Posts Tagged “feature”
An estimated 30 million pounds of Colombian avocados are projected to be shipped to the U.S. market in the fourth quarter of 2024, the Colombia Avocado Board announced at a 2024 annual meeting.
This new milestone for the fourth quarter follows a record-breaking summer traviesa season and highlights the strong upward trend in Colombian hass avocado export to the U.S., according to a news release. By the end of 2024, exports are projected to reach approximately 95 million pounds for the calendar year, up from the 30 million pounds reported by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in 2023.
Since gaining export approval in 2017 from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Colombian hass avocado exports to the U.S. have experienced rapid growth, with double and triple-digit export volume increases each year, the release said. This growth is driven by new orchards reaching full production along with a strategic reallocation of the Colombia avocado supply from other global markets to meet the demand in the U.S., the Colombia Avocado Board said.
Colombia has nine avocado-growing regions and currently has approximately 29,000 acres of avocado orchards certified for the U.S. market. In addition, many Colombian growers have also made investments in third-party certifications including GlobalG.A.P. and Rainforest Alliance, the release said.
“Our mission is to supply the U.S. market with premium Colombia avocados,” said Manuel Michel, managing director for the Colombia Avocado Board. “With over 3,500 Colombian avocado producers, we’re proud to supply nutritious and flavorful avocados to American consumers. As U.S. demand for avocado continues to rise, we are committed to delivering high-quality fruit, while having a long-lasting and positive impact on the local communities and environment where we grow.”
Currently, avocados are Colombia’s third-largest fruit export, behind bananas and plantains, the release said. The industry supports nearly 240,000 jobs, providing year-round formal employment and economic benefits to individuals, families and communities across the country.
“As U.S. per capita consumption of fresh avocados increases every year, our goal is not only to meet but exceed consumer expectations at retail and beyond,” said Ricardo Uribe, chairman for the Colombia Avocado Board. “Consistent high quality, environmental and economic stewardship and social responsibility are at the heart of what we do. When consumers choose Colombian avocados, they are supporting a thriving industry that is helping to write a new chapter in Colombia’s history. Looking ahead, we expect 2025 to be another record-breaking year with volume expected to continue growing as we expand our market presence in the U.S.”
Colombia is a leading global avocado producer and exporter with a rapidly growing footprint, the release said. In addition to its expanding acreage in orchards, the country now has 30 certified packing houses that can export to the U.S.
The Colombia Avocado Board said the success of Colombia’s hass avocado industry is a direct result of its long history in agriculture, favorable climate with consistent rainfall, fertile lands at varied elevations and its rapidly expanding infrastructure, including improved seaports to streamline exports. The board said it has been a key driver in fostering partnerships between exporters, importers and buyers, ensuring the continued growth in demand for Colombia’s hass avocado program in the U.S.
California Citrus Mutual of Exeter, CA reports average volume is seen for the state’s citrus crop.
The non-profit association reports growing conditions for the winter citrus season have been ideal.
In the last decade, Mutual reports the state has seen a 13% decrease in navel acres planted and a 26% decrease in valencia acres, which is estimated to be between 25,000 acres and 28,000 acres.
As valencia and navel acreage declines in the state, they are being replaced by mandarins, which have increased by about 18,000 acres during that time.
Wonderful Citrus Cooperative of Delano, CA reports a strong summer citrus season with good quality which sets the state up for its winter season. Growth in mandarin shipments helped boost a strong summer shipping season.
Mandarins represent about 43% of all citrus sold at Wonderful.
The co-op expects a more normal winter citrus crop this season compared with last year’s crop. A Year ago there were quality problems with navels and sizing issues with mandarins. This year mandarins, lemons, navels should all have more normal supplies and quality.
Providing food for astronauts during missions not only entails logistic issues but is also quite expensive. This is why scientists at UC Riverside are working on conquering the last frontier for agriculture: Space.
A compact version of a tomato plant developed at the university is expected to reach truly astronomical heights, setting a course for the International Space Station, orbiting some 260 miles above Earth.
The plant is now undergoing observations at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, and its seeds are in line for a payload flight within the next year or so.
Its voyage will be a generational first: The seeds will germinate in the station’s Advanced Plant Habitat laboratory, produce fruit, and the seeds of that fruit will be planted again to create a second generation of tomatoes grown in space.
