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.
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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
Over 10,000 tons of Peruvian blueberries have been exported since the start of the blueberry season in March, which is in line with Proarándanos‘ projections.
Proarándanos, a Peruvian blueberry export trade association estimates more than 250,000 tons of the fruit will be shipped by the end of the season.
Over 90 percent of blueberries are forecast to be exported between August and December, and 50 percent between September and October alone.
As of the first week of May Peru had exported 219,706 tons.
China has been the main export destination, closely followed by the U.S. representing 37 percent and 34 percent of exports respectively. Europe accounted for 13 percent of exports, the UK, for 9 percent and other destinations, for 8 percent.
In addition, 92 percent of exports were shipped by sea, while 8 percent were sent by air, and organic crops accounted for 9.2 percent of total exports.
Currently, 44,480 acres are used for growing blueberries.
Countries in the Southern Hemisphere achieved a new export record of 1.5 million tons, an increase of 0.3 million tons in a decade during the 2021-22 table grape season, according to a report by TopInfo.
Chile
This season Chile managed to recover from a sharp decline in 2020-21 thanks to better weather and new plantations which entered into production. Exports stood at 600,000 tons, which although far from its glory years when exports reached 800,000 tons, is similar to 2019-20 numbers.
Export destinations remain stable with just over half of the shipments going to North America, 22 percent to Asia, 16 percent to Europe and 7 percent to Latin America.
The trend towards red and patented varieties continues with 43 percent of grapes exported being red seedless. White grapes amounted to 24 percent of exports and black grapes, mainly seedless, 12 percent. Red Globe continues to contribute 20 percent of Chilean exports, being sent to Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Peru
Unlike neighboring Chile, Peru’s export volumes have increased fivefold, jumping from 150,000 tons exported 10 years ago to 530,000 tons this season.
While 10 years ago 75 percent of Peru’s exports were Red Globe, in the last season it barely reached 24 percent of the total, being overtaken by new seedless varieties. Now, patented varieties account for half of the shipments, with Sweet Globe standing out. In contrast to Chile and South Africa, where patented rosés predominate, in Peru whites are most popular.
Moreover, there has been a strong shift towards the U.S., with 45 percent destined for North America this season compared to 26 percent in 2011. Europe reduced its share to around 25 percent, while Asia’s increased to around 15 percent.
Brazil
Brazil has been regaining exports with 63,000 tons being exported in 2021-22, a volume that doubles the low values reached between 2014-15 and 2016-17. Again, there has been an increasing move towards proprietary varieties. From the strong predominance of traditional whites, there is a shift to patented whites and rosés.
Europe continues to be by far the main destination, although its dependence has decreased in recent years. In the last season Europe received 78 percent, 15 percent North America and 7 percent Latin America.
South Africa
On the other hand, South Africa has been recording steady progress in its table grape industry for years. Thanks to its 5 diverse growing regions and wide supply period, exports this year reached 350,000 tons for the first time, 50 percent more than 10 years ago.
Currently, two thirds of exports are made up of new varieties, with pink varieties such as, Scarlotta, Tawny, Sweet Celebration etc., dominating in particular. Patented pinks, along with the classic Crimson and Flame account for half of exports, white varieties, one third and black varieties, 15 percent.
South Africa continues to be heavily dependent on the European market, which received 76% of exports in 2021/22. Efforts are being made to diversify export destinations, particularly in Asia which received 12 percent of exports.
More than 13,000 refrigerated truckloads of North Carolina’s sweet potatoes are shipped each season.
With big volume every month of the year, North Carolina sweet potato growers easily account for the biggest share of orange vegetable supply. In 2020, North Carolina accounted for about two-thirds of total U.S. sweet potato truck shipments reported by the USDA, followed in volume by Mississippi (16%), California (11%) and Louisiana (6%).
North Carolina’s harvested sweet potato area in 2021 was 104,700 acres, producing yields of 175 cwt per acre and total production of 18.32 million.
According to USDA shipment numbers from 2021, November is the top month for North Carolina sweet potatoes, accounting for 11.3% of total crop movement that year.
The percentage of the total North Carolina sweet potato crop shipped, by month, in 2021, according to the USDA:
Representatives from Holt Logistics Corp. marked the occasion with a brief dockside reception alongside trade representatives and other business leaders from both countries.
