Here’s a look at some produce loading opportunities around the country, as well as what to expect in the next few months.
Vine ripe tomato shipments are crossing the border into the USA from Baja Mexico, plus California mature green tomato loadings are ramping up from Tracy and Newman, CA and other operations in the area. Tomato loads also are available from Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgia.
California pear shipments got underway last week and are now increasing in volume. Growers are expected to ship about 4.5 million boxes of fresh-market pears this season. About 2.8 million of those will come from the Sacramento river district, with the lake district accounting for another 1.2 million boxes and Mendocino about 418,000 boxes.
Regarding the extreme heat we’ve been hearing so much about in the West, last weekend the Coachella Valley was apparoaching 120-degrees. This is bound to adversely affect the tail end of the Coachella grape shipments and very well could end the season a little earlier than planned. It also means you should be more watchful than usual for quality problems if loading Coachella grapes.
The heat also may adversely affect California vegetables shipments such as eggplant and other items.
In Georgia, steady, shipments of Vidalia onions will be coming out storages through Labor Day.
The USDA is reporting potato loads could be down for the upcoming fall season as planted acres across the USA are at 1.2 million acres, a drop of 70,700 acres or 6.1 percent. Idaho has planted 28,000 fewer acres than 2012 and will also harvest 28,000 less acres or a drop of 8.1 percent. Wisconsin acres planted and harvest projections are unchanged from last year at 64,500 and 63,500 respectively. Washington has planted 160,000 acres or 5,000 less than last year.
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When the Fourth of July falls during the week, there’s no telling what may happen regarding refrigerated truck demand. Demand will be big – but how big? How big a factor will heat damage be to produce loads?
So many factors play into it. A significant factor, for example, in California’s Coachella and San Joaquin Valleys could the scortching temperatures. Coachella grapes and San Joaquin Valley stone fruit could develop quality problems. While temperatures are supposed to cool some over the long 4th of July holiday, triple digits were common this past weekend. So just be extra careful loading produce items that have been subjected to heat.
Washington state apricot shipments have joined other summer fruits such as cherries, peaches and blueberries. Loadings for apricots should continue through July.
Washington blueberries are in peak volume through July, with shipments continuing into October.
New York State
New York state ranks fifth in the nation for vegetable shipments and second with apples. Vegetable loadings will be cranking up in July from many parts of this huge state…..A big time rebound is being forecast for New York apples this season, which will get underway in August. Last season’s shipments were drastically cut due to weather factors.
Michigan
About 104 million pounds of Michigan blueberry shipments could wind up being the end-of-season total, up from 87 million pounds last year and the biggest since 2010’s total of 107 million pounds.
North American growers are expected to ship about 380 million pounds of fresh-market blueberries in 2013, up from about 330 million pounds in 2012.
Fresh blueberries loadings are expected to make up about 55% of U.S. blueberry production in 2013.
East Coast
North Carolina is shipping blueberries, South Carolina is loading peaches, while Georgia has everything from Fort Valley peaches, to Vidalia onions and a good variety of vegetables from the Southern part of the state.
California
Shipments and demand for refrigerated equipment can get pretty funky during the week when a holiday such as the Fourth of July falls on a week day. Produce buyers are already ordering post holiday fruits and veggies for deliveries to restock. Some eastbound coast-to-coast loads could concievably hit $10,000, but that’s simply a guess. You can bet $9000-plus is a good bet.
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While plenty of apples continue to be shipped from the 2012-13 season out of Washington state, the new crop will start heading to market, mostly by truck, in less than two months!
Estimates of apple shipments each pre-season tend to be conservative, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we ended up having record loadings, as happened for the 2012-13 season.
The nation’s leading shipper of apples, Washington state, will have fewer loads this coming season, but there will still be plenty of fruit for hauling – even from there.
An estimated 251 million bushels of fresh-market and processed-market apples are expected to be shipped in the new season, up from 215 million for the 2012-13 crop, according to estimates.
About 67% of U.S. apples typically go to the fresh market, according to the Vienna, Va.-based U.S. Apple Association.
While production in industry leader Washington is expected to fall, from 154 million to 148 million bushels, big gains in Michigan and New York, which were devastated by freezes in the spring of 2012, should result in even more apple loads than last season!
An estimated 26.3 million bushels of apples could ship from Michigan in the 2013-14 season, up from 2.7 million bushels this season.
New York production is expected to jump from 16.9 million to 34 million bushels.
Pennsylvania’s apple volumes are projected to fall from 11.7 million to 10.5 million bushels.
The 26.3 million bushel total in Michigan would be the largest since 2009, when about 27.4 million bushels shipped from the Wolverine State.
Washington state pretty much has a lock on apple shipments right now – grossing about $4300 to Chicago, around $6500 to New York City.
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There’s more table grapes than shippers know what to do with because loads are now coming out of Mexico, Coachella and Arvin – all at the same time. Mexican late season sugraones are peaking this week, with shippers needing to move 4.5 million boxes. Those are crossing the border at Nogales, AZ.
