Posts Tagged “feature”
A decline in U.S. citrus production land shipments during the next decade is predicted by the USDA, while increases with items such as nuts will increase.
Citrus production is projected to decline slowly over the ten-year projection period, according to the USDA’s Agricultural Projecions to 2018.
U.S. citrus production will decline from 16.07 billion pounds in 2019 to 14.7 billion pounds in 2028, the agency said.
“The expected declines stem from the loss of bearing acreage in Florida and the continued spread of citrus greening, a citrus disease spread by insects for which no cure currently exists and which has the potential to threaten the entire citrus industry,” the report said. “Declines in citrus production are projected to be offset by increases in noncitrus production.”
Meanwhile, the USDA reported expanding acreage of tree nuts in response to rising demand will boost production and tree nut output will continue to grow over the next ten years.
Big picture
U.S. fruit, nut and vegetable production farm value is projected to grow 2.7 percent annually for the next decade.
The USDA said estimated total farm value of fruits, nuts, and vegetables will reach $68.2 billion by 2028, up from $53.9 billion in 2019.
According to the report, fruits contribute roughly 43 percent of the total value, tree nuts account for 18 percent, and vegetables nearly 40 percent.
Measured by farm weight, the USDA said production of fruit and tree nuts, and vegetables, are projected to rise at an annual growth rate of 0.52% and 0.54 percent per year, respectively.
The USDA said:
- Overall fruit and tree nut production is expected to reach roughly 63 billion pounds in 2028;
- The value of farm production of fruit and tree nuts is projected to grow at roughly 2.7 percent annually, with tree nuts expected to grow 3% per year, citrus at just under 3 percent, and noncitrus at 2.5 percent per year;
- Over the next 10 years, the shares of vegetable production for fresh use and processing are expected to remain at current levels, according to the USDA;
- Fresh use is expected to account for roughly 28% of total vegetable production while processed vegetables are projected to make up about 30% of total production;
- U.S. fresh vegetable production is projected at 39.5 billion pounds in 2019, and is predicted to rise slightly to 39.8 billion pounds in 2028;
- U.S. noncitrus fruit production will grow from 37.6 billion pounds in 2019 to 40.3 billion pounds in 2028;
- U.S. tree nut production will rise from 6.8 billion pounds in 2019 to 8.3 billion pounds in 2028; and
- U.S. potato production will grow from 46.1 billion in 2019 to 47.4 billion pounds in 2028.
By Drew Costly, SFGate
Retail prices for avocados have nearly doubled amid a global shortage of the fruit, but there’s a farm in Florida that’s got those prices beat by a long shot.
Miami Fruit in Florida is growing Pura Vida avocados with long necks and selling them for as much as $47 for a box.
The avocados – that have the normal marble, dark green skin, light green flesh and hard seed center, but with a long neck that starts where the basic avocados come to a point – have been going viral since the farm posted a video to Instagram in early August.
Each of the long-neck avocados weigh between 1-3 pounds, according to NBC’s Today Show reportt on the viral fruit, while California Haas avocados typically weigh 1/3 of a pound. California Haas avocados reached a high price earlier this year at $3.37 each, but per fruit price for the Pura Vida avocados range between $4.38 and $$15.66.
It’s that time of year when light volume in cranberry shipments is getting underway leading up Thanksgiving in late November.
The USDA predicts there will be 1 percent more loadings this season compared to a year ago.
U.S. total cranberry production is forecast at 9.04 million (100-pound) barrels, up 1% from 8.93 million barrels in 2018, according to the forecast.
In Wisconsin, a cold, wet spring put the crop one to two weeks behind normal, but warmer temperatures in July helped the crop catch up. Wisconsin is the leading state for cranberry shipments, with 2019 output forecast at 5.6 million barrels, up about 1% from a year ago.
In Massachusetts, some growers reported excessive moisture, but production was pegged slightly above 2018. Massachusetts is the second ranked leading shipper of cranberries, with 2019 output of 2.3 million barrels, compared with 2.29 million barrels a year ago.
