Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
The Chilean clementine export season has been launched with expectations of growth over last year, according to the Citrus Committee of the Fruit Exporters’ Association (Asoex).
A 7 percent increase of exports over 2020 is forecast with 55,000 metric tons (MT) for this season.
The first shipments left during first week of April, with 573MT of the Clemenules, Orogrande and Oronules varieties having been exported by the 3rd week of April. This compares to 1,503MT that had been exported by the same period last year.
Clementines and lemons were the first to start, with oranges following soon.
Dry weather was report with little rains, making for a smooth start to the harvests. Although the first shipments of clementines were lower than last season, it was too early to establish any change in the estimates for the period.
The primary destination for Chilean citrus exports is the U.S., accounting for about 85% of total shipments. It is followed by the Far East and Europe, which represent 9% and 3% respectively. There are also sales to Canada, Latin America and the Middle East.
In the total citrus category, Chile in March predicted a 6 percent increase over last season. The biggest rise will be for mandarins with an increase of 11 percent over a year ago, followed by clementines with 7 percent growth. Lemons are expected to see a 3 percent increase, while oranges will stay the same.
California cherries are now in peak shipments and should continue through June 6.
The California Cherry Board reports loadings are expected to exceed 8 million boxes, which would be up from the 6.58 million boxes shipped a year ago, — and be higher than the previous two seasons.
The California cherry crop was initially estimated at 9.47 million 18-pound boxes, and had the chance to beat the banner year of 2017, when a record 9.55 million boxes were picked. However, heat and wind damage earlier in the season is seen as affecting fruit size and packouts.
The cherry board reports California has about 40,000 acres of cherries. The Stockton-Linden-Lodi district, where the traditional Bing cherry is grown, accounts for about 60% of the crop. The southern San Joaquin Valley produces about 35%, and about 5% comes from the Gilroy-Hollister area.
Delta Packing Co. of Lodi, Inc. reports since the Coral harvests start earlier than the Bing, increased plantings of the variety have moved up timing of peak California cherry shipments.
The shift to more Corals has also led to more California cherry shipments during the month of May than in June.
An estimated 25% of the California crop will go to export markets this year, up slightly from 23% last year, with Canada, Korea and Japan being the biggest buyers.
California cherries – grossing $10,000 to $11,000 to New York City.
The Michigan asparagus season is officially underway: quality, volumes and pricing will be similar to last season with peak volumes in late May and early June. The vegetable currently claims the number one spot for total asparagus production in the U.S., including both fresh and processed,
the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
Although the state was gearing up for a Mother’s Day “normal” season start Mother Nature had her own plans. While days had been warm, temperatures dropped to near or below freezing many nights, delaying the start of harvest for about a week. The “pre-season” had light volumes from the Southernmost part of the state that found their way into only the local markets. The cool spring weather provided growers with some extra time to prepare fields and complete beginning of season tasks like mowing and fertilizer application.
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The Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board (MAAB) promotes the production and consumption of Michigan Asparagus nationwide. The organization is dedicated to sharing the virtues of asparagus, while also assisting with agricultural research and the development of asparagus farming. The MAAB is funded by Michigan Asparagus growers.
Eight out of every 10 carrots are grown and shipped in the U.S. are from California’s Kern County.
The USDA reported California carrot shipments of 748.7 million pounds in 2020, up from 723.6 million pounds in 2019.
The Kern County carrot season will be increasing in volume in late May for Kern Ridge Growers LLC of Arvin, CA.
The company reports carrot shipments will shift to Kern County from the California desert region in May.
Kern Ridge Growers has been in the carrot business since the early 1970s and is a year-round shipper of California carrots. Its history starts when the company started packing cello carrots under the Kern Ridge label. Today, the company also ships ready-to-eat baby peeled carrots from its facility. Most of the company’s carrots are grown in the rich, sandy loam soil near the mountain range at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley.
Carrot shipments are expected to be similar to a year ago and remain through the year. The company also is shipping navel oranges through the end of May.
By early June, Kern Ridge Growers will start a six-week gap season for fresh peppers and then shift its focus to solely carrots after that.
