Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
It took a few weeks for digging potatoes to get back on schedule in the Red River VAlley following a mid-September heatwave, but fall weather is now well established.
Northland Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, MN reports favorable weather for the 300-mile valley in upper Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota.
Acreage was up in Minnesota this year and down in North Dakota.
Growers planted 74,000 acres of red and yellow potatoes in North Dakota, about 2,000 acres less than last year, and expected to produce about 24 million hundredweight — 9% less than in 2023. Minnesota growers look to harvest up to 46,000 acres, down about 100 acres from last year, and should dig about 19 million hundredweight, up 3.6% from 2023.
O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D., started its harvest Sept. 10 but was putting digging on hold until the heat subsided.
The company plans to ship until early May, depending on crop size and demand, with an average to above-average crop with good quality.
NoKota Packers Inc., Buxton, N.D., had harvested 15% of its crop before shutting down temporarily during the heatwave, but it was not expected to affect the quality of the crop.
“The company expected a normal-size crop with about 75% red potatoes and 25% yellow.
Associated Potato Growers Inc., Grand Forks, N.D. reports potatoes could lose a little color after exposure to the hot sun, but is still optimistic for the overall crop.
The co-op expects volume to be up slightly this year because of good rainfall.
Although red potatoes account for the majority of Red River Valley spuds, yellows are gaining in popularity.
Ben Holmes Potato Inc., Becker, MN points out everyone in central Minnesota has increased their acreage and yellow potatoes now make up a big portion of the acres grown.
The company markets most of the potatoes produced by Peatland Reds Inc., Trail, MN., where growing conditions were mostly optimal this year, with timely rains and good weather.
Pear Bureau Northwest reports Northwest pear orchards were hit by low temperatures this year causing a decline in production.
The northwest pear industry in the U.S. is seeing a huge decline in volumes of 31%, compared to the five-year average. In the past five years, the average shipments have been closer to 15 million 40-pound boxes, but this year’s output is a little over 10 million boxes.
This plunge is due to adverse weather hitting most northern regions of the country, especially around the area of Wenatchee, WA.
The Pear Bureau Northwest represents 11 pear varieties grown in Oregon and Washington in Wenatchee, Yakima, Mid-Columbia Valley, and Medford.
This year’s decrease is not only attributed to this blossoming season’s weather since pear trees enjoy cold weather, but pear growers had already seen a few years of colder-than-normal temperatures, which led to stressed trees and fewer blossoms.
So, when you factor in this year’s frosts happening during blossom, around April-May, which led to a decrease in bee pollination, and fewer blossoms initially especially in Wenatchee, this year was particularly hard for pear growers.
The Bosc variety and the Green Anjou were the two most impacted by adverse weather.
Bosc had a large crop last year, so it’s not surprising to see a drop this year, but it was still a steep drop even if you consider last year’s larger crop. The other variety most impacted from a volume standpoint was the Green Anjou, which was down 36% from the five-year average.
The Green Anjou variety decrease is pretty significant, since this is the crop most planted out of all varieties. Pears will be shipped all year round but not as many as there typically would be.
Additionally, there may be a frost ring on the pears this year. The blemish, caused by the freezing events in the northern region, is a ring around the pear that doesn’t affect the fruit’s flavor and texture.
The previous two seasons Washington state has had big and small volume apple crops, but this time around it appears to be more normal.
Washington Fruit Growers of Yakima, WA questions anymore what is “normal” but acknowledges this year the volume appears to large, nor is it small.
Shipments were down in 2022, but were large last season.
CMI Orchards of Wenachee, WA noted the extreme differences in volume in recent seasons, but describes this year as reaching as “sweet spot.”
Rainier Fruit of Shelah, WA notes it is no surprise there is a smaller crop this time around since last season set a record for volume.
Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA notes the 124 million boxes forecast for Washington state is down 9 percent from last year’s record setter.
River Valley Fruit of Grandview, WA relates weather issues is resulting in more smaller sized apples this season, but this will be good for marketing bagged fruit.
