Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Sun Pacific Marketing Cooperative Inc. of Pasadena, CA was launched in the Central San Joaquin Valley in 1969. It is looking forward to a good citrus shipping season this year.
The firm’s product line includes navel oranges, lemons, Cuties brand mandarins, Tinkled Pink cara cara oranges and Vintage Sweet heirloom navels.
Sun Pacific also has some organic citrus items, including navels and Cuties.
Organic citrus volume is up year compared to the same time last year, and is led by organic grapefruit, easy-peel mandarins and navel oranges.
Quality is reported excellent this season for most of the company’s items, although sizing for oranges and lemons will be a bit smaller than last year.
IRVINE, CA – The 2025 California avocado harvest is now projected to be in the range of 375 million pounds, which is the largest crop estimate for the locally grown fruit since 2020.
Recent extremely high winds in California slightly dampened very early season projections, but the industry is still optimistic for a particularly good season. Investment by California avocado growers who have increased planting of new trees and improved the average per acre yield is contributing to this optimism.
Fruit sizing and the actual harvest total will be influenced by natural factors, and growers are hoping for beneficial rain and sunshine to come. Meanwhile some growers started picking now in time to support Super Bowl promotions with retailers. However, peak availability of California avocados is expected to occur spring through summer this year.
About the California Avocado Commission
Created in 1978, the California Avocado Commission strives to enhance the premium positioning of California avocados through advertising, promotion and public relations, and engages in related industry activities. CAC represents about 3,000 growers in the Golden State. The California Avocado Commission serves as the official information source for the California avocado industry.
YUMA, AZ – With the impending New Moon, Natural Delights is preparing their retailers with two, five, and eleven-pound date boxes to satisfy the demand driven by Muslim shoppers preparing for Ramadan.
Based on the lunar calendar, the observance starts on February 28th this year, but stores are advised that celebrators will start acquiring dates mid-February to have a surplus for the month of festivities ahead.
Last Ramadan, average weekly Medjool date sales increased by 31% for the category, while Natural Delights average weekly sales increased by 44%, according to Circana data. The growth of the Muslim community in the U.S. has contributed to an increased visibility of Ramadan practices and traditions across the country. Additionally, with the rise of social media, more Americans are becoming aware of and acknowledging Ramadan.
“Dates are traditionally eaten as a quick energy source before sunrise during Ramadan, and they pair wonderfully with complementary foods to help sustain energy throughout the day. Coffee, for example, is a beloved morning ritual that, when combined with dates and heart-healthy nuts like almonds or walnuts, provides a boost of caffeine without the crash,” explained Amy Davis, RDN.
The Arizona/California desert growing region began a warming trend over the past week with daytime highs peaking February 3 at 85°F. Temperatures will decline through this week but will remain in the upper 70°s to low 80°s, according to a press release by Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Although the higher temperatures will aid plant growth that had stalled after three weeks of strong winds and morning freeze events, Markon inspectors still expect to see quality challenges through February. In particular, epidermal peeling is expected to increase in iceberg and lettuces such as romaine and green leaf. Other challenges for lettuce and tender leaf items include but are not limited to:
- Dehydration/wilting
- Decreased or inconsistent case weights
- Wind damage
- Epidermal blistering & peeling
- Shortened shelf-life potential
- Yellowing leaves
Markon inspectors continue to monitor desert row crops closely and are working with growers to secure the best product for Markon orders.
Green Leaf
- Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Green Leaf is available
- Quality is very good
- Yellowing outer leaves are being removed at the field level
- Harvesting crews are avoiding uneven heads
- Demand is strengthening; industry supplies vary from supplier to supplier following consecutive weeks of freezing temperatures that slowed growth
Iceberg
- MFC Premium Iceberg Lettuce is sporadic due to low weights; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted as needed
- Quality is good
- Epidermal blistering/peeling, growth cracks, and lower weights are being observed in many lots
- This week’s warmer weather will further exacerbate blister and peel quality issues
- Demand is strong; industry supplies are tighter, pushing markets higher
Romaine
- Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Romaine is available
- Quality is strong; epidermal blistering and peeling are present following consecutive lettuce ice events but reduced compared to prior seasons
- Demand is strengthening; however, supplies remain ample
The U.S. citrus crop looked promising in recent weeks with overall good quality for the 2024-25 shipping season.
Total U.S. volume of oranges was forecast at 60.3 million boxes, down slightly from 61.5 million boxes last season, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service January forecast, conducted in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Grapefruit volume was forecast at 7.4 million boxes, down from 8.5 million last year, and the lemon forecast was at 27.5 million boxes, up slightly from 27.2 million last season.