An estimate by county officials at the University of California, Davis estimated the 2019 value of the fresh and processed carrot supply at $336.1 million. The 2017 Census of Agriculture put fresh carrot acreage in Kern County at 27,078 acres, compared with 3,250 acres for processed carrot acreage.
In 2020, the United Fresh Produce Association’s FreshFacts on Retail report said overall U.S. carrot were $1.41 billion, up 7.8% from 2019. Carrot volume sold at retail totaled 1.11 billion pounds, up 9.5% compared with 2019.
The average price per pound of carrots at retail was $1.27 per pound, down 1.6% compared with 2019. Carrots performed well in 2020, but slightly below the overall vegetable category, according to FreshFacts on Retail. FreshFacts on Retail said total retail vegetable dollar sales in 2020 topped a new high of $35.8 billion (attributable to the pandemic), up 14.4% compared with 2019.
By Northwest Cherry Shippers
The first estimate from Northwest Cherries pegs the 2021 crop at 23.79 million cartons, up 20% from 19.83 million cartons in 2020 and up 2% from 2019. Harvest is expected to begin June 1.
Crop Size: The Northwest Cherry Growers’ Field Estimate team has compiled an initial (“Round 1”) projection for the 2021 Northwest crop. Annually this 22-person estimation team looks at their orchards as well as the surrounding area’s volume dynamics and compiles overviews for their area.
Each member submits the data specific to their active growing districts, and then that data is built into an estimation model which represents each of the Northwest’s cherry growing regions. The model is populated with historical data, growing degree day patterns, acreage shifts, market trends, processing tonnage and in-field assessments, and then uses the Field Team’s input to project a crop for the coming season. This year, the first round data from the model suggests a 2021 crop of 237,992 tons.
2021 NW Round 1 Crop Estimate: 23,792,000 boxes
However, as always it is important to note that this Round One estimate has the most potential for variance from the eventual and actual size of the crop. Spring was late this year, but progressing quickly. Tree “drops” are natural and taken into account in our subsequent estimates. But that’s not all we can tell from the trees, and the news is good.
Crop Points to Remember – 2021
Harvest will begin in the last few days of May in our earliest sites.
As more orchards & regions come online during the first two weeks of June, volume may accumulate more slowly due to weather-impacted orchards.
While volume may accumulate more slowly, as the end of June approaches we expect shipping volumes to exceed last year.
Supplies for late June and the 4th of July promotions look very promising.
July will be a strong month all the way through.
August will have opportunity for at least one ad this season with projected volume trickling out through the end of the month.
Crop Timing: Based on our accumulated Growing Degree Day data, it appears that AT THIS POINT we are on track for a start that should begin by June 1. In several of our earliest regions we are only a day or two behind last year, which saw harvest start on the 28th of May.
Mexican table grapes are crossing the border at Nogales, AZ in light volume, starting with Early Sweets, Perlettes and other early green varieties. Flames and a dozen other varieties of all colors will follow shortly.
The Sonora Grape Growers Association issued an original crop estimate of 21.5 million cartons March 30 and this estimate is still though to be good.
That estimate forecasted the second week of May at just under 400,000 cartons and the first week of June at about 4,000,000. That’s a 10-fold increase in 3 weeks.
Here’s a glimpse at hauling availability now and in coming weeks for cherries, watermelons and berries
California cherry volume is low. Although this gorgeous looking and tasting fruit makes up only one percent of total volume in produce shipments, it’s one of the highest paying freight items for produce haulers.
The cost for a 16-pound case of cherries started the season in California at a whopping $58 per case, the highest in 7 years. U.S. cherry shipments get underway in late April and wraps up at the end of August. Traditionally, peak loadings occur in July before gradually decreasing. The United States is the 2nd largest producer of cherries in the world after Turkey.
The California cherry season is just the warm up for an action-packed 16 weeks, and is a prelude to big time shipper, the state of Washington.
Lime, Lemon Shipments
Mexico has experienced an abnormally wet and cold winter in Tabasco, the leading lime growing region. Shippers also report high freight rates also is contributing to the availability of limes. Lime volume is expected to remain lower than normal at least through June.
While cherry volume is limited right now, watermelons are in plentiful supply.
As an example, a 40,000-pound truckload of cherries is valued at $174,000. The same weight in watermelons is only worth $4,800!
