After two straight disappointing years, the Red River Valley is expected to ship a more normal sized fresh crop this fall.
Weather played a large part in declining red production each of the last two years. Coupled with declining acres, the 2020 and 2021 red crops each fell more than 25% below the 5-year average.
Big increases in RRV yellow planted acres each of the past two years caused yellow potato production to be up substantially despite of weather challenges. This year, many potatoes went in late after a cool, wet spring, but the crop progress has pretty much returned to average levels with near ideal weather conditions over the summer.
Barring any surprises from Mother Nature this fall, look for reds and yellows to both be up this year with possibly the largest fresh crop in the Red River Valley since 2014. How does this fit in with the national forecast? With heat stress in the west and fresh acres shifting to processing, demand could potentially be favorable.
Americans consume over 500 million pounds of asparagus each year, with the vast majority, or 80%-90% of the vegetable being imported, primarily from Mexico and Peru, according to the USDA. In 2021, Peru accounted for about 40% of the value of all U.S. asparagus imports, second only to Mexico’s 59% share of imports.
Peak production from Peru usually occurs by mid September.
By value, according to the USDA, the top sources of imported asparagus in the U.S. from April 2021 through March 2022, compared with a year earlier, were:
Mexico: $381.6 million, 2% down from $389.5 million;
Peru: $263.7 million, up 2% from $257.7 million; and
Canada: $8.3 million, up 48% from $5.6 million.
“The U.S. Department of Commerce reported a 14% year-over-year volume increase of fresh market asparagus imports to the U.S. in 2021, said the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association, or PAIA, in a news release. “With the two main source contributors being Peru and Mexico, the year-over-year volume increase for each country empowers importers to work closely with their retailer and foodservice customers to forecast and implement promotions year-round.”
“Imported asparagus is a year-round commodity, and importers will continue to provide various buying options for their customers,” added PAIA co-Chairman Walter Yager, of Alpine Fresh, in the release. “Asparagus is a nutritional powerhouse with versatile preparation possibilities.”
PAIA importer members have been sharing their fresh asparagus recipes with U.S. consumers since 2021. But PAIA is stepping up its recipe creation and promotion with the help of Peruvian asparagus importers, such as Southern Specialties of Pompano Beach, Fla., Yager said.
While cool temperatures during Peru’s winter this year have led to slightly lower yields, suppliers of asparagus from Peru are confident that steady supplies will prevail — even with a slight decrease in both asparagus imports and production from Peru.
“We expect supplies from Peru to be similar to last season, with production increasing in late September and promotable supplies beginning in October,” said Tracy Wood, vice president of sales for Seven Seas in Vero Beach, Fla. “It has been a cool winter in Peru, with lower yields so far in July. At this time, [we] expect to begin harvesting for the primary Peru season in mid-September, with promotable volume in October through mid-January.”
Charlie Eagle, Southern Specialties vice president, business development, sees the Peruvian asparagus season tracking similarly.
“Production from Peru is approximately the same as last year,” he said. “Exports to the U.S. have increased about 5% this year. This is largely due to obstacles in reaching other countries.”
While the Peruvian asparagus season typically peaks September through December, a climate that allows for year-round cultivation, is one reason this South American country is a powerhouse of asparagus production.
“Peru has a variety of climates that are ideal for growing asparagus,” Valdes noted. “The benefit of Peru is that asparagus can be grown in the north and south, and the two regions peak at different times. This allows us to import asparagus 52 weeks a year from Peru.”
For Seven Seas, which works with grower partners in the northern, central and southern regions along the coast of Peru, asparagus is always in season.
“Asparagus production in Peru is primarily along the west coast in what is considered a coastal desert,” Wood said. “The moderate temperatures, daily sunshine and sandy soils along the coast are ideal for asparagus production. These conditions, combined with varietal selection and water management, result in an excellent quality product.”
Sourcing from a number of grower partners in different parts of the country allows Seven Seas to provide its customers with asparagus, virtually year-round.