Holt Logistics reported the historic arrival of fresh lemons from Argentina brings yet another high-quality source product through the Port of Philadelphia.
The arrival represented years of negotiations between commercial and safety interests surrounding the import of fresh goods into the United States.
The M/V Baltic Erica departed from the Euroamérica port complex near Buenos Aires on Friday, July 9, bound for the United States, arriving July 22. The vessel discharged at Gloucester Terminals in Gloucester City, New Jersey carrying 3,273 pallets containing a total of more than 3,700 tons of lemons.
The shipment of fresh lemons to the United States is unprecedented and novel for the country, since the merchandise is sent directly in a hold ship to the port of Philadelphia.
The pallets of lemons from Argentina are the first ever to enter the United States under a new agreement between the USDA and Senasa.
The Port of Wilmington (DE) is situated where the Delaware and Christina Rivers meet, about 60 miles from the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast. It is operated by the state-owned Diamond Port Corp.
The port annually produces $436 million in business revenue; and $409 million in personal income for the state and the region. It’s responsible for 5,900 jobs and generates $41 million in annual taxes.
It handles about 400 vessels annually with an import/export cargo tonnage of more than 6 million tons. The Port of Wilmington is the United States’ leading port for imports of fresh fruit, produce, and juice concentrate, and it is the world’s largest port handling bananas. In fact, it handles more than 200,000 TEUs carrying fresh fruits and concentrates each year.
During the winter, the Port of Wilmington receives table grapes, peaches, plums, applies, nectarines, pears, and other fruits from Chile. In the spring, fresh apples, pears, and kiwifruit arrive from New Zealand and Chile. In the fall, Moroccan clementines arrive.
Wilmington is located at the heart of the East Coast, just minutes from major highways, providing shippers with overnight access to major markets.
Because of its location, the port plays a vital role for produce companies throughout the East Coast, providing quick and easy access to a huge consumer market.
The owners of the port are looking to expand, with plans in motion of redeveloping the Chemours Edgemoor industrial site in Edgemoor, DE as a shipping container site with Gulftainer. The state has granted permits to allow for a 112-foot wide by 2,600-foot long wharf to be built, along with dredging the berth and access channel 45 feet below mean low water, and installing 3,200 feet of bulkhead along the shoreline.
This will allow a facility to hold a capacity for 1.2 million container slots, with upward of 4,000 plus being refrigerated.
Expansion is needed because the port is doing record business and seeing more ships come in than ever before.
Manfredi Cold Storage of which of Kennett Square, PA and Pedricktown, NJ, reports the Port of Wilmington experienced an increase in cargo moving through the past two years.
Iceberg, romaine and romaine hearts have been impacted by the **INSV Virus and **Fusarium along with other viruses that have taken over the fields this past month throughout the Salinas Valley, according to a market alert by Produce Alliance, a produce brokerage firm in Chicago.
INSV Virus is a plant virus that is passed from field to field by insects. Fusarium is a soil borne fungus, which causes the lettuce heads to die from diseased roots.
These viruses are not allowing product to fully develop and in many cases, causing growers to disc entire fields. Growers are working to put only the best product available in the boxes, and bring the best quality into the plant for processing as crews have been working diligently in the fields to leave any affected product behind.
Still, lettuce haulers are urged to be extra cautious and observance of lettuce being loaded onto their truck.
For the lettuce fields designated for processing, that are currently unaffected by the disease, there is some variation in core sizing/growth, where some cores are curved in the head of lettuce making it a bit difficult for crews to see as they remove what they can in the field. This means, harvesting at an extremely slow pace to minimize the risk as much as possible. Growers are having to place additional inspection on the lines to cull out any defects not removed in the field.
Currently, the market is in a demand exceeds supply situation due to lighter supply industry wide and a very unstable market situation is expected to continue for the remainder of the Salinas season.
Some weeks will be better than others, but as the local seasons finish for the year, this will put more pressure on California, increasing demand on already shorter crops.
Green leaf is starting to feel the effects of this situation as well as available supply is getting shorter. Red leaf and butter lettuce may be affected working through the balance of the season, but currently, quality issues are not as severe.
