Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
B
y The Florida Citrus Commission
The Florida Citrus Commission unanimously agreed recently to industry requests to lower fruit quality standards for the 2015-16 season.
The commission governs the Florida Department of Citrus, which regulates fruit quality standards. Citrus fruit must meet certain maturity standards before it can be harvested for commercial use. The commission agreed to lower the standard for sugar solids in oranges to 8 percent from 8.7 percent. Annually, 95 percent of Florida oranges go to juice. It also agreed to suspend for the 2015-16 season the regulation that navel oranges, mostly sold as fresh, must have at least 0.36 percent citric acid. Oranges were having difficulty reaching those levels because of the damaging effects of the fatal bacterial disease citrus greening, which is endemic in Florida groves.
Apparently items such as limes and lemons were not affected by the new standards.
Florida Pepper Shipments
Florida pepper shipments continue and may improve some. Pepper prices have been high, but now Mexican peppers are giving Florida competition, and lower prices, which result in more shipments.
Florida Grapefruit Shipments
Florida grape fruit shipments are underway, and apparently haven’t been as adversely affected as navel oranges due to a disease call greening. Grapefruit shipments have declined over the years with fading popularity, but some observers believe shipments this season will exceed those of a year ago.
Light to moderate shipments of Central and Southern Florida citrus, vegetables and strawberries – grossing about $1900 to Chicago.
California grape shipments should continue through December, but your chances of claims or rejected loads may be increasing as late season quality problems are reported.
Confidence in the product is declining as complaints from retailers ranging from poor color on red grapes to decay and condition issues on all varieties are rising. As a result wholesalers are managing increased volumes of fruit that fail to make a satisfactory arrival to retailers. It is recommended drivers check grape quality at shipping point and make sure your receivers know what is being delivered. Meanwhile, meaningful arrivals of imported Chilean grapes won’t occur until January.
San Joaquin Valley grapes, carrots and kiwi – grossing about $3800 to Chicago.
Northwest Pear Shipments
The preseason estimate of 20 million boxes for Northwest pear shipments — 2 percent less than in 2014-15 — already has fallen to about 19 million boxes and could drop even more. In late November some shippers were transitioning into red anjous, and volumes were picking up significantly after Thanksgiving.
There are also some volumes of boscs now being shipped. Bartlett pear shipments should wrap up in February, while Boscs should ship into April and anjous into July.
Yakima Valley, WA apples and pears – grossing about $5000 to Houston
California Avocado Shipments
California Avocado shipments remain significantly higher than last year, but volume fell off sharply in late November.
About 27.9 million pounds of avocados were shipped in the U.S. the week ending November 28th, down from 48.3 million pounds the week before and from 35.3 million pounds in the same week in 2014, according to the USDA.
For the year, 781 million pounds had shipped through Nov. 28, up from 660 million pounds at that time last year.
Southern California avocados, citrus, peppers and tomatoes – grossing about $5900 to New York City.
Manitoba could give the small island of Prince Edward Island a run for its money when it comes to potato shipments.
Manitoba is partly responsible for an increase in Canadian potato shipments, according to new numbers from Statistics Canada (SC). Currently, P.E.I. is Canada’s biggest spud producer.
SC recently reported potato shipments in Canada are up 4.1 per cent in 2015, Manitoba potato shipments alone accounts for 57.2 per cent of the increase.
In 2015, P.E.I. potato shipments represented 23.7 per cent of total in Canadia. Manitoba was close on its heels with 20.6 per cent.
Prince Edward Island prides itself on being Canada’s king of spuds. The island is Canada’s largest potato producer and the industry is worth more than a billion dollars, according to the Prince Edward Island Potato Board.
The recent surge in Manitoba potato production has to do with how much the main potato processors – McCain’s, Simplot, and Cavendish – contract out to farms. All three demanded fewer potatoes for 2013 and 2014 from Manitoba farms, but in 2015 all three demanded more.
Looking at the long-term trend, it’s clear Manitoba is peeling its way to catch up to P.E.I. The industry has grown substantially in the past 20 years.
Canadian potato production is up overall in part because of the low Canadian dollar compared to the U.S. dollar.
North Carolina sweet potato shipments continue to set records as the product gains popularity with consumers.
With Thanksgiving past us and Christmas on the horizon, sweet potatoes shipments are rounding out another strong year due to high demand and a record increase in acreage. Despite some adverse growing conditions more acreage helped offset the poor weather. North Carolina faced delayed plantings due to extreme heat and drought. By harvest time, the entire state was hit by an excess of moisture. Still, sweet potatoes haulers were transporting generally good quality product.
