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A 6 percent increase in the volume of Chilean citrus exports for the 2021 season is expected by the Asoex Committee. The estimated total shipping volume is 387,000 metric tons (MT).
The greatest increase will be for mandarins with an increase of 11 percent over last year, followed by clementines with 7 percent growth. Lemons are expected to see a 3 percent increase, while oranges will remain unchanged.
The growth in citrus exports is due to the increase in plantations during the last decade, according to the press release.
“In total there are 22,230 hectares planted, of which 8,427 correspond to mandarin plantations, 7,376 hectares of lemons, 6,260 of oranges and 167 of grapefruit,” Juan Enrique Ortúzar President of Asoex said.
The export volume of clementines is expected at 55,000MT, while mandarins are predicted to be 145,000MT.
Regarding lemons, 98,000MT is expected for this year, and oranges will maintain export numbers from last season, with shipments of 89,000MT
Ortúzar said that the favorable predictions are due to more rains in the central zone of Chile last year and the water reservoirs in Norte Chico.
U.S. is Main Market
The U.S. is the primary destination for Chilean citrus, receiving about 85 percent of total shipments. It is followed by the Far East and Europe, which account for about 9 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
After these markets, Canada, Latin America and the Middle East follow.
As for China, the market opened the doors to citrus last year with total shipments reaching 1,031MT of mandarins, 404MT of oranges, 46MT of clementines and 5,650MT of lemons.
The Sonora Grape Growers Association (AALPUM) projects 21.5 million 18 lb. (8.2 kg) cartons to be packed and shipped between early May and mid-July, 2021.
AALPUM association president Marcos Camou, AALPUM general manager Juan Laborin and Fresh Produce Association of the Americas grape division chairman John Pandol recently presented the crop estimate via Zoom. This estimate is 2% less than the 2020 harvest and 11% less than the 2019 crop.
The largest volume is white seedless varieties at 44%, followed by red seedless varieties at 43%, then black seedless varieties at 7% and then ‘other’ 6%, which includes Red Globes and specialty varieties like Cotton Candy. Sonora is the only growing area supplying North America that produces a majority of green seedless. Between 3 and 5% of the grape crop is certified organic.
The harvest season is subdivided into four section
Preseason 10% everything prior to May 15 including other early areas.
Early Season 16% May 16-30 .
Peak Season 53% May 31 – June 20
Late Season 21% post June 21 into July
Shipping will continue from Nogales and other forward distribution points will continue until mid-July.
The estimate had a new look that reflects changes in the industry. Not long ago 80% of the volume was three varieties. Today 40% is over a two dozen newer proprietary varieties. “To give a rundown of individual varieties, each with beginning and end of harvest date for each growing area is no longer a useful description of the crop” , said FPAA grape division chairman John Pandol. “The purpose of giving an estimate is so our supply chain partners; operational service providers, government agencies and commercial partners can prepare”
Berry importer/shipper/marketer Sun Belle Inc. has launched its 2021 Pomegranate Arils program with Green Belle organic and Sun Belle conventional 4.4 ounce cups packed by Agricola Los Medanos S.A. in Ica, Peru. The arils are extracted from just-ripe pomegranates in Los Medanos’ ultra-clean facility using state of the art technology, including UV sanitation, immediately packed in retail cups with peel and resealable lids with a tamper proof outer ring seal, and air shipped to North America.
The arils are ruby sweet flavor pops which enliven meals and celebrations throughout the day – from the breakfast bowl to desserts, salads, savory dishes, and snacks to delicious beverages.
Janice Honigberg, president of Sun Belle Inc. kicked off this year’s program saying: “Pomegranates are among the world’s most ancient fruits, always sought after for their taste and beauty. The tiny red jewels are rich in vitamin C, K, B-6 and potassium. High in anti-oxidants and fiber but with a low-calorie count, pomegranate arils are a delicious ready-to-eat snack for health-conscious consumers. Sun Belle is pleased to offer such superb quality products through the spring and summer months.”
Sun Belle, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2021, was founded by Honigberg in Washington, DC and is the exclusive marketer of the Sun Belle and Green Belle brands. In addition to arils, introduced in 2018, Sun Belle markets and distributes conventional and organic blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries; certified biodynamic organic cranberries and blueberries; golden berries, Black Mission figs and red currants; and green house and specialty produce. Sun Belle operates distribution and sales centers in Jessup, Maryland; Miami, Florida; Schiller Park, Illinois; Oxnard, California; and Laredo, Texas.
ISSAQUAH, WA – The total production of New Zealand apples and pears this season is estimated to be approximately 21- 22 million cartons. The exportable crop is expected to be 19.5 million cartons.
