Author Archive
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Appearance. No matter how many times we’ve been told not to judge a book by its cover, waiting to pass judgement on something until after we get past its outside has never been an easy task for people to accomplish. Whether it’s what we’re reading or who we’re meeting, people have a tendency to set expectations based on surface assessment. But does the same hold true for what we eat? According to a recent Harris Poll, about eight in ten Americans (81%) confirm that appearance (i.e., not blemished or misshapen in any way) is at least somewhat important to them when shopping for fresh produce (i.e., fruits and vegetables), with 43% saying it is very or extremely important.
When listed alongside other fresh produce descriptors, appearance proved to be more important than provenance (i.e., locally grown or sourced), the retailer’s food waste practices, and organic. However, the price and seasonality are more likely to be important to a purchaser than appearance.
“Whether ‘ugly’ or not, produce is on the rise, up 5% in U.S. dollar sales in the latest 52 weeks ending July 30, 2016,” said Jen Campuzano, Director Fresh Perishables at Nielsen. “Choosing healthier and more natural products has become a priority for households across the country. For some, this means transparency in labeling, opting for foods with basic ingredient lists or embracing fruits and vegetables, blemishes and all.”
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,025 U.S. adults aged 18+ and surveyed online between August 10 and 12, 2016.
Ugly produce
Despite the weight Americans place on appearance, more than three in five adults (62%) say they would be at least somewhat comfortable eating “ugly produce,” that is, fruit or vegetables that may be misshapen but otherwise taste the same. Moreover, three quarters of adults (76%) would expect to pay less for “ugly produce,” while a fifth (20%) could see paying the same as usual.
Despite professed comfort with eating ugly produce, fewer than three in ten Americans (28%) recall buying “ugly produce” in the past year, compared to 51% who are sure they did not and 21% who are not sure either way. And of those who bought “ugly produce,” six in ten (61%) did so for the price discount.
Food waste
While the primary reason Americans bought “ugly produce” was price, the runner up answer from more than a fifth (22%) of purchasers was that they wanted to reduce food waste. Americans estimate that, typically, 10% of the groceries they buy are wasted, that is, spoil or go bad before they can be eaten. Over eight in ten Americans (84%) are at least somewhat concerned about the issue of food waste, primarily because they would like to be less wasteful (62%).
So how do Americans believe we can reduce household food waste? Nearly half (46%) of adults believe better storage for fresh produce is the key to waste reduction, followed closely by more than 2 in 5 (42%) who advocate buying less food, more frequently. Another 38% believe the solution is better meal planning, while 35% say it would help if smaller package sizes were available in the grocery store.
by Idaho Potato Commission
EAGLE, ID — Does the real Idaho® Potato Farmer finally find his missing truck? We’ll never tell! Watch the new commercial featuring Farmer Mark and the Big Idaho® Potato Truck on national cable networks including The Food Network, CNN, Headline News, Fox News and The History and Cooking Channels that began November 11 to find out.
The commercials made their debut five years ago during the first Big Idaho® Potato Truck Tour. This year marks the sixth installment of the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) wildly popular television commercials starring Farmer Mark and his on-going search for the elusive Big Idaho® Potato Truck.
“Since we launched the campaign five years ago, we’ve received thousands of calls from folks located all across the country with updates on the Truck’s whereabouts,” explained Frank Muir, President and CEO, IPC. “One of the reasons the commercials have been so effective is because of the incredible consumer engagement component reinforced by the Truck’s nationwide tour when it was seen by tens of millions of people of all ages.”
The new commercial aired twice during the Boise State University and BYU football game on October 20 as part of the IPC sponsorship package and its long-standing support of the Broncos. The commercial will air through early April, achieving more than 550 million audience impressions. To view it now, visit the IPC’s YouTube channel.
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About the Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho™” seal, a federally registered certification mark that assures consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain-fed irrigation and rich volcanic soil, give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance, that differentiates Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states.
About the Big Idaho® Potato Truck
The Big Idaho® Potato Truck just completed its fifth cross-country journey. The tour began in 2012 as a one-year campaign to celebrate the IPC’s 75th anniversary. The reaction from consumers, the industry and the media made it apparent the truck would not be retiring anytime soon. Today, it’s a solid part of pop-culture. It’s traveled more than 100,000 miles, visited 48 states, met millions of folks across the country and generated billions of media impressions. To learn more about the Truck, please visit BigIdahoPotatoTruck.com.
Mushroom shipments have been hit by high temperatures and dry conditions, resulting in lower volume and shortages across the country.
The greatest impact has been felt in southeastern Pennsylvania, where 64 percent of U.S. mushrooms are grown, according to a news release from the Avondale, PA.-based American Mushroom Institute.
The weather’s impact on the compost used to grow mushrooms has many across the industry worried. Some veteran mushroom growers who have been in the business over three decades have never been this concerned heading towrds the holiday season.
