Posts Tagged “feature”
Avocado shipments to U.S. markets have been anything but normal this season for a number of reasons. And the bottom line there have been fewer of them.
You may have noticed significantly higher retail prices for avocados and there are reasons why, even though there has been around 63 million pounds being shipping weekly in the U.S.
During the week of April 25, distributors were quoting $75 for a carton of 48-size avocados from Mexico FOB Laredo, TX, which is the crossing point for most of Mexico’s production.
During the week ending April 24, the 62.9 million pounds packed and shipped during the week was the second-largest week of the calendar year, only exceeded by the first week of March when 63.8 million pounds were moved. Looking at total volume for the year compared to 2021 shows through April in 2021, U.S. shipments of avocados topped 967 million pounds. This year, only a little more than 800 million pounds have made it to market in that time frame, a 17 percent drop in volume.
The market price for avocados has been very strong since January, but it received an unintended bump from the USDA in mid-February and has been steadily climbing ever since. During Super Bowl weekend (Feb. 12-13), shipments from Mexico were suspended because of a threat to a USDA inspector who was conducting inspections in a Michoacan packingshed. The week-long suspension impacted shipments for two weeks with Mexico only sending about 40 million pounds to the U.S. market during that period, which was only about 40 percent of what typically would have been shipped.
The high volume 63.8-million-pound week occurred after shipments were once again allowed, but the shortage created heavy demand and prices started rising. In March, it was mostly in the $50s for the largest size while in early April, the FOB was in the $60s. Easter week always results in a significant drop in supplies from Mexico as that heavily Catholic country observes several holy days with no work. During the week ending April 17, Mexico only sent 21.7 million pounds to the United States, its lowest week of the year except for the suspension week.
Projections on volume reveal the market may stay right where it is through May and possibly well into June. This is when Peru starts to move into volume shipments to the U.S. market. The Hass Avocado Board projects, U.S. weekly volume of 50-55 million pounds in each week of May.
In May, Mexico’s volume is expected to decline from about 40 million pounds the first week of the month to about a 30-million-pound pace by the end of the month. California’s volume is expected to increase from an average of less than 9 million pounds per week in April to 13 million pounds a week in May. The current projection calls for Peru’s volume to hit close to 5 million pounds per week at the end of May before ascending to double-digit weekly volumes in June and reaching for 18-19 million pounds on a weekly basis in mid- to late July.
Peruvian avocado exporters are predicting more than 230 million pounds will come to the U.S. market this season, mostly from mid-June through August, but continuing into October.
Del Rey Packing Co. of Fallbrook, CA, is anticipating Peru might get started earlier with volume shipments to the United States because of the very strong market.
In 2021 U.S. import values for fresh produce commodities from Mexico exceeded double-digit gains for a long list of fruits and vegetables compared with 2020 data, according to USDA trade statistics.
The top U.S. import of fresh produce commodity from Mexico in 2021 was avocados, with trade valued at $2.78 billion, up 25% from 2021 and up 57% from 2016.
The second leading Mexican produce item imported by the U.S. in 2021 was fresh tomatoes, valued at $2.38 billion, unchanged from 2020 but up 22% from 2016.
U.S. imports of Mexican berries (excluding strawberries) totaled $2.17 billion in 2021, up 17% from 2020 and 123% higher than 2016.
U.S. imports of Mexican fresh peppers totaled $1.51 billion in 2021, up 16% from 2020 and up 41% from 2016.
