Posts Tagged “apple shipments”
While California’s overall fruit shipments in the fall may not match those of summertime, there are some exception when looking at individual commodities. Here is a round up on leading California fruit shipments this fall.
Grape Shipments
At least 60 percent of California grape shipments occur after Labor Day and continue into January. Since California is easy the biggest table grape shipping state, we are talking about a lot of fruit. The shipping season actually started last May from the desert and the total season forecast calls for 116.5 million, 19-pound cartons to be shipped. That is less than one million cartons away from last season record setting shipments.
Citrus Shipments
Larger volumes of tangerinees (which includes mandarins) are forecast this fall. Numbers are not yet available, but last season there were 26 million, 40-pound cartons of tangerines shipped….Navel orange loadings should become available sometime in October, with full volume coming in November — and in time for Thanksgiving shipments.
Kiwi Shipments
Kiwifruit loadings are predicted to be about 7 million tray equivalents, similar to last season.
Pomegranate Shipments
Loadings of pomegranates have been increasing 20 percent annually in recent years, and volume once again should be bigger – estimated at 6 million 25-pound box equivalents.
Apple Shipments
California apple shipments pale in comparison to that of Washington state. Shipments have been underway since late July and will last into November.
Strawberry Shipments
Peak shipments from the Watsonville area occurred during July and August. There still good volume, but seasonally lower amounts are still occurring there. In October, strawberry shipments will shift to Oxnard and the Baja California peninsula of Mexico.
Watsonville strawberries, Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $5600 to Cleveland.
Central San Joaquin Valley table grapes, stone fruit, vegetables – grossing about $6,600 to Orlando.
Produce truckers will once again have plenty of opportunities to haul another large apple crop this season…Also, here’s a brief roundup of what appears will be a record cherry shipping season coming to an end.
The third largest shipments of U.S. apples on record is expected for the 2014-15 season, which recently started.
The U.S. Apple Association is is predicting total U.S. apple shipments will be 263.8 million 42-pound cartons, which is very close to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s estimate, also released in August, which was 259.2 million.
Estimates from individual regions are: 174.3 million 42-pound units from the west (compared to 174.5 million from the USDA estimate) 55.9 million in the east (54.4 from the USDA) and 33.6 million in the Midwest (30.3 million from the USDA). Washington, the largest producing state, has an estimated production of 162 million 42-pound units for overall production. The industry has cited 140.2 million units as an anticipated fresh pack this year.
Cherry Shipments
Northwest cherry shipments, which are nearing the end of the season, could have record loadings . As of August 18, shippers were on pace to ship 23.4 million boxes of fruit, which would break the 2012 record of 23.1 million cartons. The revised estimate is up from pre-season estimates of more than 22 million boxes.
Washington state fruit – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
The states of Michigan and New York at various times claim to be the second largest shipper of apples (Washington state is the easy first), but both states will have large, and similar sized crops this season.
Michigan apple shipments should hit about 28.7 million bushels of apples this year, which isn’t that far off of their record setting 2013 crop, which was 30 million bushels. The estimate is showing what many Michigan apple shippers been predicting for several years. The average Michigan apple crop size will continue to increase. Because of the high-density plantings (approximately 1,000 trees per acre) and advancements in technology, Michigan is going to continue to produce a larger quantity of apples.
Michigan blueberry shipments – grossing about $2700 to Atlanta; Michigan vegetable shipments grossing about 20 percent less. Too few apples yet, to quote.
New York Apple Shipments
Unlike Michigan, which has most of its apple operations in the Western part of the state, New York grows and ships apples were several different areas, although the heaviest volume originates out of the Hudson Valley. Still, New York state also ships apples from the Champlain Valley, as well as from areas in the central and western part of the state. Excellent growing conditions, including a late spring with warm weather, good rainfall, and cool nights have cultivated a harvest which is so far was exceeding the 30 million bushels forecast made this past July.
Western New York vegetable shipments – grossing about $1500 to Baltimore.
Northwestern shipments of blueberries and apples will be ramping up in the next month or so.
Washington and Oregon will be shipping blueberries this month and loadings will continue into the fall. Both states consistently rank among the nation’s top in blueberry shipments.
Washington is expected to ship approximately 90 million pounds of blueberries this season — an increase of 10 million pounds when compared to 2013. The Evergreen state is a national trendsetter when it comes to organic blueberry production, with 75 percent of its overall volume falling into the category.
