Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
The forecast for all Florida orange shipments in April hasn’t changed from the March outlook, at 67 million boxes; but grapefruit shipping volume has been reduced.
Growers are battling citrus greening in the groves, resulting in the smaller crop. Following the revised USDA forecast shows the total orange volume includes 33 million boxes of the non-valencia oranges (early, midseason, and navels) and 34 million boxes of valencia oranges. Florida is the top orange-producing state in the U.S., with California second, at a projected 51 million boxes for 2016-17.
The final numbers for Florida citrus won’t be known until the end of July.
For the previous 10 seasons used in the regressions, the April all-orange forecast has deviated from final production by an average of 3 percent, with five seasons above and five below, and differences ranging from 7 percent below to 5 percent above, USDA reported.
The forecast of non-valencia production was unchanged, at 33 million boxes. The survey, conducted March 29-30, showed 99 percent of the early-midseason rows were harvested. Non-valencia estimated utilization to April 1, with an allocation for non-certified fruit, was 32.9 million boxes.
The navel forecast was lowered by 50,000 boxes at 800,000 boxes, 2 percent of the non-valencia total.
The forecast of valencia production remained at 34 million boxes. Final fruit size was close to the minimum, requiring 242 pieces to fill a 90-pound box. The survey indicated final droppage at 30 percent, slightly below the maximum. A survey showed 28 percent of the valencia rows were harvested.
The forecast of all grapefruit production was lowered 800,000 boxes to 8.10 million, with changes made in both the white and red grapefruit forecasts. The white grapefruit forecast was lowered 200,000 boxes, to 1.5 million, and the red grapefruit forecast was lowered 600,000 boxes, to 6.6 million.
Estimated utilization to April 1, with an allocation for non-certified use, of white grapefruit was 1.42 million boxes and red grapefruit, 6.24 million. Florida leads the U.S. in grapefruit production, with Texas’ projected 4.7 million boxes second.
The forecast of early tangerine varieties — fallglo and sunburst — was finalized, at 600,000 boxes with 225,000 boxes of fallglo and 375,000 boxes of sunburst. Harvest is complete for these varieties this season. The royal tangerine forecast was raised 20,000 boxes to 240,000. The later-maturing honey tangerine forecast was raised 130,000 boxes, to 520,000. California’s projected 22 million boxes of tangerines and tangelos leads the U.S., with Florida second, at 1.64 million.
The tangelo portion of the all tangerine forecast remained at 280,000 boxes. Estimated utilization to April 1 is 277,000 boxes, which included an allocation for non-certified fruit.
Florida spring vegetable shipments appear to be building, and they should be, considering it’s mid-April. With the increasing volume, demand for trucks is picking up, resulting in some modest rate increases.
Now through May should be the best time for obtaining loads out of the Sunshine state. For the immediate future most loads are available out of the Central and Southern portions of the state. Northern Florida has a few blueberries available, but it’s early in the season and volume is increasing. Still, Northern Florida is going to be pretty scarce overall for produce loads until the seasonal migration of watermelons and a few other items start there, which is several weeks away.
South and central Florida mature green tomatoes, along with much smaller volumes of roma (plum), grape and cherry tomatoes are averaging around 950 truck loads per week. However, the single biggest volume item right now is sweet corn, with around 785 truck loads per week. There is still good volume with potatoes (mostly red and other colors) with about 385 truck loads per week.
After this, you’ll find good volume with items ranging from green beans, to cucumbers and bell peppers, each averaging roughly 225 truck loads a week. Aside from the aforementioned items, there’s much lesser volume with such vegetables as eggplant, escarole-endive, radish, spinach, etc.
South Florida watermelons have recently started, but this week accounted for less than 200 truck loads. However, volume will be quickly increasing prior to the harvest gradually moving to central and northern Florida, before migrating up the East Coast. In fact, after the Florida heat ends vegetable shipments, probably sometime in June, watermelons will easily have the biggest volume in Florida.
