Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
By Berry People
Hollister, CA – Berry People, a year-round, full-line supplier of organic and conventional branded berries and avocados, is transitioning to its blueberry supply to the Pacific Northwest as the Mexican and California seasons wind down.
The company is offering branded blueberries from Washington State that started in late June and from British Columbia in Canada starting around July 10.
Its North American blueberry shipments will grow significantly this year and be available through the arrival of its imported fruit towards mid-September.
“Our overall blueberry supply has grown by over six-fold year-to-date, largely based on the groundwork laid in 2017-18,” says Jerald Downs, President of Berry People.
“Berry People has a substantial untapped blueberry supply base from shareholders and alliance partners, but we are being careful to expand based on our customer programs.”
Berry People’s North American blueberry volumes specifically look to be up around three-fold over last year.
“This means we have plenty of room to grow domestically as we manage our year-round distribution footprint and counter-seasonal supply balance,” Downs adds.
Late-season organics in a critical window
Berry People is excited about its new late-season Oregon and Peruvian blueberry deals as well. These supplies will give the company its desired continuity of supply for the critical window from mid-September until the end of October.
“The majority of this new production will be organic, with peak volumes in October,” says Downs. “Additionally, we expect significant growth from our existing northern Chilean supplier base, after a successful season last year. This fruit is also primarily organic.”
In addition, Berry People will begin harvest on its shareholders’ new organic blueberry planting in Jalisco, Mexico, which has been developed especially for the fall harvest window.
“As we reach critical mass in the blueberry category, we are dedicating more resources to its management to improve our overall genetic position, pack-style and packaging offering, market prediction and pricing, as well as program placement,” Downs comments.
Berry People’s Growth
Berry People is experiencing steady and strong development on multiple fronts, as it becomes as first-class supplier of organic berries to the U.S. market.
“Some developments include the refining of processes, systems and personnel in anticipation of future growth, the recent closing on a substantial cash flow line of credit, and an eminent office move to accommodate the personnel increase towards the fourth quarter,” said Downs.
He added that these developments are initiated and sustained on the basis of mutual trust in the relationships with its customer and grower partners.
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About Berry People: Berry People is a year-round, full-line shipper of organic and conventional strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and avocados, and owner of the Berry People® and Avo People brands®. Headquartered in Hollister, California, the company’s ownership and key alliance partners hold important production assets in California, Mexico, Chile and Peru.
It’s been a slow start for grape shipments this season, whether from Mexico, the Coachella Valley, or in the interest of today’s report, the Bakersfield, CA area.
However, in the Bakersfield (sometimes referred to as the Arvin District) area the heat has kicked in and expected to continue for a while with mid 90s temperatures this week, before moving into triple digits.
Depending on the shipper, table grape shipments are starting any day now, or some may not get going until the second week of July.
As of the end of April, This year’s California grape shipments were estimated at 116.2 million 19-pound boxes. Last year’s total was 115.5 million boxes. The next estimate will be released in late July.
Crown Jewel Produce Co. LLC of Fresno, CA typically starts shipping the last week of June, but is nearly 2 weeks late this year from its Bakersfield vineyards.
Anthony Vineyards of Bakersfield starts its domestic shipments every year out of Coachella, which had one of the coldest Februarys and Marches on record, pushing the desert crop back. Coachella typically finishes in early July, but this year is still shipping, although with 110 degree days now are common, and will be wrapping up soon.
Last year Anthony Vineyards got underway in Bakersfield June 23rd, but this year will be 10 days to 2 weeks later. In fact, for a short time grape loadings will be occurring both out of Coachella and Bakersfield.
Fruit Royale Inc. of Delano, CA will start grape shipments soon after the 4th of July with flames, sugraones and summer royals.
King Fresh Produce LLC of Dinuba, CA, is expecting heavy shipments of California grapes the rest of the season, which usually extends into December.
“It’s not going to be conducive to a high-priced market,” Wilson said.
“That gives some of the earlier districts a little time to clean up,” he said.
U.S. summer citrus shipments are underway, with numerous items originating from California and the Southern Hemisphere.
California valencia orange shipments have with volume expected to be similar last year.
Limoneira Co. of Santa Paula, CA expects good citrus volumes this summer, reporting great quality with lemons and lemon specialties being shipped to both retailers and foodservice busineses.
The Wonderful Co. of Los Angeles reports summer citrus is a big part of it various year-round shipments with its 5-year average growth rate being 7 percent. Much of the increase is with mandarins, at 20 percent annual growth; limes, 10 percent; and lemons, 6 percent, Shiba said.