Many farms are reporting reduced yields, and some shippers have struggled to fill orders. Shortages are expected nationwide as demand for mushrooms increases with the holiday season.
Concerns are mounting that all the orders for the product can’t be met and that shipments to retailers and other customers may have to be rationed.
With demand outpacing supply, growers are doing their best to get customers the product they need, but it is expected that fulfilling orders is going to be difficult.
“You’ve just got to share the love evenly with everyone because there’s just nowhere to get extra product,” stated one grower. “It’s just not available … Any other time you could work sideways and barter and trade back and forth, but that won’t be able to happen much this season because everyone’s in the same situation.”
Quality of the mushrooms also has been affected along with quantity.
“There hasn’t been a whole lot quite up to par from what I’m seeing, When the compost is weak you can then get blotch … which causes spotting on the mushrooms that sometimes you can’t see when you harvest the mushroom but it shows up later, by the time it gets shipped to the customer, the grower stated.”
At various times 30 Pennsylvania counties have been in a drought watch, which has affected mushroom growers.
By Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
Nogales – During the recently celebrated 48th Nogales Produce Convention, on Nov. 3- Nov. 5, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, (FPAA) released the 2015-16 Nogales Produce Import Report.
The report shows the significant impact that fresh produce imported via Nogales has in the overall trade of fruits and vegetable in the country. During the last season, imports reached a total of 6.3 billion lbs. which represents 17% of U.S. global imports.
The report presents a five-year comparison, and it reveals what items are highest in volume and in value.
As part of the FPAA Produce Convention program, a panel of importers discussed the report, offering possible explanations for the volume variations, discussing industry trends, and talking about information impacting the upcoming season.
These importers on the panel included: Chris Ciruli, COO, Ciruli Bros. Inc.; Fried DeSchouwer, President, Greenhouse Produce Co.; Rod Sbragia, Director of Sales and Marketing, Tricar Sales Inc.; and Mikee Suarez, Sales, MAS Melons & Grapes. Moderating the panel was Lance Jungmeyer, President of FPAA.
In summary, “Tomatoes have started a new growth phase, separating themselves from watermelons, the No. 2 item in Nogales. This is reflective of the continued growth in romas, and persisting strong demand for round reds,” said Jungmeyer.
The panel said to expect more growth in grapes, as companies add varietals that perform well in the early part of the season.
“A few years ago we had only three or four white, or green, varieties of grapes with any volume in Mexico. Now, we see 10 or more varietals being grown, with interesting and new flavor profiles,” said panelist Mikee Suarez of MAS Melons and Grapes. “These grapes also fill a great gap at the beginning of the Mexican grape season, when Chilean white grapes are leaving the market.”
The panel noted how the Nogales produce deal can no longer be characterized as having a January through April peak in volume.
In fact, the statistics bear out that there is an even stronger second peak in the season in late April through June. Both grapes and watermelons contribute to the second peak.
The following graph shows the evolution and changes in the peaks in the last five seasons:
While a lack of water and labor in western U.S. states is shifting volume to Mexico, there also is a clear trend of improvements in logistics and infrastructure at the Southwest border that should enable greater product flows through Nogales.
For instance, the new Unified Cargo Inspection Program in Nogales is bringing Mexican Customs officers to the U.S. side of the border to conduct inspections. Companies with the proper security clearances can take advantage of this program to reduce their crossing times from 4-6 hours during peak season to less than an hour.
Light volume with Mexican melons, vegetables through Nogales – grossing about $3200 to Chicago.
rw
As Turbana becomes Fyffes North America, it brings the resources of the biggest banana supplier in Europe to this side of the Atlantic.
North American buyers could stock the Fyffes brand before, but now it takes over for the Turbana brand in the market unless buyers request the Turbana label.
Ireland-based Fyffes owns 50% of the former Turbana company in addition to an increasing number of holdings in North America.
The change will be officially announced at PMA Fresh Summit, but Jack Howell, senior vice president of sales for Fyffes NA, said customers are being informed now, and the Fyffes label will begin shipping on bananas in the U.S. and Canada.
Fyffes is the largest banana shipper in Europe with 46 million cases. It extends its global sourcing infrastructure the No. 4 banana shipper in North America with 10 million cases per year.
Its main banana sources for this market are Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala, but it owns farms and has grower agreements with 12 countries in Central and South America.
Fyffes is also a significant player in North America in pineapples, off-shore melons and mushrooms.
In April, Fyffes acquired Leamington, Ontario-based Highline Produce Ltd., the largest mushroom producer in Canada, which was followed this month by the acquisition of All Seasons Mushrooms, Langley, British Columbia.
However, those businesses are owned by Fyffes PLC in Dublin and are not part of Coral Gables, Fla.-based Fyffes NA.
“With over 100 years in the industry, we are experts in supply chain, sourcing the highest quality fruit, and helping retailers profitably grow their banana business,” Howell said.
Fyffes was founded in 1888, and in 1929 became the first name brand in bananas.
