Archive For The “News” Category
U.S. imports of Mexican fresh tomato value rose 10% in 2023, while the quantity imported rose 1%.
USDA trade numbers show Mexico accounted for 91% of total U.S. fresh tomato imports in 2023, the same as 2022 and up slightly from 90% in 2021, according to USDA trade numbers.
The 2023 value of U.S. imports of Mexican tomatoes totaled $2.71 billion, up 10% from $2.48 billion in 2022 and up 14% from 2021.
The volume of U.S. imports of Mexican tomatoes totaled 1.82 million metric tons in 2023, up 1% from 2022, up 4% from 2021 and up 8% from 2020.
The average shipping point price for Mexican tomato crossings through California, Arizona and Texas was $14.46 per carton in 2023, down 12% from $16.37 per carton in 2022 but up 11% from $12.98 per carton in 2021.
We want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. 2024 has been a constant reminder of how special and challenging produce trucking and perishable hauling can be. We continue to strive providing valuable information and look forward to serving you in the coming year.
Here is wishing you, your friends and family, happiness and health as we reflect on our reasons to be thankful.
Bill Martin
On Saturday, December 14th, the Allen Lund Company coordinated logistics for the delivery of donated food and joined volunteers to assemble and distribute grocery bags.
“20 years is a big commitment, and that’s how long the Allen Lund Company has supported Navidad en el Barrio. It started with a few trucks moving donations. Now, we coordinate almost all the donated food, plus provide the logistics to the warehouse. We even organize volunteers at several locations on Saturday, December 14th, to assemble and hand out the grocery bags to thousands of the most in-need families in Southern California thanks to the generous donations of many individuals and companies,” said Nora Trueblood, Director of Marketing and Communications at ALC.
“At Allen Lund Company, logistics is what we do best – but our favorite logistics services are those done to help others through our ‘Acts of Kindness’. For 20 years now, we have been working with great organizations, including Catholic Charities, St. Vincent De Paul, Navidad en el Barrio, many customers, and our employees who volunteer to build and distribute tens of thousands of grocery bags full of much-needed food for members of the community. As a member of the Catholic Charities board, I see firsthand how this labor of love impacts the families and strengthens all involved in this wide-ranging endeavor. We look forward to many more years of putting the ‘Happy’ in Happy Holidays,” said Kenny Lund, Executive Vice President of ALC Logistics.
We couldn’t have done it without you. A heartfelt thank you to all our donors:
Cacique | Coca-Cola | Costco | Faribault Foods | The Farmlink Project | Grimmway Farms | Minute Maid | Mission Produce Inc. | Mother’s Nutritional Center | Northgate Market | Penske | PepsiCo | Randall Foods | R.W. Zant | The Salvation Army | Taylor Farms | Wada Farms | WM Ground Beef | Wonderful Citrus
We are grateful for your support and are making a real difference together. Here’s to many more years of spreading holiday cheer!
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| Since 2004, the Allen Lund Company has supported the efforts of Navidad en el Barrio. Established in 1972 by former NFL player Danny Villanueva, local Hispanic radio, and students from UCLA, the organization is dedicated to helping underserved families around the Los Angeles area by providing the makings for a Christmas dinner. |
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that global shipping costs surged in the first half of the year due to disruptions in maritime routes and rising operational expenses.
The high costs, the organization adds, are straining the supply chain and may threaten vulnerable economies, raising concerns over trade sustainability, economic growth, and the global effort to achieve sustainable development goals.
UNCTAD attributes much of the increase in freight rates to rerouted vessels, port congestion, and higher operational costs. The report highlights examples like the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), where congestion reportedly more than doubled compared to late 2023.
“As of 18 October 2024, the SCFI was down 45% from its 2024 high and 60% below its record level during COVID-19,” the organization states. “However, it remained 115% above the pre-pandemic average and more than double the 2023 average.”
Due to these conditions, the average rate on the SCFI Shanghai–South America route more than doubled to $9,026 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), marking the highest level since September 2022 from January to July 2024.
