Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
The Peruvian Producers and Exporters Association (Provid) forecasts a 9 percent decline in grape exports for the 2023-24 season. If the prediction holds this would amount to about 65 million 18-pound boxes.
As of November 1, Peru had exported 14 million boxes, about 28% of the total projection. Some 38 percent of Peruvian grapes are exported to the U.S.
Provid blames most of the decline on adverse weather including El Niño Costero, resulting in heavy rains and flooding in Peru’s northern coastal regions.
There also was cyclone Yaku which brought similar conditions to Tumbes, Piura and Lambayeque, some of the main producing regions in the country.
The U.S. continues to be the leading destination for Peruvian grapes, in part because the U.S. domestic production is currently lower than expected.
Starting in November, Live Oak Farms of Le Grand, CA began importing product from its farming operations in Mexico to help complete a 52-week cycle of availability on green and red bell peppers, according to a news release.
“The message has been loud and clear from both our retail and foodservice customers, we need you to be in the game year-round,” Damon Barkdull, vice president pepper sales for the fourth-generation grower-packer-shipper, said in the release. “We’re excited to begin this next chapter in Live Oak’s history.”
Historically, Live Oak has focused on its crops close to Le Grand in the San Joaquin Valley, from July through October. Those crops included mature green tomatoes — round and Roma — along with chili peppers and green, red and yellow bell peppers. With Live Oak’s hire of Pete Aiello, vice president pepper programs, came the addition of programs in Coachella and Bakersfield to help extend that California window.
With its program in Sinaloa, Mexico, Live Oak says it now has bell pepper coverage 52 weeks a year. Live Oak is expecting green bells to begin crossing in late November and red bell peppers as early as the second week of December into Nogales, AZ.
In addition to bringing Mexico peppers to its customers, Live Oak says it plans to expand its portfolio of product in both conventional and organic vegetables, including but not limited to Italian squash, yellow squash, cucumbers and an expanded array of chili peppers.
Live Oak expects the Mexico pepper program to carry it into May for a smooth transition into its California crop.
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California’s desert regions shift into high gear with winter vegetable shipments as many other parts of the country go into the proverbial deep freeze.
Imperial County grows more than 65 commodities, with head and leaf lettuces, broccoli, spinach and carrots among its primary crops. Likewise, Coachella Valley grows everything from cabbage to carrots to cauliflower.
Due to mild temperatures in these Colorado Desert regions, along with Central Coast locations such as Salinas and Oxnard, produce haulers have loading opportunities throughout the winter for fresh produce including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, lettuces and celery.
When cooler temperatures hit Northern California and the weather becomes wetter in the winter months, many growers head south for the season to Yuma, AZ., or Mexico. However, some prefer to farm certain commodities in California’s desert regions.
Ocean Mist Farms in Castroville, Calif., grows a small percentage of its winter crops in Yuma, as well as Salinas Valley and Oxnard, yet the company reserves Coachella Valley as its primary winter growing region due to its abundant resources and ideal winter climate. The company’s winter crops grown in Southern California include artichokes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, fennel, lettuces and spinach.
Higher than normal temperatures have led to an earlier-than-usual harvest for some crops and may cause issues with seed stems in the romaine and iceberg lettuces.
To help mitigate the issue, growers will often harvest the lettuce a bit earlier, which leads to smaller sizing and lower weight.
However, the romaine crop looks good, and the growing conditions have been very nice.
Boskovich Farms in Oxnard, grows spinach and cilantro crops as well as parsley, cabbage, celery and bok choy on its Ventura County farmland.
Ocean Mist expresses confidence it will be able to provide a strong supply of winter vegetables and was in full production for Coachella Valley crops Nov. 27.
Texas Citrus Mutual of Mission, TX reports fresh citrus shipments should be similar to last season.
The trade association expects the industry expects to ship about 4.5 million cartons of grapefruit and 2 million cartons of oranges.
South Texas citrus harvest began in October with peak loadings of Texas citrus typically running from November through March.
Although the crop may be close last year, this is about 50% of a 20-year average. Growers are taking out older trees and planting younger trees. Quality is reported as very good.
Texas has three major fresh citrus shippers and a couple of smaller companies. Fresh shippers Lone Star Citrus and The Wonderful Company. both of Mission, TX, also have juice plants.
According to USDA reported numbers, Texas grapefruit-bearing acreage declined from 16,400 acres in 2017 to 10,500 acres in 2023.
Orange-bearing acreage also decreased, from 8,000 acres in 2017 to 5,900 acres in 2023, according to USDA data.
Within oranges, USDA numbers reported mid/navel variety acreage went from 5,800 acres in 2017 to 3,600 acres in 2023.
Valencia orange acreage declined slightly, from 2,200 acres in 2017 to 2,300 acres in 2023, according to USDA numbers.
