It’s no secret that organized crime, scammers, and thieves are actively working to upset the legitimate flow of freight across the US and Canada. This type of crime has been going on for years, but in the last 12 months thieves have intensified their efforts. Cargo security is a major concern no matter what your role is in the food supply chain. We are all in this together and together we can tighten up our security and make a huge difference.
Allen Lund Company has taken a pro-active approach to identify and eliminate potential security breaches. We have made changes to our on-boarding process, which is closely monitored by our Carrier Resources department. Education and training for brokers has given them the tools to evaluate the potential risk that a carrier might exhibit and react accordingly. Our Accounting department scans thousands of bills of lading and invoices monthly, looking for any inconsistencies. In addition to the internal measures ALC has taken, we share information and best practices with the Transportation Intermediaries Association, CargoNet, Carrier411, and other transportation companies. These policy changes, information sharing, and additional training will continue to make a difference.
What can a shipper or a warehouse do to help prevent your product from being compromised?
Prior to loading, have your broker give your shipping department the driver’s name, company name, and trailer number. If the information doesn’t match call the broker.
Whenever possible use a temp recorder that has a tracking device built in. These devices have the ability to monitor temps and location.
Don’t rely on the pick-up number to verify the carrier.
Verify the driver’s name with their license. Insist that the bills are signed legibly by the driver and include their company name. If necessary, have the driver print their name and company name.
Driver should arrive with a pre-cooled trailer. Driver should acknowledge that they understand the desired temp and that it is in continuous mode.
Most importantly, use a transportation service provider that has the experience and protocols in place that are necessary to protect your product.
We are all in this together with the same basic goal…to deliver the safest and freshest product to our customers.
*****
Bill Bess, Director of Carrier Development, was previously the manager of ALC Orlando, FL, and has been with the Allen Lund Company for 39 years. With over 45 years of experience transporting perishable products, Bess’s expertise includes perishable supply chain protocols, claims resolution, and developing carrier-specific programs for the company. bill.bess@allenlund.com
North Carolina fresh fruit and vegetable shipments rose 6% in 2022 when compared with 2021, according to USDA data.
Total North Carolina truck shipments of fresh produce commodities in 2022 totaled 1.1 billion pounds, up from 1.04 billion pounds the USDA reported in 2021.
The biggest month for North Carolina fresh produce shipments in 2022 was July, when the USDA said state’s shippers moved 305.2 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. February was the lowest month for shipments, with the USDA reporting 43.6 million pounds of produce moved that month.
The biggest fresh commodity in the state is sweet potatoes, and the USDA reported truck shipments of 494.9 million pounds for 2022, down about 6% from 524.7 million pounds in 2021. The biggest month for North Carolina sweet potato truck shipments in 2022 was April, when the state’s shippers moved 52.6 million pounds for the month.
Here are USDA reported annual truck shipments for North Carolina fresh produce items in 2022, with percentage change from 2021:
Apples: 7.3 million pounds, up 115%.
Beans: 7 million pounds, up 35%.
Blueberries: 21.2 million pounds, up 27%.
Organic blueberries: 400,000 pounds, unchanged.
Broccoli: 3.3 million pounds, up 22%.
Cabbage: 37 million pounds, up 17%.
Cucumbers: 11.4 million, up 20%.
Eggplant: 2.2 million, up 16%.
Greens: 15.4 million, up 27%.
Miscellaneous berries: 5.1 million pounds, up 19%.
Bell peppers: 33.5 million pounds, up 31%.
Other peppers: 4.8 million pounds, up 85%.
Potatoes: 14.1 million pounds, up 2%.
Chipper potatoes: 210.4 million pounds, up 12%.
Squash: 4.3 million pounds, up 5%.
Strawberries: 4.3 million pounds, down 7%.
Sweet potatoes: 494.4 million pounds, down 6%.
Tomatoes: 2.4 million pounds, down 8%.
Grape tomatoes: 300,000 pounds, down 25%.
Plum tomatoes: 500,000 pounds, up 150%.
Seeded watermelon: 9.2 million pounds, down 3%.
Seedless watermelon: 223.2 million pounds, up 24%.
Dollar General is pulling back on “nice to have” investments in favor of “need to have” as inflation and income pressures its bottom line. The move mirrors many of its customers.
Headquartered in Goodlettsville, TN, the company is cutting its pOpshelf concept in 2023, reducing the number of stores in the pipeline to 90, down from 150. The concept, which is focused more on urban shoppers with higher incomes, currently has more than 160 stores in 16 states.
