Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Mixed berry yields are tightening throughout the industry. Blueberry demand outpaces available supplies. Blackberry and raspberry volume is average, but quality is generally good, with minimal defects despite recent heat, according to an April 2 press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Blueberries
- Prices are elevated
- The Chilean and Peruvian seasons have ended; import shipments have officially concluded
- Mexican-grown supplies are meeting current demands
- The Florida/Georgia growing region is set to begin production next week on a limited basis
- Stocks will remain snug through April, then increase once California’s San Joaquin Valley season starts in early May
Blackberries/Raspberries
- Markets are up
- Harvesting is past its seasonal peak in Central Mexico; labor challenges are also impacting overall availability
- Limited production has begun in Baja, Mexico
- Expect tight stocks through March; volume will start to increase in April
Strawberries
California’s key growing regions—Santa Maria, Oxnard, Salinas, and Watsonville—are benefiting from clear forecasts and ideal growing conditions. Quality is improving across all districts. Pricing is beginning to trend downward as supplies increase.
Santa Maria, California
- Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available
- Berry size is medium; counts have gotten smaller, averaging 18 to 22 pieces per 1-pound clamshell
- Quality is good; issues include bruising and white shoulders
- Prices will inch down as weather conditions improve
- Oxnard, California
- MFC Strawberries are available
- Berry size is medium; counts have gotten smaller, averaging 18 to 22 pieces per 1-pound clamshell
- Defects are minimal; growers report some white shoulders and packing-related bruising
- Markets will ease as weather conditions improve
- Watsonville/Salinas
- Berry size is large; counts range from 10-15 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Volume is increasing daily
- Most of the damaged fruit has been culled
- Prices will begin to decrease as weather conditions improve
With the Southern Hemisphere’s prune harvest now complete, Sunsweet Growers forecasts a six percent tightening in global supply for the 2025/26 season, totaling 193,000 metric tons. This shortfall is set to stabilize prices and protect profit margins, especially for the coveted larger, premium fruit.
The estimate marks the third year of a smaller production trend, sitting 10 percent below the 2023/24 crop.
The company reports that Chile, the leading producer and exporter of dried plums, has produced an average-sized crop of approximately 75,000 metric tons of marketable fruit.
However, this is not enough to balance out the unexpectedly small harvests from Argentina and California.
Argentina’s prune production has declined again due to reduced planted area and adverse weather, including frost, Zonda winds, and hail. The company estimates the current harvest at 15,000 metric tons, similar to the 2024/2025 harvest. Last year, producers harvested less than half of the projected 32,000 tons.
Further north, California harvested a smaller crop in August 2025 compared to the previous two years, with an estimated output of 64,000 metric tons. The decrease, the company said, is the result of accumulated stress from the prior year.
On a brighter note, Sunsweet Growers emphasized that California’s fruit quality is exceptional, with high sugar content and excellent size.
As total production is expected to fall short by about 12,000 metric tons, consumption remains steady. According to the company, the trend toward healthier snacking continues to support strong demand for prunes. But that’s not necessarily a good thing, as supply-demand imbalance is expected to increase costs, particularly as carryover inventories are projected to reach historic lows.
April 13th has been set as the official pack date for the 2026 Vidalia onion season, marking the day growers can begin packing and shipping the world-famous sweet onions to retailers across the country.
“For the 2026 season, growers planted approximately 10,200 acres of Vidalia onions across the production region,” said Omar Cruz, Chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee. “Our farmers work year-round to grow and harvest a crop that meets the high standards consumers expect from the Vidalia name. We are excited to bring another outstanding crop to market.”
Vidalia onion growers rely on generations of agricultural knowledge combined with modern growing practices to produce the crop. Onions are carefully planted, harvested, and cured before being packed and shipped to grocery stores nationwide.
The Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 established the official growing region and legally protected the “Vidalia” name, ensuring that only onions grown in this specific area of Georgia can be marketed as Vidalia onions.
Vidalia onions are grown exclusively in a 20-county production region in South Georgia, where the area’s unique soil composition and mild climate create the ideal environment for developing the onions’ signature sweet flavor.
