Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
California avocado shipments are estimated to be down about 12 percent from last season. However, McDaniel Fruit Co., baseded in Fallbrook, CA, does not expect to see a decline in its production.
California is estimated to have 208 million pounds this season.
The grower/shipper/packer reveals with its growing partners, thousands of new trees are planted every year in California. So, while the California avocado industry is expected to be down, McDaniel expects to have the same volume of fruit as last year if not more.
The company also sees better sizing than last year during the peak shipping months of April, May and June and into July and August.
During the next few months, McDaniel Fruit will be shipping avocados from Mexico, Peru and Colombia, as well as from California. Peru is expected to be a significant player this summer and Colombia is also a point of origin with increasing supplies.
Weather and other factors have caused a few hick ups with imported Mexican produce so far this year, while overall volume has been perhaps a little lower, but decent.
Horton Fruit Co. Inc., based in Louisville, KY, also has an office in Irving, TX. It reports the 2023-24 Mexican produce season has been very difficult, with volume affected, resulting in some of the highest markets on record for tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and squash.
Hurricanes late last year adversely affected plantings, plus low water levels in reservoirs in the Mexican state of Sinaloa and on the Rio Grande created uncertainty over water availability.
For late February, those price levels are unheard of, Wilkins said.
But overall, harvesting and transportation delays have been rare this season.
Horton Fruit handles avocados, bell peppers and cucumbers on a nearly year-round basis.
Between central Mexico, Sinaloa and some of the other areas Horton Fruit is mostly going year-round with tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers and cucumbers.
Primo Trading Services of McAllen, TX, reports Mexican onion acreage has decreased due to the lack of enough water.
Due to this problem the company expects fewer imports by the U.S. as well as a very strong Mexico domestic onion market. Primo harvested its first onions in early February], and will continue until mid-to-late April.
Northwest U.S. onion supplies were also at historically low levels in February, which was supporting high prices.
California citrus growers are expecting average production volume for all products this season,
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) reports it depends on the variety, with
Navels being up about 5% from the prior season, which was one of the lowest seasons the industry has experienced.
Lemon volumes are expected to decrease. A January forecast by the USDA reduced the initial projected volume from 23 to 20 million boxes for the state.
The on going mandarin crop ongoing is projected to decline from 23 to 22 million boxes.
Heavy rains from last year, after years of drought, are resulting in excellent fruit sizes this year.
Compared to the last couple of years, CCM reports this season started better than anticipated.
The Texas spring onion season was underway in mid-March with plenty of good-quality product, according to shippers
The Onion House of Weslaco, TX started harvest about 10 days later than usual due to cold weather. However, it had Mexican onions in good volume by late February. Excellent supplies should be available through April and most of May.
The Onion House ships 1015-type sweet yellow, white and red onions.
Little Bear Produce of Edinburg, TX is reporting good quality and volume would be similar to last year, even though acreage industrywide may be lower.
Val Verde Vegetable Co. of McAllen, TX is shipping onions during April until the middle of May.
The company, which recently doubled the size of its packing facility to more than 200,000 square feet, is shipping yellow and red onions this spring.
It started harvesting organic onions in mid March, which is early for South Tex Organics.
The company, which also ships organic oranges and grapefruit, will offer organic onions from March into May.
Elgin, MN – Honeybear Brands, a leading grower and marketer of premium conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries, is delivering a fresh-picked crop of apples and pears to retailers nationwide beginning in March thanks to its Chilean operations.
Honeybear Brands is the leading apple importer from the Southern hemisphere, ensuring retailers have premium conditioned fresh fruit to offer shoppers during the spring and summer months.
“Incorporating imports in the fresh fruit mix is a smart long-term strategy as many domestic apples begin losing flavor and that crisp eating experience after months in storage,” says Don Roper, vice president sales and marketing, Honeybear Brands. “With near perfect weather in Southern Chile, Honeycrisp fruit sizing and quality this year should be terrific.”
Honeybear’s Chilean Honeycrisp crop started harvest in early March and will begin to arrive by April into its East Coast facilities. In addition to Honeycrisp, organic and conventional Gala, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Fuji, Pazazz, and pears will be available. With operations on both coasts, Honeybear maintains its leadership position in providing retailers with premium fruit, executing 100% supply assurance and ensuring lowest landed cost apple and pear programs.