“We are reevaluating our plans with regards to our timing of reaching 1,000 stores by the end of 2025 and plan to provide an updated expectation at a later date,” said CEO Jeff Owen, during the company’s recent earnings call.
Reductions in SNAP dollars and lower-than-usual tax returns hit Dollar General customers hard, Owen said. That resulted in less discretionary spending, and lower sales in non-consumables.
“Unfortunately, our customers are saying they’re having to rely more on food banks, savings, and credit cards,” Owen said.
One area Dollar General continues to focus on is its DG Fresh, and fresh produce initiatives. DG Fresh has enhanced profitability of perishables for the company, and while it continues to focus on frozen and refrigerated foods, fresh produce is still on the radar.
“While produce is not currently serviced by our internal supply chain, we continue to believe that DG Fresh provides a potential path forward to expanding our produce offering to more than 10,000 stores over time,” Owen said.
By the end of the first quarter, March 31, Dollar General offered fresh produce in nearly 3,900 of 19,000 stores. Owen said the company is on track to expand that number to 5,000 by the end of 2023.
Cape Town, South Africa – Summer Citrus from South Africa entered its 25th shipping season with the support of the MSC Shirley and fruit arrived into the U.S. in late May. Despite recent heavy rainfall in the Western Cape and in Citrusdal, where SCSA’s growers are primarily located, the group is reorganizing after days without electricity, and a lack of access to citrus groves and some roads. The reality is that load shedding is part of their daily lives, and the Western Cape is a winter rainfall area. Despite the challenges and a minor setback with timing, SCSA promises that high-quality fruit is on the way weekly for the rest of the summer.
“We kicked off our 25th season on a positive note and we followed our inaugural vessel, the MSC Shirley, immediately with other vessels that are now en route to the Port of Philadelphia as we gained momentum through the month June,” said Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa. “Our business is all about managing our challenges and utilizing our opportunities collectively. The news highlighting conditions in the Western Cape has certainly raised concerns about the season ahead and I’m here to confirm, fruit for the summer is on the way.”
New to its 25th shipping season, the group from SCSA has gained access to deliver fruit to both sides of the Delaware River at the Port of Philadelphia confirming a steady and plentiful weekly supply of citrus from the Western Cape of South Africa, both with conventional and container vessels. This new approach to citrus shipments provides a significant advantage for the group, in providing sustained long term shipping opportunities, for the planned growth of the program in the near future.
“Supply is up to expectations and ready to satisfy the demand for citrus in the U.S. throughout the summer. I can confirm weekly arrivals of either conventional or containers or both, will arrive at the Port of Philadelphia from July onwards for the remainder of the season.” said Conradie. “Our unique model of collaboration has proven successful yet again, and we have not only forecasted a healthy supply of citrus, but we’re also committed to delivering fruit to satisfy the U.S. market with the finest summer citrus available in the world. This is why SCSA remains the preferred supplier of citrus in the U.S. during the summer months.”
SCSA operates in an area with a Mediterranean climate where winter rainfall forms an essential part of the planned sustained growth for future years. A video is available to illustrate SCSA’s plan and includes messages from the group’s Board of Directors to kick off its 25th season of shipping fresh citrus to the U.S.
About Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA)
Summer Citrus from South Africa represents a group of South African citrus growers who consolidate their logistics, marketing, and sales efforts to bring the finest citrus fruit to market during the U.S. summer season. Established in 1999 and re-branded for expanded marketing efforts in 2016, the group provides Navels, Midknights, East Peelers, Star Ruby Grapefruit and Cara-Cara oranges for the U.S. market. For more information about Summer Citrus from South Africa, visitwww.summercitrus.com and visit the brand’sFacebook,Instagram andTwitter pages.
Mexican avocado volumes have plunged resulting in greater demand California product, according to a weekly update by California Avocado Society.
The Ventura-based non-profit reported a 15% increase in California avocado yields two weeks ago, with field quotes rising about 25% in the past two weeks.
With this, California avocado field prices are the highest they’ve been all season.
Higher temperatures are urging producers in southern California to harvest more heavily, and the organization projected a 13-14 million pound harvest for the first week of July.
Late season Mexican avocado imports amounted to only 25 million pounds, and the more ripe fruit quality shortens its shelf-life.
This has left the U.S. market needing more, but shipments from California and Peru remain too low to supply the growing demand.
As theFourth of July approached, the industry had low inventories, which were below 50 million pounds.
The imbalance in the market may require several weeks to right itself, the non-profit says.
“The…crop was unable to fill the gap left by the Mexican sector, because it wasn’t released for export to the U.S. until this week. Jalisco’s Mendez crop also was released for export this week,” California Avocado Society said in a release.
