Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
A drop of about 7% in Chilean table grape production and exports may occur this season, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service annual report on Chilean deciduous fruit.
In the marketing year 2022-23, USDA’s FAS Santiago office estimates table grape production will decrease by 7.1%, totaling 732,000 metric tons.
The decrease in production is a result of a decrease in table grape area planted. Planted table grape area decreased from 133,068 acres in 2011-12 to 106,500 acres in 2021-22.
For the marketing year 2022-23, the report said planted table grape area is expected at 105,000 acres, a 1.4% decrease from 2021-22.
“According to industry contacts, production of new varieties is taking the place of traditional varieties such as red globe,” the report said. “While new varieties like Allison, Arra-15, Timco, and Sweet Celebration are growing in area, more traditional varieties are decreasing at a faster rate.”
Table grape production is trending downwards because of drought and competition from more profitable crops.
Drought has caused a decline in table grape production in recent years, the report said, and the lack of water is considered a structural problem that will persist in the upcoming marketing years.
“Notably, rainfall in marketing year 2022-23 was abundant and may have mitigated more serious declines in grape production; however, those gains are not expected to be long-term,” the report said.
The most recent data from the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture’s Office of Policy and Studies shows a decrease in the planted area across all regions.
The USDA said the decrease in planted area is especially high in the Valparaiso region, where walnuts and citrus have replaced some of the planted table grape area, and in the O’Higgins region, where more profitable crops like cherries and walnuts are growing in planted area.
The USDA said Chilean grape exports will decrease by 7.1%, according to the report, totaling 565,000 metric tons.
Last season saw a 15.7% increase in Chilean table grape exports, the report said, totaling 608,110 metric tons.
Between March and May in 2022, table grape exports increased significantly over the same period in 2021.
Delays at both Chilean and international ports were longer from February to April. In March 2022, the Chilean Fruit Producers Association (FEDEFRUTA) requested priority at the Chilean port of Valparaiso for table grapes, due to the overwhelming demand for cargo and the perishable nature of their products.
During March and April of 2022, Chilean exporters reported delays in the port of Philadelphia, which was caused by the requirement for methyl bromide fumigation. The delays caused fines, demurrage, and decreased quality of some of the shipments that were delayed for long periods of time, the report said.
The U.S. is the main market for Chilean table grape exports and shipments, accounting for about half of Chilean grape exports. Shipments to the U.S. in 2021-22 increased by 21.7% to 310,033 metric tons.
China is the second largest market for Chilean table grapes, buying about 77,610 metric tons in 2020-21, or about 12.8% of total Chilean grape exports, the report said. Chilean exporters expect shipments of red globe and other red seedless varieties to China to remain strong in 2022-23, the report said.
APPLES AND PEARS
The USDA report estimates Chilean apple production at 1.03 million metric tons, a 0.6% decrease from last season based on lower planted area. Apple exports will total 605,000 metric tons in 2022-23, a 0.8% decrease from last season.
“Higher yields in the marketing year 2022-23 should offset some of the reduction in planted area and thus exports volume is expected to decrease very slightly,” he said.
The declining trend in planted pear area, will mean Chilean pear exports will decrease by 2.6% and total 112,000 metric tons.
“Pear producers face low margins compared to other crops and increasing costs have limited the planted pear area growth,” the report said. “However, existing pear producers are very efficient, and can export and obtain profits.”
Peruvian grape production and exports will have a significant increase this season, according to the USDA.
In the USDA’s annual report on Peruvian deciduous fruit estimated grape production in Peru will reach 766,000 metric tons in marketing year 2022-23, an increase of 7% compared with last season.
The USDA said Peruvian grape exports are forecast to reach a record 586,000 metric tons in 2022-23, 8% higher than a year ago. The U.S. will continue to be the lead export market, the USDA said.
In calendar year 2021, the U.S. imported 204,849 metric tons of Peruvian grapes, followed by the Netherlands with 86,846 metric tons and Hong Kong with 41,225 metric tons.
