Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Growers estimate 12.7 percent more acres were planted in Idaho this year compared to last.
There will be enough supply to meet demand through the rest of the 2023-24 season due to higher yields, according to Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA, in a press release.
The North American Potato Market News reported growers produced 434.22 million cwt. of potatoes this season, about 35.48 million cwt. more than 2022 (cwt. is the abbreviation for hundredweight, which is roughly 100 pounds).
The warm summer months contributed to excellent quality and a high pack-out of No. 1 quality potatoes.
40- through 50-count potatoes will remain limited; 90- through 100-count will be readily available throughout the season.
Berry Fresh of Compton, CA is again bringing in Sweet Karoline blackberries from Mexico.
With blackberry supply from Mexico on the horizon, Sweet Karoline is forecasted to begin entering the market in late December, according to Berry Fresh. Heavier supply is anticipated in later February and volume will continue through spring, the release said.
“Let’s bring blackberries into the spotlight!” Jyoti Bhogal, vice president of sales and marketing for Berry Fresh, said in a news release. “We are excited about this year’s season and our plans to promote Sweet Karoline with our retailer partners and straight to the end customers as well. Customers are asking for this variety now, and we have plans to expand our distribution.”
Berry Fresh says that as more people add berries to their shopping list, varieties like Sweet Karoline help keep blackberries top of mind for both health and flavor enthusiasts.
Israeli company BDA/Dorot Farm, a grower group of fresh and sweet carrots, is launching its crop for the upcoming season in the North American region.
Dorot Farm supplies jumbo carrots to markets, foodservice and fresh-cut companies, according to a news release. The marketer provides cello carrots in 1-pound, 2-pound, 3-pound and 5-pound bags to major retail chains in the Northeast and Canada.
“The new crop from Dorot Farm looks good, and I’m very happy with the field’s conditions,” Ami Ben-Dror, CEO of BDA/Dorot Farm, said in the release. “We will be ready to deliver our new crop to all of our loyal customers around the world.”
BDA/Dorot Farm is a top exporter of fresh and sweet carrots around the world, exporting to North America, Europe, and Africa, according to the release.
The company’s shipping is handled through BDA Marketing Inc. of Melville, NY.
As of the first week of November, Peruvian grape exports to the U.S. totaled 10,295 tons, up 33 percent from 2022. The leading Peruvian exporters at this point are Ecosac Agrícola S.A.C., with 16 percent, and Sociedad Agrícola Rapel S.A.C., with 9 percent.
Also as of the first week of November, Peruvian grape shipments totaled 26,581 tons, 12 percent more than the same week last year.
With this, to date, shipments have already reached 111,521 tons, which has placed this season 54 percent ahead of last year, as reported by freshfruit.pe.
The early November totals revealed product was exported to 32 destinations, of which 3 accounted for 67 percent of all shipments. These were the U.S. with 39 percent of the volume, followed by the Netherlands with 20 percent, and the UK with 9 percent.
Shipments to the Netherlands totaled 5,246 tons, which was 22 percent higher than the same week last year. The leading Peruvian exporters were Ecosac Agrícola S.A.C., with 27 percent, and Pura Fruit Company S.A.C., with 8 percent.
To the UK, shipments of Peruvian grapes totaled 2,376 tons, which meant an increase of 2 percent compared to 2022. The most prominent exporters were Sociedad Agrícola Rapel S.A.C., with 19 percent, and Ecosac Agrícola S.A.C., with 18 percent.
Phoenix, AZ: Arizona is known as the winter lettuce capital of the U.S., providing Americans with an abundance of lettuce and leafy greens from November to March.
According to United States Department of Agriculture statistics, Arizona farmers grow approximately 25% of the total U.S. lettuce supply each year. On an annual basis, the leafy greens farming community in Arizona generates a $2 billion impact.
“Right now, Arizona farms are actively growing and harvesting all leafy greens from Iceberg and Romaine to spinach and spring mix.” said Teressa Lopez, Administrator of the Arizona LGMA program. “Arizona LGMA food safety audits will begin this week and continue regularly throughout our growing season.”
To celebrate the start of harvest, Arizona’s governor, Katie Hobbs proclaimed November 2023 as Arizona Leafy Greens Month. This is the 11h annual celebration, and during that time Arizona farmers have produced more than 99 billion servings of lettuce (based on the average production of 9 billion servings per year).
About Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement
Arizona LGMA works to protect public health by cultivating food safety practices, verifying on-farm compliance, utilizing data for improvement and empowering industry with tools to advance food safety. www.arizonaleafygreens.org
The Chilean Blueberry Committee, together with iQonsulting, have updated their export estimate for the 2023-2024 season, forecasting exports of 76,500 tons of fresh blueberries. This new figure reflects a decrease of 7% compared to the first estimate made in October, and a decrease of 13% from 2022-23.
Year-to-date shipments to the US are rapidly ramping up, with 276 tons exported during the first week of November. In total, 892 tons of fresh blueberries have been shipped to the U.S. this season, compared to just 357 at the same time last year.
Andrés Armstrong, executive director of the Blueberry Committee commented, “This new forecast takes into consideration the effect of the rains during the first two weeks of November, as well as other associated climatic events such as frost and hail. He pointed out that the fruit is developing and progressing similar to previous seasons, as are weekly exports. “We’re seeing a pattern similar to the average of recent seasons, which will generate an initial peak of more than 5 thousand tons in week 49. Meanwhile, the period of highest volumes, with up to 8 thousand tons weekly, will occur between Weeks 51-2023 and 03-2024,” he observed.
Armstrong reported that, to date, exports of fresh blueberries are 18% greater than last season, and “the inclusion of new varieties and strong decrease of non-recommended varieties are dominating our exports.” He also highlighted that, regarding the types of shipments, “air shipments have led exports to date with 1,422 tons and a growth of 170% compared to the same period last season. Maritime shipments are starting to increase, reaching 495 tons, which is 56% less than what was shipped during the same period last season”.
Favorable growing conditions and some increased volume should provide more loading opportunities for onions during 2023-24 than at least a couple of seasons.
Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, ID ships red, yellow and white onions. The company finished its harvest by early November in Washington, Idaho and Oregon.
The company has 15% to 20% more onions this year because of some additional acreage and good growing conditions.
Potandon Produce in Idaho Falls ships red onions year-round, white onions seasonally and some Spanish onions from Ontario.
The company is currently shipping onions from Idaho and Oregon and will source product from Texas, New Mexico and California later on. Potandon also attributes good weather and more acreage to increased volume.
Wilcox Fresh of Rexburg, OH grows onions in west Idaho and east Oregon and has worked with several farming families for many years.
The company is pleased with the size of the red, white and yellow onions and has high praise for the quality. The firm’s volume is similar to last year.
Super Starr International of Colima, Mexico will be entering the New Year with good volumes of cantaloupe, honeydew, and Hami melons. The firm papaya and melon grower, shipper, and processor.
The company experienced a great season last year and expects an even better season this winter with increased production.
For three generations, Super Starr has farmed in the U.S. and Mexico to produce year-round winter melons and papayas by growing, packing, and shipping in-house. The firm indicates that it controls the quality of its products from planting the initial seed to store shelves. The grower provides the only Fair-Trade-certified papayas on the market.
The total number of U.S. fresh apples in storage remaining to be shipped as of Nov. 1 is up 32.4% over a year ago.
U.S. Apple Association of Falls Church, VA recently released its November 2023 USAppleTracker, which indicates the United States industry is holding 190.7 million bushels of apples. This compares to November 2022’s total of 144 million bushels. This is 19.8% above the five-year average for Nov. 1.
Washington by far had the greatest state fresh apple holdings, with 152.3 million as of Nov. 1, 2023. New York is second with 14.9 million bushels, and Michigan is a close third, with 12.3 million. Pennsylvania has 5.4 million bushels. Oregon reports 942,000 bushels and no other state is close to one million.
By volume, Honeycrisp is the largest fresh apple variety in storage this November, with 30.2 million bushels. Gala is a close second, at 29.2 million bushels and Red Delicious is third at 26.4 million. Granny Smith and Fuji register 22.5 million and 18.3 million, respectively.
In November 2022, U.S. fresh apple holdings were 103.0 million bushels. In November 2021, the total was 115.6 million.
Processing apple holdings totaled 50.6 million bushels, 23.2 percent more than last year on November 1.
Fresh apple holdings in February 2023 totaled 140.2 million bushels, 36.1% more than the inventories reported for November 2022.
This report captures more than 95% of the national storage capacity. The statistics are compiled by USApple.
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.