Posts Tagged “Colorado produce shipments”
We are trudging through February as it is still weeks away before signs of spring produce volume starts to increase. However, you might finding some loading opportunities in the middle of the country. These states are in the Central Time Zone, except for Colorado (MST).
South Texas/Mexico
By far the most volume in this third of the country is the Lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas with crossings from Mexico. While there is some domestically grown product here such as grapefruit (about 60 truck loads a week) and oranges, there is little else except maybe some partial loads of cabbage in the Winter Garden District.
Otherwise, your best bet is with the distribution houses near the Texas/Mexico border.
Mexican tomatoes, easily led by vine ripes, are averaging nearly 1,100 truckload equivalents a week. Avocados are amounting to about 1,125 loads each week.
After this, volume is much lower with other commodities by comparison. There are about 650 truck loads of Mexican limes crossing the border each week. Other leading vegetables are bell peppers, strawberries, watermelons, cucumbers and broccoli, plus countless other products in much smaller volume.
South Texas produce -grossing about $3400 to Atlanta; $5700 to New York City.
Colorado
Colorado ranks second to Idaho in potato shipments with most volume coming out of the San Luis Valley, currently averaging over 700 truckloads per week.
San Luis Valley potatoes – grossing about $4300 to New York City.
Wisconsin
Central Wisconsin in the Stevens Point area ranks third in potato loadings and is now averaging close to 300 truck loads a week.
Wisconsin potatoes – grossing about $3400 to Houston.
Here is a look at a number of different produce loading opportunities from around the United States.
Washington Fruit Shipments
Both of the new crops from apples and pears are increasing in volume from the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys. Over 2,000 truck load equivalents of apples are being shipped weekly.
Washington fruit – grossing about $4300 to Dallas.
Michigan Apples
Michigan apple shipments are moving in steady volume from week to week, averaging about 250 truck loads — mostly from Western Michigan.
Melon Shipments
Cantaloupe and honeydew loads, primarily from the Westside district in the San Joaquin Valley of California have been very good this year, although a seasonal decline is now underway. Still, something like 1,000 loads of cantaloupe should be shipped this week. Meanwhile, the new season harvest has just got underway from Central Arizona for both cantaloupe and honeydew. The new season from the Yuma should be starting the second week of October.
San Joaquin Valley melons and grapes – grossing about $5100 to Atlanta.
Texas Grapefruit
In South Texas with the fall season, comes grapefruit shipments. The harvest has just got underway and it will be the last half of October before there are volume loadings. Literally dozens of different tropical fruits and vegetables from Mexico are crossing into the Lower Rio Grand Valley for distribution mostly to the Midwest and eastern portions of the U.S. and Canada. However, volume is pretty light on most items. Mexican limes are averaging about 375 truck loads weekly, while vine ripe tomatoes account for around 500 truck loads per week.
Mexican fruit and vegetables through South Texas – grossing about $3600 to New York City.
Colorado Produce Shipments
San Luis Valley potato loadings are amounting to about 750 truck loads per week. Northeast Colorado has a sizeable dry onion crop each year. There is currently very light movement that will be increasing in the weeks ahead.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $2100 to Chicago.
South Georgia Vegetable Shipments
Harvest has just started, or will get underway shortly for fall vegetables ranging from sweet corn, to cucumbers, greens, bell peppers and squash. Even when volume kicks in later this month, this is fall volume, and typically involves multiple pick ups.
Here are some produce loading opportunities from the Central and Mountain time zones.
Texas Produce Shipments
Most Texas produce loadings are coming out of the Lower Rio Valley, much of which is Mexican product crossing the border at McAllen. Watermelon shipments continue from South Texas, and starting to come out Central areas of the Lone Star State. Caution is advised as there are reports of variable quality….Meanwhile tropical fruit items ranging from mangos to avocados among other are crossing the border from Mexico. There’s also light volume with a number Mexican vegetables ranging from broccoli to various kinds of peppers.
South Texas/Mexican produce – grossing about $2700 to Chicago.
