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June 1st the amount of fresh granny smiths remaining in storage stood at 2.12 million cartons, down a whopping 54 percent from the same time last year and 45 percent from two years ago. Meanwhile, other U.S. fresh market apples being held in storage on June 1st were up 12 percent over year-ago levels and 5 percent greater than the five-year average, according to the last monthly report from the U.S. Apple Association this season.
The granny smith volume in the U.S. was short from the start of the crop year, but the gap compared with last year was not as far. The first storage report of the season from U.S. Apple, issued on November 1st, showed there were 13.78 million cartons of granny smiths to be hauled, off 12 percent from the 2015 November 1 figure.
The apple industry had shipped about 85 percent of the granny crop by early June, compared with 73 percent shipped at the same time last year.
New crop granny smith is expected to get underway around October 1st.
California granny smith loadings will begin by mid- to late August. In the 2015-16 season, California shipped about 443,000 cartons of granny smith apple, about 25 pecent of the state’s total fresh apple shipments.
Chilean packers are pretty much finishing up granny smith apples now, with sporadic controlled atmosphere rooms expected to open as late as July or early August. Some Chilean granny smith shipments have experienced bruising and bitter pit issues this year.
Yakima Valley, WA apple and pear shipments – grossing about $4200 to Chicago.
More Overall Apples in Storage
Total fresh U.S. apples remaining in storage as of June 1st was 25.4 million cartons, 12 percent above the same time a year ago but 15 percent lower than two years ago. The U.S. Apple Association plans to release the 2017-18 crop estimate August 25th, and the first storage report for that crop will be issued in early November.
Washington state apples accounted for 24.03 million cartons (95 percent) of total U.S. fresh apple holdings on June 1st.
There is a definite trend of increased imports and rising value to the economic conditions in the Southwest, according to a report issued by the Center for North American Studies at Texas A&M University. The annul report is requested by the Texas International Produce Association.
“The economic impacts of U.S. produce imports from Mexico on southwestern land ports of entry are substantial, expected to total $1.62 billion by 2025 as these imports continue to grow over the next five to seven years,” the study surmised. “Additional employment will occur as 13,241 jobs will be required to support this increase in economic activity.”
About 98 percent of these imports entered the United States by land ports of entry on the southern border in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The report determined about 90 percent of these imports are fresh fruits and vegetables, representing a total of $10.67 billion of value.
Using 40,000-pound equivalents as the average weight of a truckload, it was estimated that these shipments represent more than 463,000 truckloads. Texas has been the leading port of entry for the past six years and is expected to maintain the No. 1 slot through the furthest projection year of 2025. In fact, each year it is solidifying its hold on first place.
When the survey began in 2007, a total of about 261,000 truckloads of product came from Mexico into the United States through those four states. Arizona accounted for around 112,000 loads while Texas chipped in with about 101,000. California added 43,000 loads and New Mexico contributed 4,378 truckloads. Arizona’s market share was 43 percent followed by Texas’ 39 percent.
In 2016, 222,000 loads came in to the United States through a Texas port representing about 48 percent of the shipments. A rizona’s 161,000 loads represented another 35 percent. California accounted for 68,000 truckloads, representing 15 percent. New Mexico, of course, lags behind but its 18,500 loads in 2016 represented a 400 percent increase in a decade.
Projecting forward, the researchers predicted that in 2025, 688,000 loads would come through the four states with Texas’ share approaching 350,000 loads, which would be more than 50 percent of the total.
By Oppy
As consumers across North America pack their bags for summer vacations in the weeks ahead, the savviest among them will tuck in a little something extra—a freshly rebranded New Zealand JAZZ apple—with an aim to refresh their palates and their pocketbooks.
A $3,000 grand prize awaits the winner of JAZZ apples’ Summer Vacation Sensation Instagram Contest. It encourages participants to post “sensational” photos of the fruit taken during their summer adventures. Additional memory-making prizes, like Yeti coolers, GoPro cameras, and other outdoor-fun gear, will reward runners-up. bThe contest begins June 19 and spans the next eight weeks.
“As part of the JAZZ brand refresh, we’re reminding everyone of the apple’s amazing portability,” said Joe Barsi, president of T&G Global, North America, owner of the JAZZ apple brand. “With a dense texture and crisp crunch, not to mention an always-refreshing eating experience, a JAZZ apple is truly the ideal travel companion.”
The contest asks participants to post images of JAZZ apples at any destination or vacation setting. It has to create a “brand buzz” while conveying the upbeat personality and versatility of the apple.
Research
In the development of the refreshed JAZZ brand, research revealed that the apple resonates with well-travelled and socially-connected taste seekers—consumers. They are always looking for the latest and the new, and who enjoy sharing their discoveries.
“We believe the contest will appeal to the precise audience the brand aims to reach, and are excited to present this high-profile, fun opportunity to attract and engage that audience this summer and beyond,” said Brock Nemecek, regional marketing manager for T&G Global, North America. “This initiative will not only keep JAZZ apples top-of-mind and in shoppers’ carts over the next couple months, but will also establish consumer connections that the brand will foster year-round.”