As for varieties, GEM-brand from Westfalia has slowed as its season winds down. Lamb Hass is catching this good pricing window just as harvest ramps up.
Mexico’s supplies are expected to bounce back in a few weeks.
Following the recent frosts and rains in Chile, the Citrus Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) has revised its export projections for the 2023/24 season. The Committee estimates that Chile will export 348,000 tons of citrus, 30% more than last year, but three percent lower than the previous estimate made in May of 2023.
Comments Juan Enrique Ortúzar, president of the Chilean Citrus Committee, “The frost damage to citrus was quite limited, but there are some sectors of orchards that suffered damage, mainly in the O’Higgins region.”
Regarding the rains, Ortúzar assures that the effect on citrus, in general, is positive. “Even though harvesting had to be stopped for a few days, we now have a guarantee of some water supply for this winter when irrigation canals must be cleaned. There were some orchards that suffered flooding because they were in low-lying areas, but nothing major.”
The first estimates this April indicated an export volume for Clementines of 55,000 tons, 125,000 tons for mandarins, 95,000 tons for oranges, and 75,000 tons for lemons. In May, the Mandarin volume estimate was updated to 135,000 tons. The latest projection indicates a small increase in Clementine volume to 58,000 tons and a decrease for mandarins to 125,000 tons. The orange estimate remains unchanged, while lemons have decreased to 70,000 tons.
Manager of the Chilean Citrus Committee, Monserrat Valenzuela, points out that “the estimated volumes will always have some fluctuations due to external factors such as weather conditions, freight costs, logistics, market issues, etc.” She also emphasizes that the Citrus Committee is committed to “updating estimates throughout the season so that customers around the world can receive accurate, timely information and adjust their programs accordingly.”
The Committee has a work plan (frost action manual) to prevent the export of frost-damaged fruit. This includes the installation of thermographs in the orchards and the temporary suspension of harvesting in the affected orchards or sectors until the fruit is checked and it is confirmed that it complies with the corresponding export tolerances, says Valenzuela.
Volumes through week 25
As of Week 25, (Week of June 19), clementine exports had reached 51,474 tons, which is 76% more than the same period of the 2022 season. Mandarin shipments are just starting, with 59 tons exported so far this season. Chile has shipped 11,014 tons of oranges, 45% more than the same period last season. Lemons are the only category with a slight decrease in season-to-date shipments, with an exported volume of 14,287 tons, a five percent decrease from last year.
“Want to be happier this season? Add watermelon to your grocery cart.” That’s the core message of a new promotion the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) is launching this summer leveraging recent data that showcases watermelon’s inherent role in making fans feel happier.
The NWPB’s “Slice of Happy Project” is inspired by its 2022 consumer research[1] that finds 82% of consumers say eating watermelon boosts their mood, and more than half report feeling “happy” or “fantastic” after eating watermelon[2].
“The connection between food and mood is a major culinary topic in 2023, and we want to meet that moment with a fresh campaign and research that underscores what we have long known: Eating watermelon brings joy,” said Senior Director of Communications, Stephanie Barlow at NWPB. “We’re excited to unveil ‘The Slice of Happy Project’ as we remind consumers the many ways they can be happier with watermelons year-round from savoring a slice by the campfire, to tossing into a salad, to warming it up over the grill.”
Launching tomorrow, June 1, “The Slice of Happy Project” will feature:
A beautifully crafted “Slice of Happy Project” landing page at watermelon.org/happy featuring:
Stats sharing watermelon’s contribution to happiness.
An interactive quiz that curates recipe inspiration based on personal preferences and moods.
Mood-boosting music.
An opportunity for visitors to sign up to receive a digital happiness kit filled with stickers, backgrounds and more.
Social media promotions to highlight key messages to shoppers nationwide.
Consumer media outreach to promote the recent research.
Research: “100% Happiness After Eating a Slice”
Additional findings from NWPB’s recent consumer research found:
100% of watermelon consumers say watermelon makes them feel either very happy (70%) or somewhat happy (30%)1.
More than half of consumers report feeling “happy” (39%) or “fantastic” (13%) when eating watermelon. Others feel refreshed (12%), relaxed (5%) and satisfied (4%).
A majority (81%) consider watermelon a “comfort food.”
The study was conducted through Aimpoint Research and surveyed over 1,000 U.S. adults who are the primary grocery shoppers and are 18 years of age. The group surveyed was about 53% female and 47% male. The purpose of the study was designed to measure the attitudes and usage of watermelon, identify perceived benefits of watermelon, discover consumer opinion and purchasing intent1.
About National Watermelon Promotion Board
The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 700 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.