The official pack date is carefully determined each year after close monitoring of weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop maturity to ensure that only onions meeting the industry’s strict quality standards reach the market.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Mexico is the leading supplier of fresh berries and this trend is expected to continue in 2026 as the USDA predicts in a March report, an increase in production of four percent.
Mexico’s total shipments of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries will reach approximately 1.2 million metric tons this year.
This steady growth reflects a broader transformation within Mexico’s berry industry. Producers are investing in improved plant varieties, adopting modern cultivation techniques, and refining harvest schedules to better align with high-demand periods in international markets.
At the center of this expansion are key producing states, including Baja California, Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Michoacán. The San Quintín region in Baja California stands out as a major contributor. In 2025 alone, it produced more than 112,000 metric tons of strawberries, second only to Michoacán, which remains the country’s top producer.
Strawberries continue to dominate Mexico’s berry industry, accounting for 54 percent of total production. However, blueberries are emerging as a fast-growing segment. Mexican growers are increasingly targeting premium export windows, particularly in the spring, when competition from countries like Peru is lower in the US market.
Berry production in Mexico is concentrated in two main periods: from late winter to early summer (January through June), and again in late autumn (November to December). Output typically declines during the summer months, when supplies reach their lowest levels of the year.
Relief for spring produce loading opportunities is coming, but slowly, according to the website of Pro*Act of Monterey, CA.
Sonora is expected to start in late March with fewer acres planted, while the California desert may begin slightly earlier than normal due to warm weather.
Georgia remains several weeks out, expected in late May. Until
then, expect elevated pricing and continued tightness across the pepper category.
Tomatoes are following a similar pattern, with supply disruptions stacking
across regions.
Mexican production slowed following the mid-March national holiday and is now
further constrained by extreme heat in Sonora and Sinaloa. Harvest crews are
starting earlier in the day, but shortened picking windows are limiting overall output.
Quality remains mixed, with some growers pulling from older or previously
abandoned fields.
Florida continues to feel the impact of recent freezes, winds, and frost damage.
Volume is extremely limited across rounds, romas, and grape and cherry tomatoes,
and additional grading is required to meet specifications.
Rounds are seeing the most pressure on larger sizes, particularly 4×4 and 4×5. Romas
have slightly better availability on medium sizes but remain tight overall. Grape and
cherry tomatoes are also tightening as both domestic and Mexican supplies are
constrained at the same time.
Expect tomato markets to remain firm with upward pricing pressure and continued
volatility through mid- to late April, as new regions gradually come online.
Overall, the market is working through a difficult transition window. Florida is slow to
recover, Mexico is weather-constrained, and supply gaps are showing up across
multiple commodities. We’re expecting continued tight availability, elevated pricing,
and variability in quality and packouts.
The market remains under pressure as Florida continues to recover from freeze
damage and Mexico struggles with extreme heat. The combination is limiting supply,
impacting quality, and keeping both pepper and tomato markets elevated as March
winds down, according to the website of Pro*Act of Monterey, CA
Bell peppers remain one of the most challenged categories.
Mexico, the primary supplier, is dealing with excessive heat that is slowing
production and limiting harvestable yields. Shortened harvest windows are
reducing overall output, while quality is mixed with increased insect pressure and
fewer premium packs available. Larger sizes and No. 1 grade product are especially
tight, pushing more volume into choice-grade supplies.
Florida is contributing very little volume following winter freeze damage. Many
March fields were lost or set back, and what remains requires heavy grading.
Supplies are inconsistent, with growers focused on managing through reduced
yields until new fields begin in April.
Red bell peppers are even tighter, and recent harvesting decisions are compounding
the issue. Over the past several weeks, growers have been pulling red fields early
while fruit is still green to help cover green bell demand. That shift is now catching
up to the market. True red volume is limited, and quality is being impacted, with
increased reports of “chocolating” and inconsistent color development. Florida
offers little relief, with extremely light, day-to-day volume and variable quality.