T&G Global and marketing partner Oppy will work closely with retailers to generate support for the contest. At the same time amplifying it on various social platforms through mid-August.
“This is a great opportunity for our retail partners to promote fresh-crop New Zealand JAZZ apples, said David Nelley, vice president of categories for Oppy. “The fruit is excellent in quality, and excitement is already gathering around the refreshed brand at the store level and on social media. It’s going to be a great season, with numerous initiatives driving people to the JAZZ display.”
Join the fun and post your most sensational travel photos, starring a fresh crop JAZZ apple, following and tagging @jazzappleus, and using #jazzsensation on Instagram.
JAZZ apples are available year-round via domestic and import crops and are offered exclusively by CMI Orchards, Oppy, and Rainier Fruit Company.
Wanting to spend the Fourth of July with family and friends instead of on the road? Here are some of the better opportunities for produce shipments leading up to the celebration of our nation’s 241st celebration of independence.
Avocado Shipments
Avocado loadings will be good, but certainly not great. When you take Mexico pretty out of the mix, because this time of year shipments are at a seasonal low, you are pretty much left with Southern California, as well as imports from Peru arriving at various ports. Still there will be 40 to 45 million pounds of avocado across the U.S. being shipped weekly. We’ll also mention Southern Florida avocado shipments. Florida’s biggest avocado shipper, Brooks Tropical of Homestead will be having its heaviest loadings in two years.
Blueberry Shipments
New Jersey blueberries will be in peak season, mostly from the Southern part of the state.
If you loaded British Columbia blueberries last season in time for Fourth of July activities that won’t happen this year. BC blues are a month later, which is more normal, and shipments won’t get underway until the first week of July. The region should ship about 170 million pounds this season, lasting into mid September.
Strawberry Shipments
On the West Coast, Mother Nature has been kind to strawberries from the Watsonville area. Heavy shipments are now occurring and will remain that way through mid July. There also will be much lighter loadings of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, which will start hitting stride around the Fourth of July.
Salinas Valley berries and vegetables – grossing abut $7900 to New York City.
Watermelon Shipments
Early season watermelons from Texas have probably been the best quality in a few years and that hopefully will continue with maturing fruit coming on in Oklahoma…..Meanwhile, Northern Florida and Georgia are looking to have a decent amount of shipments, although volume has been heavier in some other years.
Central Florida watermelons – grossing about $2800 to New York City.
Vegetable Shipments
Decent supplies of vegetables are coming out of Southern Georgia. For example, the Moultrie area is loading items ranging from sweet corn to squash, cabbage and green beans……North Carolina vegetable shipments are ranging from bell peppers, hot peppers and eggplant….Moving to California, the Gilroy area has some of the state’s largest shipments of sweet corn…..The roller coast ride for Salinas Valley head lettuce has continued since last spring. Shipments should be a little more steady now, with volume better than last year time, but still not heavy.
Southern Georgia vegetable shipments – grossing about $2000 to New York City.
Over 80 percent of U.S. homes contain organic foods, according to a new Nielsen study.
A study of 100,000 households in 2015 and 2016 reported more households than ever bought organic food in 2016, which surpassed 2015 numbers by 3.4 percent.
“These new findings show how important organic has become to millions and millions of American families everywhere – to more than 80% of our nation’s 117 million households,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and executive director of the Organic Trade Association. in a news release. “The organic community is looking forward to working with the new leadership at (the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from the study. However, the findings found in some states, households with organic produce and other foods topped 90 percent.
The five states which saw the biggest increases in households reporting organic purchases were:
- North Dakota, where 85.6 percent
- Rhode Island, with 88.3 percent
- Percent buying organic, up 12.3 percent from 2015;
- Wyoming, where 90 percent of participating households bought organic in 2016, up 10.8 percent;
- South Dakota, which had the lowest percentage of any state at 68.9 percent, but still recorded a 10 percent increase;
- Wisconsin, where 77.6 percent of participating households bought organic, up 9.1 percent from 2015.
Organic food sales in the U.S. is close to $40 billion a year, accounting for 5 percent of total food sales in the country, according to the Organic Trade Association.
Households that participated in the study scanned Universal Product Codes to track purchases, a practice Nielsen has used since 2002.
NFI Expanding U.S. Produce Business
NFI Industries of Cherry Hill, NJ is bringing fresh produce capabilities to the U.S.
Active in numerous industries, the logistics company made more than 185,000 shipments in 2016, including 10,000 shipments of produce.
The move to expand further into produce was prompted by interest from existing customers and the hiring of more staff members with experience in produce.
NFI has been hauling produce to Canada with a dedicated fleet for several large customers there, and those companies also have business in the U.S.,
Main shipping points for NFI’s U.S. produce business will be Northern California, Yuma, Ariz., Nogales, Ariz., McAllen, Texas, Florida and regional ports.
NFI operates more than 31 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space throughout the U.S., particularly in the eastern half of the country and in Texas, and owns more than 2,400 tractors and more than 8,300 trailers, according to the company website.
