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Florida News: Port Manatee Getting New Business; Produce Damage from Hurricane

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AIncreased shipments from Mexico with ocean carrier World Direct Shipping is coming to Port Manatee in Central Florida with addition of another weekly stop to the port.  At the same time, damage estimates to Florida produce are coming from the state.

 World Direct Shipping has announced the increase in service to the port by the company, which was first established in 2014.  Ships depart from the north-central part of Veracruz, from Port Tuxpan, in a service starting January 12th.

“We couldn’t be happier with how the initial service has thrived, with our 2 ½-day transit time offering the fastest short-sea connection between Mexico and the U.S. Southeast, Northeast and Midwest for refrigerated produce and other cargos,” said Carlos Diaz, director of Palmetto, Fla.-based World Direct Shipping, in a news release.

The new service complements the other World Direct Shipping arrival at the port, starting from Coatzacoalcos, Diaz said. Tuxpan is the closest commercial port to Mexico City, providing for more opportunities for fruit exports.

The weekly schedules call for Friday departures and Monday arrivals for the new service.  Currently, ships leave Coatzacoalcos on Saturday and arrive at Port Manatee on Tuesdays.

Florida vs. Hurricane Irma

While Florida isn’t exactly a mecca for produce loads during the fall and winter, there are going to be less opportunities than ever in the coming months as the state works to recover from the damages resulting from Hurricane Irma.

The early assessment of total damages to agricultural production in the state is $2.5 billion.

Over 420,000 acres of citrus production were hit, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Losses were heaviest in Collier and Hendry counties, which estimated losses at $2,500 an acre for about 94,000 acres. Eleven other counties projected losses of $1,750 per acre for about 254,000 acres, and Polk and Martin counties estimated damages at $1,100 per acre for about 72,000 acres.

Many trees were just a few weeks from harvest when the storm hit.

Along with fruit loss and infrastructure damage, growers are worried over trees dying due to flooding, which is not included in this initial estimate.

Florida citrus sales still hover near $1 billion, despite the downturn in the last decade due to citrus greening disease.

Damage to the other fruit and vegetable crops in Florida, were found on over 163,000 acres.

Because the planting season was just beginning for most vegetables, the crop losses will result in shorter seasons, market distortions and lower yields because of the storm diluting the pesticides that had been applied to fields.

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California Prune Shipments to Soar; Lipman Expands Farming Network

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DSCN0191Californa prune shipments are expected soar by nearly 100 percent this season.  Meanwhile, a significant expansion involving two produce companies is taking place in North Carolina.

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service believes the 2017 California prune harvest will total 105,000 tons, a 99 percent increase over 2016’s 52,851-ton crop.

This year, the industry is returning to a more normal size harvest.  Harvest concluded about a month ago.  Weather in recent years has created challenges for prune growers, but growers say the trees are rebounding this year.  California is the world’s largest producer of prunes, accounting for 40 percent of the world’s supply and nearly of all the supply in the U.S.

LIPMAN EXPANDS FARMING NETWORK

By Lipman

TABOR CITY, N.C. — As a part of its commitment to sustainability and high-quality farming, Lipman Family Farms, North America’s largest field tomato grower, has partnered with North Carolina-based Table Fare Farms.  Lipman will be the exclusive marketer for the farm, which currently grows watermelons in Tabor City, N.C., and is owned by Larry and Tammy O’Ferrel.

Currently affiliated with more than 50 local farmers in more than 20 states, Lipman partners with growers around the country through its Lipman Local program in order to bring its customers local, quality produce year-round.

“We are very excited to partner with Larry and Tammy O’Ferrel,”  said Scott Rush, director of Lipman Local.   “Table Fare Farms will be a great addition to the Lipman family and will allow us to expand our local produce offerings to our customers.”

Lipman plans to expand this partnership to include other commodities in the future.

“Working with Lipman is the ideal next step for us” said Table Fare Farms owner Larry O’Ferrel.   “We are looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”

About Lipman

Based in Immokalee, FL., Lipman is the largest open-field tomato grower in North America, providing  year-round fresh produce through an integrated network of research and development, farming, processing, and repacking.  Farms in Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, California and Mexico are totaling tens of thousands of acres, allowing Lipman to grow and ship fresh produce 365 days a year. For more information, visit www.LipmanProduce.com.