Red River Valley red potato shipments could be off 30 to 40 percent this season due to excessive rains, while Prince Edward Island is looking a normal volume.
During the 2015-16 shipping season, 25 percent of all red potatoes shipments in the U.S. originated from the Red River Valley eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota.
The remaining 75 percent were spread out among 11 other shipping regions. The state of Florida ranked second with roughly 12 percent, while the Big Lake region of Minnesota came in third with a nine percent.
Due to weather factors delaying the Red River Valley harvest this fall, there wasn’t the urgency to ship red potatoes from the new crop out of Central Minnesota (Big Lake). This latter area typically starts shipping a month or so ahead of the Red River Valley and works to complete its season before the valley starts. Big Lake also does not storage potatoes like is done in the valley.
When the Valley started shipping in October, red potato shipping regions around the country such as Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho and the Skagit Valley in Washington, had light volume as well.
While loadings of red potatoes has been a little different so far this season, one thing potato haulers can pretty much count on every year – a flood of Idaho russets courtesy of over producing growers. For example a bale of Idaho russets can be delivered for around $4.00. Folks, that’s cheap!
A recent issue of the North American Potato Market News points out last year’s national red shipments exceeded 2011-12 shipments by 1.7 million cwt, or 14 percent.
Prince Edward Island Potato Shipments
Prince Edward Island is the leading province in Canada with potato shipments and expects to have about 25 million cwt (hundred weight). The potatoes are grown on 89,000 acres, which has remained steady for the past four or five years.
PEI accounts for about 25 percent of Canada’s potato shipments. About 30 percent of the crop is shipped to the fresh market, 60 percent for processing and 10 percent for seed.
During the next decade, Florida orange production could sink by another two-thirds unless better solutions to the fatal bacterial disease citrus greening aren’t found.
That’s the worst-case scenario presented recently to the Florida Citrus Commission in a new, long-term citrus production forecast by Marisa Zansler, chief economist at the Florida Department of Citrus, and Tom Spreen, emeritus professor of agricultural economics at the University of Florida and a department consultant. The commission is the Citrus Department’s governing board.
Spreen presented three forecasts based on different computer models of the future, including one based on no research breakthroughs on greening and no change in current production trends, such as declines in yield, or the boxes of fruit harvested per tree, and in the shrinking number of trees and commercial grove acres.
The pessimistic model projects Florida growers harvesting 27.3 million boxes of oranges in the 2026-27 season. That compares to 81.6 million orange boxes harvested in the recently completed 2015-16 season and 242 million boxes in 2003-04, the last season unaffected by greening or hurricanes.
“I hope that scenario is not more likely,” Spreen said. “It’s a very scary picture. There’s no other way to put it.”
One factor affecting yields on greening-infected trees has been a significant increase in the levels of pre-harvest fruit drop, which began appearing in the 2011-12 season. Other factors include smaller fruit size, which means more fruit to fill a standard box, thus a lower total harvest.
But the most optimistic scenario makes some big assumptions, including investing at least $500 million in planting new trees at a 255 percent replanting rate over the number of trees lost each season, he said. Growers would need to sustain that rate every year over the next decade.
The current replanting rate is 50 percent, largely because many growers are unwilling to make the investment until researchers find better methods against greening.
Even at that aggressive replanting rate, Florida growers would produce just 100 million orange boxes in 2026-27, or less than half the production 12 years ago.
Florida growers can achieve the optimistic scenario, said Spreen, citing high levels of replanting in the late 1980s and early 1990s following three major destructive freezes in 1983 to 1989.
But it would take a scientific breakthrough in breeding a new citrus tree that is tolerant or resistant to greening, he added. Tolerance means the tree would get infected but suffer less damage, notably yield loss, and resistance means the tree would be less susceptible to infection.
“We just need that light at the end of the tunnel to show up, and then we’ll see a burst of new planting similar to what we saw in the 1980s,” Spreen said.
by Stemilt Growers
WENATCHEE, Wash. – The University of Minnesota has chosen Rave™ as the brand name for fruit sold from the University’s newest apple variety, MN55, which Stemilt Growers holds the license to grow, pack, and market in North America. Rave™ was selected as the brand name for this apple to play off of the apple’s many exciting attributes, including its incredible crunch and juicy flavor, as well as its unique position as the first apple to ripen in Washington State, coming off the tree in late July.
“We are beyond excited about the chosen brand name of our newest star apple. The Rave™ apple has explosive flavor and with its early harvest timing and dessert qualities, it will reinvent the month of August for the apple category. We look forward to bringing small volumes of Rave™ apples to market in 2017,” said Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl.
The highest quality fruit from MN55 trees will go to market from Stemilt growers as Rave™ apples beginning in summer 2017. MN55 is a variety that was born back in 1997 at the University of Minnesota’s exceptional apple breeding program, the same place that the now national phenomenon Honeycrisp heralds from. It’s a cross between Honeycrisp and an unreleased variety called MonArk. With similar, yet more defined, flavor and quality attributes as Honeycrisp combined with MonArk’s ability to ripen early yet color well and maintain a crisp, juicy texture through the summer heat, Stemilt believes Rave™ apples will be the next standout in the produce department.