CarbAmericas is importing good volumes of Mexican asparagus….Meanwhile, onion shipments from New Mexico are much heavier that last year as the season continues full bore.
by CarbAmericas
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – CarbAmericas, the premier importer of fresh fruits and vegetables, transitioned into asparagus from Central Mexico in early June week and will continue shipping from the region through early September.
This season’s shipments will originate in the Irapuato-based CarGoldMex facility which opened in November 2016. CarGoldMex, a vertically integrated grower, shipper and packer of Mexican fruits and vegetables, has been a partner of CarbAmericas for four years.
“We are very excited about our state-of-the-art facility in Irapuato and look forward to utilizing our capabilities there to better serve our customers,” said Jeff Friedman, president of CarbAmericas. “We expect to grow and ship around half a million cases this season through our Central Mexico program.”
CarbAmericas supplies Central Mexican asparagus packed in 11 and 28 lbs. and tips. Cypress Creek branded custom packs also available upon request. Shipments will come into the US via McAllen, Texas.
About CarbAmericas
CarbAmericas was established in 1993 and is a vertically integrated, year-round supplier and importer of fruits and vegetables. Specializing in asparagus, broccoli, mangos, snow and sugar snap peas, CarbAmericas services both retail and foodservice in the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. With team members working alongside their growers across the Americas, CarbAmericas truly stands behind its commitment to reliably execute for their growers and customers while exuding passion and integrity.
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New Mexico Onion Shipments
New Mexico onion shipments got underway the second week of May, but did not hit good volume until the start of June. Shipments are expected to exceed last season by 35 percent. One shipper, Shiloh Produce of Hatch, NM is now shipping about 50 loads daily and will load 2,000 trucks through August when the season ends.
Imported Chilean clementines are arriving at U.S. ports…Meanwhile new onion packinghouses are announced for onions in the Western U.S.
Thanks to the end of lengthy drought, the first Chilean clementines of the season have arrived at North American ports a couple of weeks earlier than last year. Improved growing conditions have led to better fruit quality.
The clementines departed from the port of Valparaiso in mid-April and arrived in the U.S. in early May.
About 12,260 boxes were in the first shipment, nearly 90 percent of which ended up on the East Coast. Total imported volume will be slightly less than 2016, with about 42,000 tons exported between April and July.
In 2016, 99 percent of all Chilean clementines were shipped to North America, and that is once again expected to be the case this year. As clementine shipments begin winding down in July, mandarin volume will pick up, with shipments continuing into October.
Mandarin volume should increase 26 percent, while clementine volume likely will be down about two percent.
Sun Pacific Shippers Inc., of Pasadena, CA markets the Cuties brand and started Chilean mandarins shipments to customers this week.
The clemenule variety will be available into August, and the w. murcott and tango varieties will be available mid-August through the beginning of the California season in October.
Seald Sweet LLC, Vero Beach, FL received its first clementines from Chile in mid-May,
New Packinghouses
Rio Valley Onion of Hatch, NM has a new onion packinghouse, while Golden West Produce of Parma, ID will have a new packinghouse and three new storage facilities before the end of the summer.
The Hatch facility construction was finished in April, when packing got underway in late May. Golden West began construction on its new buildings in March. Those should be completed in mid-August, and initial production is planned for the last week of August.
Golden West, previously based in Nyssa, Ore., lost six buildings in January in back-to-back heavy snows that collapsed many onion facilities in the region.
The company’s new onion packinghouse will be 65,000 square feet, and at full capacity be able to produce 3,000-3,500 50-pound packages per hour.
Rio Valley Onion, a partnership between Lack Farms and Kit Carson Farms, both based in Hatch, will have a 75,000-square foot packing facility.
Besides packing the onion acreage of Lack Farms and Kit Carson Farms, Rio Valley Onion will also pack product from other growers in New Mexico and Mexico.
By Honeybear Marketing
Elgin, Minnesota – A record shipment of Chilean Honeycrisp from Honeybear Brands’ southern hemisphere orchards arrives at major retail stores across the country this week. The 2017 Chilean Honeycrisp is the largest in Honeybear’s 10-year program and brings just picked freshness, color and taste domestic Honeycrisp inventory, harvested last fall, is in low supply and flavor waning from months of cold storage.
The volume increase in Chilean Honeycrisp is due in part to several factors: the natural maturation of Honeybear’s Chilean orchards, excellent growing conditions and the company working with exceptional local growing partners who understand the many nuances of growing and optimizing premium apple production in their local micro climates.
Leading retailers featuring the Honeybear Chilean Honeycrisp include Hy-Vee, Publix, Loblaws, United Supermarkets, Cub Foods, SuperValu, Central Market, Coborns and Sam’s Club in more than 100 markets across the country.
Honeybear Brands and parent Wescott Agri Products were granted exclusive production and commercialization rights for the Chilean Honeycrisp by the University of Minnesota, developer and owner of the original variety. The company was one of the first to grow Honeycrisp in Washington state and Chile, and is widely recognized as the premier Honeycrisp label in the United States.
