Archive For The “News” Category
Generations Farms LLC, a grower, shipper of onions in Vidalia, GA has been purchased by Optimum Agriculture. The buyout includes nearly 5,600 acres of land and packing/processing facilities.
The Vidalia, Ga., area operation is the former Stanley Farms, which began growing Vidalia onions in 1975, although R.T. Stanley began farming in 1964. It became Generation Farms in 2016 when it was purchased and merged with carrot company Coggins Farm, Lake Park.
Short term plans for the new owners is to ramp up production of onions and other items, according to a news release.
Optimum Agriculture, described as a global agricultural company focused on land acquisition and management, plans to continue to use the Generation Farms brand name on the onions, watermelon and other produce grown and marketed by the company.
Optimum ICD Holdings LLC is the new owner of the Generation Farms properties, trademark and land, which includes acreage in Tattnall and Toombs counties in Georgia. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed, according to the release.
The new owners plan to increase production at Generation Farms, naming onions, watermelons, sweet potatoes, green beans, cabbage and sweet corn in the release.
“This acquisition is part of a long-term plan to maximize operational efficiencies by diversifying weather and harvest risks across states,” Gaston Marquevich, CEO of Optimum Agriculture, said in the release. “Our short-term objective is to increase the utilization of the facilities by increasing production and to deliver a constant supply of food to retailers throughout the year.”
Optimum plans to continue all current operations at Generation Farms, along with supplying previous customers. Marquevich welcomed Generation Farms’ employees to the company in the release.
Optimum ICD Holdings has two other U.S. properties, the El Maximo Ranch in Osceola County, Fla., and the Alico Pond Island Grove, a 1,364-acre property with citrus in the same county. Optimum’s U.S. office is in Miami.
In June, Grimmway Farms purchased the Lake Park, Ga., and northern Florida operations of Generation Farms. Those properties were not involved in the Optimum Agriculture sale.
2019 is expected to see retail food prices increase in a modest range of between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent, despite above-average inflation for fresh vegetables.
The would result in 2019 being the fourth year in a row with deflating or lower-than-average inflating retail food prices, according to the USDA’s recent Food Price Report.
The 20-year historical annual average for retail food price inflation is 2 percent. Last year, retail food prices rose 0.4 percent, the first increase in three years.
Restaurant food prices are now rising faster than supermarket food prices, while retail food prices and restaurant price inflation increased at similar rates from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Restaurant food prices have increased at a higher clip since 2009.
Higher labor and overhead costs for restaurants largely account for the difference in cost structures, the report said.
For that reason, decreasing commodity and wholesale prices have influenced supermarket pricing more than restaurant prices, the report said.
In 2020, supermarket food prices are again projected to increase between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent. Both fresh vegetables and fresh fruit are expected to see retail price increases in 2020 below the 20-year historical average, according to the report.
The USDA reports restaurant food prices in 2020 are forecast to increase in a range between 2 percent and 3 percent, similar to recent years.
YUMA, Ariz. — The “Iceberg Drop” placed second on the USA Today’s list of “the five of the most surprising drops scheduled for New Year’s Eve 2019.”
The USA Today mention reads “(the drop) is a natural fit for this agricultural city, – About 90% of the winter lettuce and greens consumed in the U.S. are grown in the Yuma area.” The second annual event takes place in historic downtown Yuma and is hosted by Visit Yuma.
The 8-foot-by-8-foot, lighted, stylized head of lettuce was created by Penn Signs to go along with the theme “Lettuce Celebrate.” The embellished Iceberg head will be lowered from a crane at 10 p.m., to sync up with the ball drop in Times Square in New York City, and again at midnight.
The Iceberg Drop was among a list of unique drops to include a bug, other eats and a pinecone too. The other featured events are the Flea Drop in Eastover, North Carolina, Sartori Big Cheese Drop in Plymouth, Wisconsin, PEEPS Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and The Great Pinecone Drop in nearby Flagstaff, Arizona
The public is encouraged to attend the Iceberg Drop to ring in 2020. The event features DJ Bobby McClendon of BMC Productions and Entertainment starting at 8 p.m. and Radical Rewind leads up to the drop times, making a festive celebration on Main Street in Historic Downtown Yuma. Many restaurants and bars in the downtown area will be open late, and Visit Yuma will have beer and wine available for sale in the street, and complimentary party favors as long as supplies last.
There is a tendency to purchase more strawberries and mandarins in families with kids 17 and under than homes without kids.