While real estate development of citrus groves continues, some growers in Texas are in the early stages of investing in sophisticated growing technology, including growing citrus under protective screens, called the CUPS method.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Pacific Trellis Fruit, a year-round grower, shipper, and marketer of premium fresh fruit, will be adding Donut Peaches and Extra Sweet nectarines this coming year to its successful inaugural offering of imported specialty plum varieties to create a full line of premium stone fruit during the Southern Hemisphere Season.
The company is gearing up for the new arrivals from Chile with the Donut Peaches available in mid-December and Nectarines beginning in January.
The company highlights four specialty and premium plum SKUs – Lemon Plums, Extra Sweet, Watermelon and Sugar Plums. Lemon Plums, grown in Chile and South Africa, are yellow-skinned and turn bright red when ripe. Extra Sweet Plums, grown in Chile and South Africa, vary in appearance from bright red to dark red, to red/yellowish skin as well as black. Watermelon Plums, grown in South Africa, have green skin with red flesh, similar in appearance to a watermelon. Sugar Plums, grown in Chile and South Africa, have red to purple skin with golden-yellow flesh. In addition, the Donut Peaches have a tender, juicy, and sweet white flesh, while the Extra Sweet Nectarines display both white and yellow flesh fruit with a combination of sweet and tangy taste.
About Pacific Trellis Fruit
Pacific Trellis Fruit is one of North America’s top year-round growers and importers of premium fresh fruit, including melons, grapes, peaches, plums, nectarines, citrus, and cherries. It partners with growers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Spain, as well as domestic farmers across the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Los Angeles, CA, with sales offices in Fresno, CA, Gloucester, NJ, and Tucson, AZ. Pacific Trellis owns and manages the renowned Dulcinea® brand. Dulcinea® is the pioneer of the PureHeart personal seedless melons as well as the Tuscan Style Cantaloupe, and Pacific Trellis has recently expanded the brand to pack grapes, citrus, cherries, and stone fruit. In 2020, Pacific Trellis fruit became the exclusive marketer and distributor of the KISS line of melons.
Mexico accounts for almost 90 percent of the avocado volume exported to the U.S., according to USDA statistics.
According to data from the USDA, total avocado import volumes for 2022-23 (marketing year September through August) increased 14% from 1.01 million metric tons in 2017-18 to 1.265 million metric tons in 2022-23.
Mexico accounted for most U.S. avocado imports, with the volume of Mexican avocados increasing 23% from 881,705 metric tons in 2017-18 to 1.12 million metric tons in 2022-23.
In 2022-23, Mexico’s share of U.S. avocado import volume was 89%, up from 87% in 2017-18.
Peru was the second-largest source, with volumes fluctuating between 71,176 metric tons and 128,301 metric tons over 2018 to 2022, before dropping 39% to 78,296 metric tons in 2022-23.
U.S. imports of Chilean avocado volume declined steadily from 28,158 metric tons in 2017-18 to just 3,877 metric tons in 2022-23, a 50% decrease between 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The Dominican Republic saw a small 3% increase in avocado imports between 2021-22 (40,325 metric tons) and 2022-23 (41,381 metric tons).
Colombia’s avocado volume to the U.S. grew from 144 metric tons in 2018 to 18,642 metric tons in 2021-22, before dropping 25% to 13,931 metric tons in 2022-23.
Summer is arriving in the Southern Hemisphere and this means imports of Chilean fruit will be here soon. Average volume, or perhaps slightly below average is seen by observers.
The Chilean Fresh Fruit Association of Redwood City, CA reports over the next several months there will be arrivals of peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, blueberries and cherries.
Blueberry imports begin in November and continue into mid-March; cherries will arrive in the U.S. from December to February; grapes will be available from December to April or early May; and stone fruit will be here from December to April.
Peaches and nectarines are available in the early part of stone fruit season, and plums during the latter part.
Importer Pacific Trellis of Los Angeles reports a good Chilean stone fruit is expected.
The company expects stone fruit volume to be similar to last year, while blueberry volume will be down. However, a 5% increase in global table grape export volume is seen. About 56% of Chile’s total table grape shipments are exported to the U.S.
Red and green table grapes should be arriving from Chile a little earlier than last year due to a warm winter in the northern Chilean growing areas.
Chilean table grape imports are expected to be similar to last year’s 63.7 million 18-pound boxes.
The cherry committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) expected growers to produce 95.4 million 5-kilogram (11-pound) boxes, which is a 15% increase over last season.
The first boat load of Chilean cherries left for the U.S. in early November.
Last year, Chilean growers shipped 3.2 million boxes of cherries to the U.S.