The full list of 2021 U.S. imports of Mexican fresh produce, compared with 2020 and 2016 were:
- Avocados: $2.78 billion, up 25% from 2020 and up 57% from 2016;
- Tomatoes: $2.38 billion, no change from 2020 and up 22% from 2016;
- Berries (excluding strawberries): $2.17 billion, up 17% from 2020 and up 123% from 2016;
- Bell peppers: $1.51 billion, up 16% from 2020 and up 41% from 2016;
- Strawberries (fresh or frozen): $1.26 billion, up 27% from 2020 and up 84% from 2016;
- Citrus: $686 million, up 32% from 2020 and up 58% from 2016;
- Cucumbers: $640.3 million, up 7% from2020 and up 33% from 2016;
- Grapes: $568.5 million, up 10% from 2020 and up 43% from 2016;
- Mangoes: $424 million, up 12% from 2020 and up 30% from 2016;
- Lettuce: $410 million, up 14% from 2020 and up 88% from 2016;
- Asparagus: $407.2 million, up 6% from 2020 and up 16% from 2016;
- Onions: $382.7 million, up 11% from 2020 and up 12% from 2016;
- Melons: $366.8 million, up 8% from 2020 and up 5% from 2016;
- Squash: $351.3 million, down 23% from 2020 and up 1% from 2016;
- Cauliflower and broccoli: $349.5 million, no change from 2020 and up 51% from 2016;
- Bananas/plantain (frozen/fresh): $214.2 million, up 3% from 2020 and up 65% in 2016;
- Beans: $99.45 million, up 4% from 2020 and up 46% from 2016;
- Celery: $71.9 million, up 8% from 2020 and up 178% from 2016;
- Eggplant: $62.2 million, down 7% from 2020 and up 17% from 2016;
- Cabbage: $59.8 million, up 9% from 2020 and up 174% from 2016;
- Carrots: $51.4 million, up 25% from 2020 and up 28 from 2016;
- Pineapples: $41.5 million, up 16% from 2020 and up 18% from 2016;
- Fresh peas: $35.9 million, up 3% from 2020 and up 5% from 2016;
- Garlic: $30.8 million, up 28% from 2020 and up from 102% from 2016;
- Radishes: $24.7 million, up 13% from 2020 and up 36% from 2016; and
- Okra: $12.9 million, up 2% from 2020 and up 49% from 2016.
The Chilean Citrus Season kicked off in the last week of April as the first shipment of clementines set sail for the U.S. market. As the largest citrus exporter in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile will be supplying clementines, mandarins, navels, and lemons to the U.S. market, with heaviest volume starting in June and continuing through October.
The current total Chilean Citrus forecast across categories is as follows:
- Clementines: 45,000 tons
- Mandarins: 120,000 tons
- Navels: 90,000 tons
- Lemons: 90,000 tons
Logistical and climatic issues have impacted overall volume, resulting in an anticipated 12% decrease from 2021. Nonetheless, Juan Enrique Ortuzar, president of the Chilean Citrus Committee, remains optimistic about the industry’s future. “We are facing a challenging season in many respects, but citrus has grown into an incredibly strong, year-round category. Chilean citrus volume has increased by 25% over the past five years. With our quality proposition, we believe there will continue to be growth opportunities.”
The U.S. received 88% of all Chilean citrus exports in 2021, with 97% of clementines and mandarins shipped to the U.S. Volume will be lower this year (especially for clementines, where a volume decrease of 35% is anticipated), but the U.S. will continue to receive the majority of Chilean citrus exports.
Retail promotions will be the key focus for the Committee. According to Karen Brux, Managing Director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, “This season, perhaps more than ever, it’s crucial that we work closely with the trade on flexible, targeted programs to drive sales. Having encountered numerous logistical issues over the past year, we’ve learned how to implement flexible programs that can be turned on and off quickly. The ability to be fast, nimble and creative will continue to be important during the citrus season.”
To this effect, the Citrus Committee is developing a new branded campaign that will include digital ads, influencer posts and virtual demos, as well as programs with shopping apps like Shopkick. With the return of more and more in-store merchandising opportunities, the Committee will also implement in-store programs that highlight the superior taste, nutrition, and convenience of Chilean Citrus.
Washington State asparagus shipments start this week launching the 2022 season with fresh asparagus available. Primary customers are regional supermarkets, farmers markets and restaurants this week. Shipments will extend into June.
In 2021, about 15 million pounds of asparagus were harvested, with an economic impact of $30 million for growers and packers. Washington State is one of the nation’s leading producers of domestic asparagus.
The Washington Asparagus Commission believes it grower members will produce over 20 million pounds this season. Last season was the first time Washington failed to harvest at least 20 million pounds in more than 50 years. Factors related to import competition and unseasonable weather.
Washington’s organic production of fresh asparagus accounts for approximately eight percent annually.
The health benefits of asparagus are bountiful. Research has found it can protect the body from chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. It’s fat-free, cholesterol-free, and its amino acid helps cleanse the body of toxins. It’s rich in fiber, Vitamins A, C, K, E, folate, and glutathione (anti-carcinogen and antioxidant).
Washington Asparagus Commission
Established in 1991, The Washington Asparagus Commission promotes Washington asparagus domestically, monitors and addresses trade issues, and advances environmentally sound production practices through research. The Washington Asparagus Commission represents the growers’ interest in areas and issues relating to the asparagus industry. waasparagus.com.
A recent report from RaboResearch found that despite being a mature market, U.S. strawberry consumption continues to grow, both in terms of household penetration and volume, and driving an increase in imports as well as planted crops in California.
The report was authored by Senior Analyst, Produce, David Magaña; Fresh Produce Analyst Almuhanad Melhim; and Senior Analyst, Farm inputs Samuel Taylor. It found that even though the U.S. market is considered mature, it still shows growth patterns uncanny for a mature market, and will continue to lead the “berry patch” in the near future.
Growth in demand is estimated at around 3% CAGR annually, the report found.
This growth has helped drive an increased level of imports, and also driven multi-year high acreage in the state of California. Together, these trends are expected to improve availability of the fruit for 2022, with prices remaining steady.
This is not to say there is no uncertainty facing the crop, with high input costs the biggest contributing factor in the short term.
This demand also has made the fruit the golden child, at least for fruits, of the Controlled Agricultural Environment (CEA) industry, with vertical strawberry farms being a growing source of interest.
Just recently, Bowery Farming launched a new “discovery” pack that features two vertically grown strawberry cultivars in side-by-side compartments, the first commercial offer of vertically grown fruit. Driscoll’s and Plenty have also committed to controlled, vertical production as well, expanding on an initial test agreement.
The California strawberry harvest is currently hitting its peak season, as California growers have increased the share of early season fruit.
Florida mature green tomato volume is surging, while vine-ripes and romas from Mexico on in a seasonal decline.
Good growing weather in Florida is resulting in shipments of good volume for tomatoes from the Ruskin/Palmetto, FL region. About 400 truckloads per week are being shipped.
Meanwhile, vine ripe tomatoes will continue to decline this month. Just under 500 truckloads crossed the Mexican border into the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas last week. About 250 truckloads of Mexican tomatoes crossed through Nogales, AZ.
In Western Mexico there is a mixture of a new crop coming on with an existing crop. Grape tomato shipments with transition to Baja California during the next month crossing into San Diego.
The California desert region will start limited shipments of round tomatoes in mid-May, with the bulk of the California summer season beginning in mid-June.
Chilean exports of blueberries and table grapes both experienced year-on-year declines in the first quarter of 2022 amid severe logistical issues and higher costs.
Blueberry exports between January and March fell by 5 percent in volume to 89,478 tons and 9 percent in value to $429 million FOB, national association Fedefruta reports.
Meanwhile, table grapes dropped by 2 percent in volume to 253,300 tons and 16 percent in value to $397 million FOB.
In preseason forecasts, blueberry exports for the 2021-22 season had been pegged on par with last season, while table grapes made been expecting a big increase of around a quarter.
Despite the declines for the second and third most exported fruits over the period, growth in the leading category – cherries – was enough to lift overall fruit exports by 4 percent in volume to 933,000 tons and 7 percent in value to $2.7 billion.
“In a season in which we did not have weather problems, this harvest was impacted by the logistical bottleneck in the national ports, and in the delay of journeys and the increase in freight and input costs,” comments the president of Fedefruta, Jorge Valenzuela.
“Without a doubt, we have never had this problem at this level, due to freight costs that have tripled. There is fruit that is not being harvested because it is more expensive to ship than to leave it on the tree.
He added that because of the delay in logistics, about 4,000 containers of Chilean cherries did not arrive on time to the markets in China.
“Before the New Year we had a very good campaign, but the problems were seen after that holiday. We have a perishable product must arrive at the right times, and this season it was very difficult to comply. A lot of fruit was at sea for a long time,” he said.
Regarding blueberries, “I would not like to talk about percentages, but many loads of blueberries have been damaged. We have received information that blueberries have been the fruit most complicated by this logistical crisis. The loss of condition is naturally reflected in no sales and falling prices”.
Arlington, VA – FMI—the Food Industry Association recently released its 2022 Power of Produce report, revealing 25% of shoppers ranked price as the number one factor when making fresh produce purchasing decisions, followed by appearance (19%), health benefits (19%) and ripeness (15%). The report also offers insights on consumers’ produce shopping habits related to health and well-being and heightened preference for locally grown and convenience options.
“In the past, the clear number one factor when buying fresh produce was appearance and quality,” says Rick Stein, vice president of fresh foods for FMI. “However, this year’s survey showed that item price is now the number one factor produce consumers consider—on par with appearance and quality. In addition to price, consumers are focusing on items with prolonged shelf-life, buying less or finding substitutes. At the same time, we see more shoppers concentrate on health and well-being when making fresh produce purchasing decisions and a strong desire for convenience.”
Shoppers Link Produce to Health Benefits
For most shoppers (96%), picking from the produce aisle is considered an investment in personal health and well-being. Consumers increasingly associate fresh produce with digestive health, weight management and disease management. In fact, one-third of consumers who pay a lot of attention to health and nutrition tend to see fresh produce as playing a central role in their diet, and six-in-ten shoppers purchase fruits and vegetables to deliver on specific health benefits. This positive association has spurred higher demand for more information about nutrition, health benefits, recommended daily amounts, and other health-centric insights.
Consumers Crave Convenience
From pre-cut and pre-washed options to grab-and-go and ready-to-serve solutions, convenience remains the top value-add for produce shoppers. The report found that nearly half of shoppers frequently purchase convenient vegetable (45%) and fruit (48%) solutions. This popularity among consumers led to value-added fruits and vegetables making up 14.4% of total fresh product sales in 2021. The share of shoppers expecting to purchase more value-added produce remains high at 27%, while only 5% anticipate they will purchase less.
Locally Grown Outperforms All Other Attributes
Fifty-six percent of consumers say they want their produce department to carry more fruits and vegetables that are locally grown, followed by grown in the USA (54%). Such distinctions are most effective when paired with specific locally sourced definitions, like a certain mile radius or state lines. However, the definition of the term differs depending on the area of the country in which the shopper lives and the generation to which they belong.
The 2022 Power of Produce was conducted by 210 Analytics and made possible by the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC), Invafresh and Yerecic Label. The report was presented at SEPC’s 2022 Southern Exposure conference.
About FMI
As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a wide range of members across the value chain — from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services — to amplify the collective work of the industry. www.FMI.org
About SEPC
The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) is a member-driven, non-profit association of more than 3,000 leaders from all facets of the produce industry. It was formed more than 20 years ago to promote the value of fresh fruits and vegetables in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Virginia through networking, innovation, community, and education. Today, SEPC is a thriving organization that continues to share and pursue its vision, mission, values, and goals. Learn more by visiting www.seproducecouncil.com.
U.S. total fruit imports by value soared by a quarter to a new record over January and February this year, with fresh, frozen and processed categories all seeing double-digit growth.
USDA data shows imports over the two months rose by 23 percent year-on-year to $4.9 billion.
In the previous four years over the same two months, the import value had always totalled between $3.7 billion and $4 billion.
However, the import volume did not rise at the same pace as the value, growing by just 7 percent year-on-year. But they still hit a record of 2.6 million tons.
Looking at the value, the ‘other fruit category’ – which is by far the largest and includes avocados, berries and bananas – rose by 19 percent to $2.5 billion. The rise was driven primarily by avocados and blueberries.
The citrus category saw the biggest growth, almost doubling to $253 million. That increase was driven by mandarins and limes.
The other categories listed by the USDA – deciduous, juices, processed, frozen, melons, dried and prepared – all experiencing growth ranging from the mid-teens to the mid-twenties.
Of the top-five supplying countries, import growth was largest from Mexico and Peru – at 27 percent each. Next was Chile, up 14 percent, Guatemala, up 11 percent, and Costa Rica, up 6 percent.
Do you want to live another decade? A new study shows a plant-rich diet can add 10 years to your life.
The study, published in PLOS Medicine, examined a diet which was heavy on fruits, vegetables, beans and grains. According to the models, a 20-year-old who went all-in on the plant-based diet could add 10 years to their life. Even just making a partial change could add six years of life expectancy. And, an 80-year-old who started a plant-based diet could add three years to their life.
The study was conducted by scientists at the University of Bergen, Norway, and titled “Estimating Impact of Food Choices on Life Expectancy: A Modeling Study.
“A sustained dietary change may give substantial health gains for people of all ages both for optimized and feasible changes. Gains are predicted to be larger the earlier the dietary changes are initiated in life,” according to the study authors.
Like the Alliance for Food and Farming’s popular residue calculator, which clearly and visually shows consumers how safe their favorite fruits and vegetables are, the study authors created their own calculator, Food4HealthyLife, where users can calculate how dietary changes can impact their life expectancy.
This new study complements decades of research that verifies consumption of fruits and vegetables prevents diseases, boosts immune function, promotes better health, improves cognition and increases lifespan. It is worth noting that most of these positive health studies were conducted using conventionally grown produce.
The overwhelming nutritional benefits of a produce-rich diet and the equally impressive science showing the safety of all fruits and vegetables is why consumers should ignore efforts by certain groups who attempt to discourage consumption of popular produce items by using inaccurate and inflammatory safety claims.
With only one in 10 of Americans eating enough each day, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control, consumers should be urged to eat whatever produce they enjoy and is accessible and affordable for them. Organic and conventionally grown – both are safe and can be eaten with confidence.
Let science be your guide and don’t let anyone or any group discourage you from eating the fruits and vegetables you prefer.