Oregon shippers are expected to load more than 80 million pounds of blueberries this year, which would be another record for the state.
The United States is the world’s largest producer of blueberries, harvesting a total of 564.4 million pounds of cultivated and wild blueberries in 2012. Of this total volume, approximately 84 percent of the harvest fell into the cultivated category. Blueberries rank as the second most important commercial berry crop in the United States, with a total crop value of $781.8 million in 2012.
Apple Shipments
The official estimate will not be announced until August 11, but observers are seeing the potential for a huge crop. starting with shipments in volume of Galas by mid-August. Regional shipping areas in the Eastern U.S. are running later than normal due to the very cool spring, while Washington state apple shipments will start several days earlier than normal. Washington apple shipments should be taking place in good volume starting sometime in August and really ramping up in September.
Colorado peach shipments are expected to get underway in the middle of July.
Peach shipments originate from relatively few shippers on the Western Slope of Colorado’s, beautiful Rocky Mountains, generally in the Grand Junction area. Shipments should continue through mid August and possibly up to the first of September.
There also will be a limited amount of cherries coming on around the first of July. The apricot crop apparently will amount to few, if any this year. The Grand Junction area also will start shipping watermelons in mid July.
Colorado ranks sixth nationally in peach shipments, behind top ranked California, then South Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey and Pennyslvania.
Looking a bit further down the road, Colorado’s Western Slope will have apple shipments and pear shipments starting around the end of August.
One knows we’re getting close to the peak period for spring and summer produce shipments when California’s San Joaquin Valley starts pumping out everything from stone fruit to grapes, berries and melons.
Stone Fruit Shipments
Very light volume with apricots got underway last month from the San Joaquin Valley, this means peaches, plums and nectarines soon follow. Weather factors has all stone fruit items maturing up to two weeks earlier than usual this spring. Volume is increasing on a weekly basis and should be hitting full stride by June. No estimates have been issued, but it appears there will not be bumper crops this season.
Grape Shipments
The Coachella Valley is currently shipping the nation’s only domestic grapes. However, the vast majority of California grape shipments will get underway with the Arvin district (Bakersfield) around June 23rd. California shipped a record 117.4 million boxes of grapes last season. No record shipments are forecast this year, but it will still be a huge crop.
Cherry Shipments
Sketchy information, and about the best info is it should be a “normal” crop. This is a much smaller volume than you’ll find out of the Northwest in a few weeks.
Apple Shipments
California apples shipments tend to fill a narrow window between the old season ending and the new season starting up in the nation’s leading state – Washington. California’s leading apple variety, galas, should start shipments around July 20th, with fujis getting underway around August 20th.
Melon Shipments
Because of the California drought, now in its third year, some acreage normally used for cantaloupe and honeydew is not being planted this season in the Bakerfield and Huron areas. Shipments will get underway around July 1st, but don’t expect any record volume.
Blueberry Shipments
Central San Joaquin Valley “blues” are in peak shipments, which should continue through June. Lack of water is a growing concern, but volume is expect to meet or exceed last season’s 53.9 million pounds.
Strawberry Shipments
Southern California strawberry loadings should be winding down as volume increases from the Santa Maria district and the Watsonville District.
Central San Joaquin Valley blueberries and cherries – grossing about $6300 to Atlanta.
Here’s an outlook for Michgian apple shipments that will start soon with the new season. However, there are still plenty of apple loads remaining for the current season that started late last summer, particularly from Washington, New York, and Michigan.
Michigan apple shipments should be good this spring, despite a harsh winter. Initial loadings are only a few weeks away. However, the jury is still out on other fruit items ranging from blueberries, to cherries, grapes, plums, apricots and peaches, The fate of these items and the amount of damage will depend largely on what Mother Nature has in store the next few weeks.
National Apple Shipments
Concerning the old apple crop, about 48 million bushels of U.S.-grown fresh-market apples had yet to be shipped as of April 1, three less than last year at the same. The April total was, however, eight percent higher than the five-year average. Washington accounted for 41.7 million bushels of the U.S. total, Michigan 2.8 million bushels and New York 2.5 million bushels.
Michigan apples – grossing about $3400 to Dallas.
Washington state apples – grossing about $4000 to Chicago.
Mango Imports
Mango imports in 2013 compared to 2000 have increased a whooping 236 percent from Peru. Peru is now the second largest source for imported mangoes, representing 10 percdent of mango volume. Another big importer is Ecuador, which also has seen a rise in imports to the U.S., with a 160 percent increase from 2000 and 21 percent over last year. Peru has seen the biggest jump, with a 53 percent increase over last year. As of mid-March, 12 million boxes had been shipped. The projection for the year is 10.9 million boxes.