There were 3 significant factors that led to the estimated volumes of New Zealand apples and pears this season:
Despite favorable weather in most New Zealand growing regions, hailstorms wreaked havoc on the South Island this season. Some growers located in the South Island’s Nelson area lost 70-90% of their fruit from hail damage. The hail damage was very specific to the Nelson area. In other growing regions of New Zealand, the good weather supported positive growing conditions for the fruit and brought beautiful color.
Vanguard is monitoring how the labor challenges will impact the ongoing harvest and overall volumes, and volumes specific to every variety.
Vessel availability is also adding to the challenges. Shipping lines are informing New Zealand packers that they are suspending service to specific destinations given the complexities of making even close to timely ETA’s. An example would be that OOCL has informed the New Zealand industry this week that they will not take anymore bookings for Europe, and NYK has cancelled bookings and all routes to Asia and Russia.
Growers continue to harvest and pack early varieties in New Zealand, mainly Gala and in smaller numbers Early Fuji and Beauty.
Complexities related to weather, labor, and shipping will be key variables to stay alert to throughout the season.
Vidalia onion shipments will start the third week of April from Southeastern Georgia.
For the 2021 season, approximately 10,000 acres of Vidalia onions were planted, Vidalia Onion Chairman Aries Haygood said. “We are anticipating a good harvest, and consumers across the country should have ample supply throughout the season.
The date growers can start packing under the Vidalia onion name is April 19. The date is determined each year by an advisory panel comprised of Vidalia industry members, state agriculture scientists and the Department of Agriculture, according to a press release.
Soil and weather conditions in south Georgia are taken into consideration to select the date, to help ensure only the highest-quality onions end up on consumers’ plates.
“It is a special moment every year when we announce the Vidalia onions pack date, but this year we will mark the passage of the 1986 Vidalia Onion Act by our state legislature that played a defining role in making our state’s official vegetable an iconic brand recognized around the world,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black said in the release.
First discovered in the 1930s, Vidalia onions quickly grew in popularity over the next few decades. The Vidalia Onion Act established that only sweet onions grown in 20 South Georgia counties from a distinctive Granex seed and packed and sold on or after the official pack date each year could be called Vidalia onions.
Known for its sweet, mild flavor and treasured by cooks nationwide, the vegetable is hand-cultivated by 60 registered growers. They represent about 40 percent of the sweet onion market and are sold in every state.
Shipments of lettuce and other leafy greens are shifting from the California and Arizona deserts to the short Huron, CA, season, with the Salinas Valley season just getting underway this week. Some caution is urged in loading head lettuce, which has quality problems.
Markon Cooperative notes in its weekly Fresh Crop Report, lettuce prices are steady and supplies are strong as consumer demand is rising with more restaurants opening.
USDA reports both romaine and iceberg lettuce prices have nearly doubled in the last month.
Romaine, green leaf and spring mix supplies are very good quality, Markon reports, while iceberg lettuce has some issues with frost, mildew and wind-damaged outer leaves. It is recommended your receiver be alerted while still at shipping point the condition of the lettuce.
The transition from the desert areas to northern California growing areas occurs every spring.
California/Arizona desert lettuce and other vegetables – grossing about $6100 to Chicago.
Florida is the first state in the U.S. to ship peaches each year, which typically occurs near the end of March and is available into May. It may not be a long season, but it’s the first domestic stone fruit crop of 2021.
Florida’s Institute for Food and Agriculture Sciences is expecting the best crop in 5 years.
Florida Classic Growers of Dundee, FL should begin loading its peaches by the end of March, with volume peaking the first two weeks of April,
The season appears it will be a little more condensed than in previous years as volume is expected to dwindle after the first week of May. Volume will probably be off slightly, although an excellent season is expected.
Since 2004, Florida commercial peach acreage has hovered in the 2,000 range. Described as stable, the reason is due to climate, not economics.
A further table grape cut is predicted by Chile’s fruit export association Asoex,, following heavy and unseasonal rains earlier this year.
Asoex President Ronald Bown Fernández, in a third estimate for the 2020-21 season, points out the forecast is now for 64.6 million boxes (8.2 kilo-equivalent).
The figure would mark a 12 percent decline from last, off from the 10 percent decline announced in late February – and a 22 percent drop from the season’s original January estimate of 82 million boxes.
He added that this third forecast of table grape exports for this season “is the best estimate that can be made to date. We hope that, as time goes by, this projection will not decrease”.
Bown also noted that this third estimate corresponds to information provided by 38 companies, which together represent 59% of the volume exported last season (2019-2020).
