Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Despite a freeze during bloom, Florida grapefruit has more sugar (brix) and volume should be good this season, according to Riverfront Packing Company of Vero Beach, FL.
Shipping has recently got underway and should continue into mid-March.
Last season Florida shipped 1.35 million standard 90-pound boxes of grapefruit, with a few loadings continuing into April.
While sizing is a bit smaller in general this season, the brix count is up by 10 percent.
Riverfront, which is a grower, shipper and packer, recalls last year’s slower fall start to the domestic citrus season. That was due to an influx of South African grapefruit from South African growers and shippers, who were concerned over a 50 percent tariff threat on imported fruit into the U.S.
This resulted in significant volumes of fruit were sent ahead of those tariffs being implemented, which left Florida growers and shippers not really seeing good loadings until late November/early December. Still, there is some South African fruit in the marketplace as late as January, but it is not nearly to the degree that it was a year ago.
From Idaho to Washington State, Wisconsin and Colorado, potato harvests have finished or are very close being complete, according to Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
In Idaho, Norkotah supplies of larger potatoes remain tight due to average to slightly below-average yields and demand from processors.
Separate reporting indicates that Idaho growers have experienced lower yields and smaller size profiles following frost, heat, warm nights, and wildfire smoke. The Idaho Potato Commission estimates planted acreage at approximately 298,916 acres, around 13,000 acres less than the previous year.
Washington reports a range of potato sizes, although demand for larger tubers is keeping market prices elevated. In Wisconsin, growers completed harvest in mid-October, while Colorado’s remaining harvest was expected to take another one to two weeks.
Despite ongoing harvesting, availability varies by size, grade, and origin. Larger russet potatoes remain more difficult to source for foodservice buyers requiring specific count sizes.
As harvesting concludes, attention will shift to storage conditions, packout rates, and the availability of potatoes meeting market specifications.
Broccoli loadings got underway from North Carolina last week, according to mixed vegetable grower, shipper Jackson’s Farm Company of Autryville, NC.
Harvesting is expected to continue until the middle of December which makes for a seven to eight week harvest window, though some years it has continued into January.
Additionally, some other East Coast states are coming into production with broccoli including Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia with the latter starting its harvest in mid October.
Overall, broccoli loadings have been light for a while because Mexico and California faced adverse weather issues this year. Maine has recently finished its production because it had a colder summer this year and has also had lighter volume.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s started its North Carolina sweet potato harvest in August; began recently curing its product, with packing now underway. Harvesting should continue through mid November.
The California Valencia shipments are ending, while the California Navel season started on a limited basis in mid October, according to a recent press release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Valencia
- California Valencia supplies are expected to ship through late October
- Current stocks are dominated by 56- and 72-count sizes; choice-grade fruit is most plentiful
- Small-size fruit (113- to 138-count oranges) will be extremely limited for the rest of the Valencia season
- Sugar levels range from 13 to 15 Brix; high sugar levels such as this typically result in a shorter shelf-life
Navel
- Limited California Navel harvesting began last week; volume will ramp up over the next three to four weeks
- Stocks will be dominated by 88- and 113-count sizes; fancy grade fruit is most prevalent
- Sugar levels range from 10 to 12 Brix
- This early variety fruit requires gassing for 72+ hours
- Expect prices for small sizes to inch down as Navel yields increase
Chilean grape exports are forecast to increase to primary markets this season led by the U.S.
Increases are forecast across all major markets. The United States is expected to continue accounting for about 50% of shipments, with 34.0 million boxes (+15%). Europe is forecast to reach 15.1 million (+16%), while Asia is expected to total about 6.0 million (+16%). Other destinations are forecast to receive about 12.9 million boxes (+20%), representing about 19% of the total.
Frutas de Chile’s Table Grape Committee has issued its first forecast for the 2026–27 season, projecting shipments of 67.9 million 8.2-kilo boxes, up 16.5% from the 58.3 million boxes exported in 2025–26.
Licensed varieties are expected to reach 49.1 million boxes, up 13.8% from the previous season, accounting for 72.2% of the total. Red Globe is expected to rebound to 11.7 million boxes (+30.6%), while other traditional varieties are projected to total around 7.2 million (+15%).
White grape exports are expected to reach 27.8 million boxes, up 17.7%, with licensed varieties accounting for 95.4% of the total. Sweet Globe (around 8.0 million boxes), Autumn Crisp (7.7 million) and Timpson (3.2 million) are expected to drive nearly 87% of the group’s growth.
Red varieties, excluding Red Globe, are expected to reach 24.0 million boxes (+12.7%), while black varieties are projected to remain stable at around 4.5 million. By region, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, and O’Higgins are expected to contribute approximately 96% of the projected growth.
A cooler, unsettled weather pattern has replaced last week’s heat across key West Coast growing regions, according to a press release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Sporadic showers, increased humidity, and prolonged morning moisture are forecast for most regions starting Wednesday, October 21, and continuing through Thursday, October 22. Markon is working with growers to pack orders ahead where necessary to ensure 100% fulfillment. Harvesting crews will take measures to keep field-packed boxes as clean and dry as possible.
