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Onion shipments by Idaho and eastern Oregon grower-shippers kicked off early this year.
Snake River Produce of Nyssa, OR began digging the week of August. 1, the second earliest start since at least 17 years.
Murakami Produce, Ontario, OR., began digging on time, August 8.
A few other Treasure Valley onion growers also started digging by the week of August 8. However, Skeen Farms in Nyssa, OR didn’t get underway until about August 17.
Some onion shippers started later than last year, but last year was one of the earliest start on the books. This season is proving to be more average.
Acreage will likely be up slightly in the valley as a whole this season, but Skeen Farms’ acreage is slightly below 2015.
Yields should be about average.
Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC, Idaho Falls, ID began digging onions in the Treasure Valley in light volume the week of August 1. With some tight onion supplies, a number of operations started shipping product right way to the fresh market before moving onions into storage.
While onion acreage is up this season in the Treasure Valley, yields may end up being less from a year ago.
Owyhee Produce in Nyssa, OR started digging July 25, the company’s earliest start in 10 years. The diggings got underway despite the company was still shipping its onions grown in California. It did not appear to be presenting any problems, since similar to a lot of other larger operations, the company ships onions the year around.
Yields good to excellent at the beginning of the Treasure Valley season for Owyhee, after only average yields being reported at the beginning of the season.
The biggest challenge of the onion growing season in the Treasure Valley was the hot harvesting weather. This led some crews having to harvest at night or in the early morning.
Idaho and Malheur County, OR onion shipments – grossing about $3400 to Chicago.
By The Northwest Pear Bureau
PORTLAND, Ore. — An abstract of an ongoing study, “Fresh pear (Pyrus communis) consumption may improve blood pressure in middle-aged men and women with metabolic syndrome,” presented at Experimental Biology in San Diego recently indicates regular fresh pear consumption may improve blood pressure and vascular function in middle-aged men and women with metabolic syndrome (MetS.)1 MetS, a cluster of major cardiovascular risk factors highly associated with the development of chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, affects more than one in three U.S. adults. 2
The randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial evaluated the antihypertensive effects of fresh pear consumption in middle-aged men and women with MetS. Fifty men and women aged 45 to 65 years with three of the five features of MetS were randomly assigned to receive either 2 medium-sized fresh pears (~178 g) or 50 g pear-flavored drink mix (placebo) per day for 12 weeks. Preliminary analyses of 36 participants show that after 12 weeks of fresh pear consumption, systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly lower than baseline levels, whereas there were no changes in the control group. Further research is needed to confirm the antihypertensive effects of fresh pears as well as to assess their impact on vascular function.
“These initial results are very promising,” said Dr. Sarah A. Johnson, PhD, RDN, lead author and now Assistant Professor and Director of the Functional Foods & Human Health Laboratory in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University. “With metabolic syndrome being of such high prevalence in the U.S., we feel it is important to explore the potential for functional foods such as pears to improve cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure in affected middle-aged adults. Elevated systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure, which is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, are strong predictors of cardiovascular disease. Age-related vascular dysfunction has been shown to be accelerated in individuals with metabolic syndrome and contributes to these increases in blood pressure.”
The study is from the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences and the Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging (CAENRA) at Florida State University by Dr. Bahram H. Arjmandi, Professor and Director of CAENRA and Dr. Sarah A. Johnson, previous Assistant Director of CAENRA.
Among the most popular fruits in the world, Pears are an excellent source of fiber and a good source of vitamin C, for only 100 calories per serving. One medium pear provides 24 percent of daily fiber needs. Plus they are sodium-free, cholesterol-free, fat-free, and contain 190 mg of potassium. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, including pears, provides beneficial micronutrients, vitamins, dietary fiber, potassium, phytochemicals, and more.
Pear Bureau Northwest continues to collaborate with researchers to support additional studies highlighting the relationship between pears and positive health outcomes. Visit www.usapears.org for additional pear research, nutrition resources and recipes.
About Pear Bureau Northwest Pear Bureau Northwest was established in 1931 as a nonprofit marketing organization to promote the fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Today, the United States is the third largest pear-producing country in the world, and Oregon and Washington comprise the nation’s largest pear growing region with 1,600 growers producing 84% of all fresh pears grown in the United States. Pears grown in these two Pacific Northwest states are distributed under the “USA Pears” brand. Pears are an excellent source of fiber (24% DV) and a good source of vitamin C (10% DV) for only 100 calories per medium sized pear. Sweet and juicy with no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol, pears are a perfect choice for a snack as well as for any course of any meal of the day. For more information, visit www.usapears.org, www.facebook.com/USApears, and follow @USApears on Twitter.