Stemilt Growers attributes the 9 percent volume decline this season due to there being 26 percent fewer Honey Crisp. It can be biennial bearing. Honeycrisp experienced 30% volume growth year over year in 2023j.
Honeybear Brands of Brewster, WA notes some carry over of product from the 2023 but is encouraged by the good demand early in the new season.
Total U.S. grape shipments were significantly higher in late August than year-ago levels in part due to lower prices at shipping point.
California storage grapes are above of a year ago, largely because of last year’s early August rain that wiped out a significant part of the 2023 crop, notes Bari Produce of Fresno, CA.
However, with good movement the company expects supplies to continue to tighten moving into the fall. The early season heat seemed to push a few varieties up in harvest, which also leads shippers to expect to finish a little earlier than last year.
Bari Produce expects South American imports to arrive by the middle of November, which would overlap with some growers’ late season in California.
Bari Produce usually markets grapes into early November.
USDA shipment numbers for the week of Aug. 25-31 showed total U.S. grape shipments of 4.52 million 19-pound cartons (85.87 million pounds), up 15% from the same week a year ago. California provided more than 99% of all fresh grape shipments, according to the USDA, with very light volume provided by Canada, Mexico, Italy and South Korea.
Through the end of August, season-to-date domestic shipments of central California table grapes totaled 25.4 million containers (482.6 million pounds), up 20% from the same time a year ago. Total truck shipments of California domestic grape shipments in the 2023 season were 61.5 million containers (1.17 billion pounds), according to the USDA.
Export shipments of central California grapes also were way up in 2024.
The USDA reported season to date export truck shipments central California grapes were up 42% compared with a year ago, with export air shipments up 72% and export boat shipments up 4%. Altogether, central California season to date grape export shipments of 2.64 million containers (50.2 million pounds) were up 17% from 2.25 million containers (42.9 million pounds) at the same time a year ago.
Northwest pear shipments for 2024 are expected to be off due to cold damage over the winter, industry leaders say.
The USDA has predicted total Northwest pear production at 520,000 tons, down 22% from 2023.
Oregon pear production, forecast at 200,000 tons, is down 15% from last year, the forecast said; total Washington pear production, at 185,000 tons, is down 31% from 2023.
Tianna DuPont, a tree fruit extension specialist with Washington State University, said Wenatchee-area pear growers experienced cold temperatures in mid-January this year that resulted in winter damage.
In addition, she said there was winter damage from November in the previous year, which resulted in less fruiting wood compared to normal.
“We started off the season with lower-than-average crop estimates, and then we had a frost in the middle of March that has also damaged fruit with frost rings in some areas,” DuPont said. The damage is variable through the valley, but growers expect about half a crop in the Wenatchee River Valley this year, she added.
On the other hand, other pear-growing areas, such as the Yakima region, are looking good.
While it is impossible to say how winter damage could impact future production, DuPont said it will probably take a couple of years to return to average yield in the most damaged areas.
Harvest of bartlett pears had begun by Aug. 21. DuPont said pear harvest in the Wenatchee River Valley continues into October, but the shorter crop may accelerate timing.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – LGS Specialty Sales a leading importer of citrus, avocados, grapes, and persimmons, shares an update on the transition from southern hemisphere fruit to Moroccan citrus.
“This year, we are thankful for an earlier start to the Moroccan season with a healthy supply of mandarins we anticipate through April,” said Luke Sears, president, and founder of LGS Specialty Sales. “LGS’ strategy to ensure consistent supply of fruit for our customers revolves around the plans we implement with importers to meet demand each year.”
The company collaborates with select growers around the world to provide its customers with high-quality, in-season fruit sourced from the finest growing regions known for having optimal climate and soil conditions. During this time of year, Moroccan fruit not only offers more variety to the U.S. market, but also offers better positioning as it relates to supply chain efficacy.
“Due to Morocco’s location, we are able to give our customers competitive import pricing that is cost effective,” said Sears. “We want the industry to know that LGS is a 365-day supplier of all things citrus and we’re here to help support year-round!”
