Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
After two consecutive years of lower-than-normal sweet potato shipments, North Carolina appears to back on track this season.
Weather factors cut into acreage and ultimately shipments, but the Tarheel state is forecast to have 66,000 acres for the 2014-15 season. Of these total plantings, it is predicted 65,000 of those acres will be harvested, equal to almost half of the nation’s crop.
For the 2013-14 season there were only 54,000 acres of sweet potatoes planted.
The short crop last year resulted in some growers halting shipments in late August after running out of supplies of stored sweet potatoes, before they could harvest and cure their 2014-15 crop. Curing takes five to 10 days, and then they are stored at 55-60 degrees for up to a year.
On September 14 about 27 percent of the sweet potato crop in North Carolina had been harvested. Plantings hit a high for the 2011-12 season in the United States with 134,000 acres planted. Of that total 65,000 acres were in the Tarheel state.
Acreage planted dropped for the 2012-13 season to 130,500 acres nationwide, with 63,000 acres planted in North Carolina.
Among the major sweet potato shipping areas in North Carolina, are such rural towns as Chabourn, Faison, Sims, Snow Hill and Wilson.
North Carolina sweet potato shipments – grossing about $2250 to Miami.
Mississippi sweet potato shipments – grossing about $1100 to Atlanta.
Louisiana sweet potato shipments – grossing about $1900 to Chicago.
California strawberries shipments are shifting to Ventura County, while the state’s citrus volume is predicted to be down this season.
While California strawberry shipments got off to a roaring and early start at the beginning of they year, the late season shipments are well below normal as a result. Now the situation finally moving back to increased volume as the season shifts from the Watsonville area in the north to Ventura County in Southern California.
California Citrus Shipments
The estimates for the 2014-15 California citrus shipping season stands at 78 million 40-pound cartons, which would make it the smallest crop since the freeze year of 2008-09. However, California Citrus Mutual thinks the crop is even smaller than the USDA’s estimate, since it does not take into account losses due to the current drought conditions.
“After canvassing a significant number of producers and shippers, CCM believes the crop estimate is high,” CCM President Joel Nelsen said in a recent statement. “We know acreage has been removed from production” due to the drought, but getting figures for a range has been difficult. We know the lack of water has affected fruit size during the growths stages, but surveying 126,000 acres is almost impossible. We also agree there is more fruit on the tree as compared to last year” in terms of the number of pieces of fruit. “However fruit size is a concern. All of this affects the number of cartons ultimately packed.”
Unlike Navels, Mandarins should be up in volume this year because of more acreage in production.
California supplies 85 percent of the nation’s fresh citrus,
Southern California Citrus – grossing $5600 to Atlanta.
Here’s a round up of loading opportunities from three leading potato shipping states — Idaho, Colorado and Wisconsin.
Idaho Potato Shipments
Most of Idaho’s potatoes are grown and shipped from the eastern part of the state. Loadings got off to a slower start than hoped for this season, but are now picking up. Acreage is believed to be up about 8,000 acres and that has a lot of shippers in other areas of the country gnashing their teeth because prices are in the tank. So there will be no shortage of spuds for hauling this season out of Idaho — unless something major like the late blight virus hits. Idaho, easily is the nation’s largest potato shipper. It is currently moving about 1,700 truckload equivalents per week – and would be shipping even more product, if there was not a shortage of trucks.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5800 to New York City; $3200 to Chicago.
Colorado Potato Shipments
In the San Luis Valley of Colorado, there has been an eight percent increase in acreage this season, or about 5,000 acres more by some estimates. The state as a whole has about 60,200 acres of spuds in the ground, of which about 54,200 acres is in the San Luis Valley. Shipments of mostly russets are underway. Colorado is averaging about 300 truckloads of potatoes being shipped a week, but volume is expected to increase.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $2300 to San Antonio.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments
About 500 truckload equivalents of potatoes are being shipped from Central Wisconsin each week.
Wisconsin potatoes – grossing about $3150 to Atlanta.
As North American shipments of fruit ranging from mangoes to avocados and blueberries come to a seasonal end, the slack is picked up with similar importedfruit arrivals at various U.S. ports.
South American Mango Imports
The first Brazilian mangos arrived at the Port of Miami September 5, three weeks later than normal to due weather factors during the growing season. Volume should peak in October with decent supplies in November. Ecuador is also late. Initial shipments by boat have just started with the Ataulfos (yellow-skinned mangos). The red fruit will begin shipping around October 15. Following Ecuador, Peru should enter the U.S. market with fruit by early January. Peru should have a good supply of mangos throughout January and well into February.
Chilean Avocado Imports
U.S. importers are estimating about 60 million pounds of avocados will arrive by boat at American ports during the 2014-15 season. Limited amounts of the imported fruit have already arrived as seasons have just wrapped up for California and Peru. The Chilean avocados are joining Mexican product, which is now cranking up. About 70 percent of the Chilean avocados arrive by boat at ports on the West Coast. East Coast ports accept about 25 percent of the fruit, while around five percent comes into the Gulf of Mexico headed to ports in Texas.
Port of Long Beach imported fruit – grossing $5500 to Chicago.
South American Blueberry Imports
Blueberries from Argentina and Peru have recently started arriving at American ports and should continue into January.
About 9,000 tons of “blues” from Argentina came to the United States last season, up from about 7,700 tons a year earlier.
Last season was the first time Peruvian blueberries had been imported to the U.S. The country expects to have about 12,000 acres of blues by 2020, and imports by the U.S. are expected to increase each year for the foreseeable future.
Georgia fall vegetable shipments are typically more moderate, but steady. In Wisconsin, the potato harvest continues and shipping is under way.
Eggplant shipping got underway from Southern Georgia in mid September. There is normal volume and shipments should continue steady in the weeks ahead.
Georgia grower-shippers are preparing for normal fall seasons with sweet corn and green beans. Corn is expected to start in late September and early October while growers typically begin harvesting beans in early to mid-October.
Meanwhile, Georgia sweet corn should finish shipments in mid-November and make for a seamless transition to Florida production in late November.
South Georgia green bean shipments are expected to get under way in mid-October.
Georgia cabbage shipments are shaping up to be steady, and normal in volume. The first loadings should begin in early to mid November and continue through December.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments
Wisconsin is expecting average volume and shipments this season, similar to a year ago. While loadings are underway from the central part of the state, the harvest will continue until around October 10.
Nationally, there will be plenty of spuds for hauling in the newly started season, which will continue into next summer. Idaho has planted 8,000 additional potato acres this season.
Wisconsin potatoes – grossing about $4100 to Boston.
Michigan potato shipments will soon be underway, although fresh spud volume is much smaller than those for processing.
Approximately 70 percent of Michigan’s produce is for chip production. During the 1980s, the industry underwent a transition away from potatoes slated for french fry processors toward providing long-term storage for the potato chip industry.
Michigan supplies almost every potato chip manufacturer east of the Mississippi River 10 months out of the year.
Approximately 20 percent of the state’s potato crop is shipped to the fresh market.
The remainder of the crop is split between processed potato products and seeds for the following year’s crop.
When it comes to the fresh market, Michigan growers tend to tout quality over quantity. Farmers find it difficult to compete with the higher volumes of potatoes coming from states like Idaho. For example, Idaho potato shipments increased by an additional 40,000 acres in 2012. The amount of land Idaho farmers added that year nearly matched the total acreage dedicated to Michigan’s potato crop.
Statewide, Michigan potato shipments have increased 17 percent over the last eight years, up from 1.4 billion pounds in 2004 to approximately 1.6 billion pounds in 2012. Michigan potato production is spread across more than 47,000 acres. About 21 growers are active in West Michigan and more than half of them (12) are located in Montcalm County, northeast of Grand Rapids.
Michigan vegetables – grossing about $2500 to Oklahoma City.
While California’s overall fruit shipments in the fall may not match those of summertime, there are some exception when looking at individual commodities. Here is a round up on leading California fruit shipments this fall.
Grape Shipments
At least 60 percent of California grape shipments occur after Labor Day and continue into January. Since California is easy the biggest table grape shipping state, we are talking about a lot of fruit. The shipping season actually started last May from the desert and the total season forecast calls for 116.5 million, 19-pound cartons to be shipped. That is less than one million cartons away from last season record setting shipments.
Citrus Shipments
Larger volumes of tangerinees (which includes mandarins) are forecast this fall. Numbers are not yet available, but last season there were 26 million, 40-pound cartons of tangerines shipped….Navel orange loadings should become available sometime in October, with full volume coming in November — and in time for Thanksgiving shipments.
Kiwi Shipments
Kiwifruit loadings are predicted to be about 7 million tray equivalents, similar to last season.
Pomegranate Shipments
Loadings of pomegranates have been increasing 20 percent annually in recent years, and volume once again should be bigger – estimated at 6 million 25-pound box equivalents.
Apple Shipments
California apple shipments pale in comparison to that of Washington state. Shipments have been underway since late July and will last into November.
Strawberry Shipments
Peak shipments from the Watsonville area occurred during July and August. There still good volume, but seasonally lower amounts are still occurring there. In October, strawberry shipments will shift to Oxnard and the Baja California peninsula of Mexico.
Watsonville strawberries, Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $5600 to Cleveland.
Central San Joaquin Valley table grapes, stone fruit, vegetables – grossing about $6,600 to Orlando.