The country has a dry coast where daily temperatures consistently range between 57 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit and over 12 hours of sunlight per day, year-round, the report said. That makes the region ideal for grape production.
“These conditions, combined with precision irrigation, enable Peru to mature vines 55% faster than in neighboring countries,” the report said. Grape production is mainly located in Ica (41%) and Piura (22%), with total area under cultivation is estimated at near 84,000 acres. The grape harvesting season in Peru begins in late October and ends in April.
The red globe variety continues to be the most produced (25%) grape due to consumer preference in the Chinese market, the USDA report said.
However, the report said the red globe variety has been losing ground to higher value varieties such as Sweet Globe (18%), Allison (7%), Autumn Crisp (6%), Sweet Celebration (5%), crimson seedless (5%), Jack’s Salute (4%) and Timpson (4%).
Fresh table grapes are one of the top produce exports by value for Peru, the USDA said, with 2021 export value of $1.25 billion up 23% compared with 2020.
The overall export market averaged $2,436 per metric ton for Peruvian grape exports, 4% higher than in 2020. Prices for the U.S. market averaged $2,540. Peruvian grape exports to the U.S. peak between December and January due to seasonally higher prices.
MAS Melons & Grapes, LLC of Rio Rico, AZ. had a great November shipping Mexican melons following a shaky start in October.
MAS will be shipping mini-watermelons from Hermosillo, Sonora, until around Dec. 20.
In January MAS Melons will be shipping a nice quality crop from the states of Colima and Nayarit in southern Mexico. This includes Orange Candy melons, Honeydew melons, mini- and seedless watermelons. These will be shipped until early April.
Last November was the most successful watermelon season the company had experienced in 35 years in the watermelon business. In fact, it was the best season ever.
MAS shipped Sonoran seedless watermelons for six weeks, ending in late November.
Supplies of some California winter vegetables, lettuces in particular, were tight for Thanksgiving, but availability was good on others, and volume overall should increase by Christmas.
Ocean Mist Farms of Castroville, CA report the lettuce shortage started as the Salinas season was completed.
Salinas was described and being “…a rough end to the season,” with severe virus problems in the Salinas Valley.
F.O.B. prices for 24-count cartons of romaine lettuce were in the $80 range in early November, according to the USDA. A year earlier, they were less than half that.
Ocean Mist began sourcing lettuce out of Yuma, AZ, just prior to Thanksgiving week.
Boskovich Farms of Oxnard, CA report disease problems with California celery as well.
The Nunes Co., of Salinas notes volume for broccoli and cauliflower could be down due to cooler than normal weather. The company transitioned to its Arizona and Mexico desert growing areas in early November.
Despite the gloomy outlook for some items, growers were optimistic about other commodities.
Progressive Produce LLC of Los Angeles has positive news noting there are plenty of holiday staples like potatoes, onions and asparagus available, with good quality.
Progressive Produce sources from Colorado, Washington, California and Idaho during the winter.
The Nunes Co. will ship 40 conventional and 30 organic products this fall and winter. Its core items include organic and conventional romaine, iceberg and leaf lettuces, cauliflower, broccoli and celery. Celery, broccoli and cauliflower shipments are especially good during the holidays.
Coastline Family Farms of Salinas will continue to ship full line of over 25 products this season, including iceberg lettuce, broccoli bunches and crowns, cauliflower, naked and sleeved celery, romaine cartons, romaine hearts, green and red leaf lettuces, green onions and a full line of bunching items.
The company began shipping from the desert in Yuma the first week of November with iceberg and romaine lettuce. Its other vegetable items come of Brawley, CA in the Imperial Valley, which started started right after Thanksgiving.
About 75% of Ocean Mist Farms’ winter volume comes from California’s Coachella Valley, Munger said, and 25% comes from Yuma.
The transition to Coachella from the Salinas area took place by the third week of November for most items.
Ocean Mist is the largest artichoke grower in North America, although the company also ships 30 other items, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, leaf lettuces: iceberg, romaine, romaine hearts, yellow and green leaf lettuce, spinach; and some specialty items like anise and escarole.