For more information visit www.honeybearbrands.com or contact Honeybear at 952-746-1315
About the Honeycrisp Variety
The Honeycrisp variety was first designated in 1960, patented in 1988 and made available to customers in 1991. In recent years, thanks to its unique blend of crunch, crisp flesh and a mixed sweet/tart flavor profile, the Honeycrisp variety has become an in-demand favorite of consumers, cooks, apple-lovers. A challenging variety to grow, Honeycrisp requires the right microclimate to maximize production, yield quality and flavor.
About Honeybear Brands
Honeybear Marketing is the marketing arm for, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wescott Agri Products. Honeybear is a leading grower and developer of premium apple varieties. The company started as Wescott Agri Products, a family run apple orchard in the early 1970s. From that early start several generations ago, today Honeybear still employs the same hands-on, personal attention to each and every apple variety produced through the Honeybear Apple Varietal Development Program. Honeybear is the leading provider of Honeycrisp apples in the Northwest region and offers complete domestic and global supply integration from varietal development to growing, packing, shipping and retailer support.
Excellent shipping seasons are shaping up on both U.S. Coasts with California melons and with South Florida avocados.
California melon shipments from the San Joaquin Valley are on track for a good shipping season as initial loadings have started in recent days.
While melons are still coming out of the Yuma area, they will be winding down the last week of June as California is cranking up. For example, Westside Produce of Firebaugh, CA will start loading melons from Huron in late June and will be soon shipping cantaloupe and honeydew from both Huron and Firebaugh. This season is beginning later due to rain soaked fields delaying plantings. Although no pest or disease problems due to the wet planting season have been detected, caution is recommended when your truck is being loaded. So watch for quality issues.
Five Crowns Marketing of Brawly, CA begins shipping watermelons and mini watermelons in Mendota and Tracy by the end of June.
Cantaloupes are targeted to start July 1 in Firebaugh and mid-July in Mendota and Patterson, followed by varietal melons and honeydews about 10 days after cantaloupes start.
Good supplies and steady shipments are expected throughout the summer.
Yuma melons – grossing about $5900 to Atlanta.
Florida Avocado Shipments
Florida avocado shipments are looking to be the best in two years.
Brooks Tropicals of Homestead, FL is the state’s largest avocado grower and expects volume will be 20 percent above a year ago. Shipments to markets will be particularly directed at receivers on the East Coast. California ships 80 to 90 percent of the nation’s domestic avocados, so there is a big freight advantage for Florida’s green-skinned varieties.
While the South Florida harvest started in May, early loadings were directly primarily to local markets. However, out of state shipments pick up significantly in June. There also is a trend for more Florida avocado shipments being delivered west of the Mississippi and into Canada.
Heaviest volume is expected after the Fourth of July, with shipments continuing through March.
Florida only shipped about 800,000 bushels during last year’s short season, but observers are hoping to ship nearly 900,000 bushels this year.
South Florida tomatoes, vegetables, melons and avocados – grossing about $3600 to Boston.
Expanding to handle more containerized cargo by investing $600 million has been announced by the Port of Oakland.
Speaking to a maritime audience at the American Association of Port Authorities Conference recently in Tampa, Fla., Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll outlined a partnership designed to increase trade volume by investing in new facilities and better infrastructure.
“We’re building for growth in a shipping industry that is becoming more and more competitive,” Driscoll said in a news release. “By investing with partners who share our vision, we can deliver services that will be of great value to the global supply chain.”
Driscoll noted the port would work with private developers and public agencies to modernize its infrastructure and outlined three proposed investment projects:
- $244 million, mostly from government grants, to separate railroad tracks from major port roadways;
- $90 million for a privately built refrigerated warehouse called “Cool Port;” and
- $50 million to expand the port’s second-largest marine terminal, with private funds.
Driscoll noted that the port recently completed a $100-million railyard near marine terminals and a proposed logistics complex, both of which should be a drawing card for shippers, enabling cargo to be quickly shifted between rail, road and ocean transport.
The Port of Oakland agricultural tonnage grew 233% over the past five years and now represents 53% of the port’s total export tonnage. Fruits and nuts are the leading agricultural commodities shipped from the port. The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland Seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront.
The Port of Los Angeles
January 2017 was the busiest January and second busiest month in the Port of Los Angeles’ 110-year history
“Coming off our best year ever in 2016, it’s very encouraging to keep the momentum going into 2017,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said in a news release. “The port remains diligent, along with our partners, in making the San Pedro Bay supply chain even more efficient through world-class infrastructure, innovative technology solutions and strategic use of resources.”
January 2017 imports increased 13.1% compared to January 2016. Exports increased 28.7% compared to the previous year. Empty containers increased 17.9%. Combined, January 2017 saw a 17.4% increase compared to last year.
Fruit and vegetable imports for January 2017 were 4,885 TEU (20-foot equivalent units), according to Phillip Sanfield, Port of Los Angeles director of media relations. Those imports accounted for 1.1% of the total 415,423 TEUs imported that month. Fruit and vegetable export numbers were not available.
