Archive For The “News” Category
Starting this month produce shipping company Del Monte will add container shipping vessels to its Port Manatee itinerary, it was announced recently by the port.
Arrivals of Del Monte container vessels will be “periodically in a controlled growth,” according to the port.
While Del Monte isn’t completely switching to containerized cargo, the company will use container vessels at Port Manatee about every three weeks. Container vessels can hold 350 containers, compared to 96 containers on a breakbulk ship, according to the port.
Breakbulk differs from containerized cargo because loose materials or products are loaded, shipped and unloaded individually. When it comes to container shipping, storage units are used to encase the cargo.
At a recent Manatee County Port Authority meeting, it was revealed the port is considering updating Port Manatee’s crane technology with the increase of containerized cargo.
The Port Authority also approved a recorded easement and installation agreement with Florida Power and Light to install a transformer in the port’s container yard. The transformer will power 124 new refrigerated plugs that are necessary for cold containerized cargo storage.
While the port does seek to boost its container volume in the upcoming year, Port Manatee doesn’t plan to stop accepting breakbulk shipments.
Port officials have expressed the need for the capability to handle both breakbulk and container. While Port Manatee can handle breakbulk, most ports in Florida are not ready to handle breakbulk for fruits and vegetables. Containerization allows the port to reach further because now you don’t have to break the cold chain.
About Port Manatee
Port Manatee is the closest U.S. deep water seaport to the Panama Canal, serving bulk, break bulk, container, heavy lift, project and general cargo customers. The port generates more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact for the local community, while supporting more than 24,000 jobs, without the benefit of ad-valorem taxes.
Consumers are less likely to not buy Idaho-branded bagged russet potatoes due to price changes than potatoes from other states, according to a new study.
The Idaho Potato Commission commissioned the study conducted by economist Timothy Richards of Arizona State University, which used retail scan data for the two-year period.
The numbers indicate that Idaho potatoes have a higher consumer preference and can command a more premium retail price or markup.
“The research showed that for russets, Idaho russets are less price elastic than non-Idaho russets,” said Seth Pemsler, vice president of retail and international programs for the commission. “When price goes up on Idaho (russets), the resulting lost volume is significantly less than non-Idaho russets.”
Photo courtesy of Idaho Potato Commission
Pemsler said the findings suggest that if retailers don’t discount Idaho russets to the same degree as non-Idaho russets, there wouldn’t be a significant effect on volume sold.
The study showed that overall price elasticity of bagged Idaho russets was 1.26 compared with 1.91 for bagged russets from other areas.
The study breaks down data from the entire U.S. and eight separate regions over the two-year period, according to an executive summary of the research.
In addition, Idaho potatoes are the least vulnerable to competitive pricing.
Based on scan data of 5- and 10-pound bags, Idaho russet potatoes have the highest profit margin potential compared with potatoes from other origins.
“The fact is that even if you pay 10 cents a bag more for Idaho russets, you can charge 20 cents per bag more at retail,” Pemsler said
Bulk potatoes were not evaluated because of inconsistencies found in the data due to the nature of price-look-up stickers and misidentification of variety and brand/origin at checkout registers.
Bagged potatoes represented 70 percent of all potato volume tracked during the two-year study.
Pemsler estimated about 60 percent of retailers in the U.S. carry both Idaho and non-Idaho bagged russets. The data has not yet been published but more details are available from the Idaho Potato Commission at Seth.Pemsler@potato.idaho.gov.
This past year loaded shipping container volume reached an all-time high at the Port of Oakland, CA.
The port reported a 7.6 percent increase handling the equivalent of 1.83 million loaded 20-foot containers last year — which beat the previous record of 1.82 million 20-footers in 2013.
The port attributed the milestone to a year-long containerized export boom, as well as growth in imports. It noted the record is important since loaded container volume is a key measure used to calculate fees paid by Oakland’s marine terminal tenants. Increased volume means the port gained business in 2016, even though it consolidated five terminals into four.
“This is a gratifying outcome,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll said in a press release.
Port officials said total 2016 volume — full and empty containers — equaled 2.37 million 20-foot containers, up 4 percent from 2015.
Containerized export volume jumped 10.5 percent in 2016. In December, exports were up 13.5 percent — the fourth straight month of double-digit export growth.
Oakland import volume increased 4.7 percent last year, while December imports were up 6.1 percent.
Exports accounted for 52 percent of Oakland’s loaded container volume in 2016.
Port of Oakland History
Originally, the enclosed coaster body of water, 500 feet wide, had a depth of two feet at mean low tide. In 1852, the year of Oakland‘s incorporation as a town by the California State Legislature, large shipping wharves were constructed along the Oakland Estuary, which was dredged to create a viable shipping channel. 22 years later, in 1874, the previously dredged shipping channel was deepened to make Oakland a deep water port.
