If you’re planning to haul New Jersey produce be extra cautious and know what you are loading when it comes to quality. Tomato and potato crops are being threatened by late blight.
It is a destructive fast-spreading disease and has been found on five farms in the state. The disease of Irish potato famine notoriety, creates fuzzy spores and dark lesions on leaves and stems of tomatoes and potatoes and quickly kills the entire plant.
Meanwhile, no quality problems have been reported with New Jersey peaches, which are now being shipped to destinations on the East Coast and some to the midwest.
New Jersey blueberry shipments have been going at a good, steady pace and should continue into mid August. The only distruptions have been a few occasions when rain has delayed harvest, which in turns affects packing and shipping.
Maine
A fair amount of Maine broccoli is being shipped between now and mid October. Up to a million cartons should be loaded during the season for destinations along the East coast and into the midwest.
Florida
Florida is pretty dead this time of year when comes to loads. A quick look back at the Florida citrus shipping season shows it was a little disppointing. There were fewer loads of oranges, grapefruit and a lot less tangerines.
In its July 11 final season report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported all orange production declining 9% from the previous season, and tangerines saw a 22% drop.
This season, total orange production fell from 146.7 million equivalent cartons to 133.4 million cartons, with the late season valencias also seeing a 9% drop from last season’s 72.5 million cartons to 68.3 million cartons this year.
Grapefruit production fell 2.2% from the previous year, from 18.8 million equivalent cartons to 18.4 million cartons.
Though 96% of Florida’s oranges are grown for processing, about 60% of its navels, 70% of its tangerines and 40% of its colored grapefruit ship to fresh markets, primarily by truck.
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Even with the recent lower estimates for Northwest cherry shipments, it is still being considered a decent amount of loadings. The best volume should occur through about Aug. 10.
Frost in the Northwest during April and heavy rains at the end of May reduced the initial season estimate of 18 million boxes to 16-17 million boxes.
By the end of June, that estimate was due for another downward adjustment. What was once a 17-million-box crop no longer exists. Shipments are now estimated to be down to as low as 13 to 16 million boxes.”
About 23 million boxes of cherries were shipped from the Northwest last year.
Blueberry loadings are picking up in both Washington state and Oregon….Washington state continues to ship late season apples from the Yakima and Wenachee Valleys.
The Walla Walla district in Washington is shipping onions, with volume increasing in the new season. A similar situation with onions is occurring from the Columbia Basin and Umatilla Basin along the Washington/Oregon border. The state line area also is shipping potatoes in light volume.
In Idaho, potatoes are averaging about 1,750 truckload equivalents a week, although a significant percentage of those spuds are being loaded in rail cars.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5500 to New York City.
Washington State cherries – about $6700 to New York City.
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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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