U.S. cranberry shipments are expected to be up slightly in 2016 with loadings beginning in early September. Meanwhile, expect imported bananas and pineapples from Port Manatee to be available for decades.
About 8.59 million barrels are expected to ship this year, up from 8.56 million barrels in 2015 and 8.4 million barrels in 2014, according to an annual cranberry report from the USDA.
Industry leader Wisconsin should ship about 5.2 million barrels, up from 4.9 million barrels last year. With the exception of some isolated hail damage, the growing weather in Wisconsin has been excellent this year.
Production in the No. 2 state, Massachusetts, should fall, from 2.4 million barrels in 2015 to 2.1 million barrels this year — due in part to drought in the state.
Production in New Jersey (which is mostly processed), Oregon and Washington also should be down from last year.
Del Monte, Port Manatee Agreement
Port Manatee of Palmetto, FL and Del Monte Fresh Produce NA Inc. has signed an agreement to keep its importing operations at the Port for up to 20 more years, which goes through August 2021.
The lease includes options for three additional extensions of five years each, according to a news release. If Del Monte uses all options, the grower-shipper and importer could be importing fruit at the central Florida port until at least 2036.
Del Monte,has imported fruit at the port since 1989 and handles weekly refrigerated vessels containing containers and pallets of Central American bananas and pineapples.
For exports, Del Monte ships linerboard used in packaging and also handles other third-party containers and project cargos.
“We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Port Manatee,” Brian Giuliani, Del Monte’s Port Manatee-based port manager, said in the release. “The cooperation with Port Manatee is exceptional and has been vital to the growth of our business at Port Manatee.”
Del Monte has moved 8.7 million short tons of cargo through the port since 1989.
“Extension of Port Manatee’s long-term partnership with Del Monte demonstrates the mutual commitment on the part of our port and a most-valued tenant,” Betsy Benac, the port authority’s chairwoman, said in the release.
Del Monte’s Southeast distribution center at the port has become the company’s second-largest U.S. facility.
Red potato shipments from the Red River Valley have taken a hit for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, California pomegranate shipments are picking up.
Roughly one-third, or 7,000 to 7,800 acres of the Red River Valley potatoes for the fresh market have been lost to excessive rain, and hail damage in northeast North Dakota. Seed and chipping potatoes in the area have suffered damage also and are not included in that talley.
Bruce Huffaker of North American Potato Market News estimates as many as 13,000 acres total (fresh, seed and chipping combined) have been lost in North Dakota and 1,500 in neighboring northwest Minnesota. Counties hardest hit in North Dakota are Pembina and Walsh and in Minnesota, Kittson and Polk.
However, potato fields south of Grand Forks and outside the Red River Valley appear to be in great shape. There are also fields north of Grand Forks that have escaped major damage.
The fresh potato shipments are well underway in the Long Prairie and Big Lake areas of Minnesota. Some of those potatoes are being washed and packed by Red River Valley wash plants, because the harvest in the valley is still several weeks away. Supplies should be adequate at the start of the Red River Valley shipping season but several plants will wrap up earlier than normal in the spring.
Pomegranate Shipments
California grower-shippers are having good shipments of pomegranates that began in mid-August. However, 80 percent or more of the crop is in the wonderful variety which starts around October 1.
Volume loadings will be down this seas as there is some movement toward other crops. Some growers are swapping out pomegranates for nut varieties viewed as being more profitable.
Slayman Marketing of Bakersfield, CA focuses on early varieties and began shipping in early August. Last year started earlier, around July 20. Simonian Fruit Co. of Fowler, CA is expecting similar shipments to a year ago. Simonian should wrap up harvesting the first half of November.
The largest shipper of the wonderful variety is Los Angeles-based Pom Wonderful, which accounts for about 70 percent of California pomegranate shipments.
Organic produce sales topped $1 billion in the first quarter of 2016, according to the latest United Fresh Produce Association FreshFacts report.
Tracking sales data from January through March, the report found that organic fresh produce sales in the first quarter totaled $1.1 billion, up 15% from year-ago levels. Sales gains were boosted by an increase in the number of retailers offering organic produce, according to the release.
The growth in organic produce sales and other data from the report were featured in the workshop “Who’s Buying Your Produce?” at the United Fresh 2016 convention in Chicago, according to a news release.
The FreshFacts report reveals that fresh produce accounts for 34 percent of total fresh sales in supermarkets, second only to meat. Total first-quarter sales of fresh produce were up 5 percent from year-ago levels, and volume was up 1 percent, according to the report.
The United Fresh workshop, to be led by Jen Campuzano and Matt Lally from Nielsen Perishables Group, will address shopping behaviors by generation, income and ethnicity, according to the release. The workshop presenters will also provide recommendations on market strategies for produce suppliers and retailers, according to the release.