Currently Florida is the number one destination for volume loads (but that don’t mean you will avoid multiple pick ups). Enjoy it while you can, because it may be “slim pickins” down the road apiece with Georgia vegetables and especially blueberries, that got hit by a March freeze.
South Florida vegetables – grossing about $2400 to Cincinnati; $3000-plus to Brooklyn, NY.
Imported Chilean grapes enter their traditional seasonal decline this month. Entering April, red grapes and green Thompson grapes were dominating Chilean shipments to the United States, although many black grapes seemed to have better quality. Meanwhile, come this fall a big diesel tax increase is coming from California.
California’s Coachella Valley red grapes should get underway about May 10th, two weeks later than a year ago. Imported Mexican grapes typically start several days before Coachella, but Mexico also is behind last year and is not expected to have any shipments until the first week of May.
High prices on Chilean grapes due to light supplies may encourage some growers to “clean up their vineyards” and put everything in the box that they can get their hands on. In other words, if you’re planning to haul late season imported Chilean grapes, use caution when loading and make sure your receiver knows what kind of quality is being put in the truck.
Onion Shipments
Vidalia onions shippers have been loading trucks for weeks, but under Georgia regulations they cannot legally pack and ship those onions as Vidalia onions. This is an attempt to protect the Vidalia name as a sweet onion and early shipments have bigger chances of having onions with high pungency levels – in other words – hot onions. That changed today because April 12th is the official start of the Vidalia sweet onion shipping season……Meanwhile, Texas sweet onions apparently are having some quality issues due to rain. An already short crop is expected to end shipments early, probably by the end of April.
California Passes Fuel Tax Hike
California just gave truckers another reason not to truck there. The California legislature passed a bill last week increasing the excise tax on diesel fuel by 20 cents per gallon to help fund a $52 billion infrastructure plan. Gov. Jerry Brown s expected to sign it into law this week. which becomes effective November 1st.
The increase in the tax rate will bring the state’s excise tax on diesel fuel from 16 cents to 36 cents per gallon over 10 years. It also increases the state sales tax on diesel from 9 percent to 13 percent. The state’s gasoline tax will also increase from 28 cents to 40 cents per gallon during the same time period…..Several other state also are considering increase taxes on fuel.
Northwest cherry shipments should kick off in early June, with peak loading taking place in July, although there should be significant supply in August. This means a more traditional shipping season.An official forecast has yet to be issued but a quality full crop of about 20 million boxes is expected by some observers. In 2016 NW cherry shipments totaled 21 million boxes, and a record volume of 23 million boxes were loaded in 2014.
The Northwest had one of the coldest winters in nearly a quarter of a century and this will lead to a later start to the season than a year ago. Cherry picking should start the first week of June, compared with a May 15 start date in 2016. The 2016 season was the earliest ever for Northwest cherries.
The 2017 shipping season should have peak cherry shipments during July, although good volume of fruit is expected in August. The past two season there has been about 200,000 to 500,000 boxes shipped in August. This season around 2 million or more boxes should be shipped in August.
By comparison, California cherry shipments should be around 7 million to 8 million boxes (see last week’s report), meaning little overlap with Northwest cherry shipments.
Most Northwest cherries originate out of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana. However, 95 percent of the production comes from Washington and Oregon.
The later start date means there will be more fruit in July this season, along with good volumes in August. While there will a good amount of fruit available for the Fourth of July holidays, volumes would undoubtedly be lower than last year due to the later season. Last year there were 12 million boxes shipped in June, but this year there will probably be 7 or 8 million boxes shipped during June.
About 30 percent of the NW cherry crop will be exported this season, with a majority of the fruit destined for Canada.
Apricot Shipments
Good, fairly normal apricot shipments are expected this season, getting underway around the third week of June out of Washington.
Washington apples and pears – grossing about $4000 to Dallas.
Here’s a shipping forecast for California cherries, and an update on California avocado shipments. At the same, you won’t believe the whopping diesel fuel tax increase being produced in that state.