June 1st the amount of fresh granny smiths remaining in storage stood at 2.12 million cartons, down a whopping 54 percent from the same time last year and 45 percent from two years ago. Meanwhile, other U.S. fresh market apples being held in storage on June 1st were up 12 percent over year-ago levels and 5 percent greater than the five-year average, according to the last monthly report from the U.S. Apple Association this season.
The granny smith volume in the U.S. was short from the start of the crop year, but the gap compared with last year was not as far. The first storage report of the season from U.S. Apple, issued on November 1st, showed there were 13.78 million cartons of granny smiths to be hauled, off 12 percent from the 2015 November 1 figure.
The apple industry had shipped about 85 percent of the granny crop by early June, compared with 73 percent shipped at the same time last year.
New crop granny smith is expected to get underway around October 1st.
California granny smith loadings will begin by mid- to late August. In the 2015-16 season, California shipped about 443,000 cartons of granny smith apple, about 25 pecent of the state’s total fresh apple shipments.
Chilean packers are pretty much finishing up granny smith apples now, with sporadic controlled atmosphere rooms expected to open as late as July or early August. Some Chilean granny smith shipments have experienced bruising and bitter pit issues this year.
Yakima Valley, WA apple and pear shipments – grossing about $4200 to Chicago.
More Overall Apples in Storage
Total fresh U.S. apples remaining in storage as of June 1st was 25.4 million cartons, 12 percent above the same time a year ago but 15 percent lower than two years ago. The U.S. Apple Association plans to release the 2017-18 crop estimate August 25th, and the first storage report for that crop will be issued in early November.
Washington state apples accounted for 24.03 million cartons (95 percent) of total U.S. fresh apple holdings on June 1st.
There is a definite trend of increased imports and rising value to the economic conditions in the Southwest, according to a report issued by the Center for North American Studies at Texas A&M University. The annul report is requested by the Texas International Produce Association.
“The economic impacts of U.S. produce imports from Mexico on southwestern land ports of entry are substantial, expected to total $1.62 billion by 2025 as these imports continue to grow over the next five to seven years,” the study surmised. “Additional employment will occur as 13,241 jobs will be required to support this increase in economic activity.”
About 98 percent of these imports entered the United States by land ports of entry on the southern border in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The report determined about 90 percent of these imports are fresh fruits and vegetables, representing a total of $10.67 billion of value.
Using 40,000-pound equivalents as the average weight of a truckload, it was estimated that these shipments represent more than 463,000 truckloads. Texas has been the leading port of entry for the past six years and is expected to maintain the No. 1 slot through the furthest projection year of 2025. In fact, each year it is solidifying its hold on first place.
When the survey began in 2007, a total of about 261,000 truckloads of product came from Mexico into the United States through those four states. Arizona accounted for around 112,000 loads while Texas chipped in with about 101,000. California added 43,000 loads and New Mexico contributed 4,378 truckloads. Arizona’s market share was 43 percent followed by Texas’ 39 percent.
In 2016, 222,000 loads came in to the United States through a Texas port representing about 48 percent of the shipments. A rizona’s 161,000 loads represented another 35 percent. California accounted for 68,000 truckloads, representing 15 percent. New Mexico, of course, lags behind but its 18,500 loads in 2016 represented a 400 percent increase in a decade.
Projecting forward, the researchers predicted that in 2025, 688,000 loads would come through the four states with Texas’ share approaching 350,000 loads, which would be more than 50 percent of the total.
By Oppy
As consumers across North America pack their bags for summer vacations in the weeks ahead, the savviest among them will tuck in a little something extra—a freshly rebranded New Zealand JAZZ apple—with an aim to refresh their palates and their pocketbooks.
A $3,000 grand prize awaits the winner of JAZZ apples’ Summer Vacation Sensation Instagram Contest. It encourages participants to post “sensational” photos of the fruit taken during their summer adventures. Additional memory-making prizes, like Yeti coolers, GoPro cameras, and other outdoor-fun gear, will reward runners-up. bThe contest begins June 19 and spans the next eight weeks.
“As part of the JAZZ brand refresh, we’re reminding everyone of the apple’s amazing portability,” said Joe Barsi, president of T&G Global, North America, owner of the JAZZ apple brand. “With a dense texture and crisp crunch, not to mention an always-refreshing eating experience, a JAZZ apple is truly the ideal travel companion.”
The contest asks participants to post images of JAZZ apples at any destination or vacation setting. It has to create a “brand buzz” while conveying the upbeat personality and versatility of the apple.
Research
In the development of the refreshed JAZZ brand, research revealed that the apple resonates with well-travelled and socially-connected taste seekers—consumers. They are always looking for the latest and the new, and who enjoy sharing their discoveries.
“We believe the contest will appeal to the precise audience the brand aims to reach, and are excited to present this high-profile, fun opportunity to attract and engage that audience this summer and beyond,” said Brock Nemecek, regional marketing manager for T&G Global, North America. “This initiative will not only keep JAZZ apples top-of-mind and in shoppers’ carts over the next couple months, but will also establish consumer connections that the brand will foster year-round.”
