Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – LGS Specialty Sales a leading importer of citrus, avocados, grapes, and persimmons, shares an update on the transition from southern hemisphere fruit to Moroccan citrus.
“This year, we are thankful for an earlier start to the Moroccan season with a healthy supply of mandarins we anticipate through April,” said Luke Sears, president, and founder of LGS Specialty Sales. “LGS’ strategy to ensure consistent supply of fruit for our customers revolves around the plans we implement with importers to meet demand each year.”
The company collaborates with select growers around the world to provide its customers with high-quality, in-season fruit sourced from the finest growing regions known for having optimal climate and soil conditions. During this time of year, Moroccan fruit not only offers more variety to the U.S. market, but also offers better positioning as it relates to supply chain efficacy.
“Due to Morocco’s location, we are able to give our customers competitive import pricing that is cost effective,” said Sears. “We want the industry to know that LGS is a 365-day supplier of all things citrus and we’re here to help support year-round!”
LGS concluded the southern hemisphere season strong with Cara Caras, Grapefruit, Mandarins and Minneolas. Chilean W. Murcotts are currently holding steady with supply expected through Thanksgiving and Moroccan citrus becoming available at the beginning of November.
Press release from Markon Cooperative, Salinas, CA
Temperatures along major West Coast and Southwestern growing regions have cooled significantly since last week’s heatwave.
Areas such as the Salinas, San Joaquin, and Santa Maria Valleys, as well as Oxnard and the California/Arizona desert growing regions were all impacted. Several key commodity and value-added fruits and vegetable items such as broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and leafy greens are exhibiting heat-related quality and shelf-life issues.
Challenges that Markon inspectors are currently observing include but are not limited to:
Broccoli:
- Brown bead
- Dehydration
- Hollow core
- Insect pressure
- Pin rot
Cauliflower:
- Insect pressure
- Mold spots
Lettuce:
- Bottom rot/decay
- Dehydration
- Fringe burn
- Growth crack
- Insect pressure
- Internal burn
- Long core/seeder
- Mildew pressure
- Shortened shelf-life
- Sun scalding
Strawberries:
- Bruising
- Decreased size
- Shortened shelf-life
- Soft texture
Leafy Greens:
- Bolting/seeder
- Dehydration
- Insect pressure
- Mildew pressure
- Shortened shelf-life
- Yellowing
Markon suppliers are working to mitigate these challenges by selecting the cleanest product and culling supplies with serious defects. However, harvesting and processing crews cannot completely avoid all of these heat-related issues.
Although the heatwave has passed, we can expect to feel the effects for two more weeks, or possibly longer.
Markon inspectors are monitoring supplies closely and will update as needed. Ordering for quick turns and maintaining the cold chain is critical for maximizing the quality and shelf-life of perishable produce items.
According to the first estimate of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, the country expects to export 135,501 tons, 3.2% more than the previous year. Of the total, 80,5012 tons will be of fresh blueberries (-6.7%) and 55,000 tons of frozen blueberries (+22.2%).
“This drop of almost 7% in fresh blueberry exports is not bad news for us but reflects the varietal replacement that is taking place in the industry, which will allow us to deliver better fresh blueberries to the markets. New varieties within this season’s shipments are expected to increase by 26%, amounting to more than 16 thousand tons,” according to the committee.
The United States is the main market for about 50% of Chile’s blueberries and the main destination for it fresh fruits in general.
Shoppers around the country are finding SnapDragon apples in their local grocery stores. Crunch Time Apple Growers of Lockport, NY, a cooperative of more than 150 family growers across New York state, began harvesting this year’s crop last month.
“We’re looking forward to bringing SnapDragon apples back to an ever-growing list of retailers,” said Jessica Wells, Crunch Time Apple Growers’ executive director. “Thanks to additional acreage reaching maturity, this year’s harvest is up by 20%. We hope that means more people than ever before can experience the Monster Crunch of SnapDragon apples! We look forward to working with new retailers to bring SnapDragon apples to their customers this season!”
