Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
California pomegranate shipments are expected to be off about 15 percent this season.
A freeze in California’s San Joaquin Valley earlier this year is attributed to most of the decline. In a normal year, about 6 million, 25-pound boxes are shipped. This year the estimated loadings will be around 5 million to 5.5 million boxes.
The Wonderful Co. of Los Angeles reports it will have adequate volume for customers this season despite tighter supplies and higher costs for labor, transportation and water.
Crown Jewels Produce Co. LLC of Fresno, CA began harvesting pomegranates the second week of September on the early foothills variety, followed by the wonderful variety in early October.
Trinity Fruit Sales Co. Inc. of Fresno is experiencing much heavier volume this season with its early variety of pomegranates, with lighter than usual volume with its later variety.
At DJ Forry C. of Pismo Beach, CA, the company notes fewer shipments have occurred the past three years due to an oversupply, with some growers even bulldozing trees. Declining profits have been reported whether for juice, arils (a specialized outgrowth from a seed that partly or completely covers the seed) or fresh market.
Simonian Fruit Co. of Fowler, CA began harvest the third week of September and expects to be shipping pomegranates into December, or perhaps January. The company is reporting good sizing, color and overall quality.
Although the U.S. ranks third in pomegranate production, the top two producers — China and India — sell most of their fruit domestically, leaving much of the export market to the U.S..
The U.S. exports 30 to 40 percent of its crop to Canada, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.
Lettuce cuttings have just got underway in the Huron district on the Westside of the San Joaquin Valley, while Salinas Valley lettuce shipments will continue for a few more weeks….Meanwhile, a double digit increase in navel shipments is forecast for California oranges.
In fact, Salinas lettuce is expected to continue until mid November. Mid November also is when initial lettuce shipments will get underway from the desert areas of California and Arizona, within a week of Thanksgiving (November 22nd).
The Nunes Co. of Salinas reports there has been an oversupply of lettuce and organic vegetables this past summer.
Church Bros. LLC of Salinas expects reduced lettuce shipments in late October until Huron moves into volume.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $7800 to New York City.
Navel Shipments
California navel orange shipments for the 2018-19 season are forecast to be 11 percent larger than last season, rebounding from a short crop a year ago.
The initial 2018-19 navel orange forecast from the USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture is 80 million cartons, up 11 percent from the previous year. Government survey data shows a statewide fruit set per tree of 426, well above the five-year average of 333.
Of the total navel orange forecast, 77 million cartons are estimated to be in the Central Valley, according to the forecast.
Central San Joaquin Valley citrus – grossing about $5100 to Chicago.
Import concerns
While the forecast for increase navel shipments is good news, there are some concerns about declining navel orange acres in California.
Navel orange bearing acreage in California’s Central Valley has dropped from a peak of about 135,000 acres in 2009 to just 113,000 acres for 2018-19, according to the California Citrus Mutual of Exeter, CA.
Inexpensive Southern Hemisphere imports have arrived early and stayed late, squeezing returns for California growers and contributing to a long-term decline in acreage.
While this year’s California navel crop will be higher than the short crop of a year ago, there is continuing concern about long-term acreage declines related to imports.
Hurricane Michael has dealt an estimated $230 to $300 million loss to Georgia’s fall vegetable shipments, according to preliminary estimates by University of Georgia agricultural specialists.
The University of Georgia report specifically cited:
***Fruiting vegetables such as bell peppers, at or very close to harvest, have suffered enough damage to foliage that sunburn will quickly damage the crop;
***Tomatoes, trellised cucumbers, and eggplants were all also severely damaged;
***Squash and zucchini crops saw near complete destruction in some areas while others seemed to fare better;
***and fall sweet corn, which is planted heavily in the most affected regions of southwest Georgia may be a complete loss in some counties.
The University of Georgia vegetable report points out damage to the fall vegetable industry caused by Hurricane Michael was significant for growers in southwest Georgia.
“It must be stressed that we are still evaluating fields and some of these numbers may change as we gather more information,” the report said. “Due to the widespread nature of the power outages growers may not have functioning coolers or irrigation pumps, which means that secondary losses due to inability to cool and pack harvested product or to irrigate crops in the fields may climb.”
In addition, the report notes disease pressure will increase on crops due to the rain and damage that plants may have received from the storm that occurred October 10-11.
Disaster report for growers will most likely be sought, according to the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association since very few vegetable crops in the direct path of the storm will be able to be salvaged. Few if any specialty crops have crop insurance.
The University of Georgia report estimates losses range from 30 to 100 percent of fall vegetables in the state, depending upon the location.
Damage closely followed the path of the storm, with a line stretching from Seminole and Decatur counties up through Mitchell and Grady, Colquitt, Tift and even reaching fields in the Crisp county region.
