Posts Tagged “feature”
Nearly 4,000 tons of South African fresh fruit recently arrived at the Port of Philadelphia, which officially kicked of exports to the U.S.
The June 19 arrival included 3,800 pallets of clementines and navel oranges, according to a news release.
The ship, Everest Bay, arrived at the port’s Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, N.J.
“We are proud to continue this fruitful partnership with summer citrus providers in South Africa,” Leo Holt, president and CEO of Holt Logistics, which operates Gloucester Terminals, LLC, said. “Keeping our food supply chain robust and intact is of the highest concern for our staff and many partners.”
The ship left the port of Cape Town on May 31. Ships containing citrus from South Africa will arrive weekly until October, the end of the summer citrus growing season.
Associated Wholesale Grocers of Kansas City, KS plans to complete a new distribution hub in Hernando, MS., in 2023.
AWG decided to undertake the project following a review of the company’s growth trajectory and the capabilities and sustainability of its current facilities, according to a news release.
“Our industry is ever-changing, and it is our mission to provide our member-retailers all of the products, services and tools they need to compete favorably in all markets served, all at the best possible cost,” CEO David Smith said in the release. “This new facility has capabilities that checks all of those boxes. We are excited to be able to significantly expand what we stock and ship to our member stores while becoming more efficient and cost-effective in our operations.
“This new facility will be a critical component in our plan to build a safer, better and more efficient supply chain,” Smith said. “In addition to becoming the primary supply source for the region, we will also leverage this new operation as an expanded variety source to all of our facilities and member stores. This will create more value throughout the supply chain for AWG and our members.”
Operations from two distribution centers in the area — in Memphis, TN., and in Southaven, MS. — will eventually be consolidated into the new facility.
The plans are subject to incentives approval, which is being finalized with local and state leaders.
AWG has partnered with Witron, which specializes in creating food warehouse automation and order picking systems, on the project.
“The Witron system is integrated into every area of the new facility; the handling of case and pallet goods, ambient temperature, refrigerated perishables and frozen foods, as well as the handling of individual unit products,” AWG wrote. “This will increase throughput of products, increase efficiencies, improve accuracy and reduce loss due to damaged goods.”
“This in turn will allow AWG and member stores to realize savings across transportation, inventory management, as well as experience enhanced pick accuracy and lower salvage rates,” AWG wrote. “All of this will result in cost savings for AWG members while still maximizing the integrity and safety of the food supply chain.”
Observers of Michigan apples report the crop is looking good for 2020, but we haven’t heard any specifics as to how it compares to an average of 25 million bushels shipped in a normal season. That old crop will wrap up in July before the new season kicks off with early varieties in late August.
We should have a better idea when an official crop size estimate is released at USApple’s Outlook conference, Aug. 20-21, which will be online this year.
Many growers have signed on with managed varieties in Michigan, such as Smitten, Sweet Tango, Kiku, and more. In addition, EverCrisp has become exceedingly popular in the winter months, as it stores well.
There also are more traditional varieties such as Honeycrisp, Gala and Fuji . There is less volume due to lower demand for such varieties as
Jonathan and Romes, among others.
The Michigan Apple Commitee reports it is aiming toward expansion beyond the Great Lakes region. Michigan Apples are shipped to 32 states and exported to 18 countries.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – LGS Specialty Sales, a leading importer of citrus, avocados, grapes, and persimmons shares an overview of the various commodities offered throughout the summer months. During the summer citrus season, LGS sources lemons, navels, minneolas, mandarins and cara cara oranges to the U.S. for its Darling Citrus® line.
While LGS imports lemons regularly throughout the year, the company is experiencing a strong summer lemon season from Argentina and Chile.
** Argentinian lemon season began in May and will last throughout August.
** Chilean lemon season began in late June and anticipates going through early October.
LGS provides other varieties of citrus throughout the summer and looks forward to the arrival of the following fruit:
- Navel season takes place from July through October.
- Minneola season is also on the horizon from mid-July through September. LGS anticipates a similar season to last year with a slight increase in volume.
