Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
by California Giant Berry Farms
Watsonville, CA – With increased acreage and somewhat favorable weather conditions for berries this winter, California Giant Berry Farms is excited about the 2017 berry season.
Field personnel attending the annual California Giant sales meeting in December shared positive news about berry acreage statistics citing consistent increases for all berry types in 2017 as well as new varieties on tap. For the first time in several years, the company has increased acreage in Oxnard due to positive test plot results and now sufficient availability of two new short day varieties. For many years they have been making due with day neutral varieties better suited for northern districts, but this year the company is excited about the Petaluma and Fronteras varieties bringing new life to their Oxnard program.
California Giant has similar increases in acreage in other growing regions within the state and in Mexico on strawberries as well as increases overall in blueberry volume for the year, year-round blackberries and an emerging raspberry program for the fall of 2017.
In addition to acreage, the company is also very optimistic about the more normal winter weather pattern in California this year providing rainfall, good chill and excellent plant health for the spring and summer harvest season on strawberries.
This marks the second year in a row that rain has returned to the state and snow pack is almost at a normal range.
The rainfall in California does provide challenges on forecasting volume during the first quarter especially as trading partners gear up for Valentine’s Day and build demand for stem berries. The sales team California Giant is already responding to requests and is optimistic about availability since they are sourcing product from California, Florida and Mexico.
January will continue to see weather events in each growing region but California Giant trading Partners can expect to receive regular updates from the California Giant team through their bi-weekly e-news called ‘The Buzz’. It is easy to subscribe through the website or by contacting sales team members at California Giant. This year-round electronic newsletter contains up to the minute crop information, field photos, weather updates and marketing programs in place to help build sales and consumer loyalty.
(Editor’s Note: Oxnard (Ventura County) currently is shipping very limited strawberry volume. Heaviest strawberry shipments are currently from the Plant City, FL area and to a lesser degree from Mexico. Florida strawberries – grossing about $2800 to Chicago.
Good apple loading opportunities for produce truckers should remain throughout the season which normally continues into August. This will be particularly true for Washington state, the nation’s leading apple shipper.
There are significant differences in U.S. apple shipments by region, but fresh market apples remaining in storages stood at 120.3 million bushels on December 1st. This is an increase of 13 percent over a year earlier and 12 percent more than the five-year average of 107.5 million bushels.
New York state easily leads apple shipments in the Northeast and was particularly hit hard by cold weather at blossom time. Plus a persistent drought during the growing season didn’t help New York or other Northeastern apple shippers.
New York apples in storage as of last November 1st were down 28 percent from the same date a year earlier.
Also of interest is Michigan apple shipments now rank number 2 in the nation, having surpassed New York. Michigan apples in storages were 17 percent higher last November than the previous season, thanks primarily to good growing conditions.
Apples remaining in storage in the Western states, led by Washington, were 17 percent higher on November 1st than a year earlier.
Nationally, the total number of apples in storage was 179 million bushels, 11 percent more than the previous year total of 161 million bushels.
Apples are big business. The fruit had totaled $2.9 billion in total sales as of October 29th, or 7.3 percent more than the same period in 2015.
Gala was the dominant variety, with $670.5 million in sales, followed by Honeycrisp, $541.5 million; fuji, $386.6 million; granny smith, $330.9 million; red delicious, $311.3 million; Pink Lady, $157.5 million; golden delicious, $129.2 million; mcintosh, $80.5 million; and Ambrosia, $60.9 million.
Apple growers in Michigan harvested an estimated 31 million bushels in 2016, compared to New York’s total of an estimated 28 million bushels.
Washington had its second-largest apple crop in history — 137.4 million bushels as of November. The record is the 2014 crop of 142 million bushels. There are 7 million more cartons of red delicious and 5 million more of galas remaining in Washington storages, compared to 2015.
Apple shipments from Eastern growing areas hasn’t been as fortunate. There was a record cold snap in mid-April in Pennsylvania and other states, which may have reduced the New York and Pennsylvania crops by up to a third.
Yakima Valley (WA) apples and pears – grossing about $6400 to New York City.
Western Michigan apples – grossing about $3100 to Dallas.
Not only has The Port of Savannah recently 
received its first-ever shipment of table grapes, it was the port’s first fresh produce, coordinated by Alpharetta, Ga.-based AGRO Merchants Group, which operates cold storage facilities in the U.S., Europe and Latin America.
While this first time happening may be modest, it could very well mean increased loading opportunities for truckers hauling fresh fruits and vegetables out of the Southeastern U.S.
Fresh Peruvian table grapes were shipped by Divine Flavor, a grower-owned distribution partner of the Mexican company Grupo Alta, according to a news release.