Blueberry shipments are finally increasing as domestic U.S. production rises and are less reliant on imports to meet blueberry demand. Domestic blueberry shipping regions are ramping up as they head toward peak loadings from June to August.
Blackberry volumes also are on the upswing with increasing production in the Baja California, Mexico, and California. While raspberries are coming out of those same regions volume remains relatively low.
As for strawberries, volume and quality have been all over the board in recent weeks. Shipments are expected to be building and should continue through June.
New Jersey spring vegetable shipments are underway, although early local crops are destined to local markets. As volume increases some shipments are regional.
Katona Farms in Burlington County, NJ grows and ships asparagus as well as other vegetables and crops and are currently in farmers markets and stores around the state.
New Jersey ranks in the top 10 in the U.S. in the production of several crops, including fourth in asparagus. In 2020, the New Jersey asparagus crop was valued at $15 million, and the overall production of the state’s fruits and vegetables was about $350 million, according to the USDA.
Other crops with an early harvest are shipping daily include kale, lettuce, radishes and spinach. Beets and strawberries became available recently.
First established as Rolling Acres in 1950 by Walt and Betty Katona, it later became known as Katona Farms under Chip Katona and is now in its third generation.
Along with asparagus, the farm grows sweet corn, market tomatoes and watermelon, which are sold at its Crosswicks Farm. The Katonas also sell vegetables wholesale to large farm markets and wholesale buyers, as well as to Hunts Point Produce Market in Bronx, N.Y., and to markets in Philadelphia.
The Katonas own nearly 800 acres, all of which is deed-restricted to agriculture. They also have a grain operation which includes wheat for grain and straw, soybeans, corn, hay and rye for straw.
For the four-week period ending February 21, the U.S. Northeast showed avocado shipments increased 27.4%, according to the Hass Avocado Board.
The Northeast region held a 14% share of total U.S. volume but drove 39% of total incremental units, according to the release.
The New York market led the growth in the Northeast, with unit sales reaching 12 million units, a 29% increase over the prior period.
Nationally, U.S. avocado volume grew 8.8% for the four-week period ending February 21, while dollars increased 0.7%.
The Hass Avocado Board also published a 2020 year-in-review.
The HAB reported:
- Total volume of avocado fruit sold in the U.S. rose by 6.1% in 2020, from 2.492 billion pounds in 2019 to 2.644 billion pounds in 2020;
- Bagged fruit saw a rise in popularity at retail. Bagged fruit in many weeks reached about 30% of retail sales, according to HAB; and
- There was some retail pricing deflation in 2020, the HAB said, with per fruit pricing coming off the average of $1.15/per fruit in 2019 to closer to $1 per fruit in 2020. The lower pricing was especially seen in the latter part of the year, according to the release.
- Mexican avocados, tropical fruits and vegetables from South Texas – grossing about $7000 to New York City.
California’s Salinas Valley vegetable shippers were shipping good volumes by late April an this trend continues with favorable weather. Meanwhile, truck shortages and record rates persist.
Shippers are still a bit skeptical about what lies ahead for the the second half of the season due to uncertainties relating to the pandemic.
Pacific International Marketing of Salinas reports a cooler than normal spring, but supplies have not been interrupted.
Compared with the start of the COVID -19pandemic, Coastline Family Farms Inc. of Salinas had not problem planting for the first half of the Salinas season. Now it is evaluating what it wants to do for the second half of the season.
Beyond acreage reserved for contract sales, Coastline also has a little extra acreage for open market and for whole distribution. Still, some growers are being cautious. The company lost significant acreage last March due to the the shutdown of the foodservice business.
Pacific International is expecting foodservice shipments to gradually return and be back in full force by the end of the year.
Coastline notes cauliflower contracts have been expanded this year, and foodservice demand in general is climbing back.
Some foodservice customers also are taking more mixed loads rather than straight loads, limiting their buying while demand improves.
While dozens of different vegetables shipments are coming out of the Salinas Valley, lettuce easily leads in volume (with mostly Iceberg and romane) averaging about 1,900 truck loads per week, followed by broccoli with around 270 truck load weekly.
Truck rates remain on record tracks!
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing $11,000-plus to New York City.