Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA is ramping up its domestic blueberry shipments.
A promising start to the domestic blueberry season has come with early season harvests underway, the company said in a news release.
Conventional blueberry production is ramping up, with the Florida season commencing the week of March 17th and Georgia is anticipated to begin the first week of April. California’s Central Valley will follow suit, with harvests expected to begin in early May, ensuring a consistent supply of fresh, conventional blueberries, the company said.
On the organic front, Oxnard, CA, is currently experiencing peak production, yielding high-quality fruit, said California Giant, adding that these supplies will be supplemented by organic harvests from the Central Valley beginning in early April.
California Giant also said it will highlight the availability of its premium Giant Blueberries. These large (20-millimeter-plus) berries are now available in a new label design, selected by California Giant’s consumer audience.
The Giant Blueberries, known for their size and flavor, undergo rigorous sorting on a Unitec sorting line at California Giant’s Santa Maria, Calif., packing facility, the company said. The company said this process ensures that only the highest-quality berries, selected for color, firmness, size and other quality indicators, are packaged into each clamshell.
California Giant said it continues to deliver on its mission to provide the best berry experience by offering a year-round supply of fresh berries that represent the highest standards for quality and consistency.
The Vidalia onion season is set to begin, as Georgia’s agriculture commissioner and the Vidalia Onion Committee say the sweet onions will start shipping to grocery stores April 15, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a news release.
With nearly 10,000 acres planted in Southeastern Georgia, which is considered normal, Vidalia Onion Committee of Vidalia, GA is expecting an average crop with both yields and quality. This is despite weather issues ranging from Hurricane Helen to receiving five to six inches of snow.
In 2024, 6.5 million 40-pound boxes were collected thanks to near perfect weather and exceptional yields, VOC reported. That was up from 4.3 million boxes in 2023, when the onions endured freezing temperatures and reduced acreage.
Bland Farms of Glennville, GA is ready to start shipping Vidalia onions as soon as the official pack date is announced by the Vidalia Onion Advisory Panel, which should be in mid-April.
The company sees this year’s crop being a bit smaller in volume due to some colder, rainy weather during the growing season. However, it should be a solid crop in line with a typical season.
Growers generally ship Vidalias through Labor Day.
G&R Farms of Glennville, GA will be ready to start shipping Vidalia onions in mid-April as the crop is progressing well. The size and quality of this year’s Vidalia onion crop are reported as excellent.
Shuman Farms of Reidsville, GA has expanded its operations following the Generation Farms acquisition.
The acquisition in 2024 has given the company the ability to increase its storage, packing capacity and overall efficiency.
Vidalia onions are grown in a unique region spanning 20 counties in south Georgia.
Avocado shipments remain limited. Harvesting was curtailed in Mexico last week due to Benito Juarez Day. Expect elevated prices for the next three weeks as Mexican growers are uncertain about the potential tariffs scheduled to begin April 2, 2025, according to a news release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Mexico
- All sizes are tight; the Benito Juarez holiday is limiting production
- Size and grade substitutions may be requested to fill orders
- Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening within a case) has been reported
- Expect elevated markets and tight supplies for the next four weeks
California
- New crop production is in full swing
- California supplies will help fill the void from Mexican-grown product
- Supplies are dominated by medium sizes (48- through 60-count fruit)
- Quality is good; firm fruit has been reported even when ripe
- Expect high prices; demand is strong due to Mexican shortages
Colombia
- Imports will ship into the East Coast through May; these supplies only account for 5% of U.S. demand
- The crop is currently dominated by small sizes (60- to 84-count fruit)
- Quality is comparable to that in Mexico; texture is creamy and oil content is high
Blueberry shipments in the United States typically occur from spring to late September and Florida kickoffs off the nation’s first fruit.
Florida is the eighth-largest blueberry-growing state, alongside Oregon, Washington, Georgia, New Jersey, and Michigan, Maine, North Carolina and California. Depending on the weather, growers typically begin harvesting in late March.
Observers of Florida blueberries are generally seeing a crop of 20 million pounds, which is considered normal.
The Florida Blueberry Growers Association expects lower than last year, with more normal tonnage after last year’s oversupply.
