Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
U.S. potato shipments for the 2021-22 shipping season is forecast by the USDA to be down slightly compared a year ago, according to the agency’s November crop production report.
The USDA notes U.S production of potatoes for the 2021 crop year is forecast at 413 million cwt., down 2% from 420.02 million cwt. produced last season.
Planted acreage, at 951,000 acres, is up 1% from the June estimate and up 4% from last season. Potato area harvested, at 942,300 acres, is up 3% from the previous year, while the yield forecast, at 438 cwt per acre, is down 23 cwt. from last year’s yield.
Idaho’s forecast is 132.09 million cwt., down 2% from 134.77 million cwt. last year. Yields in Idaho were 420 cwt. per acre, off 7% from 450 cwt. per acre last year.
Washington’s output is 93.3 million cwt., down 6% from 99.65 million cwt. last year. Yields in Washington were 585 cwt per acre, off 9% from 645 cwt. per acre last year.
The potato production estimate in North Dakota is 21.0 million cwt., down 12% from last year.
Idaho potato freight rates are up anywhere from 25 to 40 percent over last week, depending on destination. Idaho Falls to Atlanta, grossing about $7200.
California Giant Farms of Watsonville, CA is importing blueberries from Chile and expects increased volume from Mexico in 2022.
The company reports adding more growers and increased acreage in Chile.
Blueberry production in Mexico is expected to continually increase in the coming months, with the growing region’s season currently in its early stages. The region, known for its strong spring harvest is on track to produce as expected.
California Giant started domestic harvest in early December, with a gradual increase in volume, and peak shipments occurring in April and May. The California Giant coastal organics program is the perfect complement to its import program for the continuity of supply throughout the year.
The grower/shipper is coming off Peru’s largest production year ever, breaking an all-time high export volume for the third consecutive year. This momentum is expected to continue throughout the Chilean season.
Peru has become the largest supplier of asparagus in the world, with 72 percent of its volume being imported by the U.S.
Agrara reports between January and October, Peruvian fresh asparagus exports reached 107,431 tons worth $330 million, showing an increase of 13 percent in both volume and value compared to the same period last year.
Border closings and flight restrictions during the first half of 2020 resulted in difficulties, with more than 80 percent of shipments being made by air.
There were positive results during the second half of the year, but it was not enough to counteract the decline, although it served to keep the numbers very similar to those of 2019.
From January to July 2021, exports totaled 63,302 tons worth $185 million, 24 percent more in volume and 19 percent more in value when compared to the same period the previous year. This year’s increase in supply has caused a slight contraction in prices of 4 percent, which fell to $2.98 per kilogram.
From August to October, asparagus shipments reached 45,129 tons worth $144 million, 1 percent more in volume and 6 percent more in value when compared to the same period last year.
According to estimates, asparagus exports at the end of 2021 will total 140,500 tons worth $422 million, which would reflect a growth of 10 percent in volume and value.
This should result in Peru would once again being the largest supplier of asparagus in the world, since Mexican asparagus exports are estimated to reach $415 million at the end of 2021, coming in second in the supplier ranking.
The main markets for Peruvian asparagus are the U.S. (with a 72 percent share), the Netherlands (7.4 percent), Spain (7 percent), and the UK (6.9 percent).
Following the historic February Freeze across Texas, the state’s grapefruit industry is feeling the destruction from the freezing weather.
Yahoo News reports the winter outbreak which hit the subtropical southeastern portion of the state on Valentine’s Day brought icy conditions and extreme cold temperatures damaging two different crops of grapefruit across the region.
This season’s crop of grapefruit, which had only been blooming at the time of the winter outbreak, is expected to provide less than a third of an average harvest.
Texas had been the number one provider of fresh grapefruit in the nation ahead of the outbreak, but the damage done to the groves has since dropped them down to third in the nation, Dale Murden, the president of Texas Citrus Mutual, a trade group that represents the interests of the state’s citrus growers, told AccuWeather’s National Reporter Bill Wadell.
Murden had also spoken with AccuWeather via email back during February. Also a grower, he had mentioned when temperatures dip below 28 degrees and stay below that mark for five hours or longer, the fruit on the branches begins to freeze on the inside, damaging the crop. “Most everyone” saw temperatures drop to at least 21 degrees, he had added.
Texas grapefruit trees encased in ice after a winter storm hammered the state with record cold.