The FreshFacts report, produced in partnership with the Nielsen Perishables Group and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce, is available online and can be downloaded with no charge for United Fresh members and $50 for non-members, according to the release.
Beyond its examination of organic sales and trends for the top ten fruits and vegetables, the first quarter FreshFacts report explores consumer perceptions of local produce and generational demand, according to the release.
Even refrigerated carriers have their challenges hauling fresh produce, but it is an awesome mountain for rail entities, which is why there have been so many failures over the years.
Now we hear Railex LLC is ending service to the Southeast. although it claims it will be back one day.
The rail logistics transporter, based in Riverhead, NY, ceased operations in Jacksonville, Fla. August 13th with its refrigerated perishables..
Rumors of the closing had been circulating since July. The company apparently felt it was in its best interest to reassess the Southeast receiving location and close the Jacksonville location. Railex was unable to properly structure its operations at the Jacksonville facility that was too small. The company was operating with a short-term lease.
Railex is working with the Union Pacific and CSX railroads to find a service plan allowing timely deliveries to Southeastern customers through a different location. Railex is hoping to negotiate a service agreement within the coming months.
The Jacksonville location was intended to be a temporary solution to satisfy customers that had long demanded Southeastern service.
“For various reasons beyond our control, Railex could not run the traditional unit-type train service into Jacksonville,” Paul Esposito, executive vice president of corporate affairs said. “The transit times were two days longer than what we had planned and what our customers expected. Now, two years later, during the peak summer season, with transit variabilities as well as the decline in truck rates, we find it difficult to sustain any significant volume into the area.”
The carrier transported apples, carrots, onions, potatoes and wine to receivers via 64-foot refrigerated railcars.
Railex ships from Delano, CA, and Wallula, WA., and unloads and distributes at a Rotterdam, N.Y., refrigerated warehouse near Schenectady, N.Y.
The company opened the Jacksonville location in June 2014.
Rail companies have a history of basing their rates to a significant degree, on truck rates.
Apple shippers in upstate New York will be more comfortable with a forecast once they get through August. Meanwhile, an early forecast doesn’t predict any good times for Florida citrus shipments.
New York apple shippers are reluctant to put on estimate on their crop this season. After all, farmers get spooked easily, don’t want to jinx the crop, and are all too aware of what Mother Nature may have planned. Once we get into September they’ll start loosening up a bit.
Still they remember what history has taught them that a lot can change between April and August, even from July to August. Into 2015 crop all hell broke loose between July and August. The USDA’s July 2015 forecast was 26.2 million 42-pound units, or cartons. Its July 2016 final estimate of the 2015 crop just came out at 32.4 million. That’s a significant increase to market, sell and ship without a lot of notice. But even that year was just short of 2009’s record crop of 32.6 million.
Florida Citrus Shipments
Florida citrus shippers face a tumultuous year if a projected 26 percent decline in Florida’s new orange crop for the 2016-17 season pans out.
One recent prediction has Florida orange growers producing only 60.5 million boxes of oranges in the new season, which begins in October, down from 81.5 million boxes in 2015-16.
If that estimate holds, it will be the smalles Florida orange crop in 53 years since 54.9 million boxes harvested in the 1963-64 season. The next lowest crop was 57.79 million orange boxes in 1949-50.
Florida growers continue to lose the battle against the fatal bacterial disease citrus greening. Additionally, the fungal disease called “postbloom fruit drop” hit the late-season Valencia orange crop hard during the spring.
Greening results in a tree producing fewer, smaller fruit, meaning fewer boxes are picked. Infected trees also show a diminished capacity to hold onto mature fruit before harvesting, known as “pre-harvest drop.”
Florida citrus officials consider greening as the primary factor behind the 66 percent drop in the state’s orange harvest from 242 million boxes in the 2003-04 season, the last non-hurricane season before the disease’s 2005 discovery in the state.
The USDA will release its first official crop estimate October 12.
McDonald’s is talking up a milestone in providing children increased access to fruit through sliced apples served in Happy Meals.
Since 2004, the Oak Brook, Ill.-based foodservice operator reports serving more than two billion packages of sliced apples in Happy Meals, according to a news release.
In 2012, McDonald’s began serving the sliced apples as the default side item instead of french fries.
McDonald’s needed suppliers to develop the capacity to offer the product at restaurants nationwide. The success at McDonald’s led to fresh-cut apple availability at retail, schools and other quick-service restaurants, according to the release. McDonald’s has 14,000 locations in the U.S.
