Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Unlike a year ago a more normal harvest for California cherries is setting the stage for a much better season, according to cherry shippers.
Oppy, based in Vancouver, B.C. notes the California cherry industry is still estimating a crop in the 8 [million-] to 9 million-box range, just slightly down from last season. But also of importance is a more regular season starting from the end of April compared to closer to the end of May like last year. This season also should have better sizing and overall quality of fruit.
Oppy expects its harvest of California cherries to start at the tail end of April with its southern grower and then extend through to the midpoint of June as Oppy shifts into its northern orchards around the Lodi area.
Other shippers agreed the outlook for California cherries is positive.
Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA also sees its season starting towards the end of April. This will be much earlier in contrast to last year’s record late start. Volume will slowly increase through early May, building into peak volumes approaching Memorial Day and through early June.
King Fresh Produce LLC, of Kingsburg, CA., expects to begin harvest of California cherries about May 1.
Early indications appear that the California cherry crop will yield good volume.
At Rivermaid Trading Co., shipments for California cherries will start earlier than last year and closer to historical norms. That is welcome news since last season’s start was late and overlapped heavily with the Northwest cherries.
Unlike last year, California shippers will supply substantial cherry volume in May.
The season’s first two shipments of Zespri kiwifruit from New Zealand are expected to arrive at the Port of Philadelphia and the Port of Los Angeles by the end of April, according to the company. The fruit shipments, including Green and SunGold Kiwifruit, should be in retail stores by mid-May.
“We are heading into the new season as the #1 selling kiwi brand for the fourth consecutive year,” said Darren LaMothe, Zespri’s General Manager, North America, in a press release.
“We’ve had great weather and growing conditions and are expecting an exceptional-tasting crop this year.”
West Mexico spring produce shipments are looking up with improved weather following a tough fall/winter season. There are increased supplies and more reasonable prices.
Earth Blend LLC of Nogales, AZ reported January and February supplies were disrupted with low yields for some growers.
The company had a slow start from Hermosillo, Mexico. Cucumbers got underway in late March 20, with watermelons coming on in early April. Honeydew melons kicked off the second week of April, with roma tomatoes showing up in mid-April.
IPR Fresh, Rio Rico, Ariz. adverse weather ranging from hurricanes to rain limited bell pepper shipments. The spring products for IPR Fresh includes red, orange and yellow bell peppers, European cucumbers and watermelons.
Rich River Produce LLC, of Rio Rico, AZ notes water issues remain in certain growing areas, including Culiacan in northern Mexico.
Some growers cut their production 30% to 50% and were shipping only two or three loads of cucumbers or bell peppers a day rather than their usual six or seven loads.
Certain areas, such as Hermosillo, Guaymas and Obregon, had ample water, but cold weather slowed production.
Rich River Produce will transition to Baja California in the summer and focus on chili peppers and cucumbers.
Ciruli Bros. LLC of Rio Rico had good supplies of Champagne mangoes by the end of March.
The company has cucumbers, eggplant, squash and bell peppers for spring shipping.
Ciruli expected volume to be up in the spring, especially on mangoes. Big demand in the U.S. has resulted in double-digit growth in mango sales.
Ciruli Bros. debuted its Rowdy Rabbit organic label last summer and offers an organic line that includes eggplant, squash, bell peppers, colored bell peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Honeydews, seedless watermelons, mini seedless watermelons, kabocha squash, butternut squash and all colors of table grapes will be among the core products shipping from MAS Melons & Grapes of Rio Rico this spring.
Delta Fresh Produce of Nogales will continue to ship roma and round tomatoes and cucumbers out of Sinaloa this spring and will complement them with production on romas and cucumbers out of Sonora. The company also will have blueberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, zucchini, yellow squash, gray squash, green bell peppers and table grapes in Nogales and, for the first time, asparagus that ships from Yuma, AZ.
Chelsea, MA – Morning Kiss Organic will soon be shipping organic broccoli crowns as part of the company’s complete line of organic produce. Pack sizes are 14 counts and crowns, however pack size can be customized according to customer request. Choosing organic means all Morning Kiss Organic broccoli is grown without chemical residues by sustainable, non-GMO farms. Morning Kiss Organic works to source produce from East Coast farms to reduce spoilage and carbon footprint.