Colorado Produce Shipments
The old crop of russet potatoes continues to be shipped out the San Luis Valley, as growers and shippers gear up for the new season harvest. Colorado is still shipping nearly 600 truck loads of potatoes weekly….Western slope Colorado peach and pear loadings have just started within the past week, continuing through most of September….Sweet corn shipments get underway this week and lasting through September….Cantaloupe shipments start about August 1st.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $2300 to Chicago.
Wisconsin Produce Shipments
Shipments of russet potatoes from Central Wisconsin remain light to moderate as the season gradually winds down. Diggings of the new crop of red potatoes is just getting underway.
Today, we’ll take a look at some loading opportunities starting in South Texas before extending up to Colorado and then over to Idaho and Oregon.
South Texas Produce Loads
The Lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas is becoming more important every year for produce haulers. It’s not so much the area is growing more fruits and vegetables, as it is farming operations in Mexico, many with investments by people north of the border, who are expanding operations. Much of that produce is being shipped into the US for distribution throughout the states and Canada.
Everything from Mexican grown carrots to lemons, plum tomatoes, other vegetables and tropical fruits are crossing the border at McAllen is greater volume. In the Texas valley itself, shippers are gearing up for shipments of grapefruit and oranges, that will start in the next few weeks.
Colorado Produce Shipments
The San Luis Valley is easily providing the biggest volume and loading opportunties, averaging about 500 truck loads of potatoes per week. In the north and northeastern part of the state, the volume is much lower, but potatoes and onions are providing at least some partial loads.
San Luis Valley potatoes – grossing about $2200 to Houston.
Onion Shipments
The potato harvest in Idaho continues, but there are still about 1,600 truck load equivalents of spuds being shipped each week, although a higher percent is going by rail than in most other produce shipping points around the country….In Malhuer County, Oregon and eastern Idaho, about 750 truck loads of onions from storage are being shipped.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $3100 to Chicago.
It may not be a Rocky Mountain “high” for many shippers in Colorado this summer or fall due to a winter than lingered on and on, combined with some drought conditions. In a nutshell most Colorado vegetable shipments will be okay, but not great, while Western slope peaches may not be worth a produce hauler’s time. Potato shipments will be off some from last season.
Vegetable loadings from areas such as Brighton, Eaton and LaSalle are running nearly a week and one-half late. We’re talking items ranging from potatoes and onions to sweet corn and cabbage.
The Rocky Ford area is loading peppers, tomatoes, squash, carrots and green beans, among other items.
Colorado Fruit Shipments Hit
Colorado isn’t widely known for its cherry shipments, and will become even less so this year, thanks to a late freeze in May. While peaches fared better, it also will be significantly off — possibly by 30 percent. There will be some pear shipments into early October, and some apple loadings through at least Thanksgiving and possibily into December.
Colorado Potato Shipments
The Rocky Mountain state has about 49,700 acres of potato acreage for the 2013-14 shipping season, which is down over 5,000 acres from a year ago. Spud loadings get underway after Labor Day.
Produce shipments for new crops of fresh fruits and vegetables have started, or will soon get underway in Colorado. Depending on the crop, loading opportunities will be better on some items than others.
Sweet corn loadings are later than usual, but have are just now getting underway near Delta, CO (the Olathe area). Loadings will continue through mid- September. The corn includes bi-colored, white and yellow varieties.
Also on Colorado’s Western Slope are peaches, but shipments will be considerable less due to early freezes. Shipments are expected to be down 40 percent this season when it gets started about August 1st. Loadings will continue through September.
The primary produce items grown in Northern Colorado are onions, cabbage, carrots, corn and leaf items, although “a smattering of other vegetables are available,” Schneider said. “Due to replanting, the growers should have good volume when it hits, but it will come on in a shorter ‘season’ as opposed to staggered through the course of the summer
Rocky Ford cantaloupe loadings should be up 20 to 30 percent over 2012 from the Lower Arkansas Valley, where cantaloupe and other melons are grown and shipped. Shipments should start about July 25th for cantaloupe, August 1st for honeydew and watermelon, with volume loading available within a week of those dates. Honeydews and watermelon shipments should continue through the first week of September, and cantaloupe lasting until first freeze, around October. 1st.