Archive For The “News” Category
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.
Walmart has officially launched its holiday meal to bring customers “incredible savings on mealtime favorites” earlier and at an even lower price than last year, according to a news release.
Headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., the grocer is offering savings — based on the price of certain items during the same time period last year — on a number of holiday meal ingredients, including produce such as 3-pound bags of fresh yellow onions, one fresh celery stalk, 5-pound bags of fresh whole russet potatoes, Great Value Canned Green Beans, whole sweetpotatoes and 15-ounce packages of Great Value Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn.
As food prices remain top of mind, more customers want to begin saving earlier and throughout the holiday season. Now through Dec. 24, Walmart is bringing back its inflation-free Thanksgiving meal at a lower price than last year to help customers save without compromising quality, the release said.
Customers can shop the meal now in stores and with one click on Walmart.com/thanksgiving. With a traditional holiday meal at the grocer’s consistently low prices, Walmart says customers can trust that no matter what the meal occasion this holiday season — from Thanksgiving to Christmas or even Sunday dinner — it’s more affordable.
Walmart is also offering customers the opportunity to gift a meal directly to loved ones anywhere in the country and, new this year, donate an entire meal to their local Salvation Army unit.
“Some of the holiday’s most special moments take place around the dinner table. At Walmart, we are committed to offering customers even deeper savings on top of our Every Day Low Prices for all their mealtime needs,” said John Laney, executive vice president of food for Walmart U.S. “And with more opportunities to gift a meal and give back to those in need, we’re helping customers spread holiday cheer to their loved ones and their local communities.”
An affordable Thanksgiving spread
This year, Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal features 29 items and serves eight people for less than $7 per person, the release said. Shoppers can fill their baskets at Walmart.com/thanksgiving.
- Whole frozen turkey 10-16 pounds ($0.88 per pound).
- Great Value Sweet Hawaiian Rolls (one unit, 12 ounces).
- Great Value Golden Sweet Whole Kkernel Corn (three units,15 ounces).
- Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce (one unit,14 ounces).
- Great Value Canned Green Beans (two units, 14.5 ounces).
- French’s Crispy Fried Onions (one unit, 6 ounces).
- Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (two units, 10.5 ounces).
- Great Value Brown Gravy Mix (two units, 0.87 ounces).
- Marie Callender’s Southern Pecan Pie (one unit, 32 ounces).
- Great Value Frozen Whipped Topping (one unit, 8 ounces).
- Great Value Frozen Deep Dish Pie Crusts (one unit, 16 ounces).
- Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin (one unit,15 ounces).
- Great Value Evaporated Milk (one unit, 12 ounces).
- Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows (one unit,10 ounces).
- Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (two units, 8.5 ounces).
- Great Value Poultry Seasoning (one unit, 1.5 ounces).
- Swanson Chicken Broth (one unit, 32 ounces).
- Fresh whole russet potatoes (one unit, 5 pounds).
- Fresh whole sweetpotatoes (three units).
- Fresh yellow onions (one unit, 3 pounds).
- Fresh celery stalks (one unit).
- Walmart customers can take advantage of this inflation-free Thanksgiving meal both in-store and online for easy, fast and convenient pickup and delivery no matter when they need it, with early morning delivery starting at 6 a.m. and express delivery in as soon as 30 minutes, the company says.
BATAVIA, IL — This Thanksgiving season, ALDI is offering its lowest-priced Thanksgiving basket in five years – a full meal for 10 people at less than $47.* With reports showing grocery prices are up 50% across the industry on hundreds of items compared to 2019,** shoppers will get welcome relief at ALDI on their favorite Thanksgiving fixings.
Throughout the Thanksgiving season, holiday hosts can shop ALDI for all the fresh ingredients and award-winning products they need to assemble a beautiful holiday feast. Coming in at less than $4.70 per person, the meal delivers on the traditional, crowd-pleasing favorites that guests crave without the sales, coupons, minimum purchase requirements, loyalty cards and other hoops required to save at traditional grocers. The ALDI Thanksgiving shopping list includes a Butterball turkey with spices, gravy, rolls, mac & cheese, stuffing – plus the ingredients for cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.
“Every day at ALDI, we are focused on finding ways to deliver the lowest possible prices for our customers – and this Thanksgiving is no different,” said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI. “With 25% of U.S households now shopping ALDI, we know grocery prices are still top of mind for customers. We worked hard this Thanksgiving to deliver the best value and quality products so everyone can enjoy a traditional meal with family and friends without having to scale back.”
