Posts Tagged “feature”
A very sophisticated crime ring or perhaps even several crime rings out of the Los Angeles area are stealing truckloads of California tree nuts, worth as much as $500,000, according to statements from the Agricultural Processors Association.
The Department of Transportation’s shipping database has been hacked by thieves, who obtain information from shipping and trucking companies’ Facebook pages so they can identify drivers, and they’re forging documents. This research makes them appear very legitimate when they come to pick up a load of almonds, pistachios, or walnuts.
Many times forged documents will include “burner” cell phone numbers. When a processor or shipper calls the number, they’re talking to one of the thieves posing as a legitimate driver, but by the time they realize the load has been stolen, that phone and number have been discarded without a trace.
In other instances, thieves pretend to be the nut processor and call the drivers who legitimately picked up loads. They tell the driver they discovered a problem with the load and ask him to drop it off at another facility for inspection. The driver does as he’s told, and three days later the company finds out the load never made it to its final destination.
In the rare instances where product has been found, it’s been in locations all across the country, and even in Eastern Europe. By then, it is too late to capture them.
Tree nut thefts have picked up in the last six months. Nuts have become very expensive, makng them a prime target. But a big part of the problem is that there’s little punishment for those responsible for committing crimes of this nature. In 2014, California passed Proposition 47, which classifies “non-serious, nonviolent crimes” as misdemeanors instead of felonies, as long as the defendant doesn’t have prior serious convictions.
Additionally, when an empty trailer is found in Los Angeles, the crime is considered to have taken place there. In Los Angeles, something like nut theft falls pretty low on the list of priorities when it comes to prosecuting criminals.
To make matter worse, insurance isn’t covering these thefts. Because the criminals are picking up the loads illegitimately but without any violence, it’s considered the processor’s negligence. Specific policies have to be purchased for this type of theft.
Although all California-grown tree nuts have been targeted, pistachios have taken the biggest hit. One truckload can be worth as much as $500,000. Even cashews imported to California and processed in the state have been stolen.
Mandarins lead all citrus categories in dollar sales at retail and are up 17.3 percent, representing almost 37 percent of all citrus sales for the last year, according to recent IRI Worldwide data. Mandarins also lead in pound sales, up just over 19 percent.
“The rise in popularity of mandarins follows along with consumer demand for healthy, convenient snacks,” Joan Wickham, manager of advertising and public relations for Sunkist, said in a press release. “Easy to peel and high in Vitamin C, mandarins fit the bill for healthy snacking and they are also juicy, sweet and delicious.”
Sunkist offers retailers multiple packaging and point-of-sale options to help retailers merchandise mandarins to continue driving sales and educate consumers about specialty mandarins varieties.
“Providing flavor profiles, nutrition information, recipes and usage tips encourages consumers to experiment and enjoy mandarins in multiple ways,” Julie DeWolf, director of retail marketing, said in the release.
Mandarins are also trending in foodservice channels, with operators showcasing the versatility of easy-peelers in applications such as adult beverages, salads, desserts and seafood appetizers. Clementines have shown a particularly strong increase on menus, with a nearly 40 percent spike over the past year, driven mainly by increased use in beverages.
“Mandarins are great for snacking, but they’re also wonderful as an ingredient — and increasing foodservice usage across meal parts demonstrates this,” added Wickham.
Sunkist offers Satsuma, Clementine, Royal, W. Murcott and Gold Nugget mandarin varieties from late October through June with multiple packaging options, including the beloved Sunkist Smiles brand.
We’re in the lightest time of the year for domestic produce shipments, so here’s a look at the Western USA where the heaviest volume loadings are taking place.
Washington Apple Shipments
While there is no record volume this season, it is still a good sized crop that is averaging around 3000 truck load equivalents weekly from the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys. There’s also pears available in much lighter volume.
Washington apples – grossing about $6100 to New York City.
