Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
by California Pear Advisory Board
Sacramento, CA — With pear shipments higher than originally anticipated and ongoing harvest of multiple varieties, the California pear industry is perfectly positioned for fall.
“California Bartlett pear volume is coming in over 15 percent higher than the pre-season crop estimate,” said Chris Zanobini, executive director of the California Pear Advisory Board. “Quality and sizing have been exceptional for the fresh market and we are expecting strong availability through the fall.”
Zanobini said that as of August 21, California shippers have packed 1.6 million boxes of Bartletts and 300,000 boxes of Golden Bosc, Comice, French Butter and a number of red pear varieties.
“Bartlett harvest in the mountain districts is about halfway through and other varietal harvest is just beginning with strong availability of all varieties available now and through the fall,” said Zanobini. “Record high sugars and firm pressures are resulting in great shipping and eating pears this season.”
California pears are shipping throughout the country.
The organization has a strong social media program and is partnering with several chains to tell the story of local pear farmers like Chuck Baker, depicted in a video currently being shared with consumers and retailers as part of the Pear Advisory Board’s social marketing program.
All efforts are aimed at telling consumers the story of California pears which are sustainably raised by pear farming families who are growing pears on the same land as their great-great grandparents. This story is shared on the organization’s website various and social media channels
“September is officially Farm-to-Fork month in Sacramento – which bills itself as America’s Farm-to-Fork capital,” explained Zanobini. “With the strong volume and good quality now available, California pears are perfectly positioned for promotions throughout the months of September and October. We are pushing hard for support among California retailers whose customers demand locally-grown products when they are in season.”
California grape shipments got off to a slow start last spring for a number of reasons, but excellent volume and quality with not shipping gaps are seen through Thanksgiving.
Fruit Royale of Dinuba, CA describes the season as now being “off to the races.” There was a small overlap with Mexico, which slowed the start of the California grape shipments, plus hot weather in August slowed coloring of red and black grapes.
King Fresh Produce Inc. of Dinuba, CA, has estimated that California will ship 120 million cartons of fresh table grapes this season, 10 percent increase over the 109 million cartons shipped in 2017. This includes heavy volume with red, red, green and black grapes through Thanksgiving.
Chuck Olsen Co. of Visalia, CA, sees a crop of 110 million to 114 million cartons being shipped and is pleased with overall fruit quality and a good set.
Olsen explained that the natural shatter, which is a self-thinning process, was excellent this year producing large, loose grape bunches. “We have the makings of a very nice crop that is eating very well.”
Jasmine Vineyards Inc. of Delano, CA, also sees the San Joaquin Valley as being excellent, with uninterrupted supplies well into December. Although there was a slow start to the season, shipments picked up nicely in mid-August and peak loadings should continue into latter October.
Grapeman Farms, which markets it grapes through Stevco of Los Angeles is equally optimistic. It has reported quality as “phenomenal,” dispite a lot of hot weather in July and August, However, the growing season leading up to harvest was been perfect.
San Joaquin Valley grapes – grossing about $4100 to Dallas.
By New York Apple Sales
Storms and severe rains – that settled in over upstate and central New York in mid August caused massive flooding and damage to property, but for the apple crop, the rain was a benefit. Most growing areas were not in the path of the heaviest downpours, as much as 9 inches in certain areas, but rather received between .5 and up to 4.5 inches. Those amounts were perfect for apples.
New York Apple Sales is the largest and most geographically diverse shipper in the Eastern US. “Having orchards and shipping locations in all of the four major growing and packing regions of the state, help us provide consistent offerings for our customers,” remarked Kaari Stannard, President and Owner of NYAS. “While one area may be dryer than normal, other regions can make up the difference in size and volume.” she added.
Matt Wells, Director of Field Operations for New York Apple Sales, along with Dan Ingersoll, both report that the much-needed rain will greatly enhance the quality of this year’s crop. “The 2018 crop was in great shape prior to the recent weather patterns, a very clean crop that was developing nicely. The rain was a bonus that will help us finish off the crop, to perfection,” said Wells.
Dan Ingersoll, NYAS Field Scout remarked “I have been scouting and managing orchards for over 30 years, and the 2018 crop is one of the best I have seen. Usually we have a few varieties, that for one reason or another, will have some problems. This year, however, everything looks to be strong and clean. The crop is on schedule and growing nicely and the taste and appearance should be exceptional.”