By Chilean Fresh Fruit Association
The first-ever North American marketing campaign for the Chilean Kiwifruit Committee is now in full swing and set to continue through the end of September. As of the week of August 5th, more than 19,000 tons of kiwifruit had been shipped to North America, with shipments expected to continue through September.
The Port of Philadelphia is a major receiver of Chilean kiwi.
Karen Brux of the association noted that while retail marketing and merchandising support is crucial, so is ongoing consumer communication. “There are so many choices in the produce department, so we need to make it as easy as possible for consumers to choose Chilean Kiwifruit. How does it taste? What role does it play in a healthy lifestyle? How do you choose a ripe kiwifruit? If it’s not ready to eat, how do you speed up the ripening process?”
The newly formed joint sales alliance of Michigan Fresh Marketing of Grand Rapids and BelleHarvest Sales Inc. of Belding, MI has added Elite Apple of Sparta, MI as another supplier.
The 500,000 cartons Elite Apple has committed to Michigan Fresh Marketing and BelleHarvest represents about half of Elite Apple’s 2019 projected volume, according to a press release.
“After having more than doubled our packing capacity, we’ve decided to add Michigan Fresh and BelleHarvest to our sales group,” Rich Kent, Elite Apple partner, said in the release.
Recently, Elite has added a second packing line to their facility.
“In order to keep up with retail consolidation and industry changes, this allows us the versatility to pursue larger programs for sustained periods of time,” Elite partner Ken Hubert said in the release.
Selling fruit from 8 packing facilities, Michigan Fresh Marketing and BelleHarvest project that they will ship over 3 million cartons of Michigan and Wisconsin apples in the upcoming season.
“We are looking at a favorable apple crop in the Midwest and are excited to work with the exceptional team and partners at Elite,” Michigan Fresh CEO Joe D’Ottavio said.
Chilean avocado growers are expected to export similar to volume to that exported during the past two seasons.
The Chilean Avocado Importers Association of San Carlos, CA reports about 65 million pounds of avocados will be exported to the U.S. during the 2019-20 season .
Shipments have started within the past week.
The U.S. is Chile’s second-largest export market for avocados following Europe. Peak volume will come later this month and continue into early 2020.
These will include programs with partners like Pandora, Mind Body Green, Tasty and Hulu.
Broccoli has won for the second consecutive year in Green Giant’s annual poll of Americans’ favorite vegetable,
More than 5,000 consumers, from ages 13 to 73, took the frozen/canned vegetables company’s survey, and broccoli placed first in 39 states. The results were released in connection with National Eat Your Vegetables Day earlier this year, according to a news release.
igure>Here are some interesting findings from the survey, which was open-ended, letting consumers choose any vegetable:
- Potatoes ranked first only in Arkansas, a loss of four states from last year;
- Of the 7 states choosing corn, Iowa wasn’t included. (Yes sweet corn and field corn are vastly different, but still …);
- Despite the juicing craze that’s boosted celery prices to new heights, the fad didn’t elevate the stalk to the top in any state;
- Cucumbers did not carry a single state, unlike in 2018, when New Mexico and Louisiana residents chose them above other vegetables; and
- The “orange” candidate: Nevada and North Dakota opted for carrots;
- Asparagus led Alaska polling and cauliflower was the favorite in Montana, the first times for both vegetables.
The survey, conducted through Suzy, a company that offers an online consumer insights platform, took place April 26-May 10, according to the release.
U.S. pumpkin loadings have gotten underway across North America with peak shipments coming later in September and October.
The 2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture reported a total of 93,563 acres of pumpkins were harvested from 15,224 farms that year, up from 90,165 acres harvested from 15,840 farms in 2012.
Fresh market pumpkin acres harvested in 2017 totaled 75,341.
Bay Baby Produce Inc. of Mount Vernon, WA., began harvest of pumpkins and ornamental squash in mid-August. The initial pickings were for pie pumpkins for bulk shipments and painting, followed by wee be little pumpkins. Those can be sold as-is and also painted. This is followed by later varieties including the long-stem ornamental tiger stripe, casper and sparkler pumpkins.