Boskovich Farms of Oxnard is shipping onions, radishes, kale, romaine hearts and beets from Mexico. The company also grows parsley, cilantro, spinach and celery year-round in Oxnard.
During the past three decades Chile was the primary supplier of fruit to the U.S. market, and this success has attracted more competition.
Chile accounted for 41% of U.S. import grape value from September 2021 through August 2022, up from 39% for the same period in 2021 but down from 64% in 2015 and nearly half of its 76% share in 2000.
For berries, excluding strawberries, Chile accounted for 9% of total U.S. imports in 2022, down from 14% in 2021, 21% in 2015 and 11% in 2000.
Chile represents 20% of U.S. citrus imports by value in 2022, unchanged from 2021 and about the same as in 2015.
In 2022, Chile commands big market share advantages for U.S. imports of cherries (53%), plums (91%), peaches (98%) and apples (52%). For pears, Chile accounts for 18% of U.S. import pear value in 2022.
Chile accounts for 24% of U.S. kiwifruit imports, down from 26% in 2021 and off from 41% in 2015.
For the upcoming season, the Chilean Blueberry Committee, with the consulting firm iQonsulting, has estimated export volume of 98,228 tons of fresh blueberries from Chile for the 2022-23 season, down about 8% compared with last year. Shipments to the U.S. began in October and will continue through February.
Chilean cherry shipments to the U.S. began the last week of October and will increase, continuing into February, according the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association.
Chile is the world’s largest exporter of cherries, shipping 77.8 million boxes around the globe last year. The South American country projects cherry exports to the U.S. will have substantial growth in 2021-22, with nearly 13,000 metric tons expected for the U.S. market this season.
Following two disappointing years, Texas citrus is expected to rebound this season, although it certainly will not be setting any records.
Texas Citrus Mutual reports for the 2022-23 season, growers are expecting a strong harvest after two years stymied by extreme weather which included a hurricane one year and a freeze another year.
Lone Star Citrus Growers is a family-owned, conventional grapefruit and orange packing shed based in Mission, Texas. The company hopes to have 80 percent of a normal crop a year from now, which would be the 2023-24 season.
While no official numbers are being reported as yet, Texas’ Rio Grande Valley had about 2 million 85-pound boxes of oranges in 2019 and around 1.5 million boxes in 2020. Grapefruit shipments were about 5.7 million 80-pound boxes in 2019 and 4.9 million cartons in 2020. Around 40 percent of both oranges and grapefruit go to the fresh market.
The 2022-23 Michigan apple crop is shattering shipping records.
Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc., Sparta, MI, reports it has surpassed its all-time production record by 20-25%. The grower/shipper packs more than half of Michigan’s fresh apple crop and has a presence in all but one of Michigan’s apple producing areas.
In August the Michigan Apple Committee announced a crop estimate of a whopping 29.5 million bushels. This is 10 million more bushels than in the 2021-22 season. Michigan apple growers produced 15.6 million bushels last year, according to the USDA. Informal estimates now place 2022-23 volume at about 34-38 million bushels!
Riveridge reports this banner season is especially good news because it follows three consecutive disappointing Michigan apple crops. Part of the reason the 2022-23 crop was so good is that the trees had not been stressed by large crops for a long time. It was a strong bloom and fruit set. This year, Michigan apple trees were tight on maturity, with the fruitlets on the trees ranging in maturity within three to five days. Some years that span can vary by two weeks.
Riveridge’s apple marketing position is stronger because of a short crop in the Pacific Northwest. The company plans on filling those voids.
A strategic move for Riveridge is growing apple varieties and strains wanted by consumers. Galas and Fujis are key varieties for Riveridge. A lot of the apple industry that has focused on expensive, proprietary varieties, which the company believes has confused many consumers.
The USDA formally authorized the export of avocados from the state of Jalisco in Mexico, to the U.S. last July. This is allowing the expansion of operations for some grower-shippers and helping to bolster supplies.
