Archive For The “News” Category
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.
A recent survey conducted by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. found that grocery consumers across key demographic groups have reached a breaking point and are seeking out lower-cost goods.
RRD’s annual “2024 CPG + Grocery Consumer Report” speaks to how inflation is continuing to influence consumer purchasing behavior, according to a news release. The report is based on a survey of more than 1,800 adults in the U.S.
According to the survey, 55% of shoppers said they’ll stay loyal to the store they shop at most often — particularly baby boomers (61%) and affluent consumers (64%) — while 45% are open to changing stores for greater savings, particularly millennials (50%).
“Consumers are becoming more judicious with their purchasing decisions, in large part due to the continued impact of external factors including inflation,” Beth Johnson, grocery industry expert and director of client strategy at RRD, said in the release. “These factors are testing the loyalty of shoppers, making it more important than ever for marketers to rethink how they engage with buyers. Brands will need to meet shoppers where they are by emphasizing value and savings to hold their attention.”
Top findings from the survey include:
- 88% of consumers express frustration with rising prices across categories, including groceries, gas and restaurants. This sentiment was most associated with grocery shopping overall (86%), driven by the rising costs of food and beverages (80%).
- 87% of baby boomers and 79% of households with $100,000 or more in income express concern or frustration over food and beverage prices.
- Consumers are adjusting their shopping behaviors by stocking up during sales (41%), purchasing fewer items (37%), switching to less-expensive name brands (37%), switching from name brands to private-label brands (35%), using more coupons and discounts (34%) and by sticking to their shopping lists (32%).
- Coupon redemption in mass and variety/discount stores increased by 9% and 37%, respectively, compared to the first half of 2023.
- Regarding store selection, 68% of consumers prioritize convenience and proximity to their homes, with baby boomers valuing close proximity the most (76%).
- Many shoppers (32%) also report prioritizing an engaging shopping experience, even if the store is farther away than others — particularly Generation Z (39%), millennials (37%) and parents (38%).
Shoppers are making it clear about what they want from their grocery stores and consumer packaged goods brands: convenience, value and personalization, according to the release.
Consumers reported prioritizing a variety of factors including relevant deals (59%), personalized discounts (55%) and tailored recommendations (52%).
Staying local was also shown to be important to shoppers, with 57% preferring to shop at stores that feature locally grown, raised or produced products and 56% reporting that they would like to see more advertising for products produced or grown close by, according to the release.
For retailer or brand selection, fair prices are deemed to be the biggest priority for consumers (58%), up 5 percentage points compared to last year. High-quality products (45%) and coupons and discounts (41%) are also driving factors for shoppers. Notably, data privacy (39%) is also influencing consumers’ decision-making, up 19 percentage points from last year, the release said.
Citrus acreage in Florida continues to shrink.Results of Florida’s annual Commercial Citrus Inventory show the state’s 2024 total citrus acreage is 274,705 acres, down 17% from the 2023 annual survey. The net loss of 57,551 acres is 14,505 acres more than what was lost the previous season.
The report said total citrus acreage in Florida in 2024 was off 50% from 554,037 acres in 2010.
Florida’s 2024 orange acreage is now at 248,028 acres, down 18% from the previous season, according to the report.
Valencia acreage in 2024 accounts for 63% of the total orange acreage, with non-valencia acreage representing 35%; the remaining orange acreage is unidentified. Grapefruit acreage is at 14,316 acres in 2024, down 10% from the previous season. Specialty fruit acreage, at 12,361 acres, is down 6% from the previous season. Tangerines and tangelos account for 58% of the specialty fruit, with 7,189 acres, the report said. The remaining acreage is “other citrus” acreage, with a total of 5,172 acres, or 42%.
All 23 published counties included in the survey showed decreases in acreage, according to the report. Hendry County lost the most acreage, down 12,374 acres from the previous season. Polk County leads in citrus acreage with 58,516 acres, followed by Desoto County at 51,800 acres.
(Since this article was written the U.S. dockworkers and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, effective the evening of October 3, have extended their existing contract through January 15. This will provide time to negotiate a new contract.)
The Food Industry Association of Arlington, VA and its President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin offered the following statement on the East and Gulf Coasts ports strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA):
“There’s never a good time for a strike. Now, the current strike is compounding the horrific situation in the Southeastern United States resulting from Hurricane Helene and parties need to return to the negotiating table.
