Posts Tagged “feature”
Northwest pear shipments for 2024 are expected to be off due to cold damage over the winter, industry leaders say.
The USDA has predicted total Northwest pear production at 520,000 tons, down 22% from 2023.
Oregon pear production, forecast at 200,000 tons, is down 15% from last year, the forecast said; total Washington pear production, at 185,000 tons, is down 31% from 2023.
Tianna DuPont, a tree fruit extension specialist with Washington State University, said Wenatchee-area pear growers experienced cold temperatures in mid-January this year that resulted in winter damage.
In addition, she said there was winter damage from November in the previous year, which resulted in less fruiting wood compared to normal.
“We started off the season with lower-than-average crop estimates, and then we had a frost in the middle of March that has also damaged fruit with frost rings in some areas,” DuPont said. The damage is variable through the valley, but growers expect about half a crop in the Wenatchee River Valley this year, she added.
On the other hand, other pear-growing areas, such as the Yakima region, are looking good.
While it is impossible to say how winter damage could impact future production, DuPont said it will probably take a couple of years to return to average yield in the most damaged areas.
Harvest of bartlett pears had begun by Aug. 21. DuPont said pear harvest in the Wenatchee River Valley continues into October, but the shorter crop may accelerate timing.
EarthFresh Farms has purchased Houston-based MountainKing Potatoes, effective Sept. 25, according to a press release from EarthFresh.
“We believe that there are great synergies between our two companies that include exclusive varietal potatoes, innovative packaging and products, expanded organic offerings, customer analytics and an expanded supply of fresh potatoes” Tom Hughes, president and CEO of EarthFresh Farms, said in a news release. “Our combined team will consist of over 400 employees dedicated to servicing our customers.”
Established in 1963, EarthFresh is a North American produce company specializing in potatoes, carrots and onions. With the completion of this transaction, EarthFresh now has nine packing facilities in Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island, according to the release.
With the expanded packing locations, EarthFresh said it will be able to service North American customers within 24 hours from its packing facilities. The company said it will maintain proven MountainKing brands that include premium products like Steakhouse Russets, Butter Golds, Butter Reds and Butter Russets.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – LGS Specialty Sales a leading importer of citrus, avocados, grapes, and persimmons, shares an update on the transition from southern hemisphere fruit to Moroccan citrus.
“This year, we are thankful for an earlier start to the Moroccan season with a healthy supply of mandarins we anticipate through April,” said Luke Sears, president, and founder of LGS Specialty Sales. “LGS’ strategy to ensure consistent supply of fruit for our customers revolves around the plans we implement with importers to meet demand each year.”
The company collaborates with select growers around the world to provide its customers with high-quality, in-season fruit sourced from the finest growing regions known for having optimal climate and soil conditions. During this time of year, Moroccan fruit not only offers more variety to the U.S. market, but also offers better positioning as it relates to supply chain efficacy.
“Due to Morocco’s location, we are able to give our customers competitive import pricing that is cost effective,” said Sears. “We want the industry to know that LGS is a 365-day supplier of all things citrus and we’re here to help support year-round!”
LGS concluded the southern hemisphere season strong with Cara Caras, Grapefruit, Mandarins and Minneolas. Chilean W. Murcotts are currently holding steady with supply expected through Thanksgiving and Moroccan citrus becoming available at the beginning of November.
Press release from Markon Cooperative, Salinas, CA
Temperatures along major West Coast and Southwestern growing regions have cooled significantly since last week’s heatwave.
Areas such as the Salinas, San Joaquin, and Santa Maria Valleys, as well as Oxnard and the California/Arizona desert growing regions were all impacted. Several key commodity and value-added fruits and vegetable items such as broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and leafy greens are exhibiting heat-related quality and shelf-life issues.
Challenges that Markon inspectors are currently observing include but are not limited to:
Broccoli:
- Brown bead
- Dehydration
- Hollow core
- Insect pressure
- Pin rot
Cauliflower:
- Insect pressure
- Mold spots
Lettuce:
- Bottom rot/decay
- Dehydration
- Fringe burn
- Growth crack
- Insect pressure
- Internal burn
- Long core/seeder
- Mildew pressure
- Shortened shelf-life
- Sun scalding
Strawberries:
- Bruising
- Decreased size
- Shortened shelf-life
- Soft texture
Leafy Greens:
- Bolting/seeder
- Dehydration
- Insect pressure
- Mildew pressure
- Shortened shelf-life
- Yellowing
Markon suppliers are working to mitigate these challenges by selecting the cleanest product and culling supplies with serious defects. However, harvesting and processing crews cannot completely avoid all of these heat-related issues.
Although the heatwave has passed, we can expect to feel the effects for two more weeks, or possibly longer.
Markon inspectors are monitoring supplies closely and will update as needed. Ordering for quick turns and maintaining the cold chain is critical for maximizing the quality and shelf-life of perishable produce items.
According to the first estimate of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, the country expects to export 135,501 tons, 3.2% more than the previous year. Of the total, 80,5012 tons will be of fresh blueberries (-6.7%) and 55,000 tons of frozen blueberries (+22.2%).
“This drop of almost 7% in fresh blueberry exports is not bad news for us but reflects the varietal replacement that is taking place in the industry, which will allow us to deliver better fresh blueberries to the markets. New varieties within this season’s shipments are expected to increase by 26%, amounting to more than 16 thousand tons,” according to the committee.
The United States is the main market for about 50% of Chile’s blueberries and the main destination for it fresh fruits in general.
Idaho and Oregon are unrivaled when it comes to U.S. onion growing, packing and shipping regions.