After setting a North Carolina record in 2014 at 72, 000 acres, the state’s growers beat their own mark this year, with 84, 000 acres of sweet potatoes planted for the 2015 season.
Some estimates for the past five years, have North Carolinian sweet potato sweet shipments tripling. Sweet potato growers have planted more and more acres each year as they try to keep pace with consumer demand, and have expanded other aspects of their operations such as storage capacity and new packing lines.
While sweet potato shipments originate from Mississippi, Louisiana, California and Arkansas, North Carolina easily is the largest shipper of the product.
Eastern North Carolina sweet potato shipments – grossing about $2000 to Atlanta, $3000 to Chicago.
Prince Edward Island potato shippers have installed metal detectors in their warehouses after steel needles and other sharp objects were found in their potatoes….Plus, a shipping update from leading U.S. potato shipping states.
Luckily, last year none of the potatoes that they exported had any foreign objects in them, but they are not taking any risks this year. These metal detectors cost $50,000 each. The provincial and federal governments are helping the farmers with some funding, however this is an extra expense that they didn’t have in previous years.
The industry and the government were offering $500,000 reward for any tip-offs regarding the potato tampering, but the money was never claimed.
Light shipments of potatoes continue from New Brunswick province, with most coming from P.E.I.
U.S. Potato Shipments
The three leading U.S. states for potato shipments continue to have steady movement.
Idaho, as usual, easily leads the pack in shipments with an average of about 1500 truckload equivalents of mostly russets per week….The second heaviest volume is originating out of Colorado’s San Luis Valley, averaging about 750 truck loads weekly. Finally, there is Central Wisconsin that is moving around 500 truck loads each week.
Wisconsin potato shipments averaging about $2200 to San Antonio.
Colorado potato shipments averaging about $2500 to Chicago.
Idaho potato shipments averaging about $5500 to New York City.
If you’ve noticed sky high strawberry prices in your local supermarket, there’s a reason. Shipments from California, Mexico and Florida are all low, but things are starting change.
November rains excellerated already seasonally lower volumes for California strawberry shipments, and volumes also have been below the three-year average. Volume will improve, but it’s going to take some time. El Niño predictions are still showing the strong probability of continuous rains and occasional heavy down pours in the west.
Some California shippers will rely on Florida and Mexico production to supplement California loadings, though bad weather in central Mexico in mid-November was complicating that crop.
This time of year California volume is unpredictable due to cold weather and number of daylight hours. With short days, cold nights and the threat of rain, volume is difficult to predict.
Florida strawberry shipments are increasing and should hit decent volume by next week from the Plant City, Fla. area. However, it will be the first of the year before peak volumes occur.
By the week of November 23rd, shipments from Watsonville, CA had mostly wound down for the year, as production shifted to Southern California. Ventura County is ramping up and Orange County will get underway soon.
Southern California citrus shipments – grossing about $4200 to Chicago.
Central and Southern Florida tomatoes, vegetables – grossing about $2300 to New York City.
Wintertime South American imports are underway ranging from Chilean blueberries to Peruvian fruit.
Chilean blueberry imports have started, but the first volume of containers by boat will not arrove until late December. Chilean blueberry imports typically occur from November through March.
U.S. imports of Chilean blueberries are expected to range between six and 18 percent more than the 2014-15 season. Last season Chile exported about 101.4 million tons of fresh blueberries, of which 67 percent were sent to the U.S. and Canadian markets. U.S. imports of Chilean fresh blueberries totaled 63.1 million tons in 2014-15, up from 49,7 million tons in 2013-2014.
Peruvian Grape Imports
Imported seeded grapes from Peru are arriving in volume at ports on the East Coast. Peruvian red grapes are said to have better quality than green grapes this season. California grape shipments are winding down this month.
Peruvian Avocado Imports
The Port of Savannah has added Peruvian avocados to its expanding portfolio of perishable goods. Importing avocados through Savannah is a first for the avocado industry Savannah allows faster access to receivers in the Southeast. Peruvian imports occur from May through September. Savannah’s Garden City Terminal offers 94 refrigerated container racks and 733 chassis plug-ins, powering 2,989 refrigerated boxes at a time. Another 10 racks will be complete by the end of the year, adding 240 slots for perishable goods.The Georgia Ports Authority moved nearly 140,000 20-foot equivalent container units of refrigerated cargo in fiscal year 2015. The GPA anticipates a 4.5 percent growth rate of refrigerated cargo in the next year.