Chile
In Southern Hemisphere, Chile in particular focuses heavily on exports to the U.S. for its summer citrus, which ranges from clementines to lemons, limes, mandarins and navels. Exports started in late April.
Global exports of Chilean citrus reached 421,858 boxes — 6,707 tons — through mid-May, up 2 pecent over the same period last season, with 96 percent of this volume shipped to the U.S.; 3.6 percent to the Far East; and the remaining .4 percent to Europe.
During the week of May 13th, Chile exported 252,413 boxes, or 4,017 tons, of citrus, consisting of 93 percent clementines and 7 percent lemons. Chilean navels got underway at the end of May, with mandarins in early June.
For the U.S. market, the Chilean citrus season was just getting underway.
Through May 17th, exports of Chilean clementines to the U.S. totaled 402,395 boxes, or 6,373 tons, up 17 percent above the same date in 2018.
The East Coast accounted for a 76 percent share (304,364 boxes, 4,819 tons) and the West Coast, the remaining 24 percent (98,031 boxes, 1,553 tons).
Lemon shipments to the U.S. also began the week of May 6th, with 4,320 boxes (74 tons) shipped to the West Coast.
The Chile anticipates similar overall volumes of citrus in comparison to last year, with total volume reaching 350,000 tons versus 358,000 in 2018.
The biggest change is with clementine volume, which is expected to decline by 8 percent to 58,000 tons; This was not unexpected since Chilean clementine shipments soared 53 percent in 2018.
In 2017, Chile shipped 40,687 tons of clementines to North America, and this year, the estimate is 58,000 tons. That’s an increase of 43 percent in just 2 years.
California onion shipments have shifted from the California desert areas and are now coming in good volume out the San Joaquin Valley.
Domestic volume most of this year has been well below normal, but loadings now appear to be back to normal as weather has been favorable for California crops.
Gills Onions LLC of Oxnard, CA finished shipments of its Brawley, CA onions in mid-May and has transitioned to the Bakersfield area, where its loadings will continue through August.
In September, the company’s storage onion shipments will move to the King City area, where the company’s onion loadings should continue until March or April.
Volume at Gills Onions should be up this season compared to a year ago due to some new packinghouse packing equipment.
Telesis Onion Co. of Five Points, CA will be shipping red, white, yellow and sweet onions until the end of August, with volume expected to be similar to last year.
Peri & Sons Farms of Yerington, NV concluded its Imperial Valley onions shipments in California in late May and has transitioned northward to the San Joaquin Valley.
The company is growing, packing and shipping mostly yellow and sweet onions in the San Joaquin Valley, but also will offer some white and red varieties from that region. When valley shipments taper off in late August, the company will transition to its Yerington headquarters. Overall volume should be similar to last year.
JBJ Distributing Inc./Veg’Land Inc, will start shipping white, yellow and red onions from its grower in Hollister, CA, after the 4th of July and continue from that location through October . The company handles organic onions exclusively.
JBJ was importing onions from Mexico during the winter and spring, and transitioned to Arvin, CA., before launching its Hollister season.
While Washington state continues to easily lead the nation in apple shipments, both Michigan and New York have been running neck and neck in recent years for second place.
During the 2018-19 season Michigan shipped apples to retailers in 32 states, up from about 28 states the previous season.
The Michigan Apple Committee in Lansing relates there has been a good increase into markets in the Northeast and the organization is hoping to expand its presence into the Southern U.S.
While the bloom on trees is a little late this year due to a cool and wet spring, warmer temperatures recently have spurred bee activity during pollination. This has observers optimistic about a full crop.
Last year, the Michigan apple shipments totaled about 24 million bushels, down from early season projections of 27 million bushels or more.
Michigan fresh apple loadings typically range from 10 million to 14 million bushels, with the balance of the crop going to processors. The 2018 crop was about 10 million to 11 million cartons fresh.
While an overall larger crop is seen, one exception could be the Honeycrisp variety, where growers are seeing a somewhat lighter crop compared with a year ago.
While early varieties will begin harvest in August, gala harvest is expected to get underway around Labor Day.
Northwest cherry shipments are off to a good start and excellent volume is expected leading up to the Fourth of July and beyond.
Around 2.5 million cartons had been picked as of June 19. Northwest cherry shipments this season are forecast to fall in the 20 million to 23 million cartons range. Cherry picking got underway around June 8th, a little later than last year.
“Our cherries ripened up a few days earlier than expected as the weather has really been favorable this spring,” said Steve Castleman, vice president for sales for CMI Orchards of Wenatchee, WA. “Lots of sunshine and warm temperatures have brought the color and sugars up and we’re looking at a superior harvest with sweet, vibrant and high-quality fruit for the duration of the season.”
