Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Everyone from produce truckers, to produce shippers and consumers a like can’t wait for spring given the wicked winter it’s been for much of the country. The further into March we get the more volume and available loading opportunities will be, particularly with Southeastern produce shipments.
For example, Nicaraguan mangoes will be arriving in heaviest volume at South Florida ports, although some will be delivered to ports int he Northeast.
Florida blueberry shipments are just starting and will work their way northward in the state, before giving away to south Georgia blueberries in late April. Strong volume is expected in part because of a late Easter (April 20) that is closer to Mother’s Day (May 11). Florida expects to ship 25 million pounds of “blues” this season, a 14 percent increase over a year ago. Florida should peak the second and third weeks of April.
Georgia blueberry volume is also showing significant increases each year.
However, the big push comes in Florida in April with a host of mixed vegetable items reaching peak volume, particularly from southern and central parts of Florida. Good volume should continue into May.
In Georgia, Vidalia sweet onion shipments will begin in light volume in late April. Vidalia onion shipments could be down about 20 percent this year. Central and southern Georgia are currently shipping moderate amounts of greens ranging from kale to collard. Cucumbers, squash and other veggies will start maturing in April.
Florida mixed veggies, tomatoes and blueberries – grossing about $3100 to New York City.
Opportunities for South Texas produce loads have been increasing over the years, but we haven’t seen nothin’ yet. Produce truckers will have a lot more chances for Lower Rio Grande Valley produce loads than ever.
The reasons are two-fold. First, more fruits and vegetables are being grown in Mexico, with many of the operations financed by U.S. produce companies. Second, the completion of a Mexican highway between West Mexico’s Mazatln and Eastern Mexico’s Matamoros is reducing transit times to South Texas warehouses. This also is cutting mileage and reducing freight costs for produce receivers thoughout the eastern half of the United States and Canada.
40,000-pound shipments of produce through Texas ports soared from 101,400 truckloads in 2007 to 159,482 truckloads in 2012, an increase of 58 percent.
Much of the produce used to go through Nogales, AZ and still does. During this same period, Arizona ports had 112,328 truckloads in 2007 and increased to 130,022 by 2012, a 16 percent hike. Additionally, at California ports there were 43,336 truckloads of produce crossing in 2007, which increased to 61,716 truckloads in 2012, up 42 percent.
Based on these trends of the last five years, a USDA study projects total Mexican imports at U.S. ports will hit 470,000 truckloads by 2020, an increase of 32 percent. Texas ports are projected to grow to 260,000 truckloads, a 62 percent increase.
There are also plans by Mexico to make improvements to Mexican Federal Highway 40 connecting Mazatlan and Reynosa, the latter, which is located just across the river from McAllen and Pharr, TX. This could increase Mexican produce imports to South Texas another 73 percent by 2020.
Texas produce and Mexican produce crossing into the Lower Rio Grande Valley – grossing about $3200 to Chicago.
While much of the nation has been in an icy deep freeze, warmer than normal temperature in California have been excellerating growth of winter mixed vegetables on the West Coast and in the desert. The only problem is the lousy weather in so much of the country has stifled demand for California vegetable shipments.
Veggies ranging from head lettuce to romaine and broccoli continuet to be shipped from California’s Imperial Valley and the Yuma district. At times it isn’t the best quality, so make sure your receiver knows what kind of quality is being delivered to help reduce problems such as claims with deductions, or rejections.
You should expect a seasonal transition of desert vegetables to the Central San Joaquing Valley around the middle of March.
California strawberryshipments are coming out of Ventura County, Southern California and on a more limited basis from the Santa Maria District. Rains last week in Southern California resulted in some damage, so keep an eye out of off grade are mariginally grade berries at least throught this week.
Coastal California blueberry shipments should start ramping up the last week of March with a peak in mid-April followed by the Central Valley through June.
Desert vegetables grossing – about $6000 to New York City.
Total potato loadings from U.S. shipping areas are expected to be down five percent for the 2013-14 shipping season, but spud haulers shouldn’t really notice a difference, since it is such a large crop. A similar sitution exists with Canadian potato shipments.
Overall, the two countries combined means there are only three percent fewer potatoes for loading in North America. The total is still a huge 501 million cwt. (per hundred weight).
Of that amount, about 398 million cwt. of the potatoes will be shipped from U.S. production areas than the previous season, according to USDA statistics. Canada will provide about 103 million cwt. of loads, two percent more than the previous year.
The U.S. had about 942,000 acres of potatoes planted, down from about 1 million acres the year before. However, yields rose from 423 cwt to 427 cwt per acre. Acreage also was down in Canada but yields were up significantly, rising from 274 cwt to 292 cwt per acre.
