Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Shipments of pummelos from Florida have just got underway as Chilean imports are now winding down.
Size and flavor are the best in years, reports Noble Citrus of Winter Haven, FL. Despite a freeze last spring, the grower/shipper notes volume is expected to match a year ago, but the brix and quality should be even better.
Following its Florida pummelo season are the Autumn Honey and Noble Juicy Crunch tangerine seasons, with the latter being the company’s proprietary premium tangerine. Tree health is noted to be excellent as the company expects expanded volume for both varieties from Florida.
This year, along with importing Chilean citrus–primarily lemons, navels and mandarins, which started at the beginning of July, and later Cara Caras and Minneolas at the end of July–the company is adding a new sourcing region to its mix. This winter it will now source fruit from California and along with Chile and Florida, it will give retailers and wholesalers a continuous supply program.
Noble Citrus has added Golden Star Citrus of Woodlake, CA to its mix of suppliers, starting in January 2027.
This allows the company to ship Navels, Cara Caras or Red Navels, and lemons January through May. Then in June, as California production winds down, Chilean imports start picking up and will go through September. After that, mid-October through December is the window for Florida-grown navels and lemons. In all, this provides 12 months of fresh navels and navel/orange juicing.
Markon Cooperative has introduced its year-round Markon First Crop (MFC) Mandarin brand program, giving members consistent access to premium-quality, Markon-brand Mandarins year-round, according to the Salinas, CA based company in a press release.
This program reinforces Markon’s commitment to quality and supply continuity by delivering a recognizable brand backed by industry-leading food safety standards.
Program Highlights
- Available year-round for loading at 4Earth or California Central Valley through a combination of domestic and imported production. USA: October through May. Peru/Chile: May through October
- Primarily packed with small to medium sizes (24- to 28-count fruit)
- Packed in a volume-filled 30-pound carton averaging 160-180 pieces per box
- MFC packaging provides a consistent appearance and enhanced food safety recognition for members and operators
Member Impact
- Ensures uninterrupted year-round Mandarin availability under the Markon brand
- Larger volume-filled pack provides excellent value and merchandising flexibility for foodservice operators
- Supports program consistency with a single brand offering across both domestic and imported seasons
- Backed by Markon’s established food safety and quality standards, delivering confidence from field to fork
Imported Peruvian sweet onions are now arriving in the U.S., according to Bland Farms of Reidsville, GA.
A major grower of Vidalia sweet onions in southeast Georgia, Bland has transitioned to Peruvian product as part of its program to supply onions on a year around basis.
The company’s acreage in Peru has increased this year–a time when there are reports of growers cutting back on planted acreage to improve FOBs.
Bland Farms owns and operates its own fields in Peru and it has been farming there for nearly 30 years. The company avoids contracting with outside growers and has its own agronomist managing the crop.
Last fall, Bland Farms purchased the Vidalia facility it had leased for years and has since made significant investments in expanding its storage capacity as well as upgrading refrigeration and cooling technology. This allows the company to move onions from the field through drying and down to storage temperature in a fraction of the time it once took, helping it protect quality, extend shelf life and get more of the crop into controlled storage faster. The company also has its Glennville, GA operation, which gives it the largest storage capacity in the industry and allows it to extend the Vidalia season.
The Peruvian season is expected to run through January. From there, the Bland will transition to Mexico for sweet onions until it returns to Vidalia product in the spring.
Joolies, the Coachella, California-based date brand known for bringing a fresh, modern approach to one of the world’s oldest fruits, is entering the 2026–27 season in a strong supply position, with approximately 50% more fruit available than last year and high-quality Medjool dates to support its growing retail footprint and future expansion.
Another grower, shipper, Natural Delights® is entering the 2026-27 crop year with strong quality, ample volume and an early harvest from the Bard Valley.
The brand grew out of Kohl Family Farm, where the family has cultivated organic Medjool dates, known as the “King of Dates”, in California’s Coachella Valley for four generations. Joolies was co-founded in 2018 by longtime date grower David Kohl and seasoned entrepreneur and former Wonderful Company executive Greg Willsey, combining four generations of agricultural expertise with deep consumer brand experience.
Today, Joolies partners with additional growers who share the same commitment to quality, expanding the brand’s supply of organic fruit as it continues to scale.
“We’re heading into the season in an incredibly strong position, with a beautiful Medjool crop coming in and plenty of supply to support where we’re headed,” said Greg Willsey, co-founder of Joolies. “We’ve seen tremendous growth and excitement around dates over the last several years, and we believe there’s still so much opportunity ahead. We’re excited to keep growing with our retail partners, welcome new opportunities and continue Changing the Date-ing Game.”
The date category continues to gain household adoption, with U.S. household penetration reaching nearly 12% in 2025, according to Circana. Joolies is outpacing that momentum. According to the most recent SPINS MULO data, Joolies is one of the fastest-growing brands in the date category and now ranks No. 2 in date fruit sales nationwide.