Columbian avocado exports to the U.S. soared by 270% for the 2021-2022 season, the Columbia Avocado Board (CAB) recently announced.
The data was provided by the Hass Avocado Board who tracks shipments and sales of Hass avocados from all growing regions.
HAB and other member associations, including CAB, have collectively spent hundreds of millions of dollars promoting avocados in the U.S. in the last decade. The heavy promotions have led to yearly growth and Colombian growers have successfully met that rise in demand with nearly 300 avocado orchards across over 23,228 acres completing the necessary certifications to ship product to the U.S.
Colombia has produced and distributed avocados for decades, however, the growth and popularity of Colombia Avocados has expanded due to access to U.S. market starting in 2018 along with expanding country infrastructure improvements. The 2021-2022 season ended with its largest shipment totals on record shipping over 24 million pounds.
According to a USApple analysis of Agriculture Department data, total U.S. apple production for the 2022/23 CY will be more than 10.7 billion pounds or 255 million bushels. This represents a 2.7% increase compared to last year’s production figure and is 3.5% less than the five-year production average.
USApple Director of Industry Analytics Chris Gerlach noted these figures are more comprehensive than USDA data, which only look at the top seven apple-producing states. “We’ve analyzed the production from states outside of the top seven and added that back to USDA’s figure,” explained Gerlach.
At the varietal level, Gala is expected to retain the top spot with almost 46 million bushels produced, accounting for around 18% of the U.S. apple market. Rounding out the top five are Red Delicious (34 m bu), Fuji (26 m bu), Honeycrisp (25 m bu) and Granny Smith (24 m bu).”
In general, the varieties on the rise include Honeycrisp, Pink Lady/Cripps Pink and Cosmic Crisp. Fuji, Granny Smith and Rome varieties have remained relatively consistent compared to 2017/18 production volumes. Varieties on the decline include Golden Delicious, Gala and Red Delicious.
“On the positive side, Honeycrisp production has increased by 48% or 8 million bushels in the past five years,” said Gerlach. “Conversely, Red Delicious decreased by 41% or 24 million bushels during the same period.”
Onion growers and shippers in Washington and Oregon expect a good shipping season with harvest underway and onions headed to storage, despite growing conditions in the Pacific Northwest which were less than ideal.
FC Boxom Co. of Seattle works with several growers, shippers and packers in eastern Washington marketing yellow, red, white and sweet onions. Harvest of early yellow and red varieties started in mid-July and will run through September or October. Although the weather was a little cool during the growing season, higher yields are expected. The company’s acreage is about the same as a year ago.
Onions 52 of Syracuse, has conventional and organic red, yellow, white and sweet onions out of Washington this season, as well as its proprietary Sunions “tearless and sweet” onions. The Washington harvest started in early August and is being moved into storage. Onion shipments will continue through mid-May.
Countryside Acres LLC, of Walla Walla, WA., grows and sells yellow Walla Walla sweet onions and a small number of Candy Sweet onions. Harvest started late this year due to cold and rainy weather. The company brought in the first bins on June 20, after the onions cured in gunny sacks in the field.
Strebin Farms LLC of Troutdale, OR started harvesting onions in Yerington, Nev., in mid August and will begin shipping September 1st. The company has white, red, sweet and a few yellow onions. Acreage will be the same as last year; however, the company will add some red and yellow organic onions this season.
In Washington, yields per acre dropped from 90,720 pounds in 2020 to 63,840 pounds in 2021. And in Oregon, yields dropped from 90,048 pounds in 2020 to 79,856 pounds in 2021, according to the USDA. Utilized production of Washington onions was valued at $101 million in 2021, down 28% from 2020. Oregon onions had a total utilized production value of $115 million in 2021, down 5%.
AeroFarms of Newark, N.J. is a Certified B Corp. indoor vertical farming company, planning to increase production of fresh, leafy greens as part of a major operational expansion of its new vertical farm in Pittsylvania County, VA.
This farm, a 138,670-square foot, high-tech facility, could be the world’s largest indoor vertical farm of its kind, according to a news release.