Here’s a glimpse at a few of the major potato shipping states.
Idaho Potato Shipments – The state ships a lot of spuds by rail, but trucks still transport the majority of the loads. Most pick ups orginate from the Upper Valley and the Twin Falls – Burley District. Idaho is averaging around 1,650 truckload equivalents of potatoes being loaded each week.
You should gross about $4350 to Atlanta.
Colorado Potato Shipments – The San Luis Valley is averaging nearly 700 truck loads of potatoes per week.
You should gross about $4100 to New York City.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments – Most loads are originating from shippers within a 50 mile radius or so of Stevens Point in the Central part of the state.
You should gross around $1400 to Cleveland.
Washington Potato Shipments
Spud loadings are originating out of the Columbia Basin and just across the state line in Oregon’s Umatilla Basin. There’s about 325 loads of potatoes a week soming out of here. They are also shipping even more onions than spuds – about 800 loads a week.
You should gross about $3000 to Chicago.
Mexician produce is causing a flood of volume crossing the U.S. border. In fact it is so much product, combined with lousy winter weather spanning much of the US, it is killing demand (in other words consumers aren’t buying as much and retailers aren’t ordering as much).
A main concern in this situation is some shippers will do just about anything to sell their product before it rots. That can mean rolling loads of produce unsold — in other words on consignment. This too often results produce truckers having to change destinations, facing more drops than originally told, etc.
This makes it especially important you are dealing with good, honest shippers, truck brokers, receivers – to make sure you are getting fairly compensated for any additional mileage, drops, etc.
West Mexico vegetables came on strong in February as delayed volumes of tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers finally started crossing at Nogales, AZ and in South Texas. Shippers, meanwhile, were facing poor demand thanks to a series of winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast.
One example is peak supplies of romas are now hitting Nogales three weeks later than normal.
After a lot of cold weather, replantings, etc, the warm weather in Mexico is resulting in big volumes. However, the crappy wether continues in much of the US.
As spring approaches there also big volume with eggplant, vine ripe tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers. This situation is expected to continue for at least another two months.
Mexican produce crossing the border at Nogales – grossing about $3600 to Chicago.
The latest forecast Florida citrus shipments shows increases for grapefruit and tangerines, a decline in tangelo volume, but a steady movement for oranges, which is a turn around of recent reports.
The reversal follows declines of the Sunshine State’s citrus loadings since the USDA first began reporting this season’s surveys last November. In its February report, USDA estimates the state’s volume on grapefruit and tangerines will increase by 3percent each while tangelos are reported to plunge by 20 percent. While white grapefruit production remains consistent to the January forecast at 4.5 million equivalent cartons, the USDA increased red grapefruit volume by 500,000 boxes to 12.5 million equivalent cartons.
About 19 percent of white grapefruit and 36 percent of colored fruit has been harvested. Early tangerine volume remains unchanged while the honey tangerine volume was incresed 100,000 cartons to 1.7 million boxes. Midseason oranges and late season valencia oranges remain unchanged at 115 million equivalent cartons. Navel production is estimated at 1.9 million cartons, consistent with previous reports.
Growers are 87 percent finished harvesting navels, which ship predominantly fresh, while 75 percent of production of the early and midseason rows has completed harvesting. Tangelo forecast has been cut by 200,000 boxes to 800,000 cartons.
Although the majority of Florida’s oranges go through processed channels, 65 percent percent of its navels, 40 percent of its grapefruit and 63 percent of its tangerines are shipped fresh. About 10 percent of the state’s 136 million equivalent cartons of citrus ship fresh.
Central Florida citrus – grossing about $2500 to New York City.
From New York state to the Appalachian States and in Michigan, here is a round up of some loading opportunities.
After devastating freeze losses in 2012, New York apple shipments are enjoying a very strong comeback season, while expecting a record volume exceeding 32 million boxes. Loadings reported brisk, averaging around 250 truck loads per week. While the Hudson Valley leads apple shipments, loadings also occur from the Champlain Valley, Central and Western areas of the state. New York shippers expect a relatively normal end to its season when some companies will finish shipping in late May or June, while others will continue shipping into July.
New York also is shipping storage onions, led by Orange County, with around 150 truck loads are being shipped weekly. Additonally Western New York is shipping cabbage.
New York cabbage – grossing about $1600 to New York City.
Michigan Produce Shipments
In a similar situation to New York, the state of Michigan has made a major rebound this season with apples. It is moving similar volume compared to New York as well, averaging around 250 truck loads per week. Michigan also is shipping a moderate amount of potatoes, along with light volumes of onions. A majority of Michigan winter produce shipments originate in the Western part of the state.
