Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Less than a month after its first season estimate, Northwest Cherries has revised its forecast for the 2026 season down. The latest figure points to up to 19.2 million 20-pound boxes, representing a 12 percent decrease compared to initial projections.
In a press release, the industry body cited unusual weather conditions as the cause of the revision.
“The early spring frost events across the growing region required additional time to fully evaluate fruit set and assess the extent of any damage,” the statement reads. “Growers and field teams have spent the past several weeks monitoring orchards closely to determine what was held on the trees and where the crop estimate would come out.”
Changing weather patterns have also thrown the region’s usual timeline off balance. Harvest is expected to begin slightly earlier than normal in the last week of May, with a slower ramp-up that will make promotable volumes available by mid-June. The first major volume peak should arrive around June 25, followed by another strong one during the second week of July.
Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the region’s weather woes, as high temperatures over the last few weeks have accelerated crop development and pushed later-season fruit forward. This, the association explains, is creating expectations for an early harvest window across all districts.
But despite the weather and the lower crop estimate, local growers remain optimistic.
“The crop outlook continues to improve, the fruit sizing is excellent, and this is shaping up to be a high-quality, promotable crop,” reads the document.
Northwest Cherries emphasized that the latest forecast coincides with the region’s five-year average, and the season’s rhythm is shaping up as usual, with shipments tapering by early August.
California Cherries
According to the California Cherry Board, as of May 13, the state has shipped 3,501,758 (18lb equivalent) boxes.
Challenging weather conditions, including unseasonal rains and early warm temperatures at the beginning of the spring, have significantly impacted the crop. The industry is now expecting a shorter season than originally anticipated, with total shipments finishing between four and five million boxes.
PUNTA GORDA, FL — Melon 1 officially launches its 2026 domestic watermelon season with strong early harvests underway in Florida and an expanded growing program that will continue moving up the East Coast and into key Midwest regions throughout the summer, according to a press release by the company, based on the Brooklyn (NY) Terminal Market.
This season, Melon 1 is growing a diverse mix of watermelon varieties including seedless, seeded, yellow watermelons, and specialty Black Jacks. Harvesting began in Florida in May and will continue through June, with Georgia harvests expected to begin in early June and run through the end of July.
Additional regional production will then follow along the East Coast throughout the summer season across South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Indiana, supporting consistent summer supply and ongoing distribution.
The company reports strong early yields and high-quality fruit coming out of the fields as retailers prepare for peak summer watermelon demand heading into Memorial Day and the broader summer selling season. Florida-grown watermelons are already arriving at retail locations across the East Coast, Midwest, and Canada as consumer demand continues to build.
“The crop looks excellent, and we’re seeing strong yields coming out of the fields,” said Trey Miller, Chief Operating Officer of Melon 1.
California and blueberry shipments are now in peak volume following the start of the season in early May.
Gourmet Trading Company of Redondo Beach, CA reports the West Coast is now the primary supplier of blues as Georgia and the Southeast are also loading, but experienced weather problems affecting volume.
Strong movement should continue through Father’s Day (June 21) with the strongest shipping window lasting for about a month. Then the season will continue through July, but supply will depend on variety and growing district.
The importer/exporter/shipper notes California is in a good position to provide a strong bridge into the Pacific Northwest blueberry season.
California fruit is producing excellent quality, with firmness, shelf-life and flavor.
Gourmet Trading company ships both conventional and organic blueberries to major retail, wholesale, and foodservice channels throughout North America.
Organic melons from the U.S. desert is underway and moving into good volume, according to Discovery Organics, based in Burnaby, BC.
While Mexican growers are concluding their seasons and the U.S. desert season started in early May. This is a little earlier this year due to the heat wave that the California desert had in April.
Production will continue for another three to four weeks before moving to Bakersfield, CA.
Discovery Organics is shipping certified organic watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, galia, hami and Honeysaurus melons. It also has black seedless watermelons.
Meanwhile, Discovery Organics is also starting with U.S. organic nectarines, peaches, apricots and cherries. The season has seen a great start and–like many California commodities–is early, with nectarines and peaches about a week to 10 days ahead of historical starts.
Orange supplies remain extremely limited, particularly for the 113- and 138-count sizes. This tight supply is being felt across all growing regions, and unfortunately, no improvement is expected until the Chilean and South African seasons start in July, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Given these ongoing challenges, size and grade substitutions will be necessary to fill orders, with the 138-count oranges presenting the greatest difficulty.
California
- Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Oranges are available
- Overall supplies of 113- and 138-count oranges will be extremely limited through the Valencia season, which runs until October
- Expect to make size and grade substitutions, as well as date changes, to fill orders of small fruit
- Quality is good; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
- Expect high markets for small fruit (113- and 138-supplies)
- Mexico
- The Valencia season will end the week of May 25
- Overall supplies of 113- and 138-count oranges are extremely limited
- Expect to make size and grade substitutions, as well as date changes, to fill orders of small fruit
- Quality is good; sugar levels range from 11-13 Brix
- Expect elevated prices as these stocks help fill the void in California
- Florida
- Growers will ship storage fruit through June
- Supplies are dominated by 113-count and larger sizes; 138-count oranges are limited
- Quality is fair; choice and standard grades are most abundant
- Expect steady markets through June
- Imported/Moroccan
- Expect the Moroccan season to end in mid-June
- Vessel delays and holdups from the USDA have further postponed loading schedules
- Valencia quality is very good; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
- Stocks are dominated by 113-count and 100-count sizes; 138-count fruit is extremely limited
- Expect elevated markets into mid-June
Imported/South Africa & Chile
- The season will begin in early July
- Current rain events have growers worried about size structure upon arrival into the U.S.