With its broad array of orchards in Washington and the Midwest plus its import production in South America, Honeybear Brands provides a turnkey apple and pear program for retailers all year round.
About Honeybear Brands
Honeybear is family owned a leading grower and developer of premium apple varieties and has been in operation for more than 40 years.
As a leading vertically integrated, dual hemisphere grower, packer, shipper, Honeybear offers supply of premium apples and pears on a year-round basis. Honeybear Brands is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wescott Agri Products. For more information about Honeybear, visit www.honeybearbrands.com and follow on Facebook.
Mango imports by the U.S. have suffered as Peru, a primary supplier, has had a major drop in volume. Peru will conclude the 2023-24 season with a 73% decline in exported volume, leading to a 27% drop year-on-year for U.S. mango imports of all origins.
The National Mango Board revealed March 8 Peru shipped approximately 161,402 boxes (8.8lbs each) of mangos during week 9. That is nearly half of the 301,928 boxes Peru shipped the same week last year.
The drop in volume from Peru this season was caused by the El Niño phenomenon, which brought elevated temperatures adversely affecting the flowering of mango trees. This led to prices in the U.S. market to reach unprecedented levels this season.
On the other hand, the Mexican season, which starts later than Peru, is providing stable volumes to the United States. Total shipments from Mexico, expected to last through April, are projected to be 1% higher than last year.
On week 9, Mexico shipped approximately 1.6 million boxes, bringing the total to 5.4 million boxes for the season so far.
Mexican shipments started to ramp up in February.
In February, Continental Fresh of Miami, FL reported they were experiencing the peak of the mango crisis, and they had not expected the drop in volume to be so drastic.
However, the company noted the Mexican season meant positive developments coming soon.
Promotional volume from Mexico is anticipated to arrive by April, providing optimism that the industry could mitigate the effects of the current shortage.
Brazil was able to cover some of the shortage this season, with volumes up 31% year-on-year.
As the season progresses, with Peru, Mexico and Guatemala supplying the market, projections indicate that by week 18, all three sources will export have exported 39,343,728 boxes to the U.S., down from the 56,224,325 shipped in 2022-23.
Argentine Chamber of Integrated Fruit Growers (CAFI) expects pear volume to be down 7 percent this season, despite having a normal harvest.
The Abbé Fétel variety was most heavily affected, with a 20% drop in production. However, because it is a smaller variety, the decline did not affect overall volume.
CFAI indicates 180,000 tons will be shipped to the northern hemisphere, and another 50,000 tons to Latin America.
While the U.S. produces pears, CFAI believes the quality may not be as good as some season and this will contribute to Argentina still having a successful season.
Argentina pears are normally shipped by sea until around May to reach the Northern Hemisphere and all year round to Latin America.
It was pointed out by CFAI the USDA made an overly optimistic forcast on Nov. 6, estimating “higher yields for an increase of 317,200 metric tons.
Argentina currently has 49,421 acres planted with pears, but that poor weather and above-average drought conditions in January and February stalled production in 2023-24. Overall, production is estimated to be down by 7 percent.
Titan Farms of Ridge Spring, SC, one of the leading peach producers in the United States, announces its strategic collaboration with the Borquez family, bringing early access to the market with the first peaches harvested in the northern hemisphere. This partnership will not only lengthen Titan Farms’ peach season but also offer consumers a wider range of high-quality peaches.
Nestled in the heart of Sonora, Mexico, the Borquez family has cultivated a legacy of multi-generational farming expertise. Led by Luis Borquez and his sons, the Borquez family is renowned for their commitment to growing and packing exceptional peaches, showcasing unparalleled flavor profiles and quality. This groundbreaking partnership not only underscores Titan Farms’ commitment to quality produce but also introduces exclusive peaches from the unique microclimate and soils of Caborca, Sonora, Mexico.
By offering peaches from Mexico, Titan Farms gains a competitive edge in the market by providing early access to fresh, flavorful peaches. The Borquez family, renowned for their expertise and dedication to quality, predominantly grows USA varieties.
“This collaboration with the Borquez family marks a significant milestone for Titan Farms as we strive to meet consumer demand for fresh, delicious peaches through an extended season,” said Chalmers Carr, President and CEO of Titan Farms. “With early access to the market and our commitment to quality, we are excited to continue delivering the finest peaches to our customers.”
