Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
The first monthly citrus crop forecast for the 2023-24 harvest season has been issued by the USDA. The federal agency estimates Florida orange production at 20.5 million boxes this season, which represents a 30% increase from last year.
This comes as the Florida citrus industry begins closing the door on what has been a very difficult year, with multiple weather incidents stalling production.
In 2022, the state was severely impacted by Hurricane Ian, which caused flooding and crop damage due to harsh winds. This year, Hurricane Idalia left a similar count, with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service putting damages at an estimated $447.9 million.
Florida’s 2023-24 fiscal year began July 1, and with that came more than $65 million in funding from the Florida Legislature to support Florida citrus. This investment includes $38 million to support grower research and replanting of citrus trees.
The Chilean Blueberry Committee of ASOEX, together with iQonsulting, have estimated a volume of 82,000 tons of fresh blueberries for the 2023/24 season. This represents a six percent decrease in fresh exports from the previous year. Updated estimates will be released throughout the Chilean Blueberry season.
Explains Andres Armstrong, executive director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, “The decrease is due in large part to ongoing varietal replacement that is taking place within the Chilean blueberry industry. Growers have uprooted 2,876 acres of old varieties with lower productivity and poor postharvest life, and have replaced it with 1,450 acres of new varieties. We now have a total of 44,654 acres, which is two percent less than 2022, but the move toward new varieties is incredibly positive for the industry.”
Armstrong added, “Newly planted varieties comprise 20% of the planted area and we expect that this will only increase in the coming years.” He went on to communicate that varieties that have good productivity but are weaker post-harvest are being diverted to the frozen market, an attractive alternative for some producers.
The executive director of the Blueberry Committee explained that the strategy adopted by the Blueberry Committee and its associated companies is focused on renewing varieties and generating more efficient production management and logistical services. This will facilitate the arrival of consistent quality fruit to the markets at competitive costs.
There have been reports of Peru’s volume decline due to the impact of El Niño, with some discussion about how this might impact the overall market and Chile, more specifically. Armstrong emphasized that the Chilean blueberry industry is not speculating on what might happen with Peruvian supply in December and January. He commented, “We have a unique opportunity to show our global markets that Chile is a necessary part of their global blueberry supply, and that is what our exporters are focusing on.”
Regarding the effect of El Niño on Chilean blueberries thus far, Armstrong noted that it would appear to be minimal. The intense rains in regions with a significant acreage of blueberries occurred before flowering, so there is little impact on production. Also, the lower accumulation of cold hours, a phenomenon that has strongly affected blueberry production in Peru, will have a lesser impact in Chile since it occurred in regions that produce small volumes of blueberries. The Chilean Blueberry Committee is continually monitoring the impact of weather conditions on blueberries and will issue any relevant updates to keep their global customers informed.
Chelsea, MA – Morning Kiss Organic is anticipating an excellent season for sweet potatoes, a healthy and versatile crowd favorite for favorite fall dishes. Several organic varieties are available, including Garnet sweet potatoes, which have a deep reddish-purple skin and offer mild sweet flavor with savory earthiness. This variety is great for frying, baking, and casseroles.
This season’s crop is sourced from multiple East Coast family farms, including Barnes Farming Farm Pak. Based in North Carolina, Farm Pak is committed to sustainability by practicing regenerative agriculture through practices of crop rotation, carbon sequestration, and soil sampling.
“We are thrilled to work with a company whose values so closely align with ours,” says Michael Guptill of Gold Bell. “Sweet potatoes are in high demand at this time of year as a versatile and delicious component of cold weather cooking – fried, mashed, or added to salads. And consumers are increasingly aware of their health benefits – they contain fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins.”
Several organic varieties are available, including Garnet sweet potatoes, which offer mild sweet flavor with savory earthiness. These are great for frying, baking, and casseroles.
As with all of its offerings, Morning Kiss Organic employs just-in-time inventory management, reducing loss to product spoilage at retail, and therefore protecting the retailer’s bottom line.
