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Western Shipments: When Loading Potatoes You Should Question the Quality

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DSCN0466The last potatoes of the shipping season, which have been held in storages for months, may have quality problems which could result in rejected loads or claims.  The good news is there are very few russetts left in major shipping states such as Idaho.

What started out as a huge crop last fall, has faded quickly since spring.  Packouts have been off due to quality problems and some spuds have even been used a cattle feed.

There is light volume with the new crop of red and yellow potatoes out of  Washington and Oregon with shipments picking up the week of July 22. Russet loadings should get going between July 22 and Aug. 1.

Overall potato shipments are going to be very light around the country until about the second week of August, as the new crop starts gaining steam.

Blueberries 

Big volumes of blueberries are seen  from Oregon and British Columbia in July and August — and likely even into September.  There have been few complaints regarding size, or taste, which means fewer problems for drivers at unloading docks.

Grapes

In California, record shipments of table grapes are still being seen for this season.  Another forecast will be issued in late July.

Last year California topped 100 million boxes of grapes shipped for the first time.  This season observers are looking at shipments hitting nearly 107 million, 19-pound cartons.  Hang on sloopy, that’s a lot of fruit!  Grape loadings are taking place from the Arvin district.

Over half of California’s grapes will be shipped after Labor Day and extending into December, a trend that has come as newer, late variety grapes have been developed.

San Joaquin Valley grapes and stone fruit – grossing about $8,000 to New York City.

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Disease Problems with NJ Tomatoes, Potatoes, Could Lead to Claims

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DSCN0581If you’re planning to haul New Jersey produce be extra cautious and know what you are loading when it comes to quality.  Tomato and potato crops are being threatened by late blight.

It is a  destructive fast-spreading disease and has been found on five farms in the state.  The disease of Irish potato famine notoriety, creates fuzzy spores and dark lesions on leaves and stems of tomatoes and potatoes and quickly kills the entire plant.

Meanwhile, no quality problems have been reported with New Jersey peaches, which are now being shipped to destinations on the East Coast and some to the midwest.

New Jersey blueberry shipments have been going at a good, steady pace and should continue into mid August.  The only distruptions have been a few occasions when rain has delayed harvest, which in turns affects packing and shipping.

Maine

A fair amount of Maine broccoli is being shipped between now and mid October.   Up to a million cartons should be loaded during the season for destinations along the East coast and into the midwest.

Florida

Florida is pretty dead this time of year when comes to loads.  A quick look back at the Florida citrus shipping season shows it was a little disppointing.  There were fewer loads of oranges,  grapefruit and a lot less tangerines.

In its July 11 final season report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported all orange production declining 9% from the previous season, and tangerines saw a 22% drop. 

This season, total orange production fell from 146.7 million equivalent cartons to 133.4 million cartons, with the late season valencias also seeing a 9% drop from last season’s 72.5 million cartons to 68.3 million cartons this year.

Grapefruit production fell 2.2% from the previous year, from 18.8 million equivalent cartons to 18.4 million cartons.

Though 96% of Florida’s oranges are grown for processing, about 60% of its navels, 70% of its tangerines and 40% of its colored grapefruit ship to fresh markets, primarily by truck.

 

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Werner Driver Leonard Capps: 1 Million Accident-Free Miles

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DSCN0545Company driver Leonard Capps has driven one million accident-free miles during his 38 years in trucking, and has the seal on the side of the big rig he drives to prove it.

He earned his million-mile award about three years ago, while driving for his current carrier, Werner Enterprises, The Omaha -based  company he’s now been with 11 years.

Leonard is proud of the fact he’s had no accidents, and has never been arrested during his career.  He’s driven for a number of companies over the years and has received safety awards at every stop along the way.

He was an owner operator for about three years after completing his enlistment in the Army.

“My dad suggested when I got out of the service I start driving a truck.  I’ve been doing it ever since,” he says.

Leonard was stationed in Germany during his military stint, then lived in Chicago after he got out of the Army.  He then moved to Mississippi now calls Iuka, Ms home.