T&G Global and marketing partner Oppy will work closely with retailers to generate support for the contest. At the same time amplifying it on various social platforms through mid-August.
“This is a great opportunity for our retail partners to promote fresh-crop New Zealand JAZZ apples, said David Nelley, vice president of categories for Oppy. “The fruit is excellent in quality, and excitement is already gathering around the refreshed brand at the store level and on social media. It’s going to be a great season, with numerous initiatives driving people to the JAZZ display.”
Join the fun and post your most sensational travel photos, starring a fresh crop JAZZ apple, following and tagging @jazzappleus, and using #jazzsensation on Instagram.
JAZZ apples are available year-round via domestic and import crops and are offered exclusively by CMI Orchards, Oppy, and Rainier Fruit Company.
Wanting to spend the Fourth of July with family and friends instead of on the road? Here are some of the better opportunities for produce shipments leading up to the celebration of our nation’s 241st celebration of independence.
Avocado Shipments
Avocado loadings will be good, but certainly not great. When you take Mexico pretty out of the mix, because this time of year shipments are at a seasonal low, you are pretty much left with Southern California, as well as imports from Peru arriving at various ports. Still there will be 40 to 45 million pounds of avocado across the U.S. being shipped weekly. We’ll also mention Southern Florida avocado shipments. Florida’s biggest avocado shipper, Brooks Tropical of Homestead will be having its heaviest loadings in two years.
Blueberry Shipments
New Jersey blueberries will be in peak season, mostly from the Southern part of the state.
If you loaded British Columbia blueberries last season in time for Fourth of July activities that won’t happen this year. BC blues are a month later, which is more normal, and shipments won’t get underway until the first week of July. The region should ship about 170 million pounds this season, lasting into mid September.
Strawberry Shipments
On the West Coast, Mother Nature has been kind to strawberries from the Watsonville area. Heavy shipments are now occurring and will remain that way through mid July. There also will be much lighter loadings of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, which will start hitting stride around the Fourth of July.
Salinas Valley berries and vegetables – grossing abut $7900 to New York City.
Watermelon Shipments
Early season watermelons from Texas have probably been the best quality in a few years and that hopefully will continue with maturing fruit coming on in Oklahoma…..Meanwhile, Northern Florida and Georgia are looking to have a decent amount of shipments, although volume has been heavier in some other years.
Central Florida watermelons – grossing about $2800 to New York City.
Vegetable Shipments
Decent supplies of vegetables are coming out of Southern Georgia. For example, the Moultrie area is loading items ranging from sweet corn to squash, cabbage and green beans……North Carolina vegetable shipments are ranging from bell peppers, hot peppers and eggplant….Moving to California, the Gilroy area has some of the state’s largest shipments of sweet corn…..The roller coast ride for Salinas Valley head lettuce has continued since last spring. Shipments should be a little more steady now, with volume better than last year time, but still not heavy.
Southern Georgia vegetable shipments – grossing about $2000 to New York City.
Over 80 percent of U.S. homes contain organic foods, according to a new Nielsen study.
A study of 100,000 households in 2015 and 2016 reported more households than ever bought organic food in 2016, which surpassed 2015 numbers by 3.4 percent.
“These new findings show how important organic has become to millions and millions of American families everywhere – to more than 80% of our nation’s 117 million households,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and executive director of the Organic Trade Association. in a news release. “The organic community is looking forward to working with the new leadership at (the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from the study. However, the findings found in some states, households with organic produce and other foods topped 90 percent.
The five states which saw the biggest increases in households reporting organic purchases were:
- North Dakota, where 85.6 percent
- Rhode Island, with 88.3 percent
- Percent buying organic, up 12.3 percent from 2015;
- Wyoming, where 90 percent of participating households bought organic in 2016, up 10.8 percent;
- South Dakota, which had the lowest percentage of any state at 68.9 percent, but still recorded a 10 percent increase;
- Wisconsin, where 77.6 percent of participating households bought organic, up 9.1 percent from 2015.
Organic food sales in the U.S. is close to $40 billion a year, accounting for 5 percent of total food sales in the country, according to the Organic Trade Association.
Households that participated in the study scanned Universal Product Codes to track purchases, a practice Nielsen has used since 2002.
NFI Expanding U.S. Produce Business
NFI Industries of Cherry Hill, NJ is bringing fresh produce capabilities to the U.S.
Active in numerous industries, the logistics company made more than 185,000 shipments in 2016, including 10,000 shipments of produce.
The move to expand further into produce was prompted by interest from existing customers and the hiring of more staff members with experience in produce.
NFI has been hauling produce to Canada with a dedicated fleet for several large customers there, and those companies also have business in the U.S.,
Main shipping points for NFI’s U.S. produce business will be Northern California, Yuma, Ariz., Nogales, Ariz., McAllen, Texas, Florida and regional ports.
NFI operates more than 31 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space throughout the U.S., particularly in the eastern half of the country and in Texas, and owns more than 2,400 tractors and more than 8,300 trailers, according to the company website.