“We are really excited about our special varieties such as SnapDragon, KORU, Premier Honeycrisp, EverCrisp and SweeTango. At this stage, they look awesome,” said John Cushing, VP of Marketing for NYAS. “We are ready to go, and anxious to kick of the sales year. We have now started shipping from the Hudson Valley, and soon the remainder of the state will start to harvest
Ginger Gold and early red summer apples are being packed. Next up will be Gala, as well as another traditional regional favorite, McIntosh, with Honeycrisp quickly following,” added Cushing.
California lemon shipments have been lighter than usual and the situation may continue into October. Meanwhile, the U.S. is awash in mangos from Mexico.
Pro*Act of Monterey, CA sees lower volume continuing until lemon shipments get underway in Yuma, AZ and Mecca, CA. F.O.B. prices have hit $57 per carton compared to $42 two years ago.
Because of lighter domestic shipments, there have been lemon imports from Chile and Mexico, but it is still not enough to make a dent in the high market.
If you are loading domestic lemons use caution. Soft rot has plagued some lots and quality has been described as only “fair” at best.
While more Chilean and Mexican lemons may be imported, Coast Citrus of San Diego has expressed concerns that due to the fruit travel by boat to the U.S. for weeks, if the product is not repacked after arrival, there may be quality problems.
Mexican Mangos
While lemon shipments are lighter than usual, handles of mangoes are trying to figure out how to deal with excessive volumes.
North American mango importers continue to buy large volume to place into an overflowing market. Splendid by Porvenir LLC of San Bruno, CA has a huge packinghouse in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, and continues to pack at full speed and will continue packing through September.
However, rains has adversely affected the quality of Los Mochis mangos, which as resulted in anthracnose to scar the fruit. Anthracnose is caused by fungi that creates diseases on many plant species.
Los Mochis began shipping mangos in late June. There was a slow start on shipping volume, but now the market can’t handle the volume.
U.S. mushroom shipments should be good for the rest of the summer and into the fall season — and perhaps beyond.
The reason is mushroom crop yields this year remain healthy and strong, but similar to many agriculture crops, there are seasonal ebbs and flows in production.
Giorgio Fresh Co. of Temple, PA has observed this year summer mushroom shipments are at a peak, with volume expected to be story through early fall. However supplies are expected to tighten during the November-December holiday period, which is normal.
Mushrooms a whole continue to grow in popularity, especially with organics, specialty varieties and brown mushrooms — including crimini/baby bella and portabella.
Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farm Inc. of Gonzales, TX is expecting strong shipments through the summer, with a tighter market going into the fall and winter months.
Although mushrooms are grown indoors, extreme weather and a lack of a steady labor pool can be serious detriments to production because production levels depend greatly on the quality of the growing medium, commonly called compost, which is produced outdoors.
At Monterey Mushrooms Inc. of Watsonville, CA, the mushroom crop outlook is excellent, in part because the company has 10 farms strategically located around the U.S. and Mexico. Monterey makes its own compost, which helps the company grow “end to end.”
Ostrom Mushroom Farms of Olympia, WA has noted production and quality problems in the Pacific Northwest during the spring because of compost and mechanical difficulties, but this has improved.
Salinas Lettuce
Salinas Valley head (iceberg) lettuce shipments have been erratic this season due erratic growing conditions.
Additionally, romaine shipments have improved from earlier this year when there was an outbreak of E. coli. More than 200 people were sickened and five people died.
Coastline Family Farms of Salinas has noted hot stretches followed by cold stretches of weather which replaced what is typically is a consistent, mild climate. It adversely affected the quality of head lettuce and weight with the product being lighter than normal. For example, a bin of lettuce in early August weight about 1,000 pounds to only about 700 pounds in mid August, a problem that still exists in late August. The shortage of head lettuce has helped improve demand for romaine lettuce since the E. coli problem has faded.
Salinas is shipping nearly 1,150 truck loads of head lettuce weekly, while around 850 truck loads of romaine are being shipped a week.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $8500 to New York City.
It appears Florida’s orange growers are finally getting a break after surviving pestilence and a deadly hurricane.
With season kicking off October 1st, the state may ship 70 million boxes of the fruit, according to the average estimate of four traders and analysts in a Bloomberg survey. That compares with 44.95 million the prior year, the smallest crop since 1945, government data show. The survey response range was 65 million to 80 million.