For the 12 weeks ending June 30, 2026, Joolies grew 28.9% year over year—nearly three times the 9.9% growth of the overall date fruit category. Its retail footprint has also expanded to more than 12,000 stores nationwide, up from roughly 7,000 a year ago.
About Joolies
Joolies is a California-based date brand on a mission to help more people fall in love with dates. Rooted in four generations of date-growing experience in California’s Coachella Valley, Joolies has been Changing the Date-ing Game through quality organic dates, bold branding and innovative date-based snacks. From whole fruit to candy-inspired Date Sours, Joolies continues to explore just how far dates can go—making one of the world’s oldest fruits feel fresh, fun and unmistakably Joolies.
Joolies is available in more than 12,000 retail locations nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Target, Sprouts Farmers Market, Costco, Albertsons, Safeway, Hy-Vee, The Fresh Market, Erewhon, HEB, Wakefern, Ralphs and more.
Natural Delight Dates
Natural Delights® is entering the 2026-27 crop year with strong quality, ample volume and an early harvest.
Harvest began in early August in Bard Valley, where favorable weather throughout the growing season has produced strong fruit quality and volume. The conditions are a welcome change from the previous two seasons, when rain arrived early in the harvest window and created additional challenges for growers.
The Bard Valley is located in California’s Imperial Valley near the Arizona and Mexican border.
“The fruit looks excellent, we feel very good about our volume, and the early harvest puts us in a strong position to support our retail partners throughout the year,” said David Baxter, CEO of Natural Delights. “We’re entering the season with tremendous momentum behind the category and some exciting plans for how we will continue driving that growth.”
Over the past five years, the date category has nearly doubled and grown to become the largest segment within dried fruit at retail, according to Circana data.
A larger pecan crop is expected by Texas growers in 2026, despite dry and hot weather during kernel fill.
There also is the presence of disease and insects, which could adversely affect yields and quality, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
The Tri-State Pecan Growers Association estimated the Texas crop at around 42 million pounds, while A&M estimated output at approximately 39 million pounds, compared with 32 million pounds last year.
A wet spring in North, East, and Central Texas reduced irrigation requirements but increased disease pressure. Growers reported pecan scab, downy spot, and powdery mildew.
Conditions subsequently became hot and dry as trees entered kernel fill, which runs from August into September and is a period of high water demand.
Growers with access to irrigation are better positioned to complete kernel development, while orchards without sufficient water face more uncertainty.
Pecan nut casebearer pressure was also above normal this season. Larvae can damage the crop by burrowing into nuts and feeding on the kernel.
Texas citrus growers in the Rio Grande Valley are reporting a positive production outlook for the current season despite ongoing hot and dry conditions across the region. Texas Citrus Mutual President Dale Murden says growers are contending with multiple levels of drought and could use more rainfall as the crop moves through the final weeks of summer.
Murden says the industry is coming off a stronger year and expects that momentum to carry forward. “All said, last year’s crop was up about 13 per cent over the year before. We shipped a little over six million cartons, and I think we’re poised to have another increase this year. Not that rain wouldn’t be welcome, but all in all, the crop looks pretty good.”
Along with weather, labor continues to be a persistent concern for Texas citrus producers. Murden says existing programs are inadequate and the problem is growing. Several bills currently before Congress could address some of those shortfalls, and Murden is calling on lawmakers to reach agreement on at least one of them. “There have been several bills introduced that are all common sense fixes to some of the problems that we have. What we need is for Congress to just get together on it and pick one. I don’t care if it’s a D or an R.”
The Michigan Apple industry is expecting a high-quality crop of apples in 2026. The majority of apple-producing regions in Michigan report above-average apple crops with exceptional fruit size and color.
Michigan Apple industry representatives have stated that they believe the crop is larger than the USDA estimated 25 million bushels (1.05 billion lbs.) of apples.
“We know the apple crop is above 25 million bushels this year. The quality is amazing and the size is larger, leading to more bushels,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee BB #:157755. “There were some spring weather issues and problems with return bloom this year, but they are localized. Overall, Michigan’s apple crop is looking great.”
Many factors contribute to the size of an apple crop, including weather, bloom conditions and tree health. Michigan Apples are available year-round, and can be found at about 200 farm markets and cider mills in Michigan as well as more than 12,000 retail groceries across the U.S., according to Smith.
On average, Michigan growers harvest about 27.2 million bushels per year. Michigan is in the top three apple producing states, along with Washington and New York. Harvest is underway, with early varieties like Paula Red, Ginger Gold and Gala being the first on the market.
The Michigan Apple Committee has outlined key release dates and flavor profiles for the season’s most anticipated varieties:
• Mid-August (Early Harvesters): Kick off the season with Paula Red (zesty and tart) and Ginger Gold (sweet with a subtle tang), available starting around August 17.
• Late August (Sweet & Crisp Favorites): The popular Gala hits markets around August 24, followed closely by the juicy crunch of Honeycrisp starting August 31.
• September (Tasty Classics): Golden Delicious and McIntosh will be available around September 7, while Red Delicious, Fuji and Jonagold can be found later in September.