“As the first restaurant to offer fresh-cut apple packages as a side choice for children in April 2004, McDonald’s helped transform the children’s meal nutrition landscape by being the first to successfully create a market for convenient and easy, fresh-cut apple packs,” McDonald’s officials said in the release. “Today, all children in the U.S. under the age of 12 have only ever known a Happy Meal that included the option of apple slices.”
“This milestone is a marker of McDonald’s continuing to play an important role in every community and our ongoing efforts to help increase access to fruit and other nutritious food for children,” Steve Kerley, vice president and general manager of McDonald’s in the Philadelphia region, said in the release. “The decision to serve real apple slices with Happy Meals more than a decade ago helped make it easier for parents to ensure that their children are getting wholesome options.”
McDonald’s is the world’s largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries.
Founded in the United States in 1940, the company began as a barbecue restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald. In 1948, they reorganized their business as a hamburger stand using production line principles. Businessman Ray Kroc joined the company as a franchise agent in 1955. He subsequently purchased the chain from the McDonald brothers and oversaw its worldwide growth.
While many California vegetable shipments have been rather lack luster this year, shipments have soared for mandarins, and table grapes may break a record.
California mandarins produced in the San Joaquin Valley during 2015 have been valued at $197.6 million, a 171 percent increase from the $72.8 million the previous year, according to the The Fresno County Farm Bureau.
Mostly marketed as clementines with branded labels, from 2014 to 2015, the region’s production of mandarins increased from 121,000 tons to 166,000 tons, a 37.2 percent increase. The national mandarin market, which is dominated by Sun Pacific and Wonderful Citrus, Delano, CA , Wonderful packs the fruit under the Halos label that it introduced in late 2013.
The value of mandarins sold nationally at retail jumped 23 percent two years ago and increased 15 percent from the 2014-15 season to 2015-16. The Fresno County data come from the region’s growers, 60 to 70 percent of whom return the crop report requested by the county.
While some mandarin shippers operate out of Fresno County, they have much larger produce from Kern County.
Given that the Fresno County data doesn’t include much product from Sun Pacific and Wonderful, the two dominant players in the market, it makes sense that the national numbers — relying heavily on the Cuties brand and Halos brand sales — don’t match the regional numbers.
California Grape Shipments
California grapes are in the ballpark of an all-time high for shipments, and over 60 percent of the crop will ship after September 1st.
The 2016 grape crop is estimated at nearly 117.1 million 19-bound box equivalents. This is down a bit from the spring estimate of 117.4 million, but that number would still surpass the record harvest of 116.3 million in 2013.
Last year’s crop of 109.3 million boxes rode favorable markets to its highest ever gross value at $1.83 billion.
Fall grapes will include autumn kings, scarlet royals, autumn royals and red globes. Among the many trademark varieties are Holiday and Milano from Columbine Vineyards; AutumnCrisp by Sun World International; Green Emerald from Sunlight International Sales; and Sweet Celebration from Jasmine, Pandol Bros. and other shippers.
San Joaquin Valley mandarins and grapes – grossing about $5000 to Atlanta.
Mango imports are up significantly this season. Plus, we take a final look at Northwest cherry shipments.
Brazil Mango Imports
The U.S., the National Mango Board (NMB) has released its latest update from Mexico and Brazil as of August 6, 2016 and reports volume arriving into the U.S. is up nearly one million boxes from last year.
Mango volume shipping the first week of August is about 2.6 million boxes. During the same week last year, volume was around 1.7 million boxes. These numbers brought the total mango volume to over 80,5 million boxes arriving mostly at U.S. ports.
The Brazilian mango shipping season runs from July through November, with a projected 8 million boxes forecast.
As of August 6, volume shipped from Brazil was 322,298 boxes for a total of 372,530 thus far this season. This volume is up an approximate 84,242 boxes from last year at the same time.
Mexico Mango Imports
Additionally, the Mexican mango shipping season, which began in January and will run through October, is expected to provide the U.S. with about 66.5 million boxes of mangos.
At this point last year, volume from Mexico was composed of a total of over 64 millions boxes. This number is slightly lower this year, with a total of 63.1 million cartons.
Though the overall volume is lower as of right now, weekly imports are on the rise. During the week of August 6 last year, volume arrived from Mexico was approximately 1.7 million. This year, that number has significantly increased with volume arriving from Mexico on the same week at around 2.6 million boxes.
Cherry Shipments
Northwest cherry growers shipped nearly 21 million pounds of fruit this year. Some are describing the crop as “vintage” and the “best eating” fruit in many years.
Due to the larger sized cherries, forecasters changed their estimates upwards. On June 1, this year’s crop was estimated at 19.6 million boxes, but by August 4th, the last estimate of the season, it had risen to 20. 8 million boxes, thanks not only to bigger sizes but to less drop on some varieties.