This inflation-busting holiday meal comes at a time when the popularity of ALDI is at an all-time high, and shopper demand is driving the retailer’s continued growth as it plans to open 800 stores over the next five years. Whether checking off a weekly grocery list or planning a holiday meal, ALDI is ready to earn the trust of new communities with shelves stocked with everything needed to satisfy families and impress guests.
Everything ALDI does, from using a quarter cart system and displaying products in their original boxes to having a smaller store footprint, helps customers save up to 40% on groceries compared to traditional grocery stores.*** For seven years running, ALDI has been recognized by the dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index as #1 in Everyday Low Price,**** providing unmatched value for millions of customers who rely on ALDI for high quality products at the lowest possible prices.
*Availability may vary by store location and is subject to change. Pricing valid 10/16/24 – 11/27/24.?Assumes a 16lb Turkey.
**According to a NielsenIQ study published in the Wall Street Journal article “How Far $100 Goes at the Grocery Store After Five Years of Food Inflation.” April 4, 2024.
***If you purchased all ALDI’s exclusive grocery brands instead of the competitors’ comparable items. Prices checked weekly and monthly. Your savings may vary. Competitors may offer lower priced branded/private label items. Savings per basket 16%-40%.
****According to the dunnhumby® ©2024 Retailer Preference Index?
About ALDI U.S.
ALDI is one of America’s fastest-growing retailers, serving millions of customers across the country each month. Our disciplined approach to operating with simplicity and efficiency gives our customers great products at the lowest possible prices. For seven years running, ALDI has been recognized by the dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index as #1 in Everyday Low Price.* ALDI strives to have a positive impact on its customers, employees and communities by being socially and environmentally responsible, earning ALDI recognition as a leading grocer in sustainability.** In addition to helping protect the planet, ALDI helps customers save time and money through convenient shopping options via in-store, curbside pickup or delivery at shop.aldi.us. For more information about ALDI, visit aldi.us.
*According to the dunnhumby® ©2024 Retailer Preference Index.
**According to Progressive Grocer’s 2023 Top 10 Most Sustainable Grocers list.
Providing food for astronauts during missions not only entails logistic issues but is also quite expensive. This is why scientists at UC Riverside are working on conquering the last frontier for agriculture: Space.
A compact version of a tomato plant developed at the university is expected to reach truly astronomical heights, setting a course for the International Space Station, orbiting some 260 miles above Earth.
The plant is now undergoing observations at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, and its seeds are in line for a payload flight within the next year or so.
Its voyage will be a generational first: The seeds will germinate in the station’s Advanced Plant Habitat laboratory, produce fruit, and the seeds of that fruit will be planted again to create a second generation of tomatoes grown in space.
“So, it’s going to be a seed-to-a-seed-to-a-seed, which has never been done before in space,” said Robert Jinkerson, an associate professor of chemical and environmental engineering in UCR’s Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering.
The tomato is designed to produce fruit in small spaces so it can be a food source for astronauts. It has been years in the making.
Martha Orozco-Cárdenas, director of the Plant Transformation Research Center in UCR’s College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to downsize ordinary tomato plants and reduce the ratio of leaves and stems to fruit.
With support from an $800,000 grant from the NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Orozco-Cárdenas, and Jinkerson further engineered and evaluated the plants to determine their “space-worthiness”.
Dubbed Small Plants for Space Expeditions (SPACE) by the researchers, the technology could be applied to other plants to develop a suite of crops for
agriculture on the International Space Station and future space colonies.
The US has solidified its position as the world’s largest producer, exporter, and consumer of pistachios, driven by expanding pistachio-bearing acreage and resilient orchards.
According to a recent RaboResearch report, the US pistachio industry is poised for a significant supply increase, making marketing innovation and health research crucial to maintaining price stability. The adoption of economically sustainable practices will continue to ensure positive margins for efficient operators.
Pistachio production expands
Over the past two decades, pistachios have consistently offered higher gross returns per bearing acre than almonds and walnuts in California. With average gross returns of USD 6,400 per acre over the past decade, pistachios have outperformed almonds and walnuts by 20% and 70%, respectively.
This profitability, coupled with the resilience of pistachio orchards to salinity and drought, has spurred rapid planting growth since 2012. From 2011 to 2023, California’s pistachio-planted area increased by over 372,000 acres, with projections suggesting a bearing area of 590,000 acres by 2028. However,
industry-wide challenges, such as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in California, are expected to limit new plantings, signaling a shift from rapid growth to a maturity stage in production.
US dominates global pistachio production
Since 2016/17, the US has been the undisputed leader in global pistachio production, accounting for 63% of global output in 2023/24.
