Archive For The “News” Category
by National Mango Board
Orlando, Fla – The National Mango Board (NMB) has launched a marketing campaign, renaming the Ataulfo mango variety to “Honey.” Over the years, the Ataulfo name has been repeatedly reported as hard to pronounce for U.S. consumers, retailers and the media, creating purchase barriers and missed education opportunities for this popular Mexican variety. Retailers and industry members are encouraged to use Honey as a more consumer-friendly name to help increase Ataulfo sales.
“When consumers struggle to pronounce Ataulfo, it can create resistance and lack of understanding of the fruit”, stated Manuel Michel, Executive Director at the NMB. “The NMB’s goal is to help consumers overcome the barriers of entry and encourage increase purchase of the fruit. Our ultimate objective is to make the Honey mango more mainstream and generate excitement amongst U.S. consumers, retailers and media by providing them a more consumer-friendly name.”
“When consumers struggle to pronounce Ataulfo, it can create resistance and lack of understanding of the fruit”, stated Manuel Michel, Executive Director at the NMB. “The NMB’s goal is to help consumers overcome the barriers of entry and encourage increase purchase of the fruit. Our ultimate objective is to make the Honey mango more mainstream and generate excitement amongst U.S. consumers, retailers and media by providing them a more consumer-friendly name.”
The NMB’s Honey mango renaming efforts will highlight the versatility, sweet taste, and creamy texture of the variety, as well as the deep roots within the rich Mexican culture. Throughout the renaming campaign, the information around the origin of the variety will continue to be shared on mango.org and promoted with media outlets.
About the National Mango Board
The National Mango Board is an agriculture promotion group supported by assessments from both domestic and imported mangos. The board’s vision, to bring the world’s love of mangos to the U.S., was designed to drive awareness and consumption of fresh mangos in the U.S. marketplace. One cup of the superfruit mango contains 100 calories, 100% of daily vitamin C, 35% of daily vitamin A, 12% of daily fiber, and an amazing source of tropical flavor. Learn more at mango.org
Alliance changes in the way container shipping lines operate are being welcomed by an executive with the Port of Oakland, CA.
Newly formed ocean carrier alliances will help the port, according to Maritime Director John Driscoll in a news release from the facility.
“We’ll see larger vessels coming to the port, which is a good thing,” he told employees in a podcast on the port’s website, portofoakland.com. “We’ll get more container moves-per-vessel which increases the efficiency of operations.”
Driscoll also said the port will receive a new weekly vessel service as a result of carrier realignment. Taiwan-based Wan Hai Lines plans to launch a new route connecting Oakland and Asia, which will increase to 29 the number of regularly scheduled vessel services calling Oakland.
“It’s a good sign when new players come to Oakland,” Driscoll said in the release.
The changes result from an April 1 realignment in which 11 of the world’s largest shipping lines formed three new alliances. Alliances let carriers pool ships on ocean routes to cut costs while expanding market reach. The carriers plan to deploy larger vessels in their alliances, carrying more containers to the U.S. West Coast. That should enable them to reduce the number of voyages while maintaining cargo volume levels, Driscoll said.
New alliance configurations should have little effect on Oakland operations, Driscoll said, noting that some vessels will change which of Oakland’s three international marine terminals they call, but the terminals are prepared.
The first vessels operating under new alliance configurations arrived in Oakland during the week of April 17.
Oakland has regular service to ports in Asia, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, Latin America, Oceania and Hawaii.
The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 on the East shore of San Francisco Bay. Port history spans a period of 165 years, which encompassed the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, two World Wars, and America’s coming of age as a global power.
by Allen Lund Company
La Cañada Flintridge Calif.: Allen Lund Company and Santos International are pleased to announce a new company, TransKool Solutions.
This joint venture represents a pooling of expertise to establish a supply chain process for produce LTL services. Allen Lund Company is a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices working with shippers and carriers across the nation to arrange for dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight. Santos International is a leading international freight forwarding company specializing in warehousing and U.S. Customs brokerage services to industries across the U.S. and Mexico.