The freeze had hit when the groves still had two crops on the trees — the fruit that was still being harvested and the following season’s crop that was beginning to flower. Murden estimated about 60% of the fruit had remained to be harvested at the time. However, winter’s scythe cut more significantly into the then-flowering groves’ crop that farmers are now waiting to harvest as fruit.
A lot of these groves were in full flower when that freeze hit,” Murden said. “So that legitimately hurt 100% of your next year’s crop — 70 to 80% on the average.”
Murden estimates they’ll have about 30% of a normal crop this harvest due to the freeze. The fruit that did survive was harvested closer to late November rather than when the season typically starts around mid-September into early October. The estimated total financial loss from the freeze hovers around $300 million.
ISSAQUAH, WA – Vanguard International is optimism about its recently started Peru grape season.
By the end of November its red varieties commenced packing along with the remainder of the green varieties, including Sweet Globe. Then in mid-December the company began with black varieties.
The Peru crop will yield approximately 55% green grapes, 40% red grapes, and 5% black this season.
“Our Ivory variety is the first fruit off the line, and they feature great size, great color, and great taste,” shares Fanny Robles, Vanguard Manager – Peru Procurement and Sales “We’ve never seen Ivory grapes that look like this before,” Robles continues. “We are seeing this consistently for all our varieties and our packinghouse teams have a renewed excitement.”
It’s not just the fruit leading the high spirits of the Vanguard Global team as Robles notes. “Compared to last season, we are very prepared right now. The entire global team is more connected than ever from those in the fields, to the packing house, shipping lines, and customers.”
“Quality parameters have been further developed to meet packing needs for each different market.” Robles outlines. “Our more experienced team combined with our strong crop means we can be more competitive in the market this year.”
“Our cultural practices at the field level and significantly improved quality are two very positive developments leading to more volume than we forecasted,” shared Dirk Winkelmann, President of Vanguard Direct. “In particular with our green grapes, the average berry weight is a bit more than forecasted and that alone could push the crop up by 10%. Equally important our pack outs are quite a few points higher this season.”
The cautious optimism extends to the plans for transportation of our products.
Preseason strategic negotiations and alignment has Vanguard well prepared and positioned to transport the increased grape volumes. Currently there are no concerns around space availability and equipment in the Ica region.
“The expansion of our facilities, to include both container plugs and increased pre-cool and cold storage, will help to mitigate any logistical delays. We are well positioned as we head into our peak grape volumes,” says Winkelmann.
Founded in 1991, Vanguard International has been marketing and selling fresh fruits and vegetables in Asia and the Middle East for over 30 years, operating offices internationally in Chile, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Spain, Taiwan, South Africa, and the United States.
Significantly fewer California table grapes remain to be shipped from storage on the West Coast compared to this time last year, according to USDA report.
The Western Fruit Report – Grape Cold Storage Summary states there were over 2 million fewer cartons being held.
There were 7 million cartons in storage on November 30, compared to 9.2 million cartons on the same date in 2020.
The storage numbers on Nov. 30, 2019 were also higher than this year, but down from last year at 7.9 million cartons.
The most recent figure for this year is much lower than the 10.5 million cartons registered on November 15.
Compared to the same date in 2020, the biggest changes in terms of specific varietals are seen in:
- Autumn Royal – 254,000 (down from 259,000 last year)
- Autumn King – 2.5 million (down from 2.8 million)
- Allison – 1.4 million (down from 2.3 million)
- Scarlet Royal – 243,000 (down from 303,000)
- Red Globe – 206,000 (up from 46,000)
- Timco – 95,000 (down from 195,000)
- Great Green – 2,000 (down from 50,000)
- Other White category – 252,000 (up from 192,000)
- Other Red category – 416,000 (down from 1.5 million)
- Other Black category – 216,000 (down from 491,000)
Northwest onion shipments from storage will be occurring through mid- to late April as usual, but volume will be down because onions remaining to be shipped are down about 40% to 50% from normal, according to Owyhee Produce of Parma, ID.
During the growing season, the Treasure Valley growing region of Idaho and eastern Oregon exceeded 100 degrees for 20 days through mid-July, up from the historical annual average of six days reaching 100 degrees or more. This resulted in a yield reduction.