Yuma Arizona Vegetables
Head lettuce and romaine easily lead the lettuce family in volume with the two items averaging about 1875 trucks per week from the Yuma district. There’s also lettuce, in much in lighter volume, coming out of California’s nearby Imperial Valley. Other veggies also are available to help fill out loads.
Desert vegetables – grossing about $4700 to Atlanta.
Nogales Produce Shipments
Dozens of different Mexican vegetables are crossing the border here, although it sure seems volume is lighter than usual, in what is normally the peak season for volume. Tomatoes (vine ripe, cherry and grape) lead the pack with about 1500 truckloads per week. Bell peppers are shipping about one-half this amount in volume.
Idaho Potato Shipments
Spuds are available for the nation’s leading shipper. About 1750 truckload equivalents are shipping each week, with rail handling a much higher percentage than with produce items from most other shipping areas.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $3000 to Chicago.
Idaho / Oregon Onion Shipments
It seems all onion shipping areas from around the country have lighter volume this season. Heaviest volume is coming from Western Idaho and Malhuer County, Oregon, averaging about 750 truck loads per week.
The US population continues to consume more and more avocados. Consumption is driven by increased media attention as well as in-store promotions. “This year, a record-shipment of 139 million lbs. is expected to come in from Mexico to be consumed in the run up to and on the day of the Big Game,” said Maggie Bezart Hall with Avocados from Mexico. “This would be a 13 percent increase compared to last year,” she added.
139 million lbs. of avocados equals 278 million individual avocados. This is just for Super Bowl Sunday and the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. “US avocado consumption during the Big Game is enough to fill a football field end zone to end zone more than 53 ft. deep,” shared Bezart Hall. On Super Bowl Sunday, look for the avocado commercial during the first commercial break segment.The majority of avocados being consumed in the US end up in guacamole. Eating avocados on a sandwich is second most popular, followed by salads and avocados consumed by themselves.
Meanwhile, it’s the Denver Broncos vs. the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50!
By Allen Lund Company
La Cañada Flintridge Calif. – The Allen Lund Company (ALC) is proud to announce its 40th anniversary. In 1976, the Allen Lund Company opened its doors with a handful of employees. Now, the company boasts over 400 employees which span across the country. The company has always maintained an exceptional reputation amongst shippers and carriers, and consistently earns a Four-X rating with Blue Book and a Four-Star rating with Red Book Credit Services. Throughout the years, ALC has started and maintained key relationships with top customers like: Costco, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Ahold USA to name a few, which are still going strong to this day.
Allen Lund, President and CEO, stated “Like I’ve always said, I have had the privilege of living the American dream. Celebrating 40 years is a dream come true to me which has been made possible by the hard working people in this industry. Being a part of this industry which thrives on trust has been amazing. I don’t know how anyone could have lived a better life. Working with my family and wonderful employees has been a dream. I’m so proud of this company, its carriers, shippers, and employees.”
Steve Doerfler, Vice President Chief Financial Officer, added “It is remarkable to celebrate the 40 year anniversary of Allen Lund Company. This is a testament to the principles of honesty and integrity that Allen founded the company on and are lived out daily by its employees. We are blessed to have the best employees in the industry supported by a true family environment.”
About Allen Lund Company:
Specializing as a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 400 employees, the Allen Lund Company works with shippers and carriers across the nation to transport dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight; additionally, the Allen Lund Company has a logistics and software division, ALC Logistics, and an International Division licensed by the FMC as an OTI-NVOCC #019872NF..
Established in 1976, the Allen Lund Company was selected as a 2015 Top Private Company by Los Angeles Business Journal, a 2015 Top 100 Logistics IT Provider by Inbound Logistics, a 2014 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100, a 2014 Great Supply Chain Partner, and was placed in Transport Topics’ “2014 Top 25 Freight Brokerage Firms.” The company managed over 300,000 shipments in 2014, and received the 2013 “Best in Cargo Security Award.” In 2011 the company received the TIA 3PL Samaritan Award, and the NASTC (National Association of Small Trucking Companies) named Allen Lund Company the 2010 Best Broker of the Year. More information is available at www.allenlund.com.