Nordic Cold Storage, a member of AGRO Merchants Group, managed the local handling and logistics of the shipment.
AGRO said it was the first shipment of fresh produce imported through the port and stored in a chilled facility in Savannah.
“We are very excited to work with the AGRO Merchants team on our Peruvian grape program in Savannah,” Divine Flavor’s chief operating officer, Jose Antonio Martinez, said in the release. “Their superb customer service has been evident since day one and their reputation as an expert third-party service provider in the perishable industry is well-founded.”
The Peruvian grapes will be delivered to retailers in the Southeast and Midwest, according to the release, and the proximity of the Port of Savannah to Divine Flavor’s customers will save up to five days in delivery.
In response to the rising market demand for fresh produce to be handled through the growing Savannah seaport, AGRO converted part of the nearly 400,000-square-foot Nordic frozen facility into chilled refrigerated space, an interim solution while the company completes construction of a new facility in the Port of Savannah, according to the release.
The Port of Savannah is only 250 miles from the major distribution hub in the Southeast – Atlanta – and also provides easy access to markets throughout the Southeastern United States.
California’s Ventura County’s crop value grew by 2.87 percent in 2015 over 2014, despite increasing water, pest and labor issues. The 2015 Crop and Livestock Report released by the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office shows Ventura County has an estimated 2,150 farms, with a crop value that ranks 11th among all U.S. counties.
Ventura County has approximately 95,802 acres of irrigated cropland with a total acreage of 293,549 (197,747 is rangeland), according to the report.
In 2015, Ventura County crops generated $2.199 billion in gross revenue, up from $2.137 billion a year earlier.
The county’s top three crops remained strawberries, lemons and raspberries, respectively, again this year, but each of the big three saw at least a $10 million decrease from the 2014 report:
- Strawberries, the county’s top crop by far, had an estimated value of $617.8 million in 2015 ($10 million less than in 2014).
- Lemons, Ventura County’s most valuable crop from the 1930s to 1990s, dipped to $259.5 million last year ($10 million less than in 2014).
- Raspberries dropped to $228.2 million in 2015 ($12 million less than in 2014).
Despite the value decreases, growth in other crops helped county crop values increase as a whole. Growth was seen in nursery stock, cut flowers, celery, avocados, peppers, tomatoes and kale in 2015.
Avocados experienced the largest increase in 2015, growing 32 percent from the previous year and grossing nearly $189 million.
Ventura County, like many ag regions in California, was in an “extreme” or “exceptional” area of the U.S. Drought Monitor for much of 2015 and received about half its average rainfall during the 2015-16 water year. Along with the water issues, the cost and availability of labor remains a constant issue for Central Coast growers.
Ventura County agricultural commissioner Henry Gonzales said the region’s dedication to science, technology, engineering and mathematics has helped Ventura County growers overcome those challenges.
“In Ventura County we have some of the most expensive row-crop land in the state with a scarcity of water and a regulatory structure second to none,” Gonzales noted in the report. “Farmers in Ventura County use (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) on a daily basis in order to continue to produce at the levels essential to stay in business. As the world’s population approaches 8 billion, farmers will need to continue innovating using agriculture.
| 1. Strawberries | $617,832,000 |
| 2. Lemons | $259,539,000 |
| 3. Raspberries | $228,217,000 |
| 4. Nursery Stock | $195,817,000 |
| 5. Celery | $194,756,000 |
| 6. Avocados | $188,818,000 |
| 7. Peppers | $54,163,000 |
| 8. Tomatoes | $50,474,000 |
| 9. Cut Flowers | $48,522,000 |
| 10. Kale | $38,088,000 |
As California grape shipments wind down there’s still a lot more fruit to be hauled than at this time a year ago.
California table grape remaining to be shipped is about 79 percent more than at this same period last year, according to the USDA.
There were about 2.43 million packages of the California grapes in cold storage as of December 15th. This compares to 1.36 million on the same date in 2015. The current amount is about 30 percent lower than the 3.44 million total packages in 2014.
The autumn royal variety totaled 255,255 packages in storage in mid-December, compared to 59,867 a year earlier — an increase of about 326 percent — although the current total was down by about 4.7 percent from the 267,867 of two years ago.
Crimson seedless packages in storage totaled 1.02 million packages, an increase of about 95 percent over the 524,336 in 2015, but a 38 percent less from the 1.66 million 2014.
There were 669,470 packages of other red seedless varieties in storage, about a 287 percent increase over the 173,000 in 2015 and a 121 percent increase over the 303,000 packages in 2014.
By contrast, the inventory of autumn king trailed totals from 2015 and 2014 — this year’s 154,341 packages are down 47 percent from a year ago and down 60 percent from 2014.