Florida orange shipments for the nation’s number one producing state has seen the growers leaving the business due to the the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny winged insect that spreads the bacterial disease known as citrus greening. Greening has decimated groves and increased costs for crop maintenance. A year ago, the industry was clobbered by Hurricane Irma after the storm smashed into trees in September and damaged fruit.
Improved weather conditions has helped the crop to start coming back and as more growers develop methods to fight the greening disease. Output of 70 million boxes would be the biggest since 2015, according to statistics from the USDA. The agency will issue its first estimate for the upcoming season on October 11th. The citrus is shipped in 90-pound boxes.
The Highlands County Citrus Growers Association of Sebring, FL reports many citrus trees very good with the turn around. Tree leaves are reported having good structure and growers are placing emphasis on the nutrition of trees to fight greening.
The association members account for about 13 percent of the state’s shipments, will probably have up to 9 million boxes in the upcoming season. That compares with 5.5 million boxes a year earlier.
Hunt Brothers Cooperative in Lake Wales, FL report the battle with greening has increased costs at a time when American demand for orange juice is on the decline. Growers are estimated to be spending about $2,100 per acre today, up from $700 10 to 12 years ago.
Northwest pear shipments are underway with an estimated 20.2 million 44-pound box equivalents for the new season, which is the fourth-largest crop in history.
Washington’s Wenatchee and Yakima districts in Washington and Oregon’s Mid-Columbia and Medford districts released the forecast in early August, increasing an earlier estimate of 18.9 million boxes. The
Pear Bureau Northwest reports in a news releast harvest has begun in all four growing districts, about a week earlier than the 2017-18 season, but closer to the historical start date. Harvest will continue through September.
“After last year’s very small crop, our growers are pleased to have a full crop of great quality pears to meet growing consumer demand,” Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest said in the release. “Retailers have a strong opportunity for pear category growth in the produce department this season and we are prepared to provide them with individual category analysis, consumer insights, and effective promotions to drive pear sales.”
Estimates for the leading varieties, in 44-pound box equivalents:
- Green anjou — 9.9 million (49 percent of total Northwest crop)
- Bartlett — 5.3 million (26 percent of total crop)
- Bosc — 3.2 million (16 percent of total crop)
- Red Anjou — 1 million (5 percent of total crop)
Organic estimate
Washington and Oregon growers estimate organic production this season at 2 million 44-pound boxes, which is 10 percent of the total Northwest crop. The industry’s organic forecast is for about 753,000 boxes of green anjous, 698,000 boxes of bartletts and 384,000 boxes of bosc pears.
Growth in the organic pear crop is due to newly transitioned orchards and a strong pear crop overall, according to the release.
Harvest of starkrimsons has started in most Northwest districts, and bartletts started the week of August 12th. By the end of August, comice, bosc, forelle and seckel picking will have started, followed by anjous.
The USDA released overall U.S. pear shipment estimates, putting the season’s crop at 739,200 tons, an increase of less than 1 percent from last season.
Bartlett production, at 336,400 tons, is 1 percent down from last season.
Other pear production in the Pacific Coast states is forecast at 402,800 tons, 2 percent above last year.
“Growers in Oregon and Washington reported a solid crop with excellent quality, but had concerns that significant fire blight issues could reduce current production,” the USDA said.
Washington pears, apples and stone fruit – grossing about $7300 to New York City.
Plenty of loading opportunities for apples will be available this season as another large crop is predicted for the new season just getting underway….Meanwhile Frontera Produce Ltd. is celebrating a quarter century of shipping.
Apple shipments for the U.S. 2018-19 season are estimated at 11.5 billion pounds, up less than 1 percent compared with last year.
In its August 10 apple crop report, the USDA forecast Washington state apple shipments at 7.2 billion pounds, down 4 percent from 7.5 billion pounds a year ago.
“In Washington, apple harvest is expected to be of average quality this year,” according to the USDA. “There are some concerns about the hot weather that the crop has been facing so far this year, but producers are prepared to protect the crop from sun damage and have enough water to keep the crop irrigated.”
The USDA reported some New York growers had frost damage during bloom in isolated areas of the state. New York production was rated at 1.3 billion pounds, unchanged from a year ago.
Meanwhile, the USDA said a large crop with good sizing is anticipated by growers in Michigan, with forecast production of 1.175 billion pounds, up 40 percent from 840 million pounds in 2017.