“During the same period, the SCFI Shanghai–South Africa route saw its average rate almost triple to $5,426 per TEU (the highest since July 2022), while the SCFI Shanghai–West Africa average rate jumped 137% to $5,563 per TEU (the highest since August 2022),” UNCTAD reports.
Georgia Ports handled 494,261 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) last month, marking an increase of more than 45,000 TEUs, or 10%, according to a press release from Georgia Ports Authority (GPA).
It was the third busiest October on record for GPA, following 2021 and 2022, when more than half a million TEUs passed through the Port of Savannah.
Record-breaking trade at the Appalachian Regional Port also boosted GPA’s performance. The Northwest Georgia inland port recorded an October high of 3,666 rail lifts, a 4.4% increase compared to the previous year.
For the first four months of fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024–Oct. 31, 2024), GPA has moved 1.9 million TEUs, an increase of 211,320 TEUs, or 12%.
In the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) segment, Colonel’s Island Terminal handled 68,569 units of autos and high/heavy machinery in October. For the fiscal year to date, RoRo units totaled 300,647, an increase of 10.6%.
Georgia Ports also secured a $46 million Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Ports Program grant in October to enhance its electrification infrastructure. The grant will support ships at berth by enabling them to plug into shore power, reducing the need for auxiliary diesel engines.
The grant also funds the replacement of diesel-powered terminal tractors with electric models and the installation of electric charging infrastructure. “These initiatives are designed to create positive impacts for the community and ensure we’re a good neighbor,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.
The Port of Antioquia in Colombia is currently under construction and will serve as a multipurpose terminal. Its construction phase is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Located on the southeastern side of the Gulf of Urabá in Antioquia, the port will have the capacity to handle general cargo, vehicles, refrigerated and dry containers, and solid and liquid bulk, excluding hydrocarbons.
The port terminal will prioritize technology, safety, and high-quality processes, infrastructure, and services to capitalize on the opportunities presented by its strategic location as the closest port in the Caribbean— 217 miles away from Colombia’s main production and consumption centers.
Agro-exports rely on every link in the export chain to reach the final consumer, and ports play a fundamental role in managing export shipments. This is especially critical for fruit, which is a perishable product and requires rapid handling to ensure it is shipped as quickly as possible.
The National Association of Foreign Trade (Analdex) notes the Port of Antioquia is multipurpose and located in deep water, at 54 feet, which allows the arrival of various types of vessels.
The port should start operations by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
The port has five berthing positions and it is hoped by themiddle of the year the port will expand to two or three. By the end of 2025, there very well could be five berthing positions.
The Port of Antioquia has foreign investment, including support from the World Bank through the IFC, in addition to national investors.
General cargo will have a capacity of 450,000 tons, 650,000 containers, and 2.5 million tons of solid bulk.
Since the port is capable of receiving large ships, because it is 54 feet deep, so there is no problem of access for modern ships of 24,000 containers, which is what will arrive in Chancay. In addition, it will have a total of 1,200 plugs for refrigerated containers.
Bananas, Hass avocados, coffee, and exotic fruits, including pitahaya and uchuva, will be exported since the port has the possibility of using refrigerated containers.
The objective is to reach the East Coast of the United States and Europe, which currently receive a significant portion of Colombia’s fruit exports.
By Josh Mason ALC Salt Lake City
Shipping perishable goods doesn’t have to mean choosing between high costs and high risk. Refrigerated less-than-truckload (RLTL) shipping offers a versatile middle ground, giving businesses the ability to transport smaller shipments without sacrificing the temperature controls needed for quality and compliance. For industries that rely on cold chain logistics, RLTL represents a smarter way to ship, saving money while ensuring products reach their destinations in perfect condition.
Of course, shipping perishable goods isn’t without its hurdles. Maintaining consistent temperatures, navigating mixed freight loads, and avoiding transit delays are just a few of the challenges businesses face with RLTL. But with the right systems in place—like temperature monitoring, carefully vetted carrier networks, and proactive communication—these obstacles can be overcome. RLTL shipments can move seamlessly, ensuring product integrity and on-time delivery, no matter the complexity of the route.