Mexican avocado imports contributed a record $11.2 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2021-22 growing season, according to a recent report from Texas A&M University.
The trade organization Avocados from Mexico of Dallas, TX has said “the sky is the limit” when describing potential growth of the Mexican avocado industry. Avocados grow year-round in the Mexican state of Michoacán, providing a steady supply. And with the addition of the state of Jalisco to the import program, there are even more avocados available for U.S.
Seald Sweet of Vero Beach, FL notes the approval of the Jalisco area has significantly changed its avocado business.
The company has partnered with Las Tarascas, a family-owned company that has grown produce in Mexico for more than 20 years. The two companies have aligned with providing sustainable and high-quality product to the U.S. market with a direct line to the grower and product.
While avocados from Jalisco still represent a modest contribution to the U.S. supply chain, they may help to break records in the future. Seald Sweet projects it will import a record amount of avocados this year.
California and Arizona citrus growers got off to a strong start in October and forecast a good performance for the 2022/23 season, predicting strong volumes of large fruit this winter.
USDA reports last season was down about 19%, but citrus growers in California and Arizona are optimistic. The California and Arizona citrus crop is anticipated to rebound from 2021/22’s off season.
Sunkist Growers of Valencia, CA reports this past season, California citrus had a shorter crop with most varieties. It is looking forward to a new season. Shipments of California-grown Sunkist Navel Oranges started in November, alongside the exceptionally large pummelo and Sunkist California Mandarins, followed by cara cara oranges, blood oranges and minneola tangelos.
Sunkist anticipates peak citrus volumes by January with all varieties.
At shipper/packer Bee Sweet Citrus of Fowler, CA, the company is citing larger-than-average navel oranges registering higher-than-normal Brix levels for this this time of year. The San Joaquin Valley operation notes citrus volume in California is slightly up compared to the 2021/22 citrus season, while Florida’s harvest is down substantially.
While Florida Department of Agriculture’s early estimates of the total crop damage for the state’s citrus region totaled over 80% of acres impacted, because Florida produces a very small segment of the overall fresh citrus market, Bee Sweet Citrus believes Florida’s hurricane impact will have a minimal effect on the California shipments.
The Chilean Blueberry Committee, together with the consulting firm iQonsulting, have estimated a volume of 98,228 tons of fresh blueberries from Chile for the 2022-2023 season. Small shipments to the U.S. market have already begun and will continue through February.
Volume estimated for the 2022/23 season has declined eight percent from last year. This has resulted primarily from the Chilean blueberry industry’s intense focus on providing only the best quality blueberries to its export markets. The industry is undergoing extensive variety renewal, with some varieties being shifted into frozen exports and other industrial uses. At the same time, growers are planting new varieties with better post-harvest conditions that will allow the fruit to arrive with the full flavor and sweetness characteristic of Chilean blueberries.
The U.S. continues to be Chile’s main market for fresh blueberries, receiving 54% of total volume. It is followed by Europe with 34%, Asia with 11% and the remaining 2% within the Middle East and Latin America. Chile ships 75% of all fresh organic blueberries to the U.S. During the 2021/22 season, 22% of all blueberries shipped to the U.S. were organic, and 78% conventional.
With peak arrivals expected around the last week of December/first week of January, the U.S. marketing team is working with retail chains large and small to design programs that will drive Chilean blueberry sales. Trade promotions will commence by early January and continue through February.
States Andres Armstrong, Executive Director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, “Our #1 priority is delivering the highest quality blueberries to our international markets. Planting and exporting the right varieties is key, but the industry is also strengthening logistics through new programs like the Blueberry Express. This service will begin in Week 49 and continue throughout the 2022-23 season, with less than 2 weeks transit time to the U.S. market. It guarantees the maintenance of the cold chain, which is crucial for protecting fruit quality.”
The industry anticipates better conditions for the export of fresh blueberries. Cooler temperatures have enhanced fruit quality, and there has been greater availability of labor for harvesting, packing and logistics operations, factors that made last season challenging.