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Yellow Potatoes Continue to Gain Market Share

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DSCN0239By Ted Kreis
Yellow potatoes continue to gain market share and the gain is mostly at the expense of russets and whites, two potato types shippers in the Red River Valley haven’t grown for the fresh market in years.
Red River Valley red production has been up and down in recent years but one trend is clear, the valley is growing more yellows. In 2010 the valley produced just over 200,000 hundredweight (cwt.) of yellow potatoes.  Just five years later in 2015 the valley produced 607,000 cwt., a three-fold increase. In 2016 the number increased even more despite some yellow losses in the northern valley.  On a percentage basis, yellow potatoes made up just six percent of the Red River Valley fresh crop in 2010; the past two years they have averaged 14.5 percent.
Heimbuch Potato located south of Oaks in southeast North Dakota is geographically separated a bit from other Red River Valley shippers but they have close business ties with the valley.  They are also included with the Red River Valley for USDA  production and shipment numbers.  Not too long ago Heimbuchs grew three types of potatoes for the fresh market; reds, yellows and russets.  But brothers Chad and Josh Heimbuch picked up on the popular yellow trend early and in 2013 they switched to all yellow potato production.
Other Color Trends 
Nationwide white potatoes for the fresh market have been the big losers.  Since the 2008 crop year white potato shipments have decreased 43.3 percent, according to numbers compiled by the North American Potato Market News.
Russet shipments so far this season mimics closely 2008 although russets are down 7.7 percent from 2009 when they hit a 10 year peak.
U.S. red shipments had increased about 14% between 2009 and 2015 crop years but have regressed this year because of short supplies here in the Red River Valley, the nation’s largest red producer..
(Ted Kreis is the Marketing & Communications Director for the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, MN)

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Argentina Blueberries are Arriving in the U.S.; California Co. is Shipping Citrus for First Time

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DSCN8999While the initial arrival of blueberries from Argentina has arrived by air, regular arrivals by boat at U.S. ports will be more common during the season….Meanwhile a California stone fruit shipper is shipping citrus for the first time.

The initial load of Argentina blueberries, which was over 50 tons, flew out of Tucuman’s renovated airport September 23rd.  The Teniente General Benjamín Matienzo International Airport outside of Tucumans was closed over the summer for the runway to be reconstructed and extended from 2,900 meters to 3,500 meters. Member producers of the Argentinean Blueberry Committee, which accounts for 80 percent of the country’s blueberry exports, celebrated the loading of 53 tons of berries on a Boeing 747 bound for Miami, according to a news release.

“We are pleased to be able to carry out the first full-load export of blueberries to the U.S., and we expect to continue in this direction, strengthening the (export) market,” Federico Bayá, the committee’s president, said in the release.

The airport renovations also included infrastructure and equipment improvements making loading commercial shipments smoother and safer. But the big change is the extended runway, which allows for a heavier load than was previously possible.

 

California Company to Ship Citrus

By Mountain View Fruit Sales

Reedley, CA — Mountain View Fruit Sales, known for shipping tree fruit, has announced they will be shipping California Citrus this season. Partnering with Eastside Packing they will be adding additional commodities to their premium quality and customer service based program.

“We have been working on getting into the citrus deal for many years, but finding the right growers and varieties can’t be rushed, so we are pleased to announce we will be shipping mandarins and lemons for the 2017 season,” said Mike Thurlow owner and CEO of Mountain View Fruit Sales.  “It is a natural for us as we are located right in the middle of the prime citrus growing region.  We will be utilizing the same aggressive marketing platform we currently use for our premium stone fruit program.”

Kent Huckabay and Joel Gonzalez have joined the Mountain View Sales team, bringing expertise in citrus marketing to the table.  “We’ve worked with Mountain View for years on the tree fruit side, and their marketing strategy is well suited to apply to citrus,”  said Huckabay.   Mountain View Fruit Sales has been a leading marketer of tree fruit in California’s San Joaquin Valley for over 20 years.

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USApple Asks: How Do You Do #AppleADay?

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DSCN0192By USApple

Falls Church, VA — How do you like your daily apple? Do you slice a crisp Fuji at lunchtime and dip it in a side of nut butter?  Perhaps you end your day on a sweet note with a warm piece of apple crumble?  This apple season, USApple wants to know how consumers enjoy their #AppleADay.

During National Apple Month (Oct.) and through Nov. 3,  USApple is taking to social media encouraging individuals to share comments, posts, pictures and videos answering how they take their #AppleADay.  Each person who shares how they #AppleADay on the USApple.org website through an online form, or on social media with the #AppleADay hashtag enters to win gift cards or industry prizes.

From sliced to sauced, from blended to baked, as a morning meal or mid-night snack, USApple seeks to create the world’s longest list of ways to enjoy an #AppleADay.  Individuals can submit their reasons a  usapple.org/appleaday.

Responses to date include:

  • “I make crockpot baked apples.”
  • “Straight from the tree.”
  • “Every day with some cheese and crackers.”
  • “Apple slices, almond butter, cinnamon and oats.”
  • “I use it in my smoothies with avocados.”
  • “I always eat a fresh apple at lunch every day and apple crisp at least once a week. Apples are a staple in our house no matter which way we fix it.”