Vegetable production regions near Lowndes and Echols Counties may have some loss but are expected to have escaped the worst of the damage.
Initial California kiwifruit shipments got underway in early October and normal shipments are expected through April.
Preliminary estimates has the crop at 10.9 million, 7-pound trays for the hayward variety. For non-hayward green or gold varieties, the forecast is 1 million units.
Trinity Fruit Sales Co. Inc. of Fresno started shipping the first week in October and has described the crop as “really good.”
Greene & Hemly Inc. of Courtland notes shipping of gold varieties of kiwi has just gotten underway. The company is a grower for Sun Pacific Marketing of Pasadena. The operation is reporting no quality problems with kiwi despite the excessive daytime heat this year, describing San Joaquin Valley temperatures this season as normal. Gold kiwis are said to be more sensitive to hot temperatures or dry humidity that is common with 100-degree heat, but many operations are putting the fruit under shade structures to reduce the effects of the temperatures.
Western Fresh Marketing Services Inc. of Madera is expecting normal kiwi shipments and expressed concerns about adequate water and labor, as well as the unknown of how much kiwi will be imported from Italy. But overall the company is optimistic about this season and sees a good crop.
In upcoming seasons greater green kiwifruit shipments from California are seen because of increased acreage.
San Joaquin Valley kiwi and table grapes – grossing about $5200 to Chicago.
Rivermaid
Rivermaid Trading Co. of Lodi, CA has added two new growers to its Northwest pear program this season, which should increase it’s pear shipments by 18 percent. The company expects to market more than 1 million 44-pound carton equivalents of pears out of the Northwest this year.
Overall company pear shipments, including California, should exceed 2 million units.
Rivermaid Trading has described its California and Northwest pear season as really unique to the apple and pear industrys. What makes is so unique is the operation says it has figured out how to do it without the two areas competing with each other.
Rivermaid now has nine growers and is looking to add two more next season.
Air shipments continue to be the dominant mode of transportation for U.S. imports of Argentina blueberries, but shipments by boat increased in 2017, according to the USDA.
Even bigger volume of sea shipments is expected this year. Although initial arrivals began in September, October had 49 percent of the total volume and November had 39 percent of the volume in 2017, with the season ending in early December.
Air shipments accounted for 85 percent of all Argentina blueberry volume in 2017, down from 98 percent of volume for air in 2015.
Still, Argentina’s air shipments of blueberries are far above those of its South American competitors.
The ag department reported air shipments of Peruvian blueberries accounted for 6.3 percent of total imports in 2017. For Chile, air shipments accounted for 12 percent of U.S. imports in 2017.
Argentina blueberry exporters will be shipping more fruit to the U.S. by boat through Chile this year, which has a transit time of 17 days.
About 35 percent of Argentina blueberries will be exported to the U.S. by sea containers this year.
The 2017 Season
The USDA reports Argentina blueberry imports to the U.S. in 2017 at the Miami airport, accounted for about 64 percent of the total imports, compared with 76 percent in 2016 and 55 percent in 2015.
Boat shipments of blueberries to Philadelphia/Camden accounted for 13 percent of U.S. imports in 2017, up significantly from 3.4 percent in 2016 and 1.6 percent in 2015.
Imports of 12.1 percent of Argentina blueberry imports arrived at JFK Airport in New York in 2017, up from 7.6 percent in 2016 and 4.2 percent in 2015.
The Giumarra Cos. of Los Angeles had it’s first Argentina blueberry air arrivals during the first week of September, and will be receiving product into early December.
Giumarra also is increasing its volume of fruit the company receives in bulk and by vessel this season from Argentina.
This reasoning allows the operation to avoid fumigation for both the organic and conventional fruit. Giumarra then will pack the fruit in the U.S. in order to ensure its customers are receiving freshly packed product and in the pack type they require.
Just about everyone is in agreement there will be fewer U.S. apple shipments this season, which extends into the late summer of 2019. How many fewer, depends upon whom you ask.
The U.S. Apple Association is predicting 256.16 million, 42-pound cartons will be shipped. This is 6 percent below the USDA’s forecast, as well a 6 percent less than a year ago.
Western Apple Shipments
More specifically, the U.S. Apple Association is predicting this season’s Washington apple shipments will be at 155 million cartons, which is 10 percent below the USDA’s forecast of 171.4 million cartons. The U.S. Apple estimate for Washington is off 13 percent from 2017 shipments and 5 percent below the five-year average.
Washington growers reported that
The early harvested apple crop has fallen short of the expectations of Washington growers due to uneven bloom timing, which resulted in uneven maturity rates in orchards.
In total, Western U.S. apple shipments are estimated at 166.2 million cartons, off 9 percent from the USDA’s estimate and 12 percent below a year ago.
