Posts Tagged “feature”
By Summer Citrus from South Africa
CITRUSDAL, South Africa – Now in its 20th year serving the U.S. with fresh citrus during the summer months, Summer Citrus from South Africa is looking for an improved export season to the America with removal of water restrictions.
South Africa exports citrus to the U.S. from June to October.
The group is looking to increase exports to the U.S. of easy peelers and mandarins. South Africa is the second largest exporter of citrus globally and the ultimate goal for the overall program in 2019 is to increase market share for the country’s fruit in the U.S.
After emerging from a three year drought, the growers of SCSA are looking for the “first proper citrus crop without any water restrictions,” underlining the association’s excitement around the potential of the upcoming season.
About Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA)
Summer Citrus from South Africa represents a group of South African citrus growers who consolidate their logistics, marketing and sales efforts to bring the finest citrus fruit to market during the U.S. summer season. Established in 1999 and re-branded for expanded marketing efforts in 2016, the group provides Navels, Midknights, East Peelers, Star Ruby Grapefruit and Cara-Cara oranges for the U.S. market.
The cost of eating out is rising faster than eating at home.
The latest USDA Economic Research Service food price outlook reports restaurant food prices in October were up 2.5 percent higher than year-ago.
By contrast, the USDA reports food purchased at grocery stores was just 0.1 percent higher compared to a year ago.
“Between the 1970s and early 2000s, food-at-home prices and food-away-from-home prices increased at similar rates,” the report said. “Since 2009, however, food-at-home and food-away-from-home price growth has diverged.”
While grocery prices have shown signs of price deflation in recent years, restaurant prices have steadily increased.
In part, the different price responses are attributed to variations in the cost structure of restaurants versus supermarkets or grocery stores. Labor and rental costs are a bigger factor with restaurants than grocers.
For this reason, decreasing farm-level and wholesale food prices, which have exerted downward pressure on food-at-home prices, have had less of an impact on restaurant menu prices.
Outlook
For 2018, the USDA notes retail food prices are expected to change between zero to 1 percent, below the 20-year historical average of 2.1 percent.
The USDA said while fats and oils, pork, nonalcoholic beverages, dairy, and processed fruits and vegetables could potentially decline in price, prices for beef and veal, poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, and fresh fruits and vegetables are expected to increase.
“Due to deflation in 2016 and 2017, expected price increases would still leave overall price levels in 2018 lower than in 2015,” the USDA said.
For 2019, the USDA said retail prices are expected to rise between 1 and 2 percent, which would mean the fourth year in a row with lower-than-average inflation.
Fruits and Vegetables
Retail prices for fresh fruits in October were down 1.5 percent compared with October 2017, with apple prices off 3.6 percent and banana prices were off 0.7 percent.
The USDA expects fresh fruit prices to increase 1 to 2 percent in 2018 and increase 2 to 3 percent in 2019.
Retail fresh vegetable prices in October were 0.7 percent higher than in October 2017. Fresh vegetable prices are expected to change between zero and 1 percent in 2018 and increase an additional 2.5 to 3.5 percent in 2019.
South Carolina shippers are gearing up for a promising season starting in June with most loads destined for markets in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states.
South Carolina ranks 5th nationally in watermelon shipments. It has 10,000 acres of watermelon planted this season. Melon shipments are expected from mid-June thru late July. Approximately 80 percent of South Carolina watermelons shipments are seedless.
Following an early March freeze, the state’s peach estimate plunged to about 70 percent of a normal crop. Still, excellent quality fruit is expected. South Carolina ranks second to California in domestic peach shipments. Loadings started in early May and will continue through early August.
The state is also known for it vegetable shipments of collards, summer squash and sweet corn, although there are shipments of beans, peas and Sea Island tomatoes. Berries ranging from strawberries to blueberries will come on in June.
California Sun Dry Foods, a leading brand of sun-dried tomatoes, launched the company’s first-ever Sun-Dried Tomato Bruschetta. The new appetizer caters directly to consumers’ preferences for all-natural spreads and conveniently packaged snack foods, and it is a unique addition to the company’s already extensive portfolio.
“We’re excited to expand our segment in the produce category,” said Charles Olin, vice president of sales and marketing at Saco Foods LLC, based in Middleton, WI. Saco Foods acquired California Sun Dry in January of this year. “We’ve come up with a recipe that meets shoppers’ snacking needs, making it easy to enjoy a fast and healthy bite or serve to a crowd.”
The Sun-Dried Tomato Bruschetta, comprising fresh tomatoes, diced onion, a zesty herb blend and the company’s signature sun-dried tomatoes, is the first ready-made appetizer for the company, adding a distinctive item to the brand’s produce set. California Sun Dry’s comprehensive product portfolio includes jarred and bagged sun-dried tomatoes, sauces and spreads.