Markon First Crop (MFC) Red and Yellow Potatoes are available in Idaho and North Dakota. Red potatoes are in good supply with larger sizes dominating packouts. Yellow potatoes are limited in multiple regions due to higher demand and lower yields. Increasing prices are expected over the next six to eight weeks, especially for yellow potatoes, according to Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Idaho, North Dakota, Colorado, Washington
- MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes are available
- Reds: Quality is very good, B size prices are rising
- Yellows: Yields are lower as growers are culling stocks with pressure bruising, air checks, greening and lenticles, and Markets are climbing for all sizes and grades
North Dakota
- MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes are available
- Reds: Quality is good; skins are dark, Prices are holding steady with a slight market increase in B size supplies
- Yellows: Quality is good, Strong demand is pushing up prices
Colorado and Washington
- Supplies are adequate in both regions but demand is shifting from East Coast
- Reds: Quality is good with light pink skin and occasional blemishes, Increasing demand is affect markets
- Yellows: Quality is good, Prices are inching up
Florida
- Availability across all colors and sizes is tight as growers navigate the impacts of the January freeze
- Reds and Yellows: Quality is very good, Expect elevated markets for all sizes, colors, and grades through April
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
By Mark Campbell, ProduceIQ
A record-setting heat wave across the West has toppled long-standing March temperature highs from Yuma to Palm Springs, and now that heat is advancing east, according to the article published by the Blue Book.
Forecasts show much of the Southeast running 15–30 degrees above average the week ending March 23.
That surge in temperatures is fast-tracking the close of the Yuma season, raising the stakes for a smooth handoff to California production. If West Coast growers aren’t ready to take the baton, markets could face a brief but impactful supply gap just as production begins a seasonal decline.
Tomato markets are “channeling” the spirit of March Madness. After all varieties posted notable declines last week, prices for round, plum, and grape tomatoes are climbing once again.
Extremely light supply from Florida and Mexico, paired with the +17 percent duty on Mexican tomatoes, is fueling renewed volatility. With supply constrained and demand steady, instability is expected to persist through April.
The same heat driving production shifts in the West is also tightening supply in other categories. Asparagus prices jumped +22 percent week-over-week as heat-stressed supply struggles to keep pace with Easter demand. Week #12 prices are now well above average, ranking as the second-highest in the past decade. Relief remains limited: ongoing heat in the West and delayed shipments from Peru are expected to keep upward pressure on the market through the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, warmer temperatures are beginning to reshape demand patterns. Warmer weather is stirring demand for watermelon, pushing prices up +9 percent from the previous week. Week #12 pricing is now at the second-highest level in the past 10 years. With Florida production still weeks away, the market is leaning heavily on dwindling Mexican supply. Prices are likely to climb further over the next 3–5 weeks until domestic harvests arrive to meet seasonal demand.
Even tropical items are feeling the squeeze as supply struggles to keep pace with warm-weather demand. Pineapple prices continue to hold firm at elevated levels in week #12. Tight import supply, driven by adverse weather, is trailing just behind strong Easter demand. With supply expected to remain limited, prices are forecast to edge higher in the coming weeks.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Extreme heat continues to cause concern for the remaining acreage of row crop vegetables in the Arizona/California desert growing region, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Markon inspectors have observed the effects of the heat in fresh samples and shelf-life retains during recent product cuttings, particularly in value-added romaine items.
With the sustained heat and a limited supply remaining, the quality and shelf-life of commodity and value-added items from the desert region will be challenged until production moves back to the Salinas Valley.
Despite mitigation steps by growers, harvesters, and processing crews, it will not be possible to completely avoid the issues brought on by the extreme conditions. Ordering for quick turns is recommended, and, as always, cold chain management throughout the supply chain will be critical to maximizing quality and shelf-life.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Elevated temperatures are forcing an end to the seasons in Texas and Florida. California volume is rising in Santa Maria and Oxnard; quality is excellent, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Santa Maria/Oxnard, California
- Current weather is ideal for strawberries
- Volume continues to increase weekly
- Quality is excellent; good shape, color, and flavor are being reported
- Size ranges from medium plus to large (10-14 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell)
- Expect pricing to remain low
Salinas/Watsonville
- Warmer weather in these growing regions has increased yields
- Quality is excellent; defects are minimal
- Size ranges from 14 to 15 berries per 1-pound clamshell
- Expect minimal numbers for another two weeks
- Markets are stable
Florida
- Temperatures in the mid-80s to mid-90s have ended the Florida season for most suppliers
- Fruit has been softened and bruised by heat
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.