The peaches grown on Oasis Farms by the Borquez family and will be available in various pack styles.
About Titan Farms
Founded in 1999 by Chalmers and Lori Anne Carr, Titan Farms is a premier grower, packer and shipper of fresh peaches and vegetables. Today, Titan Farms is the largest peach grower on the east coast, with over 6,200 acres of peaches, 600 acres of bell peppers, 1,000 acres of broccoli and 36 acres of eggplant. Titan Farms is a family-run operation.
About Oasis Farms
The Borquez family is a multi-generational farming family located in Caborca, Sonora, Mexico. Led by Luis Borquez and his sons, the family is dedicated to growing and packing high-quality yellow peaches, showcasing exceptional flavor and freshness.
South Texas 1015 onion shipments have started from the Rio Grande Valley and early reports indicate a quality crop with normal volume.
The harvest of TX1015 onions has already begun in Texas’ southern counties. While a brisk January has affected early yields, availability is anticipated to rise substantially as temperatures increase in the Rio Grande Valley. Thanks to mild winter conditions, exceptional quality is anticipated.
Excellent quality, size, and availability are expected to continue throughout the summer as the harvest begins in the Wintergarden region in another 6-8 weeks. Overall, the season will bring an abundance of delicious TX1015 sweet onions, which will be available in stores across the country.
Consumer-facing promotions in this year’s campaign will extend to a broader audience than ever before. Shoppers should keep their eyes open for engaging promotions including the “Sizzlin’ Flavor” sweepstakes (which features over $1000 in prizes), monthly social media giveaways, a food influencer recipe contest, and the release of a cookbook highlighting the versatility of Texas’ favorite sweet onion, says Dante Galeazzi, manager of the South Texas Onion Committee and President of Texas International Produce Associationc of Mission, TX.
The start of Vidalia onion season is almost here, with the official pack date announced by the Georgia Agriculture Commissioner and Vidalia Onion Committee. Vidalia onion fans across the country can mark their calendars for April 17, when the sweet onions are set to ship to grocery stores nationwide.
“In coordination with the Vidalia Onion Committee, I am incredibly excited to announce April 17,2024, as the official pack date of the 2024 Vidalia onion season,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “Georgia Grown, Vidalia Onions are recognized around the globe for their iconic, sweet flavor that is treasured by culinary leaders and home chefs alike. This is an exciting time for Georgia farmers and consumers alike as we look forward to enjoying the sweet onion again!”
Vidalia onions are available for a limited time each year between April through early September. The pack date is determined by soil and weather conditions during the growing season, contributing to high-quality Vidalia onions. The Vidalia Onion Advisory Panel voted to recommend April 17th as the 2024 pack date to Commissioner Harper.
Known for their sweet, crisp flavor and versatility, Vidalia onions are a seasonal treat for various dishes – from savory to sweet! Because of the unique weather, water, and soil combination in 20 South Georgia counties, Vidalia onions cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. While all Vidalias are sweet onions, not all sweet onions are Vidalias!
“For the 2024 season, we have 11,000 acres of Vidalia onions planted in the production area,” said VOC Chairman Cliff Riner. “Over the past few years, sweet onion sales have continued to increase, with Vidalia onions being a big part of the market. We’re looking forward to another great season this year.”
For over 80 years, Vidalia onions have been hand-planted, harvested, and cured by growers. The Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 established their growing region in South Georgia and trademarked the “Vidalia onion” name. Vidalia onions are grown from a distinctive Granex seed, then packed and sold on or after the official pack date annually.
About the Vidalia® Onion Committee
Because Vidalia® onions are sweetly unique, farmers united to seek legal protection for their crop and its name. Federal Marketing Order No. 955 was established in 1989, to stipulate where the crop can be grown and help with research and promotion of Vidalia onions. The Vidalia Onion Committee administers FMO No. 955 and authorizes production research, marketing research and development and marketing promotion programs. This federal program along with Georgia state laws that protect the Vidalia trademark have provided a legal framework for the industry. So, you can try to grow a sweet onion elsewhere, but you cannot call it a “Vidalia,” unless it is from Georgia! For more information, visit VidaliaOnion.org.