CarbAmericas is importing good volumes of Mexican asparagus….Meanwhile, onion shipments from New Mexico are much heavier that last year as the season continues full bore.
by CarbAmericas
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – CarbAmericas, the premier importer of fresh fruits and vegetables, transitioned into asparagus from Central Mexico in early June week and will continue shipping from the region through early September.
This season’s shipments will originate in the Irapuato-based CarGoldMex facility which opened in November 2016. CarGoldMex, a vertically integrated grower, shipper and packer of Mexican fruits and vegetables, has been a partner of CarbAmericas for four years.
“We are very excited about our state-of-the-art facility in Irapuato and look forward to utilizing our capabilities there to better serve our customers,” said Jeff Friedman, president of CarbAmericas. “We expect to grow and ship around half a million cases this season through our Central Mexico program.”
CarbAmericas supplies Central Mexican asparagus packed in 11 and 28 lbs. and tips. Cypress Creek branded custom packs also available upon request. Shipments will come into the US via McAllen, Texas.
About CarbAmericas
CarbAmericas was established in 1993 and is a vertically integrated, year-round supplier and importer of fruits and vegetables. Specializing in asparagus, broccoli, mangos, snow and sugar snap peas, CarbAmericas services both retail and foodservice in the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. With team members working alongside their growers across the Americas, CarbAmericas truly stands behind its commitment to reliably execute for their growers and customers while exuding passion and integrity.
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New Mexico Onion Shipments
New Mexico onion shipments got underway the second week of May, but did not hit good volume until the start of June. Shipments are expected to exceed last season by 35 percent. One shipper, Shiloh Produce of Hatch, NM is now shipping about 50 loads daily and will load 2,000 trucks through August when the season ends.
Imported Chilean clementines are arriving at U.S. ports…Meanwhile new onion packinghouses are announced for onions in the Western U.S.
Thanks to the end of lengthy drought, the first Chilean clementines of the season have arrived at North American ports a couple of weeks earlier than last year. Improved growing conditions have led to better fruit quality.
The clementines departed from the port of Valparaiso in mid-April and arrived in the U.S. in early May.
About 12,260 boxes were in the first shipment, nearly 90 percent of which ended up on the East Coast. Total imported volume will be slightly less than 2016, with about 42,000 tons exported between April and July.
In 2016, 99 percent of all Chilean clementines were shipped to North America, and that is once again expected to be the case this year. As clementine shipments begin winding down in July, mandarin volume will pick up, with shipments continuing into October.
Mandarin volume should increase 26 percent, while clementine volume likely will be down about two percent.
Sun Pacific Shippers Inc., of Pasadena, CA markets the Cuties brand and started Chilean mandarins shipments to customers this week.
The clemenule variety will be available into August, and the w. murcott and tango varieties will be available mid-August through the beginning of the California season in October.
Seald Sweet LLC, Vero Beach, FL received its first clementines from Chile in mid-May,
New Packinghouses
Rio Valley Onion of Hatch, NM has a new onion packinghouse, while Golden West Produce of Parma, ID will have a new packinghouse and three new storage facilities before the end of the summer.
The Hatch facility construction was finished in April, when packing got underway in late May. Golden West began construction on its new buildings in March. Those should be completed in mid-August, and initial production is planned for the last week of August.
Golden West, previously based in Nyssa, Ore., lost six buildings in January in back-to-back heavy snows that collapsed many onion facilities in the region.
The company’s new onion packinghouse will be 65,000 square feet, and at full capacity be able to produce 3,000-3,500 50-pound packages per hour.
Rio Valley Onion, a partnership between Lack Farms and Kit Carson Farms, both based in Hatch, will have a 75,000-square foot packing facility.
Besides packing the onion acreage of Lack Farms and Kit Carson Farms, Rio Valley Onion will also pack product from other growers in New Mexico and Mexico.
By Honeybear Marketing
Elgin, Minnesota – A record shipment of Chilean Honeycrisp from Honeybear Brands’ southern hemisphere orchards arrives at major retail stores across the country this week. The 2017 Chilean Honeycrisp is the largest in Honeybear’s 10-year program and brings just picked freshness, color and taste domestic Honeycrisp inventory, harvested last fall, is in low supply and flavor waning from months of cold storage.
The volume increase in Chilean Honeycrisp is due in part to several factors: the natural maturation of Honeybear’s Chilean orchards, excellent growing conditions and the company working with exceptional local growing partners who understand the many nuances of growing and optimizing premium apple production in their local micro climates.
Leading retailers featuring the Honeybear Chilean Honeycrisp include Hy-Vee, Publix, Loblaws, United Supermarkets, Cub Foods, SuperValu, Central Market, Coborns and Sam’s Club in more than 100 markets across the country.
Honeybear Brands and parent Wescott Agri Products were granted exclusive production and commercialization rights for the Chilean Honeycrisp by the University of Minnesota, developer and owner of the original variety. The company was one of the first to grow Honeycrisp in Washington state and Chile, and is widely recognized as the premier Honeycrisp label in the United States.