Idaho domestic truck shipments in 2023 amounted to 575.2 million pounds, with export truck shipments from the state accounting for 24.4 million pounds. Oregon was close behind, with the state accounting for 385.8 million pounds of domestic truck shipments and 44.3 million pounds of export truck shipments.
Idaho’s combined domestic and export truck shipments of onions totaled over 599 million pounds in 2023, up 16% from 515.9 million pounds in 2022. Oregon’s combined domestic and export shipments topped 429 million pounds in 2023, up 8% from 398 million pounds in 2022.
Idaho and Oregon shippers loaded onions every month of 2023, with peak supply from September through April.
In 2023, Idaho accounted for 14% of the U.S. domestic shipments and Oregon accounted for 10%.
Together the states accounted for about 1 in 4 domestic onions shipped in 2023.
Shoppers around the country are finding SnapDragon apples in their local grocery stores. Crunch Time Apple Growers of Lockport, NY, a cooperative of more than 150 family growers across New York state, began harvesting this year’s crop last month.
“We’re looking forward to bringing SnapDragon apples back to an ever-growing list of retailers,” said Jessica Wells, Crunch Time Apple Growers’ executive director. “Thanks to additional acreage reaching maturity, this year’s harvest is up by 20%. We hope that means more people than ever before can experience the Monster Crunch of SnapDragon apples! We look forward to working with new retailers to bring SnapDragon apples to their customers this season!”
In addition to the increased harvest volume, many growers report that the apples’ color has developed nicely and the apples are trending larger than last season’s. An early spring led the trees to bloom and the fruit to set earlier than last year, driving an early harvest.
In the coming weeks, SnapDragon apples will arrive at a roster of retailers including both longtime sellers of the variety and newcomers. Shoppers can expect to find SnapDragon apples at stores including Aldi, BJ’s, Food Lion, The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, H-E-B, Lowes, Publix, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Sprouts, Target, Tops, Walmart, Wegmans and Whole Foods.
The latest United States 2024 California Citrus Acreage report shows a significant increase in bearing acres for mandarins and mandarin hybrids.
According to the report, the estimated statewide bearing acreage for mandarins increased from 66,000 acres in 2021-22 to 69,000 acres in 2022-23, a total increase of 3,000 acres.
The citrus acreage data is a compilation of questionnaire responses mailed to all citrus growers in the National Agricultural Statistics Service database. The mailing was sent in January 2023 and producers had to update the information with new plantings, removals, and any corrections.
The 2023 California Mandarin Objective Measurement Report by the California Department of Food and Agriculture indicated an 8% increase in fruit set per tree from the previous year.
The detailed California citrus acreage report shows that 64,933 acres of mandarins and mandarin hybrids are bearing fruit.
The report shows a decrease of 500 grapefruit-bearing acres, an increase of 1,000 lemon-bearing acres, and a decrease of 1,000 Valencia oranges-bearing acres. Navel oranges bearing acres remained the same.
SunDate of Coachella, CA has had near perfect growing conditions this season helping pave the way for the company to meet the increasing demand for dates, both domestically and globally.
The packer, shipper has a year around demand for dates.
Last year’s crop faced significant challenges due to a hurricane that did a lot of damage and as the season went on, volume was off significantly.
Currently, the company is optimistic about the upcoming season as shipments just got underway recently.
Thanks to ideal growing conditions the 2025 crop, the weather has been perfect, with one of the hottest summers on record in Coachella, which is exactly what dates need, the company reports.
Gee Whiz of Orondo, WA, a leading grower of Washington apples and cherries and the only producer of the Hunnyz™ apple variety, announces that for the first season since the variety was introduced, volume is expected to extend into late spring 2025.
“We are so pleased to be able to meet more of the demand that has culminated since we first introduced Hunnyz™ in 2022,” said Brian Traum, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We have reached a production level in terms of tree maturity and consistent fruit quality that will help us extend the Hunnyz™ season well into May 2025. We are proud of this achievement and cannot wait for those first boxes to hit store shelves!”
Hunnyz™ apples are quickly gaining retail appeal due to their uniquely exceptional crunch and mouthwatering sweet tang. Several national retailers have conducted blind taste testing of leading apple varieties with internal focus groups and Hunnyz™ have repeatedly ranked #1 in flavor. This bi-color apple is a cross between CrimsonCrisp® and Honeycrisp and provides a perfectly balanced flavor that rivals all others.
“Because Gee Whiz® is the only apple producer to grow this particular variety, we are able to control the growing practices of this fruit to an exacting degree that ensures every Hunnyz™ apple tree is delivering the same sweet, crunchy eating experience with every bite”, added Traum.
In addition to the larger volume this apple season, Hunnyz™ will be available in more pack styles including tray pack, pouch bags, and Euro style bags. The first harvest of Hunnyz™ apples will ship in early October 2024 and supply is expected to carry into May 2025. For additional information, please visitwww.geewhizfruit.com.
About Gee Whiz
For nearly 100 years, Gee Whiz has been a leading grower, packer, and shipper of apples, cherries, and other tree fruit. Known for their innovative growing practices that dramatically impact the quality and flavor of their fruit, Gee Whiz has been a leader in the development of new apple varieties and planting methods. In 1972 the company planted the first commercial crop of Granny Smith Apples in Washington State. With two primary growing locations nestled along the Columbia River in central Washington state: Orondo and Vantage, Gee Whiz fruit reflects the pristine elements found in these ideal growing environments. From the orchard crew to the order fulfillment team and everyone in between, the company’s collective mission is to achieve one singular outcome… packing the very best eating experience into every single box for 100% shopper satisfaction. For more information, please visitwww.geewhizfruit.com.