North Carolina broccoli crown loadings will begin in late April.
New Sprout Organic Farms in Asheville, NC is an important growing partner for broccoli. New Sprout Farms is a leader in organic produce, and works in partnership with 10 other organic farms.
“At New Sprout, it is our goal to provide the freshest east coast organic produce to our customers, that’s why we harvest to order,” says Bridget Kennedy, Director of Sales & Grower Relations at New Sprout Organic Farms. “We do strategic crop planning with our growers to match our customers’ needs. Planning and partnership is key to keeping our farms financially sustainable,” says Kennedy.
“Working with organic growers like New Sprout Farms is part of our commitment to sourcing the best produce from East Coast farmers,” says Mike Guptill of Morning Kiss Organic. “Working with East Coast farmers helps to reduce environmental impact by freight and also helps to ensure we have the freshest produce for our retail partners and consumers.”
About Morning Kiss Organic
Morning Kiss Organic is the organic banner for DiSilva Fruit, Gold Bell and Arrowfarms. Utilizing just-in-time deliveries allows Morning Kiss Organic to operate efficiently, maintaining freshness and optimizing the supply chain. By meeting consumer trends with smaller pack sizes, food waste can be reduced. Morning Kiss Organic and its parent companies aim to manage demand anticipating and buffering for disruptions within the supply chain and market volatility.
Peruvian avocado exports started in January, but the 2024 crop experienced small volumes of fruit from the inter-Andean valleys, especially compared to the large volumes that are estimated to leave the country in April and May, according the Association of Hass Avocado Producers and Exporters of Peru (ProHass).
As reported by Agraria, about 93 percent of the avocados exported from Peru are the Hass variety, the most exported in the world. In 2022, 554,000 tons of Peruvian Hass avocados were exported; in 2023, there were 558,000; reflecting growth of about 1 percent.
This year Peru expects to export about 468,000 tons of Hass avocados, which would mean a drop of 16 percent compared to last year, although it could be larger. There have been unfavorable weather conditions for cultivation.
Since there are no longer new areas of expansion, each climatic blow will be felt in the export figures; when it is growing. The adverse weather events are hidden by the new hectares that enter, but Peru is no longer expanding as it did.
There are several factors that are contributing to less overall volume this season. Mexico is already finishing its heavy volume of the season, with less production; California comes with smaller fruit and a drop of between 20-30 percent; Chile is no longer a player that moves the needle anywhere in the world, as they consume everything they produce and have problems with the availability of water; Spain volume is being impacted because of a water issue; Portugal has already stopped its growth, they also had problems with water availability; Some African countries such as Senegal, Tanzania, Morocco, and South Africa are growing, but they do not compete with the Peruvian avocado, as they go to other destinations such as the Middle East, they also go to Europe.
U.S. domestic citrus shipments are down overall this year due to lack of volume out of Florida, combined with cost of truck rates from the West Coast. This has resulted in East Coast buyers turning to imports.
The U.S. imports citrus mainly from Mexico, as well as Chile, Peru, and South Africa. In 2023, Mexico exported 1.6 billion pounds of citrus to the United States.
International Fruit Company of Hammonton, NJ reports imports are increasing from Morocco primarily due to the low costs. This year, production of Nadorcott mandarins in Morocco has increased by 20% in volume.
“The company reports if you want to ship fruit from the West to the East Coast, it can cost $10,000. However, from the East to the West, rates go down to $6,000.
East Coast buyers are looking to Morocco, Egypt, or even South Africa because costs are much lower.
There is a similar situation with Argentine lemons. It comes in through the East Coast at a competitive price, and it’s much cheaper to market there directly.
East Coast imports typically will reach as far west as Texas.
There is a good supply of lemons in California at the moment, so exporters would rather send their fruit to the East Coast where prices are more competitive.
Comparing total import volumes, the balance between what comes into the East Coast vs. the West is about 80 percent to 20 percent, company notes.