Bay Baby Produce ships from its Washington state farm to all parts of the U.S. and also exports to Canada, Taiwan and Japan. The company reports retail buyers are buying pumpkins earlier in the season due to demand.
At Wallendal Farms of Grand Marsh, WI, the firm will start its pumpkin harvest this week.
Schmieding Produce Co. LLC, Springdale, Ark., is expecting normal volume in early September.
Schmieding sells mostly to retail but also ships to some distributors and some pumpkin patches.
The company offers ornamental heirloom varieties, including cinderella and fairy tale pumpkins in addition to the standard jack-o-lantern pumpkins.
Normal volume of Florida avocado shipments are expected this season following a down year caused primarily by Hurricane Irma.
Florida shippers are expected to load about 800,000 bushels of green-skin avocados between June and April.
Last year’s crop was reduced by about 40 percent as a result of the hurricane.
Brooks Tropicals of Homestead, FL ships about 40 percent of that volume, which has a trademark on the name SlimCado for its green-skin avocados, which are hydrocooled to extend shelf life. The name was selected at least in part because SlimCados are promoted by the company to have less fat and fewer calories than hass avocados.
They are shipped from Florida starting in June and continuing through March. Additionally, they are sourced from the Dominican Republic between October and May.
While the majority of SlimCados are shipped to markets in the South and on the East Coast, more of the fruit is going to markets in the west.
J&C Tropicalsl of Miami gland normal avocado shipments once again. The company reports July and August as two the biggest months for volume, with good volume to continue through December.
J&C Tropicals, which ships the fruit nationally, will start bringing in similar varieties from the Dominican Republic in the fall.
Florida avocados are bigger than hass, weighing on average about 1 pound.
By Vine Line Produce Distribution
Comstock Park, Mich. – Michigan-based Heeren Bros., Inc., and Walsma & Lyons announces a joint-venture merger that positions the new organization to become one of the Midwest’s leading full-service produce and distribution, brokerage, refrigerated transportation and logistics companies.
Re-branded as Vine Line Produce Distribution, the companies’ combined business lines include Heeren Bros. Produce, Vine Line Logistics, Vine Line Trucking and Walsma & Lyons.
“Based on shared vision, values and strengths, the merger between Heeren Bros. and Walsma & Lyons is a dynamic move,” said Joseph D’Ottavio, CEO of Vine Line Produce Distribution. “We are excited about the strategic advantages of working together, while building on core competencies to pursue future growth.”
Like Heeren Bros., Walsma & Lyons is a family-owned and operated business with deep roots in the Western Michigan region. Founded in 1955, it is a produce brokerage distribution business that provides a full line of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as tailored solutions for meeting customers’ unique needs. Company owner Gary Lyons has over 40 years of experience in all aspects of the produce industry.
“The produce and transportation landscape is ripe for a company that is willing and able to invest in multiple distribution facilities. Vine Line Produce Distribution has never been more agile and focused on meeting customers’ produce and transportation needs in an ever-changing market,” said Gary Lyons, President of Vine Line Produce Distribution.
Headquartered in Comstock Park, Michigan, Vine Line Produce Distribution operates out of a 180,000 sq. ft, LEED Certified, state-of-the-art facility that combines wholesale distribution with cold storage and packaging. A second 46,000 sq. ft. facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, provides direct distribution into Central Midwest and Western markets.
Established in 1933, Heeren Bros. has a long history in produce distribution, as well as strong partnerships with Michigan apple growers in packing, shipping and storing the state’s largest fruit crop. The company is currently owned by 42 North Partners, a Grand Rapids private equity firm, which guided the recent merger with Vine Line Logistics. 42 North Partners is led by Mike and Sue Jandernoa. It invests in projects that provide a catalyst for the growth and vitality of the entrepreneurial community with a focus on Western Michigan.