In addition to the increased harvest volume, many growers report that the apples’ color has developed nicely and the apples are trending larger than last season’s. An early spring led the trees to bloom and the fruit to set earlier than last year, driving an early harvest.
In the coming weeks, SnapDragon apples will arrive at a roster of retailers including both longtime sellers of the variety and newcomers. Shoppers can expect to find SnapDragon apples at stores including Aldi, BJ’s, Food Lion, The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, H-E-B, Lowes, Publix, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Sprouts, Target, Tops, Walmart, Wegmans and Whole Foods.
SunDate of Coachella, CA has had near perfect growing conditions this season helping pave the way for the company to meet the increasing demand for dates, both domestically and globally.
The packer, shipper has a year around demand for dates.
Last year’s crop faced significant challenges due to a hurricane that did a lot of damage and as the season went on, volume was off significantly.
Currently, the company is optimistic about the upcoming season as shipments just got underway recently.
Thanks to ideal growing conditions the 2025 crop, the weather has been perfect, with one of the hottest summers on record in Coachella, which is exactly what dates need, the company reports.
Gee Whiz of Orondo, WA, a leading grower of Washington apples and cherries and the only producer of the Hunnyz™ apple variety, announces that for the first season since the variety was introduced, volume is expected to extend into late spring 2025.
“We are so pleased to be able to meet more of the demand that has culminated since we first introduced Hunnyz™ in 2022,” said Brian Traum, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We have reached a production level in terms of tree maturity and consistent fruit quality that will help us extend the Hunnyz™ season well into May 2025. We are proud of this achievement and cannot wait for those first boxes to hit store shelves!”
Hunnyz™ apples are quickly gaining retail appeal due to their uniquely exceptional crunch and mouthwatering sweet tang. Several national retailers have conducted blind taste testing of leading apple varieties with internal focus groups and Hunnyz™ have repeatedly ranked #1 in flavor. This bi-color apple is a cross between CrimsonCrisp® and Honeycrisp and provides a perfectly balanced flavor that rivals all others.
“Because Gee Whiz® is the only apple producer to grow this particular variety, we are able to control the growing practices of this fruit to an exacting degree that ensures every Hunnyz™ apple tree is delivering the same sweet, crunchy eating experience with every bite”, added Traum.
In addition to the larger volume this apple season, Hunnyz™ will be available in more pack styles including tray pack, pouch bags, and Euro style bags. The first harvest of Hunnyz™ apples will ship in early October 2024 and supply is expected to carry into May 2025. For additional information, please visitwww.geewhizfruit.com.
About Gee Whiz
For nearly 100 years, Gee Whiz has been a leading grower, packer, and shipper of apples, cherries, and other tree fruit. Known for their innovative growing practices that dramatically impact the quality and flavor of their fruit, Gee Whiz has been a leader in the development of new apple varieties and planting methods. In 1972 the company planted the first commercial crop of Granny Smith Apples in Washington State. With two primary growing locations nestled along the Columbia River in central Washington state: Orondo and Vantage, Gee Whiz fruit reflects the pristine elements found in these ideal growing environments. From the orchard crew to the order fulfillment team and everyone in between, the company’s collective mission is to achieve one singular outcome… packing the very best eating experience into every single box for 100% shopper satisfaction. For more information, please visitwww.geewhizfruit.com.
Colorado potato volume this season is expected to be about 14.8 hundredweight, about the same as last year.
Potatoes are the No. 1 produce item in terms of volume and dollar value in the Rocky Mountain state and ranks at or near the top of the nation’s fresh-market spud producers, according to the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association of Eaton, CO.
The state produces more than 70 varieties of potatoes, many of which undergo evaluation at the Colorado State University research farm prior to being released for public consumption, notes the Colorado Potato Administration Committee of Monte Vista.
Growers produce russets, reds, yellows, fingerlings and other varieties.
The most popular selections are the new Reveille variety from Texas A&M University, russets, norkotahs and the purple majesty, which is purple inside and out.
Acreage is down about 2,000 acres because some growers cut back on planting. However, a lot of early rain and warm days should boost volume.
