Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
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.
Bard Valley Natural Delights Medjool Dates co-op of Yuma, AZ and its 14 growers completed harvesting of dates in late September, a few weeks later than normal due to temperatures that were slightly cooler in Yuma.
The growers grow conventional and organic medjool, while others also grow deglet noors outside of the co-op. The co-op also imports other varieties.
The winter holidays and the months leading up to Ramadan are peak shipping periods for date.
Dates are known for health benefits, which include fiber, potassium, antioxidants and many other vitamins and minerals.
Although dates are sweet because of their high fiber content, they are low on the glycemic index, which allows the body to burn the sugar much more slowly.
- Deglet Noor dates are smaller and lighter in color, more amber than brown, and they are semi-dry in texture, making them soft but firm. Medjool dates are larger and have a soft, chewy texture and a sweet, caramel-like flavor.
- Deglet dates are less sweet than Medjool, and also have a slightly nutty taste to them similar to browned butter or cashews.
- Medjool dates are usually sold with the pit still within the fruit, whereas Deglet Noor dates are commonly sold pitted, with the seed being removed.
Naturipe Farms of Estero, FL is projecting a record fall season for raspberry shipments from Mexico.
Originating out of the central Mexico growing region, another year of exponential growth in the 2023-24 season is expected, according to a news release.
Naturipe Farms’ 100% proprietary raspberry program features varieties that have been selectively bred for their flavor, color and overall eating experience, the release said. Naturipe Farms’ growers in central Mexico and Baja offer several varieties, including the Centennial, which boasts the true raspberry-red hue and equally tart and sweet taste that raspberry consumers know and love, the release said.
“At Naturipe Farms, we’re excited to see the fruits of our labor, both figuratively and literally, result in another expansive growing season that will allow us to offer even larger volumes of our raspberries to our customers,” Fernando Aguiar, director of business development for Naturipe Farms, said in the release. “Our growers are working hard year-round to produce the best raspberries with flavor that will keep consumers coming back for more.”
Naturipe Farms will offer raspberries in all standard pack sizes, as well as a couple new sizes and styles, according to the release.
Despite a slightly delayed harvest because of winter and spring rainfall and some cooler-than-usual temperatures good volume shipments appear to be coming for pistachios, almonds and walnuts in California.
Wonderful brand pistachios was delayed about two weeks and harvest will peak in late September and conclude in October. The company represents 300 growers.
The American Pistachio Growers of Fresno, CA reports industrywide, California pistachio growers are expected to ship 1.3 billion pounds of the nuts this year.
Pistachios are an alternate-bearing crop, and 2023 will be an on year. Because of new acreage, the state’s pistachio production is expected to reach 2 billion pounds by 2030. About 70% of the crop is exported, largely to the European Union and China.
The almond harvest is in full swing at Mariani Nut Co., Winters, CA and harvest should continue through October.
California’s walnut production for 2023 is forecast at 790,000 tons, an increase of 5% from the 752,000 tons produced in 2022, according to an early September estimate from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The forecast is based on 385,000 bearing acres — a 4% drop from 2022’s estimated 400,000 bearing acres.
Mariani’s walnut harvest should run from September to November, and the company will harvest California pecans in November.
NASS estimated that California’s 2023 almond crop will come in at 2.6 billion meat pounds, 1% above last year’s 2.57 billion pounds.
Imports of Peruvian onions by Bland Farmsof Greenville, GA are seasonally increasing.
Hot weather in Peru affected sizing and yields from early fields resulting in the crop being a little heavier on mediums than normal, with limited supplies of the big, colossal onions.
Bland Farms finished its Vidalia onion shipments in late August and expects to carry Peruvian onions until February, when the company will start its Mexican crop.
The grower/shipper who has its own farms in Peru, expects a shorter-than-normal season out of Peru due to reduced yields and disease problems in some fields.
Another issue is there have been a few delays in moving Peruvian ocean container shipments through the Panama Canal because of a freight backlog there.
Bland Farms has been sourcing onions from Peru for at least three decades to find the complement its Vidalia onions. After being sized in packing sheds, Peruvian onions grown by Bland Farms are shipped to the U.S. in 50-pound bags, loaded in ocean containers for transport. Upon arrival in the U.S., they are sorted, graded and packed for customers.
Packing the onions in the U.S. allows Bland Farms to put a “second eye” on the crop and make sure that any issues such as moisture or mold are dealt with before they are shipped.
Bland Farms typically brings about 1,200 to 1,500 containers of Peruvian onions annually to the U.S. market. Last season, volume was cut a bit because of high ocean freight.
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA) predicts the 2023-2024 apple crop will be up as much as 28%, compared to the 2022-2023 season, according to Markon Cooperative of Salinas, a produce buying operation.
Washington
- The WSTFA projects approximately 134 million cases (40-pound packs) will be shipped during the 2023-2024 season, up from nearly 104 million cases in 2022-2023
- The ample supply expectation for 2023-2024 follows last year’s short season, that was hindered by cold, rainy, and snowy weather during the growing process
- Suppliers saw yearly averages of approximately 120 million cases prior to last year’s short crop
- Expect level or below-average markets depending on variety
Michigan
- Growers saw a record-setting crop in 2022-2023, at nearly 32.4 million bushels (40-pound packs) harvested; ideal weather conditions in spring and summer 2022 bolstered the crop
- Currently, Michigan apple growers aren’t expecting another record year, but are expecting close to 90% of last year’s crop total
- Average seasonal yields prior to last season’s record crop were at 24 million bushels
- Markets will ease once the new crop season is in full swing in September
A 43% plunge in orange production in Florida is predicted by the USDA following the impact of Hurricane Idalia. Expect price increases for popular by products such as orange juice.
The USDA’s latest report, published in July, puts the state’s orange yields at 15.8 million 90 pound boxes.
Florida citrus growers have experienced many shortcomings. In 2022, Hurricane Ian brought excessive rainfall and wind damage, and the ever-present greening disease continued to stall harvests.
The industry’s resilience has been key to endure these challenges, however, this coming season’s outlook brings less-than-reassuring projections.