Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
There should be increased exports of Argentine lemons to the U.S. this season, despite a reduced export forecast by the USDA.
The USDA said that it now expects the world’s top lemon-growing country to export 180,000 metric tons (MT) of the fruit, down 10,000MT from its earlier estimate. Around 45,000MT are expected to be sent to the U.S., up by around a third from a year ago.
The lower total export projection also comes despite the production outlook improving.
During the spring of 2020, a severe drought during blossom and fruit set in the main lemon growing area of the country was expected to reduce fruit volumes.
However, precipitation during the summer rainy season allowed Argentine lemon trees to recuperate, increasing production above low initial estimates.
Production of 1.15 million MT is now expected, 120,000MT more than the earlier forecast. However, the figure remains below normal, with 1.49 million MT produced last year.
The projected decline in exports largely due to below-normal production, adequate fruit supply in Northern Hemisphere fruit-producing countries, and strong competition by South Africa.
Additionally, although the EU on May 1, 2021, reopened the market to Argentine fresh lemons and oranges after the detection of citrus black spot (CBS) last year, some exporters may need additional investments to ensure their compliance with the EU’s technical requirements, the USDA report said.
The export forecast for this year is also well below the 256,000MT sent abroad last year.
At the beginning of that season, local contacts were optimistic about export prospects due to decreased supply in the northern hemisphere, increased consumer demand and expanded market access.
However, the EU’s detection of CBS in May 2020 saw Argentina voluntarily withdraw from the EU market in mid-July 2020 with approximately 20,000 MT of lemons reoriented to processing and/or exported to non-traditional markets like the U.S., which reopened for Argentine lemons in 2017 after a 17-year hiatus.
“The fresh lemon export business remains profitable, however, with production costs, such as labor, inputs, energy, inland and ocean freight increasing, and high inflation rates, the competitiveness of the lemon sector has been affected,” it said.
“Furthermore, although the continuous depreciation of the Argentine peso and the elimination of export taxes make exports more price-competitive in foreign markets, a decrease in export rebates and high-interest rates, partially offset that advantage.”
During MY 2019/20, the EU remained the largest export market for Argentine fresh lemons with 51 percent of Argentina’s total exports, followed by Russia, with 23 percent, and the U.S., with 13 percent.
After regaining market access to the U.S. in 2017, Argentine lemon exports to the U.S. have shown an upward trend, rising from 10,640MT in 2018 to 33,963MT last year.
For 21, with about forty-five certified exporters, fresh lemon exports to the U.S. are estimated at about 45,000 MT, depending on the recovery of pre-covid consumption patterns in the U.S. and the impact of a 25 percent tariff levied in October 2019 by the US on EU fresh citrus imports, the USDA said.
The analysis of Argentina’s request for market access to the U.S. for sweet citrus is ongoing.
An estimated 20% reduction in cherry shipments compared with earlier expectations is predicted in a new report from the Northwest Cherry Growers.
Expectations and comments from the fourth and last cherry crop estimate indicate about a 20% total crop reduction from the heat.
“That reduction is spread throughout the Northwest but was particularly damaging to the bing and rainier cherry crops, which were in the peak of harvest in many regions when the heat arrived,” the group said. Skeena also was heavily affected by high temperatures and winds, according to the report.
With supermarket ads only second to peaches in mid-July, the group said cherry promotions should line up for a strong showing through the end of July.
“While our latest orchards will continue to deliver a small but steady supply until the end of August, the shipments for the 2021 yellow cherry season have significantly decreased over the past seven days,” the group said.
On July 16 the industry’s daily shipment average for the previous week remained over 350,000 boxes a day, which is still within the normal range of a July crop.
By way of comparison, Northwest Cherry Growers said the shipments for the same week were 377,000 boxes a day in 2020 and 467,000 boxes a day during the 2019 season. As of July 14, Northwest cherry shippers had moved about 13.7 million 20-pound boxes so far this year.
New York vegetable shipments are just getting started with full volume expected in August.
Torrey Farms of Elba, NY grows, harvests, packs and ships everything it grows, while its sister company, Paul Marshall Produce and its drivers deliver prouct to customers.