At one time during his career the driver hauled a lot of fresh produce out of California to Walmart distribution centers.  These days, most of his driving is in the Southeastern USA, although he’ll get as far north occasionally as Pennsylvania  delivering Sara Lee products.

Leonard drives a 2010 Peterbilt housing a 475 hp Cummins diesel, with an eight speed transmission and 70-inch sleeper.  He was pulling a 53-Utility trailers with a Carrier reefer unit.

While he still enjoys trucking, the excessive rules and regulations make it more difficult.  For example, he was parked in a Georiga truck stop waiting for another driver to take over the load for final delivery.

“I only had 30 minutes left on my 14-hour restart, so I had only driven  a few miles.  After the other driver picks up the trailer, I’m going to deadhead home.”

While he continues to enjoy trucking and seeing different places, Leonard admits it is not as much fun as it used to be.

“Nobody talks to you anymore; not even other company drivers.  There are four or five other Werner drivers parked here; we ought to at least be talking to one another,” he says.

Leonard logs about 60,000 miles a year, unlike the 135,000 annual miles he used to drive.  There also is a 62 mph governor of that Pete.  Still, he’s got those million miles of safe driving under his belt.  That’s something of which to be proud.   

 

 

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Eating Pineapple is Not Only Tasty, But Good for Your Health

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IMG_6051The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family.  It is extremely rare that bromeliads produce edible fruit. The pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today.

It is a multiple fruit. One pineapple is actually made up of dozens of
individual floweret’s that grow together to form the entire fruit. Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower.  Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked.  Color is relatively unimportant in determining ripeness.  Choose your pineapple by smell. If it smells fresh, tropical and
sweet, it will be a good fruit.

The more scales on the pineapple, the sweeter and juicier the taste.  After you cut off the top, you can plant it.

This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical; it also offers many benefits to our health. Pineapple is a remarkable fruit.

We find it enjoyable because of its lush, sweet and exotic flavor, but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available today.  If we take a more detailed look at it, we will find that pineapple is valuable for easing indigestion, arthritis or sinusitis.

The juice has an anthelmintic effect; it helps get rid of intestinal worms.
Let’s look at how pineapple affects other conditions.  Pineapple is high in manganese, a mineral that is critical to development of strong bones and connective tissue. A cup of fresh pineapple will give you nearly 75% of the recommended daily amount.  It is particularly helpful to older adults, whose bones tend to become brittle with age.

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme, is the key to pineapple’s value.  Proteolytic means “breaks down protein”, which is why pineapple is known to be a digestive aid. It helps the body digest proteins more efficiently.  Bromelain is also considered an effective anti-inflammatory.  Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis. It also produces mild pain relief.

In Germany, bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication because it is
thought to reduce inflammation and swelling.  Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold because it is high in Vitamin C. Fresh pineapple is not only high in this vitamin, but because of the Bromelain, it has the ability to reduce mucous in the throat.

If you have a cold with a productive cough, add pineapple to your diet.
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to cut mucous
after certain sinus and throat operations.

Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer sinus problems
related to allergies. In and of itself, pineapple has a very low risk for allergies.
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development. This makes
it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and others who may be at risk for blood clots.

An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice.  It really works! Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the morning often make a difference.  It’s also good for a healthier mouth. The fresh juice discourages plaque growth.

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Walmart, Target are the Largest Retailers in the USA

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DSCN0416With $328 billion in U.S. retail sales, Walmart holds a dominant position as the largest retailer in the United States.

In 2012 Walmart had higher sales numbers than the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-largest retailers combined, according to STORES magazine’s annual report on the top 100 retailers in the United States. The U.S. accounts for approximately 70 percent of Walmart’s $467 billion in worldwide sales.

Kroger, with more than $92 billion in sales, came in second on the list. The Cincinnati-based company operates entirely in the U.S. and saw a 6.6 percent increase in sales from 2011 to 2012.

Target, another retailer operating entirely in the U.S., came in third, with just under $72 billion in sales and a 5.1 percent increase over 2011.