- Supplies are expected to be dominated by 113-count and larger sizes
- Import palletization: 72 cases per pallet, Box weight is 33 pounds (15 KG)
- Domestic palletization: 54 cases per pallet (18 KG), Box weight is 40 pounds
Mexican table grape loadings started about two weeks early this spring and will be ending the season a couple of weeks early as well, according to Pandol Bros. of Delano, CA. Total volume also has been reduced from earlier forecasts.
Sonora Mexico loadings got underway in late April and are predicted to be finished the last half of June. As of May 19 about one-third of the crop had been harvested.
The first 10 to 14 days of the season, product hardly moved as retailers were still selling Chilean grapes. This resulted in very little Mexican product was selling during that time, and inventory started to accumulate at the border in Nogales, AZ Pandol reported. Around May 12 – 15, retailers finally started transitioning and since then, shipping volumes have been normal.
The grower/shipper noted yields have been disappointing and volume estimates have been revised down. The initial pre-season estimate was 18.2 million cartons, down from 22.7 million in 2025. However, revised estimates are in the 15-16 million carton range. Last year, the season was interrupted by rain on June 5, which caused production to drop and forecasts were adjusted downward. This year’s initial estimate was already lower than last year’s post-rain estimate and the revised 2026 estimates are even lower.
The market prefers grapes from Central California’s San Joaquin Valley and is eagerly waiting for the region’s harvest to begin around June 20 – 25, Pandol observes. Overall, Pandol Brothers expects to be finished shipping from Nogales before July 3rd.
Bell pepper shipments are underway from Southern Georgia, and round tomato loadings will begin soon, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
- Harvesting of bell peppers began recently in Southern Georgia
- The season will run through July 1
- Production will increase this week
- Quality is very good
- Harvesting of tomatoeswill start in Southern Georgia over the next 10 days
- South Carolina and the Florida Panhandle will begin production on June 1
- Crops in these regions were planted after the Southeastern freeze earlier this year
South Texas is shipping its sweet 1015 onions in good volume, according to the South Texas Onion Committe of Mission, TX.
With ongoing loadings expected from the Rio Grande Valley through early-June and the Uvalde region continuing supply into mid-July, retailers still have significant opportunities to promote Texas sweet onions during key summer selling periods, such as with Fourth of July promotions. This availability allows retailers to keep Texas-grown sweet onions on the shelf during some of the highest-traffic grilling holidays of the year.
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he South Texas Onion Committee (STOC) was founded in 1961 through Federal Marketing Order No. 959 to support and oversee the South Texas onion industry. Representing growers and shippers across 35 counties in South Texas, STOC works to maintain quality standards, support research and promotion efforts, and strengthen market opportunities for Texas-grown onions. The committee is dedicated to increasing awareness and demand for the TX1015 Sweet Onion as the first domestically grown sweet onion of the season.
Michigan asparagus loadings got underway this season in time for the May 10 Mother’s Day observance, which is considered a normal start.
The Michigan Asparagus Committee reports a good quality crop, with shipments lasting about six weeks, or the last half of June.
While the season began with the weather resembling a roller coast ride, in the end cooler temperatures and adequate rains contributed to quality being quite good.
Last year, the Great Lakes State produced approximately 23,590 tons of asparagus, according to data from the USDA. Traditionally, about 60 percent of the crop is sold fresh, and the remaining 40 percent is processed into products such as canned, frozen, or pickled.
Michigan remains the leading asparagus-producing state in the US, with more than 90 farm families involved in production.
California apricots got an early start to the season, similar to many other West Coast produce items, according to Bari Produce of Fresno, CA.
The state’s Central Valley started production about 10 days earlier than last year and Bari Produce was already about one-third of the way through it’s crop in early May.
Apricot harvesting started around April 15th and following that earlier start, an earlier end to the season is also anticipated for around June 15th.
As for the quality of the fruit, reports are positive, brix levels are exactly where they should be and the fruit tastes sweet, the company notes. The first variety was a bit smaller in size, just due to less time on the tree to get ripe. Better sizing of fruit has arrived as the season progresses.
Ships for Memorial Day is typically a big time for volume.
Meanwhile the company is shipping peaches and nectarines and plums will start by the end of the month.
Total peach production is projected to decline nearly 10 per cent to 480,000 tons, down from 532,000 tons last year.
California produced 320,000 tons of freestone peaches in 2025, with 2026 production estimated at 310,000 tons. Cling peach production is projected at 170,000 tons this year, down from 212,000 tons in 2025.