Archive For The “News” Category
The Q3 2014 edition of the FreshFacts on Retail report, which examines overall retail trends in produce, has been released by The United Fresh Produce Association.
The study shows that during this quarter, fruit and vegetable volume remained steady compared to the previous year, while dollar sales increased slightly due to a small increase in average retail price. The report, produced in partnership with the Nielsen Perishables Group and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce, measures retail price and sales trends for the top 10 fruit and vegetable commodities, as well as value-added, organic and other produce categories.
It also features a more detailed look at the berries, citrus and packaged salad categories, as well as produce in the deli. Highlights of this quarter’s report include the following:
•Cherries posted the highest growth in the fruit category, with dollar sales increasing 16.9 percent and volume increasing 36.7 percent
•Packaged salad posted the highest growth in the vegetable category, with increased dollar sales 9.1 percent and volume increasing 6.8 percent
•Value-added fruits posted average weekly dollar and volume sales growth of 10.5 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively
•Average weekly dollar and volume sales for snacking vegetables both increased by double digits compared to Q3 2013
•Shoppers continued to seek out organic produce, resulting in significant dollar and volume sales increases for organic fruits and vegetables.
This quarter’s FreshFacts report also features a spotlight on consumer demand of value-added convenience produce items. Multiple convenience items experienced double-digit growth, including fresh-cut fruits, mixed melons, snacking vegetables and value-added vegetable side dishes.
One of my favorite Christmas gifts as a kid was an electric football game. It was simply a metal (not plastic) green colored field with all the stripes, yard markers etc. Each team had its plastic players with the down linemen, receivers, backs, etc. One team was red, the other was white. You lined the defense and offense up and flipped the switch, which vibrated the field making the players move.
Today, I suppose my old football game would be like comparing a 78 rpm vinyl record to an ipod, or a trailer with block ice for refrigeration versus today’s computerized reefers units.
Many fond memories remain of my youth; the holidays with Mom and Dad, and other relatives, who are no longer with us. Then you become the Dad, and the grandpa.
There is so much to be thankful for anytime of the year, but at Christmas, reminders are so prevelent.
The only gifts I really want anymore, I already have – a loving family – and some close friends. There will be a donation to the John 3:16 Mission, and a helping hand to a family is less fortunate.
I remain so thankful for the men and women who serve and have served our nation – and their scarifices. I still consider America the greatest place on earth to live and am thankful for freedom we have here.
To those in trucking, no private industry provides a more important service to our country. It requires experise, professionalism and hard work, delivering to Americans virutally everything found in our homes.
I’ll close by providing you with part of the lyrics to a wonderful Christmas song you probably never heard by musician Don White from Tulsa, OK. I have also posted the video of Don performing the song below . God Bless, and wishing you a very Merry Christmas. — Bill Martin
IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME, I’M COMING HOME – by Don White
Far away, I’m feeling so lonely
Hi Mom, just calling to say
This year I’m coming home
I know I won’t forget
the reason we celebrate the season
But it’s Christmas
I’m coming home
With the USDA forecasting imports into the United States will exceed exports, that is good news for produce haulers. Imported produce continues to grow, especially during the winter months. U.S. ports, particularly in the Southeastern USA are handling more imported fresh perishables than ever.
The USDA is projecting stronger growth for U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruit imports in FY 2015 will total $10.3 billion, 8.9 percent higher than 2014 and 23 percent above fiscal year 2013. Fresh vegetable imports are forecast at $7.1 billion in 2015, 7 percent above FY 2014 and 8 percent above fiscal year 2013. The top imported fresh commodity in 2014 was Mexican tomatoes at $1.6 billion, 1 percent above 2013. U.S. imports of Mexican avocados surged in value in 2014, rising from $920 million to $1.23 billion.
U.S. imports of fruits and vegetables will continue to outpace exports. U.S. fresh fruit and vegetable exports will reach $7.9 billion in fiscal year 2015. Strong exports of fresh fruits and vegetables will help total U.S. horticultural exports reach record levels. At $7.9 billion, fresh fruit and vegetable exports for fiscal year 2015 (October 2014 through September 2015) are forecast 6.4 percent ahead of fiscal year 2014’s total of $7.42 billion.
The U.S. exported $600 million in fresh berries to Canada in FY 2014, representing the biggest commodity export value to any country. U.S. berry exports to Canada were 2 percent down from 2013, but 5 percent above 2012. U.S. exports of lettuce to Canada topped $400 million, and both grapes and apples tallied more than $200 million in export sales to Canada. The top export to Mexico was apples at $257 million, down about 25 percent compared with 2013.
Imports from distribution centers near South Florida ports – grossing about $2300 to Chicago.
I
f for whatever reason you are stuck in Boise, ID this weekend waiting for a load and looking for something to do, hit your potato shipper up for a free ticket to the Potato Bowl football game. If using a broker, perhaps the broker has an in with the shipper.
In college football, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will pit the Air Force Academy against Western Michigan University, Saturday, December 20th at Albertsons Stadium in Boise.