Colorado’s organic potato growers produce about 381,000 hundredweight.
Farm Fresh Direct of America of Monte Vista, CO started its late-summer crop of yellow and russet potatoes in mid August, which is normal.
It reports quality on both the golds and the russets looks very good.
The russets will be a bit larger than usual. About 15% typically weigh more than 10-ounces, but that figure will top 25% this year.
Harvesting of the company’s fall crop typically wraps up in early October.
Farm Fresh Direct of America ships conventional yellow and russet potatoes year-round, and this year it is offering organic red, gold and russet potatoes year-round with some help from sourcing partners. Overall yields should be up slightly this year.
Lenz Family Farms in Wray, CO, a 50-year-old company which grows yellow-flesh potatoes and expects to have the same volume as last year.
The company ships from August through February. The company ships primarily to customers in the southern part of the U.S.
The Peruvian Blueberry Growers & Exporters Association (Proarándanos) is forecasting a decrease in blueberry exports this coming season.
In the organization’s latest export projection update, Proarándanos forecasts that during the 2024/25 campaign, fresh blueberry shipments will reach a total volume of 293,841 tons, a 5.3% decrease compared to the June 2023 estimate of 310,317 tons.
The Peruvian blueberry season usually lasts from May 2024 to April 2025. Peak production is projected to occur in week 43, with 17,148 tons.
The main destinations for Peruvian blueberries are the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, and China. The report shows that shipments to the United States are expected to reach 147,579 tons, a 17% increase compared to the 2023/24 campaign, but a 4% decrease compared to 2022/23.
In Europe, excluding the United Kingdom, exports are expected to reach a total of 75,122 tons, a 50% growth compared to the 2023/24 campaign. In the United Kingdom, the report estimates a total of 17,328 tons, a 27% increase compared to the 2023/24 campaign, and a 22% increase compared to the 2022/23 period.
In China, shipments are projected to reach 48,397 tons, an 84% increase compared to the previous campaign and a 31% increase compared to 2022/23.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the official California Walnut Industry Objective Measurement Report on September 4, which forecasted production at 670,000 tons (607,814 MT), down 19% from 2023’s production of 824,000 tons (747,520 MT).
The forecast is based on 370,000 bearing acres, down 4% from 2023’s estimated bearing acreage of 385,000 acres.
The announcement from USDA provides the industry with an objective crop volume estimate. Using scientific methodologies, USDA field staff counted, measured, weighed, and evaluated thousands of walnuts from major growing regions in July and August for use in a statistical acreage model to establish the annual walnut crop estimate.
In addition to the updated acreage and crop estimate, the CA walnut industry is finalizing the closeout of the 2023 crop year. While final shipment and inventory figures will be released later this month, preliminary data indicates that the 2023 crop is virtually sold out.
“As anticipated, the upcoming 2024 crop is lower than the historic record crop of 2023 and will deliver the high quality that defines California walnuts globally,” said Robert Verloop, Executive Director and CEO of the California Walnut Board and Commission. “The 2024 estimated crop size, while moderate, is similar to the 2019 crop.”
California’s available Valencia supply continues to dwindle; some growers have already ended their season, and more will end over the next few weeks, according to a news release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Markon expects California to experience a supply gap on oranges in October until the Navel seasons begins in late October/early November.
California
- Markon First Crop and Markon Essentials Valencia Oranges are available
- Expect limited supplies for the next two months
- Expect to make size and grade substitutions to fill orders
- Quality is fair; early decay, soft fruit, and skin breakdown has been reported
- New crop California Navels will begin shipping in late October
- Expect elevated markets for the remainder of the Valencia season
Chile
- Oranges are being imported into both the East and West Coasts
- Expect import supplies to tighten as they continue filling the void from California
- Quality is great
- Expect rising markets as supplies tighten
Mexico
- The season will begin in early November
- The Early orange seedless variety will be available in both McAllen, Texas and Nogales, Arizona
Texas
- Oranges will begin shipping in early November
- Navels will be the predominate variety available, but Early oranges will be on the market also