Posts Tagged “citrus shipping”
There’s a possible California freeze damaging cold front barreling in from Canada that will hit the citrus shipping region of California’s San Joaquin Valley the nights of New Years Eve and New Years night….Additionally, here’s an update on loading opportunities for imported Chilean fruit.
A winter storm racing into the central San Joaquin Valley from Canada could bring temperatures of 26-27 degrees F. the nights of December 31st and January 1st, although forecasters are saying this could change as the storm nears. If the forecast holds, growers will likely begin irrigating on Wednesday to help warm the ground and protect trees. Wind machines will be turned on at night to mix the air and prevent cold pockets from forming.
Approximately 75 percent of the orange and mandarin crops have yet to be harvested. Navel oranges can withstand about four hours of 28-degree temperatures with little or no damage. However, mandarins are more sensitive, and even 32 degrees can be damaging to them.
If damage does occur, it typically takes days, if not weeks to assess how serious it was.
Chilean Fruit Imports
Apart from some recent rains that affected cherry volumes, weather conditions have been favorable for this season. Volume increases are predicted for Chilean fruit commodities, even cherries. This would be in stark contrast to the large volume decreases in 2013-14 due to severe frosts in the South American country. Exports of Chilean blueberries are expected to show a huge increase of 30 percent over last season, with volume exceeding 200 million pounds. An estimated 70 percent of exports come to North America. In the overall grape category, increases are seen for all varieties. Chilean grape imports will increase significantly in January, February and March.
Mid December rains on the West Coast will benefit produce truckers hauling California citrus next year, plus will be helpful long term with produce shipments throughout much of the state.
The rain storm hit the main citrus shipping regions, but more importantly provided more water for storage, as an initial start to climbing out of a three-year-long drought. The rains are helping to reinvigorate citrus trees, which helps with fruit sizing.
California citrus is about seven weeks into the season with another 25 weeks of shipping ahead.
California Navel loadings began in mid-October, but a lack of rainfall over the summer had led to a smaller-than-usual fruit sizing.
The California Department of Water Resources says the state needs about five or six of these storms this winter and spring to have an above-average water year and to begin to make up the deficits racked up over the past three years. Because of the mid December storms, three of California’s largest reservoirs – Oroville, Shasta and Folsom – rose for the first time since last spring. But each of those reservoirs, which provide much of agriculture with the summer irrigation water it needs, still stand at only about one-third of capacity.
For the drought to be declared over, several cold weather storms that drop snow in the higher elevations are needed. Currently, the snow pack remains below normal. Each year’s snowpack and spring runoff provides California with the vast majority of its reservoir water.
But there is no doubt that the rains have helped.
Southern California citrus – grossing about $4200 to Chicago.