The new AeroFarms indoor vertical farm in Virginia will distribute primarily to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets with the ability to reach about 50 million people within a day’s drive and more than 1,000 grocery retailers.
This distribution will build on AeroFarms’ existing relationships with retailers such as Ahold Delhaize, Amazon Fresh, Harris Teeter, The Fresh Market, Weee!, Walmart and Whole Foods Market.
Virginia won in competition with other states for the project, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a July 26 announcement with other state officials, according to the release.
“Through today’s announcement, Virginia continues to demonstrate itself as the premier location for companies using technology and innovation to disrupt markets, generating massive benefits to consumers and investors alike, while creating new jobs and economic opportunities for the citizens of the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said.
Technology is always driving agriculture forward, state Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr said.
“This is especially true in the fast-growing indoor agriculture industry, which has the potential to revolutionize how much of our food is produced,” he said.
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with the state Department of Economic Development and Pittsylvania County to secure this project.
Gov. Youngkin approved a $33,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which the county will match with local funds. The company is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Job Creation Grant program, administered by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.
“We want to thank Gov. Youngkin and the entire state of Virginia for their tremendous support in bringing AeroFarms to Danville and Danville-Pittsylvania County,” AeroFarms Cofounder and CEO David Rosenberg said in the release.
Most Wisconsin potato packing sheds were up and running fulltime by the middle of August, with good volume shipments expected in September.
Acreage for the 2022 Wisconsin potato crop was estimated in June at 64,00 acres, down slightly from 66,000 in 2021 and 70,000 acres in 2020.
Wisconsin fresh potato shipments in 2021 totaled 631.9 million pounds, down from 652.3 million pounds in 2020, according to USDA numbers.
Wisconsin organic fresh potato shipments were 3.4 million pounds in 2021, down from 4.5 million pounds in 2020.
Wisconsin chip potatoes accounted for 828.2 million pounds in 2021, up from 795.4 million pounds in 2020. The USDA said seed potato shipments in Wisconsin in 2020 were 82.9 million pounds in 2021, 85.8 million pounds in 2020.
The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association of Antigo, WI reports seed potatoes come mainly from the Antigo area in Langlade County, while fresh and processed potatoes are grown in the Central Sands and southern areas of the state, including fields near Stevens Point, Plover, Coloma, Grand Marsh, Friesland and more.
The state has a wide range of varieties, including norkotahs, silvertons, red norland, dark red norland, yukon gold and more.
Due to a late crop maturing crop this season because of weather factors, there has be a shipping gap between the old and new crops. The new crop is about seven to 10 days later than usual.
Alsum Farms & Produce of Friesland, WI kicked off the month of August harvesting red and gold potatoes, followed by russets about August 18.
This year, Alsum Farms planted nearly 3,000 acres of potatoes between the firm’s two farming locations in Arena and Grand Marsh, WI. The operation’s total acreage is similar last year.
Michigan vegetable shipments got off to a slow start this year due to chilly weather, but have moved into good volume for late summer and fall. Harvest was two to three weeks later than normal for most growers.
Rice Lake Farms Packing LLC, Grant, MI is one operation that is late this year. The company started harvesting turnips, rutabagas and red beets in late July. It began shipping gold beets and candy beets in early August and also has watermelon and radishes.
Jumbo carrots and celery root is just getting underway for Rice Lake Farms.
Superior Sales of Hudsonville has a similar situation with a late start this year, but is now shipping green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, green peppers and specialty chili peppers, such as jalapenos, serranos and poblanos.
Superior Sales shipped asparagus during the spring and was shipping corn, cabbage, celery, and red and green leaf lettuce this summer.
Shippers and manufacturers are relocating in incredible numbers to Mexico as of late. Economic growth in Mexico has caught the attention of many U.S. manufacturers and shippers. Mexico has steadily improved transportation networks, has a young educated workforce, global commerce, and reduced costs.