The journey to develop a new apple cultivar is not a quick process and requires great efforts. During the 17 years from original breeding to the final release and licensing of MN55 to Stemilt, the University of Minnesota conducted rigorous testing to ensure that the variety was of high enough quality to be commercially released. This process included 5-6 years of testing at multiple locations across the U.S. Together with Stemilt, the University of Minnesota landed on Rave™ as the brand name for the apple earlier this summer.
“Rave™ is a powerful brand name for apples, and one that we know will leave a lasting impression on consumers, especially after they bite into one. Rave™ joins our breeding program’s other success stories, Honeycrisp and SweeTango®, and helps us meet our goal of bringing excitement to consumers as they shop for apples,” said David Bedford, research scientist for the University of Minnesota apple breeding program.
Rave™ is also another chapter in Stemilt’s story of bringing innovative products to market. The company successfully introduced its signature apple Piñata!® to the marketplace back in 2009, and also supplies the West Coast with the University’s popular SweeTango® apple.
“We are constantly seeking new apple varieties with flavors and qualities that will wow the consumer. It’s all about building fruit fans of tomorrow, and Rave™ certainly has the ‘wow factor’ to do just that. We can’t wait to bring this phenomenal apple into stores next August,” said Pepperl.
Stemilt is now in the process of developing a logo and packaging for Rave™ apples, and expects to unveil a look later this year.
by Bridges Produce
This Fall, Bridges Produce is debuting a new label in the U.S. for the fresh organic cranberries from Patience Fruit & Co. This new label, “Patience,” was chosen to reflect the belief that doing things the right way is better than rushing through them. Growing cranberries organically takes more effort, more thoughtfulness, more respect for nature, but the results are worth it.
The relationship between Patience, formerly known as Fruit d’Or, and Bridges Produce began over 16 years ago and has evolved as the companies and the organic market has grown. During the 2014 season Bridges became the exclusive fresh sales representative for Fruit d’Or in the U.S., selling 8 oz. bags and 7.5 oz clamshells. The following season they debuted a 12 oz. poly bag, a size that is in high demand for use in many recipes. For the 2016 fresh cranberry season, all pack styles and sizes will be branded as Patience Fruit & Co.
The group of Quebec growers practice organic farming to minimize their ecological footprint. They believe in working with nature and following its rhythms rather than trying to work against it. For example, they use a “closed circuit” water system where rainwater and melted snow are collected in a drainage basin and used to irrigate the fields and flood them for harvesting. They also rely on 6 million bees to help pollinate the cranberry plants. Growing organically is not the easiest way but yields the best results.
Their superior quality fruit as well as their sustainable growing practices make Bridges so pleased to continue their partnership with Patience Fruit & Co. This year the pack styles Bridges will offer include 12 oz. and 8 oz. poly bags, 7.5 oz. clams, and a 22 lb bulk box. They are available for shipping from Los Angeles and New Jersey October through December. Patience Fruit & Co. also has a line organic dried cranberries, dried mixed berries and artisan blends available as well.
For more information regarding fresh organic cranberries contact Bridges Produce at: info@bridgesproduce.com 503-235-7333
by Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico
URUAPAN, Mexico – The Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico (APEAM) is pleased to report strong shipments to the U.S. market, as the Mexican avocado industry moves swiftly to resume normal operations after a temporary shipping delay caused by a work stoppage in Mexico earlier this month. Harvesting in Mexico resumed on October 15th, and APEAM initially projected shipping 40 million pounds of avocados to the U.S. last week (October 24 – 28). The industry surpassed that projection and shipped a total of 51.6 million pounds – one of the largest weeks ever for Mexican avocado shipments to the United States.
APEAM expects the distribution system to be fully back on track over the next 10 days. This will enable the industry to fulfill ongoing demand throughout the coming months including football season, Thanksgiving and the Holidays.
Weekly avocado shipments now projected through December have been increased by about 10 percent from previous estimates for a total projection of 469 million pounds for the mid October to December time period.
Last year, the U.S. consumed over two billion pounds of avocados with about 80 percent of the supply coming from Mexico. With the updated projections, Mexico is on track to support the strong U.S. demand for avocados through its network of importers, retailers and foodservice partners.
About APEAM
APEAM is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to represent the Hass avocado industry throughout Mexico in its export program for the brand Avocados From Mexico. APEAM is dedicated to developing and implementing stringent quality measures to ensure the production of the finest avocados available anywhere, worldwide. APEAM currently represents more than 19,000 growers and 46 packinghouses.