Texas grapefruit shipments will increase significantly this season; Chilean grape imports are coming soon; while domestic apple loadings will be down in double digits.Texas grapefruit shipments account for about 75 percent of Texas’ citrus production, with oranges comprising most of the rest. Last season, Texas shipped 452,000 cartons, which is expected to increase to 580,000 in 2015-16. Unlike recent years, when the drought in the Lower Rio Grande Valley adversely affected production, this year there has been an abundance of rain.
Lower Rio Grande Valley citrus and imported Mexican mixed veggies, fruit and tomatoes – grossing about $2600 to Chicago.
Chilean Fruit Imports
As the Chilean summer fruit season gets underway, table grapes once again will be the leading commodity imported by the U.S. Last year, Chile shipped 356,691 tons of grapes to the U.S.
Last year, Chilean growers shipped 356,691 tons of grapes to the U.S. First arrivals to the U.S. will come in mid December, but significant volume will not happen until the New Year.
Apple Shipments
Washington’s apple shipments are declining in volume and the amount of apples in storage nationwide are also down. Washington’s fresh crop is now estimated at 116.2 million, 40-pound boxes, down about 1.5 percent from a month ago and about 18 percent from the final 2014 record season of 141.8 million boxes.
Yakima and Wenatchee Valley apple shippers have sold 19.6 million boxes of apples compared with 23.6 million a year ago and that leaves 96.6 million boxes to sell throughout the year. This compares to 118.2 million a year ago.
Nationally, there are 117.3 million, 42-pound boxes in storage, a 19 percent decrease from record inventories a year ago.
Michigan apple shipments – $3200 to Dallas.
Washington apple shipments – grossing about $4550 to Chicago.
More California walnut shipments are seen this year, plus lighter loadings of early season desert veggies. Also, a look at Florida tomato shipments.
Walnut production in California is slightly more than that of the previous season. But because exports to China are down because of duties imposed, this may actually result in more domestic shipments than last season. However, the amount of domestic shipments will be determined in part, if exports to Turkey and the Middle East replace of the China bound walnuts.
The forecast has walnut production at 575,000 tons, a one percent increase from last year.
Central San Joaquin Valley walnuts, kiwi, pomegranates, apples, etc. – grossing about $4000 to Dallas.
Desert Vegetable Shipments
Both the Salinas Valley and the Santa Maria district were wrapping up shipments early at the close of November. Combine that with the seasonal shift of broccoli, cauliflower and other items to Yuma, AZ and the Imperial Valley of California, where volume is lighter than normal, and we’re looking at shipping gaps. Good volume and steady shipments may not occur until after Christmas.
Deserts shipments still too light to get an accurate quote on truck rates.
Florida Tomato Shipments
South Florida is shipping grape, mature green and cherry tomatoes, primarily from the Homestead and Palmetto-Ruskin areas. However, temperatures that often have been running 15 to 20 degrees warmer than normal have reduced volume and sizing on the product.
For example, as of mid November, growers had harvested a little more than 1,158 40,000-pound units of mature greens compared to 1,383 units the same time last fall.
Central and South Florida tomatoes, mixed veggies – grossing about $2500 to New York City.
Northwest potato shipments are predicted to be down this year, primarily due to drought.
Production for Idaho, the state with the biggest production, is forecast at 130 million cwt. That’s a two percent drop from the previous season’s production. Likewise, production for Washington potato shipments are forecast at 100 million cwt, which is only a one percent decline from last year. Oregon potato shipments are forecast at 21.8 million cwt, which is a three percent drop. Production for the Northwest region is forecast at 252 million cwt.
While harvested area remained static or grew this year for the top-three producing states, lower yields contributed to lighter production. Washington, with 4,000 more acres harvested in 2015 than in 2014, had yields that were 13 cwt per acre lower. Likewise, Washington, with 5,000 more acres, had yields that were 25 cwt per acre lighter. Though harvested acreage remained unchanged in Oregon, yields were down 20 cwt per acre from 2014.
Some potatoes are not storing as well as others and Norkotahs are believed to be the most affected by last summer’s heat. Additionally, Burbanks can get misshapen tubers and can get too large, as a result of the heat. Hopefully, there will be good storage management to ensure trucker’s will be hauling and delivering good-quality product available through the storage season.
Washington’s Columbia Basin potatoes and onions – grossing about $5900 to Atlanta.
Twin Falls, Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5500 to New York City.