing LLC of Hart, MI. The company recently completed a 20,000-square-foot addition to its packinghouse, which is the second expansion in the last year. This includes two new controlled atmosphere/cold storage rooms and two new shipping and receiving docks. Greiner Farms also ships other vegetables and watermelons.
Vidalia Onion Shipments
Vidalia certified sweet onions are grown in 20 southeastern Georgia counties by 80 farmers and available in the spring and summer months. However, the majority of the onions are located in only two counties. In 2017, Georgia shippers had almost 230 million pounds of Vidalia onions. Similar volume is seen this season, and shipments got underway April 20th.
U.S. Potato Shipments
U.S. potatoes remaining in storages to be shipped as of April 1st were up 2 percent from year-ago. The USDA reports the 13 major potato shipping states held 134 million cwt. of potatoes in storage. Potatoes in storage accounted for 33 percent of the fall storage states’ 2017 production, 1 percent more than last year.
Idaho potatoes remaining to be shipped totaled 50 million cwt. off 4 pecent from 52 million cwt. from last year. As a percent of production, Idaho potato stocks represented 38 percent of the state’s 2017 production, up 1 percent from a year ago.
In Washington, the state with the second-highest amount of potatoes remaining in storage, the USDA reported 30 million cwt. of potatoes. That was up 3.4 percent from 29 million cwt. the same time a year ago. Washington’s stocks accounted for 30 percent of 2017 potato shipments, up from 27 percent in 2016.
Idaho potatoes from Twin Falls area to New York City – grossing about $5300.
Washington potatoes from the Columbia Basin – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
By Green Giant
Salinas, CA – Green Giant™ Fresh has launched a new line of fresh vegetable Meal Bowls with six distinct world flavors. All bowls are microwave-safe and ready in just minutes making them a convenient meal option for time-starved consumers and people who are on the go but don’t want to forego nutrition or flavor for fast foods or quick meals. Just heat, stir in included sauce/seasoning packet and enjoy!
Plans for expanding this line are already in the works, while the original Meal Bowl flavors include:
- Burrito Bowl
- Fried Rice Bowl
- Pad Thai Bowl
- Rancheros Bowl
- Buddha Bowl
- Ramen Bowl
The bowls are comprised of different Green Giant Fresh value-added vegetable mixes and blends including items from their Cauliflower Crumbles® line—the original chopped cauliflower product that kicked off the riced/chopped veggie craze in 2016—and items from their 2017 Vegetable Noodles line.
Each vegan-friendly meal bowl comes with a sauce/seasoning packet that’s full of flavors ranging from sweet and tangy to zesty and savory. Other bowl additives include roasted chickpeas (Buddha Bowl) and dry roasted edamame (Ramen Bowl). Other protein preferences (e.g. chicken, shrimp, beef, tofu, egg) can also be easily added to any of the bowls, delivering the versatility to customize bowls to any palate, or to create a complete rounded meal.
“We know consumers are on the go and looking for healthy and nutritious foods, swaps and meal alternatives,” said Jamie Strachan, chief executive officer, Green Giant Fresh. Continuing, “Our meal bowls line was developed in response to this demand, then refined and perfected with our premium vegetable products, along with desirable flavors that give each bowl its distinctive personality.”
About Green Giant™ Fresh
Green Giant™ Fresh is an industry-leading fresh vegetable brand in the U.S. with a full line of commodity vegetables, as well as many first-to-market products. Their comprehensive line of fresh vegetables – covering every major commodity and vegetable category – is complemented by their extensive line of unique and innovative value-added items.
As the only fresh produce brand featuring Box Tops for Education™ clips, Green Giant Fresh has contributed over $2 million to this worthy cause, which benefits America’s K-8 schools nationwide. Box Tops clips can be found on over 100 of their products. Related website: GreenGiantFresh.com