Mexican avocados, tropical fruit and vegetables crossing the border in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of (Pharr) Texas – grossing about $3700 to New York City; Chicago about $2300; and Atlanta, GA, about $2100.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Appearance. No matter how many times we’ve been told not to judge a book by its cover, waiting to pass judgement on something until after we get past its outside has never been an easy task for people to accomplish. Whether it’s what we’re reading or who we’re meeting, people have a tendency to set expectations based on surface assessment. But does the same hold true for what we eat? According to a recent Harris Poll, about eight in ten Americans (81%) confirm that appearance (i.e., not blemished or misshapen in any way) is at least somewhat important to them when shopping for fresh produce (i.e., fruits and vegetables), with 43% saying it is very or extremely important.
When listed alongside other fresh produce descriptors, appearance proved to be more important than provenance (i.e., locally grown or sourced), the retailer’s food waste practices, and organic. However, the price and seasonality are more likely to be important to a purchaser than appearance.
“Whether ‘ugly’ or not, produce is on the rise, up 5% in U.S. dollar sales in the latest 52 weeks ending July 30, 2016,” said Jen Campuzano, Director Fresh Perishables at Nielsen. “Choosing healthier and more natural products has become a priority for households across the country. For some, this means transparency in labeling, opting for foods with basic ingredient lists or embracing fruits and vegetables, blemishes and all.”
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,025 U.S. adults aged 18+ and surveyed online between August 10 and 12, 2016.
Ugly produce
Despite the weight Americans place on appearance, more than three in five adults (62%) say they would be at least somewhat comfortable eating “ugly produce,” that is, fruit or vegetables that may be misshapen but otherwise taste the same. Moreover, three quarters of adults (76%) would expect to pay less for “ugly produce,” while a fifth (20%) could see paying the same as usual.
Despite professed comfort with eating ugly produce, fewer than three in ten Americans (28%) recall buying “ugly produce” in the past year, compared to 51% who are sure they did not and 21% who are not sure either way. And of those who bought “ugly produce,” six in ten (61%) did so for the price discount.
Food waste
While the primary reason Americans bought “ugly produce” was price, the runner up answer from more than a fifth (22%) of purchasers was that they wanted to reduce food waste. Americans estimate that, typically, 10% of the groceries they buy are wasted, that is, spoil or go bad before they can be eaten. Over eight in ten Americans (84%) are at least somewhat concerned about the issue of food waste, primarily because they would like to be less wasteful (62%).
So how do Americans believe we can reduce household food waste? Nearly half (46%) of adults believe better storage for fresh produce is the key to waste reduction, followed closely by more than 2 in 5 (42%) who advocate buying less food, more frequently. Another 38% believe the solution is better meal planning, while 35% say it would help if smaller package sizes were available in the grocery store.
by Idaho Potato Commission
EAGLE, ID — Does the real Idaho® Potato Farmer finally find his missing truck? We’ll never tell! Watch the new commercial featuring Farmer Mark and the Big Idaho® Potato Truck on national cable networks including The Food Network, CNN, Headline News, Fox News and The History and Cooking Channels that began November 11 to find out.
The commercials made their debut five years ago during the first Big Idaho® Potato Truck Tour. This year marks the sixth installment of the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) wildly popular television commercials starring Farmer Mark and his on-going search for the elusive Big Idaho® Potato Truck.
“Since we launched the campaign five years ago, we’ve received thousands of calls from folks located all across the country with updates on the Truck’s whereabouts,” explained Frank Muir, President and CEO, IPC. “One of the reasons the commercials have been so effective is because of the incredible consumer engagement component reinforced by the Truck’s nationwide tour when it was seen by tens of millions of people of all ages.”
The new commercial aired twice during the Boise State University and BYU football game on October 20 as part of the IPC sponsorship package and its long-standing support of the Broncos. The commercial will air through early April, achieving more than 550 million audience impressions. To view it now, visit the IPC’s YouTube channel.
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About the Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho™” seal, a federally registered certification mark that assures consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain-fed irrigation and rich volcanic soil, give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance, that differentiates Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states.
About the Big Idaho® Potato Truck
The Big Idaho® Potato Truck just completed its fifth cross-country journey. The tour began in 2012 as a one-year campaign to celebrate the IPC’s 75th anniversary. The reaction from consumers, the industry and the media made it apparent the truck would not be retiring anytime soon. Today, it’s a solid part of pop-culture. It’s traveled more than 100,000 miles, visited 48 states, met millions of folks across the country and generated billions of media impressions. To learn more about the Truck, please visit BigIdahoPotatoTruck.com.
Mushroom shipments have been hit by high temperatures and dry conditions, resulting in lower volume and shortages across the country.
The greatest impact has been felt in southeastern Pennsylvania, where 64 percent of U.S. mushrooms are grown, according to a news release from the Avondale, PA.-based American Mushroom Institute.
The weather’s impact on the compost used to grow mushrooms has many across the industry worried. Some veteran mushroom growers who have been in the business over three decades have never been this concerned heading towrds the holiday season.
