Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
The California stone fruit season kicked off in early May with available apricots, nectarines, and peaches.
Organically Grown Co. (OGC) of Eugene, OR reported they had stronger volumes of peaches by mid-May.
Cool nights have provided excellent color, as well as good sugar-to-acid ratios, which results in sweet and juicy fruit.
Overall, growers report the weather has been very good this season, which allowed the harvest to start about a week earlier.
Most California stone fruit is in season between May and mid-September, with plums going a bit longer until October.
Last year, California stone fruit hit the peak of its season in mid-August.
California produces more than 80% of the nation’s stone fruit.
70% of America’s peaches are grown in the state, along with 95% of apricots, 95% of fresh plums, and 99% of nectarines. With some counties in the Central Valley devoting as many as 38,000 acres to stone fruit production, California is known as the stone fruit state.
At a national level, the USDA said in September 2023 U.S. production in 2023-24 is forecast down 76,000 tons to 574,000 the lowest level in at least 40 years.
The projection was due to the three largest producer states ‐ California, South Carolina, and Georgia ‐ all experiencing damaging weather, with South Carolina and Georgia suffering from a second consecutive year of destructive freezes.
Peak avocado exports for the Columbian traviesa season is occurring and will continue to do so through June. However, the season takes place from April through August for the country, which is a global supplier of hass avocados, the Colombian Avocado Board reports.
Currently during the peak of this season, the U.S. market can expect arrivals of more than 50 containers a week of avocados from Colombia, with volume decreasing gradually over the course of the season, according to a news release.
The growth of the Colombian avocado market comes on the heels of continued year-over-year increases of double and triple digits and maturity of the Colombian growing regions. Today, more than a dozen packing sheds and more than 400 growers are certified to ship hass avocados to the U.S. market, the Colombia Avocado Board says.
Colombian avocados are available year-round and due to the region’s tropical climate and have varied blooms and harvest times with two distinct harvest seasons. The seasons include the traviesa season and the main season that runs September to January.
Colombia has produced and distributed avocados for decades, however, the growth and popularity of Colombian avocados has expanded due to access to U.S. market starting in 2018 along with expanding country infrastructure improvements, the Colombia Avocado Board said. “The 2023 season concluded with its highest shipment totals ever, exceeding 32 million pounds. For 2024, shipments are projected to increase by over 50%, reaching a total volume of 50 million pounds for the entire year.”
The first vessel carrying South African summer citrus, the MSC Houston, is delivering the fruit from Capetown, South Africa, and is expected to arrive in the U.S. at the Port of Philadelphia this week. Weekly shipments will continue through the end of October, according to a news release. The shipping season launches with clementines followed by navel oranges and star ruby grapefruit.
As of the conclusion of the 2023 season, South African citrus exporters marked 25 years of shipping fruit to the U.S., and what’s more, shipments of citrus fruit from South Africa have more than doubled since 2019, according to a news release.
“We are officially 25 years on the sunny side and commencing into our 26th season with a healthy crop of sweet and delicious citrus fruit headed to the port of Philadelphia in the coming days and more to come throughout the summer months,” Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa, said in the release.
“We are serving one of the world’s most demanding markets, and adapting to the current state of the supply chain on any given day is a key factor of our business model. We have gained much momentum with our collaborative approach and intend to keep it going in 2024,” Conradie said.
Summer Citrus from South Africa says it is positioned well to sustain shipping options to cater to the overall growth of the program, splitting its volumes equally between dedicated conventional vessels and container vessels in the Port of Philadelphia. The team’s group of focused service providers span the total supply chain in the U.S. and South Africa.
“I intend to stay in contact throughout our summer with shipping, supply chain and production updates via our Trade Newsletter, which is meant to be shared,” Conradie said. “Any stakeholder seeking to stay in close contact with our program is invited to subscribe.”
The summer season is right around the corner, and the Westside Produce of Firebaugh, CA and Classic Fruit Alliance is anticipating a strong start to their Arizona and California domestic melon harvests, following a successful offshore Guatemalan season. Initial shipments from Arizona started in mid-May.
“2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year,” notes Garrett Patricio, President of Westside Produce. “Entering its second full year, the Westside/Classic Alliance is planning to service more year-round customers through its growing programs. Spring plantings in Arizona were on time, and we expect a bountiful harvest….through June, which coincides well with wrapping up the import season and transitioning customers to domestic supplies. Summer plantings in California have navigated the rainy season well and with increased heat units, will provide a fantastic early-July start on the Westside of the valley.”
