North Carolina’s sweet potato harvest season is nearing completion with fresh pricing up substantially compared with a year ago.
The transition between old-crop and new-crop sweet potatoes was apparently lending support to pricing in early September. Harvest in North Carolina should continue to be active into November, and prices should ease with expanding supply and shipments.
USDA shipment statistics indicated that North Carolina accounted for two-thirds of total U.S fresh sweet potato shipments of 272 (40,000 truckloads) for the week ending Sept. 17
As of Sept. 3, the average fob price for U.S. fresh sweet potatoes was $60.56 per cwt (hundredweight), up 20.6% compared with the same time a year ago, according to numbers collected by the USDA. The Sept. 3 fob price of for sweet potatoes of $60.56 per cwt was nearly 30% higher than the $46.70 per cwt price in early August.
The USDA reported the average advertised retail price for fresh sweet potatoes was 94 cents per pound, down 8.7% from the same week a year ago.
Corey Produce of Bethel, N.C. reports increased moisture this year, should result in a slightly bigger sweet potato crop in 2022.
The company grows sweet potatoes in Martin, Pitt and Edgecombe counties in North Carolina, with its packinghouse located in Bethel N.C..
The company report this year’s crop looks a little better than last year’s crop, because last year was extremely dry in Martin County.
Corey Produce acreage is about the same as last year.
The operation began harvest September 12 and will be finishing harvest any day now.
Lancaster Farms of Wilson, N.C.-based reports a strong, quality sweet potato harvest. While acreage for the company is down, yields may be up 10%.
R.B. Lancaster and Sons Inc. family has lived and farmed in Wilson County, N.C., and the surrounding counties for seven generations, since the late 1700s.
The company has a four-year crop rotation, farming between 1,400 and 1,800 acres annually.
Harvest for Lancaster Farms started harvest Aug. 26 for early plantings and began harvest again Sept. 16, and wrapped up the harvest expected in late October.
The USDA reports citrus volume for the 2021-22 season totaled 5.61 million tons, down 19% from the 2020-21 season.
California accounted for 62% of total U.S. citrus production; Florida totaled 36%, and Texas and Arizona produced the remaining 2%. Utilized citrus production in California was down 16% from the 2020-21 season.
California’s all orange production, at 40.4 million boxes, is 18% lower than the previous season. Grapefruit production is down 2% from the 2020-21 season and tangerine and mandarin production is down 40%.
Florida’s orange production, at 41.1 million boxes, is down 22% from the previous season, the report said. Grapefruit utilization in Florida, at 3.33 million boxes, is down 19% from last season’s utilization. Florida’s total citrus utilization was down 22% from the previous season.
Utilized production of citrus in Texas is down 46% from the 2020-21 season.
Orange production is down 81% from the previous season and grapefruit production is down 29%. Arizona’s production of lemon up 27%.
The value of the 2021-22 U.S. citrus crop was down 13% from last season, to 2.91 billion packinghouse-door equivalent. Orange value of production decreased 9% from last season and grapefruit value is down 27%.
Tangerine and mandarin value of production is down 18% from last season and lemon value of production is down 13% from last season.
Fall is in full swing, and fresh Pacific Northwest–grown USA Pears are available now in produce sections from coast to coast.
As the leaves change colors, Oregon and Washington growers are harvesting an estimated 16 million standard box equivalents of fresh, USA-grown pears. The versatile, high-in-fiber fruit boasts an extended shelf life, helping consumers avoid food waste, and is the perfect complement for any meal — from charcuterie boards and salads to main dishes, baked goods or desserts.
“This year’s harvest was slow to start, due to a prolonged cold and wet spring, but the pears coming off the trees were worth the wait,” said Jim Morris, marketing manager at Pear Bureau Northwest.
Despite the wet spring, USA Pears anticipates a crop on par with its five-year average.
The harvest was bolstered by the Pacific Northwest’s extra-long stretch of dry, warm weather. With 10 varieties of fresh pears grown in the Northwest fresh pears can be found in the store almost year-round, from Anjou to Starkrimson.
Weather problems have turned a previously optimistic fall shipping season for California strawberries into one with less volume and truckers should be aware of potential issues with quality.
Fewer than normal shipments are now expected through November.
The Santa Maria/Oxnard growing region currently produces roughly 80 percent of marketed strawberries in the U.S. Supplies are extremely limited through most of November. Quality is only average; strawberries will see upwards of 25% bruising and 4% decay upon arrival. Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life to reduce chances of claims at destination. The Salinas/Watsonville growing region currently produces roughly 10-15 percent of marketed strawberries in the U.S. Volume is extremely limited; quality is average at best. Production will be completed in the next 10-14 days.
The Salinas/Watsonville growing region currently ships roughly 10-15 percent of the strawberries in the U.S. Volume is extremely limited; quality is average at best. Production will be completed in the next 10-14 days.
