Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
Florida Classic Growers Inc. of Dundee- FL looks to start harvesting Central Florida fields the last week of March.
The shipper expects to have blueberries through the month of April and into the first week of May.
Freezing temperatures in January may have delayed the start of the harvest about a week later than normal, but the outlook for the crop remains good.
With berries from Mexico and Chile expected to fade at the end of March, Florida blueberries will be in prime position for big demand during April.
The Florida blueberry crop is doing well despite a pretty hard freeze.
Generally, Florida blueberry acreage is increasing, but not as rapidly as a decade ago. The number of growers may be declining as smaller growers leave the business.
The USDA reported that Florida’s blueberry acreage in 2020 was 4,400 acres, up from 3,500 acres in 2010 but down from 5,100 acres in 2019.
Vanguard International USA, Inc. of Issaquah, WA is reported its Peruvian grapes supplied by Jack Salute are looking exceptional with great size, color, and taste. The bunch formation is just where it should be.
Harvesting is approaching the end of the red variety grapes, with the season wrapping up the last month with green variety grapes.
The operations are moving seamlessly with a steady and organized flow from fruit picking, then onto the packing house, and finally sending the grapes off in vessels. The harvest has entered the last half of the season and optimism is surrounding the final half of this 2021-2022 grape season in terms of both fruit quality and market demand.
The U.S. is the number one destination for Peruvian grape exports.
Exports of avocado from Peru are expected to grow by 8 to 10 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year. Growth likely will be with exports to Europe, but supply problems in the U.S. could change these projections.
An article in Agaria.pe cites numbers from Peruvian avocado growers’ association ProHass. It notes 2021 was already a year of substantial growth, increasing 20 percent compared to 2020 to hit 483,00 tons of shipped fruit.
This increase was mainly expected to come from exports destined for the Netherlands which supply the EU.
The season for Peru avocados starts in April or early May, when it ripens enough to reach the quality for the U.S. market. According to the report, this allows Peru to get in on consumption trends associated with July 4th and the Labor Day long weekend in September.
Last year Peru’s trade minister lauded the growth registered in the value of Peru’s avocado exports. At the time it was noted 2021 exports, not including the final two months of August and September, were already up 14 percent compared to the entire 2020 season.
Strawberry shipments are about 15% ahead of where it was this time last at California Giant Berry Farms, based in Watsonville, CA.
The growing/shipping operation also has a year-round supply of sustainably grown fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.
California Giant Berry Farms expects to begin peak strawberry shipments from its Southern California ranches in late March. Oxnard began picking strawberries the first week of January will quickly ramp up it approaches peak volume in March.
The Santa Maria spring crop began harvest the second week of January and will double in volume week after week through March.
Some Red River Valley potato shippers could finish a little earlier than usual this year because North Dakota and Minnesota growers planted fewer acres of red potatoes in 2021. Drought conditions also reduced yields.
This could result in storage inventories being depleted four to six weeks ahead of normal.
The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association of East Grand Forks, MN reports some of the region’s 13 shippers will be finishing in March and April, rather than in May.
In the Northern Plains Region, potatoes are grown on about 70,000 acres in North Dakota and 8,800 acres in Minnesota. Growers planted fewer acres of red potatoes in 2021,
Strawberry shipments from Florida are looking good for the next two months, despite recent cold snap which did not do any long-lasting harm to the strawberry plants.
Well-Pick of Watsonville, CA also has operations in the Sunshine state and notes the peak shipping season is just beginning and will continue into April. The grower/shipper expects its volume to be as good if not a little better than a year.
A main concern at this point in the season every year is if the weather becomes too warm. This can shorten the season and the distance the berries can be hauled in good condition.
Plant City area strawberries – grossing about $2800 to Chicago; $3800 to New York City.
The Mexican mango season got going in early January with Ataulfo mangos from the southern areas of Mexico.
GM Produce Sales LLC of Hidalgo, TX. has been importing Mexican mangoes since 1984 and report ideal weather is resulting in heavy volume of yellow mangos from southern Mexico.
However, heaviest volume is seen for March and April which includes St Patrick’s Day (March 17) and Easter (April 17).
While yellow mangos will be in good supply soon, red mango shipments are expected to be delayed.
A late start for Mexican red mangos from some southern areas of Mexico had had bad weather. While light loadings are expected in March, as in recent years, late April, May and June should have much heavier volume leading up to Cinco de Mayo (May 5) and Memorial Day (May 30).
New Zealand’s 2022 kiwifruit harvest has kicked off with the first crop being picked February 17 in Te Puke and more kiwifruit to be picked around New Zealand over the coming months.
The 2022 season has the potential to be another record-breaking year with more kiwifruit produced than ever before. A forecast of at least 190 million trays will need to be harvested, overtaking last year’s record of over 177 million trays. On average, each tray has around 30 pieces of kiwifruit.