About Morning Kiss Organic
Morning Kiss Organic is the organic brand of Gold Bell, DiSilva Fruit and Arrowfarms. Headquartered in Massachusetts, Morning Kiss Organic products are available year round in a range of customizable formats, packed to order. Unique packaging options offer economical packaging, pricing, faster turns and less waste. Always fresh, the company uses just in time inventory management as well as daily deliveries to ensure the highest quality, best tasting selection available. Natural and healthy, Morning Kiss products are always non-GMO. Morning Kiss Organic is committed to sourcing from East Coast farmers whenever possible, and delivers daily to stores and distribution centers.
More information: www.morningkissorganic.com
Elgin, Minn. – This National Apple Month, Honeybear Brands, a leading grower, packer, shipper, and developer of premium apples, is reporting a strong Pazazz apple crop.
“We’re seeing robust crops across all our orchards, including those on both coasts and the Midwest,” says Don Roper, vice president at Honeybear Brands.
Shipments are originating from Washington, the Midwest, New York and Nova Scotia. For the second year in a row, Honeybear Brands will provide Pazazz from Chilean orchards insuring that year round availability.
Various storage capabilities provide shorter shipping distances to markets throughout the year.
About Honeybear Brands
Family owned and operated for more than 40 years, Honeybear is a dual hemisphere grower, packer, shipper and importer of apples, pears and cherries year-round. It is a pioneer in the commercialization of Honeycrisp apples. Honeybear Brands is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wescott Agri Products
Riveridge Produce Marketing of Sparta, MI. is Michigan’s largest apple grower-packer-shipper and the company reports its 2023 apple crop, as well as that of Michigan – is the second largest ever, trailing only 2022. This season, Riveridge has the same acreage but more production because maturing, premium-variety blocks have developed to boost productivity.
The company estimates Michigan’s 2023 fresh market apple harvest will be between 30 and 32 million bushels. A primary difference is the final pack-outs for this new crop should be much better than the 2022 Michigan apple crop, thanks to more favorable growing conditions.
Riveridge finished shipping its 2022 apple crop just in time to start packing the new 2023 season.
For the coming year, Riverridge is shipping five varieties until the beginning of 2024’s harvest. These varieties are Gala, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Red Delicious and Ambrosia. Ambrosia is only in its third season for Riveridge to grow and ship and is rapidly gaining in popularity.
The company began harvesting its Red Delicious crop in the first week of October. Red Delicious accounts for about 10-12% of Riveridge’s volume.
Projected Chilean avocado volumes for 2023-24 will remain close to 2022-23 levels. This would put the numbers at about 165,346 tons for the Hass variety, according to the Chilean Avocado Committee.
The committee, reports fruit size is good, yet factors such as water availability and location will be considered.
Chile’s main destination markets remain Europe, the U.S., China and Argentina.
The committee estimate about 90,000 tons will be exported, which is 60% of the total production.
Chile’s share in the U.S. avocado market has slowed down in the past few years, as Mexico’s geographical proximity and abundant offer gives Chilean fruit little space.
As for domestic consumption, Chile continues to have one of the higher per capita consumption indexes in the world with 17 pounds. It is only surpassed by Mexico, at 19 pounds.
North Bay Produce, Inc., based in Traverse City, MI, is adding “significant” acres to its Florida and Mexican strawberry production for the 2023-24 season. This strengthens the firm’s commitment to developing a 52-week program for strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. A year-round supply of these berries offers consumers a one-stop-shop for all their berry needs, North Bay indicates in a recent press release.
The strawberry offerings include conventional and organic, all shipped under the North Bay label in one- and two-pound clamshells.
“With the addition of a more robust strawberry program, North Bay is now bringing more value to our retail partners and consumers through continuous, uninterrupted, high-quality supplies and experiences,” stated Ryan Lockman, vice president of sales and procurement. He adds that North Bay is a grower-owned cooperative with a focus on varietal development.”
North Bay’s Mexico season for strawberries will run from about Oct. 1 through the beginning of April. Zamora, Mexico, operation is enjoying favorable growing weather to start the season.
North Bay’s Florida strawberry production will begin about Nov. 25 and end in April. North Bay also has strawberries growing in California to support the low season in Mexico and Florida.
So far during the 2023-2024 Peruvian fresh blueberry season, 40,527 tons of fruit was shipped until mid September, revealing a 50 percent plunge compared to the same time span of the previous year, according to Agraria.