TransKool Solutions will provide premiere warehousing solutions optimized in LTL and FTL services, load consolidations and Customs brokerage. Managing operations will be Kristi Salinas, with support from both Allen Lund Company and Santos International.
Eddie Lund, Vice President of Sales and Branch Operations commented, “We are really excited about the joint venture with Santos International. We knew going in that we could both help our customers if we put together a warehouse solution in the valley. Once we met the Santos family it became an easy decision for us to go forward with the program. We have a similar culture and values and they provide us the expertise and local knowledge in McAllen that is essential. They are great people and we are lucky to be associated with them and we are already looking to expand our services.”
The new firm, TransKool Solution’s central office is located at:
802 Trinity Street, Mission, TX 78572, (956) 432-0000.
About Allen Lund Company:
Specializing as a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 450 employees, the Allen Lund Company works with shippers and carriers across the nation to arrange dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight; additionally, the Allen Lund Company has a logistics and software division, ALC Logistics, and an International Division licensed by the FMC as an OTI-NVOCC #019872NF. If you are interested in joining the Allen Lund Company team, please click here.
Established in 1976, the Allen Lund Company was selected as the 2015 Coca-Cola Challenger Carrier of the Year, 2016 Top IT Provider by Inbound Logistics, 2015 Top Private Company in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2015 Top 100+ Software and Technology Providers, 2015 Top 100 Logistics IT Provider by Inbound Logistics, a 2014 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100, a 2014 Great Supply Chain Partner, and was placed in Transport Topics’ “2014 Top 25 Freight Brokerage Firms.” The company managed over 310,000 shipments in 2015, and received the 2013 “Best in Cargo Security Award.” In 2011 the company received the TIA 3PL Samaritan Award, and the NASTC (National Association of Small Trucking Companies) named Allen Lund Company the 2010 Best Broker of the Year. More information is available at www.allenlund.com.
Apple sales in February fell 5.4 percent compared to the same month in 2016, according to Stemilt Grower’s latest Fruit Tracker Fast Facts video analysis.
While apple volume is up year-over-year the video shows most regions fell short of performance, excluding the East.
“February is historically a strong month for apple sales,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt communication manager. “Retailers sold 59 pounds of apples more on average in February, but brought in $190 dollars less weekly than in February 2016. This year’s larger crop and fruit size is ripe with opportunities for promotion, especially on the bulk side.”
Bulk remained the primary purchasing method for apple, accounting for 59.1 percent of sales. Bag sales accounted for the remaining 40.9 percent.
The top five apple varieties in February 2017 were:
- Gala at 28.2 percent of sales;
- Fuji at 13.8 of sales;
- Red delicious at 12.3 percent of sakes;
- Granny smith at 11.% of sales;
- HoneyCrisp at 11.1 of sales.
“Club apples are an important part of the apple category, and there are still opportunities to promote them this spring,” Shales said in the release. “Our signature variety, Piñata, will be available through May and we are seeing some of the best fruit of the year right now coming out of storage, with great color and dessert eating qualities.”
Apples accounted for an average of 6.8 percent of national produce sales in January 2017, which dropped to 6.5 percent in February.
About Stemilt
Stemilt Growers is a leading tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee, WA and is owned and operated by the Mathison family. Stemilt Growers is the leading shipper of sweet cherries and one of the nation’s largest suppliers of organic tree fruits. Stemilt has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable agriculture and social responsibility since 1989, when founder Tom Mathison launched the company’s Responsible Choice program . For more information about Stemilt Growers, visit www.stemilt.com.