The company expects 2,400 acres of onions this season in addition to its
cucumbers, green beans, squashes and potatoes. Most items got underway around July 10 – 15, while onions will start in early August.
Torrey Farms ships vegetables to destination all along the East Coast and as far west as Chicago.
About 70 percent of its produce goes to the retailer, with the balance directed to wholesalers and food service operations.
While Parker Farms is favorably known in the south for its marketing of broccoli, sweet corn, squash and peppers in partnership with nearly half a dozen farms on several thousand acres, come summertime, the company turns a great deal of attention to New York state.
Parker Farms of Oak Grove, VA works with Kludt Bros. Farm in Kendall, NY, who operate over 1,000-acres of vegetables, growing mainly broccoli and sweet corn.
Working with Kludt Farms in the summer allows Parker Farms to be a year-around vegetable supplier. the company distributes vegetables from Florida to Maine, with most its business east of the Mississippi, except for some sweet corn and other items it delivers to Texas.
In New York, broccoli starts in the middle of July with corn following around July 20 and lasting until early August.
GLASSBORO, NJ — New Jersey’s locally grown peaches are now available in supermarkets, community farmers markets and on farms, and New Jersey peach producers are celebrating a near-perfect growing season. This is one of the best Jersey-peach seasons in years, growers report to the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council, the association representing the industry.
New Jersey’s Jersey Fresh peaches are marketed and shipped throughout the northeast and Canada under the labels Jersey Fruit, Atlantic Sunrise, Top Crop, Circle M Farms, Just Picked, Melicks Town Farm, Nichols Orchard.
“The orchards got enough rain and sunshine, with no major late spring frost, to result in beautiful peaches with maximum size and flavor,” says Bonnie Lundblad, PPC chair. Lundblad is also sales representative of Sunny Valley International, New Jersey’s largest peach marketer.
“We had a good growing season and have peaches for wholesale and retail on our farm and in the farmers markets we supply,” says John Melick, owner of Melick’s Town Farms in Oldwick, Bridgewater and Califon.
New Jersey ranks fourth in the country for peach production, which averages 50 – 54 million pounds and is valued at $30-35-million.
The Jersey Peach website www.jerseypeaches.com includes a page for requesting further information and contacting grower/purveyors. It also lists varieties, grower/shipper contacts, consumer tips on buying and handing, and recipes. Information is also available on Facebook.com/newjerseypeaches; and on Instagram newjerseypeaches
The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council is a it voluntary organization of growers, shippers, wholesalers and allied industries dedicated to maintaining a viable peach industry in the Garden State while preserving farmland.
2021 Shipped Crop To Date: 8,879,137 boxes as of July 5th
Excessive heat can delay fruit development just as much as cooler weather.
Duration of this heat wave encouraged growers who were close to harvest to begin picking and shipping before their fruit was subjected to the heat. Such an upward shift in volume will have an eventual impact on the overall daily potential volume.
So while some more fruit arrived at the optical sorters before otherwise expected, the Northwest did lose some cherries due to the extreme heat. Cherries on the perimeter of the trees were more greatly impacted than fruit within the canopies. Thankfully, many growers were able to mitigate the worst of the heat with over-orchard netting and under-canopy sprinklers and thus were able to save much of their fruit. And at this point, no effects on green or developing cherries have been detected.
Even with the spike of fruit intake before the heat by most warehouses, June volume still fell well under the forecast due weather delays. With close to 8.4 million boxes, the preliminary June 2021 total was just under 2 million boxes shy (18%) of the last pre-crop estimate.
While the first week of June saw an average of 31,000 boxes a day, the Northwest has averaged an additional half-million additional boxes shipped per day (530,000) for the last week of the month.
It’s obvious the preseason estimate of 22.4 million boxes couldn’t take into account a record-smashing heat wave.
Big volume cherry shipments should continue into August as planned. The cherries in many higher elevations and norther latitude orchards are still green and growing well.
While most retails are now carrying Northwest fruit, there is still some late California fruit to be found in markets around the US. California’s volume increased 283% from last year, and 231% over the 3 year average. This lingering California fruit has delayed the transition into Northwest cherries, and caused perhaps more of an issue for Northwest shippers than the weather.