The Port of Savannah, Georgia continues to play a larger role with imports of fresh produce.
Peruvian grapes arrived in Savannah this season, marking the first time the port has received this commodity from Peru. The grapes, which began arriving in November, are part of a string of commodities that are quickly making the port a major gateway in the Southeast for fresh produce and other perishables. The port already is receiving avocados, citrus and a large share of Peruvian sweet onions in the fall.
Savannah is the fourth-largest container port behind Los Angeles, Long Beach and New York and it’s location cuts transportation costs for receivers, who historically paid for freight arriving at ports in the Northeast. The savings per container are $1,000, if not more.
A large perishable facility will soon open 15 miles from the port offering various services for shippers, including refrigerated warehouses where re-packaging, fumigation and de-consolidation of perishable cargo can take place.
For now, the amount of grapes making the 17-day journey from Peru to Savannah is relatively small. But the volume of grapes, as well as other fresh produce items, will only increase as the benefits of the port become more apparent. Additionally, some observers believe Chilean and Central American commodities will more frequently come through the port.
Normally light Florida produce shipments are much lighter this season due to excessive rains. If the weather trend continues it soon will be threatening the Florida spring shipping season that typically peaks in April and May.
Up to 8 inches of rain last week soaked fields of sweet corn, green beans, celery, radishes, leafy greens and other vegetables and flooded some areas, leaving crops underwater. Damage to crops is estimated to be 25 to 50 percent. Losses of crops and even lighter than normal shipments is a given. Now it’s a wait to see how bad the situation is.
The heavy rains mean vegetable shipments in general will probably be much lighter than usual through February and March. Belle Glade is the hub of Florida sweet corn and green bean shipments.
It’s been a crazy winter for produce shipments, not only in Florida, but elsewhere.
Mexican volume of bell peppers, strawberries and other items have been lowered by cold weather. California strawberry volume is down due to weather factors.
Meanwhile, Florida strawberry volume have suffered from heat; Florida avocado loadings are down due to a fruit fly quarantine; Florida tomatoes are off due to rains; Florida cabbage shipments are down as much as 40 percent from weather; Florida citrus volume is drastically off due to citrus greening disease.
Only one state is shipping more potatoes than Colorado right now, plus soaring shipments are possible for the new California avocado shipping season.
Colorado is averaging around 750 truck loads of potatoes being shipped weekly, second only to Idaho. Colorado’s San Luis Valley has remained relatively stable in recent years, with a 4-5 percent fluctuation depending on rotation of the crops.
In 2o15 plantings for the crop, which are now being shipped stood at 51,000 acres. Conventional spuds took up 47,000 acres, and organics accounted for 4,000 acres. Russets amounted to 38,540 acres in conventionals and 3,280 in organics. There were 2,820 acres in conventional red potatoes and 240 acres in organics. Yellows had 3,290 acres in conventional and 280 in organics. Specialty potatoes had 2,350 acres in conventional, 200 in organics.
Colorado has finally been getting decent rains and snow packs and looking ahead to the 2016 planting and growing seasons, a lot of people are optimistic there will be a good crop and shipments.
Colorado potato shipments grossing about $1700 to Dallas.
California Avocado Shipments
The upcoming California avocado crop is projected to be 392.5 million pounds, which amounts to a 40 percent increase in shipments from last year. Rains in California have certainly helped, plus the alternate-bearing nature of the trees is expected to have an effect on this year’s crop. The Hass variety, California’s main avocado variety, tends to have a heavy crop, followed by lighter volume the next season. During the last two years, California avocado shipments have been lighter and the trees are ready to produce again.
Shipments of California avocados start to build up in March with peak loadings occurring between April and August with availability into September and October.
Southern California, citrus, vegetables – grossing about $3700 to Dallas.
DALLAS – Building on the momentum generated last February, when it became the first fresh produce brand to broadcast an ad during the most-watched television program in the United States, Avocados From Mexico (AFM) is following up with another multi-dimensional campaign for the 2016 Super Bowl, airing on Sunday, February 7, on CBS.