“Although households without kids represent a larger buyer group, families are more likely to ‘overindex,’ or spend more dollars per category, in relation to other demographic groups,” the United Fresh Produce Association wrote in its latest FreshFacts on Retail report. “Families particularly overindex in fruit sales, which is supported by strawberries and mandarins ranking as the top two most popular items for families.”
Along with strawberries and mandarins, raspberries, apples and bell peppers resonated with households with kids of all ages. Grapes, avocados and carrots were more popular for families with children under 12, while families with kids 13-17 had potatoes, cooking greens and lettuce in their top 10 list.
United Fresh noted that digging more deeply into the numbers is worthwhile because doing so provides understanding of how households are using those items.
“For example, bell peppers overindex more strongly than carrots across all family groups; however, bell peppers are almost exclusively consumed by the adults while carrots have a higher consumption rate among children,” United Fresh wrote. “Knowing not only what products families buy but who and how they consume it can influence your marketing strategy and even package design.”
JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Crowley Logistics has added 300 new refrigerated (reefer) cargo containers to its industry-leading equipment fleet just in time for the peak perishables shipping season.
The additional units, which are all 40-foot-long, high cubes built to Crowley’s exacting standards, further demonstrates the company’s focus on offering customers the most reliable and efficient equipment in the market. These units have wireless asset monitoring technology, which will provide continuous monitoring as the reefers transit from origin to destination, both at sea and over land, to ensure the cold chain is maintained the entire time goods are moving.
“The acquisition of these containers is part of our continued commitment to maintain the best conditioned equipment for our customers and in the right quantities to meet their needs during peak season and throughout the rest of the year,” said Steve Collar, senior vice president and general manager, Crowley Logistics. “We have a staff of experts that continuously evaluates our fleet and its ability to meet customer needs. If we see there is opportunity for enhancements, we make investments to ensure we have the right equipment available at the right time.”
Crowley’s industry-leading equipment, combined with grower and farm services such as load planning and equipment sanitation, make Crowley a trusted partner for refrigerated shippers. Crowley provides in-transit services including location and temperature monitoring. The company ensures quality and dependable arrival through services like customs clearance, fumigation options, refrigerated storage and last-mile deliveries.
The reefer containers will be received in Santo Tomas, Guatemala, to accommodate Central America’s heavy northbound reefer season, which runs through May 2020. The new containers are equipped with Carrier’s high efficiency PrimeLINE® refrigeration units, incorporating several changes to further boost efficiency and reliability.
Since 2014, Crowley has invested over $150 million in new cargo equipment for its fleet. Today, the company operates more than 51,500 pieces of owned and leased intermodal equipment. The equipment’s diverse sizes and strategic locations throughout the U.S, Central America and the Caribbean provide customers a variety of solutions to meet demands.
About Crowley
Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 127-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family- and employee-owned company that provides marine solutions, energy and logistics services in domestic and international markets. Crowley operates under four business units: Crowley Logistics, a logistics supply chain division that includes ocean liner services; Crowley Shipping, which encompasses ownership, operations and management of conventional and dual fuel (LNG) vessels, including tankers, container ships, multipurpose, tugboats and barges; engineering; project management; and naval architecture through its subsidiary Jensen Maritime; Crowley Fuels, a fuel transportation, distribution and sales division that also provides liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related services; and Crowley Solutions, which focuses on government services and program management, government ship management, expeditionary logistics and government-oriented freight transportation services, as well as marine salvage and emergency response through its 50 percent ownership in Ardent Global.
Export volumes have broken a historic record as the Chilean lemon season comes to a close.
The Chilean Citrus Committee reports the South American country exported 90,500 metric tons (MT), a growth of 2.5 percent over last season.
The U.S. remains the primary market for exports, accounting for 62 percent of the volume. Japan is second with 22 percent, followed by Europe with 8 percent.
By Owyhee Produce
NYSSA, Ore. — Owyhee Produce of Nyssa, ORE has announced their plan to create their own regenerative produce bags by converting hemp fibers sourced from their own crops. These compostable bags are set to be an available packing option releasing Spring 2020.
For the first time in their farming history, Owyhee Produce will start growing 500 acres of industrial hemp on their Oregon farm land, this year. The industrial hemp will be used to create CBD oil and the leftover fibers will be used to create compostable bags and other industrial materials. Excited to finally come full circle in their mindful efforts to develop plans in reducing carbon emissions, pollution and waste, company members have a renewed drive to make it happen.