FBGA optimism is boosted since Georgia’s blueberry season seems to be a little later than usual this year, not starting until late April, early May.
Although Mexican production is seen for April, it is believed volume will be light at that point.
The California/Arizona weather forecast calls for a heatwave in the desert vegetable growing region, according to a news release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA
Temperatures will climbed into the mid-80°s through last weekend and may reach triple digits by Wednesday, March 26.
Growers will adjust harvesting schedules and pack ahead to avoid peak temperatures as much as possible. Markon inspectors will be closely evaluating commodity and value-added desert row crops while working with suppliers to minimize heat-related challenges.
Markon First Crop (MFC) Lettuce items will become difficult to attain as the desert season winds down; Markon Best Available (MBA) will be substituted as needed.
California Crema label avocados will be shipped exclusively by Index Fresh of Corona, CA into the summer. The company is a global avocado production, distribution and marketing company.
California Crema avocados are the Gem variety — gold-flecked, creamy and in season annually between April and July, while supplies last, according to a news release.
Index Fresh said California Crema avocados are harvested by California farmers, pack flavor and nutritional density and pair resilience with responsibility. The offering is sold bagged and in bulk with eye-catching, innovative packaging, the company said.
Index Fresh cites the rich, creamy avocados are already staples of California cuisine and the go-to ingredient for restaurants and home chefs that want to deliver on exceptional flavor. The company partners with farmers who have invested years in cultivating a promotable level for the 2025 crop.
Index Fresh said Gem avocados are often associated with farming practices that strive to minimize their environmental impact, like growing on compact trees that have a more dense and efficient fruit set, producing more within a smaller footprint. The fruit grows inside a lush canopy, where they are insulated from direct sun and more resilient to extreme weather, the release said.
Minneola Tangelos loadings are underway from Bee Sweet Citrus, Inc. of Fowler, CA with a strong supply of the specialty citrus variety available.
“Minneola Tangelos are one of the many specialty citrus varieties that we offer to our customers, and this season’s crop eats well,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Sales Representative Joe Berberian. “The fruit’s sugar levels are high, and the variety possesses the perfect blend of sweet, tangy flavor.”
Minneola Tangelos are a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine and are in season now through April. Popular for its pronounced neck and distinct red-orange rind, the variety is excellent for anyone looking for a healthy, versatile snack.
“Minneolas are incredibly unique and shouldn’t be overlooked by consumers this season,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Communications Monique Mueller. “Visually, they’re easy to tell apart from other citrus varieties, and their distinctive flavor caters to citrus fans who appreciate both sweet and tangy flavors.”
Bee Sweet’s Minneola Tangelos are available in bag and bulk items, and the company reports that the fruit’s sizing complements 2#, 3#, and 5# bags. In addition to Minneolas, Bee Sweet Citrus also has Navel oranges, Heirloom Navels, Cara Cara oranges, Royal Red oranges, mandarins, lemons, Meyer lemons, pummelos and grapefruit are available.
Early season exports of mangoes from Mexico have been very light in volume, but that is changing.
In mid-February, Mexican growers had only exported about 1 million pounds of the fruit compared to 1.8 million pounds at the same time a year ago. However, Ciruli Bros. LLC, of Rio Rico, AZ reports the light numbers will not add up to this year’s exports being short.
In fact the opposite is true.
February cold weather and some light rain, which are very unusual this time of the year, have resulted in the slow start to the season.
Volume is now picking up significantly along with larger than normal sizes for the fruit thanks to ample rainfall during the growing season.
Ciruli Bros. now is importing mangoes from Chiapas, Oaxaca and Michoacan.
G-M Produce Sales LLC of Hidalgo, TX, launched its Mexican mango season the week of Feb. 17, and it will continue until September. The company ships all the commercial mango varieties — haden, tommy atkins, kent, keitt and ataulfo.
The Mexican mango harvest for Mission Produce of Oxnard, CA started strong in February and will continue for conventional and organic mangoes until the end of the harvest in September.
Throughout the summer, the company will source honey, haden, tommy atkins, kent and keitt varieties from Mexico.
Good volume on small mangoes is expected by mid-April through June when a lot of packers in the central areas of Jalisco and southern Sinaloa are forecasting a bumper crop.