In mid September, the largest amount shipped in this season was recorded, totaling 6,626 tons, representing 62 percent less volume than the same period in 2022.
In that week, the exports reached 27 countries, of which three accounted for 88 percent of all exports. These were the U.S., with 53 percent, followed by the Netherlands, 24 percent and China, with 10 percent.
Shipments to the U.S. totaled 3,513 tons, which showed a decrease of 64 percent compared to last year. The biggest Peruvian exporters were Camposol S.A., with 19 percent, and Agrícola Cerro Prieto S.A., with 14 percent.
The Netherlands received 1,623 tons, 66 percent less than the same week in 2022. Regarding Peruvian export companies, those that led in exports were Camposol S.A., with 15 percent, and Complejo Agroindustrial Beta S.A., with 9 percent.
Finally, exports to China totaled 684 tons, representing a 41 percent decrease compared to last year. The Peruvian exporters that had the most exports to this market were Agrovisión Perú S.A.C., with 25 percent, and Camposol S.A., with 18 percent.
LOS ANGELES – The Giumarra Companies announces its exclusive, domestic Lemonade apple volume will increase to promotable levels this fall. The vibrant, yellow apple sensation will see a dramatic increase in production in the state of Washington, complemented by more availability in Pennsylvania.
“We are excited to share that we have expanded our offering of exclusive Lemonade apples in collaboration with Apple King from Washington state and Rice Fruit Company from Pennsylvania,” said Jason Bushong, Wenatchee Division Manager for the Giumarra Companies. “Our increased supply will help us meet the soaring consumer demand for this distinctive variety.”
The Lemonade variety was developed in New Zealand. Bushong noted the importance of Giumarra’s grower partners in expanding domestic acreage of Lemonade, which has been in commercial development in the U.S. for five years. The Keller family has been growing apples in the Yakima Valley since 1914. This multigenerational grower family is recognized globally under their distinguished brand name, Apple King. Founded in 1913, the Rice Fruit Company is a family-run fruit packing business located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s apple country.
Promotable volumes of Lemonade apples will begin shipping in late October, continuing through January. The fruit will be available in bulk cartons and multiple bag options.
“Word of mouth has been a powerful tool in generating consumer excitement for our brand,” said Bushong. “Consumers are captivated by the apple’s visually appealing yellow hue, invigorating tang, and satisfying crunch.”
About the Giumarra Companies
The Giumarra Companies is a leading international network of fresh produce growers, distributors, and marketers that encompasses a world of flavor and freshness. Since its inception in 1922, the company has taken pride in a longstanding commitment to quality, service, and industry leadership.
Unprecedented rainfall and an invasion of tiny insects known as thrips are being blamed for an expected decrease in California citrus shipments this season.
The weather phenomenon disrupted typical citrus thrips timing in orchards and led to uncontrollable conditions in the fields, according to a California Citrus Mutual press release.
“It’s been an extremely challenging pest season for citrus growers,” says CCM President, Casey Creamer. “The industry did its absolute best in trying to control this unprecedented thrips season. Growers bear that cost while also facing the reality that the pest pressure will result in decreased returns in the marketplace.”
Reports from the California Citrus Mutual (CCM) Pest and Disease Task Force indicate some growers have experienced exterior fruit scarring on as much as 80% of the fruit on individual blocks, primarily affecting navels but with varying impacts to mandarins, lemons, and other citrus varieties.
The CCM Marketing Committee estimates 30% of the navel crop has thrips scarring and the utilized volume will be 8% to 15% under the previous season’s production due to thrips. The Committee also estimates the mandarin and lemon crops will also be down 5% compared to the previous season’s production.O
Visual effects from thrips have no effect on the interior fruit quality, taste, or texture. Consumers can still expect the same exceptional eating experience they are used to with California citrus with higher volumes of choice fruit. Fancy fruit, with minimal external scarring or damage, will be a premium commodity this season.
“Despite these challenges, our growers remain optimistic about the fruit quality on the tree this season. The overabundance of water has reservoirs full and has reinvigorated the groves after three years of extreme drought conditions,” says Creamer.