Technomic, a research company dedicated to the foodservice channel recently released their annual results report. Over half of the U.S. food dollar is now spent eating out at foodservice vs. retail, as more people go out to eat, rely on takeout or look for supermarket foodservice (convenient prepared food) options. Foodservice is now also the largest sales channel for potatoes in the U.S.The $845 billion-dollar foodservice industry grew 1.6% in 2016, with the sectors of fast food/quick service, fast casual, fine dining and convenience stores seeing the most growth. All sectors are expected to grow in 2017 with overall sales projected to be up 1.7%. The fastest growing segment should remain fast casual, with an expected sales increase of 6.1% in 2017, followed by an emerging sector, supermarket foodservice with projected 6% growth. Noncommercial Foodservice (e.g. Healthcare, Schools) is also a bright spot, and is expected to continue to grow at a steady pace. Fine dining, which has been down in recent years, is expected to grow 3.1% in 2017.
Potato Exports Increasing
U.S. exports of frozen and fresh potatoes continued to grow in December while dehydrated exports were still down but by a lesser degree. The strong dollar continues to be an issue, but tight exportable supplies are also having an impact on future sales.
Frozen export volume increased 22% in December and is up 6% for the first six months of the marketing year. Exports for the month were up 27% to Japan, 30% to Taiwan and 59% to Central America. Exports to China and Mexico continued to slip, down 21% and 2% respectively for December.
Exports of dehydrated potatoes declined 20% in December and are down 21% for the marketing year to date. December exports to Japan were down 37%, to the Philippines down 70% and to Mexico down 14%. Canada is up 10% for the month, but is still down 6% for the year.
Exports of fresh potatoes, both chip-stock and table-stock, increased 16% in December and are up 26% for the marketing year. Exports for December to Canada were up 26%, with a 47% increase to Central America, 116% to Taiwan and 10% to the Philippines. With the early opening of the Japan shipping window in December the U.S. exported 5,560 MT of additional chipping potatoes there. Exports to Mexico continues to decline down 10% for December, with Korea down 49% and Malaysia down 17%.
By Farmer’s Best
Nogales, Ariz. – Farmer’s Best, a major produce grower in Mexico and distributor in the United States, is only one month into harvesting its summer squash crop and is producing a strong, consistent volume.
“We are very pleased with the quality and production of our gray, yellow and Italian squash this season,” says Leonardo Tarriba, Farmer’s Best general manager. “They have exceeded our standards and continue to grow to impressive, beautiful sizes.”
Farmer’s Best Italian, gray and yellow squash, more commonly referred to as “summer squash,” began their season in October. Squash plants started growing in greenhouses on the west coast of Mexico and were transferred in temperature-controlled trucks with GPS capabilities to fields where they continue growing.
Farmer’s Best incorporates sustainable practices throughout the growing, harvesting, packing and shipping operations re-using, re-purposing and recycling all possible materials. Solar panels are placed at facilities and on fields to offset emissions and energy use. Water is recycled and reused during the growing processes for all produce.
Farmer’s Best summer squash is all grown in Mexico and distributed from centers in Nogales, AZ and McAllen, TX to the contiguous U.S. and parts of Canada. Farmer’s Best grower, Agricola Don Roberto, and associate grower, Bay Brand, are producing a high volume that ensures plenty of supplies. The squash season ends in mid-June.
About Farmer’s Best
Farmer’s Best has been bringing the finest fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores, restaurants and family tables for more than 50 years. Founded in 1966, this multi-generational, quality-focused, family company knows that food is about family. Health, safety and satisfaction drive fresh produce choices year-round. Farmer’s Best grows produce in fully-certified fields using the most advanced technologies and environmentally sound, sustainable practices.
Best-known food retailers rely on award-winning Farmer’s Best for all the right reasons. Farmer’s Best packs and distributes its full line of fresh produce from Mexico with standards that meet and commonly exceed USDA requirements. With its trusted highest quality produce, consumers know and ask for the Farmer’s Best brand.
For more information on Farmer’s Best, visit www.farmersbest.com.mx.
While U.S. exports were flat in 2016, U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables growth hit double-digit rates.