“This growth is a result of steadily expanding bearing acreage, with the US outpacing the other major producer, Iran,” explains David Magaña, Senior Analyst – Fresh produce and tree nuts for RaboResearch. In 2023/24, Turkey and Iran accounted for 15% and 14% of the global pistachio crop, respectively. The US pistachio production grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% over the past decade, significantly higher than the global CAGR of 5%.
US also leads the way in pistachio consumption
The US has also become the largest consumer of pistachios since 2019/20, surpassing previous leaders like Turkey and the EU. US pistachio consumption soared from 41,500 metric tons in 2005 to 225,000 metric tons in 2023/24. Key drivers of this demand include product and packaging innovations, health research, promotional efforts, and the availability of high-quality products year-round.
The four key markets for pistachios are the US, Turkey, China, and the EU, which account altogether for 72% of global pistachio consumption.
“It’s interesting to highlight that over the past decade, pistachio consumption has increased in the US, Turkey, China, and the EU, expanding at CAGRS of 13%, 7%, 5%, and 6%, respectively,” says Magaña. “In India, a country that absorbs 4% of world’s pistachios, consumption has expanded at 11% CAGR in the past ten seasons.”
US leads exports, while China, the EU, Turkey, and India absorb majority of imports
The US has emerged as the dominant exporter of pistachios, with exports reaching a record 390,000 metric tons in 2023/24, representing 70% of global exports. Consistent quality and food safety standards have given US pistachios a competitive edge in the global market.
Major importers include China, the EU, Turkey, and India, with Middle Eastern markets also showing significant growth in the past decade. Market development and expansion will be critical to absorb the upcoming increasing pistachio volumes.
Diversifying markets to minimize risks
According to Magaña, the US pistachio industry’s success is partly due to its ability to identify and serve international markets efficiently. China, in particular, is a crucial market, especially in the season leading up to the Chinese New Year. However, heavy reliance on a single market poses geopolitical risks, highlighting the need for market diversification and improved access.
GOTHENBURG, Sweden — The electrification of heavy trucks is continuing across the world and longer distances are now becoming a possibility.
Next year Volvo will launch a new long-range version of its FH Electric that will be able to reach up to 600 km (372.8 miles) on one charge. This will allow transport companies to operate electric trucks on interregional and long-distance routes and to drive a full working day without having to recharge. The new Volvo FH Electric will be released for sale during the second half of 2025.
“Our new electric flagship will be a great complement to our wide range of electric trucks and enable zero-exhaust emission transport also for the longer distances. It will be a great solution for transport companies with a high annual mileage on their trucks and with a strong commitment to reduce CO2,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.
Five years of electric leadership
The enabler for the 600 km range is Volvo’s new driveline technology, the so-called e-axle, which creates space for significantly more battery capacity onboard. More efficient batteries, a further improved battery management system and overall efficiency of the powertrain also contribute to the extended range.
Volvo Trucks is a global leader in medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks with eight battery-electric models in their portfolio. The wide product range makes it possible to electrify city and regional distribution, construction, waste management and, soon, long distance transport. Volvo has so far delivered more than 3,800 electric trucks to customers in 46 countries around the world.
“The transport sector represents seven percent of global carbon emissions. Battery-electric trucks are important tools to reduce the climate footprint. Besides the important environmental gains that electric trucks bring, they offer truck drivers a much better working environment, with much lower levels of noise and vibrations,” says Roger Alm.
Volvo Trucks drives the transition towards fossil-free transport to reach its net-zero emissions target by 2040 using a three-path technology strategy. The three-path technology approach is built on battery electric, fuel cell electric and combustion engines that run on renewable fuels like green hydrogen, biogas or HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil).
Peruvian agricultural exports totaled $1.247 billion in August 2024, 40 percent higher than in the same month of the previous year, according to Agraria.
This increase occurs in a complicated context for global trade in agriculture to the logistical difficulties on the routes that connect Southeast Asia with Europe and due to the various climatic complications in the main agricultural exporting countries.
Curiously, it was these difficulties that allowed coffee, avocado, and cocoa to find very favorable prices, and thus tip the balance towards positive results for Peru.
The most exported product by Peru in August was coffee, with 40,238 tons worth $302 million. This meant a 57 percent growth in volume and 195 percent in value compared to the same month in 2023. This increase was accompanied by an increase in price (+87 percent) which reached an average of $7.51 per kilogram. The good moment of Peruvian coffee responds to the decreasing expectations of Brazilian production and the fall in shipments of production from Vietnam, two large global suppliers.