With a strong planting start, the alliance is also excited to introduce new varieties and specialty type melons, alongside their traditional supplies. “We are eager to present our new Golden Honeydew to our domestic programs, allowing us the opportunity to supply additional customers with new varieties as well as the trialing of additional specialty melons,” states Tommy Conrado, VP of West Coast Sales at Classic Fruit. “Continuing to serve customers with our traditional cantaloupe and honeydew melons as well as being able to provide them with more options based on variety or specialty, all with excellent quality and flavor profiles, continues to add to our alliance value of providing melons all year long, 52 weeks a year.”
“All in all, assuming yields stay consistent with past years, we expect marketable supplies with increased contract business providing a solid foundation for our overall program,” continues Garrett Patricio. “As we wrap up the offshore season with Classic Guatemala, which produced excellent quality fruit all winter long, we are excited to kickstart harvest out here in the West for the domestic spring/summer season.”
The Chilean Citrus Committee estimates that global citrus exports from Chile will reach 383,000 tons this season, a 4% decline from 2023. According to the figures provided by the Committee, clementine and mandarin volumes will decline by 35% and 9% respectively. Oranges will decrease by two percent, with lemons increasing by 33%.
Peak citrus volumes in the U.S. will commence in June and continue through October.
The Committee forecasts clementine volume of 40,000 tons, which is 35% less than the 2023 season. States Monserrat Valenzuela, manager of the Citrus Committee, “This is a result of water restrictions in the main clementine-producing areas of the Coquimbo region (Region IV).” Of the 4,000 hectares of clementines planted in Chile, 70% of them are concentrated in Region IV.
Meanwhile, mandarin volume is expected to reach 160,000 tons, a decrease of 9% from last year. Orange volume will be similar to 2023, with a two percent decrease to 93,000 tons. The only category with anticipated growth is lemons, which is expected to grow by 33% to 90,000 tons.
Regarding the overall anticipated decrease of 4% for Chilean citrus exports this season, the president of the Citrus Committee, Juan Ortúzar, comments, “We are building an industry better adapted to climate change, with a strategy aimed at facing new production challenges, and with a focus on more sustainable production.”
There are 27,813 hectares of citrus orchards in Chile, distributed between the Atacama and O’Higgins regions. The Metropolitan Region has the largest planted area, reaching 8,361 hectares. As for the total planted area, lemons lead with 9,199 hectares nationwide, followed by mandarins with 7,800 hectares and oranges with 6,600.
The U.S. Apple Association released its May 1 apple holding report, which shows 53 million bushels of fresh-market apples. The association said this is 33% more than inventories reported in May 2023 and 30% more than the five-year average for inventories.
USApple also reports processing apples at 23 million bushels, 36% more than inventories from last May and 36% more than the five-year average.
This is down from the 124.4 million bushels from its Dec. 1, 2023 holdings report.
Washington leads the country with 62,272,381 bushels of fresh and processing apples, higher than the five-year average of 48,302,250 bushels as of May 1.
New York follows with 5,786,262 bushels of fresh and processing apples. The Empire State’s five-year average as of May 1 is 4,024,774.
Michigan comes in third with an inventory of 3,669,000 bushels of fresh and processing apples, which is also higher than the state’s five-year average of 1,933,200 bushels.
Red delicious fresh and processing holdings lead apple varieties with 11,744,443 bushels, which is on par with the five-year average for the variety of 11,920,823.
Honeycrisp is next with an inventory of 10,929,357 bushels of fresh and processing apples. This is up from the five-year average of 5,899,102 bushels of fresh and processing apples.
Granny smith comes in third with 9,389,762 bushels of fresh and processing apples in holdings, which is higher than the 7,003,534-bushel five-year average for the variety.
Gala sits in fourth with an inventory of 9,312,343 bushels of fresh and processing apples. This figure holds steady with the five-year average holdings for the variety of 9,281,365 bushels.
Fuji comes in fifth in holdings with 6,826,807 bushels of fresh and processing apples, which is similar to the five-year average for the variety of 6,415,417 bushels.
Some cherry shippers in the Pacific Northwest expect their 2024 season to be the longest and largest in the region.
Superfresh Growers, one of the largest producers in Washington, announced their cherries should be in season as early as late May and extend into August.
The Washington cherry season usually ships from June to late August.
Last year, the company added a third cherry facility, which they say will enhance their ability to deliver cherries to retailers and consumers alike. The company grows cherries from the Canadian border to Hood River, OR.
“Superfresh Growers is proud to uphold our position as the Northwest’s longest and largest cherry crop for the past two seasons. Anticipate nothing less as we gear up for another successful harvest,” said Destiny Nash, Cherry Sales Lead.