The number-one selling avocado in the U.S. with more than 75 percent of the market, AFM plans to debut this years’ experience during the first break of the game. Last year’s AFM Big Game campaign, “First Draft Ever,” also created by GSD&M, included a TV spot, teaser and social media war room during the game, boosting attention with collaborative support from PR, social and digital media. AFM avocado consumption grew 35% in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, and the airing of “First Draft Ever” was a key element contributing to the growth percentage.
The humorous spot which depicted Mexico’s choice of the avocado during a pre-historic, football-styled “draft” of plants and animals, earned widespread acclaim and consumer engagement, which set the brand up for success and increased demand in the month of February, historically a slower month for avocado consumption. Because of their ability to successfully bring brands to life on a big stage, Austin-based advertising agency GSD&M was chosen once again for creative strategy and production of the Big Game multi-dimensional campaign for Avocados From Mexico.
As it did for 2015, Havas Media will be handling the buying and execution of the Big Game spot, along with supporting CBS properties to surround its debut. “Last year’s groundbreaking Big Game experience was an overwhelming success, as it showcased the origin of the number-one selling avocado in the U.S., taking brand awareness of Avocados From Mexico to the next level,” said Alvaro Luque, president of Avocados From Mexico.
In February 2015, AFM’s Big Game campaign was seen by more than 114 million U.S. viewers, and – coupled with social media and PR support – generated more than 1.6 billion earned and paid media impressions in one week. Engagement for all social media platforms was up 5,400 percent and #FirstDraftEver trended in 27 cities nationwide. “Last year, our Big Game ad and social media support helped fuel the growth of Avocados From Mexico to new heights, and we’re confident this year will do the same,” noted Luque. “More Americans than ever are embracing the many nutritional benefits of this “superfruit,” making this an ideal time to educate consumers that you can buy fresh Mexican avocados 365 days of the year
Avocados From Mexico (AFM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA), formed for the purpose of advertising, promotion, public relations and research for all stakeholders of Avocados From Mexico.
by American Heart Association
Researchers found that eating more fruits and vegetables as young adults was associated with less calcified coronary artery plaque 20 years later. Coronary artery calcium can be measured by a CT scan to detect the presence and amount of atherosclerosis, a disease that hardens arteries and underlies many types of heart disease.
The researchers divided data from 2,506 study participants into three groups, based on their daily fruit and vegetable consumption. Women in the top third ate an average of nearly nine servings of daily fruits and vegetables and men averaged more than seven daily servings. In the bottom third, women consumed an average 3.3 daily servings and men 2.6 daily servings. All servings were based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet.
Researchers found that people who ate the most fruit and vegetable at the study’s start had 26 percent lower odds of developing calcified plaque 20 years later, compared to those who ate the least amount of fruits and vegetables.
Previous studies have shown a strong association between eating more fruits and vegetables and reduction in heart disease risk among middle-age adults. However, this is the first study to examine whether eating more fruits and vegetables as young adults could produce a measurable improvement in the health of their heart and blood vessels years later.
“People shouldn’t assume that they can wait until they’re older to eat healthy—our study suggests that what you eat as a young adult may be as important as what you eat as an older adult, ” said lead author Michael D. Miedema, M.D., senior consulting cardiologist and clinical investigator at the Minneapolis Heart Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Researchers studied health information from adults in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a government-funded study of black and white young adults, which started in 1985. At the study’s start, participants provided a detailed diet history, information on other lifestyle variables and cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, whether or not they smoked cigarettes, weight and others. Twenty years later, participants underwent a CT scan to check for buildup of calcium on the walls of the arteries of the heart, which is calculated as a coronary artery calcium score. Higher coronary calcium scores are associated with a higher risk for heart attacks and other coronary heart disease events.
“Our findings support public health initiatives aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable intake as part of a healthy dietary pattern,” Miedema said. “Further research is needed to determine what other foods impact cardiovascular health in young adults.”