In the late 19th century, the Southern Pacific was granted exclusive rights to the port, a decision the city soon came to regret. In January 1906, a small work party in the employ of the Western Pacific Railroad, which had just begun construction, hastily threw a crossing over the SP line to connect the WP mainline with trackage built on an area of landfill. This act, protested by the SP and later held up in court, broke the railroad’s grip on the port area. The courts ruled that all landfill since the date of the agreement did not belong to the SP. This ruling ended SP control and made the modern Port of Oakland possible.
Organic produce in various categories continues to show significant growth in popularity.
According to FreshFacts on Retail, published by the United Fresh Produce Association for the third-quarter of 2016, weekly dollar sales of organic vegetables per store were up 7.6 percent compared to the third quarter of 2015. Dollar sales of organic fruit were up 17.5 percent.
Organic Attitudes and Beliefs 2016 published by The Organic Trade Association found over 82 percent of American families say they buy organic sometimes, one of the highest levels in the survey’s seven-year history.
Almost 5 percent of all the food sold in the U.S. in 2015 was organic.
Suppliers of organic produce were reporting sizeable increases.
Naturipe Farms LLC of Salinas, CA, the world’s larger produce of organic blueberries, doubling its production of organic blueberries in Argentina and Chile.
This month the company is producing its first crops of organic raspberries, blackberries and blueberries from Mexico and is investing in new production of organic strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in California and Florida.
Well-Pict Inc. of Watsonville started its new spring crop of strawberries from Ventura County, CA in mid-January, and will be shipping into spring.
Boskovich Farms Inc., of Oxnard, CA ships a number of organic vegetables led by kale, then Brussels sprouts, green onions and celery.
Stemilt Growers LLC, Wenatchee, WA is shipping organic apples and pears, with approximately 10 percent of it apple shipments coming from organic apples with galas, Honeycrisp, and granny smith among the top varieties.
CMI Orchards LLC in Wenatchee, WA has organic shipments that are up about 50 percent, with the trend expected to continue for the next four years. More acreage is being transitioned from conventional to organic. CMI offers 15 organic apple varieties and six organic pear varieties.
Viva Tierra Organic Inc., Sedro-Woolley, WA is handling organic apple supplies from Argentina and Chile that started earlier this month, in addition to its organic supply from Washington.
by Chiquita®
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Chiquita North America is proud to announce its dedicated new banana shipping service and supply chain improvements to better serve its West Coast customers. The new shipping service will reduce fruit transit time by half, resulting in 4-5 days from the banana production area to the Port of Hueneme-Los Angeles, CA . This will result in better quality and fresher bananas for Chiquita’s Western customers.
In addition, Chiquita has been engaged in a major refrigerated container renewal program. Since 2014, it has replaced 65 percent of its fleet to create a more sustainable shipping practices. Chiquita operates in excess of 15,000 refrigerated containers, which play a key role in the logistics of today’s banana supply chain. Improvements in the design and operating efficiency of containers has led to important environmental benefits including reduced electric power consumption, greenhouse friendly refrigerants, and use of insulation materials with reduced emissions footprint.
“All of us on the North America team are excited to deliver the freshest and highest quality Chiquita Bananas available to our customers,” said executive vice president of Chiquita Fresh North America Chris Dugan. “In addition to recent investment in our farms, this is another example of how we continue look for new ways to improve our freshness, our everyday quality and the satisfaction of our costumers”.
The impact of this fleet renewal is substantial, giving Chiquita the opportunity to save up to 35 percent on energy compared to old units, and electricity savings of 34 million kilowatt hours and an annual emissions reductions of 17,000 tons of CO2 per year is possible – equivalent to taking over 3,000 cars off the road every year.
For additional information, please visit www.chiquita.com.
About Chiquita®
Chiquita grows, procures, markets, and sells bananas and other fresh fruits and is a leading global company with 20,000 employees across 30 countries being present in nearly 70 countries, mainly in North America and Europe. They are passionate about their nutritious, high-quality, energy-rich and value-added bananas. But they’re also passionate about upholding the values which is at the very core of the company – integrity, respect, opportunity and responsibility. The company believes what they do day in and day out reflects these values, our brand and their purpose.
Here’s an update on Chiquita’s involvement with Port Everglades. On another front, Parker Farms will be a new shipper of Vidalia onions.
The Broward County Commission voted recently to terminate the lease for most of Chiquita Brands International’s facilities at Port Everglades. It was leasing 13.1 acres with 14,097 square feet of offices and 28,352 square feet of warehouses to support its banana shipments. Under the termination, the Chiquita would keep 6.59 acres of land under a short-term lease, but not the buildings.