In the tangerines/mandarins category, volume for the current season was estimated to be 25.3 million boxes, up from about 24 million boxes last year.
California Citrus Mutual of Exeter, CA reports a good crop this year.
California’s early-season navel oranges were smaller than usual because hot summertime temperatures extended into October.
Growers had to size-pick to meet market demand.
CCM reports average to slightly above-average rainfall in Northern California helped improve size a bit as the season progressed, but citrus, as well as other commodities, were a little on the smaller size.
The 2024-25 California Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report from the California Department of Food and Agriculture forecast the current season’s volume in the Golden State to be 78 million 40-pound cartons, up 2% from last year.
Florida Citrus Mutual of Lakeland, FL reports shipments are progressing. despite Hurricane Milton which blew across 70% of the state’s most productive citrus acreage in October. The Florida citrus industry remains in a recovery mode.
There’s not as much fruit available because of the hurricane, but the quality is good, he said. FCM reported.
USDA expected to see 7 million 90-pound boxes of valencia oranges out of Florida this season and 5 million boxes of non-valencias.
USDA forecast about 1 million 85-pound boxes of grapefruit from Florida, with about 500,000 boxes of specialty citrus, including lemons.
Texas, where red grapefruit accounts for up to 65% of the citrus crop, continues to rebound from a hurricane in 2020, a freeze in 2021 and a series of droughts, reports Texas Citrus Mutual of Mission, TX.
The crop is about 50% of average is.
Quality, size and prices are all good this year.
USDA forecast the Texas 2024-25 grapefruit crop at 1.2 million 80-pound boxes, down from about 1.8 million last year, and estimated the orange crop to be 900,000 90-pound boxes, down from about 1.1 million last year.
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA is reporting good volumes and shipments of fresh strawberries leading up to Valentine’s Day, both on the West Coast and from Florida.
The grower/shipper’s latest forecast shows strong volumes of organic and conventionally grown strawberries in the next few weeks, which includes volumes from its Fresh From Florida-labeled product.
California Giant reports its Florida growers will have peak volumes from mid-February to mid-March. This is the second year featuring its Fresh From Florida label — an addition to the classic California Giant insignia which promotes Florida agricultural products through consumer marketing campaigns, partnerships with domestic and international retailers.
The company praised Florida growers for overcoming significant setbacks caused by Hurricane Milton, which delayed the start of the season.
California Giant expects its conventional and organic crop from Santa Maria, CA to increase week over week, barring any major weather events. California Giant reports Mexican strawberries are in peak production and will span the month of February into March. Combined, the Florida, California and Mexican production is set to provide ample volume for Valentine’s Day.
The primary U.S. winter citrus shipping areas are well underway for the 2024-25 season and here are some assessments from growers in California, Florida and Texas.
Sunkist Growers Inc. of Valencia, CA reports a strong start, with a wide range of conventional and organic orange, lemon and specialty citrus varieties.
January begins peak citrus shipping season for the cooperative with cara caras, bloods and minneolas loadings joining shipments of navel oranges, pummelos, lemons and mandarins. Volume on most items is expected to be higher than last year, though below the 10-year average.
Blood and cara cara oranges are expected to increase by 20%, and minneola volume is expected to grow from 20% to 35%.
Wonderful Citrus’ of Los Angeles notes its California mandarin season started in November and will continue through May.
The company launched its sixth season of Wonderful seedless lemons in July and now has year-round distribution nationwide. Its Texas red grapefruit program began in the fall.
The company’s overall quality and sizing of this season’s citrus crop has been good.
Feek Family Citrus of Fort Pierce, FL grows grapefruit, juice oranges and tangerines, and early hamlin oranges.
The season kicked off in early October and will continue until through July.
The company’s growing volume will be down because of Hurricane Milton in October, but packinghouse volume will stay the same, since more growers are producing fresh citrus.
Lone Star Citrus Growers of Mission, TX has begun exporting to South Korea this season.
About 90% of the company’s grapefruit crop is rio reds. The company also produces a few orange varieties, including early, Marrs, pineapple and valencia.
The company’s effort to recover from a 2021 freeze continues to be stymied by the ongoing drought and a light freeze in January 2024. This is resulting in having about 75% of a typical crop.
BEAVERTON, Ore.–Demand for trucks on the spot market rose in December, suggesting solid retail and grocery sales ahead of the holidays, said DAT Freight & Analytics, which operates the DAT One freight marketplace and DAT iQ data analytics service.
