Posts Tagged “California avocado shipments”
Here’s an outlook for the new season with California avocado shipments, plus a round up of the huge amount of U.S. apples remaining in storages to be shipped between now and late summer.
California avocado shipments this year should be about 10 percent greater than last season, although in 2014 volume was the smallest it had been in a decade.
The 327 million-pound crop is coming on about a month a head of schedule in both the northern and southern shipping areas of California. Volume is light now, but it should improve significantly by the end of March and will continue through the summer.
In an extremely rare weather event, 6-8 inches of snow hit the Temecula area in late December and early January. The result the snow and wind was a thinning of the crop. The weight of the snow also snapped some tree limbs. However, there will be a significant increase in volume of California avocados from March to June, with peak shipment occurring prior to the Fourth of July.
Southern California avocados, berries, citrus and veggies – grossing about $5500 to Atlanta.
Apple Shipments
About 79 million bushels of U.S.-grown fresh-market apples had yet to ship as of March 1st, 28 percent more than last year at the same time. However, the March 1 total was a whopping 37 percent above the five-year average.
Washington accounted for 70.6 million bushels of those still in storage. Michigan accounted for 3.08 million bushels of the total, New York 3.05 million bushels and Pennsylvania 831,200 bushels.
March volumes of all major apple varieties were up over last year. About 29 million bushels of red delicious had yet to ship, up from 21.3 million bushels in March 2014.
Gala volumes increased from 9.4 million to 12.9 million bushels; granny smith from 8.5 million to 8.9 million bushels; golden delicious from 6.5 million to 8.1 million bushels; fuji from 6.1 million to 7.9 million bushels; Pink Lady from 1.9 million to 2.4 million bushels; and Honeycrisp from 652,000 to 1.2 million bushels.
Yakima Valley, WA apples – grossing about $6500 to New York City.
While California vegetables and citrus have been struggling this season to get going, California strawberry shipments got off to an early and fast start it looks to continue strong throughout the season. Unlike much of the nation, credit unusually warm weather during the winter on the West Cost, which hastened plant maturity.
We’ll also take a glimpse at Mexican imports through Nogales, AZ.
For the week ending March 1, the California Strawberry Commission reported 11.16 million 9-pound tray equivalents had been shipped fresh so far this year compared to 6.89 million at the same time last year and 9 million in 2012. California produces almost 90 percent of U.S. strawberries. The state’s 400 strawberry farms grow fruit on fewer than 40,000 acres.
California avocado shipments
This year, California avocado shipments should be at its peak from mid- to late April and continue through Labor Day. Volume should be about 300 million pounds. The 300 million pounds is more on par with the 10-year average. Loadings originate from various shippers in Southern California.
Southern California produce shipments – grossing about $6600 to New York City.
Nogales Produce Shipments
While Mexican vegetable shipments through Nogales, AZ are on a seasonal down swing, an exception are watermelons being imported from West Mexico. The spring season has started three weeks earlier than last year. The early time frame is attributed to earlier transplanting, improved growing practices and ideal weather conditions. Watermelon shipments from West Mexico should continue in good volume through June.
Arrivals of Mexican grapes will start crossing the border within the next month.
Mexican produce through Nogales – grossing about $3800 to Chicago.
As we enter spring (officially March 20th) two things are certain regarding California vegetable shipmens. Number one, a seasonal shift is coming relatively soon from the desert areas of California and Arizona to the Central San Joaquin Valley and the Salinas Valley. Number two, there is going to be a gap in in some California produce shipments as the transition take place.
However, the question remains, just when is this shipping gap going to occur given the roller coast weather?
Cold crops are grown in Central California and the Salinas Valley and shipped the year round, and celery is a 12-month mainstay from Oxnard to Oceano. However, items such as lettuce, broccoli and caulifower and some others shift growing areas during the year. Cold weather in Salinas and the central valley knocked out some plants in their early stages and delayed plantings for about a week. About 90 to 100 days later, one would expect to see a gap, It will happen, but when? The guess in within the next couple of weeks.
California Avocado Shipments
Avocado shipments in 2013 crop came in around 500 million pounds, which is larger than normal volume. This year, volume should be around 300 million pounds, which is closer to average.
In 2014, shipments should start ramping up anytime and showing sizable volume increase by late-April, before making a significant bump in volume entering the summer months.
California avocado shipments should hit about 12,500 truckloads equivalents this year, up about 1,000 truck loads from 2012. Because of the larger crop, California avocado loadings are expected to run later than last year, continuing at peak volume through August and into September, with shipments running into November.
About 2,050 truckloads of fruit is expected to be hauled from September through November.
Weekly avocado shipments in the USA this year have reached as high as 1,000 truckloads. Loadings take place mostly in Southern California.
California tomato shipments
California mature green tomato shipments out of the San Joaquin Valley remain good, but are lighter than when loadings got underway in mid- to late June. That steady, but lighter volume should continue through the end of the year.
Around the Oceaside area of Southern California, there are loadings of cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and romas in addition to the vine ripened tomatoes.
Mature greens are typically sold to foodservice operators for their use with burgers or other dishes, or repackers, who package them in multiples, complete the ripening process and shipped to a variety of customers. Vine-ripe tomatoes are often shipped directly to the retailers.
Meanwhile volume shipments of Salinas Valley vegetables and San Joaquin Valley produce loadings of vegetables, stone fruit, grapes and melons continue.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $5300 to Chicago.
Southern California avocados – grossing about $7500 to New York City.