Today, we’re going to bounce around the U.S. a little bit. First, we’ll give a glimpse at loading opportunities as the volume increases for Eastern apple shipments. We’ll also go to Colorado and the new onion shipping season, before finishing up with a look at the annual growing volume with sweet onions from Peru at various American ports.
Average shipments of apples from the three leading Eastern states are expected this season, and loadings have started in recent weeks.
New York Apple Shipments
The Empire State had a big crop last season and will be down only slightly this season at 30 million bushels. Loadings originate out of the Hudson and Champlain Valleys, as well as from central and western areas of the state.
Hudson Valley apples – grossing about $3400 to Atlanta.
Pennsylvania Apple Shipments
Pennsylvania also is expecting normal apple shipments, with a forecast of 11.8 million bushels for the season. Initial light volume started in mid August with early varieties of fruit from towns such as Gardners and Fairfield.
Virginia Apple Shipments
Some weather issues should result in Virginia apple shipments being about 75 t0 80 percent of a full crop. Shipments originate from communities ranging from Charlottesville to Timberville. Virginia expects to ship about 4,285 bushels this season.
Colorado Onion Shipments
Colorado onions shipments have moved into good volume from the Northeastern part of the state. Loadings should remain fairly steady into January.
Peruvian Onion Imports
Imports of sweet onions from Peru are now arriving at various U.S. Ports. Good, steady volume of Peruvian onion shipments should be available from ports well into the first quarter of 2015. Over the past decade or so, Peru has come to fill a void with sweet onions, because domestic sweet onion supplies are pretty much depleted by this time of the year.
Weather related issues will cut into potato hauling opportunities this season in Idaho, Colorado, Wisconsin and the Red River Valley, but there will still be ample hauls available for produce truckers.
The effects of summer rain and hail will likely put a dent in potato loadings this season, but growers are optimistic at the beginning of harvests. A few Colorado growers started digging during the past week, but the harvest is just ready to get into full swing. Around 20 percent of Colorado acreage received hail damage this summer, but most of it was minor. It only means a bumper crop has turned into a more normal crop.
Late rains in Wisconsin were complicating the start of the 2014 harvest. Some diggings in Wisconsin started about three weeks ago, and rains are expected to lower yields, but more normal potato shipments are still expected this season.
Central Wisconsin potatoes – grossing about $1100 to Chicago.
Similar circumstance are being heard from Idaho potato shippers. While its still not known how much, yields, volume and loadings will be affected, in most years it’s a darned good thing for everyone, if fewer, not more potatoes are coming out of Idaho. The state is just now entering volume shipments.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5600 to New York City.
In the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, the nation’s largest shipper of dry land red potatoes should provide decent loading opportunities this season, but no one is predicting any records for volume. Most Red River Valley potato shippers see an average sized crop, if not somewhat below average. It will probably be October before good volume is available for hauling out of the valley. In the meantime, there are some loading opportunities for red potatoes out of Long Prairie, MN, although some of those spuds are delivered to the valley for washing, packing and shipping.
Long Prairie potatoes – grossing about $2800 to Dallas.
Here’s a look at two very different hauling opportunities — red potatoes from North Dakota and Minnesota, plus the amazing growth of avocado shipments.
It used to be produce truckers rarely had avocados very high on their list of items to haul, but that has changed over the past decade or so. This year about 1.8 billion pounds (450,000 truck load equvialents) will be shipped to U.S. markets. which includes both domestic production and imports. This compares to 500 million pounds in 2000. Last June set a record for monthly shipments with 180 million pounds of avocado shipped. In 2015, loadings should hit the 2-billion-pound mark.
While California U.S. avocado shipments (which should end up at about 315 million pounds this year) are winding down with only about 20 percent of its crop left, Mexico is ramping up, with volume loadings headed to the U.S. starting this month. During Mexico’s 2013-14 season it shipped 1.1 billion pounds, with the U.S. being its biggest market. This season Mexican avocado shipments are expected to increase 20 percent over the previous season.
Mexican avocados and other produce crossing through South Texas – grossing about $4400 to New York City.
North Dakota/Minnesota Potatoes
Big Lake, MN red potato shipments are pretty much finished, while loadings out of Long Prairie, MN should continue for another two weeks….Both of these areas annually serve as a prelude to the largest growing and shipping area in the country. That would be just to the west in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota. This marks the 20th year since this writer first visited these northern plains, which has the most beautiful, black soil for growing non-irrigated red potatoes anywhere. The only thing better than the soil in the Red River Valley are the people – they are great, hard working, honest and friendly!
The Red River Valley is expecting normal, or at least fairly close to normal shipments this season. The harvest has just started and will continue through October, if not going into November, depending upon the first heavy frost. This is when volume shipments pick up.
Big Lake, MN red potatoes – grossing about $3000 to Dallas.