Onion shipments by Idaho and eastern Oregon grower-shippers kicked off early this year.
Snake River Produce of Nyssa, OR began digging the week of August. 1, the second earliest start since at least 17 years.
Murakami Produce, Ontario, OR., began digging on time, August 8.
A few other Treasure Valley onion growers also started digging by the week of August 8. However, Skeen Farms in Nyssa, OR didn’t get underway until about August 17.
Some onion shippers started later than last year, but last year was one of the earliest start on the books. This season is proving to be more average.
Acreage will likely be up slightly in the valley as a whole this season, but Skeen Farms’ acreage is slightly below 2015.
Yields should be about average.
Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC, Idaho Falls, ID began digging onions in the Treasure Valley in light volume the week of August 1. With some tight onion supplies, a number of operations started shipping product right way to the fresh market before moving onions into storage.
While onion acreage is up this season in the Treasure Valley, yields may end up being less from a year ago.
Owyhee Produce in Nyssa, OR started digging July 25, the company’s earliest start in 10 years. The diggings got underway despite the company was still shipping its onions grown in California. It did not appear to be presenting any problems, since similar to a lot of other larger operations, the company ships onions the year around.
Yields good to excellent at the beginning of the Treasure Valley season for Owyhee, after only average yields being reported at the beginning of the season.
The biggest challenge of the onion growing season in the Treasure Valley was the hot harvesting weather. This led some crews having to harvest at night or in the early morning.
Idaho and Malheur County, OR onion shipments – grossing about $3400 to Chicago.
By The Northwest Pear Bureau
PORTLAND, Ore. — An abstract of an ongoing study, “Fresh pear (Pyrus communis) consumption may improve blood pressure in middle-aged men and women with metabolic syndrome,” presented at Experimental Biology in San Diego recently indicates regular fresh pear consumption may improve blood pressure and vascular function in middle-aged men and women with metabolic syndrome (MetS.)1 MetS, a cluster of major cardiovascular risk factors highly associated with the development of chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, affects more than one in three U.S. adults. 2
The randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial evaluated the antihypertensive effects of fresh pear consumption in middle-aged men and women with MetS. Fifty men and women aged 45 to 65 years with three of the five features of MetS were randomly assigned to receive either 2 medium-sized fresh pears (~178 g) or 50 g pear-flavored drink mix (placebo) per day for 12 weeks. Preliminary analyses of 36 participants show that after 12 weeks of fresh pear consumption, systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly lower than baseline levels, whereas there were no changes in the control group. Further research is needed to confirm the antihypertensive effects of fresh pears as well as to assess their impact on vascular function.
“These initial results are very promising,” said Dr. Sarah A. Johnson, PhD, RDN, lead author and now Assistant Professor and Director of the Functional Foods & Human Health Laboratory in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University. “With metabolic syndrome being of such high prevalence in the U.S., we feel it is important to explore the potential for functional foods such as pears to improve cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure in affected middle-aged adults. Elevated systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure, which is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, are strong predictors of cardiovascular disease. Age-related vascular dysfunction has been shown to be accelerated in individuals with metabolic syndrome and contributes to these increases in blood pressure.”
The study is from the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences and the Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging (CAENRA) at Florida State University by Dr. Bahram H. Arjmandi, Professor and Director of CAENRA and Dr. Sarah A. Johnson, previous Assistant Director of CAENRA.
Among the most popular fruits in the world, Pears are an excellent source of fiber and a good source of vitamin C, for only 100 calories per serving. One medium pear provides 24 percent of daily fiber needs. Plus they are sodium-free, cholesterol-free, fat-free, and contain 190 mg of potassium. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, including pears, provides beneficial micronutrients, vitamins, dietary fiber, potassium, phytochemicals, and more.
Pear Bureau Northwest continues to collaborate with researchers to support additional studies highlighting the relationship between pears and positive health outcomes. Visit www.usapears.org for additional pear research, nutrition resources and recipes.
About Pear Bureau Northwest Pear Bureau Northwest was established in 1931 as a nonprofit marketing organization to promote the fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Today, the United States is the third largest pear-producing country in the world, and Oregon and Washington comprise the nation’s largest pear growing region with 1,600 growers producing 84% of all fresh pears grown in the United States. Pears grown in these two Pacific Northwest states are distributed under the “USA Pears” brand. Pears are an excellent source of fiber (24% DV) and a good source of vitamin C (10% DV) for only 100 calories per medium sized pear. Sweet and juicy with no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol, pears are a perfect choice for a snack as well as for any course of any meal of the day. For more information, visit www.usapears.org, www.facebook.com/USApears, and follow @USApears on Twitter.