“So, it’s going to be a seed-to-a-seed-to-a-seed, which has never been done before in space,” said Robert Jinkerson, an associate professor of chemical and environmental engineering in UCR’s Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering.
The tomato is designed to produce fruit in small spaces so it can be a food source for astronauts. It has been years in the making.
Martha Orozco-Cárdenas, director of the Plant Transformation Research Center in UCR’s College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to downsize ordinary tomato plants and reduce the ratio of leaves and stems to fruit.
With support from an $800,000 grant from the NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Orozco-Cárdenas, and Jinkerson further engineered and evaluated the plants to determine their “space-worthiness”.
Dubbed Small Plants for Space Expeditions (SPACE) by the researchers, the technology could be applied to other plants to develop a suite of crops for
agriculture on the International Space Station and future space colonies.
Researchers at the University of Lleida (UdL) have discovered that red-fleshed apples improve endothelial function, which regulates blood flow, reduces inflammation, and modulates the immune system in people with high cholesterol.
Laura Rubió, one of the project’s lead researchers, highlighted that the benefits of red-fleshed apples are “superior” due to the significant improvement in inflammation markers. This variety is not grown in Spain, and now researchers are looking for ways to process and commercialize it so consumers can benefit.
The ‘AppleCOR’ project emerged from a collaboration with IRTA, which was testing a red-fleshed apple grown and sold in northern European countries but not in Spain.
This is because red-fleshed apples contain “anthocyanic phenolic” compounds, which are also found in fruits like blueberries and black grapes. These compounds had never been studied at such levels in apples before, and since they are known to have health benefits, the researchers decided to investigate if the same effects occurred in this apple variety.
The researchers began the final phase of the project by recruiting over 100 volunteers, who ate apples for six weeks. They compared the effects of red-fleshed apples with white-fleshed varieties, consumed either as a snack or as an infusion.
The results showed that all apples provided health benefits to the volunteers, but the red-fleshed apples were superior, particularly in preventing chronic cardiovascular diseases in people with high metabolic risk, such as those with hypercholesterolemia.
In addition to UdL and URV, the study involved researchers from the Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences (CSIC, University of La Rioja), the Nutrition and Health Unit of Eurecat, the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV), and the Biomedical Research Unit at Sant Joan University Hospital in Reus.
Apples with red flesh, both inside and out, occur naturally in some regions of Central Asia. Their flesh displays a red hue instead of the typical off-white color found in most commercial apples. Some varieties include Pink Pearl, Pink Sparkle, and Geneva Crab.
A projected 2.4% increase in exports compared to the previous season is predicted by The Chilean Table Grape Committee which has released its first industry estimate for the 2024-25 season.
Exports are expected to amount to 66,006,178 boxes.
The executive director of the Chilean Table Grape Committee, Ignacio Caballero, stated the projection was made in collaboration with 85% of the industry and this is the second consecutive season the Committee expects growth in table grape shipments.
He added “the growth also repositions us (Chile) as an industry with a great quality and variety of grapes.”
The estimate anticipates an increase in new variety shipments, a trend that continues to gain ground in international markets and represents 65% of exports, or 42,866,374 boxes, during the 2024-25 season.
Caballero explained ‘having a greater supply of new varieties of Chilean grapes makes Chile increasingly attractive to destination markets since consumers are looking for more flavor, firmness, and crunchy texture.’
Systems Approach
The United States will continue to be the primary destination market for the Chilean table grape industry, with nearly 60% of shipments arriving to the country. Asia follows in second place with 16%, followed by Europe (14%) and other markets (10%).
This season is very significant for the industry, this will be the first Chilean table grapes shipment to the United States under the Systems Approach protocol. This will allow the shipment of table grapes from the Tarapacá, Coquimbo, and parts of Valparaíso regions, without the need for fumigation.
It took a few weeks for digging potatoes to get back on schedule in the Red River VAlley following a mid-September heatwave, but fall weather is now well established.
Northland Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, MN reports favorable weather for the 300-mile valley in upper Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota.
Acreage was up in Minnesota this year and down in North Dakota.
Growers planted 74,000 acres of red and yellow potatoes in North Dakota, about 2,000 acres less than last year, and expected to produce about 24 million hundredweight — 9% less than in 2023. Minnesota growers look to harvest up to 46,000 acres, down about 100 acres from last year, and should dig about 19 million hundredweight, up 3.6% from 2023.