Midwest and Eastern Apple Shipments
The U.S. Apple Association and USDA figures pretty well match for Michigan and New York. The U.S. Apple estimates for New York is 31 million cartons, unchanged from the USDA estimate of 30.9 million cartons and the same as last year’s output.
Michigan apple shipments estimated U.S. Apple stand at 28 million cartons, unchanged from the USDA’s 27.96 million carton estimate. Michigan’s forecasted crop is 40 percent above a year ago and 8 percent higher than the five-year average.
Michigan accounts for about 90 percent of Midwest apple shipments.
BelleHarvest Fruit Sales Inc. of Belding, MI reports while this season’s forecast shows a nice rebound in volume, it falls short of the record 2016 apple shipments of 30.4 million cartons.
Fifty percent of the Michigan apple crop will consist of Fuji, Honeycrisp and gala, a number expected to increase in coming years.
The U.S. Apple estimate for the Midwest stands at 31.6 million cartons, virtually unchanged from the USDA estimate of 31.4 million cartons and up 35 percent from a year ago.
Eastern Apple Shipments
Crist Brothers Apple Orchards of Walden, NY points out various apple shipping regions in the East have similar volume to last year, which includes New England’s Vermont, which had some dry weather.
Virginia apple shipments have experienced excessive rains since last May and June, but is still expecting normal shipments.
Pennsylvania apple shipments are expected to total 12-million bushels, down 5 percent from last year.
New York apple shipments from Hudson Valley should be similar to the five-year average.
Western New York shipments are predicted to be about the same as a year ago.
The U.S. Apple estimate predicts Eastern U.S. apple shipments to total 58.4 million cartons, nearly unchanged from the USDA’s estimate of 58.7 million cartons and down only 1 percent from a year ago.
Fall vegetable shipments from Georgia are not typically as heavy as those of summer, but those in the ground were hit hard by Hurricane Michael. Just how hard will not be known for awhile.
The Category 4 hurricane hit near Mexico Beach in the Florida Panhandle and weakened to a tropical storm before sweeping across Georgia and the Carolinas. The fast moving storm moved out of Georgia on the morning of October 11th. The storm tracked across Georgia at a northeast bearing, moving from Bainbridge to Cordele and then Warner Robins, GA.
Wind was the primary cause of damage to crop with 75-mph winds taking a heavy toll. Near the path of the storm, cucumber, green bean and squash plants were broken by the wind.
Many of Georgia’s vegetable growers also grow cotton, which was devastated by the storm. Heavy damage to Georgia’s pecan crop also is expected. A good portion of Georgia’s vegetable growing areas, such as Lake Park, were south of the storm’s path.
With good growing weather, Colorado’s San Luis Valley potato industry is expecting good shipments with volume repeating that of a year ago.
The valley has around 52,000 acres of potatoes planted for this season. There has been an increase in organic potato acreage.
Farm Fresh Direct of Monte Vista, CO reports solid growing conditions this season with decent weather to produce potatoes. While the volume on conventional potato shipments is about the same, the company reports organic volume should see a slight increase. It began digging russet potatoes the week of August 27, which followed the new crop of organic reds and yellows the week of August 20th.
A similar report came from Rocky Farms of Center, CO, which described the past summer as being ideal for growing potatoes.
Rocky Farms began shipping a limited amount of spuds the week of September 3rd and began loading in larger volumes October 1st, on a similar schedule with previous years.
At Skyline Potato Co. of Center, CO, also had a normal start to the season with fields producing good quality potatoes.
While San Luis Valley potato growers most often mention water as the primary issue (could use more), there also were concerns over increasing freight rates and labor issues. Freight rates were expected to continue increasing as the holidays approach. Colorado implemented minimum wage increases that continue through 2020.
Truck shortages were cited as a common problem and no one was expecting any decline in freight rates. With a roaring economy, labor was not expected to get any better. As a result, the industry continues to look more to automation.
Idaho continues to lead the nation in potato shipments with over 40 percent of the total volume. Colorado potato shipments rank second, while Wisconsin ranks third. In fourth place is the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $3400 to Atlanta.
Some tropical fruit crops have been plagued by weather at the beginning of this year’s hurricane season in some growing regions, while the lasting effects of the 2017 hurricane season continues to be felt in Florida.
Despite these issues, adequate tropical fruit shipments should continue through the fall.
Mangoes
Entering the last several weeks of the Mexican mango shipping season, 64 million boxes had been shipped through July. A total of 83.6 million boxes is projected for the season, about 2 million more boxes than last year.
Kent and keitt are the two predominant varieties coming from the northern states of Mexico for the remainder of the season. This fall, the transition to off shore mangoes from Brazil, Ecuador and Peru occur with tommy atkins and ataulfo/honey mangoes from Brazil and Ecuador and kents from Peru.