Salinas Valley, Santa Maria & Oxnard
- Showers are expected Wednesday through Thursday, with estimated rainfall totals of 0.30″ to 0.75″ in the
- Salinas Valley and 0.50″ to 1.25″ across Santa Maria and Oxnard growing areas
- Dry conditions will return by the weekend
Huron
- Approximately 0.25″ to 0.40″ of rainfall can be expected between Tuesday and Thursday
- Dry conditions will return by the weekend
Arizona/California Desert Region
- Warm weather will continue through midweek before temperatures dip later in the week
- Breezy conditions and isolated showers are possible, with rainfall generally expected to remain below 0.05″
Field Outlook
Production and loading delays can be expected over the next several days, pending field conditions, particularly in Salinas, Santa Maria, Huron, and Oxnard.
Rain-related challenges that may develop, including but are not limited to:
- Bottom rot, decay, increased mildew pressure, premature pinking, shortened shelf-life in commodity and value-added lettuce items
- Bruising, decay, soft texture, rain damage, reduced yields, and shortened shelf life in strawberries
- Pin rot, decay, bead discoloration, hollow core, increased mildew pressure, and shortened shelf life in broccoli
- Black mold and shortened shelf life in cauliflower
Reduced yields and variable case weights remain possible in affected row crop commodities.
Markon inspectors will closely monitor commodity and value-added lettuce and tender leaf items and will update further as needed. Ordering for quick turns is recommended; strict cold-chain management remains critical to maximizing product quality and shelf life.
An overlap is expected this fall with transition from imported citrus to domestic production.
Lange Farms of St. Louis, MO reports following a season laden with weather challenges, inconsistent arrival quality and periods of heavy supply, attention is now turning to whether improving fall demand will be sufficient to absorb incoming fruit.
During the Southern Hemisphere season, the company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lange Companies in St. Louis, sources citrus from South Africa, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Argentina, providing flexibility as growing conditions, quality and availability shift between origins.
With California production is just getting underway, but imported and domestic fruit are expected to overlap more than usual.
Lange generally aims to work through imported citrus by the end of October as California production comes online. This year, however, imported supplies could remain in the market into November, making inventory management and timing particularly important. Improving fall demand could help absorb some of that supply, but the amount of imported fruit still moving toward North America will remain a key factor in how smoothly the transition develops.
While Mexican avocado production for the 2026/27 started last summer, significant exports to the U.S. has just started. Volume is expected to be similar to last season.
Mexican growing operation Coliman Avocaods reports Mexico becomes the primary avocado supplier to the U.S. with strong volumes available.
Mexico becomes the largest avocado supplier to the U.S. market in September and forward. Colombia will also continue shipping fruit to the U.S., although a greater share of its production is expected to be directed toward Europe.
Coliman Avocaods notes proximity to the U.S., with consistent supply and quality aare key advantages.
Logistics also support the Mexican position because fruit can reach the U.S. border within 24 hours, while virtually any city in the country can be reached within four days.
Year-round availability further strengthens Mexico’s position. Mexican avocados are available 52 weeks a year, even though some retailers turn to other origins during the summer. Consistent availability and quality remain important to importers, distributors and retailers looking to maintain supply throughout the year.
Coliman Avocaods exports primarily to the U.S., with , Canada is its second-largest market by volume. The company also exports to Japan and the Middle East.
El Niño’s impact is proving more severe than expected, even though the cultivated Peruvian blueberry area is 15% larger. according to Proarándanos, the Peruvian blueberry growers and exporters association.
The group has published its fifth export forecast, lowering the September estimate by 4.2%.
According to it latest forecast, Peru is expected to export about 366,000 tons of fresh blueberries in the 2026–27 season. That is 4.2% below the September estimate of 382,000 tons and 4.4% below the 383,000 tons exported in the previous season.
The forecast is based on information from producers and exporters as recent weeks confirm a downward trend, with a significant drop in export volumes despite approximately 15% more acres under production.
By the end of September , Peru had exported 136,000 tons, 18.7% more than the same period of the previous season (115,000 tons). However, this number can be deceptive.
From October through the end of the season, exports are expected to total 229,000 tons, 14.2% below the 268,000 tons recorded during the same period of the 2025–26 season.
The decline is more serious over the next eight weeks, with 108,000 tons projected. This is 48,000 tons less than the previous season (156,000 tons), representing a 31.2% decline.
Nova Scotia’s apple crop is forecast at about 2.2 million bushels in 2026, up roughly 30 per cent from 1.7 million bushels last year, according to the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association.
The province has 2,093 hectares of apple orchards. Following drought conditions in 2025, which resulted in smaller fruit and stressed trees, growers are reporting larger fruit and higher yields this season. Rainfall during summer supported fruit sizing, while a cool spring delayed flowering.
Early apple varieties including Sunrise, Gravenstein, and SweeTango are already being harvested. At Gates U-Pick in Port Williams, harvesting has started for Gravenstein, McIntosh, and Zestar apples, along with Clapp and Bartlett pears. Later apple varieties include Cortland, Red Delicious, and Russet.
At Willowbank U-Pick, Gravenstein harvesting is scheduled to begin on September 12, followed by McIntosh and Cortland later in the month. Honeycrisp is expected around September 25, with Gala, Ambrosia, Golden Delicious, and other varieties following in October.
Growers continue to monitor export conditions. Around 90 per cent of Nova Scotia’s apple exports are shipped to the United States, with Honeycrisp an important variety for this trade. The industry has not reported immediate tariff impacts on apple exports but is monitoring costs for equipment, materials, supplies, and fertilizer.