U.S. cranberry shipments are expected to be up slightly in 2016 with loadings beginning in early September. Meanwhile, expect imported bananas and pineapples from Port Manatee to be available for decades.
About 8.59 million barrels are expected to ship this year, up from 8.56 million barrels in 2015 and 8.4 million barrels in 2014, according to an annual cranberry report from the USDA.
Industry leader Wisconsin should ship about 5.2 million barrels, up from 4.9 million barrels last year. With the exception of some isolated hail damage, the growing weather in Wisconsin has been excellent this year.
Production in the No. 2 state, Massachusetts, should fall, from 2.4 million barrels in 2015 to 2.1 million barrels this year — due in part to drought in the state.
Production in New Jersey (which is mostly processed), Oregon and Washington also should be down from last year.
Del Monte, Port Manatee Agreement
Port Manatee of Palmetto, FL and Del Monte Fresh Produce NA Inc. has signed an agreement to keep its importing operations at the Port for up to 20 more years, which goes through August 2021.
The lease includes options for three additional extensions of five years each, according to a news release. If Del Monte uses all options, the grower-shipper and importer could be importing fruit at the central Florida port until at least 2036.
Del Monte,has imported fruit at the port since 1989 and handles weekly refrigerated vessels containing containers and pallets of Central American bananas and pineapples.
For exports, Del Monte ships linerboard used in packaging and also handles other third-party containers and project cargos.
“We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Port Manatee,” Brian Giuliani, Del Monte’s Port Manatee-based port manager, said in the release. “The cooperation with Port Manatee is exceptional and has been vital to the growth of our business at Port Manatee.”
Del Monte has moved 8.7 million short tons of cargo through the port since 1989.
“Extension of Port Manatee’s long-term partnership with Del Monte demonstrates the mutual commitment on the part of our port and a most-valued tenant,” Betsy Benac, the port authority’s chairwoman, said in the release.
Del Monte’s Southeast distribution center at the port has become the company’s second-largest U.S. facility.
Red potato shipments from the Red River Valley have taken a hit for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, California pomegranate shipments are picking up.
Roughly one-third, or 7,000 to 7,800 acres of the Red River Valley potatoes for the fresh market have been lost to excessive rain, and hail damage in northeast North Dakota. Seed and chipping potatoes in the area have suffered damage also and are not included in that talley.
Bruce Huffaker of North American Potato Market News estimates as many as 13,000 acres total (fresh, seed and chipping combined) have been lost in North Dakota and 1,500 in neighboring northwest Minnesota. Counties hardest hit in North Dakota are Pembina and Walsh and in Minnesota, Kittson and Polk.
However, potato fields south of Grand Forks and outside the Red River Valley appear to be in great shape. There are also fields north of Grand Forks that have escaped major damage.
The fresh potato shipments are well underway in the Long Prairie and Big Lake areas of Minnesota. Some of those potatoes are being washed and packed by Red River Valley wash plants, because the harvest in the valley is still several weeks away. Supplies should be adequate at the start of the Red River Valley shipping season but several plants will wrap up earlier than normal in the spring.
Pomegranate Shipments
California grower-shippers are having good shipments of pomegranates that began in mid-August. However, 80 percent or more of the crop is in the wonderful variety which starts around October 1.
Volume loadings will be down this seas as there is some movement toward other crops. Some growers are swapping out pomegranates for nut varieties viewed as being more profitable.
Slayman Marketing of Bakersfield, CA focuses on early varieties and began shipping in early August. Last year started earlier, around July 20. Simonian Fruit Co. of Fowler, CA is expecting similar shipments to a year ago. Simonian should wrap up harvesting the first half of November.
The largest shipper of the wonderful variety is Los Angeles-based Pom Wonderful, which accounts for about 70 percent of California pomegranate shipments.
Organic produce sales topped $1 billion in the first quarter of 2016, according to the latest United Fresh Produce Association FreshFacts report.Tracking sales data from January through March, the report found that organic fresh produce sales in the first quarter totaled $1.1 billion, up 15% from year-ago levels. Sales gains were boosted by an increase in the number of retailers offering organic produce, according to the release.
The growth in organic produce sales and other data from the report were featured in the workshop “Who’s Buying Your Produce?” at the United Fresh 2016 convention in Chicago, according to a news release.
The FreshFacts report reveals that fresh produce accounts for 34 percent of total fresh sales in supermarkets, second only to meat. Total first-quarter sales of fresh produce were up 5 percent from year-ago levels, and volume was up 1 percent, according to the report.
The United Fresh workshop, to be led by Jen Campuzano and Matt Lally from Nielsen Perishables Group, will address shopping behaviors by generation, income and ethnicity, according to the release. The workshop presenters will also provide recommendations on market strategies for produce suppliers and retailers, according to the release.