Read other responses at:  usapple.org/appleaday-results.

“Our industry and the broader wellness community are always encouraging people to eat an apple a day, and an apple a day can look different for everyone,” said Korenna Wilson, Director of Consumer Health and Media Relations, USApple.  “We want to spend peak harvest season engaging with consumers online to see just how people enjoy their favorite apples and show that it’s far from boring, or the same.  Our growing list will give all of us new ideas to fit in that apple a day.”

About USApple

U.S. Apple Association is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry.  Members include 40 state and regional associations representing the 7,500 apple growers throughout the country, as well as more than 400 individual firms involved in the apple business. More information on the organization is available at USApple.org.

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California Truck Rates Show Strength as Some Shipping Areas Near Seasonal Shift

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DSCN0189California produce rates have been showing strength with an increased demand for refrigerated trucks in areas ranging from the Salinas and San Joaquin Valleys to Santa Maria and down south in Ventura County.  The increases have generally been around one to five percent.

With the official arrival of fall occurring September 22d, which is the arrival of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.  It also means the transition of many produce shipping areas, if not from one hemisphere to another, but at least from one country to another, or in some cases, especially in the Western U.S., shifting locations in the same state or a neighboring state.

California certainly is the best example of the changing season.

As Watsonville strawberry shipments decline the red berry’s volume is now increasing to the south in Ventura County.  In California’s Central San Joaquin Valley, nearly 900 truck loads of cantaloupe are being shipped weekly from the Westside District, but this will soon be in a seasonal decline.  At the same time, very light loadings of melons have started from Central and Western Arizona and are increasing.  California honeydew volume already is in a seasonal decline with the new season barely underway in Central Arizona and will start in Western Arizona in the next week or so.

San Joaquin Valley table grapes is probably the state’s single biggest volume item averaging around 1750 truck  loads weekly.  The combined volume of head lettuce and romaine from the Salinas Valley has recently had similar volume to grapes, but lettuce volume will start sliding soon, to eventually give away to desert shipping areas in California and Arizona.  Salinas also is offering around 600 loads of celery per week.  To the south in Kern County, carrots are totaling about 750 loads.

Salinas vegetables – grossing about $5100 to Chicago; San Joaquin Valley fruit  – grossing about $6200 to Baltimore.

 

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Summer Citrus from South Africa is Concluding Season with 2 Vessels Arriving at Philly

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OaklandBy Summer Citrus from South Africa

CITRUSDAL, South Africa — Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) is finishing the season strong with the two final scheduled vessels set to arrive with Navels and Easy Peelers as well as the first shipment of the popular Midknight variety into the United States. The last conventional vessel will arrive to the Port of Philadelphia the week of October 9th.

With sophisticated logistics services and consolidated resources, SCSA has been able to maintain steady movement of fruit throughout the season. SCSA continues to provide the freshest and sweetest citrus varieties with their Midknight crop arriving at its peak of season with the last harvest of Navels and Easy Peelers entering the US with these final two vessels.

“We have established a unique collaboration with incredible logistics partners who are equally committed to meeting USDA requirements. Without dependability and service excellence from Seatrade who provides our dedicated cargo vessels as well as FPT Group who manages our Capetown loading facility, we would not be able to execute such a consistently strong program all season long,” said Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa.   “In addition, we are fortunate to work closely with the government bodies involved in the pre-clearance process for our fruit, including USDA/APHIS, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as the Perishable Product Export Control Board.   All of these groups play a significant role in maintaining a well-managed and successful program year after year.”

“2017 has been another exciting growth year for the summer citrus category and we’ve been pleased that our group has been able to increase our support of US retail partners,” Conradie added.   “I’ve enjoyed the 17th season and hope to replicate for years to come!”

About Summer Citrus from South Africa

Summer Citrus from South Africa represents the group of South African citrus growers who consolidate their logistics, marketing and sales efforts to bring the finest citrus fruit to market during the U.S. summer season. Established in 1999 and re-branded for expanded marketing efforts in 2016, the group provides Navels, Midknights, East Peelers, Star Ruby Grapefruit and Cara-Cara oranges across the globe.

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FL Citrus Acquisitions; OR Cold Storage Opens; WA Distribution Center Opens

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DSCN0052Produce related company acquisitions seem to pick up as the economy improves and here are just three examples of moves by operations on both coasts of the U.S.  From Premier Citrus in Florida, to the Cold Storage Co. in Oregon and Volm Cos. in Washington state, expansions have occurred either through buy-outs are building new facilities.

Premier Citrus of Vero Beach, FL has acquired Greene River Marketing, also based in Vero Beach.

The acquisition allows Premier Citrus to expand its fruit volume and return marketing of its domestic fruit back in-house.