South Texas volume is very low as the season is just beginning. Currently less than 5 percent of strawberries shipped in the U.S. are grown in Mexico coming through South Texas. Volume is expected to gradually increase over the next two to three weeks. Quality is good; green shoulders and small sizing have been reported.F
Florida loadings will begin after Thanksgiving in a very limited manner. Orders are estimated to begin shipping the week of December 5.
Eggplant also is known as aubergine, or guinea squash, while the berry fruit, scientifically referred to as Solanum melongena, is a staple in cuisines around the world (via Brittanica). It is one of the most diverse fruiting plant families there are, and eggplants come in a range of colors and sizes — from deep purple to white or striped; and from 4 ounces to 1 ½ pounds (via Daily Record) — their diversity matches in variety to the many ways in which the fruit is prepared around the globe.
French ratatouille, Italian eggplant parmigiana, Middle Eastern baba ghanoush, Greek moussaka, Chinese spicy garlic eggplant, and South Asian eggplant curries are just a few examples of eggplant’s worldly reputation. So it may come as a surprise to learn that, of all the places the eggplants are enjoyed far and wide, the place that grows the most of them is much closer than you may think — located right in the USA.
According to Harvesting History, eggplants have been cultivated for thousands of years. Originally harvested in China and India, the fruit gained popularity when it was first introduced to people in Southern and Eastern Europe. However, when eggplants made their way to the Americas during the 1500s, they didn’t catch on quite as quickly. This was because, as members of the Solanaceae family, eggplants are closely related to the belladonna, a plant that has been nicknamed the “deadly nightshade” for its poisonous berries.
For Americans, the eggplant and all of its family members — including tomatoes, potatoes, and bell peppers — were considered guilty by association. It wasn’t until the latter part of the 19th century that the population started to embrace the fruit’s extensive varieties. In the beginning, there was only one type of eggplant: The white eggplant; the color of it is where the Daily Record says it got its name. However, the fruit’s variety was widened when hybridizers started to develop eggplants that wouldn’t bruise during shipment, creating the large, deep purple eggplants that are commonly found today, along with the Indian, Italian, Japanese and Chinese varieties.W
Being tropical plants, eggplants are very sensitive to cold weather — even more so than their infamously finicky cousins, tomatoes. For this reason, eggplants are typically grown as annuals, which Britannica defines as any plant whose life cycle is completed in one growing season. For eggplants, this is during the warm months of the year — making their peak season between July and October.
Eggplants are widely grown across the United States. However, there are less than 7,000 acres dedicated to the fruit’s production each year in places like California, Florida, and Georgia. While yields vary depending on temperature and growing conditions, per the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, producers average about 28,000 pounds of eggplants per acre — generating an average gross income of more than $17 thousand per acre and providing more than enough to support the one pound of eggplant each U.S. citizens consumes on average every year.
Nicknamed “The Garden State,” New Jersey’s reputation for its vast farmland can be legitimized in the state’s production of eggplants alone. According to the Daily Record, New Jersey is responsible for providing 66% of the world’s eggplants, making it the top producer of eggplants in the world. Harvesting 849 acres each year, New Jersey stands ahead of other leading producers like California, Florida, and Georgia.
The state’s well-draining sandy-loam soil — a gardening soil made up of sand, silt, and clay, according to Southern Mulch – and warm summers provide the perfect conditions for eggplants to thrive. With harvests reaching 900 or more bushels a day during peak season, New Jersey yields about 16 million pounds of eggplant, valued at $6 million (via New Jersey Spotlight News). With the majority grown in South New Jersey, most of the state’s eggplants are shipped to the rest of the U.S. and Canada. Varieties include Italian, regular, Sicilian, Indian, striped, white, and fairy tale eggplants for all to enjoy in many different eggplant recipes.
By Yanni Mathelier, Transportation Broker,ALC Orlando
On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm. Maximum sustained winds were around 150 mph as it hit the Southwest coast. Bringing in close to 20 inches of rain to the state with tons of flooding which ruined many homes, infrastructure, and farm fields. The Orlando office deals with many produce customers shipping out of Florida. The impact of Hurricane Ian has caused many customers to either lose crops and deal with flooded fields or have to replant for the next season. Missing a season in the farming industry can be devastating, detrimental to the farmer, and takes a hit on the transportation industry, therefore affecting consumers.
The question that follows: Is Florida’s citrus industry on a ticking clock? We will soon start to see a rise in citrus prices and lower production numbers. This is something in transportation we must follow as it could negatively affect the capacity in Florida, and as discussed before, the trickle-down to the customer would be inevitable.
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Yanni Mathelier is a Transportation Broker and began his career at the Allen Lund Company in March of 2022. Yanni has been in the transportation industry since January of 2021. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.
Mexican blueberries are on the road to Philadelphia while Peruvian blueberries are already arriving at the Philadelphia seaport.