“The addition of the third packing line last year optimized our turn-around times from orchard to retail partners. With a notable 30% increase in production capabilities, we are poised for continued growth and success.”
The latest census from the USDA shows the state had 43,429 acres of cherry production in 2022.
It is springtime in the Santa Maria Valley and a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are being shipped.
Babe Farms of Santa Maria, CA will have a good selection of specialty root vegetables, baby head lettuces, friseé, fennel, celery root and Baby Butter Cakes lettuces.
The company reports mostly favorable weather resulting in good condition and quality on all of its products.
Beachside Produce LLC, of Nipomo, CA is known for its broccoli crowns but also grows cauliflower, celery, cello lettuce and a full line of Western vegetables as well as a variety of Asian vegetables in a partnership with Pismo-Oceano Vegetable Exchange of Oceano, CA
Above average rainfall has disrupted some of the growing season, but weather improvements is getting the season back on a more predictable track.
Corona Marketing of Santa Maria is loading strawberries as well as squash, chili peppers (starting in July) and green beans this spring. Overall volume is expected to be similar to a year ago.
Pacific Coast Produce of Santa Maria began strawberry shipments in March and will continue into the summer.
Pacific Coast Produce started its summer vegetable program, which consists of eight kinds of chili peppers and includes conventional and organic green and yellow squash, in early May and continues through November.
The company’s core products are broccoli, celery and cauliflower. Quality is excellent on all commodities, and volume will be similar to last year.
Gold Coast Packing Inc. of Santa Maria specializes in value-added items, ranging from small-format 12-ounce packs of broccoli florets to 2-pound packages of items that are more specific for retail.
Gold Coast also is developing salad kits for retailers. That program was launched last summer with Costco with a Better Than a Burger salad kit.
The company also offers broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, spinach, Brussels sprouts, cilantro and various product blends.
California’s Santa Maria growing area includes up to 50,000 acres of farmland in the Santa Maria Valley, which is made up of acreage in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and additional land outside the valley.
Commodities are led by Strawberries, followed by cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce and avocados. There has been a decrease in vegetable acres planted in recent years and an increase in strawberries,
Strong supplies of Southern Hemisphere citrus is expected by fresh
fruit importer-exporter Salix Fruits of Philadelphia. It recently launched summer citrus program, marking the start of the lemon, mandarin and orange season in the Southern Hemisphere, according to a news release.
“This year, we anticipate a recovery in citrus volumes from nearly all origins,” Alejandro Moralejo, CEO of Salix Fruits, said in the release. “After last year’s climatic challenges, such as the El Niño phenomenon in Peru, we are prepared for a significant increase in our supply to all our destinations, including the U.S., Canada, India, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Russia.”
Salix says the season began in March-April with early mandarins, which will continue until October.
“Lemons will be available from March to September, while oranges, starting with navels and continuing with valencia types, will be available from May to October. Grapefruits will be available from May to August, and Tahiti limes will be available all year round from Colombia and Peru,” Moralejo said.
With offices in different countries, Salix Fruits says it’s able to source products from throughout the Southern Hemisphere based on its customers’ preferences.
“From Argentina, lemons are our main product for all markets,” said Moralejo. “For the U.S., we source other citrus fruits like oranges and mandarins from Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Also, South Africa is one of our main citrus origins for all the destinations.”
Ocean freight rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels and supply volumes have increased this season, the release said.
Georgia peach shipments are making a major rebound from last year’s devastating season. Loadings got underway in early May and have just moved into good volume.
Industry optimism is based on a full Winter of productive dormancy and a long, cool Spring of perfect weather. Combine these growing conditions with well-rested fruit-bearing trees in their prime and you’ve got a sweet recipe for the best summer of succulent Georgia peaches in multiple decades. These conditions are also key in providing premium sizing and vibrant color to the fruit. Georgia Peach Council growers will be picking over 50 varieties of beautifully blushed peaches across 10,000 acres of manicured orchards. Good volume should continue into mid August.
Duke Lane, president of the Georgia Peach Council, as well as Will McGehee, marketing director of the Georgia Peach Council have expressed optimism on large crop with good quality.
About Georgia Peach Council:
The Georgia Peach Council is the proud supporter of Georgia’s commercial peach farms, including Lane Southern Orchards, Pearson Farm, Dickey Farms, and Fitzgerald Fruit Farms. Today, over 50 varieties of peaches are grown statewide. Each year, Georgia produces over 130 million pounds of peaches, between mid-May and mid-August. For more information about Georgia peach background, health information, recipe ideas and more, visit https://gapeaches.org/.