California cherry shipments are predicted to get an early start this season with initial loadings getting underway the last week of April. The season should run through June. Peak shipments are expected to occur the second, third and last week of May. Assuming favorable weather holds, there should be strong volume leading up to Mother’s Day (May 14th) and Memorial Day (May 29th). While good quality and volume are being forecast, no firm estimates have been released. While California has the nation’s first domestic cherries each year, its total shipments are relatively small compared to Northwest cherry volume, which we’ll report on next week.
Avocado Shipments
Imported shipments of Mexican avocados have declined for the first time in possibly 10 years as the season comes to an end. Mexico shipped 2 billion pounds of avocados to the U.S. in 2016 and is projected to send 1.7 billion by the end of its season in June. Volume from Mexico has been increasing 12 to 15 percent a year while avocado consumption has been following a similar increase.
Now, the California avocado shipping season is well underway. However, projected volume from the West Coast is only at about 200 million pounds — about half of the 2016 volume. One of the biggest shipping season for avocados lies just ahead as Cinco de Mayo falls on a Friday, May 5.
California Fuel Tax
Asking state lawmakers for a more efficient plan, Western Growers is opposing California’s proposed transportation infrastructure funding package.
The funding package (Senate Bill 1) was announced in late March by California Gov. Jerry Brown, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, according to a news release.
“The staggering regulatory burdens and costs placed on California farmers have already placed our industry at a competitive disadvantage relative to other states and foreign countries,” Western Growers president and CEO Tom Nassif said in a news release. “These proposed fuel tax increases, including a 500% increase in the diesel sales tax, will disproportionately hit agriculture and communities dependent on our California farm economy.”
California’s current diesel fuel tax is 33 cents per gallon.
While the Salinas Valley to the north and Ventura County to the south often get more attention when it comes to produce shipments, the Santa Maria area also has significant volume. But like Salinas, Santa Maria is having shipping issues.
By late March, the incessant rain that pounded the Santa Maria region and most of California this winter seemed to be subsiding, but the effects of the storms will be felt for some time.
In similar fashion to the Salinas Valley, there are going to be shipping gaps this year. The gaps in availability of certain vegetables will continue until the middle of May.
Around 40 different vegetable items, Similar to Salinas, are grown in Santa Maria including organic and conventional iceberg lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, leaf lettuce, spinach, cilantro, parsley, kale, green onions and Brussels sprouts.
Quality problems have hit cauliflower and broccoli due to excessive rains. While drier weather has occurred recently, you should still use caution when loading looking for possible quality issues.
Santa Maria actually stretches about 40 miles from Lompoc in the south to Oceano in the north. Most of the Santa Maria district is located in northern Santa Barbara County with the city and valley of Santa Maria being its epicenter. The most northern reaches of the district is found in San Luis Obispo County. The city of Santa Maria is found about 170 miles north of Los Angeles and 270 miles south of San Francisco. Much closer is Santa Barbara — 60 miles to the south — and San Luis Obispo — 30 miles to the north. The Pacific Ocean is about 15 miles west of Santa Maria. Several major grower-shippers are located in Guadalupe, which also is located between the Pacific Ocean and Santa Maria.
Santa Barbara County’s top 10 crops are strawberries, broccoli, wine grapes, cut flowers, nursery products, head lettuce, cauliflower, raspberries, avocados and celery. In 2015, each of these crops accounted for more than $43 million in sales led by strawberries at $438 million, which far outpaces the second place finisher, which is broccoli at $164 million. Santa Maria Valley strawberry acreage has seen a big increase in the past decade.
Vegetable shipments remain an important part of agriculture representing over 30 percent of revenues at about $540 million in 2015. Staple vegetable crops, including broccoli and lettuce, are the mainstays, but the Santa Maria area growers produce virtually every vegetable shipped from specialty baby vegetables to kale to Swiss chard to brussels sprouts.
Santa Maria, Ventura County and Salinas vegetables – all grossing about $4800 to Atlanta.
Here are shipping updates on Mexican and South Texas sweet onion shipments. We also update Western vegetable shipments transitioning from the desert areas to up north in Salinas Valley. Finally, it appears Florida blueberry shipments will be good despite a killing Southeastern freeze.