• October & Early November (Flavorful Newcomers): The refreshing and floral Ambrosia will be available around October 5, long-lasting EverCrisp picked around October 26, and closing out the Michigan Apple season, the pink, crisp and juicy Cripps Pink available November 2.
Michigan’s apple industry is powered by 850 multigenerational farm families—many now in their fourth or fifth generation—dedicated to growing world-class fruit. Consumers can support local growers by visiting cider mills, farm markets, and agri-tourism destinations, or by choosing Michigan-grown apples at their local grocery store.
The Michigan Apple Committee works on behalf of Michigan apple growers through marketing, research, education, and outreach to increase consumption, support growers, and ensure a strong and sustainable apple industry.
Hansen Farms in Rupert, ID, launched its annual potato harvest September 14.
The company grows seven potato varieties across approximately 60 fields, including Burbanks, Norkotahs, Clearwaters, Rangers, Reveille, Kings, and Dakotas. Storage facilities on the farm have been readied for the incoming yield, with each storage shed holding up to 10 million pounds of potatoes.
Brian Hansen, fourth-generation farm operations manager at Hansen Farms, says the preparation process runs up to ten months ahead of the first day in the fields. “We actually start preparing for harvest in the wintertime,” Hansen says. “Last December we started going through machinery, planning on any kind of changes that we were going to make from an operation standpoint and how we set up our machinery. That carries all the way through spring and summer, and you can see behind [us] we’ve got equipment starting to get set up. We test run things, we look for just problems that we can fix to help deliver the best quality potato that we can.”
Beyond machinery, the heat Idaho has experienced this summer has added pressure on the operation. Hansen says elevated temperatures over recent years have accelerated crop aging and made moisture management more difficult. “The hot conditions have impacted our crop over the last three to five years, I would say. It makes it age more quickly; it’s harder to keep the moisture that we need in the fields. That heat has definitely played a role in potato quality for this year.”
The dry summer also raises concerns about the following season. Hansen says water conservation is a topic now entering conversations in a way it has not before. “I think this is the first year where we’re actually hearing and seeing people talk about conserving more water and cutting that water back. Hoping that we have a good winter because next year I think is when we’re really going to see an impact on water availability.”
With a late Labor Day (Sept. 7) this year, Butch’s Best of Capac, MI shipped it first loads of pumpkins in late August. Shipments typically begin around Labor Day.
The broker/distributor/fresh cut packer has over 18 pumpkin growers in eight states and Canada growing a variety of pumpkins including regular pumpkins, heirlooms, ornamental, pie pumpkins and a painted pumpkin program, most of which run through the end of October. It also has Delicata squash which goes until December. The company also ships a number of other vegetables.
An unknown this year is how many pumpkins there are scattered across many regions due to drastic weather differences. Some areas like Indiana got 10-12 inches of rain and parts of it and Ohio got 90 mile per hour winds. It was a very perfect growing season for everyone and then it got really wet in a lot of places. By contrast some regions were dry. For example, parts of Michigan and New York were pretty dry.
Meanwhile Texas had weeks of extreme heat this summer, while those other growing regions were dealing with that excessive rain, flooding, high winds and hail. For this reason Butch’s Best has diversified its suppliers to be from eight states and Canada.
This all comes amidst an already challenging growing year following freezes in Florida and heat in the Midwest, the Northeast and California. That’s pushed numerous crops out too fast.
Storms and flash flooding across central Ohio in late August caused losses for pumpkin growers ahead of the state’s autumn picking season.
Pumpkin patches across Ohio are preparing for the picking season, which generally starts during the first half of September. Some growing areas experienced heavy rainfall, winds, flooding, and crop losses during the storms.
Sam’s Pumpkin Patch in Pickerington lost around 50 per cent of its pumpkin crop to flooding. The farm covers 20 acres (8.1 hectares) and primarily grows pumpkins and gourds. The company has contacted other growers with available supplies to avoid closing for the remainder of the season.
Other pumpkin-growing areas were less affected. Lehner’s Pumpkin Farm in Radnor received heavy rainfall, but its crop avoided wind damage.
Overall, U.S. pumpkin shipments got off to a strong start this season.
The new season Northwest pear harvest was launched July 27, a little earlier than the normal mid-August start.
Since there was no carryover inventory from the previous year, new harvest arrived with fresh momentum. The season began in Medford, Oregon and is moving north through Mid-Columbia, Oregon, and into Yakima and Wenatchee, Washington.
“Following a smaller crop in 2024 and an abundant crop in 2025, this year’s pear crop is expected to be normal in size,” says Barbara Ruhs with USA Pears.
Recently, wildfires in Washington’s Okanogan region have affected some pear-growing communities. Because the situation is still evolving, it is too soon to determine the full impact on this year’s crop.
The fruit sized up well due to a mild winter and limited frost pressure. As a result, Bartlett pears are larger in size and supply of smaller fruit is more limited this season. While sizing is larger, it is too early to know which varieties will deliver the strongest final yields. Pears rely on cold storage to develop their natural sweetness and must continue to perform well through handling, storage, and distribution.