Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Washington and Oregon grower/shippers cite favorable growing conditions this season should result in good-quality onion shipments out of Washington and Oregon.
Washington is the nation’s top onion producer and grew about 21 million cwt of onions in 2024, up from about 20 million cwt in 2023, according to USDA. Oregon produced 14,189,000 cwt of onions, up from 13,747,000 in 2023.
Eagle Eye Produce of Iona, ID reports onion acreage is up slightly this year due to the acquisition of the Baker and Murakamai warehouse in Ontario, OR. As a result the company has more supply than ever.
The company started harvesting its eastern Oregon crop in late July, which is slightly earlier than usual, and will continue through September.
Eagle Eye Produce ships out of storage through April from facilities in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Following that, it will transition to fresh-field onions from California, New Mexico and Texas.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
California Giant Berry Farms reports higher volumes of blueberry production, both conventional and organic, in the Pacific Northwest.
The organization expects Oregon’s strong volumes to last through the end of September,while British Columbia’s peak production hit the first week of August and will span most of the month.
Washington is set to produce steady volumes through early September. According to the Washington Blueberry Commission, the state’s 2025 harvest is shaping up to be a record-breaker, Agronometrics reports.
Last year, Washington produced its largest haul ever, and early reports suggest that in 2025, the state could meet or exceed last year’s 210 million pounds.
Quality in Oregon is also projected to be favorable, thanks to excellent spring weather and snowpack.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Texas watermelons this year have high quality and high yields, according to the Texas Watermelon Association of McAllen, TX.
With multiple cuttings of the crop combined with hot weather shipments are expected to continue into October. Hot weathers translates to high consumer demand for watermelons, the association notes.
About half of Texas-grown watermelons stay in and around the Lone Star State. The remainder are mostly shipped to other parts of the country, with some TWA members targeting larger eastern markets, including New York, and western growth areas, such as Colorado. There, they compete with international imports from Mexico, which are redistributed nationwide.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
USDA’s July citrus forecast shows a 1% increase in Florida orange production since June. This is the fifth month in a row the agency has not seen a decrease in the state’s citrus production.
July’s orange production forecast saw a 3% increase, carried by a 5% increase in Valencia oranges. In May, all orange production increased a little under 1%. April orange production remained unchanged.
Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual Matt Joyner called the news encouraging and said “the path forward for Florida’s citrus industry is bright with new opportunities for growth.”
“Promising treatments for citrus greening, disease-tolerant citrus varieties, targeted state funds to support research and replanting, and federal disaster relief programs like the USDA’s Supplemental Disaster Relief Program will equip citrus growers with the resources they need to recover and rebuild,” said Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “The USDA’s July forecast of 12.15 million boxes marks the third consecutive month of production gains – an encouraging indicator that we’re on the path to a more resilient future. Our growers have shown incredible perseverance through citrus greening and hurricanes, and we remain hopeful that our growers can build on this momentum next season with continued improvements in tree health and fruit production.”
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
With the California citrus season ending, the Bee Sweet Citrus of Fowler, CA has turned its focus to domestic and imports with its summer citrus line.
“Over the past few decades, the Bee Sweet Citrus team has worked hard to develop a program that supplements shoppers’ needs during our off-season,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Sales Representative Jason Sadoian. “This summer, we’re pleased to provide our customers with both offshore and domestic products to meet their needs.”
Bee Sweet Citrus currently offers imported mandarins, as well as domestic grapefruit, lemons, and Royal Red oranges, for its customers. Offshore Navel oranges started arriving in mid July, while offshore lemons began arriving at the end of July.
“Once imported product arrives at our facility, it undergoes a thorough quality inspection to ensure freshness before it’s shipped to shoppers,” continued Sadoian. “We also have the ability to pack product in any bag style that’s preferred by our customers.”
