Posts Tagged “Arizona produce shipments”
It’s been a miserable two weeks in much of America with horrendous weather. Trucking is difficult enough without the record breaking low temperatures, snow and ice. Hang in there another month and spring will be here, with warmer weather and increasing volumes of fresh produce.
Here is a glimpse at potential loading opportunities from two of the most active states.
Texas
Thanks to imports of vegetables and tropical fruits from Mexico, the Lower Rio Grande Valley is one of the best shots at getting loaded.
The city of McAllen has over 200 produce companies such as Valley Fresh Produce Inc., Tricar Sales Inc. and Star Produce.
There are 1750 truckloads of avocados crossing the border from Mexico each week. Other leading volume items range from limes, to watermelons, broccoli, cucumbers, bell peppers, strawberries and tomatoes.
Last week South Texas produce companies were experiencing power outages along with much of the rest of the state. Use of generators was common among produce warehouses. Damage to vegetable and citrus crops are being assessed in the Lower Rio Grande Valley due to freezing temperatures. However, domestic volume pales in comparison to Mexican imports.
Arizona
The other major crossing for Mexican imports it at Nogales, which has nearly 200 produce companies such as Frank’s Distributing of Produce LLC and The Sykes Co.
Mixed loads often requiring multiple picks at various warehouses (similar to McAllen) is pretty much standard procedure here.
Heaviest volume may be with tomatoes led by vine ripes with lesser amounts of grapes and plums averaging about 1150 truck loads a week. There’s also good volume with squash led by zucchini, along with a half a dozen other varieties and totaling over 750 truckloads weekly.
Other available items range from bell peppers (750 truckloads a week) to cucumbers, and watermelon, among others.
In Yuma, AZ companies such as D’Arrigo Bros. of California and Growers Express LLC are shipping lettuce and other vegetables. All together, various Yuma shippers are loading about 400 truckloads weekly of head lettuce and romaine.
Truck rates from Nogales have been all over the board – grossing from $5000 to $7000 to Chicago.
Yuma rates are up generally but not nearly as much – grossing about $8200 to New York City.
Western produce shipments out of California, Washington and Arizona are making their typical fall season moves.
We are about a month into the fall produce shipping season and it is very much still in a transitional period for fresh fruit and vegetable shipments. Some items are increasing in volume, others are in a seasonal decrease, yet we have some products that are a few weeks, if not months away from changes – meanwhile remaining in a fairly steady amount of shipments from week to week.
California Produce Shipments
Table grape shipments out of the San Joaquin Valley in recent years have been one of the more steady, reliable items for hauling – with generally good quality that certainly reduces issues with claims or deductions in freight paid. This situation should continue for another six to eight weeks before a seasonal decline takes place making way for imported grapes led by Chile. California’s late season grape volume is averaging over 1900 truck loads per week…..The Central Joaquin Valley also is having consistent loadings with mature green and romas tomatoes – around 650 loads weekly. A little further south in Kern County, California carrots are averaging about 375 truck load equivalents per week.
It has been a rather ho-hum shipping season for vegetables out of the Salinas Valley. Still, loadings have been pretty consistent lately and should remain so for a few more weeks before a seasonal decline. Among the larger volume items are head lettuce, romaine, celery, broccoli and cauliflower. These five items combined are averaging over 3700 truck loads per week.
California grapes – grossing about $6200 to New York City.
Washington Apple Shipments
Apple loadings out of the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys have yet to hit stride in the new season, but are increasing on a weekly basis. This week about 500 truck load equivalents should be moved. Pear shipments from the same area also are increasing.
Washington apples and pears – grossing about $4200 to Chicago.
Arizona Produce Shipments
As the Westside district in the San Joaquin Valley comes to a conclusion for melon shipments led by cantaloupe and honeydew, the fall transition to central and western Arizona is underway. Arizona cantaloupe volume is on the rise, and honeydew will follow in a couple of weeks.