Meanwhile, the Arvin district near Bakersfield only started about a week ago and is now rapidly building in volume. One shipper recently stated, “You’ll see Mexico, Coachella, Arvin and Fresno County grapes all by the first week of July. It’s going to be interesting.”
By the time Coachella and Mexico have finished by mid July, the two regions will have shipped about 23 million boxes.
New Mexico Onions
New Mexico has about 20 onion growers and shippers concentrated in the southern part of the state. A little over 50% the state’s onion acreage usually originates out of Dona Ana County, while the balance is grown in Luna and Sierra counties.
All New Mexico onions grown are non-storage with most of the product being yellow onions, although there are some whites and some reds.
New Mexico has been shipping onions since late May and usually wraps up the season by late August, although a few packing sheds continue into mid-September.
There was 5,500 acres of New Mexico onions planted in 2012, down 10 % from 2011.
New Mexico onions – grossing about $3300 to Chicago.
Nogales grapes – about $5000 to Atlanta.
Coachella Valley grapes – about $8400 to New York City.
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Summer is here and that means opportunities for produce loads are available not only in California, but pretty much coast-to-coast. Not only the West Coast, but in Idaho, Colorado, and on the East Coast.
East Coast
For example, peach shipments have moved into good volume from the Fort Valley area of Georgia, as well as from South Carolina. SC shippers are located primarly south of Columbia.
New Jersey is shipping blueberries, and soon there will be mixed veggies and peaches to haul.
Georgia continues to ship Vidalia onions, with the good news being the quality problems early the season are pretty much out of the way. At the same time, southern Georgia now has good volume with mixed vegetables. Watermelons are still being shipped from the northern half of Florida, and are now getting started in Georgia.
Colorado/Idaho
In Colorado, the San Luis Valley is shipping about 750 truck loads of potatoes a week. However, the big spud volume, as always is Idaho, where around 1750 truck load equivelants are moving to market each week – although a fair amount is being loaded onto the rails.
Imports
Imports of citrus from Chile, South Africa and Australia will begin arriving at USA ports in early July and provide good volume through August….Mexican avocados should be providing heavy crossings into the USA this summer and into the fall.
California Produce Loads
In California, between the Watstonville district and Santa Maria an estimated 1300 truck loads of strawberries are being shipped weekly. Add to this, Salinas vegetables and San Joaquin Valley stone fruit, tomatoes, veggies and other items – and they don’t call California the nation’s bread basket, or is it produce basket, for nothing.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $1500 to L.A.
Salinas Valley produce – about $9000 to Boston.
Colorado spuds – about $1700 to Dallas.
Georgia vegetables – about $3300 to New York City.
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Ohio is now shipping summer vegetables from several large grower/shipper operations, particularly in the central and western parts of the state. From Willard and Plymouth in the middle of the Buckeye State to Bowling Green and Napoleon further west, mixed veggies are being loaded, or will be soon.
Shipments have been on going for several weeks with radishes, cilantro, mustard greens and green onions. Starting in early to mid July are squash, peppers and sweet corn, with many other mixed veggies in lesser volume. Pumpkins will be a big item approaching fall.
Michigan
Michigan ranks nationally among the top three states in blueberry and tart cherry shipments and is third when it comes to apples. While Michigan technially ranks second as the most diverse producer of agricultural products behind California, it comes no where matching the West Coast in shipments. Many of its items are sold only in local roadside stands and farmer’s markets.
Michigan blueberry loadings get underway in early July, with tart cherries coming on after Independence Day.
July should have good volume with mixed veggies such as peppers, squash and sweet corn, plus many other items, although usually in smaller quantities.
After a disatrous apple shipping season for the 2012-13 season, this time around is much more promising. There should be plenty of apples, with smaller amouts of pears, peaches, and plums for hauling.
We’ll know more about your apple loading opportunities in late August when the first forecast for Michigan is released.
Ontario
Shippers near cities in this Canadian provence ranging from Oakland to Leamington and Scotland are loading trucks in light quantities, with volume expected to pick up significantly by the second week of July. Vegetables range from cucumbers to tomatoes, peppers sweet corn, beets, carrots, onions, parsnips and even some beets and kale.
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California is the hotbed for produce loads right now and it will probably only get better for the next month or so. Strangely, some loads out of the San Joaquin Valley have been paying a higher rate than the Salinas Valley, even though it’s a shorter haul to eastern markets.
The SJV is rockin’ with increasing volume on a variety of stone fruit, some veggies, while table grapes are about to get started….Meanwhile, Salinas has plenty of mixed vegetables and berries for hauling.
California pears will join the fray when shipments get underway from the Sacramento River district in early July, which is nearly two weeks earlier than last year.
California also has another large avocado crop to ship, with peak loadings now underway from Southern areas ranging from Ventura County down to San Diego. Strong shipments should continue through August, with volume easing in September.