Costco, another large-format retailer, came in fourth at $71 billion in sales, but it also saw a 10.6 percent increase in sales over 2011.

According to the report, supermarkets on the Top 100 list had average sales of $21.2 billion in 2012.

Safeway, based in Pleasanton, CA, had the ninth-largest sales numbers for 2012. The $37.5 billion in U.S. sales accounted for nearly 89 percent of it’s global total.

A complete listing of the top 100 U.S. retailers is available at stores.org.

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New GPS Tracking Software is Introduced

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DSCN0391Logistics software specialist Roadnet Technologies has introduced a new service allowing users to check arrival times by text, e-mail or phone.

Active Alert, the latest addition to Baltimore-based Roadnet’s MobileCast vehicle GPS tracking software, provides customers with instant notification of projected and actual arrival times, according to a company news release.

Customers who sign up for an alert through a website application or smartphone app are automatically notified via text message, e-mail or phone call of an impending item or arrival of a mobile worker.

“Delivery and service time schedules represent critical pieces of information in the logistics industry, as it sets into motion a sequence of events and activities that impact the operations of a company,” Len Kennedy, Roadnet’s chief executive officer, said in the release.

“Recognizing its importance, we have engineered this Active Alert system that accurately projects estimated times of arrival and eliminates the need for costly back-and-forth communications between logistics providers and delivery recipients,” he said.

Roadnet’s research team found that it costs about $19, in customer service representatives’ time, to answer a single call about a delivery.

Active Alert users will be able to cut customer service costs costs and provide automated, instant notification to their end-users, according to the release.

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California Produce Rates are Strong, But Not Exceptional

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IMG_7010California truck supplies have been seasonally tight this year, but there hasn’t been any critical shortages of refrigerated equipment for eastbound produce loads.   Often, the biggest demand for trucks comes towards the end of the week.

Many produce shipments out of the West have come a week or two later than normal due to a cold, wet growing season.  While record California table grape shipments are possible this year, most fruits and vegetables appear they have relatively normal volume, if not somewhat small production this year.

As a result freight rates on produce this spring and summer haven’t hit the height some thought would be possible.  Sure there have been some $9,000-plus coast-t0-coast east bound rates,  and even a few topping $10,000, but those seem to have moderated some in recent weeks.

This is not said folks are complaining about rates, for example that are common out of  Salinas and the San Joaquin being in lower to upper $8,000 range.

Vine ripe (pole) tomatoes as well as romas are being shipped in good volume from Southern California areas such as Oceanside.  Loadings will be available into the fall.

Mature green tomatoes are originating out of the San Joaquin Valley, with the best volume located in the Newman and Tracy areas.

Nogales

Rates has been plummeting out of Nogales, AZ as border crossing of table grapes from Mexico are in a rapid seasonal decline.   There are still items such as melons, mangos and tomatoes available, but overall, Nogales should not be the place your are looking for loads this time of year.

 

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Vegetarian Diet Study Linked with Lower Risk of Death

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DSCN1393Vegetarian diets are associated with reduced death rates in a study of more than 70,000 Seventh-day Adventists with more favorable results for men than women, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.The possible relationship between diet and mortality is an important area of study. Vegetarian diets have been associated with reductions in risk for several chronic diseases, including hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease (IHD), according to the study background.Michael J. Orlich, M.D., of Loma Linda University in California, and colleagues examined all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a group of 73,308 men and women Seventh-day Adventists. Researchers assessed dietary patients using a questionnaire that categorized study participants into five groups: nonvegetarian, semi-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian (includes seafood), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (includes dairy and egg products) and vegan (excludes all animal products).The study notes that vegetarian groups tended to be older, more highly educated and more likely to be married, to drink less alcohol, to smoke less, to exercise more and to be thinner.“Some evidence suggests vegetarian dietary patterns may be associated with reduced mortality, but the relationship is not well established,” the study notes.There were 2,570 deaths among the study participants during a mean (average) follow-up time of almost six years. The overall mortality rate was six deaths per 1,000 person years.  The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality in all vegetarians combined vs. nonvegetarians was 0.88, or 12 percent lower, according to the study results. The association also appears to be better for men with significant reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality and IHD death in vegetarians vs. nonvegetarians. In women, there were no significant reductions in these categories of mortality, the results indicate.“These results demonstrate an overall association of vegetarian dietary patterns with lower mortality compared with the nonvegetarian dietary pattern. They also demonstrate some associations with lower mortality of the pesco-vegetarian, vegan and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets specifically compared with the nonvegetarian diet,” the authors conclude.(JAMA Intern Med. Published online June 3, 2013. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6473. Available pre-embargo to the media at http://media.jamanetwork.com.)