Tim Welsh, a general manager for Columbia Fruit Packers (one of four grower/packer companies that owns CMI Orchards) said in the release the Washington cherry crop has seen very little wind, and that has resulted in very clean fruit.
Welsh said in the release that sizing will be mixed with a range of small to extra large at the beginning of the season.
“As the season progresses, our cherries continue to get larger and larger, and by July we should see a lot more large fruit than typical,” he said in the release. Welsh said there will be “huge” promotable volume between the end of June and the end of July.
Harvest for CMI is officially underway for the company’s very first crop of Skylar Rae cherries, according to the release.
“They are big, bright, blushing and sweet as can be,” Shane Marston, sales manager for CMI, said in the release.
CMI joined forces with Stemilt this year to grow and market Skylar Rae cherries, according to the release. The variety, originally discovered by the Toftness family in Washington, are available in a 1-pound clamshell or pouch bag, and supply is limited, according to the release.
Northwest cherries, apples and pears, grossing about $6300 to New York City.
Specialty products are now the focus of Flavor Tree Fruit Co. LLC of Hanford, CA and no one item seems bigger than its Verry Cherry plum – a high-brix fruit cross between various cherry and plum varieties.
Flavor Tree expects to begin harvesting Verry Cherries this year in about the third week of June, with shipments extending into August.
This year’s volume is projected to grow by over 100 percent compared to 2018, totaling about 500,000 boxes this year.
The Verry Cherry is described as being juicy like a plum and having the size of a small plum. On the cherry side, it is painted as sweet with a nice cherry flavor.
Flavor Tree also exports the Verry Cherry to China, which amounted to about 40,000 boxes in 2018, despite facing tariffs of 50 percent.
The company has rights to almost all Verry Cherries grown, with about 450 acres in production, mostly grown in the Hanford area.
By California Giant Berry Farms
Watsonville, CA – California Giant has been building their year-round berry shipments over the past several years in response to customer demand for increased volume of all four berry types. This year the company reports a milestone with fresh blueberries.
The company expects the summer blueberry crop to begin just in time for July holiday promotions both in retail and foodservice. Availability of fresh California Giant organic and conventional blueberries will continue throughout the summer and into the fall when the season moves to Mexico & South America. Again, the company has developed long term relationships with farming partners in those regions as well enabling a smooth transition from one region to another allowing promotions to continue.
Due to higher demand over the past 5 years, fresh California Giant blueberry volume has increased each year by anywhere from 15 to 30 percent.
However, summer volume from the Pacific Northwest in 2019 will increase by 45 percent over just last year. The conventional program will increase by 25 percent over last year, and the organic blueberry volume is expected to increase by 90 percent over 2018. The significant increase in California Giant brand blueberries is due to efforts in building grower partnerships, specifically in Oregon, allowing the company to ship most of their summer blueberries domestically reducing food miles.
California Giant is looking forward to this new program addition as the company will provide good volume of both conventional and organic blueberries now on a year-round basis.
“We have worked together at California Giant to develop long term partnerships with our blueberry farming partners and are excited to see these relationships come together to benefit both of us. We look forward to sharing details with our trading partners about our expended blueberry program and the volume we will bring to the table with both conventional and organic fruit just in time for summer,” says Markus Duran, North American Blueberry Operations Manager.
Arkansas isn’t known for its fresh produce shipments, but over the years it has had a significant volume of tomatoes for a few weeks starting in July. Some fresh items are declining while others are seeing gains in acreage.
During the past 15 years sweet potato shipments have increase, while tomato and watermelon volume is down Overall, there are mixed trends for Arkansas produce shipments including vegetables, fruits and melons.
The sweet potato gets underway about September 1st, with curing taking about 4 to 6 weeks. Shipments will then start lasting until the new crop is ready in 2020.
The USDA Census shows fresh vegetable acreage in Arkansas totaled 9,500 acres in 2017, up from 7,806 in 2012 and 8,782 in 2007.
The census notes Arkansas total sweet potato fresh market acreage was estimated at 3,492 acres in 2017, up from 2,757 acres in 2007.
Arkansas sweet potatoes grown for processing totaled 1,106 acres in 2017, up from 369 acres in 2007.
During the same period, the census exposed Arkansas fresh tomato acreage dropped from 1,101 acres in 2007 to 952 acres in 2017, a drop of 14 percent.