For more information visit www.honeybearbrands.com or contact Honeybear at 952-746-1315
About the Honeycrisp Variety
The Honeycrisp variety was first designated in 1960, patented in 1988 and made available to customers in 1991. In recent years, thanks to its unique blend of crunch, crisp flesh and a mixed sweet/tart flavor profile, the Honeycrisp variety has become an in-demand favorite of consumers, cooks, apple-lovers. A challenging variety to grow, Honeycrisp requires the right microclimate to maximize production, yield quality and flavor.
About Honeybear Brands
Honeybear Marketing is the marketing arm for, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wescott Agri Products. Honeybear is a leading grower and developer of premium apple varieties. The company started as Wescott Agri Products, a family run apple orchard in the early 1970s. From that early start several generations ago, today Honeybear still employs the same hands-on, personal attention to each and every apple variety produced through the Honeybear Apple Varietal Development Program. Honeybear is the leading provider of Honeycrisp apples in the Northwest region and offers complete domestic and global supply integration from varietal development to growing, packing, shipping and retailer support.
Excellent shipping seasons are shaping up on both U.S. Coasts with California melons and with South Florida avocados.
California melon shipments from the San Joaquin Valley are on track for a good shipping season as initial loadings have started in recent days.
While melons are still coming out of the Yuma area, they will be winding down the last week of June as California is cranking up. For example, Westside Produce of Firebaugh, CA will start loading melons from Huron in late June and will be soon shipping cantaloupe and honeydew from both Huron and Firebaugh. This season is beginning later due to rain soaked fields delaying plantings. Although no pest or disease problems due to the wet planting season have been detected, caution is recommended when your truck is being loaded. So watch for quality issues.
Five Crowns Marketing of Brawly, CA begins shipping watermelons and mini watermelons in Mendota and Tracy by the end of June.
Cantaloupes are targeted to start July 1 in Firebaugh and mid-July in Mendota and Patterson, followed by varietal melons and honeydews about 10 days after cantaloupes start.
Good supplies and steady shipments are expected throughout the summer.
Yuma melons – grossing about $5900 to Atlanta.
Florida Avocado Shipments
Florida avocado shipments are looking to be the best in two years.
Brooks Tropicals of Homestead, FL is the state’s largest avocado grower and expects volume will be 20 percent above a year ago. Shipments to markets will be particularly directed at receivers on the East Coast. California ships 80 to 90 percent of the nation’s domestic avocados, so there is a big freight advantage for Florida’s green-skinned varieties.
While the South Florida harvest started in May, early loadings were directly primarily to local markets. However, out of state shipments pick up significantly in June. There also is a trend for more Florida avocado shipments being delivered west of the Mississippi and into Canada.
Heaviest volume is expected after the Fourth of July, with shipments continuing through March.
Florida only shipped about 800,000 bushels during last year’s short season, but observers are hoping to ship nearly 900,000 bushels this year.
South Florida tomatoes, vegetables, melons and avocados – grossing about $3600 to Boston.
Expanding to handle more containerized cargo by investing $600 million has been announced by the Port of Oakland.
Speaking to a maritime audience at the American Association of Port Authorities Conference recently in Tampa, Fla., Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll outlined a partnership designed to increase trade volume by investing in new facilities and better infrastructure.
“We’re building for growth in a shipping industry that is becoming more and more competitive,” Driscoll said in a news release. “By investing with partners who share our vision, we can deliver services that will be of great value to the global supply chain.”
Driscoll noted the port would work with private developers and public agencies to modernize its infrastructure and outlined three proposed investment projects:
- $244 million, mostly from government grants, to separate railroad tracks from major port roadways;
- $90 million for a privately built refrigerated warehouse called “Cool Port;” and
- $50 million to expand the port’s second-largest marine terminal, with private funds.
Driscoll noted that the port recently completed a $100-million railyard near marine terminals and a proposed logistics complex, both of which should be a drawing card for shippers, enabling cargo to be quickly shifted between rail, road and ocean transport.
The Port of Oakland agricultural tonnage grew 233% over the past five years and now represents 53% of the port’s total export tonnage. Fruits and nuts are the leading agricultural commodities shipped from the port. The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland Seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront.
The Port of Los Angeles
January 2017 was the busiest January and second busiest month in the Port of Los Angeles’ 110-year history
“Coming off our best year ever in 2016, it’s very encouraging to keep the momentum going into 2017,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said in a news release. “The port remains diligent, along with our partners, in making the San Pedro Bay supply chain even more efficient through world-class infrastructure, innovative technology solutions and strategic use of resources.”
January 2017 imports increased 13.1% compared to January 2016. Exports increased 28.7% compared to the previous year. Empty containers increased 17.9%. Combined, January 2017 saw a 17.4% increase compared to last year.
Fruit and vegetable imports for January 2017 were 4,885 TEU (20-foot equivalent units), according to Phillip Sanfield, Port of Los Angeles director of media relations. Those imports accounted for 1.1% of the total 415,423 TEUs imported that month. Fruit and vegetable export numbers were not available.