Posts Tagged “feature”
The Peruvian Blueberry Growers and Exporters Association (ProArándanos) announced that blueberry exports reached their peak earlier than expected and are projected to decline in the coming months.
According to the organization, Peru’s blueberry shipments reached their highest level during early November, with approximately 21,000 metric tons .
This is a 12.5 percent decrease compared with the projected peak at the start of the season (24,000 metric tons in mid November).
So far, Peru has exported more than 215,000 metric tons of blueberries, accounting for approximately 54 percent of the projected 400,000-ton export volume for the season.
Shipments to the US, Europe, and China have driven growth. To date, 44 percent has been shipped to the US, 35 percent to Europe, and 15 percent to China.
The organization warns that shipments will gradually decline moving forward, reflecting a shorter and lower output than the projected Peruvian berry season.
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The United States has solidified its position as a strategic market for table grapes. Over the past 20 years, imports have increased by 27 percent, a direct result of an ongoing upward and dynamic trend driven by marked consumer preference for healthy, high-quality products, according to a report by Latin American industry data broker Fluctuante.
In addition to growing per capita consumption—averaging 8.64 pounds per person in 2023—viral trends and promotional campaigns have led to the incorporation of premium varieties such as Cotton Candy, Sweet Globe, and Candy Dreams into the American market.
As a result, imports have become a crucial element in ensuring product availability throughout the year, consolidating the US as one of the leading table grape buyers and consumers in the world.
The evolution of table grape supplying countries
In 2005, the US imported 611,000 tons of fresh grapes, with Chile, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru as its leading suppliers, said Fluctuante.
But the market has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past twenty years. By 2024, imports reached 777,000 tons, reflecting not only increased consumption but also a reconfiguration of suppliers.
Currently, the US table grape market is distributed among five supplying countries: Chile, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. The first three maintain solid positions, and while Brazil and South Africa inject smaller volumes, they hold solid positions as complementary players, ensuring continuous supply.
Together, this scenario reflects how the market has diversified and become more competitive, driven by the new dynamics of a demanding American consumer.
In 2005, Chile led fresh grape exports to the United States with 439,000 tons. Although shipments fell to 317,000 tons in 2024, the Andean country maintains first place thanks to its off-season production and strategic access to Pacific routes, Fluctuante says. Varietal replacement and the commitment to higher-quality fruit have been key to sustaining Chile’s position in an increasingly competitive market.
Meanwhile, in 2024, Peru moved up to become the second-largest US supplier of fresh grapes, hitting the market with 226,000 tons. This meteoric growth is in part explained by the country’s ability to cover the demand window that peaks during the winter months, when US production slows down. Additionally, Peru has been able to capitalize on delayed Chilean shipments, positioning itself as a reliable alternative to ensure continuity of supply.
Fluctuante says Peruvian success is a result of the country’s favorable agroclimatic conditions, which allow for counter-seasonal production, the expansion of cultivated areas, and the diversification of high-demand varieties such as Sweet Globe. But that’s not all, as Peru’s weather has also helped the country meet with rigorous quality standards required by the US market. The Andean country also features highly efficient logistics chains, which ensure a constant flow of fruit to the American market.
Fueled by the country’s geographical proximity, lower logistical costs, and its ability to supply fruit during strategic months of high demand, Mexico has also strengthened its presence in the US table grape market.
In 2005, the United States imported 153,000 tons of fresh grapes from Mexico. In 2024, this number reached new heights with 214,000 tons, solidifying the country’s position as the third-largest supplier of table grapes to the US.
Additionally, Mexico has a well-established harvest season and production concentrated mainly in Sonora, right by the US-Mexico border, which reinforces the country’s ability to offer consistent and quality shipments.
Ecuador is currently at the height of its mango export season, with Peru building momentum to take the lead through early 2026.
US importers are entering their peak offshore mango season with the seasonal shift in the global supply lines.
Ecuador is currently operating at full speed, and weekly shipments are expected to reach 1.7 million boxes during the second half of November. Total projected shipments stand at 14 million boxes for the season, slightly below 2024’s volume. Shipments will begin winding down in early December and finish by the end of the year.
Peru, the largest offshore supplier to the US, has started its season gradually, with 168,000 boxes shipped by the end of week 43. Volumes are expected to climb steadily through December, reaching 2.5 million boxes per week by early January. The season will peak through the first month of 2026, with total shipments projected at 23.2 million boxes, down 21 percent from last year’s record.
With a smooth handoff from Ecuador to Peru, US markets are well-positioned for steady mango availability through the winter months.
Mexico, the dominant supplier to the US, just closed out a historic season, with exports reaching 95.6 million boxes, the highest volume on record. The North American country continues to supply smaller volumes of irradiated fruit, which now account for ten percent of its total shipments, adding to this year’s 10 million boxes, up sharply from 2.75 million in 2021.
Meanwhile, Brazil is nearing the end of its season with two to three weeks left. Despite early concerns about tariffs, consumer demand held steady even as prices rose, allowing Brazil to ship an expected 9.5 million boxes, comparable to last year’s total.