The move does not impact Chiquita’s headquarters at the Design Center of the Americas in Dania Beach, where it moved in 2015. The company also has a separate warehouse lease at the port for a banana ripening facility that would remain in place.
Chiquita first leased space at Port Everglades in 2013 and later that year extended its lease to Sept. 30, 2018.
In 2014, Chiquita signed a deal with Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) to provide cargo service for its bananas, so Chiquita started using MSC’s facilities at Port Everglades for its shipments. Then in 2015, Chiquita was sold to Cutrale-Safra.
Port Everglades officials contacted Chiquita about its plans and the company said it wanted to divest its terminal and base all of its shipments out of MSC’s terminal.
Under the proposed termination of the deal to be executed by March 1st.
“The early termination of the Chiquita lease agreement will benefit the port by creating opportunities for the currently dormant Chiquita land and the warehouse and office space to be made available for other Port users to expand their businesses and generate new revenue through both ship calls and cargo throughput,” the county memo stated. “The port will also continue to receive grid revenue from Chiquita for the 6.59 acre parcel they will continue to use.”
Parker Farms
Parker Farms, based in Oak Grove, VA, is adding Vidalia sweet onions to its program this year.
The sweet onions, which will be sourced from B.G. Williams Farms in Uvalda, GA., will be sold under the company’s new Diamond Sweet label. B.G. Williams grows about 400 acres of sweet onions annually.
Park Farms plans to eventually source sweet onions from more regions so it can offer the product the year around, as it does with the other commodities it supplies. The company will also ship sweet potatoes and seedless watermelons under the Diamond Sweet label.
Parker Farms is a longtime shipper of sweet corn, broccoli, squash, bell peppers and cucumbers.
by Solidus Solutions
Pure Hothouse Foods has recently introduced their new Cloud 9 snacking tomato brand with high-flavor tomato. To pack this new tomato brand, Pure Hothouse Foods decided to use solid board enriched with tomato plant fibres, which is uniquely produced by SOLIDUS SOLUTIONS, manufacturer of solid board and solid board packaging.
Pure Hothouse Foods Inc® is a Canadian grower, shipper and and marketer of greenhouse grown vegetables and value-added Living Lettuce sold under the Pure Flavor® name across North America.
Pure Hothouse Foods is the first Canadian company packing tomatoes in their own plant fibers, contributing to a circular economy. During the Produce Marketing Association show in 2016 the Cloud 9 tomato plant packaging of Pure Hothouse Foods was well received and achieved a finalist nomination at the PMA 2016 Impact Awards. The unique solid board enriched with tomato plant fibers, was almost at the same time announced winner of the Packaging Europe Sustainability Awards 2016!
Idyl is a company mainly growing tomatoes and melons, Mediterranean fruit and vegetables and fresh cut herbs. Based in the south of France, Idyl markets their own production as well as salads from Provence and a whole range of organic fruits and vegetables under the ‘Tribu Ecolo’ (“Ecological Tribe”) brand.
Idyl has developed a department specialized in the marketing of organic fruit and vegetables because they are aware of the importance of their role in sustainable development. As such, Idyl is constantly looking for new solutions to reduce the impact on the environment. They were highly interested when they learned that SOLIDUS SOLUTIONS had developed a process to manufacture solid board including tomato plants fibers.
Idyl is now packing their organic tomatoes in SOLIDUS SOLUTIONS’ trays enriched with tomato plants fibers. With this they demonstrate that it is possible to produce, to pack and to consume while limiting the waste of natural resources. With ‘Tribu Ecolo’ Idyl wants to display a strong trademark: the trademark of partnership between agriculture and nature, the trademark that federates farmers, their suppliers such as SOLIDUS SOLUTIONS and consumers, with the desire to combine economy and ecology.
By Idaho Potato Commission
EAGLE, ID — Following an online “Fully-Loaded Idaho® Potato Cook-off” recipes event, Kenmore® awarded Crystal Schlueter’s unique and easy-to-make Mashed-Up Kimchi Reuben Tater Bombs with Sweet Onion & Gochujang Aioli the grand prize. The poppable hors d’oeuvres balance sweet onion, salty reuben, savory mashed potato filling, and spicy gochujang dipping sauce to create an unforgettable flavor experience.
In November, participants entered their favorite holiday-themed recipes to showcase their love for Idaho® potatoes. Kenmore® selected four winners, including a “Social Spud,” the most liked recipe on social media channels.
