Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Colorado potato volume this season is expected to be about 14.8 hundredweight, about the same as last year.
Potatoes are the No. 1 produce item in terms of volume and dollar value in the Rocky Mountain state and ranks at or near the top of the nation’s fresh-market spud producers, according to the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association of Eaton, CO.
The state produces more than 70 varieties of potatoes, many of which undergo evaluation at the Colorado State University research farm prior to being released for public consumption, notes the Colorado Potato Administration Committee of Monte Vista.
Growers produce russets, reds, yellows, fingerlings and other varieties.
The most popular selections are the new Reveille variety from Texas A&M University, russets, norkotahs and the purple majesty, which is purple inside and out.
Acreage is down about 2,000 acres because some growers cut back on planting. However, a lot of early rain and warm days should boost volume.
Colorado’s organic potato growers produce about 381,000 hundredweight.
Farm Fresh Direct of America of Monte Vista, CO started its late-summer crop of yellow and russet potatoes in mid August, which is normal.
It reports quality on both the golds and the russets looks very good.
The russets will be a bit larger than usual. About 15% typically weigh more than 10-ounces, but that figure will top 25% this year.
Harvesting of the company’s fall crop typically wraps up in early October.
Farm Fresh Direct of America ships conventional yellow and russet potatoes year-round, and this year it is offering organic red, gold and russet potatoes year-round with some help from sourcing partners. Overall yields should be up slightly this year.
Lenz Family Farms in Wray, CO, a 50-year-old company which grows yellow-flesh potatoes and expects to have the same volume as last year.
The company ships from August through February. The company ships primarily to customers in the southern part of the U.S.
The Peruvian Blueberry Growers & Exporters Association (Proarándanos) is forecasting a decrease in blueberry exports this coming season.
In the organization’s latest export projection update, Proarándanos forecasts that during the 2024/25 campaign, fresh blueberry shipments will reach a total volume of 293,841 tons, a 5.3% decrease compared to the June 2023 estimate of 310,317 tons.
The Peruvian blueberry season usually lasts from May 2024 to April 2025. Peak production is projected to occur in week 43, with 17,148 tons.
The main destinations for Peruvian blueberries are the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, and China. The report shows that shipments to the United States are expected to reach 147,579 tons, a 17% increase compared to the 2023/24 campaign, but a 4% decrease compared to 2022/23.
In Europe, excluding the United Kingdom, exports are expected to reach a total of 75,122 tons, a 50% growth compared to the 2023/24 campaign. In the United Kingdom, the report estimates a total of 17,328 tons, a 27% increase compared to the 2023/24 campaign, and a 22% increase compared to the 2022/23 period.
In China, shipments are projected to reach 48,397 tons, an 84% increase compared to the previous campaign and a 31% increase compared to 2022/23.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the official California Walnut Industry Objective Measurement Report on September 4, which forecasted production at 670,000 tons (607,814 MT), down 19% from 2023’s production of 824,000 tons (747,520 MT).
The forecast is based on 370,000 bearing acres, down 4% from 2023’s estimated bearing acreage of 385,000 acres.
The announcement from USDA provides the industry with an objective crop volume estimate. Using scientific methodologies, USDA field staff counted, measured, weighed, and evaluated thousands of walnuts from major growing regions in July and August for use in a statistical acreage model to establish the annual walnut crop estimate.
In addition to the updated acreage and crop estimate, the CA walnut industry is finalizing the closeout of the 2023 crop year. While final shipment and inventory figures will be released later this month, preliminary data indicates that the 2023 crop is virtually sold out.
“As anticipated, the upcoming 2024 crop is lower than the historic record crop of 2023 and will deliver the high quality that defines California walnuts globally,” said Robert Verloop, Executive Director and CEO of the California Walnut Board and Commission. “The 2024 estimated crop size, while moderate, is similar to the 2019 crop.”
California’s available Valencia supply continues to dwindle; some growers have already ended their season, and more will end over the next few weeks, according to a news release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Markon expects California to experience a supply gap on oranges in October until the Navel seasons begins in late October/early November.
California
- Markon First Crop and Markon Essentials Valencia Oranges are available
- Expect limited supplies for the next two months
- Expect to make size and grade substitutions to fill orders
- Quality is fair; early decay, soft fruit, and skin breakdown has been reported
- New crop California Navels will begin shipping in late October
- Expect elevated markets for the remainder of the Valencia season
Chile
- Oranges are being imported into both the East and West Coasts
- Expect import supplies to tighten as they continue filling the void from California
- Quality is great
- Expect rising markets as supplies tighten
Mexico
- The season will begin in early November
- The Early orange seedless variety will be available in both McAllen, Texas and Nogales, Arizona
Texas
- Oranges will begin shipping in early November
- Navels will be the predominate variety available, but Early oranges will be on the market also
Michigan apple shipments started early this season, with the state expecting a total of about 30.5 million bushels, or 1.281 billion pounds.
According to the Michigan Apple Committee of Lansing, MI, it’s unusual to have three large crops in a row, but warmer-than-normal temperatures in late winter and early spring caused buds to form early, leading to earlier bloom.
Growers didn’t experience significant frost and freeze events after that early bloom, meaning a plentiful crop was harvested about 10 days earlier than usual.
Michigan Apples are available nearly year-round from August to June. The largest and most valuable fruit crop in the state can be found at about 150 farm markets and cider mills in Michigan as well as more than 12,000 retail groceries across the U.S.
The US Department of Agriculture reported that Michigan harvested 31.9 million bushels of apples in 2023. The average annual crop size is approximately 25.9 million bushels. There are more than 14.9 million apple trees in commercial production, covering 34,500 acres on 775 family-run farms in Michigan.