“We know not everyone can commit to these types of standards today. However, for the most
demanding companies out there, those companies who have made the massive commitment to reduce carbon emissions, pollution, and waste, we are here,” explained Owyhee Produce General Manager Shay Myers. “We are among the most climate conscience and progressive farmers in the country and we want to partner with the best companies to make a difference.” In addition to producing compostable onion bags, Owyhee Produce has plans to strengthen the foundation of their motto, “There’s a difference!” by being responsible farmers for the future. The company plans for a cleaner greener future by 2022:
- 100% Compostable, Biodegradable or Recyclable Packaging
- 100% Regenerative
- 100% Carbon Neutral
- 25% Water Usage Reduction Per Acre
- 25% Fuel Use Reduction Per Acre
- 0% Monoculture
The regenerative idea just gained traction in recent years, due to the political climate of “going green,” but it has always been a part of the company’s best practices. While onions may be their most demanding crop, they only grow onions in each field once every 5 to 6 years. This rotation of crops restores the soil’s health naturally, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizer or fumigants, which lessens their impact on the environment and maintains their commitment to yield high-quality produce. This is why a compostable bag made more sense to them, it breaks down faster and improves the soil’s health.
“It is our duty to ensure that tomorrow’s farmers are able to efficiently farm from our sustainable farming practices of today,” asserted Myers.
Every crop serves a purpose. As a part of their rotating crops, they plant: beans and peas to fix nitrogen levels in the soil. Beets, alfalfa, and corn for weed control. Corn, wheat, and hemp, to increase organic matter and soil health. Mustard and Mint are used as natural biofumigants to prevent pest infestations other soil born diseases.
About Owyhee Produce
Owyhee Produce started with humble beginnings in 1954, with Owen Froerer’s yearning to connect with the land and support his family. Three generations later, it is a hybrid farmer-agri-entrepreneurial family business that practices sustainable farming over 4,000 acres in Oregon and Idaho. The company proudly grows various produce at Froerer Farms for millions of consumers nationwide.
The government required use of electronic logging devices is resulting in time replacing mileage as an indicator of truck rate values, according to a new report from the Transportation Intermediaries Association of Alexandria, VA.
The case study, called “Examining detention time in the marketplace: Driver’s hours matter,” is available for review online.
Mileage replaced weight as the top-used valuation for freight rates about 40 years ago after the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 “opened the floodgates” of competition, according to a news release.
At the time, the Interstate Commerce Commission no longer granted carriers operating authority for lanes with rate structures based on the poundage or “hundredweight” by freight type.
The next shift, according to the association, came in December 2017 with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s electronic logging device rule.
“In an instant, time leap-frogged mileage for rate valuations and shippers and 3PLs began buying the driver’s time, not the mileage,” the release said.
The case study includes interviews with shippers, motor carriers and third-party logistic suppliers.
“TIA continues to examine issues that directly impact 3PLs, shippers and motor carriers,” Chris Burroughs, vice president of government affairs for TIA, said in the release. “These investigations allow all three entities involved to have open dialogue and identify solutions to problems that continue to plague the industry.”
Detention
The case study reported a detention survey by the American Transportation Research Institute was taken by drivers and motor carriers in 2014 and again in 2018. The survey concluded that customers “have not made real improvements to their staffing, processes, accuracy or efficiency across the four-year time period.”
And gains made in 2018 have since been given up with the softening freight market, according to one transportation supplier quoted by the case study.
“Now it is kind of like we are fighting for (detention pay) as carrier or 3PL,” said John Miller, chief executive of Plains Dedicated, a Champions Gate, Fla.-based asset and non-asset transportation provider.
The case study noted that companies that transport refrigerated loads tend to have more negative experiences with detention than other freight sectors. The study said most parties agree that it should be a billable event after a period of two “free” hours.
According to the case study, on March 15, Fresh Del Monte Produce changed its detention pay policies from paying after three hours to paying after two hours. By making the change, the company saw labor costs increase to more quickly get trucks in and out of its facilities. Del Monte officials said overall transportation costs went down, however, by paying less detention charges and getting more favorable rates, said Robert Savage, vice president of transportation and logistics of Fresh Del Monte Produce.
“It forces the wrong action when you set parameters in a manner that allows people to take their time since it is not costing them any money, but it really does,” he said in the study. “It costs the truck money and increases rates.”
The case study said that although shippers have the upper hand at the moment for rate negotiations, shippers and transportation suppliers agreed that detention should not be used as a bargaining chip.
Miller of Plains Dedicated said in the study that the company decided to stop doing business with one of its largest customers this year after the shipper changed its detention policy to save money. The shipper used to pay for detention on multi-stop shipments, but now only pays it on the final stop.