For example, Harrod & Hensley Tomato Co. of, Hermitage, Ark., which grows fresh tomatoes in south central Arkansas reports the state’s tomato acreage could be down 40 percent this year. A factor in the decline is more market pressure from hothouse volume in Mexico provide increased competition for field grown tomatoes.
Tomato loadings got underway about a week ago and will continue until round July 20th.
USDA statistics reveal Arkansas watermelon acreage was fairly stable the past five years, but has been sliding over the longer term. Watermelon shipments will occur from early July into the last half of August.
With 1,822 acres harvested in 2017, Arkansas watermelon acreage fell steadily from 1,880 acres in 2012, 2,059 acres in 2007, 2,267 acres in 2002 and 2,770 in 1997.
Arkansas fresh vegetable acreage in 2017, with percent change compared with 2012:
- Snap beans: 107 acres harvested in 2017, up 73 percent from 2012;
- Cantaloupes: 56 acres in 2017, down 53 percent from 2012.
- Cucumbers: 115 acres in 2017, up 15 percent from 2012;
- Lettuce: 30 acres in 2017, up 76 percent from 2012;
- Leaf lettuce: 21 acres in 2017, up 75 percent from 2012;
- Mustard greens: 68 acres in 2017, up 89 percent from 2012;
- Okra: 74 acres in 2017, up 155 percent from 2012;
- Southern peas: 260 acres in 2017, down 58 percent from 2007; and
- Pumpkins: 363 acres in 2017, down 15 percent from 2012.
Fruits and Nuts
Arkansas apple volume has declined, shipments for the state’s grapes and pecans has risen in the past 5 years.
The Ag Census show non-citrus fruit bearing acreage totaled 1,542 acres in 2017, up 8 percent from 1,429 acres in 2012 but off 33 percent from 2007.
Bearing and non-bearing acres of apples totaled 283 acres in 2017, off 4 percent from 296 in 2012 and sharply down from 1,048 acres in 1997.
Bearing and non-bearing acreage of grapes totaled 956 acres in 2017, up 4 percent from 2012 and 28 percent higher than 2007.
For peaches, the 2017 Census of Agriculture reported 669 acres in 2017, down 1 percent from 2012 and off a whopping 75 percent from 2,816 acres in 1997.
The Census of Agriculture reports pecans are expanding in Arkansas. For 2017, bearing and non-bearing acreage of pecans reached 15,736 acres, up 36 percent from 11,591 acres in 2012 and 71 percent higher than 9,185 acres in 1997.
Blackberry acreage in Arkansas was reported at 501 acres in 2017, up 4 percent from 480 acres in 2012. Blueberry acreage in 2017 totaled 356 acres in 2017; no comparisons were available for previous years.
While New Jersey produce shipments start in May with items ranging from asparagus to greens, some root vegetables, spring onions and strawberries, volume increases with a longer list of items moving into June, July, August and September, which are the peak shipping months.
Jersey has had a good growing season for fresh produce and now two of its largest volume makers, blueberries and peaches, are coming on.
Nationally, New Jersey is one of the top 10 shippers of blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, apples, spinach, squash and asparagus.
Peach Shipments
New Jersey peach shipments, which start in late June, occur primarily from July through September. The Garden State has about 80 orchards comprising about 5,000 acres with production values at about $30 million annually. Most commercial orchards are in Southern Jersey.
New Jersey is the 4th largest peach shipping state in the U.S., with about 55 orchards on 5,000 acres, producing 22,000-25,000 tons.
Sunny Valley International has been marketing peaches and blueberries since 1995, representing the Jersey Fruit Cooperative, which produces over l million cases of blueberries, yellow peaches, white peaches and nectarines a year. Peaches used to be the main crop, but\the co-op has shifted mostly to blueberries, while the peach industry is consolidating into fewer growers, but bigger growers.
Sunny Valley’s growers produce about 1.2 million boxes, or 30 million pounds, of peaches — the majority yellow peaches. Volume for peaches is expected to be about 10 percent more this year. Sunny Valley will be shipping peaches from July to mid September.
Blueberry Shipments
From June 11 to July 31, New Jersey blueberries shipments have just started from what some refer to as the “blueberry capital of the world,” Hammonton, NJ, with loadings continuing through July.
Sunny Valley’s 11 blueberry growers are reporting great growing conditions. In a normal season, the company ships about 1 million cases, or about 9 million pounds, of blueberries.
Consalo Family Farms of Vineland, NJ has announced an additional 50 acres for growing and packing capabilities from 8 million to 9.5 million pounds during the New Jersey blueberry season.
Vegetable Shipments
New Jersey sweet corn and tomato loadings start the third week of June, with volume coming on by the Fourth of July.