The most glaring advantage is the cost and quality of the workforce. The average base salary for entry-level manufacturing workers in Mexico is approximately $3.50 per hour. Well below the federal U.S minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Just because the pay is lower, however, does not mean that the quality of work is less. Mexico graduates on average 130,000 engineers and technicians annually. Lower labor rates also mean lower operating expenses, including costs for industrial space.
Proximity is another main benefit of manufacturing in Mexico. Shipping and supply chain management costs are much lower than in other international commerce such as Asia, Europe, and India. Mexico shares 52 access points which an estimated over 70 million automobiles transit yearly. We also have to consider the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The agreement between the three countries encourages free and fair trade and drivers of economic growth in North America. This agreement offers few obstacles for international business and reduces the cost of moving goods internationally.
Improvements in transportation networks, available workforce, and reduced costs have contributed to more produce being transported from Mexico to Texas. Each year the number of produce shipments from Mexico increases. 2007 was the first year Mexico shipped more than 100,000 truckloadsof fresh produce through Texas. The latest reported number was for 2020 when approximately 289,354 truckloads of produce crossed the border. It will be interesting to see updated numbers.
The trade agreement and the completion of the Durango-Mazatlan Highway in 2013, connecting the west coast and east coast of Mexico with a contiguous freeway, have been huge factors in these numbers rising. Fresh produce needs to be transported with care and efficiency, building highways such as the Durango-Mazatlan cuts down travel time, which means fresh produce being delivered promptly and freight savings in the transportation industry.
****
Hunter McDade, transportation broker, graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 2019. Upon graduation, McDade began his career working in the transportation industry. He has been with ALC for over one year.
ATHENS, GA – Helping to provide increasingly sustainable choices in transport refrigeration, Carrier Transicold is introducing four new premium performance trailer refrigeration units that offer double-digit fuel efficiency improvements and lifetime compliance with emissions requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
ATHENS, GA – Helping to provide increasingly sustainable choices in transport refrigeration, Carrier Transicold is introducing four new premium performance trailer refrigeration units that offer double-digit fuel efficiency improvements and lifetime compliance with emissions requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.
The new systems include two single-temperature units, the Vector™ 8700 and X4™ 7700, and two multi-temperature units, the Vector 8800MT and Vector 8811MT. All reduce particulate emissions by 96% compared to current offerings and, depending on the application, improve fuel efficiency from 5%−20%.
“Whether interested in boosting fuel efficiency, seeking compliance with stricter emissions regulations or both, North America’s trucking fleets will soon have four new options,” said Steven McDonald, Trailer Product Manager, Truck Trailer Americas, Carrier Transicold. “The units will be available for order later this year for delivery in 2023, especially helping fleets operating in California that will be adding units next year and will be subject to CARB’s newly amended Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) for Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs).”
The new units take advantage of an advanced version of the proven Kubota engine used throughout Carrier Transicold’s existing trailer platforms. Among its attributes, the new 24-horsepower smart engine:
Features clean engine technologies,including common-rail fuel injection, an enhanced fuel filtration system and diesel oxidation catalyst that push particulate, hydrocarbon and NOx emissions to new lows.
Provides lifetime regulatory compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 emission standards and CARB’s stricter ATCM for TRUs that takes effect May 31, 2023.
Achieves double-digit fuel economy thanks to optimized fuel-delivery from common rail fuel injection and the introduction of a third engine speed, called“eco speed,” that automatically drops engine RPMs below low speed when conditions permit, to help boost fuel efficiency.
“Unlike some competitive trailer refrigeration systems, our premium performance units do not require complex exhaust gas recirculation to achieve emissions targets,” said McDonald, adding, “Unlimited CARB compliance means no add-on exhaust treatments are ever required, based on the current regulation.”
All four models also use R‑452A, a CARB-compliant, new-generation refrigerant with a global warming potential 45% lower than that of the traditional TRU refrigerant, R‑404A. Additionally, all are equipped with Carrier Transicold’s industry-leading telematics solution for remote monitoring of temperatures, location, movement and system operating performance. To help maintain battery charge supporting the unit and its telematics system, Carrier Transicold now also offers its TRU-Mount solar panel as a