It is the tail end of Mexican sweet onion shipments out of Mexico crossing the border in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Still about 400 truck loads should cross the border next week, and perhaps the week after that. Meanwhile, South Texas sweet onion shipments have been underway for several weeks and will continue for a few more weeks.
By contrast, in New York, steady loadings of storage onions are occurring from Orange County, but volume is less than 150 truck loads a week .
Onions from the California desert get underway from El Centro around April 18 -20.
New Mexico onion loadings from the southern part of the state will start at the end of May or early June.
The nation’s biggest volume shipments of onions are from storages out of the Idaho, Eastern Oregon area, amounting to about 875 truck loads per week.
Idaho, Malheur County, Oregon onions – grossing about $3000 to Chicago.
Mexican tropical fruits and vegetables – grossing about $3000 to Chicago.
Salinas Vegetable Shipments
The transition from the deserts of California and Yuma, AZ are starting, but this is going to require some patience on the part of produce truckers. With the desert areas wrapping up shipments early and Salinas vegetables getting a late start, this simply means SHIPPING GAPS!
Florida Blueberry Shipments
A freeze that swept through an estimated three-quarters of Georgia’s $400 million blueberry crop around St. Patrick’s Day could turn into an Easter boon for Florida blueberry shippers.
Florida skirted the most damaging parts of the cold wave that enveloped the Southeast and wrecked much of Georgia’s blueberry crop, with temperatures reported in the low 20s.
However, Florida dodged the bullet, with only minimal damage in Gainesville and north/ Blueberries grown south of I-4 are fine.
At Wish Farms in Hawthorne, FL, located east of Gainesville, temperatures dropped to as low as 28 degrees F., but it emerged relatively unscathed.
Florida’s peak shipments for blueberries are during April and May. How much? Good question. Whether the Florida blueberry industry is embarrassed with their production compared to larger producing states, or they are just secretive isn’t clear. You just don’t see volume statistics readily available.
Here’s an overview on the soaring volume of imported mangoes, plus a shipping update on California strawberries leading up to Easter.
Since 2005, imported mango shipments have increased over 75 percent, from 62 million boxes in 2005 to 109 million boxes in 2016. Once considered an exotic fruit, mangoes are becoming more mainstream now than ever, and visibility continues to increase yearly as more consumers demand them.
Imports of the tommy atkins mango variety and now crossing the border into South Texas (about 250 truck loads a week) through Nogales, AZ. Crossings at both areas are increasing as the Mexican mango season ramps up.
Peruvian mango imports have been in a surplus this year, with 50 percent more of the tropical fruit than the previous season, which is coming to a close. Besides Mexico, imported fruit has recently started from Guatemala and will get underway from Haiti in April.
Mexican tropical fruit and vegetables crossing the border in South Texas – grossing about $4800 to Boston.
California Strawberry Shipments
If California’s “monsoon” season is finally behind it there is a lot of hope there will be heavy strawberry shipments in the weeks and months ahead. California strawberry loadings are behind in shipments compared to two years ago, when the season kicked off extremely early for lack of rain.
California strawberry shipments had totaled 5.2 million trays at the by the end of the week of March 11th, down a little from the 6.7 million shipped the same time a year earlier. However, this was far less than the 12.9 million trays shipped by that time in 2015.
Strawberry shipments set records in 2016, harvesting 196.4 million trays. Volume for the previous year, despite the early start, was 189.9 million trays. Total California strawberry shipments this should be similar to 2016. The state has 36,141 acres this year compared to 36,039 acres last year, while yields continue to increase significantly.
California ships over 87 percent of the strawberries in the U.S.
Ventura County now is gearing up for peak season strawberry shipments. The Santa Maria got underway in late February and volume has been increasing during March. The Salinas/Watsonville area is just now getting underway. Peak shipments are expected in time for deliveries leading up to Easter — April 16.