A serving of nutrient-dense watermelon provides an excellent source of vitamin C (25% DV), a source of vitamin B6 (8% DV) and a delicious way to stay hydrated (92% water) with only 80 calories per 2-cup serving. Watermelon consumption per capita in the United States was nearly 15.5 pounds in 2022. Watermelon consumption in the United States was nearly5.2 billion pounds in 2022. The United States exported an additional 328 million pounds of watermelon. For additional information, visit watermelon.org.
Oceanside, CA — The only pole-grown operation west of the Mississippi, Oceanside Pole began shipping the season’s first vine-ripened tomatoes at the end of June alongside exclusive marketer Oppy.
The first harvest of roma tomatoes is anticipated in late June, followed by rounds in mid-July. Peak volume is expected from late August through September and October, culminating around the Thanksgiving season.
Oceanside Pole expects 3.4 million cases of rounds and romas from its 700-acre farm in California in addition to 160 acres out of Mexico, all produced to the same high standards upheld by its management teams and growers, ensuring a consistent product. The unique growing method raises fruit off the ground to improve airflow — and therefore tomato quality — to ripen to its juicy, robust taste, naturally on the vine, then harvested at retail specifications to arrive at precise perfection.
“Each plant is harvested an average of 18 times, ensuring tomatoes are hand-selected to specific ripeness,” said Senior Sales Representative James Galindo. “We even pick, ship and deliver to retailers within 24 hours, ensuring their shoppers have the exact tomatoes they’re looking for on their shelves.”
Wenatchee, WA: CMI Orchards’ hottest CatStats report shows Envy™ apples dominate as the biggest star of the summer. Originally from New Zealand and crafted through natural plant-breeding methods, this cross between Gala and Braeburn quickly emerged as the apple that has everything. Sweet and crunchy, with white flesh that stays white even after being cut, Envy™ apples command a strong brand following and over-the-top consumer desire that keeps them consistently at the top of the charts in the apple market.
Danelle Huber, CMI’s Senior Marketing Manager, reports Envy™’s top-notch rankings with consumers is just one small indicator of the apple’s consistent and steadfast popularity. According to NielsenIQ, the demand for this apple is surging. “Envy™’s popularity has been skyrocketing over the last 52 week period. With a 19% increase in sales and a 28% increase in volume across the United States, Envy™ secures the 8th most popular spot in the U.S. right now.” She adds that this means Envy™ makes up nearly a quarter of branded, high-flavor apple sales volume.
NielsenIQ also reports over the last six months that the Mountain, West North Central, and East North Central divisions enjoyed the largest increases in the Consumer Demand Index, putting Envy™ as the #1 branded apple of choice in the South region and #2 in all the others. This marks a total growth across US regions between 23% and 44.2%.
“Envy™’s fan base continues to soar. Since arriving to market, this luxury apple continues to break sales records time and time again,” says Rochelle Bohm, Vice President of Marketing at CMI. “Its delicate, sweet flavor and crisp, slow-to-brown flesh leaves customer demand high, while the longevity of its stored life and social media presence feeds a growing fan base.”
Bohm goes on to explain that the powerful global marketing presence of Envy™ apples delivers unparalleled brand awareness, helping retailers significantly boost sales while giving their customers what they crave. “Envy™ delivers year-round opportunities for retailers to build category sales with ease,” she says. “A high-performing apple paired with gorgeous branding and availability in both conventional and organic options make Envy™ the ultimate star of the summer.”
About CMI Orchards and Envy™ apples:
CMI Orchards is one of Washington State’s largest growers, shippers and packers of premium quality conventional and organic apples, pears, and cherries. Based in Wenatchee, WA, CMI Orchards delivers outstanding fruit across the U.S.A. and exports to over 60 countries worldwide.
Envy™ is a registered trademark owned by the T&G group of companies. Envy™ apples are sold and distributed by exclusive North American sales agents, including Oppy, Rainier and CMI Orchards, under the leadership and support of the local brand marketing team of T&G Global.
Naturipe Farms anticipates shipping a good crop of Michigan blueberries, with peak loadings from mid-July through mid-August, but lasting into mid September.
The company, which has an office in Grand Junction, likes growing blueberries in Michigan because of Lake Michigan’s temperature moderating effect and the sandy loam soils. These factors create a great environment to grow blueberries near the shores of Lake Michigan.
Naturipe grows both conventional and organic blueberries in Michigan.
The company supplements its organic supply with blueberries from the Pacific Northwest, as they will be coming into peak season around the same time. Naturipe’s organic volumes are stronger from the Pacific Northwest and Peru during July and August.