Yakima Valley cherries – grossing about $9700 to New York City.
RIDGE SPRING, SC – Lori Anne Peaches are back in stores at select retailers nationwide. The varieties that make up the Lori Anne Peach brand are chosen for flavor and are the absolute best of the best fruit grown at Titan Farms. Knowing Lori Anne Peaches will bring back childhood memories of chin dripping goodness and summertime fun, Titan Farms has revamped their POS signage for the upcoming season. Additionally, Lori Anne Carr will continue the tradition of in-store demos at select retailer locations in Minnesota and Louisiana this July and August.
“The opportunity to interact directly with customers is genuinely something I look forward to. We are excited to be able to travel and introduce Lori Anne Peaches to new market areas for these retailers. Consumers ask the best questions and I have the opportunity to share stories about the farm, peaches, and our family. At the same time, I am also able to share tips, techniques, and even some recipes! It’s truly a lot of fun!” – Lori Anne Carr, Vice President and Administrative Manager
“Lori Anne Peaches are by far the best tasting peaches I’ve ever had; there’s really no comparison.” – Lori Anne Peach repeat customer
For more than 10 years, Titan Farms has grown a beautiful peach like none other named the Lori Anne Peach, where only the top 20 percent of their peaches are selected for this brand. Grown by Chalmers and Lori Anne Carr, this peach is so special that Chalmers could not think of a better name than that of his beloved wife. College sweethearts, who are partners in life and in business, they have produced this ripe consistently tasty peach with just enough fuzz – a special peach that brings back memories of Southern summer days passed, and lazy days shared with family while a warm homemade peach cobbler cools on the kitchen counter. These peaches receive a lot of tender loving care—ripened by humid South Carolina nights, harvested by hand, and carefully selected for packing—giving Lori Anne’s Peaches that special flavor – just how a peach should taste: the perfect marriage between ripeness and flavor.
“A peach so special I named it after my wife.” – Chalmers Carr, President and CEO
To learn more about Titan Farms check out their website: http://titanfarms.com/
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About Titan Farms
Founded in 1999 by Chalmers and Lori Anne Carr, Titan Farms is a premier grower, packer and shipper of fresh peaches and vegetables. With core values focused on producing the highest quality produce in the market, you are sure to take home the freshest produce they have available. Today, Titan Farms is the largest peach grower on the east coast, with over 6,200 acres of peaches, 600 acres of bell peppers, 1,000 acres of broccoli and 36 acres of eggplant. Titan Farms is a family-run operation, including long-time employees who have become part of their Titan family.
New Jersey ranks 3rd nationally in peach shipments, behind California (which produces more than all other states combined) and South Carolina. Georgia, The Peach State, ranks 4th.
New Jersey peach shipments got underway in light volume about a week ago.
Recent statistics published by the NJ Peach Promotion Council (NJPPC) estimate that 55 NJ growers are producing about 3300 acres of peaches and nectarines and should harvest between 50, and 55 million pounds of fruit in 2021.
The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council emphasizes tree thinning is necessary to not only improve size but also to keep the tree branches and shoots from breaking with a heavy crop, and even dying from overload, particularly when it is stressed from dry weather. and heat.
A mature peach tree may have 12,000 flowers or 10,000 little peaches but only needed 500 to 600 mature large fruit.
The NJPPC is a voluntary organization of growers, packers, shippers, marketers and allied industry dedicated to the orderly marketing and promotion of NJ Peaches.
Over a million poles stretch toward the sky on 750 rolling acres in Oceanside, California, graced by vines which yielded the season’s first vine-ripened roma and round tomatoes the Fourth of July.
With tomatoes peaking in September and October, and finishing off at the beginning of December, the Oceanside Pole label packs in 22-pound two layers, 25-pound volume fill and 15-pound single later, RPCs and a 5-pound club pack.
The leading grower, marketer and distributor of fresh produce from around the world, Oppy offers the last remaining pole-grown tomatoes in California in its Oceanside Pole label. This year, 2.2 million cases of rounds and 1.1 million cases of romas will be shipped across the U.S. and Canada, and as always, arrive at preferred ripeness dependent on customer needs.