Imports of fresh fruits were up 10 percent, amounting to $12.4 billion in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while the value of imports of fresh vegetables rose 14 percent to $8 billion. Last year, Mexico supplied 70 percent of the total U.S. vegetable imports and 31 percent of all U.S. fruit imports, according to the USDA. Chile supplied 17 percent of U.S. fruit imports in 2016. Canada was a major supplier of fresh vegetables, with 16 percent of all U.S. fresh vegetable imports in 2016.
In 2016, U.S. exports of fresh fruits were unchanged from 2015 at $4.5 billion, according to the USDA. U.S. exports of fresh vegetables rose 2percent to $2.4 billion in 2016. Canada purchased 75 percent of U.S. vegetable exports and 36 percent of U.S. fruit exports in 2016; Mexico purchased 11 percent of U.S. fruit exports and 4 percent of U.S. vegetable exports, according to USDA statistics.
Top Banana
The USDA reported the top U.S. imported fresh produce item for 2016 was bananas, at a value of $2.67 billion, up 1 percent from 2015. Ranking second, were fresh tomato imports that totaled $2.26 billion in 2016, up 17 percent from the previous year.
Berry imports in 2016 (excluding strawberries) hit $2.05 billion, up 11 percent from 2015.
U.S. avocado imports also rose sharply in 2016, totaling $1.91 billion, up 18 percent from 2015.
Other leading produce imported commodities for 2016 were:
- grapes: $1.5 billion, up 12 percent;
- peppers: $1.46 billion, up 20 percent;
- citrus: $937 million, up 9 percent;
- fresh/frozen strawberries: $745 million, up 22 percent;
- melons: $710 million, up 16 percent;
- cucumbers: $690 million, up 12 percent:
- fresh/frozen pineapples: $668 million, up 3 percent; and
- asparagus: $630 million, up 12 percent.
Apples Fade
The top U.S. export commodity for 2016 was apples, according to the USDA. Exports of fresh apples totaled $921 million in 2016, off 10 percent compared with the previous year.
The number two export item was grapes, with 2016 value of $785 million, up 5percent compared with 2015.
Other top U.S. fresh produce exports in 2016 were:
- oranges and tangerines: $700 million, up 13 percent;
- berries: $686 million, unchanged;
- cherries: $476 million, up 11 percent;
- lettuce: $465 million, down 10 percent;
- potatoes: $203 million, up 11 percent; and
- onions: $192 million, up 17 percent.
A Florida port experiences a record month for imports, while another acquisition occurs in the citrus shipping industry.
Central and South American fresh produce imports have been credited with causing a record breaking month – December -for Port Everglades in Florida’s Broward County. Those imports have been steadily increasing, according to port officials.
Port Everglades had volume of 104,590 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), according to a news release, making December the highest output month in the port’s 90-year history.
December’s volume was 15 percent over December 2015.
“Our customers are bringing in higher volumes of consumer goods such as produce, clothing and household goods as the region’s population increases,” Port Everglades chief executive and port Director Steven Cernak said in the release. “It’s an indication of a strengthening economy.”
A good part of the increase is due to shipments from perishable products from Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Other regions also showed increases, Cernak said.
“Port Everglades helped spearhead a pilot program to bring refrigerated produce from South America directly to Florida, when it was previously restricted to only coming into northern U.S. ports,” Jim Pyburn, Port Everglades director of business development, said in the release. “The pilot program was a great success and now we are seeing a wider variety of produce coming to South Florida faster and fresher than when it was trucked here from the Northeast.”
Wonderful Citrus acquires DNE
Wonderful Citrus of Delano, CA has acquired citrus marketer DNE World Fruit of Ft. Pierce, FL, citrus exporter DNE International and the assets of World Pack Cold Storage, a division of DNE Imports.
Wonderful Citrus is now the top importer of counter-seasonal citrus products in the U.S. since the purchase and the move doubles the company’s grapefruit position, according to a news release. Along with DNE’s citrus marketing and import business, Wonderful acquires World Pack’s distribution center in New Jersey.