Bee Sweet Citrus currently offers imported mandarins, as well as domestic grapefruit, lemons, and Royal Red oranges, for its customers. Offshore Navel oranges are expected to arrive next week, while offshore lemons are due to arrive at the end of the month.
“Once imported product arrives at our facility, it undergoes a thorough quality inspection to ensure freshness before it’s shipped to shoppers,” continued Sadoian. “We also have the ability to pack product in any bag style that’s preferred by our customers.”
A grower, packer and shipper of premium California citrus, Bee Sweet Citrus is a leader in today’s agriculture industry. Founded in 1987, Bee Sweet Citrus is a family owned and operated company and provides approximately 10 different citrus varieties to its consumers! Located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, Bee Sweet is focused on innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
Frutas de Cile reports summer citrus from Chile got off to a strong start during the fourth week of April with 519 metric tons of clementines shipped to the U.S. This is up significantly from last year’s start of 44 tons.
Lemon shipments got underway the same week with 59 tons sent to northern Europe. Last year, Chilean lemon exports started a week earlier, with 385 tons shipped to the U.S.
Chilean navel orange exports started the first week of June, and mandarins followed the last week of June.
Growing conditions have been ideal.
In 2024, Chilean growers exported 50,419 tons of clementines to the U.S. (98% of total clementine exports), 126,263 tons of mandarins (95%), 60,359 tons of lemons (63%) and 97,627 tons of navel oranges (93%).
Significant production increases are seen in the initial forecast for the coming season, especially for mandarins.
Mandarin volume is expected to increase by 32%, clementines should be up 25% and lemons are projected to rise 6%, but navel orange production might be down 18%.
Chile’s total citrus production is forecast to come in at 444 tons, an increase of 11% over 2024.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-4045863.
Washington and Oregon potato shipments may be down slightly this season, although good size and quality are being reported by growers.
Growing conditions have been very good so far this summer for Mattawa, Wash.-based
Del Christensen & Sons, of Mattawa, WA, whose potatoes are marketed by Eagle
Eye Produce, Idaho Falls, ID.
Eagle Eye notes the company, which ships russet potatoes year round from the Mattawa location, will begin its 2025 harvest in August and continue as late as mid-October.
Eagle Eye has been marketing product from Del Christensen & Sons, a multigenerational family farm, for about 10 years. Great size and great quality are being reported.
About 70% of the product grown by the Washington location of Eagle Eye Produce is shipped to retailers, and 30% goes to foodservice buyers.
Growing conditions also have been favorable for Norm Nelson Inc., of Burlington, WA. Good weather for planting and growing have been reported, with normal volume expected.
Established in the early 1940s, the family-owned company is now operated by members of the second and third generation.
Norm Nelson grows red, white, yellow and a few purple potatoes. Yellows have replaced red potato as the bestsellers.
The company will begin its harvest in early-to-mid-September and finish in early November. Potatoes will be shipped from storage through May.
Organically Grown Co., of Portland, OR sources and packs organic red, russet and yellow potatoes for retailers year round. It began its harvest in late July, with yellow potatoes leading its volume.
The shipper also handles specialty varieties of red, yellow, purple, fingerling and russet potatoes, most of which are available in 20-pound bulk cases.
Besides potatoes, Organically Grown Co. markets a full line of fresh organic produce year round that encompasses more n 350 commodities, Hardin adds.
Washington is second only to Idaho when it comes to potato production, according to the Washington Potato Commission of Moses Lake, WA.
The state’s growers harvested 159,500 acres of potatoes in 2024, according to USDA, and produced 101.2 million cwt for a value of $1.1 billion.
Acreage likely will drop to 145,000 to 150,000 acres this year as a result of softening demand, mostly for french fries and frozen potato products, the commission reports.
About 10% of the potatoes grown in Washington are shipped for the fresh market. The Columbia Basin in eastern Washington and the Skagit Valley are the state’s main potato-growing regions.
