Archive For The “Trucking Reports” Category
(The following press release was issued July 9 by Markon of Salinas, CA. Lettuce and vegetable haulers are urged to use caution in loading to help reduce chances of claims at destination, by working closely with your brokers and receivers.)
Much of the West Coast, including California’s Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys, have been experiencing an extended heat spike over the past week with temperatures ranging from the 70°s to 80°s near the coast to as high as 110° in the southern end of the Salinas Valley.
All row crop vegetables that have been exposed to these temperatures are expected to exhibit varying levels of heat-related quality and shelf-life concerns over the next two weeks.
In general, most commodity and value-added supplies have faired better than expected thus far, but some lettuce and tender leaf crops are showing defects such as:
• Dehydration
• Increased insect pressure
• Internal burn/tip burn
• Reduced shelf-life potential
• Weakened texture
• Yellowing leaves
Markon inspectors are aggressively monitoring quality through pre-harvest inspections and finished product evaluations of commodity and value-added items. Fields that are exhibiting elevated issues are being rejected and harvesting/processing crews are taking steps to remove damaged leaves and minimize defects.
Ordering for quick turns is recommended. It remains critical to adhere to strict cold chain management throughout distribution to the end-user level in order to maximize quality and shelf-life of perishable produce items.
Good-quality Ohio vegetables are being predicted thanks to good weather and timely rains, which had vegetable shipments starting right on time at the end of June, according to growers and shippers.
Buurma Farms Inc. of Willard, OH notes there has good growing weather and rains.
The grower/shipper grows about 35 commodities, including radishes, greens, green onions, several kinds of lettuce items, beets, cucumbers and green and yellow squash.
Because of volume and the number of different veggies grown, the company notes it results in fewer multiple pickups for truckers.
All the commodities were being shipped by the end of June except sweet corn, which gets underway in mid-July.
The company ships to customers up and down the Eastern Seaboard, as far south as Florida, into the New England area and west to Chicago, Wisconsin and Memphis.
Buurma reports it has a freight rate advantage over growers in the West with loads that originate east of the Mississippi.
Sirna & Sons Produce of Ravenna, OH, was acquired by FreshEdge of Indianapolis last July and has added new computer and phone systems, upgraded GPS systems in trucks, conducted training programs and is preparing to implement a warehouse management system.
Sirna & Sons offers a variety of local products, such as peppers, squash, tomatoes and greenhouse lettuces.
Holthouse Farms of Ohio Inc., Willard, is shipping squash, bell peppers, chili peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, Ohio green beans, hard squash, sweet corn and cabbage and will have all commodities moving by mid-July,
Holthouse Farms ships to a number of retail, foodservice and wholesale customers in the Ohio Valley and in western Pennsylvania to New Jersey, New York City and into Detroit, Chicago and Kentucky.
The Organic Produce Network reports that warm weather and a smooth transition from spring to summer in production areas have resulted in a good supply of several organic melon varieties.
Creekside Organics Inc. of Bakersfield, CA reports strong demand for watermelons, including both organic mini watermelons (also called personal watermelons) and large-sized fruit, typically referred to as bin melons, are being shipped. There are also good supplies of organic honeydew and cantaloupes.
Creekside notes there are still organic melon supplies coming from Mexico, and the company is also sourcing significant volumes from farming operations in Holtville in California’s Imperial Valley.
The company moves up the Joaquin Valley as the summer continues, with both the Bakersfield area in Southern San Joaquin Valley and Firebaugh on the west side of the valley producing various melon varieties.
The grower/shipper reports good supplies of cantaloupes, honeydew, and mini watermelons through September.
Pacific Trellis Fruit of Los Angeles states the company expects to have a good supply of organic mini and bin watermelons throughout the summer.
The company has finished up production in Hermosillo, Mexico, and is winding down Yuma, AZ. In July the operation will transition to California, providing good supplies of minis through the summer.
Since the start of the calendar year, Peru’s fresh lemon exports have maintained a good pace, with monthly shipments above $5 million.
At the end of the first quarter of 2024, Peruvian citrus shipments totaled 15,540 tons for $15.7 million, which meant 10 percent more in volume and 5 percent more in value compared to the same period last year, as reported by AgroPeru Informa.
In this same period, Peruvian lemons reached 15 countries, of which the three that stood out the most were the U.S., with 54 percent of the volume; Chile, with 11.5 percent; and the Dominican Republic, with 11.4 percent.
Exports to the U.S. totaled 8,077 tons for $8.5 million, which was 9 percent more in volume, but 4 percent less in value than in 2023. This is due to the drop in the price in this market (12 percent lower), which went from $1.19 to $1.05 per kilogram.
As for Peruvian exporters, the leaders were Procesadora Laran S.A.C., with 18 percent participation, and Ecosac Agrícola S.A.C., with 15 perce
Imports of Peruvian avocados by the U.S. occurred from May through October 2023. USDA shipment numbers reveal the peak supply of Peruvian fruit arrived in July and August, with 27% of the yearly supply of conventional fruit arriving in July and 39% in August.