Flame seedless grapes in storage totaled 1,985 packages this year, compared to 4,505 last year and 18,701 in 2014. That marked a 56 percent decline from 2015 and 89 percent from two years earlier.
While grape supplies are now low, current volume and shipments are similar to where they have been the last couple of years.
There also have been some reports of discoloration, especially with red grapes and storage quality has not been as good. So extra caution is recommended by drivers when loading product.
Imports of grapes from Peru are underway in light, but increasing volume and Chilean grapes will soon be arriving at East Coast ports and soon to be followed by arrivals on the West Coast.
San Joaquin Valley grapes – grossing about $3800 to Dallas.
The outlook for California citrus shipments continues to be good despite recent freezes. Meanwhile, pomegranate shipments have ended with limited exceptions.
California’s Central San Joaquin Valley had temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s a couple of weeks ago, but this is ideal for most citrus varieties for this point in the season. Navel oranges and lemons are generally more cold tolerant than mandarin, or easy-peel, varieties such as Clementines, Murcotts, and Tangos, but with frost protection by wind machines the weekend temperatures proved favorable for all varieties. The cold weather will actually cause the maturation process of the fruit to slow, allowing for the fruit to store longer on the tree and maintain its flavor, external quality and color.
Much of the Central Valley’s mandarin crop is concentrated in Kern County, where temperatures hovered around 31 degrees the night of Dec. 18, which with the aid of wind machines is an ideal temperature point. Similarly, in Tulare and Fresno Counties temperatures were well within preferable ranges.
Navel oranges, by contrast, can withstand cooler temperatures for longer durations. Wind machines were used on roughly one-third of the Central Valley navel crop — covering 44,000 acres — for an average of five hours on Saturday and Sunday nights.
California citrus – grossing about $5800 to New York City.
Pomegranates
California pomegranate shipments this season are nearly over and, sooner than most had initially expected. Simonian Fruit of Fowler, CA had just a few hundred boxes left Dec. 19th and were expected to be finished shipping by Christmas.
Heavy rains in late October took a toll on unharvested pomegranates significantly reducing volume. Pom Wonderful of Los Angeles experienced a decrease in volume of about 40 percent due to the weather. The company, which started shipping in mid-October completed its season earlier in December, with the exception of its arils variety, that will continue through January. Another exception is Trinity of Fresno, CA, which is shipping the arils variety through February. Trinity, as well as King Fresh of Dinuba, CA and are both down about 35 percent.
Two-thirds of the nation’s potatoes have yet to be shipped for the 2016-17 season. Meanwhile, Argentina lemons will be permitted to enter the U.S., with first arrivals next spring.
About 34 percent of the U.S. potato crop has been shipped thus far this season as of December 1st. The 13 major potato shipping states had 269 million cwt. of potatoes in storage at the beginning of the month, up 2 percent from a year ago.
The nation’s largest potato shipper, Idaho, had 72 percent of its fall crop — 100 million cwt. — remaining in storage on December 1st. Washington state, which is a distant second to Idaho in volume, had 57 million cwt. of potatoes in storage December 1st, which was 54 percent of its crop.
Idaho potato shipments – grossing about $5100 to New York City.
San Luis Valley, Colorado potatoes – grossing about $4300 to Chicago.
Argentina Lemon Imports
The USDA has ruled fresh lemons from Argentina will be permitted to be imported into the U.S., which has greatly upset California citrus leaders. The rule is the result of 10 years of study on pest risks. The agriculture department projects Argentina may export between 15,000 and 20,000 metric tons of fresh lemons to the U.S. annually, or about 4 percent of the average total U.S. lemon volume (based on shipments from 2008 to 2014) of 535,244 metric tons.
Most Argentina lemons are expected to be arriving at U.S. ports between April 1st and August 31st. Based on imports of 18,000 metric tons, the USDA estimates that the effect of Argentina lemon exports to the U.S. will be a lemon price reduction of about 4 percent. This is not the first time Argentina has been approved to ship lemons to the U.S. Argentina had shipped close to 1.5 million cartons of lemons to the U.S. in 2000-01 before U.S. grower concerns about pest and disease threats — including canker — were upheld in a California court.
What a difference fall weather can make from one year to the next. That is translating into more hauling opportunities for produce truckers with Florida strawberries and tomatoes.
While very light Florida strawberry shipments began in early November, a slow but steady increase in volume has been occurring. Better growing conditions have the crop well ahead of a year ago. The cold temperatures have been much more frequent this Florida season, than in 2015, which is good for berries.
Florida fresh strawberry hauling will be available into March and April. A good jump in volume is expected in late December, continuing well into January. Then a bit of lull is expected before volume ramps up again in early February and into March. There should be peak shipments in time for Valentine’s Day deliveries.