O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D., started its harvest Sept. 10 but was putting digging on hold until the heat subsided.
The company plans to ship until early May, depending on crop size and demand, with an average to above-average crop with good quality.
NoKota Packers Inc., Buxton, N.D., had harvested 15% of its crop before shutting down temporarily during the heatwave, but it was not expected to affect the quality of the crop.
“The company expected a normal-size crop with about 75% red potatoes and 25% yellow.
Associated Potato Growers Inc., Grand Forks, N.D. reports potatoes could lose a little color after exposure to the hot sun, but is still optimistic for the overall crop.
The co-op expects volume to be up slightly this year because of good rainfall.
Although red potatoes account for the majority of Red River Valley spuds, yellows are gaining in popularity.
Ben Holmes Potato Inc., Becker, MN points out everyone in central Minnesota has increased their acreage and yellow potatoes now make up a big portion of the acres grown.
The company markets most of the potatoes produced by Peatland Reds Inc., Trail, MN., where growing conditions were mostly optimal this year, with timely rains and good weather.
The US has solidified its position as the world’s largest producer, exporter, and consumer of pistachios, driven by expanding pistachio-bearing acreage and resilient orchards.
According to a recent RaboResearch report, the US pistachio industry is poised for a significant supply increase, making marketing innovation and health research crucial to maintaining price stability. The adoption of economically sustainable practices will continue to ensure positive margins for efficient operators.
Pistachio production expands
Over the past two decades, pistachios have consistently offered higher gross returns per bearing acre than almonds and walnuts in California. With average gross returns of USD 6,400 per acre over the past decade, pistachios have outperformed almonds and walnuts by 20% and 70%, respectively.
This profitability, coupled with the resilience of pistachio orchards to salinity and drought, has spurred rapid planting growth since 2012. From 2011 to 2023, California’s pistachio-planted area increased by over 372,000 acres, with projections suggesting a bearing area of 590,000 acres by 2028. However,
industry-wide challenges, such as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in California, are expected to limit new plantings, signaling a shift from rapid growth to a maturity stage in production.
US dominates global pistachio production
Since 2016/17, the US has been the undisputed leader in global pistachio production, accounting for 63% of global output in 2023/24.
“This growth is a result of steadily expanding bearing acreage, with the US outpacing the other major producer, Iran,” explains David Magaña, Senior Analyst – Fresh produce and tree nuts for RaboResearch. In 2023/24, Turkey and Iran accounted for 15% and 14% of the global pistachio crop, respectively. The US pistachio production grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% over the past decade, significantly higher than the global CAGR of 5%.
US also leads the way in pistachio consumption
The US has also become the largest consumer of pistachios since 2019/20, surpassing previous leaders like Turkey and the EU. US pistachio consumption soared from 41,500 metric tons in 2005 to 225,000 metric tons in 2023/24. Key drivers of this demand include product and packaging innovations, health research, promotional efforts, and the availability of high-quality products year-round.
The four key markets for pistachios are the US, Turkey, China, and the EU, which account altogether for 72% of global pistachio consumption.
“It’s interesting to highlight that over the past decade, pistachio consumption has increased in the US, Turkey, China, and the EU, expanding at CAGRS of 13%, 7%, 5%, and 6%, respectively,” says Magaña. “In India, a country that absorbs 4% of world’s pistachios, consumption has expanded at 11% CAGR in the past ten seasons.”
US leads exports, while China, the EU, Turkey, and India absorb majority of imports
The US has emerged as the dominant exporter of pistachios, with exports reaching a record 390,000 metric tons in 2023/24, representing 70% of global exports. Consistent quality and food safety standards have given US pistachios a competitive edge in the global market.
Major importers include China, the EU, Turkey, and India, with Middle Eastern markets also showing significant growth in the past decade. Market development and expansion will be critical to absorb the upcoming increasing pistachio volumes.
Diversifying markets to minimize risks
According to Magaña, the US pistachio industry’s success is partly due to its ability to identify and serve international markets efficiently. China, in particular, is a crucial market, especially in the season leading up to the Chinese New Year. However, heavy reliance on a single market poses geopolitical risks, highlighting the need for market diversification and improved access.
Pear Bureau Northwest reports Northwest pear orchards were hit by low temperatures this year causing a decline in production.