In second place was blueberry, with a total of 22,100 tons worth $168 million, which meant a growth of 2 percent in volume, but with a fall of 1 percent in value. The country’s leading product didn’t have a positive result in the month prior to the start of the export peak (late September and October) because the price fell 3 percent, reaching an average of $7.60 per kilogram.
Avocado ranked third with 67,786 tons worth $149 million, representing a reduction of 21 percent in volume and 1 percent in value. The 25 percent increase in price almost offset the decrease in volume. A high cost ($2.20 per kilogram) in the last stage of the campaign was made possible by the reduction in the quality of Mexican avocados and the harsh weather conditions faced by domestic production in the US.
Cocoa surprised by sneaking into fourth place with 20,325 tons worth $127 million. The 74 percent growth in volume and 196 percent in value put cocoa among the leaders, something that is not common. The price shot up by more than 70 percent, being on average $6.26 per kilogram. The fall in cocoa production in West Africa and the shortage that this generated in the main markets of the world explained the rise in costs.
Finally, mandarin, with 56,012 tons worth $73 million, reached fifth place. Thanks to the boom in later varieties, an increase of almost 8 percent in volume and 13 percent in value was achieved. Regarding the price, this increased by 5 percent to reach an average of $1.30 per kilogram.
The main destination of Peruvian agricultural products in August was Europe, with almost 47 percent of the share. This prominence was due to the strong appreciation of coffee and cocoa, whose main destination is the U.S., with 31 percent of the share, but it is waiting for the takeoff of the blueberry campaign to gain more prominence; while China, with almost 4 percent of the share, is unlikely to gain more space until the grape campaign begins.
In the year-to-date, Peruvian agricultural exports total $6.65 billion, 26 percent above 2023. The price boost of some products and the gradual recovery in volumes promise a fairly positive year-end. The peaks of the blueberry and grape campaigns will mark the final result.
EarthFresh Farms has purchased Houston-based MountainKing Potatoes, effective Sept. 25, according to a press release from EarthFresh.
“We believe that there are great synergies between our two companies that include exclusive varietal potatoes, innovative packaging and products, expanded organic offerings, customer analytics and an expanded supply of fresh potatoes” Tom Hughes, president and CEO of EarthFresh Farms, said in a news release. “Our combined team will consist of over 400 employees dedicated to servicing our customers.”
Established in 1963, EarthFresh is a North American produce company specializing in potatoes, carrots and onions. With the completion of this transaction, EarthFresh now has nine packing facilities in Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island, according to the release.
With the expanded packing locations, EarthFresh said it will be able to service North American customers within 24 hours from its packing facilities. The company said it will maintain proven MountainKing brands that include premium products like Steakhouse Russets, Butter Golds, Butter Reds and Butter Russets.
Idaho and Oregon are unrivaled when it comes to U.S. onion growing, packing and shipping regions.
Idaho domestic truck shipments in 2023 amounted to 575.2 million pounds, with export truck shipments from the state accounting for 24.4 million pounds. Oregon was close behind, with the state accounting for 385.8 million pounds of domestic truck shipments and 44.3 million pounds of export truck shipments.
Idaho’s combined domestic and export truck shipments of onions totaled over 599 million pounds in 2023, up 16% from 515.9 million pounds in 2022. Oregon’s combined domestic and export shipments topped 429 million pounds in 2023, up 8% from 398 million pounds in 2022.
Idaho and Oregon shippers loaded onions every month of 2023, with peak supply from September through April.
In 2023, Idaho accounted for 14% of the U.S. domestic shipments and Oregon accounted for 10%.
Together the states accounted for about 1 in 4 domestic onions shipped in 2023.
The latest United States 2024 California Citrus Acreage report shows a significant increase in bearing acres for mandarins and mandarin hybrids.
According to the report, the estimated statewide bearing acreage for mandarins increased from 66,000 acres in 2021-22 to 69,000 acres in 2022-23, a total increase of 3,000 acres.
The citrus acreage data is a compilation of questionnaire responses mailed to all citrus growers in the National Agricultural Statistics Service database. The mailing was sent in January 2023 and producers had to update the information with new plantings, removals, and any corrections.
The 2023 California Mandarin Objective Measurement Report by the California Department of Food and Agriculture indicated an 8% increase in fruit set per tree from the previous year.
The detailed California citrus acreage report shows that 64,933 acres of mandarins and mandarin hybrids are bearing fruit.
The report shows a decrease of 500 grapefruit-bearing acres, an increase of 1,000 lemon-bearing acres, and a decrease of 1,000 Valencia oranges-bearing acres. Navel oranges bearing acres remained the same.