Currently Florida is averaging about 200 truck loads of strawberry shipments a week, primarily from the Plant City area.
Tomato Shipments
Unlike a year ago Florida tomato hauling should be more normal this year after experiencing a weather-related plunge last year. Last season, Florida shipped about 28 million, 25-pound boxes of round (mature green) tomatoes. This year, volume should be around 35 million range cartons. Florida tomato acreage is similar to last year, about 30,000 acres, making the Sunshine state the largest tomato-producing state in the U.S.
Of significance is some growers also produce grape, cherry and roma varieties, in addition to round tomatoes, but those numbers are not tracked because they’re not regulated by a marketing order. So in essence, actual Florida tomato shipments of non-round varieties increase the volume reported by about 25 percent, assuming this year’s volume remains typical of past years.
Meanwhile, Florida tomato shipments are about the only game in town for the next few weeks, especially since Mexican tomato imports won’t be providing much volume until after the New Year. Then Florida tomato shipments typically take a dip from January to March.
Shipments of tomatoes, vegetables and strawberries from South and Central Florida – grossing about $2100 to New York City.
U.S. fresh apples remaining in storages to be shipped for the 2016-17 season are up by double digits.
Apples remaining to be shipped as of December 1st were 120.3 million (42-pound) boxes, 13 percent above from a year ago and 12 percent higher than the five-year average of 107.5 million boxes. Total fresh crop shipments for Washington state are now expected to hit 137.88 million boxes. That is nearly 500,000 boxes above the November estimate.
The U.S. Apple Association storage report shows total Washington fresh holdings on December 1st at about 104 million boxes, or about 86 percent of total apples remaining to be shipped in the U.S..
U.S. fresh red delicious supplies on hand were 35.4 million boxes, up 26 percent from a year ago. Gala inventories in the U.S. were 22.9 million boxes, up 28 percent from a year ago. Honeycrisp holdings in the U.S. were 5.58 million boxes, up 29 percent from last year.
Among varieties with reduced volume on hand, U.S. granny smiths at 12.1 million boxes, off 15 percent from a year ago. U.S. golden delicious inventories of 7.2 million boxes were down nine percent compared with a year ago.
Washington Apple Shipments
The 2016 Washington crop is well short of the record 140 million-carton crop of 2014. However, Washington fresh apple shipments are likely eclipse the 2014 record crop in the next few years. In fact, 140-million-box crops are expected to become normal, with the big crop years hitting the 150 million to 160 million box range.
Variety Trends
Looking ahead to future shipping season said some observers believe with rising volume of new proprietary or club apple varieties, it may start to put pressure on gala apples, in addition to hurting retail shelf space for jonagold, braeburn and cameo varieties.
There seems to be a growing belief among many observers that as the apple industry moves into these new premium varieties, gala will be the next one to be hit.
Washington apple and pear shipments from the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys – grossing about $4400 to Chicago; $6600 to New York City.
Here are the current top five fresh potato shipping regions when it comes to volume being loaded on a weekly basis: Idaho, Colorado, Columbia Basin in southern Washington and Umatilla Basin in Northern Oregon, Wisconsin and the Red River Valley.
There’s a reason why Northwest potato shipments are huge for the 2016-17 shipping season. Some call it high yields, others call it over production. And all of this centers around Idaho, the biggest potato producer of them all.,
For this season Idaho harvested 323,000 acres , totaling 13 billion pounds of potatoes — enough to fill 500 football stadiums 10 feet high. This accounts for one-third of all U.S. potatoes. Idaho is now shipping over 2000 truck load equivalents of potatoes a week. Idaho potatoes are easily the biggest volume U.S. produce item currently being shipped.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5400 to Boston.
In Colorado’s San Luis Valley, about 750 truck loads of potatoes are being loaded each week.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $1600 to Dallas.
In Washington state, fresh potato shipments are coming from the Columbia Basin, Skagit Valley, and Klamath Basin. Washington State potato growers boast of the highest yields in the world, but total shipments each week are well below Idaho and even Colorado. About 13 percent of Washington’s overall crop is shipped for the fresh market. Washington’s Columbia Basin and adjacent Umatilla Basin in Oregon is averaging around 500 truck loads of potato shipments weekly. This volume leans heavily towards specialty potatoes.
Columbian Basin/Umatilla Basin potatoes – grossing about $5400 to Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Central Wisconsin accounts for the bulk of the Badger state’s potato shipments – currently averaging about 375 truck loads per week.
Wisconsin potatoes – grossing abut $2600 to Atlanta.
The Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota is shipping about 175 truck loads of red potatoes each week.
North Dakota and Minnesota Red River Valley potatoes – grossing about $1750 to Chicago.
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