The true advantage of RLTL lies in combining its efficiency with the expertise of a 3PL. By leveraging relationships with a diverse network of carriers, 3PLs can provide tailored solutions for even the most complex shipments. They can aggregate volumes across customers to negotiate competitive rates and bring a wealth of experience to troubleshoot potential issues. With a 3PL in your corner, RLTL becomes more than just a shipping option—it’s a strategic advantage.
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Josh Mason began his logistics career in 2019 and has focused on LTL freight and solutions. He joined the Allen Lund Company in the summer of 2024 when they opened their ALC Salt Lake City office in Ogden, UT.
josh.mason@allenlund.com
Peak volume tomato shipments from Florida are on their way.
In 2023, Florida shipped fresh open-field tomatoes from October through July, with peak shipments from October through May. Leading tomato-producing counties in Florida include Hillsborough County, Manatee County, Hendry County, Palm Beach County and Collier County.
Florida tomato acreage in 2023 totaled about 30,000 acres, of which about 29,00 acres were harvested, according to USDA numbers.
With yields of 300 hundredweight per acre, the value of the 2023 Florida tomato crop was estimated at $493.6 million, according to the USDA. Total tomato harvested volume was 8.97 million hundredweight.
The USDA’s annual shipment summary reported that Florida accounted for 23.44 million 25-pound cartons of open-field fresh round tomato truck shipments in 2023. That accounted for about 56% of total domestic fresh round tomato truck shipments.
The USDA reported that only 8,000 25-pound cartons of Florida organic round tomatoes were shipped in 2023.
Florida cherry tomato shipments in 2023 totaled 344,000 25-pound cartons, just over 70% of USDA-reported cherry tomato shipments.
Florida grape tomato shipments in 2023 were reported at 2.148 million 25-pound cartons, or about 71% of total domestic grape tomato shipments.
Florida plum tomato shipments in 2023 were reported at 8.17 million 25-pound cartons by the USDA, or 61% of total domestic plum tomato volume.
For central and south Florida, the USDA reported that average prices for 5×6-size mature green tomatoes in 25-pound cartons began in early November and continued through mid-May. Prices for the 2023-24 season began in early November in a range from $14.95 to $18.95 per carton. Prices topped $30 per carton in late December and topped $37 per carton in late January and early February.
As the nation adjusts to the results of the 2024 election, agricultural leaders and third-party logistics (3PL) providers are positioned to play pivotal roles in addressing challenges and opportunities within the produce supply chain. Decisions made in the coming months will directly influence how agricultural products move efficiently from farms to consumers.
With President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team preparing key appointments in the Department of Agriculture (USDA), early decisions on leadership will set the tone for the administration’s approach to pressing agricultural issues. For 3PL providers, leadership developments highlight the importance of collaboration with ag leaders to ensure reliable and efficient transportation solutions based on evolving policies. These appointments will likely shape trade policies, domestic farm support, and regulatory practices, potentially mirroring the significant shifts seen during Trump’s previous term, focusing on strengthening U.S. agricultural competitiveness globally.
The trucking industry’s strong endorsement of Sean Duffy’s nomination as Secretary of Transportation highlights the potential for alignment between industry needs and DOT goals. American Trucking Association’s President Chris Spear commended Duffy’s understanding of transportation issues, emphasizing his support for “pro-trucking policies to strengthen the supply chain.” This alignment could accelerate critical projects, such as reducing bottlenecks in transportation corridors, modernizing storage facilities, and improving logistics networks in rural areas. Ag leaders, working closely with the DOT, can advocate for targeted investments that address the unique demands of agriculture. One area of focus, infrastructure improvements, presents a significant opportunity to enhance the agricultural supply chain. Combined with Trump’s focus on efficiency and safety, these developments could revolutionize the movement of agricultural products, bolstering the role of 3PLs in seamlessly connecting producers to markets both domestically and internationally.