“Our team harvests each acre 18-20 times throughout the season to ensure each tomato is carefully hand-picked at its best,” said Oppy Director of Sales and Strategy Mark Smith. “In many cases, we pack, ship and deliver to our customers within 24 hours. Because of our central location and efficiency, we only harvest tomatoes when ready. That translates to high brix levels, exceptional flavor and an extended shelf life that you can only expect from the Oceanside Pole label.”
Attention to detail is unmatched, with teammates walking the fields each day to always know what the plants need at that time, said Smith. Along with upgrading its packing line for even better precision at Oceanside Pole this season, Oppy is prepared to meet increased foodservice demands while ensuring its tomatoes are of the best quality. Food safety and traceability protocols are constant, according to Smith.
Oceanside Pole also has great pride in their dedication to supporting the local community which includes their pledge to hiring military veterans from neighboring Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton. All while collaborating on an internship program that provides civilian work experience for soldiers leaving the military.
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.
About Oceanside Pole
Growing for three generations, the Singh family is the last remaining pole tomato producer in California. Since 1939, they have tended vine-ripened tomatoes on the same land with the knowledge and expertise that can only come with time. Grown on an idyllic property near the historic Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, the Singh family has a calm, almost spiritual approach to growing their produce. The fresh, salty air and bright sunshine makes it seem like a calling—only with such a deep sense of care and determination can exceptional produce be harvested time and again.
California almond domestic shipments as well as across the globe hit a new record this year, despite port and trade issues and Covid-19 complications.
The Almond Board of California (ABC) in a May 2021 Position Report shows the California industry shipped 219 million pounds in May – a record for the month – bringing the total this crop year to 2.45 billion pounds, setting a new record in just 10 months. The crop year for almonds runs from Aug. 1 to July 31.
“This shows continuing high demand for California almonds among consumers around the world,” said ABC president and CEO Richard Waycott. “People love almonds because they’re a remarkably sustainable plant protein, they’re versatile in a range of cuisines, they have outstanding health and beauty benefits, and they’re delicious.”
California almonds ship to over 100 countries, and export growth has been soared 30% overall compared to last year to date and record shipments in a number of markets.
A month ago, India made history for California almonds. For the first time ever, a single market exceeded 300 million pounds of imports in one crop year. The current May report shows India has now received 322 million pounds and is up 54% over the previous year to date.
The entire Asia-Pacific region continues its strong growth with a 46% increase overall. In that region, the China/Hong Kong market is up 72% year-to-year despite tariffs, South Korea increased by 42% and Vietnam is up an astounding 132% from last year.
Almost all European markets, east and west, continued their impressive growth in response to the high demand. Germany and Spain posted strong gains as did the Netherlands and Italy. Overall, European imports are up 18% from 2019-20.
The Middle East and North Africa are also regions with strong growing markets. Countries of note include the United Arab Emirates, which grew 31%, Egypt with 20% growth and Morocco, which has a year-to-date increase of 148% over last year.
Growth in the U.S. continues to be strong, especially considering that the domestic market is large and well established. The year-to-year increase stands at 4% for the crop year.
“The world-wide appetite for almonds and our range of products continues to grow,” Waycott said. “Almonds outpaced all other nuts in new product introductions ranging from dairy alternatives and snacks to confectionery, bakery and bars. Our industry members have done a terrific job of moving the current crop and meeting the demand from consumers here in the U.S. and around the world.”
New Jersey blueberry shipments should be up this season.
The Atlantic Blueberry Co., of Hammonton, NJ reports “blues” loadings should continue through July, with slightly more volume than a year ago.
Last season New Jersey shipped about 38 million pounds of blueberries, and this year the prediction is closer to 42 million pounds.
As for Atlantic Blueberry Co. itself, the company sees have more volume, without disclosing numbers.
Diamond Blueberry Inc. of Hammonton, NJ’s reports a good crop in Southern Jersey. It began shipments the second week of June, with average volume seen.
Diamond Blueberry Inc. is the sales agent for Variety Farms, which will have mostly the Duke and Bluecrop varieties, and volume close to last season.