The USDA reported total U.S. import shipments of conventional Peruvian avocados totaled 154.9 million pounds in 2023, with shipments of organic avocados from Peru rated at 9.2 million pounds.
In 2022, the USDA reported Peru shipped 250 million pounds of conventional avocados to the U.S., with shipments arriving from March through October.
The USDA reported Peruvian organic avocado shipments in 2022 totaled 18.8 million pounds.
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA forecasts good volume shipments of high-quality conventional and organic blueberries from its Pacific Northwest growing region in the coming months.
The Pacific Northwest blueberry season has officially begun, with strong conventional harvests out of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia with all regions reporting excellent flavor and size.
Likewise, organic harvests are underway and ramping up stateside — with premium fruit being reported. Peak volumes of conventional and organic fruit will be available throughout the month of July, with an abundance of blueberries available through early-September.
“We’re excited to share our abundance of conventional and organic blueberries from the Pacific Northwest,” said Markus Duran, Director of Bushberry at California Giant Berry Farms. “We had strong pollination from the start, and barring any major weather events, we look forward to a steady supply of nutritious berries to meet the ever-growing demand from our consumers.”
California Giant continues to drive increases in blueberry consumption through consumer marketing to drive purchase intent for fresh blueberries and share the smiles and health benefits that they deliver.
Importer LGS Specialty Sales of New Rochelle, NY says it is now receiving South African Star ruby grapefruit ahead of schedule.
The company’s volumes of early summer star ruby grapefruit are now available for shipment out of New Jersey, according to a news release.
“Our customers continue to partner with LGS Specialty Sales because we work to secure fresh produce, like grapefruit, when the market is in need,” Luke Sears, president and founder of LGS Specialty Sales, said in the release. “If a retailer is having a hard time sourcing import grapefruit right now, look no further.”
LGS Specialty Sales sources grapefruit from the company’s farms in the fruitful Mediterranean-like climate of South Africa, where the weather is optimal for high-quality citrus, the release said. South African Star Ruby grapefruit will be available through October.
Washington Fruit Growers’s of Yakima, WA began cherry shipments in early June and will continue through most of July and possibly into early August.
Good volume with cherries is expected this season as the company packs both organic and conventional fruit, with packing locations at its main plant at Washington Fruit & Produce in Yakima and the other being at Dallesport, WA., closer to Oregon on the Columbia River.
Washington Fruit Growers expects to pack a larger volume of cherries compared with a year ago.
Market conditions caused fruit to be diverted from the fresh market in 2023.
Gem Tomato & Vegetable Sales of Hamburg, Ark has some of the first domestic vine-ripe tomatoes available for the summer season.
Shipments from Arkansas typically start in early June when the Florida season, which is mostly mature-green tomatoes, is winding down. The California crop usually doesn’t begin until later.
Loadings for Arkansas tomatoes typically last about six week and wrap up around the middle of July or so. It results in a nice window between Florida and California.
Triple M Farms in Hamburg, Ark has a similar season ships tomatoes through out the Midwest, including St. Louis, Iowa and as far east as Pittsburgh, PA. The company grows round, roma, grape and cherry tomatoes with excellent flavor, quality and shelf life.
About 80% of the company’s crop is pre-sold or committed to buyers who have been customers for decades.
California’s Westside melon season should get underway by early July, right on schedule, and growers expect ample supplies of melons this summer.
Cantaloupe volume should reach 14 million 40-pound cartons, up from just over 13 million cartons last year, according to the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board of Dinuba, CA.
Del Mar Packing in Westley, Calif., has a full line of conventional and organic melons. This year, the company has added organic seedless and seeded watermelons.
Harvesting of conventional honeydew and cantaloupe melons will start first week of July for Del Mar Packing the company expects to be shipping nationwide through October.
Because of the large number of watermelon growers throughout the nation, the company concentrates on West Coast customers for its watermelon program.
Volume will be the same as last year for many items, but there will be added supplies of organic and conventional hami melons and a few more conventional honeydews at Del Mar Packing.
Classic Fruit Co. of Fresno, CA is in the second year of an alliance with Westside Produce of Firebaugh, CA.
The alliance provides the companies with more opportunities to supply fruit to customers on a year-round basis.
The two companies had worked together for more than 25 years before forming an official partnership. Now they have an integrated sales, growing, harvesting, crewing and shipping operation that combines Classic Fruit Co.’s offshore program and Westside’s operations.
The companies will transition from Yuma, AZ, and start shipping cantaloupes and honeydews from the Firebaugh area July 1.
Turlock Fruit Co. Inc. of Turlock, CA grows cantaloupes, honeydews and several kinds of mixed melons.
Cantaloupes are just starting with honeydews following the first week of July. Specialty melons should be underway by July 10.