Zespri’s new RubyRed variety is picked first which is then followed by the Gold and Green varieties. The harvest traditionally peaks in mid-April and runs through until June.
The sweet, berry-tinged tasting Red kiwifruit will also be picked for supermarket shelves in New Zealand and some overseas markets this year. 2022 marks the first year that RubyRed will be sold as a commercial variety.
Zespri’s Chief Grower, Industry and Sustainability Officer, Carol Ward says, “With this season’s harvest about to commence, growers and the wider industry will again be following all government protocols and working hard to safely pick, pack and ship what’s expected to be another bumper crop of at least 190 million trays, maybe more.
The success of the 2022 kiwifruit harvest hinges on the ability for industry’s supply chain to operate effectively under the quickly changing COVID-19 settings. The industry requires 24,000 people to pick and pack the crop.
However, forecast surges in Covid-19 infection rates are expected to restrict the availability of New Zealanders. In addition, the opening of New Zealand’s borders is expected to be too late to replace the 6,500 backpackers required for harvest.
New Zealand has some 2,800 growers who produce kiwifruit across over 32,124 acres of orchards between Kerikeri in the north and Motueka in the south.
CEO of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. (NZKGI), Colin Bond says that the industry has built experience over the past two years on how to operate a harvest under COVID-19 restrictions. “The health and safety of our workforce is our first priority and NZKGI is working continually with government agencies to develop operational processes to mitigate COVID-19 infections”.
The industry is working collaboratively to do everything we can to get all the fruit off the vines – and that must be done in a way which puts our people first”.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Strategically bolstering its international presence in recent years, Oppy is among the first to offer South African plums to the North American marketplace following an eight-year hiatus.
As U.S. authorities tightened import regulations for Chilean plums following pest detection in early 2021, Sila Louw, who joined the leading grower, marketer and distributor in the interim to head its South African operations, proposed complementing Oppy’s plum offerings with fruit grown on his home soil — first arriving on the East Coast in late January.
The Oppy team is reporting excellent growing conditions and crop quality this season, with supplies planned through March. Varieties already in the market include Ruby Sun, Ruby Crisp, Fortune, Black Pearl and Midnight Gold, with African Delight, Angeleno and Larry Ann to follow in the coming months.
“While we have brought grapes and citrus from South Africa for many years, it’s a particularly exciting time to dive deeper into new items with a fresh edge, allowing us to offer exclusive options to our customers,” said Oppy’s Senior Vice President of Categories and Marketing James Milne.
Continuing to bring Chilean plums to market under strict protocols, Oppy is also currently importing cherries, nectarines, peaches, blueberries and table grapes from the South American country, with apples and kiwifruit arriving soon.
“This is an excellent opportunity to further diversify across growing regions, adding complementary varieties and volumes from Chile,” added Oppy’s Vice President of South American Operations Eric Coty.
About Oppy
Growing, marketing and distributing fresh produce from around the globe for more than 160 years, Vancouver, BC-based Oppy discovers and delivers the best of the world’s harvest. With over 50 million boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on every continent moving through its supply chain annually, Oppy offers popular favorites from avocados and berries to apples and oranges year-round, alongside innovative seasonal specialties. Over the years, Oppy has introduced North Americans to a number of items across its diverse produce range, including Granny Smith, JAZZ and Envy apples, as well as green and gold kiwifruit. Go to www.oppy.com to learn more.
Avocado inspections in Michoacan, Mexico has restarted and avocado exports to the U.S. have resumed, the USDA announced February 18.
The USDA, working closely with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico’s Regional Security Officer, Mexico’s national plant protection organization (SENASICA) and the Association of Avocado Producers and Packers Exporters of Mexico, or APHIS, has enacted additional measures that enhance safety for APHIS inspectors working in the field, following a threat made to an employee on February 11, according to the release.
“The safety of USDA employees simply doing their jobs is of paramount importance,” the USDA said. “USDA is appreciative of the positive, collaborative relationship between the United States and Mexico that made resolution of this issue possible in a timely manner.”
In 2021, the U.S. imported $3.0 billion avocados globally, with $2.8 billion coming from Mexico (92%). In terms of volume, the U.S. imported 1.2 million metric tons of avocados, with 1.1 million coming from Mexico (89%). For the last full calendar year (2020) of available data, Mexico reported exports of avocados of $3.2 billion, of which 79% went to the U.S.
In 2020 and 2021, approximately 80% of the avocados exported from Michoacán went to U.S. markets. The peak growing season for Mexican avocados is January through March, while the U.S production season for avocado fruit runs from April to September.
Mexico and the U.S. will continue working together to fortify the strong bilateral supply chains that promote economic growth and prosperity in both countries.
“We are grateful that both countries have come to a resolution so that the U.S. and Mexico can continue our positive trading relationship,” the IFPA said in the statement. “IFPA looks forward to continuing to work with businesses on both sides of the border and their respective governments to continue to monitor and address these issues, so consumers can continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to fresh produce.”