The first shipments of Brazilian mangoes arrived in mid- to late August, followed by Ecuadoran fruit in the last half of September.
Avocados
Florida avocado production is still seeing the fallout from Hurricane Irma about a year ago.
Unity Groves Corp., of Homestead, FL ships green-skin avocados, and is facing a rebuilding years resulting from the hurricane. Volume was slashed by 50 percent when normal shipments would be about 200,000 bushels. Still, avocado shipments by the company will continue through January.
Limes
Veracruz in Mexico’s prime growing region for limes, but production has been limited due to rains.
Amazon Produce Network reports there were some harvesting issues due to weather affecting crossings from Mexico into South Texas, but this has improved.
Unity Groves Corp has noted its Florida lime shipments will be about 50 percent less this year due to Hurricane Irma a year ago.
Others
World Variety Produce of Los Angeles notes there should be normal shipments of other tropical fruits. Jackfruit got underway in the last half of September and will be available through the fall. Yellow Dragon from Ecuador is now in normal supply. Good volumes with white and red dragon fruit out of Vietnam is expected, while red flesh dragon fruits is typically more limited.
It remains to be see whether passion fruit shipments from California will be hurt by hot weather during the growing season.
Taiwan’s starfruit season was launched at the end of September.
Thomas Fresh of Calgary, Alberta sees high volumes of dragon fruit, pummelo, star fruit and cracked coconut.
HLB Specialties of Pompano Beach, FL handled its first Mexican organic formosa papayas in mid-September. Brazilian golden papaya imports improved in September. Additionally, imports of Guatemalan rambutan season will continue until mid-November, and Honduras got underway in early September with good production.
Yellow dragon fruit from Ecuador stared in early September.
Fresh cranberry packing and shipping started the week of September 17th from Central Wisconsin for the Cranberry Network LLC, which markets fruit grown by Habelman Bros. Co. of Tomah, WI. Wisconsin cranberry shipments are expected improve this season, although it will not be a bumper crop. The 2017 season was off from normal shipments.
Cranberry shipments for the fresh market got underway the week of September 24th in very light volume from bogs in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Quebec, Washington, and British Columbia by Ocean Spray and Oppy. Organics produced in Quebec will begin shipping next week.
Only about 5 percent of cranberries are harvested and shipped for the fresh market, with the remaining 95 percent of cranberry volume going to the processors. The majority of cranberries are harvested during October.
Today is the Canadian Thanksgiving and U.S. shipments have received a bump to provide for that demand. Thanksgiving in the U.S. is November 22nd and cranberry shipments will increase in the weeks leading up to that holiday.
Wisconsin continues to be the leading producer and shipper of cranberries.
While fresh cranberries are grown in Canada, Chile, Mexico, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington, Wisconsin shipped by far the most fresh cranberries of any state or country, according to the USDA.
Wisconsin accounted for 13.83 million pounds of conventional fruit in 2017, down from 14.2 million pounds in 2016.
Wisconsin shipped about 70,000 pounds of organic fruit in 2017.
- The second largest producer and shipper of fresh cranberries in 2017 was Massachusetts, which the USDA reported shipped 4.21 million pounds, up from 3.84 million pounds in 2016.
- Washington fresh cranberry shipments in 2017 were 2.2 million pounds, up from 1.87 million pounds in 2016.
- 2017 U.S. imports of Canadian cranberries, according to the USDA, were 2.67 million pounds.
- The USDA reported that Michigan fresh shipments of cranberries in 2017 totaled 340,000 pounds, down from 420,000 pounds in 2016.
- New Jersey fresh shipments in 2017 were 90,000 pounds, down from 170,000 pounds in 2016.
- Mexico and Chile shipped light volume of fresh cranberries to the U.S. in 2017.
Cranberry Overproduction
Over a year ago a group representing growers known as the Cranberry Marketing Committee sought approval from the USDA to issue a rule limiting what growers can sell in 2018-19 in an effort to prop up prices. It was recently approved by the USDA.
The rule permits growers to sell only 75 percent of their historical sales volume, with the balance of the crop donated to food banks or other charities, used as a soil amendment, used to expand under-developed foreign markets, or otherwise disposed.
“With volume regulation, returns are expected to be higher than without volume regulation,” the USDA said recently. “This increase is beneficial to all growers and handlers regardless of size, and enhances total revenues in comparison to no volume regulation.”
The USDA said establishing an allotment percentage allows the industry to help stabilize supplies. The regulation could remove a potential 2 million barrels from supply, reduce industry inventory, and increase industry returns.
The marketing order volume control regulation, issued Sept. 12, applies to cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the state of New York.