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In preparation for what is expected to be a blooming strawberry season in the coming months, Main Street Produce of Santa Maria, CA is expanding its strawberry program with broadened shipping operations across multiple key growing regions in Central Mexico, Baja California, Florida, Santa Maria, and Oxnard.
“Our commitment has always been to provide exceptional strawberries our customers can rely on throughout the year,” said Chris Rivera, director of sales and marketing at Main Street Produce. “As consumer demand continues to grow, we’ve strategically expanded our operations to ensure a consistent, high-quality supply reaching key retail markets across the United States.”
With production spanning several growing regions, Main Street Produce is able to maintain a consistent supply chain, reduce seasonal gaps and better serve its retail and food service partners throughout the year. Both conventional and organic products are offered year-round.
“Each growing region contributes uniquely to our ability to serve customers seamlessly,” Rivera added. “By broadening our footprint, we’re strengthening our year-round supply chain and reaffirming our dedication to delivering premium fruit with the quality and reliability Main Street Produce is known for.”
In addition to this geographic expansion, Main Street continues to invest in its grower relationships and logistics network to ensure timely deliveries and peak product condition.
With expanded shipping from Central Mexico, Florida, Santa Maria, and Oxnard, the company is well-positioned to support customers throughout the spring, summer, and beyond, providing dependable, high-quality fruit and reinforcing its long-standing commitment to excellence and innovation in the berry category.
About Main Street Produce:
Founded in 1976, Main Street Produce is a premier producer and distributor of high-quality strawberries, delivering freshness and consistency to retail and foodservice customers across North America. Main Street takes pride in managing every step of the process — from farming to cooling and shipping, ensuring berries are handled with care and delivered fresh. With decades of experience, sustainable farming practices and a commitment to quality, the company delivers top-notch fruit directly from its fields to store shelves.
California’s available Valencia orange supply continues to diminish. California’s Navel season has begun in a limited manner; supplies will increase week over week as harvesting ramps up, according to Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA in a press release.
California
- Valencias are finished for the season with Navel varieties available
- Quality is good; some scarring has been reported
- California Navel shipments are in full swing
Mexico
- Mexican imports (crossing in Nogales, Arizona) are expected in mid-November
- Great quality is forecast; sugar levels will range from 12-13 Brix
- Prices will be comparable to those in Florida and Texas
Texas
- Early variety seeded oranges will ship through February before the start of the Valencia season
- Quality is good; sugar levels range from 11-12 Brix
- Florida
- The new crop Hamlin season has begun
- Supplies are dominated by 138-count and smaller sizes
- Quality is fair; sugar levels range from 10-11 Brix
- Most of the fruit will be choice and standard grades
- Import
- Fruit is being imported to the East Coast
- South African seeded Midnight-variety oranges are shipping
- Quality is good; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
- The season will end in late November
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The first Chilean cherry imports of the 2025-26 season arrived by air last month and weekly arrivals have been occurring since.
Chilean distributor Forever Fresh reports the first shipment consisted of eight pallets from Garcés Fruit, harvested in Chile’s central zone.
The shipment was made by air to New York City and included varieties such as Royal Down, Glenn Red, Brooks, and Coral. The second shipment to arrived on, Saturday October 25.
Forever Fresh plans to maintain a flow of shipments every two days, with fruit coming from both Garcés Fruit and Verfrut.
The company noted the first cherries arrived in excellent condition, with outstanding freshness and appearance, being crunchy, with good color and high sugar levels.
In this first stage, Forever Fresh will distribute the product to retailers and wholesalers to meet the initial demand for the season’s early lots.
Chile is riding the coattails of an excellent season by Washington state.
Chile apparently learned a lesson last season that it is not wise to put all of your eggs, or in this case, cherries in one basket.
Chile views the US as an excellent market and opportunity for Chilean cherries. Today, 90 percent of the Andean country’s crop is destined for China, making local producers extremely dependent on the Asian giant. Last year’s oversupply drove prices down dramatically, prompting the question: Should Chile look beyond the East?
Cultivating the US market with counter-seasonal cherries is a great alternative. Thus, market diversification has become a long term goal for Chileans.
There is clear potential in the United States, but Forever Fresh realizes building the market takes time. The company has been investing together with its producers—Garcés, Verfrut, Probex, and Unifrutti—to develop demand and reaccustom consumers to seeing high-quality Chilean fruit during the winter.
The United States imported about 4 million boxes of Chilean cherries last year. Forever Fresh accounted for 25 percent of the market share.
The company projects growth of between 20 percent and 25 percent, with the most important thing being consistency in quality and supply.
It will be of utmost importance to provide that quality and supply for key periods such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. Just as it happens in China, where cherries are offered as a gift for the Lunar New Year, Chilean cherries are looking to position themselves as a high-value product and premium gift.