The southern areas in Michoacán should be in full swing by April and May.
Yellow mangoes will be heavy mid-March through April, with the season out of the southern areas winding down in May.
U.S. Importers are facing a surge in table grape imports from Southern Hemisphere producers, driving prices down and forcing fruit to remain in cold storage for extended periods, impacting quality.
The latest reports indicate while the market is moving, it is not keeping pace with heavy arrivals. Additionally, storage space, packing, and cooling facilities at East Coast ports are nearing full capacity.
While Chilean and Peruvian table grapes are among the biggest concerns, Chilean stone fruit, Mediterranean citrus, and pears from Argentina are also competing for cold storage space.
Peru has had a strong season, with international shipments up 32% year over year through Week 8. Shipments to the U.S. alone are up 48% compared to last season.
Peruvian exporters have increased their focus on the U.S. market, with 53.5% of their table grape tonnage shipped there by the end of Week 8, compared to 47.7% at the same time last season.
Chilean table grape shipments are also up 11.2% through Week 8, with shipments to the U.S. increasing by nearly 15%.
If Chile is to reach its projected 67 million cases this season, an additional 35 million will arrive in the U.S., meaning there is still significant volume left to move.
Meanwhile, South Africa has increased its shipments to the U.S. by 27%, though fewer shipments from the country are expected in the coming weeks.
March and April are expected to be dominated by Chilean arrivals. As importers rush to sell the fruit already in storage, the condition of the remaining grapes will be critical in determining the outcome of the 2024-25 import season.
2025 exports of Peruvian blueberries got off to a much slower beginning compared to the same month in 2024.
Exports totaled 23,454 tons worth $110.31 million, which represented a decrease of 15 percent in volume and 41 percent in value, with an average price of 4.70 per kilogram (-31.3 percent).
A primary factor in this drop was the reduction in shipments to China, which went from $15 million in January 2024 to only $2 million in 2025, along with the general drop in the price of the product, according to Fresh Fruit.
Throughout the month, Peruvian blueberries reached 24 countries, of which the U.S. remained the main destination, with a share of 64 percent. 14,721 tons were exported to this market for a value of $70.51 million, with an average price of $4.79 per kilogram. Compared to January 2024, shipments to this country fell by 1 percent in volume and 30 percent in value, with a 29 percent reduction in average cost.
The Netherlands was the second destination with a 21 percent share. Exports to this market reached 5,151 tons for a value of $23.24 million, with an average price of $4.51 per kilogram. In terms of annual variation, the exported volume increased by 33 percent, although the value fell by 12 percent and the average cost decreased by 34 percent.
The United Kingdom closed the podium with 1,791 tons exported, generating a value of $7.34 million. The average price of blueberries in this market was $4.10 per kilogram, which represented a 45 percent drop compared to 2024. However, the volume shipped increased by 37 percent, while the total value of exports to this destination decreased by 25 percent.
On the other hand, in January, almost 70 Peruvian agro-exporters participated, of which the most prominent were Camposol S.A., with a 30 percent share; Hortifrut – Perú S.A.C., with 14 percent; and Blueberries Perú S.A.C., with 10 percent. In 2024, the largest exporters were Camposol (25 percent), Hortifrut (13 percent) and Agrovisión (6 percent). Camposol and Hortifrut increased their market share, while Agrovisión left the podium and was replaced by Blueberries Perú S.A.C.
In terms of markets served, Camposol concentrated its exports in the United States (69 percent) and the Netherlands (27 percent) in 2025, increasing its presence in these markets compared to 2024, when its share in the United States was 53 percent and in the Netherlands 14 percent.
Hortifrut prioritized the United States (67 percent) and the Netherlands (14 percent), while in 2024 these percentages were 50 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Blueberries also had a change in its market focus, with a greater presence in Saudi Arabia (11 percent), while in 2024 it exported mainly to the United States (60 percent) and the Netherlands (14 percent).
Regarding the ports, Terminales Portuarios Euroandinos concentrated 42.4 percent of shipments; followed by DP World, with 27.6 percent; and APM Terminals, with 24.2 percent. The General San Martín – Paracas Port Terminal had a 4 percent share, while the Jorge Chávez International Airport represented 2.3 percent.