Many farms are reporting reduced yields, and some shippers have struggled to fill orders. Shortages are expected nationwide as demand for mushrooms increases with the holiday season.
Concerns are mounting that all the orders for the product can’t be met and that shipments to retailers and other customers may have to be rationed.
With demand outpacing supply, growers are doing their best to get customers the product they need, but it is expected that fulfilling orders is going to be difficult.
“You’ve just got to share the love evenly with everyone because there’s just nowhere to get extra product,” stated one grower. “It’s just not available … Any other time you could work sideways and barter and trade back and forth, but that won’t be able to happen much this season because everyone’s in the same situation.”
Quality of the mushrooms also has been affected along with quantity.
“There hasn’t been a whole lot quite up to par from what I’m seeing, When the compost is weak you can then get blotch … which causes spotting on the mushrooms that sometimes you can’t see when you harvest the mushroom but it shows up later, by the time it gets shipped to the customer, the grower stated.”
At various times 30 Pennsylvania counties have been in a drought watch, which has affected mushroom growers.
By Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
Nogales – During the recently celebrated 48th Nogales Produce Convention, on Nov. 3- Nov. 5, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, (FPAA) released the 2015-16 Nogales Produce Import Report.
The report shows the significant impact that fresh produce imported via Nogales has in the overall trade of fruits and vegetable in the country. During the last season, imports reached a total of 6.3 billion lbs. which represents 17% of U.S. global imports.
The report presents a five-year comparison, and it reveals what items are highest in volume and in value.
As part of the FPAA Produce Convention program, a panel of importers discussed the report, offering possible explanations for the volume variations, discussing industry trends, and talking about information impacting the upcoming season.
These importers on the panel included: Chris Ciruli, COO, Ciruli Bros. Inc.; Fried DeSchouwer, President, Greenhouse Produce Co.; Rod Sbragia, Director of Sales and Marketing, Tricar Sales Inc.; and Mikee Suarez, Sales, MAS Melons & Grapes. Moderating the panel was Lance Jungmeyer, President of FPAA.
In summary, “Tomatoes have started a new growth phase, separating themselves from watermelons, the No. 2 item in Nogales. This is reflective of the continued growth in romas, and persisting strong demand for round reds,” said Jungmeyer.
The panel said to expect more growth in grapes, as companies add varietals that perform well in the early part of the season.
“A few years ago we had only three or four white, or green, varieties of grapes with any volume in Mexico. Now, we see 10 or more varietals being grown, with interesting and new flavor profiles,” said panelist Mikee Suarez of MAS Melons and Grapes. “These grapes also fill a great gap at the beginning of the Mexican grape season, when Chilean white grapes are leaving the market.”
The panel noted how the Nogales produce deal can no longer be characterized as having a January through April peak in volume.
In fact, the statistics bear out that there is an even stronger second peak in the season in late April through June. Both grapes and watermelons contribute to the second peak.
The following graph shows the evolution and changes in the peaks in the last five seasons:
While a lack of water and labor in western U.S. states is shifting volume to Mexico, there also is a clear trend of improvements in logistics and infrastructure at the Southwest border that should enable greater product flows through Nogales.
For instance, the new Unified Cargo Inspection Program in Nogales is bringing Mexican Customs officers to the U.S. side of the border to conduct inspections. Companies with the proper security clearances can take advantage of this program to reduce their crossing times from 4-6 hours during peak season to less than an hour.
Light volume with Mexican melons, vegetables through Nogales – grossing about $3200 to Chicago.
rw
As Turbana becomes Fyffes North America, it brings the resources of the biggest banana supplier in Europe to this side of the Atlantic.
North American buyers could stock the Fyffes brand before, but now it takes over for the Turbana brand in the market unless buyers request the Turbana label.
Ireland-based Fyffes owns 50% of the former Turbana company in addition to an increasing number of holdings in North America.
The change will be officially announced at PMA Fresh Summit, but Jack Howell, senior vice president of sales for Fyffes NA, said customers are being informed now, and the Fyffes label will begin shipping on bananas in the U.S. and Canada.
Fyffes is the largest banana shipper in Europe with 46 million cases. It extends its global sourcing infrastructure the No. 4 banana shipper in North America with 10 million cases per year.
Its main banana sources for this market are Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala, but it owns farms and has grower agreements with 12 countries in Central and South America.
Fyffes is also a significant player in North America in pineapples, off-shore melons and mushrooms.
In April, Fyffes acquired Leamington, Ontario-based Highline Produce Ltd., the largest mushroom producer in Canada, which was followed this month by the acquisition of All Seasons Mushrooms, Langley, British Columbia.
However, those businesses are owned by Fyffes PLC in Dublin and are not part of Coral Gables, Fla.-based Fyffes NA.
“With over 100 years in the industry, we are experts in supply chain, sourcing the highest quality fruit, and helping retailers profitably grow their banana business,” Howell said.
Fyffes was founded in 1888, and in 1929 became the first name brand in bananas.