LGS concluded the southern hemisphere season strong with Cara Caras, Grapefruit, Mandarins and Minneolas. Chilean W. Murcotts are currently holding steady with supply expected through Thanksgiving and Moroccan citrus becoming available at the beginning of November.
Press release from Markon Cooperative, Salinas, CA
Temperatures along major West Coast and Southwestern growing regions have cooled significantly since last week’s heatwave.
Areas such as the Salinas, San Joaquin, and Santa Maria Valleys, as well as Oxnard and the California/Arizona desert growing regions were all impacted. Several key commodity and value-added fruits and vegetable items such as broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and leafy greens are exhibiting heat-related quality and shelf-life issues.
Challenges that Markon inspectors are currently observing include but are not limited to:
Broccoli:
- Brown bead
- Dehydration
- Hollow core
- Insect pressure
- Pin rot
Cauliflower:
- Insect pressure
- Mold spots
Lettuce:
- Bottom rot/decay
- Dehydration
- Fringe burn
- Growth crack
- Insect pressure
- Internal burn
- Long core/seeder
- Mildew pressure
- Shortened shelf-life
- Sun scalding
Strawberries:
- Bruising
- Decreased size
- Shortened shelf-life
- Soft texture
Leafy Greens:
- Bolting/seeder
- Dehydration
- Insect pressure
- Mildew pressure
- Shortened shelf-life
- Yellowing
Markon suppliers are working to mitigate these challenges by selecting the cleanest product and culling supplies with serious defects. However, harvesting and processing crews cannot completely avoid all of these heat-related issues.
Although the heatwave has passed, we can expect to feel the effects for two more weeks, or possibly longer.
Markon inspectors are monitoring supplies closely and will update as needed. Ordering for quick turns and maintaining the cold chain is critical for maximizing the quality and shelf-life of perishable produce items.
According to the first estimate of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, the country expects to export 135,501 tons, 3.2% more than the previous year. Of the total, 80,5012 tons will be of fresh blueberries (-6.7%) and 55,000 tons of frozen blueberries (+22.2%).
“This drop of almost 7% in fresh blueberry exports is not bad news for us but reflects the varietal replacement that is taking place in the industry, which will allow us to deliver better fresh blueberries to the markets. New varieties within this season’s shipments are expected to increase by 26%, amounting to more than 16 thousand tons,” according to the committee.
The United States is the main market for about 50% of Chile’s blueberries and the main destination for it fresh fruits in general.
Shoppers around the country are finding SnapDragon apples in their local grocery stores. Crunch Time Apple Growers of Lockport, NY, a cooperative of more than 150 family growers across New York state, began harvesting this year’s crop last month.
“We’re looking forward to bringing SnapDragon apples back to an ever-growing list of retailers,” said Jessica Wells, Crunch Time Apple Growers’ executive director. “Thanks to additional acreage reaching maturity, this year’s harvest is up by 20%. We hope that means more people than ever before can experience the Monster Crunch of SnapDragon apples! We look forward to working with new retailers to bring SnapDragon apples to their customers this season!”
In addition to the increased harvest volume, many growers report that the apples’ color has developed nicely and the apples are trending larger than last season’s. An early spring led the trees to bloom and the fruit to set earlier than last year, driving an early harvest.
In the coming weeks, SnapDragon apples will arrive at a roster of retailers including both longtime sellers of the variety and newcomers. Shoppers can expect to find SnapDragon apples at stores including Aldi, BJ’s, Food Lion, The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, H-E-B, Lowes, Publix, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Sprouts, Target, Tops, Walmart, Wegmans and Whole Foods.
SunDate of Coachella, CA has had near perfect growing conditions this season helping pave the way for the company to meet the increasing demand for dates, both domestically and globally.
The packer, shipper has a year around demand for dates.
Last year’s crop faced significant challenges due to a hurricane that did a lot of damage and as the season went on, volume was off significantly.
Currently, the company is optimistic about the upcoming season as shipments just got underway recently.
Thanks to ideal growing conditions the 2025 crop, the weather has been perfect, with one of the hottest summers on record in Coachella, which is exactly what dates need, the company reports.