“We approached the creation of this product by looking at what is trending in consumer purchasing and came up with a solution that meets the growing interest in healthy diets and elevated snack platters. It appeals to ingredient-conscious consumers at a price that is accessible to all,” said Pam Statz, vice president of sales at Saco Foods.
The new bruschetta is adaptable in the kitchen for a wide variety of uses. Suggested retail price for California Sun Dry Sun-Dried Tomato Bruschetta is $4.49 per nine-ounce jar. It is shipped in a six-count case.
By Chilean Fresh Fruit Association
Southern Hemisphere citrus suppliers to North America, Chile commenced shipping the week of April 13th with 71,771 boxes of clementines by boat.
As of May 2nd, 55,268 boxes of clementines were headed for the East Coast and 16,503 boxes to the West Coast. Chilean Clementines will be followed by lemons, navels and mandarins. It takes about 21 days to arrive at U.S. ports.
The Chilean citrus industry anticipates similar overall volumes of citrus in comparison to last year, with the total volume reaching 350,000 tons vs. 358,000 in 2018. Clementine volume is expected to have the greatest variation, falling by 8 percent to 58,000 tons.
Juan Enrique Ortuzar, president of the Chilean Citrus Committee, explains this was not unexpected.
“In 2018, Chilean clementine production jumped 53 three percent. After a year of high production, blooms tend to be less intense, so this reduction in volume is not a surprise. The overall trend for Chilean Clementine volume is incredibly positive. In 2017, we shipped 40,687 tons of clementines to North America, and this year, the estimate is 58,000 tons. That’s an increase of 43 three percent in just two years!”
Expectations are high for a strong clementine season. Weather and growing conditions have provided the ideal scenario for good brix and sizing, and cool fall nights have turned the fruit to a brilliant orange color. Chile is facing higher than usual stock levels in the U.S. market, but the Committee is confident that consistently high quality fruit and strong marketing support will be the right combination to generate demand and drive sales.
“In 2018, we ran citrus promotions in more than 50 retail chains, with a strong focus on creative, high-impact promotions that generated double digit sales increases,” says Karen Brux, Managing Director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association . “We hope to extend our reach even further this season. We’ll also engage our social media followers with videos direct from Chilean citrus orchards, new recipes and interactive promotions. We just reached a Facebook following of 350,000, so we have a large, captive audience!”
Weekly crop updates are now available, and the Committee will be sending more detailed information on lemons, navels and mandarins as shipments of these fruits begin.
mrwp
Superfresh Growers, Yakima, Wash., is marketing blueberries with an exclusive supply agreement with Norris Farms, Roseburg, Ore.
The blueberry grower has acreage in southern Oregon’s Umpqua River Valley, according to a news release, where harvest starts in early- to mid-June, and lasts to late September.
“Our collective farming, sales, and logistical expertise, combined with mutual multi-generational farming knowledge, make our families a great match,” Robert Kershaw, CEO of Superfresh Growers, said in the release.
Norris Farms owner Paul Norris said his family farming operation is excited to work with Superfresh Growers.
“It has been apparent from the day we met that our companies share cultures that are centered around quality, service and strong customer relationships,” Norris said in the release.
Superfresh also markets apples, pears, apricots and cherries.
As of May 1st fresh apple shipments have plunged 13 percent compared to a year ago.
This means U.S. fresh-market apples remaining to be shipped total 38.6 million bushel cartons on May 1st compared to 44.2 million cartons at the same time last year and 2 percent less than the 5-year average of 39.2 million cartons.
By variety, the May 1st apples remaining to be shipped compared with a year ago, were:
- Fuji: 4.71 million cartons, down 17 percent;
- Gala: 7.51 million cartons, down 4 percent;
- Golden delicious: 1.67 million cartons, down 43 percent;
- Granny smith: 4.85 million cartons, down 42 percent;
- Honeycrisp: 2.67 million cartons, up 9 percent;
- Cripps pink/Pink Lady: 2.23 million cartons, up 17 percent; and
- Red delicious: 11.9 million cartons, down 1 percent.
Washington state accounts for approximately 92 percent of the remaining 2018 apple crop.
Oneonta Starr Ranch of Wenatchee, WA reports Washington apple shipments have been pretty steady in May. Washington apple loading will continue until the start of the 2019 season.
East-West routes have been added to Georgia’s Port of Savannah for its chilled produce business.
The port serves as a gateway for perishable products after joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southeast In-Transit Cold Treatment Pilot Program, according to a news release. Before, the port received produce from Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Argentina that had been cold treated. Now the port serves all of South America, with the ability to import from Spain, Morocco and Italy.
“This is an exciting development that opens Savannah as a new option for growers around the world to reach the U.S. Southeast with greater speed and efficiency,” Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch said in the release. “Georgia’s central location means shorter overland routes to inland markets, allowing time-sensitive cargo to reach customers faster, fresher and at lower cost.”