Import volumes to the West increase only during the California off-season from around May and October. During the season, local producers supply much of the market.
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA is forecasting big volume and shipments for domestic blueberries this season.
“We’re forecasting a strong harvest of domestic conventional and organic blueberries in the immediate months, from several different growing regions including California, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. This will all be followed by a large blueberry crop coming from the Pacific Northwest growing regions in early July,” shared Thomas Smith, director of sales at California Giant Berry Farms.
Conventionally grown Florida blueberries have recently begun harvesting and peak volumes are expected by mid-to-late April. Georgia production started in early April and will hit peak production in early May. Concurrently, the North Carolina growing region will add to volumes that bolster the southeast season.
Promotable volumes from the opposite side of the states—California’s Central Valley—will provide ample supplies of fresh blueberries from mid-May through mid-to-late June.
California Giant’s Oxnard California organic blueberry crop has been harvesting since early 2024 and hit peak production volume in early April, before a steady decline in May. The Central Valley organic blueberry crop will begin peak production in late April with production continuing through May.
“We’re on the right track to have a very good supply of high-quality blueberries throughout the domestic season,” added Smith.
Through the shared industry goal to drive significant increases in blueberry consumption, California Giant continues to deliver the best berry experience by providing a year-round supply of sustainably grown fresh berries that represent the highest standards for quality and consistency.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA GIANT BERRY FARMS
At California Giant Berry Farms, our year-round supply of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries set the standard for quality and consistency and provides retailers, foodservice, and consumers with the best berry experience. Over four decades, we have evolved into a global
family united by a passion for delivering excellence.
California avocado shipments are estimated to be down about 12 percent from last season. However, McDaniel Fruit Co., baseded in Fallbrook, CA, does not expect to see a decline in its production.
California is estimated to have 208 million pounds this season.
The grower/shipper/packer reveals with its growing partners, thousands of new trees are planted every year in California. So, while the California avocado industry is expected to be down, McDaniel expects to have the same volume of fruit as last year if not more.
The company also sees better sizing than last year during the peak shipping months of April, May and June and into July and August.
During the next few months, McDaniel Fruit will be shipping avocados from Mexico, Peru and Colombia, as well as from California. Peru is expected to be a significant player this summer and Colombia is also a point of origin with increasing supplies.
Weather and other factors have caused a few hick ups with imported Mexican produce so far this year, while overall volume has been perhaps a little lower, but decent.
Horton Fruit Co. Inc., based in Louisville, KY, also has an office in Irving, TX. It reports the 2023-24 Mexican produce season has been very difficult, with volume affected, resulting in some of the highest markets on record for tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and squash.
Hurricanes late last year adversely affected plantings, plus low water levels in reservoirs in the Mexican state of Sinaloa and on the Rio Grande created uncertainty over water availability.
For late February, those price levels are unheard of, Wilkins said.
But overall, harvesting and transportation delays have been rare this season.
Horton Fruit handles avocados, bell peppers and cucumbers on a nearly year-round basis.
Between central Mexico, Sinaloa and some of the other areas Horton Fruit is mostly going year-round with tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers and cucumbers.
Primo Trading Services of McAllen, TX, reports Mexican onion acreage has decreased due to the lack of enough water.
Due to this problem the company expects fewer imports by the U.S. as well as a very strong Mexico domestic onion market. Primo harvested its first onions in early February], and will continue until mid-to-late April.
Northwest U.S. onion supplies were also at historically low levels in February, which was supporting high prices.
California citrus growers are expecting average production volume for all products this season,
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) reports it depends on the variety, with
Navels being up about 5% from the prior season, which was one of the lowest seasons the industry has experienced.
Lemon volumes are expected to decrease. A January forecast by the USDA reduced the initial projected volume from 23 to 20 million boxes for the state.
The on going mandarin crop ongoing is projected to decline from 23 to 22 million boxes.
Heavy rains from last year, after years of drought, are resulting in excellent fruit sizes this year.
Compared to the last couple of years, CCM reports this season started better than anticipated.