Editor’s Note: An author made a conflict of interest and funding disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc. An author interview with Dr. Orlich will be available online.

By Loma Linda University

About Loma Linda University Health (LLUH)

Loma Linda University Health includes Loma Linda University’s eight professional schools, Loma Linda University Medical Center’s six hospitals and more than 900 faculty physicians located in the Inland Empire of Southern California. Established in 1905, LLUH is a global leader in education, research and clinical care. It offers over 100 academic programs and provides quality health care to 40,000 inpatients and 1.5 million outpatients each year. A Seventh-day Adventist organization, LLUH is a faith-based health system with a mission “to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”

Source: Loma Linda University Health (LLUH)

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Northwest Summer Cherries, Plus Other Produce is Being Shipped

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IMG_7022Even with the recent lower estimates for Northwest cherry shipments, it is still being considered a decent amount of loadings.  The best volume should occur through about Aug. 10.

Frost in the Northwest during April and heavy rains at the end of May reduced the initial season estimate of 18 million boxes to 16-17 million boxes.

By the end of June, that estimate was due for another downward adjustment.  What was once a  17-million-box crop no longer exists.  Shipments are now estimated to be down to as low as 13 to 16 million boxes.”

About 23 million boxes  of cherries were shipped from the Northwest last year.

Blueberry loadings are picking up in both Washington state and Oregon….Washington state continues to ship late season apples from the Yakima and Wenachee Valleys.

The Walla Walla district in Washington is shipping onions, with volume increasing in the new season.  A similar situation with onions is occurring from the Columbia Basin and Umatilla Basin along the Washington/Oregon border.  The state line area also is shipping potatoes in light volume.

In Idaho, potatoes are averaging about 1,750 truckload equivalents a week, although a significant percentage of those spuds are being loaded in rail cars.

Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5500 to New York City.

Washington State cherries – about $6700 to New York City.

 

 

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Produce Loads: A Look at Shipments Around the Country

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IMG_6550Here’s a look at some produce loading opportunities around the country, as well as what to expect in the next few months.

Vine ripe tomato shipments are crossing the border into the USA from Baja Mexico, plus California mature green tomato loadings are ramping up from Tracy and Newman, CA and other operations in the area.  Tomato loads also are available from Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgia.

California pear shipments got underway last week and are now increasing in volume.  Growers are expected to ship about 4.5 million boxes of fresh-market pears this season. About 2.8 million of those will come from the Sacramento river district, with the lake district accounting for another 1.2 million boxes and Mendocino about 418,000 boxes.

Regarding the extreme heat we’ve been hearing so much about in the West, last weekend the Coachella Valley was apparoaching  120-degrees.  This is bound to adversely affect the tail end of the Coachella grape shipments and very well could end the season a little earlier than planned.  It also means you should be more watchful than usual for quality problems if loading Coachella grapes.

The heat also may adversely affect California vegetables shipments such as eggplant and other items.

In Georgia, steady,  shipments of Vidalia onions will be coming out storages through Labor Day.

The USDA is reporting potato loads could be down for the upcoming fall season as planted acres across the USA are at 1.2 million acres, a drop of 70,700 acres or 6.1 percent.  Idaho has planted 28,000 fewer acres than 2012 and will also harvest 28,000 less acres or a drop of 8.1 percent. Wisconsin acres planted and harvest projections are unchanged from last year at 64,500 and 63,500 respectively.  Washington has planted 160,000 acres or 5,000 less than last year.

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