Harvesting is currently happening on Galas, Macs, and Honeycrisp with Fujis and Golds being picked as well this week.
Naturipe Farms, of Salinas, CA, a leading global berry producer, has announced this year’s raspberry crop is breaking company records. Coming from both Baja and Central Mexico, their proprietary conventional and organic varieties will be available in high quantities.
Naturipe Farms anticipates strong volumes of both conventional and organic raspberries through the end of the year. The improvements in acreage and crop quality position Naturipe well to continue this increased growth in the future.
The record volumes are due to two factors: first, Naturipe Farms has seen customer demand for raspberries rising, and as a response, has expanded their acreage in all growing areas. This allows for more berries to be grown, harvested, and distributed. Secondly, Naturipe’s proprietary raspberry varieties are performing exceptionally well this season thanks to a variety of environmental and growing factors.
About Naturipe
Naturipe is a farmer-owned producer and marketer of nutritious, best tasting, premium berries and avocados that has been an industry leader for more than 100 years producing healthy, deliciously fresh, frozen, and value-added products. Because our diverse grower base shares resources, skills, labor, and knowledge, we are better farmers and, in turn, strengthen the local farm community. Our focus on innovation ensures year-round availability of locally grown and Globally Local TM conventional and organic fruit.
Fresno, CA – With school back in session and fall weather approaching, the California table grape industry is loading the majority of its volume; every year roughly 65% of the crop ships after September 1.
“September through December is an exciting and productive time of year, as nearly 80 different varieties are harvested, promotions expand, and the majority of the crop ships to California grape-loving consumers around the world,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission.
“A robust global marketing campaign to promote California grapes throughout the fall and early winter tied to an amazing selection of varieties, great quality, and promotable volume creates strong demand,” said Nave.
She noted that while the U.S. is the largest market and demand is strong from retail partners, there is significantly increased demand this year in export markets, and USDA is buying more grapes this season with deliveries already scheduled until close to Christmas.
In terms of crop size, Nave says the industry comes together three times a year to estimate the crop, and has been doing so with a high degree of accuracy for decades.
“Individual viewpoints often circulate in the fall with a frequent favorite being talk of a short California grape crop.
Whether coming from inside or outside the California industry, these individual narratives often masquerade as news.”
Fall and early winter mean a lot of shipments of grapes, as consumers have great-tasting, healthy back-to-school lunches or fall and winter celebrations.
Brazil has been exporting mangoes since the first week of August and will continue through December. It is projected to export 10.7 million boxes, according to the National Mango Board.
The primary varieties in Brazil are Tommy Atkins (81 percent), Kent (7 percent), Keitt (6 percent) and others (6 percent).
The volume shipped in the week ending August 3 was 28,560 boxes (4kg). In the same period last year, the amount shipped was 39,984 boxes.
Brazil is currently harvesting and/or packing the fruit.
The board reports that in Mexico, approximately 3.4 million boxes were shipped in the same week this year. In the same week last year, the volume was 3.6 million boxes.
Currently, the Mexican regions of Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, Southern Sinaloa, and Northern Sinaloa are harvesting and/or packing mangos. The top three varieties shipped were Kent (53 percent), Keitt (31 percent), and Ataúlfo (12 percent). There is also limited supply of Tommy Atkins, Manilla Rosa, Nam Doc Mai, and Manilla.
The NMB indicated that the volume of mangos shipped from week 32 (August 10) through week 37 (September 14) is expected to be 9 percent higher than last year, with arrivals expected between weeks 33 and 38.
Currently, the Mexican regions of Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, Southern Sinaloa, and Northern Sinaloa are harvesting and/or packing mangos. The top three varieties shipped were Kent (53 percent), Keitt (31 percent), and Ataúlfo (12 percent). There is also limited supply of Tommy Atkins, Manilla Rosa, Nam Doc Mai, and Manilla.
Family business Bland Farms in Glennville, GA., has been exporting Peruvian sweet onions for 28 years — and this year is shaping up to be a good season with a good-sized crop and quality.
A difference this year is Vidalia onion shipments are lasting longer, which can affect imports of sweet onions from Peru.
The Vidalia sweet onion season is running a few weeks longer than normal. Because of this, Bland Farms has slowed imports of its Peru premium sweet onions.
The company prefers to ship the Vidalias as long as they are available and the quality is good. Fortunately, Bland has been able to move most of the sweets it has out of Peru to Spain and Chile.
It’s a similar situation for Shuman Farms of Reidsville, GA. The grower/shipper expects the operation to start shipping sweet onions from Peru in mid-September.
Shuman has had a robust Vidalia season this year, and is prepared for a smooth transition to its Peruvian season.
G&R Farms of Glennville, GA, had recently visited Peru, where it met with the farm’s production team. Harvest was underway south of the equator and the crop looked good.
G&R Farms, which has exported onions from Peru for 15 years, sources its onions from the Ica and Arequipa regions in Peru.
Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA expects a big increase in organic Cosmic Crisp apple volume this fall.
The grower/shipper notes volume is finally to a point of making this a top apple variety organically.
Approximately 30% of Stemilt’s entire tree fruit volume is grown and certified organic.
Organic apples make up a large portion of the firm’s organics, and it is considered a leader in the hard-to-grow organic pears and cherries. The organization’s entire stone fruit program (peaches and nectarines) is organic.
While Stemilt is down on organic apples year over year, the 2023 crop was large and the marketer expects good volume on organics in the 2024-25 season.
Stemilt reports a 40% increase on organic pears, while the conventional pear crop is down.
Cosmic Crisp organic volume will be up significantly, and SweeTango is back on track after less volume last year. In contrast, Honeycrisp volume in 2024 is expected to be down nearly 17% compared with the 2023 crop.