Naturipe Farms of Salinas, CA notes overall acreage of fruit crops in Chile has been declining as growers look at other crops and other markets. The company sees lower volumes in the 2023-24 season as a lot more of the Chilean crop is going to Asia and Europe.
Between January and August, Peruvian blueberry exports reached $343 million in FOB value, registering a 14 percent drop year-on-year. According to Peru’s Exporters Association, the decrease was mostly due to weather factors.
According to the ADEX Data Trade Intelligence System, the United States took a 49 percent share of overall shipments, confirming its position as the top destination market for blueberries.
Between January and August, Peruvian blueberry exports reached $343 million in FOB value, registering a 14 percent drop year-on-year. According to Peru’s Exporters Association, the decrease was mostly due to weather factors.
According to the ADEX Data Trade Intelligence System, the United States took a 49 percent share of overall shipments, confirming its position as the top destination market for blueberries.
However, the U.S. percentage also saw a 23 percent decrease compared to last year’s figures, as Peruvian volumes continue to be hindered by El Niño. In August, Peruvian domestic production fell by 52 percent.
The Netherlands and China complete the top three destinations for Peruvian blueberry exports this season, with a respective 20 percent and 10 percent share of shipments.
Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertad continue to lead production. But these growing areas also post major decreases: Piura’s volumes dropped 80 percent, Lambayeque’s by 79 percent and La Libertad is down 50 percent year-on-year.
Agroexports Manager Claudia Solano Oré assures that ADEX already has a strategy to boost the sector, as weather woes continue to stall production.
ADEX will be visiting associate companies to learn more about their challenges, in hopes of providing support.
The Netherlands and China complete the top three destinations for Peruvian blueberry exports this season, with a respective 20 percent and 10 percent share of shipments.
However, the U.S. percentage also saw a 23 percent decrease compared to last year’s figures, as Peruvian volumes continue to be hindered by El Niño. In August, Peruvian domestic production fell by 52 percent.
Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertad continue to lead production. But these growing areas also post major decreases: Piura’s volumes dropped 80 percent, Lambayeque’s by 79 percent and La Libertad is down 50 percent year-on-year.
Agroexports Manager Claudia Solano Oré assures that ADEX already has a strategy to boost the sector, as weather woes continue to stall production.
ADEX will be visiting associate companies to learn more about their challenges, in hopes of providing support.
Maine potato growers and shippers are expecting average shipments for their crop in the 2023-24 season.
Cambridge Farms of Presque Isle, ME experienced average yields during harvest, although it may have a little more volume. The company has
russet, white, red and yellow potatoes.
Green Thumb Farms Inc. of Fryeburg, ME sees its volume being up slightly this year with good quality.
The Maine Farmers Exchange in Presque Isle describes this season’s potatoes as a mixed bags with some operations being up in volume. size and yields, while others are down. Rains and cloudy weather are cited as reasons.
Maine potato loadings got underway with the start of November.
Irving Farms Marketing Inc. of Caribou, ME has added a new storage unit to the 40,000-square-foot packing facility it opened last year. The new refrigerated, humidity-controlled storage facility will hold 55,000 hundredweight units.
The company is moving away from round white potatoes and offering more russets as well as red and yellow potatoes.
Volume and yields should be similar to last year.
The Table Grape Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) has released its first estimate for the 2023-24 season, projecting five percent growth in exports. This is based on information provided by the Committee’s member companies, which represent 82% of Chile’s total table grape shipments.
The Committee is forecasting 63,780,328 18-pound boxes. As ASOEX President Iván Marambio states, “This projected growth is due primarily to an increase in the production of new varieties, which will represent 63% of Chile’s total fresh grape exports this season, close to 40 million boxes.”
The Committee projects that within the next two years, 70% of grape shipments will consist of new varieties. This is a significant increase from 55% during the 2022-23 season.
The U.S. continues to be the main destination market for Chilean table grapes, despite challenges that are delaying the approval of the Systems Approach protocol for exports. For the upcoming 2023-24 season, the U.S. is projected to take 56% of overall shipments. Asia and Europe follow with 19% and 16%, respectively.
The Committee’s coordinator, Ignacio Caballero, notes that green grapes will experience the most growth. “We expect an increase of 16% in green grape volume over the previous season, with impressive increases in Sweet Globe, Autumn Crisp and Arra 15 varieties,” he states.
Exports of green grape varieties are projected to be around 22.9 million boxes, of which 74.4% will be new varieties.
Shipments of red varieties are expected to exceed 24.9 million boxes, of which 74.1% will correspond to new varieties. Timco, Allison, and Sweet Celebration are some of the main standouts among the red varieties.
As for black grapes, exports will be around 6 million boxes, with 76.5% new varieties, including Sable Seedless, Sweet Favors, and Sweet Sapphire.
The first shipments of Chilean grapes are scheduled for mid-November.