- Mandarin season – W. Murcottswill also be available in mid-July from Peru followed by Chile. The mandarins are showing a great color and brix/acid ratio, which results in a sweeter fruit.
- Cara Cara season will be available late July through September.
- About LGS Specialty Sales, Ltd.
LGS Specialty Sales, Ltd. has been importing fruit from select growers around the world for close to 30 years. Today, LGS is a leading importer of clementines, oranges, avocados, grapes, lemons, minneolas, cara cara oranges and persimmons.
Idaho-grown red potatoes continues to be shipped due to investments in storage technology by Eagle Eye Produce of Idaho Falls, ID.
“Historically, the storage crop Idaho-grown red potatoes during this time of year see pressure bruising and the quality dips below strict guidelines to where suppliers look to pull from other regions,” Jared Neville, commodity director, said in a news release. “This new proprietary storage method has allowed us to better control our quality to where we can continue to sell our local product.”
With a prolonged season, Eagle Eye’s red potatoes are integrated with its other year-round programs. The facility allows for one-stop shopping, with Idaho russets, reds, yellows and value-added products available.
“We are proud to be able to continue to supply our customers directly with product grown, packed, and shipped by us,” Neville said.
The company offers retail and foodservice pack styles under several brands names, with private label packing available, and a national sales and marketing team to support a global customer base,
California strawberry shipments are on track to beat last year’s 202 million trays by a little over 16 million.
Naturipe Berry Growers of Salinas, CA finished its Santa Maria berry shipments the first week of June and then shifted to the Watsonville area.
May and June are peak months for California strawberries.
Early in the season, shippers were loading in Oxnard, Santa Maria and Watsonville.
Volume remained strong through June, will have a seasonal decline in July and August.
Bobalu Berries of Oxnard, CA hit peak loadings in mid-June. Although the company has been a longtime grower, this is the first year Bobalu Berries is shipping its own product.
The grower has an interesting location north and west of Santa Maria, close to the ocean, similar to the Watsonville area.
Watsonville-Salinas will be the primary area in California shipping strawberries as the season progresses, but that area is significantly larger than the state’s other berry growing regions.
Naturipe’s volume likely will end up equal to or a little more than last year.
Main Street Produce Inc. of Santa Maria likely will continue to ship strawberries from that area until December.
The company’s volume will be up about 15 percent over last year.
Mid-Atlantic states summer vegetable shipments are later than usual after a cold, wet spring delayed some plantings in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
Dublin Farms of Horntown, VA is running a week to 10 days later than normal.
DELAWARE
In Delaware, sweet corn under plastic, as well as cabbage, was ready in mid-June, while snap beans started in early July.
Watermelon shipments will start around the third week of July.
Delaware ranks in the nation’s top 10 for sweet corn and watermelon shipments.
Blueberry shipments started in June, with peaches arriving in early July.
MARYLAND
Maryland gets its first local sweet corn by the end of June, said Mark Powell, chief of agriculture and seafood marketing at the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
VIRGINIA
In Virginia, apple, grape, peanut, and tomato shipments rank in the top 10 among all U.S. states. Other crops include potatoes and pumpkins.
According to the USDA’s 2019 State Agriculture Overview:
- 9,500 acres of apples were harvested, yielding about 20,000 pounds per acre, and excluding processed apples, it was valued at $0.25 per pound for fresh-market apples, resulting in $22.4 million in production value; and
- 5,600 acres of pumpkins were harvested, yielding 18,480 pounds per acre, for a total of 103.5 million pounds, $0.18 per pound, resulting in $16.4 million in production value.
Potatoes shipments started in late June and will continue through July. Potato acreage dropped by about 500 acres for a total of about 3,000 acres this year, as a large farm purchase transitioned some cropland.
Dublin Farms’ potato loaodings started in early July. Most of the potatoes end up at the terminal markets in Jessup, Md.; New York; Boston and Philadelphia, as well as at repacker facilities.
Dublin Farms also grows string beans for processing and fresh market for C&E Farms, Cheriton, VA. From there, the green beans will ship direct to retailers and to terminal markets.