Proximity to large cities like Atlanta and Memphis sets the port up as a hub for refrigerated produce. Ships call on the port 35 times a week.
Earlier this year, Americold Realty Trust, which owns and operates temperature-controlled facilities and infrastructure, acquired PortFresh Holdings, which serves the fresh produce industry primarily through the Port of Savannah.
“We’ve got kiwis on the water, and we are getting our first few containers in from Morocco now,” Ken Burke, vice president of client relations at PortFresh, said in the release. “We’re gearing up to handle very heavy business starting with the summer citrus program from Chile and Peru, and for next season, the Spanish and Moroccan produce will really start to come online.”
Savannah can handle time-sensitive items like asparagus, previously shipped as air cargo, but now delivered in containers to the port.
“Not only can we now handle produce that has undergone cold treatment while in transit, Savannah also has a local facility certified to perform re-treatment should that prove necessary,” Cliff Pyron, Georgia Ports Authority chief commercial officer.
A variety of fruit comes through the port, including blueberries, mangoes, apples, pineapples, grapes, bananas and avocados, according to the release.
PortFresh has 100,000 square feet for chilled produce storage, and Americold plans to add an additional facility with 37,000 pallet positions.
By Black Gold Farms
Pearsall, TX – Black Gold Farms began colored potato shipments of the 2019 fresh crop from Texas last week.
Texas grown red and yellow potatoes will ship from Pearsall, TX as well Black Gold Farms’ Arbyrd, MO packing facility until early June. After that, Black Gold Farms will transition to their Missouri fresh colored potato crop that will pack and ship out of the Arbyrd location for the summer.
The first run fields have indicated that the quality will be better than ever. Steve Wright, Farm Manager of the Pearsall farm says, “I’m really excited to be digging our fresh red and yellow spuds. I’ve seen a lot of really good-looking potatoes come out of this area year after year – and this particular season, I’m especially excited.” Wright recognizes that optimal weather, timing, variety and land selection as triggers that set up the season for success.
Keith Groven, Sales Manager at Black Gold Farms explains, “Getting into fresh crop for the year is always exciting – for us at the farm and for our customers. Retailers are thrilled to get their hands on fresh, red and yellow potatoes.” Black Gold Farms recently finished up a strong storage season out of their North Dakota location.
Texas is a prime example of where local makes a difference. Black Gold Farms has truly leveraged that consumer demand for local potatoes. “Texas retailers particularly, have witnessed the demand that Texas-grown colored potatoes can create. A lot of product can move when consumers know it’s local” Groven remarks.
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Black Gold Farms is a fourth-generation family farm and grower, shipper, marketer of all types of Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other commodities. They have an extensive network of farm locations throughout the United States, and are headquartered in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Santa Maria is California’s second leading produce and shipper of strawberries and this season could be a banner one. As with other Golden State berry production areas, Santa Mara has been producing greater volumes with higher yield under new varieties.
Positioned on the Central Coast with Ventura to its south and Watsonville to the north, in 2018, Santa Maria strawberry shipments totaled over 33 percent of California’s total volume — about 70.4 million crates.
In the fall of 2018, growers planted 8,583 acres for the upcoming winter, spring and summer season, off from 11,744 acres from the previous season.
Providence Farms in Santa Maria has mostly organic strawberries on 260 acres, which grows and ships its product through California Giant Berry Farms. The company reports increasing yields as a result of research by the University of California, Davis program. Providence Farms 35 years ago was producing around 6,000 trays an acre, but now yields are up to 8,500 to 9,000 trays an acre with newer, improved varieties.
If the weather is normal this season, weekly shipment volume is expected to equal or exceed average shipment totals the past three years from April 15th to October 31st.
Total California strawberry shipments have set records the past three years in total, increasing 6 percent. It is a trend where growers are producing higher yields with less planted acreage. During the past three years strawberry acreage has declined 12 percent.
Two of the three top-yielding varieties in production yield studies conducted in Watsonville by UC Davis, include the monterey variety, producing 10,554 cartons per acre, and the san andreas variety, which yielded 10,414 cartons per acre.
However, problems can arise with the higher-producing varieties. Weather factors delayed fruit harvests until California’s three strawberry districts came online with fruit, including those high-yield varieties, close in time with each other. That was around May 11th, when production hit nearly 10 million trays and exceeded the three-year average of just over 8 million trays.
Annual shipments increased 9 percent to nearly 225 million trays.
Weather has resulted in statewide shipments this year trailing behind last year at this time. As of March 23rd, shipments were at about 7.2 million trays — significantly behind the nearly 11.9 million trays harvested at the same time last year.
In Santa Maria, about 637,000 crates of berries have been shipped compared to over 2.4 million crates a year ago. Timing, however, is on track with normal years.
Santa Maria strawberry and vegetable shipments – grossing about $4700 to Chicago.
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