“We must be focused on helping the communities and people devastated by Hurricane Helene. The strike on the East and Gulf Coasts by the International Longshoremen’s Association threatens to make the situation even more dire. This action has already begun to jeopardize food supply chain operations, and the strike has the potential to disrupt the long-term stability of markets and commodities, namely pharmaceuticals, seafood, produce, meat, cheese, ingredients, and packaging.
“An extended strike will likely cause dramatic increases in the cost and availability of goods, intensifying this inflationary environment. And, unfortunately, this situation cannot be addressed by a switch to alternative ports due to the freight costs and time associated with transporting products back to the East Coast.
“Compounding the implications of this strike, we are facing a humanitarian crisis of extraordinary proportions. Hurricane Helene’s aftermath in communities across North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina have left tremendous flooding and washed-out roads, destruction of neighborhoods, no power, and no potable water. Many of our food retail and product supplier members are trying desperately to ensure their associates’ safety and get their businesses back online to serve these devastated communities and support their own employees who have been displaced.
“We urge the negotiating parties to come to a swift resolution as we all focus on assisting these devastated communities.”
Chilean Fruit Growers Concerned
Chilean fruit growers are expressing concern about potential harm to trade because of the port strike on the East Coast of the U.S.
The International Longshoremen’s Association began the strike Oct. 1 against the United States Maritime Alliance.
The port strike will directly affect shipments of Chilean fruit to the North America, said the Chilean grower group Federation of Fruit Producers of Chile, or Fedefruta.
“We find it regrettable that port operations are paralyzed, and at the same time we call on the parties to reconcile, agree and resolve their differences so that ports in the U.S. can continue to function,” Víctor Catán, president of Fedefruta, said in a statement. “We believe that tremendous damage is done to the U.S. population that is deprived of goods and food, in our case making it impossible to enter the entry of top quality fruits that supply the different supermarkets in that country.”
In 2023, Chile exporters shipped more than $1 billion of fresh fruit to the Philadelphia port alone, according to USDA statistics. That represents 56% of total Chilean fruit exports to the U.S. in 2023 of $1.78 billion, the USDA said.
While the period from January through April represents the peak window for Chilean fresh fruit shipments to the U.S., imports from Chile occur in every month of the year. Last year the U.S. imported $134 million of Chilean fruit in October, or about 8% of the total 2023 value of Chilean fruit imports.
(Since this article was written the U.S. dockworkers and the U.S. Maritime Alliance have extended their existing contract through January 15. This will provide time to negotiate a new contract.)
Allen Lund Company
The East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers’ strike, which began on October 1, 2024, has disrupted port operations across major hubs from New York to Texas. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) initiated the strike after failing to secure a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX). The strike currently involves 45,000 union members and affects 36 ports. With dockworkers walking off the job, billions of dollars in goods—ranging from consumer items to critical industrial components—remain stranded at ports. The strike could significantly impact supply chains, especially for perishable goods, with estimates suggesting economic losses of up to $5 billion per day as the stoppage continues.
According to NPR, the primary issues of the strike include wage increases and concerns over automation. The union is demanding a $5 hourly wage increase each year for the next six years, which would significantly raise workers’ pay. Additionally, the ILA insists on strict language to prevent the introduction of full or semi-automation at ports, fearing job losses in the long term. Negotiations between the two sides have stalled, with no face-to-face meetings since June.
In response to the strike, we at Allen Lund Company are closely monitoring the situation. Our team is taking proactive steps to mitigate potential disruptions to our customers’ supply chains. We are actively communicating with our network of carriers and exploring alternative routes and logistical solutions to ensure minimal delays. In the meantime, we recommend that our shippers consider rerouting to West Coast ports for more efficient handling. The ongoing strike underscores the importance of adaptability in logistics, and we remain committed to finding timely and effective solutions for our customers during this critical period.
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Dockworkers at ports ranging from Maine to Texas have gone on strike today, causing major concern to the U.S. and international supply chain. This is the first strike from the International Longshoremen’s Association since 1977 and has paralyzed the labors of about 45,000 workers.
According to CNBC, between 43%-49% of all U.S. imports and monthly billions of dollars in trade move through the U.S. East Coast and Gulf ports.
In response to the labor disruptions, the USDA put out a statement saying it is taking action to monitor and address potential consumer impacts.