Oregon, the fourth-largest U.S. potato provider, produced 26,875,000 cwt of potatoes in 2024 for a value of $1.1 billion, according to the USDA.
About 5% to 10% of the state’s 43,000 harvested acres were devoted to fresh market product, notes the Oregon Potato Commission of Portland.
The state typically grows about 27 million cwt, but volume has been down the past couple of years because of a reduction in processed potato acreage. That shortfall is expected to continue for the 2025 season.
Potatoes are Oregon’s state vegetable, and they’re grown on 376 farms, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
In week 30, the global avocado trade exhibited mixed trends across key markets. According to intelligence firm Avobook,
The United States recorded its highest import volume since early April, with 1,731 containers and trucks entering the market. The last week of July was an 8% increase from the previous week.
Mexico accounted for 57% of those imports, followed by Peru (21%) and Colombia (7%). Notably, Peru and Mexico saw weekly market share increases of 28% and 12%, respectively, while Colombia experienced an 11% decline.
Europe received nearly 1,000 containers, representing a 2% weekly increase and higher volumes year-on-year. Peru continued to be the leading source of European imports, accounting for 78% of the volume, followed by South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Colombia, which maintained similar shares as in previous weeks.
In China, current trends continued, with 50 containers arriving from Peru during week 29. However, industry sources forecast a significant increase next week, with more than 100 containers expected. Although prices for sizes 18 to 24 rose by 7%, they remain 10% below 2024 levels.
Peru exported 1,330 avocado shipments in week 29. This reflects a 7% decrease in volume from the previous week, but a 20% increase compared to the same period last year. Europe remained the leading destination for Peruvian avocados, with 56% of the country’s exports. It was followed by the U.S. (19%) and Chile (12%).
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ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
If you are hauling are importing kiwifruit right now, it is coming from New Zealand.
Currently, kiwifruit sold in the United States is being supplied by New Zealand through October, after which the domestic California harvest enters the market, followed by imports from Italy. U.S. goods trade with New Zealand totaled an estimated $10.1 billion in 2024.
Zespri reports the improved outlook to increased yields, improved fruit sizing for Green and RubyRed varieties, and added volume from newly producing orchards, particularly for SunGold and RubyRed.
“We have another bumper crop of more than 200 million trays from New Zealand this season, and our sales programs have started well, particularly in Europe and North America, where we’ve seen strong demand,” according to Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake.
Zespri is also advancing key strategic initiatives, including efforts to increase grower ownership.
As part of a recent share alignment initiative, the proportion of growers who hold shares in Zespri has risen to more than 60%, up from 48%. The increase follows a 2024 grower vote in which 91% supported Zespri’s offshore expansion strategy.
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released the 2025 Acreage Report on June 30. The report showed a 2% overall decline in potatoes acres planted in 2025 (912,000 acres) compared to 2024 (930,000 acres).
Most states saw very modest planting changes this year compared to last year. Colorado (55,000 acres) and Wisconsin (68,000 acres) saw potato acreage gains of 1,000 acres each. North Dakota’s potato acres declined by 1,000 acres to 72,000 acres, while Maine (52,000 acres), and Minnesota (41,000 acres) saw 2,000-acre planting declines.
Washington saw the steepest single-state, year-to-year declines in 2025 at 145,000 acres compared to 160,000 acres last year.
The report notes that Washington potatoes “were emerging ahead of schedule with 95% of the crop emerged as of June 1.” Planting in Idaho, the largest potato-growing state with 315,000 acres planted (steady with 2024), was also noted as ahead of last year with 95% of the crop emerged as of June 15.
Even with the year-to-year changes in Washington, the report didn’t contain any significant surprises for Blair Richardson, CEO of Potatoes USA.
“The relatively minor adjustments to planted acreage estimates in the other states are likely a function of the regular ups and downs related to crop rotations, projected demand, contracted acreage with processing companies and other factors,” he says. “I did not see anything that seemed out of the ordinary.”