The northwest pear industry in the U.S. is seeing a huge decline in volumes of 31%, compared to the five-year average. In the past five years, the average shipments have been closer to 15 million 40-pound boxes, but this year’s output is a little over 10 million boxes.
This plunge is due to adverse weather hitting most northern regions of the country, especially around the area of Wenatchee, WA.
The Pear Bureau Northwest represents 11 pear varieties grown in Oregon and Washington in Wenatchee, Yakima, Mid-Columbia Valley, and Medford.
This year’s decrease is not only attributed to this blossoming season’s weather since pear trees enjoy cold weather, but pear growers had already seen a few years of colder-than-normal temperatures, which led to stressed trees and fewer blossoms.
So, when you factor in this year’s frosts happening during blossom, around April-May, which led to a decrease in bee pollination, and fewer blossoms initially especially in Wenatchee, this year was particularly hard for pear growers.
The Bosc variety and the Green Anjou were the two most impacted by adverse weather.
Bosc had a large crop last year, so it’s not surprising to see a drop this year, but it was still a steep drop even if you consider last year’s larger crop. The other variety most impacted from a volume standpoint was the Green Anjou, which was down 36% from the five-year average.
The Green Anjou variety decrease is pretty significant, since this is the crop most planted out of all varieties. Pears will be shipped all year round but not as many as there typically would be.
Additionally, there may be a frost ring on the pears this year. The blemish, caused by the freezing events in the northern region, is a ring around the pear that doesn’t affect the fruit’s flavor and texture.
GOTHENBURG, Sweden — The electrification of heavy trucks is continuing across the world and longer distances are now becoming a possibility.
Next year Volvo will launch a new long-range version of its FH Electric that will be able to reach up to 600 km (372.8 miles) on one charge. This will allow transport companies to operate electric trucks on interregional and long-distance routes and to drive a full working day without having to recharge. The new Volvo FH Electric will be released for sale during the second half of 2025.
“Our new electric flagship will be a great complement to our wide range of electric trucks and enable zero-exhaust emission transport also for the longer distances. It will be a great solution for transport companies with a high annual mileage on their trucks and with a strong commitment to reduce CO2,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.
Five years of electric leadership
The enabler for the 600 km range is Volvo’s new driveline technology, the so-called e-axle, which creates space for significantly more battery capacity onboard. More efficient batteries, a further improved battery management system and overall efficiency of the powertrain also contribute to the extended range.
Volvo Trucks is a global leader in medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks with eight battery-electric models in their portfolio. The wide product range makes it possible to electrify city and regional distribution, construction, waste management and, soon, long distance transport. Volvo has so far delivered more than 3,800 electric trucks to customers in 46 countries around the world.
“The transport sector represents seven percent of global carbon emissions. Battery-electric trucks are important tools to reduce the climate footprint. Besides the important environmental gains that electric trucks bring, they offer truck drivers a much better working environment, with much lower levels of noise and vibrations,” says Roger Alm.
Volvo Trucks drives the transition towards fossil-free transport to reach its net-zero emissions target by 2040 using a three-path technology strategy. The three-path technology approach is built on battery electric, fuel cell electric and combustion engines that run on renewable fuels like green hydrogen, biogas or HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil).
The previous two seasons Washington state has had big and small volume apple crops, but this time around it appears to be more normal.
Washington Fruit Growers of Yakima, WA questions anymore what is “normal” but acknowledges this year the volume appears to large, nor is it small.
Shipments were down in 2022, but were large last season.
CMI Orchards of Wenachee, WA noted the extreme differences in volume in recent seasons, but describes this year as reaching as “sweet spot.”
Rainier Fruit of Shelah, WA notes it is no surprise there is a smaller crop this time around since last season set a record for volume.
Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA notes the 124 million boxes forecast for Washington state is down 9 percent from last year’s record setter.
River Valley Fruit of Grandview, WA relates weather issues is resulting in more smaller sized apples this season, but this will be good for marketing bagged fruit.
Stemilt Growers attributes the 9 percent volume decline this season due to there being 26 percent fewer Honey Crisp. It can be biennial bearing. Honeycrisp experienced 30% volume growth year over year in 2023j.
Honeybear Brands of Brewster, WA notes some carry over of product from the 2023 but is encouraged by the good demand early in the new season.