The FreshFacts report, produced in partnership with the Nielsen Perishables Group and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce, is available online and can be downloaded with no charge for United Fresh members and $50 for non-members, according to the release.
Beyond its examination of organic sales and trends for the top ten fruits and vegetables, the first quarter FreshFacts report explores consumer perceptions of local produce and generational demand, according to the release.
Even refrigerated carriers have their challenges hauling fresh produce, but it is an awesome mountain for rail entities, which is why there have been so many failures over the years.
Now we hear Railex LLC is ending service to the Southeast. although it claims it will be back one day.
The rail logistics transporter, based in Riverhead, NY, ceased operations in Jacksonville, Fla. August 13th with its refrigerated perishables..
Rumors of the closing had been circulating since July. The company apparently felt it was in its best interest to reassess the Southeast receiving location and close the Jacksonville location. Railex was unable to properly structure its operations at the Jacksonville facility that was too small. The company was operating with a short-term lease.
Railex is working with the Union Pacific and CSX railroads to find a service plan allowing timely deliveries to Southeastern customers through a different location. Railex is hoping to negotiate a service agreement within the coming months.
The Jacksonville location was intended to be a temporary solution to satisfy customers that had long demanded Southeastern service.
“For various reasons beyond our control, Railex could not run the traditional unit-type train service into Jacksonville,” Paul Esposito, executive vice president of corporate affairs said. “The transit times were two days longer than what we had planned and what our customers expected. Now, two years later, during the peak summer season, with transit variabilities as well as the decline in truck rates, we find it difficult to sustain any significant volume into the area.”
The carrier transported apples, carrots, onions, potatoes and wine to receivers via 64-foot refrigerated railcars.
Railex ships from Delano, CA, and Wallula, WA., and unloads and distributes at a Rotterdam, N.Y., refrigerated warehouse near Schenectady, N.Y.
The company opened the Jacksonville location in June 2014.
Rail companies have a history of basing their rates to a significant degree, on truck rates.
Apple shippers in upstate New York will be more comfortable with a forecast once they get through August. Meanwhile, an early forecast doesn’t predict any good times for Florida citrus shipments.
New York apple shippers are reluctant to put on estimate on their crop this season. After all, farmers get spooked easily, don’t want to jinx the crop, and are all too aware of what Mother Nature may have planned. Once we get into September they’ll start loosening up a bit.
Still they remember what history has taught them that a lot can change between April and August, even from July to August. Into 2015 crop all hell broke loose between July and August. The USDA’s July 2015 forecast was 26.2 million 42-pound units, or cartons. Its July 2016 final estimate of the 2015 crop just came out at 32.4 million. That’s a significant increase to market, sell and ship without a lot of notice. But even that year was just short of 2009’s record crop of 32.6 million.
Florida Citrus Shipments
Florida citrus shippers face a tumultuous year if a projected 26 percent decline in Florida’s new orange crop for the 2016-17 season pans out.
One recent prediction has Florida orange growers producing only 60.5 million boxes of oranges in the new season, which begins in October, down from 81.5 million boxes in 2015-16.
If that estimate holds, it will be the smalles Florida orange crop in 53 years since 54.9 million boxes harvested in the 1963-64 season. The next lowest crop was 57.79 million orange boxes in 1949-50.
Florida growers continue to lose the battle against the fatal bacterial disease citrus greening. Additionally, the fungal disease called “postbloom fruit drop” hit the late-season Valencia orange crop hard during the spring.
Greening results in a tree producing fewer, smaller fruit, meaning fewer boxes are picked. Infected trees also show a diminished capacity to hold onto mature fruit before harvesting, known as “pre-harvest drop.”
Florida citrus officials consider greening as the primary factor behind the 66 percent drop in the state’s orange harvest from 242 million boxes in the 2003-04 season, the last non-hurricane season before the disease’s 2005 discovery in the state.
The USDA will release its first official crop estimate October 12.
McDonald’s is talking up a milestone in providing children increased access to fruit through sliced apples served in Happy Meals.
Since 2004, the Oak Brook, Ill.-based foodservice operator reports serving more than two billion packages of sliced apples in Happy Meals, according to a news release.
In 2012, McDonald’s began serving the sliced apples as the default side item instead of french fries.
McDonald’s needed suppliers to develop the capacity to offer the product at restaurants nationwide. The success at McDonald’s led to fresh-cut apple availability at retail, schools and other quick-service restaurants, according to the release. McDonald’s has 14,000 locations in the U.S.