The Potato Bowl is one of 11 postseason games owned and operated by ESPN Events. ESPN television and radio broadcasts start at 3:45 p.m. MT. Western Michigan enters the game 8-4; Air Force is 9-3.
As in prior years, the Great Big Idaho Potato Truck will be in the stadium parking lot for pre-game festivities. The 6-ton potato recently finished its third cross-country tour. The truck is a sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement. Potatoes have a heart-healthy certification from the organization.
The truck will help raise funds for Boise’s American Heart Association chapter by collecting signatures — with a $1 donation per signature, up to $500. The Idaho Grower Shippers Association will donate three potatoes to the Idaho Food Bank’s Eastern Idaho branch for each fan who attends the game. Last year about 42,000 pounds were donated.
by Florida Department of Citrus
Florida citrus growers are optimistic after the first citrus crop forecast of 2014-2015 was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with groves looking healthier and exterior quality having improved compared to the last couple seasons. The forecast includes a projection of 15 million boxes in Florida grapefruit shipments (four million white and 11 million colored), which though a slight decline from the previous season is an indication of grapefruit production stabilization for the industry.
Florida remains the largest grapefruit production region in the world with just over 44,900 acres of grapefruit trees. It’s estimated that there are 4.6 million bearing grapefruit trees in Florida.
“Despite the slight reduction to the size of the overall grapefruit crop, we expect the improved exterior quality to allow for more Florida grapefruit to be packed and shipped to our key export markets compared to last season,” explains Michael Schadler, director of international marketing at the FDOC.
As the season continues, the initial crop forecast will be adjusted to reflect any changes. However, many in the industry are hopeful the numbers will remain strong.
Central Florida citrus shipments – grossing about $3400 to Boston.
President Barack Obama signed on December 16 the appropriations bill that halts enforcement of the requirement that a drivers’ 34-hour restart include two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods and the once-per-week limit of the restart.
Though the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is required by the law to produce a Federal Register notice to alert drivers, enforcers and other stakeholders of the change, the stay of enforcement is now legally in effect, meaning truck operators no longer have to abide by the restart provisions put in place in July 2013.
Aside from the suspension of the restart provisions, however, the law requires the FMCSA to study the rules’ impacts on drivers, carriers and safety. The agency must present a report to Congress concluding the rules boost safety before the restart provisions can go back into effect.
Hours of Service Study Required
Congress is requiring the report study provide data that determines whether or not the 2013 restart provisions can provide a greater net benefit for the operational, safety, health and fatigue impacts they cause.
To gain the necessary data, the FMCSA will have to study two groups of drivers that are “each large enough to produce statistically significant results, according to the bill. One group will operate under post-2013 restart provisions and the other under pre-2013 restart provisions. The study must be conducted for at least five months with the FMCSA comparing the two groups based on safety critical events — crashes and over fatigue levels of drivers.
The law orders that the drivers being studied, which will be derived from a range of applications and fleet sizes, will have their fatigue levels gauged by Psychomotor Vigilance Tests, actigraph watches and cameras and “other on-board monitoring systems that record or measure safety critical events and driver alertness.”
After complete data collection, the FMCSA must submit a final report that would be sent to a review panel consisting of “individuals with relevant medical and scientific expertise.”
Throughout the entire process, however, the Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General must keep tabs on the agency to ensure the methodology used in the data collection is appropriate and the panel to review the study is qualified.
Timeline of the Study
The FMCSA must initially submit a report to the DOT’s Office of the Inspector General within 60 days of the bill signing (December 16), outlining how it plans to execute the study. Within 30 days of receipt of the report, the OIG must report back to the agency and House and Senate committees with any changes.
After receiving the OIG’s recommendation, the FMCSA then has up to 210 days to produce its final report based on its research. The agency must also make its report available to House and Senate committees and post it online.
The OIG must review the report and within 60 days tell the FMCSA and Congressional committees if the agency complied with the requirements of the funding law.
Only after it addresses any concerns of the OIG — and if it concludes the restart provisions enhance safety — would the FMCSA be cleared to enforce the 2013 restart rules again.
Here is a round up on the best produce loading opportunities in the great Northwest, particularly for hauling potatoes, onions, pears and apples. Trucks are said to be in short supply in all the shipping areas reported below.
Idaho Potato Shipments
The largest vegetable volume in the country is with Idaho potatoes. It is another very large russet crop, averaging about 2,000 truck load equivalents being shipped weekly. The primary Idaho shipping areas are around Twin Falls, Caldwell, Pocatello and Idaho Falls.
Colorado Potato Shipments
Okay, Colorado isn’t exactly the Northwest, but it is providing the second largest amount of potato shipments in the country. The Rocky Mountain state is averaging over 1,125 truck loads weekly, mostly out of the San Luis Valley.
Washington, Oregon Produce Shipments
One of the most active produce shipping areas in the west this time of year is the Columbia Basin in Washington state that is adjacent to the Umatilla Basin, in Oregon. Those areas combined are shipping around 800 truck loads of potatoes and about 500 truck loads of onions on a weekly basis.