Top shipping areas for onions in late October were Columbia Basin, WA.; Idaho and Malheur County, OR.; Peru; Colorado; and Utah, according to the USDA.
Truck shipments of Idaho onions, at 394 truckloads the week of Oct. 24, were off 32% from the same week a year ago. Onion shipments from Oregon, at 127 truckloads for the week of Oct. 24, were 52% lower than the same week last year. Washington onion shipments were 646 truckloads the week of Oct. 24, down slightly from 659 truckloads moved the same week a year ago.
While shipments from the Northwest were well off last season’s pace, imports of onions were running well ahead of normal.
Peru’s onion shipments to the U.S. the week of Oct. 24 totaled 602 truckloads, up about three times the 203 truckloads imported the same week a year ago.
Lower Rio Grande Valley grapefruit shipments overall are predicted to be down nearly 70 percent this season, thanks to a devastating freeze last February. Meanwhile, winter vegetable shipments are expected to be more normal.
Grapefruit and orange loading typically start in south Texas during October, but the Texas International Produce Associations reports the 2021 Valentine freeze resulted in a later-starting crop. That delayed shipments, finally picking up around Thanksgiving and winding down in March.
However, overall grapefruit shipments could be down by two-thirds from a normal season.
Struggling to find good news in the whole debacle, the association notes while the overall volume will be lighter, fruit size and quality should be good. Less fruit on the tree means larger sizes.
Lone Star Citrus Growers of Mission, TX reports much of the fruit is also hanging on the internal branches of the tree due to the outer canopy loss after the freeze. Hopefully, this will result in fewer outer blemishes caused by the wind.
The company increased its acreage for this season and expects to produce 75% of what it had last year. Lone Star Citrus, like other marketers, will operate on a condensed harvesting and packing schedule, allowing the firm to maximize efficiencies.
The operation contends despite the fierce freeze in February, the longer-term outlook for Texas citrus is positive and sees having 80 percent of a crop next season.
Lone Star Citrus markets grapefruit and a variety of orange varieties, including marrs, navel, pineapple and valencia.
Vegetable Shipments
Lone Star vegetable shipments kicked off with herbs in early November, with items ranging from cilantro to parsley, and cabbage, followed soon by kale.
Grow Farms Texas, Donna, TX, continues to grow its program in south Texas on both domestic and Mexico Grown products. Its cabbage survived last year’s February freeze, resulting in a great Saint Patrick’s day harvest. An even better crop is seen this year.
The company is looking at good cucumber and bell pepper production out of Mexico, along with increasing volume of eggplant and squash. It is increasing its hot peppers volume each year, led by jalapeno and serrano.
Imported Chilean cherries to the U.S. got underway in late October and will continue into February.
The Chilean Fresh Fruit Association notes Chile is world’s largest exporter of cherries, shipping 77.8 million boxes around the globe last year. Chile projects cherry exports to the U.S. will see substantial growth in 2021-22, with nearly 13,000 metric tons expected for the U.S. market this season.
The Oppenheimer Group (Oppy), report shipments to North America are poised for yearly growth in the future.
China remains the primary destination for Chilean cherries, but production continues to grow and is now sufficient to support good volumes in North America, Europe, India and elsewhere. The North American market is viewed as the primary target for growth this season.
Overall volume this season could be 50 to over 100% higher than last year. The season started in mid-November with air shipments and should continue through February.
While Arizona-California desert growers and shippers have experienced a cool down this week in the midi-60s and low 70s, it follows ideal weather conditions with highs in the 80s last week. But overall, desert vegetable volume is increasing.
In the meantime, green leaf, iceberg, and romaine lettuce volume is good, thanks in part because these are winter varieties which have been developed to have favorable quality and availability during the colder months.
The first crop premium Iceberg availability is inconsistent due to low weights, although premium Green Leaf and Romaine are readily available.
Both Arizona and California desert shipments are in full swing.
Lettuce and leaf quality are good, although growth cracking, mildew, fringe burn, and seeder exist in some lots. As a result, it’s important, as always, to be aware of what is being loaded onto the truck and that the receiver is aware of it.
Shipments have been moderate since Thanksgiving and loadings are starting to ramp up for the holidays.
Broccoli shipments are increasing from the Arizona and California desert regions. Overall quality is good, although pin rot is affecting some lots.
Cauliflower volume also is increasing with good quality great color and ideal size being reported.