Light volume with Santa Maria strawberries, cauliflower and broccoli shipments – grossing about $5800 to New York City
by Doug Ohlemeier, PerishableNews.com
Growers are assessing damage from a mid-March freeze which could prevent South Carolina growers from commercially packing peaches this summer. During the overnight hours of March 15, temperatures sunk to 20 degrees and destroyed as much as 90 percent of the state’s peach crop.
Titan Farms, headquartered in Ridge Spring, SC, doesn’t plan to run its commercial packing line. Up to 90 percent of its peaches were damaged. Daryl Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing, reports the grower-shipper may have lost all its crop.
Because of a mild winter, a majority of Titan Farms’ varieties and groves were already in bloom. The buds couldn’t handle the record low temperatures. Before the freeze, Titan Farms was optimistic it would experience a favorable crop and begin packing by May 1, about three weeks earlier than normal, says Johnson.
“What is ironic is if the freezes hadn’t happened for both Georgia and South Carolina, we would probably have had South Carolina peaches in the marketplace before Georgia,” explains Johnson. “Our main goal is to assess the situation, work with our employees and go into a more conservative mode. We are taking care of our people and letting every one of our partners know what happened, because they have to adjust accordingly to what they need to do without our peaches.”
Johnson says he’s hearing Georgia growers lost up to half of their peaches. Georgia typically begins harvesting in mid-May and finishes by late August while South Carolina, which is the largest East Coast fresh producing state, generally begins in late May and early June and harvests through early September.
Martin Eubanks, assistant commissioner of agriculture for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture in Columbia, says he’s hearing about similar losses and estimates damage at 85 percent -95 percent. The freeze destroyed the front end of the crop as well as the later season varieties. The drop in the thermometer was among the lowest the state has seen this time of year in history. “At this point in time, it is still to be determined if we will have a packinghouse that opens and actually runs a commercial peach this season,” says Eubanks. “We will have peaches in July and August, but there will not be an overabundance.”
Eubanks estimates growers should take three to four weeks before they know how much fruit they can ship. Titan Farms, which normally ships 2.2 million 25-pound cartons a year, plans to sell field-run fruit locally, says Johnson. The company markets itself as the second largest U.S. peach grower-shipper.
More details are becoming available on that mid March hard freeze that hit crops from North Carolina to Southern Georgia. Spring produce shipments from the Southeast will definitely be affected.
Georgia Blueberry Shipments
That March 15-17 freeze could reduce Georgia blueberry shipments by as much as 75 percent this spring, costing the industry $400 million. At best, there is hope “only” 60 percent of the crop was lost, but it could easily be higher in the south-central areas of Georgia, which is heart of blueberry production.
In this area, covering about 50 miles, 60 to 70 percent of Georgia’s blueberry crop is located. Some farmers have lost 100% of their early production rabbiteye crop. Temperatures in the area dropped to as low as 21 degrees for three nights in a row in mid-March.
Georgia Peach Shipments
Georgia peach orchards, primarily located in the Ft. Valley area, may have faired better than blueberries. Shipments may be reduced by “only” 40 to 50 percent. The lack of chill hours in middle Georgia had delayed the budding process. Now those buds are emerging, but growers now have to take a wait and see approach. Because the peaches were so late, it may have protected the crop.
Still, later on, there’s what is called the “May drop,” where any damaged peaches could start falling from trees.
Vidalia Onion Shipments
Escaping freeze damage was the Vidalia sweet onion crop. Shippers are still making normal plans for the official April 12 opening shipping date. It is described as one of the best crops in years.
Georgia Vegetable Shipments
Freeze damage to Georgia vegetables is all over the board. Bell peppers and other summer vegetables will be lost, while others veggie are expected to be slowed, but not fatally harmed by the weather. It will be awhile before accurate information is available…..As for Georgia watermelon shipments, there is believed to be some losses, but it should be relatively minor.
North Carolina Fruit Shipments
There is widespread damage to peaches and blueberry crops, but little specific information is available at this time.
South Carolina Produce Shipments
We’ll have a report on Monday, March 27th regarding South Carolina, which actually ships more peaches than Georgia or North Carolina in a normal season.