Northwest Pears
Last season Northwest pear shipments set a record. This year is another big crop, although it is 2 percent below the 2013-14 season. Shipments are reported to be ahead of this time last year. Loadings should be available well into the first quarter of 2015. Most volume originates from the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys in Washington state and are averaging about 500 truck loads per week.
Pears are very compatible for mixing with apples loads. Washington apple shipments are expected to easily set an all time record this season (see yesterday’s report).
Washington state apples and pears – grossing about $8500 to Boston.
San Luis Valley potatoes – grossing about $3600 to Orlando.
Columbia Basin/Umatilla Basin potatoes – grossing about $4100 to Detroit.
Twin Falls, ID potatoes – grossing about $4700 to Atlanta.
When you lay your reputation on the line, both as a company, and personally, you had better come through.
It is no accident that after 20 years in the industry, Lorne Swartz’s newest venture, Scout Logistics Corporation of Toronto, ON has delivered on its promise to provide owner operators with important services.
Besides offering some of the highest paying loads in North America, Lorne says Scout Logistics has a no fee, 24-hour Quick Pay guarantee on all produce hauls. He also says the company offers 24-hour dispatch, plus over 90% of their loads involve one pick up and one drop. Drivers are also able to stay connected with daily emails of available loads direct to their inbox through the company’s FREE Carrier Connect service.
“Currently, we arrange about 20,000 loads a year out of California, or about 400 truckloads a week, – 95 percent of these loads are in fact produce,” states Lorne Swartz, president.
Dani Etkin, Vice President of Business Development adds, “We have more than 1,000 owner operator partners who we work with on a regular basis. We know them personally – they visit our office on a regular basis and we trust each other implicitly -We give them the best rates and they know we’ll take care of them.”
By working for over 20 years with some of the largest produce companies in North America, Scout has built a relationship of mutual trust with both customers and carriers which results in fewer claims and rejected loads.
Scout Logistics works with a majority of its owner operators almost exclusively and provides both in-bound and out-bound freight opportunities.
“We try to build the business of our carriers, because when they are successful, we are successful,” says Swartz. “We’re always looking for new ways to make our carriers lives easier, just last year we redesigned our private load board, Carrier Connect, making it easier for carriers who are on the road to view loads and contact the dispatcher responsible, in just one click.”
Besides its Toronto headquarters, Scout Logistics has branch offices in London, ON, as well as Lebanon, NJ with plans to expand into Florida and Texas in coming months.
While the company is strongest with loads originating out of California and Arizona, it also does a sizeable business from South Texas and Florida as well as loads transitioning into Canada.
Fresh produce is involved in a new service at a Florida port ranging from avocados to bananas, limes mangos and pineapples.
Port Manatee, located at Palmetto, FL is starting a two-way service with Mexico that includes fresh fruits and vegetables. The Port of Coatzacoalcos in the southern part of Mexico is involved in the new service, which got underway several weeks ago.
The calls at the port are scheduled to be carried out by the continer ship Falmouth, which has a nominal capacity of 862 TEUs, or 20-foot equvilent container units and is equipped with 204 plugs to provide power to refrigerated containers. The service is being promoted as the quickest short sea connection from Mexico to the United States Southeast, Northeast and Mid-west.
“Port Manatee’s proximity to Mexico is ideal for this service, said Carlos Diaz, the line’s business director. “This new fast connection will offer reduced costs and enhanced delivery of fresher product to consumers east of the Mississippi.”
Port Manatee bills itself as the largest capacity port on Florida’s west coast. Institution of the service builds upon the port’s history of successfully handling refrigerated products and its cross Gulf proximity to Mexico.
By the Produce for Better Health Foundation
The vast majority of shoppers cite the importance of eating fresh produce, but they also find it to be a hassle, according to a new report.
Since 1991, Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has been dedicated to producing a healthier America through increased fruit and vegetable consumption. PBH conducts regular consumer surveys to identify psychosocial factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in an effort to monitor progress and inform industry, health influencers, and policy makers. Primary shoppers were surveyed in 2012 and 2014 and are the basis for PBH’s latest report, Primary Shoppers’ Attitudes and Beliefs Related to Fruit & Vegetable Consumption 2012 vs 2014.
Highlights from the report include:
- Shoppers Eat More
- More than 80% of primary shoppers think it’s important to eat fruit and vegetables and nearly that same percentage find them enjoyable to eat.
- Consuming Fruit & Vegetables Can Be A Chore
- Concerns about spoilage is cited as more of a problem in 2014 than two years prior when it comes to increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables.
- Favorability
- Despite the fact that shoppers recognize the health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, virtually all forms of fruit and vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and 100% juice) are viewed less favorably in 2014 than two years prior.
- Communications
- Primary shoppers report that TV news segments, supermarket flyers or newspaper ads, and signs on supermarket displays are the most effective ways to communicate with them when they are making a food decision.
- Income Differences
- Lower income households consume fewer fruit and vegetables than higher income households, yet they equally perceive that they consume enough.
- Motivated Purchases
Two out of three shoppers are favorable toward the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® national health campaign and brand and appreciate the message as a reminder to eat more fruit and vegetables.