From New York state to the Appalachian States and in Michigan, here is a round up of some loading opportunities.
After devastating freeze losses in 2012, New York apple shipments are enjoying a very strong comeback season, while expecting a record volume exceeding 32 million boxes. Loadings reported brisk, averaging around 250 truck loads per week. While the Hudson Valley leads apple shipments, loadings also occur from the Champlain Valley, Central and Western areas of the state. New York shippers expect a relatively normal end to its season when some companies will finish shipping in late May or June, while others will continue shipping into July.
New York also is shipping storage onions, led by Orange County, with around 150 truck loads are being shipped weekly. Additonally Western New York is shipping cabbage.
New York cabbage – grossing about $1600 to New York City.
Michigan Produce Shipments
In a similar situation to New York, the state of Michigan has made a major rebound this season with apples. It is moving similar volume compared to New York as well, averaging around 250 truck loads per week. Michigan also is shipping a moderate amount of potatoes, along with light volumes of onions. A majority of Michigan winter produce shipments originate in the Western part of the state.
Michigan apples – grossing about $3300 to Dallas.
Appalachian Apple Shipments
The apple shipping region known as the Appalachian District comprises portions of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. There is light, but steady volume with apples being loading here.
California strawberry shipments are head of this time last year, while Washington state pear loadings are on a record setting course.
California strawberry shipments
Unlike much of the country, it has been an exceptionally mild winter thus far in California (unless you’re a California citrus grower). Temperatures into the mid-80s along the coast have brought on good strawberry shipments in the region. As of February 1, about 4.6 million cases of strawberries had been shipped, compared with 3 million cases at the same time in 2013. The 1.2 million trays shipped the week ending Feb. 1 was well above the 805,000-tray projection. Most of the berries are coming out of Ventura and Orange counties, and shipments are aided by the fact fewer strawberries have been loaded from Florida and Mexico due to cold weather.
There’s also decent strawberries volume coming out of the Baja California pennisula, where it is consolidated at warehouses in the San Diego area. The Baja California and Oxnard growing areas have similar climatic conditions.
Southern California berries – grossing about $4200 to Chicago.
Apple Shipments, Pear Shipments
While apples dominate Northwest fruit shipments, as of January 31st there has been a record number of pears had loaded out of the Pacific Northwest, mostly from Washington state’s Yakima and Wenachee valleys. We are talking around 14.2 million boxes of pears from Washington and Oregon.
There were over 1.3 million boxes shipped the first two weeks of January and 1.4 million boxes in the last two weeks. That compares to 1.2 million boxes in each of those two-week periods at the same time last year. The Northwest is on track to ship a record 22.2 million boxes of pears this year, 14 percent more than last season.
One important note is that both apples and pears ship well together in the same load.
Washington state apples and pears – grossing about $6500 to New York City.
About 91 million bushels of fresh-market U.S. apples were in storage on Jan. 1. That is one percent more than last year at the same time. The January total also is eight percent higher than the five-year average for remaining apple shipments.
The nation’s biggest shipper, Washington state, accounted for about 76 million bushels of the total.
Michigan still had about 6.5 million bushels in storage and has been setting weekly volume shipping records. The estimate for total Michign apple shipments this season still remains at 30 million bushels.
New York apple shipments have 5.4 million bushels and Pennsylvania apple shipments 1.3 million bushels of apples remaining to be hauled.
January apples remaining in storage are up over last year despite holdings for several leading varieties being lower.
About 28.6 million bushels of red delicious were in storage, down from 31 million bushels last year. Fuji holdings fell from 14.9 million to 9.7 million bushels, golden delicious from 9.9 million to 8.7 million bushels and cripps pink from 2.9 million to 2.8 million bushels.
Gala holdings increased from 15.1 million to 15.6 million bushels and granny smith holdings from 9.2 million to 11.4 million bushels.
Much higher volumes of mcintoshes, empires and other traditionally Midwestern and Eastern varieties had yet to be shipped as of Jan. 1 compared to last year at the same time, as Michigan, New York and other states east of the Mississippi continue to bounce back from devastating 2012 freezes.
Washington state apples grossing – about $4600 to Clevelnd.
Michigan apples – about $2200 to Atlanta.
New York state apples – about $1900 to Orlando.