This will not be the first time Wonderful is importing citrus. The company had trials in previous years and last year, for the first time, created programs from countries including Chile, Peru, Australia and South Africa.
DNE has imported from those countries as well as others.
Two of the nation’s largest family-run organic fresh produce operations have joined forces to build a state-of-the-art cooling and distribution facility in Yerington, NV.
First announced in December 2016, Walker River Cooling will service retailers, processors, wholesalers and other buying organizations throughout North America. Construction of the facility broke ground in early September 2016 and is on track to open in May 2017.
Two major goals of the new operation are sustainability and positive economic impact. “The Peri and Nunes families’ 40-plus years of cooling experience and industry knowledge has gone into developing a best-of-class facility in terms of cooling mechanisms, temperature control, product flow and industrial safety and food safety,” Tom Nunes V said in a press release.
The combined operations of the two companies have brought over 800 jobs to Lyon County to date, with additional job growth projected upon completion of the new distribution facility.
“This venture is a great example of the success we’re witnessing across Nevada. I am proud to congratulate and thank this hometown company for investing in the region and bringing good paying jobs to Lyon County,” Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said in the release. “The commitment of these two family-run companies shows their ability to creatively and strategically meet the demands of the marketplace. Nevada is proud to be a part of this vision and the positive impact it will have on our community.”
by Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
LEAMINGTON, ON – Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) has recently launched their annual winter cucumber program “Always in Season.” This program signifies the ramp up of production for all varieties of Ontario greenhouse grown seedless cucumbers and informs Ontario consumers of their availability during the cold winter months.
The growing demand for Ontario greenhouse seedless cucumbers is motivated by consumers’ healthy eating choices. Our growers have increased production to ensure the supply is abundant for Ontario consumers and retailers.
“Consumers can once again find fresh, tasty Ontario greenhouse cucumbers in their local stores” said OGVG General Manager, Rick Seguin. “There’s no need to wait”.
This program is supported by key Canadian retailers. This year’s campaign includes new recipe ideas, retailer flyer ads indicating product of Canada and a media campaign designed to raise awareness of availability of locally grown greenhouse seedless cucumbers. For new recipes and other meal ideas visit www.OGVG.com.
About OGVG
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) is a not-for-profit association, representing over 200 growers who grow greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers on over 2,850 acres in
IRVINE, Calif. — Gem Pack LLC is a new company that will be marketing strawberries the year around and has been formed by three Irvine-based family strawberry growers.
The fruit will be shipped by Orange County Produce LLC, Fujishige Farms Inc. and Mike Etchandy Farms Inc. under the Gem Pack label. All sales and shipping for the three companies are now being handled by Gem Pack.
However, Orange County Produce, Fujishige Farms and Mike Etchandy Farms will retain their own identities as they continue their strawberry growing operations. The move is a matter of survival. For example, Orange County Produce was launched as a small company, but has grown and has made the change to become more competitive in the marketplace.
Gem Pack sources from 1,000 acres in central Mexico, 500 acres in Watsonville, 800 acres in Oxnard (200 summer-planted and 600 winter-planted) and 200 acres in Orange County. The company also has 100 acres of organic strawberries in Watsonville and Orange County.
The father’s of the three operations have a long history of cooperation, since the growers’ dads were partners. Each family owned business is in its third generation.
Gem Pack will market all the berry brands from the three companies as well as the Healthy Harvest label from the Gonzales family in Watsonville. Labels include Orange County Produce, Ventura County and Opus/Frosun out of Mexico.
Eventually, the company may consolidate into a single label, but for now, the local labels will remain intact for the benefit of retailers who prefer to emphasize locally grown strawberries.
The Gem Pack label was created for the benefit of retail customers who prefer an exclusive label year-round. Many customers such as retailers, wholesalers and foodservice operations are seeking suppliers to provide product 12 months out of the year.
Orange County Produce will continue to grow and market vegetables and green beans under its own label.