Red River Valley red potato shipments could be off 30 to 40 percent this season due to excessive rains, while Prince Edward Island is looking a normal volume.
During the 2015-16 shipping season, 25 percent of all red potatoes shipments in the U.S. originated from the Red River Valley eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota.
The remaining 75 percent were spread out among 11 other shipping regions. The state of Florida ranked second with roughly 12 percent, while the Big Lake region of Minnesota came in third with a nine percent.
Due to weather factors delaying the Red River Valley harvest this fall, there wasn’t the urgency to ship red potatoes from the new crop out of Central Minnesota (Big Lake). This latter area typically starts shipping a month or so ahead of the Red River Valley and works to complete its season before the valley starts. Big Lake also does not storage potatoes like is done in the valley.
When the Valley started shipping in October, red potato shipping regions around the country such as Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho and the Skagit Valley in Washington, had light volume as well.
While loadings of red potatoes has been a little different so far this season, one thing potato haulers can pretty much count on every year – a flood of Idaho russets courtesy of over producing growers. For example a bale of Idaho russets can be delivered for around $4.00. Folks, that’s cheap!
A recent issue of the North American Potato Market News points out last year’s national red shipments exceeded 2011-12 shipments by 1.7 million cwt, or 14 percent.
Prince Edward Island Potato Shipments
Prince Edward Island is the leading province in Canada with potato shipments and expects to have about 25 million cwt (hundred weight). The potatoes are grown on 89,000 acres, which has remained steady for the past four or five years.
PEI accounts for about 25 percent of Canada’s potato shipments. About 30 percent of the crop is shipped to the fresh market, 60 percent for processing and 10 percent for seed.
During the next decade, Florida orange production could sink by another two-thirds unless better solutions to the fatal bacterial disease citrus greening aren’t found.
That’s the worst-case scenario presented recently to the Florida Citrus Commission in a new, long-term citrus production forecast by Marisa Zansler, chief economist at the Florida Department of Citrus, and Tom Spreen, emeritus professor of agricultural economics at the University of Florida and a department consultant. The commission is the Citrus Department’s governing board.
Spreen presented three forecasts based on different computer models of the future, including one based on no research breakthroughs on greening and no change in current production trends, such as declines in yield, or the boxes of fruit harvested per tree, and in the shrinking number of trees and commercial grove acres.
The pessimistic model projects Florida growers harvesting 27.3 million boxes of oranges in the 2026-27 season. That compares to 81.6 million orange boxes harvested in the recently completed 2015-16 season and 242 million boxes in 2003-04, the last season unaffected by greening or hurricanes.
“I hope that scenario is not more likely,” Spreen said. “It’s a very scary picture. There’s no other way to put it.”
One factor affecting yields on greening-infected trees has been a significant increase in the levels of pre-harvest fruit drop, which began appearing in the 2011-12 season. Other factors include smaller fruit size, which means more fruit to fill a standard box, thus a lower total harvest.
But the most optimistic scenario makes some big assumptions, including investing at least $500 million in planting new trees at a 255 percent replanting rate over the number of trees lost each season, he said. Growers would need to sustain that rate every year over the next decade.
The current replanting rate is 50 percent, largely because many growers are unwilling to make the investment until researchers find better methods against greening.
Even at that aggressive replanting rate, Florida growers would produce just 100 million orange boxes in 2026-27, or less than half the production 12 years ago.
Florida growers can achieve the optimistic scenario, said Spreen, citing high levels of replanting in the late 1980s and early 1990s following three major destructive freezes in 1983 to 1989.
But it would take a scientific breakthrough in breeding a new citrus tree that is tolerant or resistant to greening, he added. Tolerance means the tree would get infected but suffer less damage, notably yield loss, and resistance means the tree would be less susceptible to infection.
“We just need that light at the end of the tunnel to show up, and then we’ll see a burst of new planting similar to what we saw in the 1980s,” Spreen said.
by Stemilt Growers
WENATCHEE, Wash. – The University of Minnesota has chosen Rave™ as the brand name for fruit sold from the University’s newest apple variety, MN55, which Stemilt Growers holds the license to grow, pack, and market in North America. Rave™ was selected as the brand name for this apple to play off of the apple’s many exciting attributes, including its incredible crunch and juicy flavor, as well as its unique position as the first apple to ripen in Washington State, coming off the tree in late July.
“We are beyond excited about the chosen brand name of our newest star apple. The Rave™ apple has explosive flavor and with its early harvest timing and dessert qualities, it will reinvent the month of August for the apple category. We look forward to bringing small volumes of Rave™ apples to market in 2017,” said Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl.
The highest quality fruit from MN55 trees will go to market from Stemilt growers as Rave™ apples beginning in summer 2017. MN55 is a variety that was born back in 1997 at the University of Minnesota’s exceptional apple breeding program, the same place that the now national phenomenon Honeycrisp heralds from. It’s a cross between Honeycrisp and an unreleased variety called MonArk. With similar, yet more defined, flavor and quality attributes as Honeycrisp combined with MonArk’s ability to ripen early yet color well and maintain a crisp, juicy texture through the summer heat, Stemilt believes Rave™ apples will be the next standout in the produce department.