Grand Prize
Mashed-Up Kimchi Reuben Tater Bombs with Sweet Onion & Gochujang Aioli
Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, CO
Prize: $1,500 cash + full suite of Kenmore® small kitchen appliances
2nd Place
Cream of Potato Jalapeño Soup
Tamie Joeckel, Richardson, TX
Prize: Kenmore® small kitchen appliance + 15 lb box of Idaho® potatoes
3rd Place
Beggar’s Pouch Mashers with Spinach and Parmesan
Sharon Damante, Napa, CA
Prize: Kenmore® small kitchen appliance + 15 lb box of Idaho® potatoes
Social Spud
Grandma’s Shepherd’s Pie
Anna Feliciano, Mahopac, NY
Prize: $500 + 15 lb box of Idaho® potatoes
Idaho Potato Commission President and CEO, Frank Muir, acknowledged the strength of IPC’s partnership with Kenmore® and Momma Cuisine–a well-respected cooking personality with an impressive following on Twitter–for this online event. “Idaho® potato lovers are some of the most dedicated fans out there and we knew that by partnering with Kenmore®, one of the country’s most trusted brands, and Momma Cuisine, we would get some fantastic entries,” Muir explained. “I’m impressed with the quality and creativity of the entries. Thank you to all the participants and congratulations to our winners.”
About The Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho™” seal, a federally registered certification mark that assures consumers are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain-fed irrigation, and rich volcanic soil give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance, which differentiates Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states.
For contest requirements and judging criteria see our news post from Nov. 17, 2016.
By WP Rawl
Pelion, S.C. – WP Rawl, the premier grower, processor and shipper of leafy greens has begun its yearly ramp up of both conventional and organic leafy greens along with various other vegetable production at their Bunnell, Florida facility. This facility supports an increase in production in the latter parts of the year and lends itself to seasonal production in a warmer growing region.
Over four years ago, WP Rawl broke ground on a new farming and packing shed operation in Bunnell that included a 34,000 square feet facility, similar to the facility at their headquarters in Pelion, SC. This year the company has added acreage to their 2016 – 2017 organic production to support the increasing demand from customers.
“Our goal in expanding our operations into Florida years ago was to support our growth and help us better service our customers,” said Ashley Rawl, vice president of sales, marketing and product development. “We are delighted that or production in Florida has continued to grow, and the benefit of a distribution hub has been a vital part of our success and ongoing growth.”
WP Rawl’s Florida facility grows five months out of the year (December – April), complementing the company’s other strategically located growing regions.
About WP Rawl
Dating back to 1925, WP Rawl is a fourth generation family farm which has grown to become a grower/shipper/processor, specializing in year-round bulk and value-added leafy greens and vegetables in the Rawl®, Nature’s Greens®, Palmetto Gardens® and Versatile Veggies® brands.
In the early 1920’s, the late Walter and Ernestine Rawl started a local business known as the Walter P. Rawl Farm selling peaches. Over the years the business evolved into a larger farm selling greens and specialty vegetables and became known as Walter P. Rawl and Sons.
Today Walter P. Rawl & Sons continues to operate as a “family farm” with nine family members still working in the business along with an additional 400 employees.
by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it has completed its evaluation of a variety of pineapple genetically engineered by Del Monte Fresh Produce (DMFP) to have pink flesh, concluding that there are no unresolved safety or regulatory questions about the pineapple. DMFP submitted information to the agency to demonstrate that the pink flesh pineapple is as safe and nutritious as its conventional counterparts. DMFP’s new pineapple has been genetically engineered to produce lower levels of the enzymes already in conventional pineapple that convert the pink pigment lycopene to the yellow pigment beta carotene. Lycopene is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink, so it is commonly and safely consumed.
In addition, after consulting with the FDA, DMPF plans to identify the food as “extra sweet pink flesh pineapple” on tags attached to the crown of the fruit. This will distinguish the pink flesh pineapple from DMFPs golden” extra sweet pineapple” which was introduced in the 1990s.
DMFP participated in a voluntary consultation with FDA’s Office of Food Additive Safety about the pineapple. During that consultation, DMFP submitted information to FDA scientists regarding characteristics of the new plant variety, the nature and effect of the genetic change, potential unexpected or unintended effects that could accompany the genetic change, and the nutritional assessment. After review of that data FDA scientists concluded that there were no unresolved safety or regulatory issues under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) for the genetically engineered pink flesh pineapple.
A consultation is not synonymous with FDA approval. Rather, it is voluntary and helps developers of food ensure that foods derived from new plant varieties are safe and comply with the FD&C Act and FDA’s regulations.
Although DMFP will market this pineapple in the United States, they are not planning on growing it here. The company is working with the government of Costa Rica on this matter.