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Rain is forecast for the California growing regions of Santa Maria and Oxnard Thursday night, November 13, then November 16, through Friday, November 17; harvesting cancellations are expected, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Limited yields from the South Texas growing region will help offset California’s reduced volume. Expect an extreme demand-exceeds-supply market over the next two weeks.
Santa Maria/Oxnard
- Upcoming rain will present quality issues, as well as harvesting delays
- Expect an extreme demand-exceeds-supply market for the next two weeks
- Quality ranges from fair to fairly good; light decay, soft skin, and bruising are issues
- Size ranges from small-medium to medium
- Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
- Expect tight supplies and elevated prices
Mexico/South Texas
- Current yields will not meet demand
- Supplies are limited, due to quality problems including white shoulders, skin bruising, and green tips
- Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
- Supplies will increase in late November
- Expect low volume and high markets
The Port of Savannah handled 486,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units in September, an increase of 35,280 TEUs or eight percent compared to the same month last year. For the period from July 1 to September 30, Savannah’s container trade is up 4.7 percent, or 66,845 TEUs.
“We’re focused on berth, rail, truck gate, and container yard operations to offer the best service in these competitive times for our customers,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch.
The executive said the point of entry is consistently delivering operational metrics, such as 50-minute trucker turn times for dual moves at port gates and an average rail dwell of 22 hours.
It was GPA’s busiest September for total rail lifts, at 51,235 containers, up 21 percent or nearly 9,000 lifts compared to September 2024.
For the fiscal year to date, GPA achieved total rail lifts of nearly 150,000, an increase of 4.7 percent. The Appalachian Regional Port set a record of 4,453 container lifts last month, an increase of 48 percent or 1,450 lifts. Since July, the ARP has handled 11,465 containers, up 1,340 or 13 percent.
The Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal also posted strong performance, moving 46,782 containers, up 19 percent, or 7,530 lifts, in September. Mason Mega Rail has moved more than 138,400 containers through September of this fiscal year, an increase of 5,380 lifts, or 4 percent, compared to the same period a year earlier.
The Port of Savannah completed 316,889 truck gate transactions in September, counting both import and export container moves. Turn times for dropping off or picking up a single container averaged 32 minutes in September.
Dual export-import moves averaged 50 minutes. Dual moves, in which a driver drops off an export and picks up an import container, account for approximately 80 percent of truck transactions at the Port of Savannah, reducing trips and emissions. Truck drivers serving the Port of Savannah complete an average of six to eight turns per day, representing the industry’s best supply chain speed through a container port.
Expansion outlook for Georgia
Construction of Berth 4 is ongoing with an expected completion in 2027.
“Market cycles are a normal part of business and are reflected in supply chain flow. We’re focused on adding new berth capabilities to help our RoRo customers compete strongly in the future,” Lynch added.
A diverse crop of fall vegetables are now being shipped from Florida, although volume doesn’t match that of the state’s busiest period, springtime.
Items coming out of an area ranging from Homestead to Belle Glade range from sweet corn to green beans, Bell peppers, tomatoes and leafy greens. Favorable growing conditions have growers and shippers optimistic for good, quality crops.
The long, diverse list of Florida’s fall produce shipments include fruits and vegetables such as sweet corn, Bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, avocados, carrots, radishes, squash and green beans. Fall also is the start of the state’s citrus shipments, with early varieties of oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit. It also includes leafy greens such as romaine, as well as the beginning of Florida strawberries from the Plant City area.
Florida ranks among the nation’s top producers of several key specialty crops, leading the U.S. in the production of oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and Bell peppers during the fall and winter months.
Southern Specialties of Pompano Beach, FL imports product from Central and South America as well as shipping Florida produce. The company relies heavily on the ports at Miami and the Everglades for its imported items.
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Philadelphia, PA — PhilaPort recently announced that it has acquired the Mustin Yard Property from Norfolk Southern Corporation.
Located adjacent to PhilaPort’s SouthPort Marine Terminal, the 152-acre Mustin Yard represents the last available land at the nexus of deep water, rail, and highway access.
Originally part of the former Philadelphia Navy Yard, the site has long been viewed as a critical asset for the Port’s future growth.
This acquisition marks a major milestone in PhilaPort’s long-term development strategy and aligns with the recently released PhilaPort Strategic Plan: Destination 2040.
The acquisition of Mustin Yard will allow PhilaPort to significantly expand its cargo handling capacity, attract new business, and create family-sustaining jobs across the region. After setting records in both container volumes and new automobile imports in 2024, PhilaPort is poised for its next phase of growth.
The site includes a fully developed intermodal transfer facility, which Norfolk Southern and PhilaPort are committed to activating with operational capabilities. This will enhance logistics reach for port users and local shippers, further integrating maritime and rail freight systems to support regional and national supply chains.
PhilaPort and Norfolk Southern finalized the transaction on September 30th.
About PhilaPort: The Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort), is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of port facilities along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, as well as strategic planning throughout the port district. PhilaPort works with its terminal operators to improve its facilities and to market those facilities to prospective port users around the world. Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania.