Posts Tagged “feature”
California walnut shipments for 2020 is estimated at 780,000 short tons, an increase of 19 percent over the prior year. The primary reasons for the increases is due to increases in new acreage, more densely planted orchards, and heavier yielding varieties.
“This year’s expected record crop comes on the heels of strong retail sales, with shoppers’ growing interest in consuming foods with both great taste and functional benefits. In fact, the industry has stepped up to meet consumer demand with exciting new product launches in recent years. And this season, the California Walnut Board’s unprecedented investment in domestic retail promotion will set the stage for continued success,” said Jack Mariani, CWB market development committee chairperson.
Walnut production has doubled in the last 15 years, with new acreage reaching 380,000 with an additional 75,000 acres set to come into production over the next five years.
By Kelly Miller, Assistant Manager, ALC Los Angeles
There is so much uncertainty surrounding this pandemic, we are bound to see impacts on our food system and the supply and demand of fresh produce. Growers, packers, processors, transportation and shipping are some of the industries that have been affected. Halts and delays due to insufficient labor in the fields will cause dwell times to increase for drivers and ultimately delay transportation to stores as well as price hikes and availability of products. Tom Stenzel, CEO of The United Fresh Produce Association, estimates that the produce industry will take a $5 billion dollar hit from the Covid-19 outbreak. Stenzel stated that “restaurants and other foodservice outlets account for as much as 40% of fresh fruit and vegetable sales” and it’s unfathomable to be shifting that amount to retail outlets.
So far, we have not seen a shortage of produce in our stores which is great for consumers. Many people are looking to increase their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables hoping to boost their immune systems in order to stay healthy and combat this virus. Behind the scenes, industry members are dealing with logistical complications like making sure the labor force in the fields, packing houses and stores are safe and employees are able to work.
In the transportation industry, there is a growing concern for driver shortages due to health issues as well as limited resources out on the road. Many rest stops have been closed which means limited bathroom or shower availability. These are just a few challenges that drivers are facing and some have even decided to retire early due to the pandemic. I don’t know about you, but I would not want to work without these necessities.
I would personally like to take the time to thank all the essential workers. Drivers, growers, manufacturers, grocery store employees and the healthcare workers for they are the heroes in this pandemic!
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Kelly Miller began working for the Allen Lund Company in October of 2001. She started her career as a transportation broker, was promoted to operations manager and now is the assistant manager of the Los Angeles Sales office.
Walmart has launched a pilot program using automated drones to deliver grocery and household items to consumers.
“Our latest initiative has us exploring how drones can deliver items in a way that’s convenient, safe, and – you guessed it – fast,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president of customer product for Walmart. “…we’re taking the next step in our exploration of on-demand delivery by announcing a new pilot with Flytrex, an end-to-end drone delivery company.”
The pilot launched recently in Fayetteville, NC, and focuses on delivering select grocery and household essential items from Walmart stores using Flytrex’s automated drones. The drones, which are controlled over the cloud using a smart and easy control dashboard, will help the company gain valuable insight into the customer and associate experience, from picking and packing to takeoff and delivery.
“We know that it will be some time before we see millions of packages delivered via drone,” said Ward. “That still feels like a bit of science fiction, but we’re at a point where we’re learning more and more about the technology that is available and how we can use it to make our customers’ lives easier. Take for example our autonomous vehicle work with Gatik, Ford and Nuro – we’ve gained loads of valuable insight into how autonomous vehicles fit within our business.”
The company said at the end of the day, it’s learnings from pilots such as this that will help shape the potential of drone delivery on a larger scale.
A modest 3 percent increase over last season is being forecast by the USDA for Mexican avocados.
Mexico is the leading producer and exporter of avocados globally, with nearly 964,000 metric tons valued at over $2.4 billion exported to the United States in 2019-20, a historical record for both quantity and value.
Mexican avocado production is predicted to rise by 3 percent over last season in the 2020-21 season to 2.41m metric tons (MT). The predicted increase for the crop year running from July through June is due to continued expansion in planted area and optimal weather conditions without hail or frost during the growing season.
Planted and harvested areas are expected to increase to 243,640 hectares (ha) and 232,495 ha, respectively, with a national yield of 10.36 MT/ha. Avocado production in 2019-20 reached 2.32m MT, 6 percent greater compared to 2018-19 on the increased planted area.
The peak harvest period is from October to February, with an average supply from March to May. The the low volume season is from June to September.
Production in the state of Michoacán, the only state with U.S. market access, was seven percent higher compared to the previous marketing year, and production and exports are expected to grow even further in 2020-21. Despite Covid-19 pandemic challenges to agricultural harvests and supply chains, avocado demand in the United States remained strong and is forecast to increase.
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The California prune harvest has wrapped up, with early forecasts of a short crop at 45,000 metric tons, a 37 percent drop from the previous season.
Combined with “carry-in” from last season however handlers should have sufficient supplies for the season, according to the California Prune Board, Roseville, CA.
Growers worked through COVID-19 disruptions and wildfires during harvest, but the “optimum range of sizes” sets up excellent opportunities to market the crop this season, according to a news release from the board.
“While the pandemic has fueled consumers’ focus on healthy foods, the California prune industry regularly promotes the nutritional profile and invests in nutrition research that elevates the health benefits of prunes,” Donn Zea, executive director of the board. “We are grateful that so many consumers have chosen California prunes during this time. We plan on doing everything we can to earn and keep their trust.”
The industry is focused on maintaining a balance of supply and demand through the season.
During the 2019 season, which ended July 31, California prune exports rose 17 percent, and domestic shipments were 12 percent higher than the previous season, according to the board.
The California Prune Board represents about 800 growers, who produce about 40 percent of the world’s supply on 40,000 acres.
U.S. fresh fruit imports in July fell by 14 percent from last year to $857million, driven by declines in Hass avocados and bananas, according to the USDA.
While the figure is a big decline from the previous year, it is only marginally below the level recorded in July 2018. Hass avocados – which in July typically represent around a quarter of the U.S.’s total fresh fruit imports by value – fell by 32 percent to $189 million.
Bananas were the other major fruit import to experience big decline, falling 15 percent to $147 million. Imports of citrus overall remained flat at $184.3 million, although mandarin imports almost doubled in the month to hit $42.5 million, while lemons and clementines both saw declines of about 30 percent.
The fresh deciduous fruit category also fell, declining by 28 percent to $68.9 million, which was largely due to lower imports of table grapes and apples.
Imports from Mexico – which in July usually supplies around a third of the total – dropped by 14 percent to $317.6 million. Meanwhile, fresh fruit imports from Peru also fell by 14 percent to $104.4 million.
By Texas International Produce Association
Pharr, Texas: A celebration for the “Start of the Produce Season 2020-2021” was held on October 8, 2020 at the Pharr International Bridge, which seems appropriate for a bridge that crossed 190,174 fresh produce truckloads in FY2020 – more than any other international bridge in the US.
Over 65 percent of all the fresh produce crossing from Mexico through Texas is crossed at the Pharr International Bridge. Plans are already in place to expand the bridge by another 4 lanes in order to expedite crossings.
“In addition to the bridge expansion, three other projects are up for bids on October 2021,” said Luis Bazan, Pharr Bridge Director. “Under the DAP 16 [Donations Acceptance Program] these projects include an expansion of the dry dock, a cold inspection facility and the regional agriculture lab and training center.” Funding is already approved for these projects, according to Bazan.
Founded in 1942, the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) promotes, advocates, educates and represents the nearly $8 billion in fresh produce that is either grown in the state or calls Texas the first point of US-arrival for North American distribution.
By the Washington Apple Commission
WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON – In early August, the first estimate for Washington apple shipments predicted a crop volume of 134 million boxes (40 lb.), on par with the previous season of 133 million boxes. Since the time of the initial estimate, extreme windstorms, wildfires on the West Coast, and more accurate reporting of crop load on the trees as harvest progressed, suggest a lighter total crop volume for the 2020-21 apple harvest.
Expectations are for a 5-10 percent reduction in crop volume as a result of the adverse weather events. This would place the revised estimate at between 32.3 million and 31.6 million boxes to be shipped.
Over Labor Day weekend, a strong windstorm resulted in apples being knocked off the tree and some growers sustaining damage to their trellis systems. Fueled by the wind event, wildfires burning in Washington and other West Coast states have produced intense smoky conditions, delaying harvest a few days as some areas have had to halt operations.
Washington apple growers and orchard crews started picking Galas in late August and have since moved on to Honeycrisp. Harvest in Washington typically begins mid-August and lasts into November. Red Delicious, Fuji and Cosmic Crisp® will be harvested in October and the season will wrap up with Granny Smith and Cripps Pink in November.
Demand for Washington apples has been high in response to elevated health-conscious and bulk-purchase behavior by consumers. Volume of apples shipped during this time period is slightly lower than last season, but overall movement is good.
Washington is the leading producer of apples, representing 65 percent of all U.S. fresh apple production. The state exports one-third of its fresh crop to over 60 markets worldwide, accounting for 95 percent of all U.S. apple exports.
The Washington Apple Commission is a non-profit, promotional organization dedicated to marketing and advertising fresh Washington apples internationally.
Washington apple shipments to Chicago – grossing about $5200.
While good volume of Peruvian imported sweet onions from Peru is now occurring, volume will be off a little from last season.
Bland Farms LLC of Glennville, GA reports the Peruvian crop overall is pretty good, although the coronavirus pandemic has led to labor shortages, with drivers hauling back to ports and restrictions on the number of workers allowed at port facilities.
A short Vidalia onion crop this year led Bland Farms to import its first Peruvian onions August 1, about two weeks earlier than usual.
Potandon Produce of Idaho Falls, ID ships Peruvian onions under the Green Giant Fresh label, started importing onions in mid August.
Keystone Fruit Marketing Co. of Greencastle, PA also got an early start with its Mayan Sweets, imported from Peru.
A merger has been announced by Washington Fruit & Produce Co. and Yakima Fresh to sell apples, cherries and pears.
The new partnership, Washington Fruit Sales, merges Yakima Fresh with the Washington Fruit & Produce sales team, according to a news release. Roche Fruit Co., which has marketed fruit through Yakima Fresh, continues to do so, while owning and operating its farming and packing operations.
Tommy Hanses, CEO of Washington Fruit & Produce, said he and his partners, Don and Doug Gibson of Mount Adams Fruit Co., are excited to work with the Roche Fruit and Yakima Fresh teams.
“We share many of the same values and philosophies, including commitment to quality and excellence in all that they do,” Hanses said. “The fit between these organizations enhances our ability to serve the needs of our customers.”
Washington Fruit & Produce was founded in 1916, and Roche Fruit was founded two years later.
“We have known the Washington Fruit team and organization for years and believe the opportunity to partner with another long-term, quality focused, family owned organization is really unique and will resonate with our customers,” Michael Roche, president said.
Steve Smith, general manager of Yakima Fresh, said the merger provides the company with an “exceptional opportunity.”
“The breadth and depth of our combined programs is very exciting,” Smith stated.
Yakima Fresh was founded in 2005, by three Yakima apple companies — Hansen Fruit & Cold Storage Inc., Roche Fruit Co. LLC, and Yakima Fruit & Cold Storage Co. Inc. — and Stadelman Fruit LLC, Zillah, Wash.
Starr Ranch Growers, Wenatchee, Wash., announced this spring it will be marketing Stadelman Fruit’s crops.
CMI Orchards, Wenatchee, also formed a partnership this spring with Yakima Fruit and Cold Storage Co.
Stemilt Growers, Wenatchee, became the marketer of cherries and apples from Hansen Fruit in 2018.