Procacci Bros. Sales Corp., of Philadelphia observes young Peruvian blueberry fields seem to double in production every year. Now those plants are starting to bear fruit.
In addition to Mexico and Peru, Procacci imports Argentine, Chilean and Columbian blueberries.
Peru’s blueberry export volumes have exploded over the past four years.
By late September and early October, good volume will be arriving atNorth American ports.
Sunny Valley International Inc., in Glassboro, NJ, reports blueberry imports from Peru has ramped up and is now in full volume. This is expected to run throughout the fall and winter. Fruit size is good and quality looks strong.
Sunny Valley sees typical timing on the Chilean season, which will begin in late November or early December, running through March or April.
Sunny Valley, reports the Argentine blueberry crop was gaining steam in mid-September and is to run through November or into December.
Pandol Bros., Inc., of Delano, CA, confirms Peruvian blueberry imports into the U.S. started in early September. It notes there was a production increase of early Peruvian blueberries. Next, September supplies from North American growers were not that high creating a demand for imports.
Finally, there are the international exchange rates, making it more attractive for Peruvian growers to ship to the U.S., versus less attractive currency returns from Europe.
Beaver said typical timing is expected on the Chilean deal, which will begin in late November or early December, running through March or April. “This should be an excellent crop.”
For Sunny Valley, the Argentine blueberry crop was gaining steam in mid-September and is to run through November or into December.
Maitland, FL: Florida’s November tomato crop will be smaller than normal due to the impact of Hurricane Ian, but Florida will remain a significant supplier from now through December. The weather since the hurricane has been ideal, allowing growers to quickly recuperate fields. This means that even those farms that sustained damage will be able to harvest a portion of their crop, according to the Florida Tomato Committee.
The storm had no impact on tomato production in North Florida, which will have steady volume from now through mid-November. As the harvest moves south to Central Florida, supplies will be lighter than normal due to the impact of the storm around the Palmetto and Ruskin growing areas. November volume will be down, but there will still be tomatoes available. Central Florida production is expected to ramp up through December. The storm’s impact was less severe in the Southwest Florida growing regions around Naples and Immokalee, which will help offset reduced volume in Central Florida. Production in Southwest Florida will steadily increase starting in December.
Plantings for South Florida’s winter tomato crop have continued as normal with no impact from the hurricane.
Florida’s citrus, vegetable and melon production suffered the greatest financial losses in Hurricane Ian, according to Christa Court, director of the program and assistant professor in the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department. IFAS is the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida.
University of Florida economists predict the combination of seasonal crops, livestock, nursery and aquaculture products potentially lost as a result of category 4 Hurricane Ian will likely be valued between $787 million and $1.56 billion.
Preliminary IFAS estimates are that losses to Florida citrus due to Ian will be in the range of $147- to $304 million. The variance depends on the level of fruit drop, damage to branches, and impacts due to heavy precipitation and flooding.
Vegetable and melon losses are estimated to sustain significant production total between $208- and $394 million. Vegetable and melon impacts are heavily dependent on the ability (or inability) to replant damaged or destroyed crops.
Horticultural crop losses may fall in the range of $154- to $297 million. Field and row crops face as much as $160 million in losses and animals and animal products losses could be as high as $222 million. The estimated top level of cumulative losses for these categories is $1.56 billion.
“Even though the coast – an area with comparatively less agricultural production than inland areas – bore some of the worst impacts of the storm, the strong winds and heavy rains battered a wide swath of the peninsula that includes over five million acres of agricultural land,” IFAS’ Court indicates. “This estimate only accounts for production losses, or changes in expected revenues for the current calendar or market year; citrus, for example, had not yet begun harvesting, and some fall vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, were already planted.”
Some commodities were already looking at lower expected production due to a hard freeze event in January that affected much of the same acreage, she added.
“Southwest counties that got hit the hardest by Hurricane Ian have remained in rescue and recovery mode; we anticipate our assessments will not be complete for several weeks,” Court indicates in IFAS’ release. “Our preliminary estimate is a range, a wide range, to account for many of these unknowns. What isn’t destroyed might have diminished yield or quality, which will not be apparent for weeks or months, and then even more effects can appear in the long-term.”
Court said the survey will remain open for an undefined amount of time. The program will release a full report once analyses are completed.
Peru is predicted to export 71.5 million boxes of table grapes this season, an 11 percent growth compared to last season, according to Agraria, based on figures from the Association of Producers of Table Grapes of Peru (Provid).
Peru is now the second largest exporter of the fruit globally.
“This shows that the Peruvian industry has been able to respond to the demand of the more than 50 international markets it reached with a diversified and quality offering, which makes us recognized as highly reliable suppliers,” said Provid.
The association noted that some of the factors supporting this growth are the extended production window, which begins with Red Globe in June and ends in March, followed by seedless grapes in September until March in Inca and April in Piura.