Washington State
Meanwhile, the new crop of Northwest pears could be the third-largest on record. Most loads originate from the regions around Wenatchee and Yakima, WA, plus Mid-Columbia and Medford, OR. Total shipments should amount to about 19.8 million 44-pound box equivalents of pears for the fresh market. This estimate is 4 % larger than the five-year average and 2 percent larger than last year’s crop.
Northwest pear shipments should start in early August.
British Columbia Pears
Orchards in the Southeast region of the Okanagan Valley, around Oliver and Osoyoos were clobbered by spring frost damage and shipments on BC cherries, peaches, nectarines, and apricots could be reduced by 30-40% on all items.
San Joaquin Valley stone fruit – grossing about $8700 to New York City.
Salina Valley produce – about $8600 to New York City/about $6200 to Chicago.
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While the folks in New Jersey who are paid to promote Jersey agriculture, they are touting great crops of peaches, blueberries and vegetables this year. However, excessive rains the first half of June may have an impact on shipments. Just keep an eye on what you are loading in case quality has been adversely affected.
Full crops of peaches and blueberries are being forecast for this season. Blueberry loadings are just now starting in the southern part of New Jersey, while peach shipments should get underway in mid July and continue into mid August.
The asparagus harvest is underway and other vegetables are expected to follow soon.
New Jersey ranks second nationally in blueberry shipments.
However, most agricultural products are in the greenhouse and nursery products sector. Roses, chrysanthemums, geraniums, lilies, orchids and poinsettias are all grown for the urban markets. Nursery products include grass sod and ornamental shrubs (arborvitae, holly, juniper).
Concerning produce, New Jersey ships significant amounts of of asparagus, bell peppers, eggplant, endive, lettuce and spinach.
Cabbages, snap peas and corn are also raised. Additionally, the state has apples, peaches and strawberries, although the later is mainly involvedwith pick your own operations.
Two of the biggest markets for Jesery produce are New York City and Philadelphia, although shipments do occur in many other eastern markets.
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Two major California summer produce items are expected to get underway the week of June 24th, with volume shipments really increasing entering July.
Meanwhile, $9,000 gross freight rates from Salinas to the East Coast are becoming relatively common.
Cantaloupe shipments from the West Side of California’s San Joaquin Valley are expected to get underway next week, as loadings will continue into October.
Overall acreage is down about 5 to 10 percent on cantaloupes from a year ago. Whether that translates to yields and an reduction in loads remains to be seen.
Cantaloupe shipments start each season from Huron in the southern part of the valley and gradually moves northward into the Firebaugh district, before coming out of the Los Banos area. The end of the season has cantouples originating from fields in the northern area of Crow’s Landing.
Besides cantaloupe, other melons will be available for hauls ranging from honeydews, to Cranshaws, Casabas, Persians, Canaries, Orange Flesh, Santa Claus, Galias and Hamis.
Shipments of these items should get underway by July 1st.
Record Grapes Shipments?
Southern San Joaquin Valley table grapes from the Arvin district near Bakersfield will start shipping a little early this year (last week of June). Combine this with Sonara Mexican grapes crossing the border at Nogales, AZ and Coachella Valley grapes in the California desert running a little late – and there could be a glut of fruit needing to be shipped just prior to the Fouth of July holidays.
A number of grape shippers will be going entering the shipping arena the week of June 24th.
The April preliminary estimate this year is 106.9 million 19-pound boxes of grapes . If this holds, it will top last year’s record volume of about 101 million boxes.
More than half of that volume will be harvested and shipped after Sept. 1.
If the estimate holds it would result in record California grape shipments for the second year in a row.
Coachella Valley grapes – grossing about $6700 to Atlanta.
Salinas Valley veggies, berries – grossing mostly around $8000, with some as high as $9500 to Boston; $6,000 to Chicago.
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Very light shipments of Eastern Shore vegetables get underway this week, with loadings in full swing expected by early July. The Eastern Shore is an area including parts of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
Virginia farming operation usually produce about 3,000 to 4,000 acres of red, yellow and russet potatoes, although there has been an eight to 10 percent decrease this year.
The majority of Virginia spuds are shipped to the eastern half of the country. When northern areas are not producing, much of the crop is trucked to those regions. When the Southern states stopshipping, loads are redirected to the South.
There has been a significant acreage in tomatoes, potatoes and green beans, which are the big three items on the Eastern Shore. The largest green bean operation is at Cheriton, VA. There are two major tomato operations on the Eastern Shore, that ship round, roma, grape, cherry and heirloom tomatoes, which will continue from late June through September.
Of the Eastern Shore potatoes that are shipped, about 60 percent go to tablestock and the remainder goes to chip processing. Potato loadings occur from late June through the first week of August. Harvest started last week.
The Eastern Shore region is part of the Delmarva Peninsula and is separated from the rest of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay.
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While plenty of apples continue to be shipped from the 2012-13 season out of Washington state, the new crop will start heading to market, mostly by truck, in less than two months!