Michigan apples – grossing about $3300 to Dallas.
Appalachian Apple Shipments
The apple shipping region known as the Appalachian District comprises portions of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. There is light, but steady volume with apples being loading here.
Gosh! March arrives this Saturday. That means St. Patrick’s Day will be only a couple of weeks off. That also means as we enter March it will be the biggest period for cabbage shipments.
We’ll also take a peek at a few other commodities and areas where loadings should be available.
While cabbage growers in Southern Florida were expected to produce normal, high-quality crops, Northern Florida was hit by freezes. In Texas, most cabbage originates from the Winter Garden District just south of San Antonio. Volume is expected to be down 30 percent this season.
Sweet Potato Shipments
Cabbage isn’t the only item hit by weather. Sweet potato shipments are down this winter. North Carolina acreage is off 10 percent, and there’s less product for hauling out of California as well. Similar situations exist in Mississippi and Louisiana. There also are sweet potato shipments from Arkansas, especially in the Northeast part of the state.
Eastern North Carolina sweet potatoes – grossing about $1800 to New York City.
Potato Shipments
After a slow beginning to the season, exacerbated by truck shortages, red potato growers in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota are back on track and see increased movment as we approach St. Patrick’s Day March 17. Trucks were a bit short as well, but the equipment delimmea has eased. There’s about 300 truckloads of primarily red potatoes being shipped weekly.
However, it’s Idaho that really moves the tonnage with it russets. Idaho potato shipments are averaging around 800 truckload equivalents per week.
About this time each year South Florida begins shipping it new crop of red potatoes. Loadings are now under way.
South Florida potatoes – grossing about $3200 to Boston.
Idaho potatoes grossing – about $2900 to Chicago.
Red River Valley potatoes – about $1900 to Chicago.
Greenhouse growing of vegetables continues to increase whether it is in Mexico, the U.S., or in this case Ontario. It’s popularity is rising, not only because weather conditions can be controlled, but the product itself is ususally better tasting, especially with something like tomatoes. Ontario does have loading opportunities for produce haulers, although we are not normally talking in truck load quantities.
Most of the Ontario greenhouse vegetables are located along the northern shores of Lake Erie, including the towns of Leamington and Kingsville. The reason is this area receives more sunshine than anywhere else in Canada.
The leading green house vegetables are tomatoes, English cucumbers and peppers. This year it is estimated Ontario will ship 448 million pounds of tomatoes, an increase of nearly 18 percent over last year. There should be 250 million pounds of English cucumbers (nearly 23 percent more) and 170 million pounds of peppers, up nearly 31 percent.
There also is much smaller volume with eggplant and specialty peppers and specialty tomatoes.
About 70 percent of the Ontario greenhouse veggies are shipped to the U.S.
While the cukes, peppers, and egglant are compatible for loading together in a truck, the tomatoes are not a good fit. That’s too bad since volume wise at any one time, greenhouse tonnage is relatively low, even though it continues to increase.
If you ever want to check out what fruits and veggies are good for putting on the same truck, check out the Fresh Produce Mixer & Loading Guide from TransFRESH Corp. These are the same folks that provide the Tectrol atmosphere that adds shelf life to strawberries and other products, which helps to maintain quality.
To check this info out, just click on the TransFresh ad on this website.
There’s been plenty of cold weather in Florida this winter, but the bottom line is it has mostly dodged the wrap of Mother Nature and any wide spread deadly freezes (knock on wood). But the cold has often meant Florida produce shipments being lighter than normal and later than normal for this time of the year.
Heaviest volume out of Florida is from the central and southern regions with tomatoes, which are averaging around 750 truck loads per week. There’s also a number of mixed vegetable items being shipped in light volume, but are behind normal shipping schedules.
An example is cabbage, which is available in areas from northern to southern Florida. The further north in the state cabbage is grown and shipped, the further behind it is in maturing and being harvested. One example is at Bunnell in nothern Florida where loadings are running a full month behind schedule. About four hours to the south in Central Florida the product is only a couple of weeks late. Cabbage is a big item for St. Patrick’s Day, which is March 17th.
Florida grapefruit shipments are down siginificantly this year, but more so from a disease called citrus greening than due to the weather. One major shipper is reporting pack out at only 50 to 60 percent of normal, when it would normally pack out at about 90 pecent.
Another item trailing is Florida strawberry shipments from the Plant City area.
Central Florida produce items – grossing about $2300 to Chicago.