The van and refrigerated Truckload Volume Index (TVI) increased modestly compared to November:
- Van TVI: 260, up 2.4%
- Refrigerated TVI: 220, up 3%
- Flatbed TVI: 237, down 5%
Year over year, the van and reefer TVI were up 12% and 20%, respectively, and the flatbed TVI was 7% higher.
“December freight volumes were strong despite the quirks of the calendar,” said Ken Adamo, DAT Chief of Analytics, noting that Christmas fell on a Wednesday and there were only three non-holiday weeks between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. “The combination of seasonal volumes, fewer shipping days, and truckers taking time off for the holidays led to higher spot prices compared to November. Net fuel, the van rate was the highest monthly average since January 2023.”
Truckload rates shifted higher
The national average spot rates increased for all three equipment types:
- Spot van: $2.11 per mile ($1.74 net fuel), up 9 cents compared to November
- Spot reefer: $2.47 ($2.06 net fuel), up 2 cents
- Spot flatbed: $2.39 ($1.94 net fuel), up 2 cents
National average contract van and flatbed rates edged higher last month:
- Contract van rate: $2.42 per mile, up 2 cents
- Contract reefer rate: $2.74 a mile, unchanged
- Contract flatbed rate: $3.06 a mile, up 3 cents
“The difference between van and reefer spot and contract rates narrowed for the fourth straight month and was the smallest since March 2022, when spot rates entered a severe deflationary period,” Adamo said. “When the gap between spot and long-term contract rates is trending lower, it’s a signal that capacity is tightening and negotiating power is shifting toward truckload carriers.”
About the DAT Truckload Volume Index
The DAT Truckload Volume Index reflects the change in the number of loads with a pickup date during that month. A baseline of 100 equals the number of loads moved in January 2015, as recorded in DAT RateView, a truckload pricing database and analysis tool with rates paid on an average of 3 million monthly loads.
DAT benchmark spot rates are derived from invoice data for hauls of 250 miles or more with a pickup date during the month reported. Linehaul rates subtract an amount equal to an average fuel surcharge.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates both the largest truckload freight marketplace and truckload freight data analytics service in North America. Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights based on more than 400 million annual freight matches, and a database of $150 billion in annual freight market transactions.
Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000. DAT is headquartered in Beaverton, Ore. Visit dat.com for more information
During the second week of January, avocado shipments to different markets showed important variations not only in volume but also in prices, according to Avobook’s week 3 report for 2025.
In the U.S. market, shipments were 1,607, which is 76% higher than in the previous week. This is mainly due to the increase in avocado shipments from Mexico.
After doubling shipments in time for the Super Bowl, the United States accounted for 94% of this volume.
Colombia reduced its share to 4%. Prices continued to rise, with significant increases in medium and small sizes, reaching historic values for January.
In Europe, the 600 containers received represented a 17% increase over the previous week. In the second week of January, Israel led with 30% of the market, followed by Colombia and Spain with 20% each.
In China, shipments from Chile continued their decline, reflecting a weekly decrease in the volume exported. Meanwhile, Colombia experienced a 72% increase in exports, reaching 174 shipments, mainly to Europe and the United States.

Significant developments have taken place from leading exporting regions, particularly Ecuador and Peru, as the mango export market transitions into 2025. The National Mango Board’s latest crop report gives important insights into what is taking place.
Ecuador has concluded its mango season, a key component of its agricultural export industry. In contrast, Peru is actively engaged in the harvest and packing phases of its mango production.
Currently, the predominant mango variety being exported to the U.S. market is Kent, accounting for 99% of total mango shipments. Though the Kent variety dominates, there is also a limited supply of other types, including Tommy Atkins, Ataulfo, and Keitt.
This focus on the Kent variety highlights consumer preferences and the market’s responsiveness to demand.
For the week ending December 28, 2024, approximately 1,095,200 boxes of mangos were shipped:
- Ecuador contributed around 34,200 boxes, resulting in a total seasonal volume of 14,702,282 boxes.
- Peru shipped approximately 1,061,000 boxes, bringing its seasonal total to 11,153,072 boxes.
Looking ahead, projections for mango shipments from week 1 (January 4, 2025) to week 5 (February 1, 2025) indicate a significant anticipated increase of about 59% year-over-year. This growth is driven by expected arrivals from mid January though mid February.
Specifically, Ecuador’s agrarian output for 2024 is forecast to increase by approximately 127% compared to 2023, and by 7% relative to 2022. Meanwhile, Peru’s 2024 mango season is projected to rise by around 209% over 2023, though it is expected to be 16% lower than in 2022.