“As the first restaurant to offer fresh-cut apple packages as a side choice for children in April 2004, McDonald’s helped transform the children’s meal nutrition landscape by being the first to successfully create a market for convenient and easy, fresh-cut apple packs,” McDonald’s officials said in the release. “Today, all children in the U.S. under the age of 12 have only ever known a Happy Meal that included the option of apple slices.”
“This milestone is a marker of McDonald’s continuing to play an important role in every community and our ongoing efforts to help increase access to fruit and other nutritious food for children,” Steve Kerley, vice president and general manager of McDonald’s in the Philadelphia region, said in the release. “The decision to serve real apple slices with Happy Meals more than a decade ago helped make it easier for parents to ensure that their children are getting wholesome options.”
McDonald’s is the world’s largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries.
Founded in the United States in 1940, the company began as a barbecue restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald. In 1948, they reorganized their business as a hamburger stand using production line principles. Businessman Ray Kroc joined the company as a franchise agent in 1955. He subsequently purchased the chain from the McDonald brothers and oversaw its worldwide growth.
While many California vegetable shipments have been rather lack luster this year, shipments have soared for mandarins, and table grapes may break a record.
California mandarins produced in the San Joaquin Valley during 2015 have been valued at $197.6 million, a 171 percent increase from the $72.8 million the previous year, according to the The Fresno County Farm Bureau.
Mostly marketed as clementines with branded labels, from 2014 to 2015, the region’s production of mandarins increased from 121,000 tons to 166,000 tons, a 37.2 percent increase. The national mandarin market, which is dominated by Sun Pacific and Wonderful Citrus, Delano, CA , Wonderful packs the fruit under the Halos label that it introduced in late 2013.
The value of mandarins sold nationally at retail jumped 23 percent two years ago and increased 15 percent from the 2014-15 season to 2015-16. The Fresno County data come from the region’s growers, 60 to 70 percent of whom return the crop report requested by the county.
While some mandarin shippers operate out of Fresno County, they have much larger produce from Kern County.
Given that the Fresno County data doesn’t include much product from Sun Pacific and Wonderful, the two dominant players in the market, it makes sense that the national numbers — relying heavily on the Cuties brand and Halos brand sales — don’t match the regional numbers.
California Grape Shipments
California grapes are in the ballpark of an all-time high for shipments, and over 60 percent of the crop will ship after September 1st.
The 2016 grape crop is estimated at nearly 117.1 million 19-bound box equivalents. This is down a bit from the spring estimate of 117.4 million, but that number would still surpass the record harvest of 116.3 million in 2013.
Last year’s crop of 109.3 million boxes rode favorable markets to its highest ever gross value at $1.83 billion.
Fall grapes will include autumn kings, scarlet royals, autumn royals and red globes. Among the many trademark varieties are Holiday and Milano from Columbine Vineyards; AutumnCrisp by Sun World International; Green Emerald from Sunlight International Sales; and Sweet Celebration from Jasmine, Pandol Bros. and other shippers.
San Joaquin Valley mandarins and grapes – grossing about $5000 to Atlanta.
Mango imports are up significantly this season. Plus, we take a final look at Northwest cherry shipments.
Brazil Mango Imports
The U.S., the National Mango Board (NMB) has released its latest update from Mexico and Brazil as of August 6, 2016 and reports volume arriving into the U.S. is up nearly one million boxes from last year.
Mango volume shipping the first week of August is about 2.6 million boxes. During the same week last year, volume was around 1.7 million boxes. These numbers brought the total mango volume to over 80,5 million boxes arriving mostly at U.S. ports.
The Brazilian mango shipping season runs from July through November, with a projected 8 million boxes forecast.
As of August 6, volume shipped from Brazil was 322,298 boxes for a total of 372,530 thus far this season. This volume is up an approximate 84,242 boxes from last year at the same time.
Mexico Mango Imports
Additionally, the Mexican mango shipping season, which began in January and will run through October, is expected to provide the U.S. with about 66.5 million boxes of mangos.
At this point last year, volume from Mexico was composed of a total of over 64 millions boxes. This number is slightly lower this year, with a total of 63.1 million cartons.
Though the overall volume is lower as of right now, weekly imports are on the rise. During the week of August 6 last year, volume arrived from Mexico was approximately 1.7 million. This year, that number has significantly increased with volume arriving from Mexico on the same week at around 2.6 million boxes.
Cherry Shipments
Northwest cherry growers shipped nearly 21 million pounds of fruit this year. Some are describing the crop as “vintage” and the “best eating” fruit in many years.
Due to the larger sized cherries, forecasters changed their estimates upwards. On June 1, this year’s crop was estimated at 19.6 million boxes, but by August 4th, the last estimate of the season, it had risen to 20. 8 million boxes, thanks not only to bigger sizes but to less drop on some varieties.