He said that the main decreases in Chile are being seen in white varieties. It is expected that 14.2 million boxes of green grapes will be exported, 5.7 million boxes of black grapes, 28.8 million boxes of red grapes, and 16.2 million boxes of Red Globes.
April is typically the biggest month of the year for Florida vegetable shipments. We’re on the down side of March and volumes are building toward peak loadings. Here’s a glance at what’s happening in the Sunshine State, keeping in mind most hauls involve multiple pickups and drops.
In St. Johns County, just south of Jacksonville cabbage loadings are in full swing. The University of Florida Institute for Food and Agriculture reports some cabbage growers are doing better than others, but overall it is good.
Barnes Farms of Hastings, FL is one of the largest cabbage growers along the Eastern Seaboard, and works with several growers producing cabbage, including green, red, bok choy and Napa. Asian types of cabbage have really expanded in St. Johns County, with about 5,000 acres of Asian vegetable varieties such as bitter melon and luffa, also called Chinese okra.
Northeastern Florida potato growers started planting in January but have struggled, with a few severe thunderstorms delaying the season. About 35% of the potatoes go to the fresh market, and the rest is for chips,
Hollar and Greene Produce Co. of Boone, NC has expanded its cabbage operation this year from 1,000 acres to 1,419 at its farm just south of Hastings, in Bunnell, FL, which is still considered northeast Florida.
Cabbage is typically available in Florida from December to May,
In Central Florida closer to the west coast, early March was peak season for the 1,700 acres of strawberries at Astin Farms and the Astin Strawberry Exchange in Plant City and Wimauma, FL. Strawberry shipments normally get underway aroundcrop the end of November, lasting through early April.
Overall volume may be a bit lower this year due to the slightly slower start of the season.
Astin Farms is gearing up for blueberry season, which it will begin shipping in the coming weeks.
Alderman Farms of Boynton Beach, FL is based near the east coast with other locations throughout south and central Florida. The company grows tomatoes, kale, collards, chard, sweet corn, bell peppers, eggplant, yellow straight neck squash, zucchini and cucumbers.
Alderman ships to a lot to the Northeast, Chicago and with fewer loads headed to other parts of the Midwest. Customers include major retailers such as Publix.
Tomatoes — round slicers, grape and roma — are the biggest crop for Alderman Farms. Tomato shipments started in mid-October and should continue into May. The greens follow a similar timeline.
Alderman lost three or four plantings of sweet corn in Belle Glade in Palm Beach County because of a freeze in February. The operation experience a lot of damage to vegetables, but has since returned heavy volume.
Southwest Florida’s university extension service for Hendry, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, reports the region’s tomato growers should continue shipping through April or early May. Many of the growers also have additional farms in Central Florida to continue harvesting after that.
Southwest Florida snap beans loading start at the end of October and last until the beginning of May. The major counties for snap, or green beans are Hendry, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade.
The USDA reports of the state’s 27,823 acres of snap beans harvested in 2017, over 23% came from Collier and Hendry counties and 51% came from Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Immokalee’s earliest shipments will begin in mid- to late March for the spring crop, and it lasts about a month or so. There’ also is a fall crop.
Watermelon shipments also begin in March from that region.
Central and Southern Florida veggies – grossing about $3700 to New York City.
South Texas onion yields have been reduced thanks to a mid-February freeze, as loadings are getting underway.
Various growers will start harvest mid- to late March. Texas 1015 sweet onions are available from the Rio Grande Valley from March through June, and from the Uvalde/Winter Garden area from May to July.
In recent years, 60% to 70% of Texas spring onions have been sweet and yellow onion varieties, with the remainder 30% to 40% white and red onion varieties.
The Texas International Produce Association of Mission, TX reports onions withstood the February cold much better than citrus and leafy greens.
Texas onions are traditionally harvested the first of March, but the cold weather very well could delay harvest until at least mid-March.
The Onion House LLC, Weslaco, TX expects to start harvesting around about March 25 and notes this year their crop is very late.
The company observes onion crop damage from the mid-February freeze could range from 25% to 40%.
Onion acreage for The Onion House is down around 20%, with total south Texas onion acreage at less than 4,000 acres.
Shipments of Texas onions in 2020 totaled 6.05 million packages, up from 4.99 million packages in 2019 and also higher than the 5.71 million packaged shipped in 2018.
The South Texas Onion Committee of Mission, TX in February, reported onion acreage in the 35 counties making up the regulated marketing order area was about 5,000 acres, off from about 6,000 acres last year.
Industry leaders have estimated yield damage of 15% to 30% to south Texas onions due to the mid-February freeze.