Shipments got underway July 8 for cherry and grape tomatoes and July 11 for round and roma tomatoes.
Green beans from one of the largest growers of the commodity on the East Coast, C&E Farms, started in mid-June.
More inland, flat or “donut” peaches are now hitting a peak, mostly coming from near Charlottesville at Crown Orchard Co. of Covesville, VA., the largest donut peach producer in the state and a major player on the East Coast.
The tomato deal ought to crank up July 1 and go through September, possibly into October.
Carrier Transicold of Southern California has opened a 42,000-square-foot service facility.
The Jurupa Valley, Calif., facility has 12 bays and is the largest of Carrier Transicold of Southern California’s (CTSC) three locations. Carrier Transicold equipment and services support the shipping of temperature-controlled cargo and cold-chain visibility, according to a news release.
CTSC, based in City of Industry, Calif., opened a satellite operation in the Inland Empire region four years ago and demand made the larger facility necessary.
“Our new facility provides better access and greater convenience for refrigerated haulers serving the area and especially those entering Southern California from the east,” Bill Willett, president and CEO of CTSC, said in the release. “It’s another example of how we are investing deeply to help support our customers.”
The facility includes a service area with 25 technicians, a training area and a showroom.
California watermelon shipments should be up for the 2020 season, while cantaloupe and honeydew volume should be similar to last year.
The San Joaquin Valley’s westside district is the heart of California’s melon loadings. There should be 16 million 40-pound cartons of cantaloupe this season.
Honey shipments should mirror 2019’s 7.6 million 30-pound cartons.
California growers are expected to ship about 529 million pounds of watermelons in 2020, up from 450 million pounds last year.
Turlock Fruit Co. Inc. of Turlock, CA., had all of its melons, including cantaloupe and honeydew, ready by the Fourth of July.
Turlock’s cantaloupes and the company’s proprietary Orangedew melons got underway June 25, with honeydews started July 1.
Industry wide, cantaloupe volume exceeds honeydews, but Turlock Fruit Co. grows more honeydews.
Pacific Trellis Fruit of Los Angeles ships organic and conventional Pure Heart mini watermelons, conventional and some organic Tuscan-style cantaloupes and conventional Sunny Gold yellow seedless watermelonsWestside Produce of Firebaugh, CA., started shipping cantaloupes and honeydews from Arizona in mid-May and should have consistent supplies through October,
Cantaloupe and honeydew volume will be similar to past years, although the company has changed its mix of varieties and sizes.
Couture Farms of Huron, CA, which specializes in mixed melons and honeydews, has reduced its acreage of specialty melons and decided not to grow honeydews this year because of uncertainties in the marketplace during the planting season.
Industry wide, cantaloupes to account for 70 percent of the three categories, honeydews 25 percent and specialty melons 5 percent.
Del Mar Farms of Westley, CA began shipping cantaloupes, honeydews, seedless watermelons and mini watermelons the first week of July.
The company will have cantaloupes and honeydews through October and possibly into November.
Turlock Fruit Co., where three generations are actively involved in management, is a bit different in the cantaloupe world because the company still ships the traditional Western-shipper type cantaloupe, which has the full color and aroma of a full-slip melon.
When a full-slip melon is ready for harvest, it is pulled off the vine, unlike the widely used harper variety, which must be cut from the vine.
The newer varieties have the shelf life but not the flavor component of the Western shipper cantaloupes.
Watermelons should finish by early October.
Nearly two-thirds of New Mexico onion shipments occur during July and August.
Shipments of Southern New Mexico onions in 2019 totaled 9.93 million 40-pound cartons, down from 10.34 million cartons in 2018 and 11.43 million cartons in 2017.
In 2019, shipments of New Mexico onions began in May and barely extended into early November.
The percent of total New Mexico onion annual shipments by month:
- May: less than 1 percent;
- June: 34 percent;
- July: 43 percent;
- August: 21 percent;
- September: 1 percent;
- October: less than 1 percent; and
- November: less than 1 percent.
In June 2019, New Mexico onions accounted for 35 percent of total U.S. onion shipments, increasing to 45 percent in July and declining to 21 percent in August.