A small crop last year led to a heavy bloom this spring in most Michigan growing regions.
State apple forecasts for this season, in millions of pounds (and last year’s production):
California — 225 (260)
Michigan — 1,175 (840)
New York — 1,300 (same)
North Carolina — 100 (115)
Oregon — 175 (155)
Pennsylvania — 528 (504)
Virginia — 225 (220)
Washington — 7,500 (7,200)
West Virginia — 102 (110)
United States — 11,406 (11,452)
Fronteria Produce
Frontera Produce Ltd. of Edinburg, Texas, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year as the company continues to add more products to its lineup.
The shipper recently partnered with Continental Fresh LLC, Miami, to offer year-round supplies of mangoes and limes. The new partnership adds to Frontera’s Mexican and Peruvian grower relationships by bringing in product from Brazil and Ecuador.
“Moving into the next 25 years, Frontera will continue to advance our business by leaning on our core principle values of integrity, transparency, and excellent communication, that have taken us this far,” says Amy Gates, Vice President of Frontera Produce.
by The Washington State Tree Fruit Association
Yakima, WA –The Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA) released its forecast for the 2018 Washington apple shipments.
The 2018 forecast is for a fresh pack crop of 131 million standard 40-pound boxes of fresh apples. This is down two percent from 2017’s 134 million box crop.
Harvest has started for some early varieties.
Gala is projected to be the most numerous variety in 2018 at 24 percent of production, with Red Delicious at a projected 21.5 percent. These varieties are followed by Fuji at 13.5 percent and Granny Smith at 13 percent of total production. This year Honeycrisp is forecast to come in at 10.8 percent of the total crop and Cripps Pink at 4.5 percent.
Organic apple production continues to increase, and is forecast to be 14 percent of the total, or 18.9 million boxes.
This forecast is based on a survey of WSTFA members, and represents a best estimate of the total volume of apples that will be eventually shipped for the fresh market (excluding product sent to processor). Apple harvest typically begins in August and continues into November, and as a result this forecast is still subject to several months of variable weather which can affect the final harvest total.
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SweeTango Apple Shipments
SweeTango growers and marketing desks anticipate an abundant crop of SweeTango apples this season.
Fowler Farms of Wolcott, NY is expecting good yields for the North American crop with excellent quality, good color, and smooth finish. The company notes that organic SweeTango from Washington state is projected to reach significant volumes for the first time.
Stemilt Growers LLC of Wenatchee, WA just recently started harvest and the Midwest and East regions will start shipping in time for Labor Day arrivals.
Nielsen retail scan data indicates that SweeTango shines in the early season, as it is one of the first premium varieties to become available in the fall. During its peak season from September to November 2017, SweeTango was the best-selling club variety while also ranking among the top 10 category-wide.
Washington onion shippers have accounted in recent years for over 20 percent of the nation’s onion loads, and this season should continue that trend. As a result, the Northwest onion shipping outlook, which also includes Oregon and Idaho, is strong for the upcoming season. Acreage planted is similar this season and volume is expected to be in line with recent years.
In other words a pretty normal season for yields and size profile is seen for Idaho-eastern Oregon onions.
Washington planted onion acreage in 2017 was about 24,000 acres, down from 25,000 acres in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Total Oregon planted onion acreage in 2017 was 19,900 acres, up from 19,100 acres the previous season.
Idaho planted acreage in 2017 was 8,100 in 2017, compared with 9,400 acres in 2016.
Together Washington, Oregon and Idaho onion acreage of about 52,000 accounted for about 36% of total U.S. onion acreage in 2017.
Of the total U.S. onion shipments, the USDA reported 4.3 million cwt. was for the fresh market and 878,951 tons for processing.
Central Produce Distributing Inc. of Payette, ID has just started harvesting onion and will be shipping product from storage through the end of March. Some other shippers will get underway throughout August and in early September.
The operation expects acreage to be similar to 2017, with a few more acres of reds and yellow onion acreage remaining the same. Yellow onions account for about 80 percent of the company’s crop,
New Mexico onion shipments are finishing up about the time the Northwest gets underway.
River Point Farms LLC, Hermiston of OR reports an ideal growing season thanks to the weather. Unlike a year ago, growers in the Treasure Valley had nice spring weather and were able to get their onion crop planted on normal schedules.
Storage onions will be shipped from September through May.
Early season onion quality is expected to be very good and the storage varieties store well all season.