The journey to develop a new apple cultivar is not a quick process and requires great efforts. During the 17 years from original breeding to the final release and licensing of MN55 to Stemilt, the University of Minnesota conducted rigorous testing to ensure that the variety was of high enough quality to be commercially released. This process included 5-6 years of testing at multiple locations across the U.S. Together with Stemilt, the University of Minnesota landed on Rave™ as the brand name for the apple earlier this summer.
“Rave™ is a powerful brand name for apples, and one that we know will leave a lasting impression on consumers, especially after they bite into one. Rave™ joins our breeding program’s other success stories, Honeycrisp and SweeTango®, and helps us meet our goal of bringing excitement to consumers as they shop for apples,” said David Bedford, research scientist for the University of Minnesota apple breeding program.
Rave™ is also another chapter in Stemilt’s story of bringing innovative products to market. The company successfully introduced its signature apple Piñata!® to the marketplace back in 2009, and also supplies the West Coast with the University’s popular SweeTango® apple.
“We are constantly seeking new apple varieties with flavors and qualities that will wow the consumer. It’s all about building fruit fans of tomorrow, and Rave™ certainly has the ‘wow factor’ to do just that. We can’t wait to bring this phenomenal apple into stores next August,” said Pepperl.
Stemilt is now in the process of developing a logo and packaging for Rave™ apples, and expects to unveil a look later this year.
by Bridges Produce
This Fall, Bridges Produce is debuting a new label in the U.S. for the fresh organic cranberries from Patience Fruit & Co. This new label, “Patience,” was chosen to reflect the belief that doing things the right way is better than rushing through them. Growing cranberries organically takes more effort, more thoughtfulness, more respect for nature, but the results are worth it.
The relationship between Patience, formerly known as Fruit d’Or, and Bridges Produce began over 16 years ago and has evolved as the companies and the organic market has grown. During the 2014 season Bridges became the exclusive fresh sales representative for Fruit d’Or in the U.S., selling 8 oz. bags and 7.5 oz clamshells. The following season they debuted a 12 oz. poly bag, a size that is in high demand for use in many recipes. For the 2016 fresh cranberry season, all pack styles and sizes will be branded as Patience Fruit & Co.
The group of Quebec growers practice organic farming to minimize their ecological footprint. They believe in working with nature and following its rhythms rather than trying to work against it. For example, they use a “closed circuit” water system where rainwater and melted snow are collected in a drainage basin and used to irrigate the fields and flood them for harvesting. They also rely on 6 million bees to help pollinate the cranberry plants. Growing organically is not the easiest way but yields the best results.
Their superior quality fruit as well as their sustainable growing practices make Bridges so pleased to continue their partnership with Patience Fruit & Co. This year the pack styles Bridges will offer include 12 oz. and 8 oz. poly bags, 7.5 oz. clams, and a 22 lb bulk box. They are available for shipping from Los Angeles and New Jersey October through December. Patience Fruit & Co. also has a line organic dried cranberries, dried mixed berries and artisan blends available as well.
For more information regarding fresh organic cranberries contact Bridges Produce at: info@bridgesproduce.com 503-235-7333
by Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico
URUAPAN, Mexico – The Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico (APEAM) is pleased to report strong shipments to the U.S. market, as the Mexican avocado industry moves swiftly to resume normal operations after a temporary shipping delay caused by a work stoppage in Mexico earlier this month. Harvesting in Mexico resumed on October 15th, and APEAM initially projected shipping 40 million pounds of avocados to the U.S. last week (October 24 – 28). The industry surpassed that projection and shipped a total of 51.6 million pounds – one of the largest weeks ever for Mexican avocado shipments to the United States.
APEAM expects the distribution system to be fully back on track over the next 10 days. This will enable the industry to fulfill ongoing demand throughout the coming months including football season, Thanksgiving and the Holidays.
Weekly avocado shipments now projected through December have been increased by about 10 percent from previous estimates for a total projection of 469 million pounds for the mid October to December time period.
Last year, the U.S. consumed over two billion pounds of avocados with about 80 percent of the supply coming from Mexico. With the updated projections, Mexico is on track to support the strong U.S. demand for avocados through its network of importers, retailers and foodservice partners.
About APEAM
APEAM is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to represent the Hass avocado industry throughout Mexico in its export program for the brand Avocados From Mexico. APEAM is dedicated to developing and implementing stringent quality measures to ensure the production of the finest avocados available anywhere, worldwide. APEAM currently represents more than 19,000 growers and 46 packinghouses.
Mexican avocados, tropical fruit and vegetables crossing the border in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of (Pharr) Texas – grossing about $3700 to New York City; Chicago about $2300; and Atlanta, GA, about $2100.