“Our analysis shows we should not expect significant changes to food prices or availability in the near term,” the statement indicates. “Thanks to the typically smooth movement through the ports of goods, and our strong domestic agricultural production, we do not expect shortages anytime in the near future for most items,” it adds.
Additionally, they assured that non-containerized bulk export shipments, including grains, would be unaffected by this strike. For meat and poultry items that are exported through East and Gulf Coast ports, available storage space and re-direction of products to alternative domestic and international markets can alleviate some of the pressure on farmers and food processors.
“We are keeping an eye on downstream impacts in the west, and we will continue to monitor and work with industry to respond to potential impacts. Our Administration supports collective bargaining as the best way for workers and employers to come to a fair agreement, and we encourage all parties to come to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith—fairly and quickly,” the USDA says.
Experts have indicated that this strike, if lengthy, could have major costs for the U.S. economy, with millions of dollars lost daily, especially at major ports like New York/New Jersey.
For the moment, dockworkers have taken to the streets, manifesting there will be “no work without a fair contract.”
The affected ports include: Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Hampton Roads, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Savannah, Tampa and Wilmington. The ports in question are currently operated under a contract between the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA).
J.C. Watson Packing Co. of Parma, Co.started its Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion harvest the second week of July and will continue through October.
The marketer will sell its Idaho-Eastern Oregon onions from storage through mid-May 2025.
J.C. Watson Co. received its name from its founder back in 1912, when he established a produce company in southwestern Idaho.
For over 90 years, the company has produced, packed, and marketed Spanish sweet onions.
In 2010, the company created two additional companies: J.C. Watson Packing Co. focuses on the packing, selling, and shipping of onions, while Watson Agriculture Inc. focuses on growing and producing a sound, superior onion for its customers.
In May this year, the company broke ground on its new onion-packing and rail facility in Wilder, Idaho. The $32 million facility will enhance the company’s operational capacity and support local and regional markets with improved transportation and distribution infrastructure.
Construction on the new packing and rail facility began in late May, with expected completion in February 2025. The new 70,000-square-foot facility will allow the company to process over twice the volume of onions handled now, significantly expanding capacity and extending the local season for Idaho and Eastern Oregon onions.
Peru’s agricultural exports reached $10.545 billion at the end of 2023, and they are projected to exceed $11.5 billion by the end of 2024, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), as reported by Andina.
“Despite the unfavorable context, the excellent work of agricultural producers and exporters, joined by the (Peruvian) State, allowed for reversing this adversity and making possible for agricultural shipments in 2023 to exceed by 2.9 percent those reported a year earlier,” Midagri’s Agricultural Foreign Trade Specialist Cesar Romero told El Peruano Official Gazette.
The official highlighted that, over the last 23 years, Peruvian agricultural exports have grown at an average rate of 11.9 percent per year.
Romero said there are 20 products that account for 74.6 percent of total agricultural exports. Among these are grapes, blueberries, avocados, asparagus, mangos, citrus, coffee, cacao, bananas, artichokes, dried paprika, ginger (kion), and quinoa.
However, according to the figures managed by Midagri, there are three Peruvian ag products whose annual performance exceeds or nears $1billion: grapes, blueberries, and avocados.
Grapes currently lead Peru’s agro-exports ranking, as in 2023, 649,000 tons were exported worth $1.745 billion, 28 percent more than in 2022.
During 2023, Peruvian grapes were exported to 55 markets, most notably to the U.S. (47 percent of the total), the European Union (17 percent), and Asian countries (13 percent), mainly in Hong Kong and China.
Blueberries are the second largest Peruvian agro-export product, since by the end of 2023, shipments abroad totaled $1.676 billion, registering a 23 percent growth compared to the previous year.
Peruvian blueberries reach 44 foreign markets, with the U.S. taking 57 percent of the total, followed by the European Union (22 percent), and then there are other destinations such as China and Hong Kong.
Avocados are ranked third among Peru’s main agro-export products, considering that in 2023 shipments abroad totaled $963 million, 7.6 percent above the previous year, as they reached 599,000 tons in volume.
According to the National Agricultural Health Service (Senasa), Peruvian avocados are allowed to be exported to 73 markets around the world, with the European Union being the largest buyer, accounting for 51.8 percent of the total. In second place is the U.S. (13.9 percent); followed by Mexico, Chile, and Asian countries.