DNE World Fruit, of Ft. Pierce, FL  was acquired in February by Wonderful Citrus, previously marketed Premier’s domestic fruit the past three seasons.  Greene River will continue operating under the same name this season, but will eventually transition into part of Premier Citrus Marketing.

The purchase means Premier will be the largest domestic marketer in the Indian River growing region.

Oregon Cold Storage Opens

Cold Storage Co. of Salem, OR has opened its second facility in Salem., with 6 million cubic feet of new cold storage capacity. The 94-year-old, family-owned refrigerated warehousing company’s newest facility is in the Mill Creek Corporate Center in Salem.  The cold storage is 176,000-square-feet.  The 34-acre, 26,000-pallet operation will serve as a hub for food processors

With the second facility in Salem coming online, Henningsen now offers over 60 million total cubic feet of temperature controlled space in 11 facilities across the United States.

Washington Distribution Center Opens

Volm Cos. Inc., based in Antigo, WI, has opened a new 90,000-square-foot facility  Pasco, WA.   The new distribution facility is located less than two miles from the former location.  The facility houses warehouse space for inventory, LENO manufacturing equipment, equipment and parts area as well as increased office space for the growing business.  Volm came to the Tri-Cities area in 2007 through an acquisition.

 

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Shipping Outlooks for California Prunes is Great, While It is Devastating for Florida Orange Juice

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DSCN9017California prune shipments this season are expected to make a major rebound from recent years of fighting adverse weather….Also, the bad news continues to pile for the Florida citrus industry.

A whopping 99 percent increase in California prune shipments  is expected from the 2017 harvest that was completed in mid September.  A total of 105,000 tons, should be shipped compared to only 52,851 tons from the 2016 crop,  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service believes the prune industry has returned to a normal size harvest.  The September harvest completion was a little later than usual to a delayed start due to weather.

At the same time weather conditions in recent years has created challenges for prune growers, but the trees are reported rebounding this year.

California is the world’s largest producer of prunes, accounting for 40 percent  of the world’s supply and nearly of all the supply in the U.S.

Florida Orange Juice Supplies Suffering

Some of Florida’s citrus growing regions suffered total losses of some groves as a result Hurricane Irma hitting the heart of the growing region.  The possible health of the industry could be threated with some groves completely destroyed, resulting in damage that will not only send prices higher.

The hurricane could not have come at a worst time as the harvest was just starting.  Losses of many citrus grove operations in Southwestern Florida range from 70 to 100 percent.  While some citrus trees were stripped of folage, the aftermath is grim as the hot sun barring down on exposed tree roots could threaten recovery of trees.

Other major citrus producers are Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico.  However, Mexican producers are recovering from Hurricane Katia and the recent earthquake in Mexico. It is estimated up to 90 per cent of the fruit from citrus groves in Southwest and Central Florida are used for juice.

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Mann Packing Breaks Ground on New Processing Facility

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Mannby Mann Packing Company

SALINAS, Calif. – Mann Packing,  an industry leading supplier of premium fresh vegetables, broke ground in August on its new processing facility in Gonzales, California. The groundbreaking ceremony featured company representatives, local government officials and business leaders.

Headquartered in Salinas, California, Mann’s selected the City of Gonzales for its 130,000 square foot expansion project because of its convenient location and zoned industrial area.  The company has a further land base at the same location to accommodate future expansions. 250 people will be employed at the new facility.

Sixty-five percent of the company’s manufacturing volume will relocate from Salinas to the Gonzales facility. Mann’s location at 1250 Hansen Street in Salinas will continue to process fresh-cut vegetables, but will mainly serve as the company’s central warehouse, cooling and shipping facility.

Construction of the facility is targeted for completion in early 2018, with production beginning in spring. The facility was designed with the goal of achieving electric sustainability and will utilize a windmill turbine to supply energy for heating and cooling.

“We are proud to announce our new home in Gonzales and excited to be part of this thriving business community,” said Lorri Koster, chairman & CEO at Mann’s. “This project represents the beginning of a partnership and a culmination of years of planning to create a facility which will serve as an anchor for the company’s fresh processing needs,” she added.

About Mann Packing Company

Founded in 1939, Mann Packing is an industry leading, third-generation supplier of premium fresh vegetables. Headquartered in Salinas, Mann’s is one of the largest suppliers of western vegetables, Broccolini® and sugar snap peas in North America. The firm holds the distinguished Women’s Owned Business Certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council – the most widely recognized and respected certification in the United States for women’s business enterprises. Leading the way in product innovation, environmental sustainability and green supply chain management practices, Mann Packing is consistently vigilant in food safety, employee wellness and quality assurance, making for one of the most trusted brands in the industry.

 

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