Posts Tagged “feature”
California grape shipments are in decline because of less late season volume and reports of growing quality problems. This has already resulted in many East Coast buyers turning to imported table grapes and this trend will continue to gather momentum as imported table grape volumes climb.Through early December Peruvian grape shipments had totaled 2.1 million cases to the US East Coast, more than twice the tonnage that was shipped in the same period last year. In that same period, Peruvian exporters loaded 240,000 cases to the US West Coast and 450,000 cases to the Canadian market (at both east and west coast ports).
Imported seedless grapes are increasing in volume, but arrivals will remain light through December.
California grape shipments will soon be limited to destinations west of the Mississippi River.
San Joaquin Valley grapes – grossing about $4000 to both Chicago and Dallas.
Chilean Imported Fruit
Chilean imported cherry and blueberry arrivals are well below traditional levels in similar fashion to grapes. Chilean table grape shipments faced a delayed start due to weather factors and the first Chilean charter to the US East Coast didn’t arrive until December 14th . Its cargo, which will included table grapes and stonefruit, was expected to be the only Chilean fruit that makes distribution before the Christmas holiday.
West Mexico winter vegetable shipments are crossing the border into Nogales, AZ, although heavier volume typically doesn’t occur until January.
Shipping gaps of product from Mexico are not as common as they used to be thanks in part to signicant volume coming from vegetables grown under shade houses and in green houses.
Tomato shipments including romas, grape tomatoes and some round tomatoes are gradually increasing in December, with heaviest volume occurring January through March. Mexican red peppers are in very light volume, and similar to tomatoes, are not expected to have significant loadings until around Christmas.
Melons such as watermelons and honeydew are more unpredictable due to winter growing conditions south of the border, but light volumes are expected through the end of the year.
Cucumber shipments have been underway since mid-September, which were soon followed by zucchini, yellow and gray squash, English cucumbers started the third week of October and hard squash in early November. Loadings of those items as well as green beans, and eggplant were underway with the arrival of December.
Mexican vegetable shipments crossing at Nogales – grossing about $2800 to Chicago.
Keys to the Cart: Driving Hass Avocado Sales at Retail, unveils how avocado purchases impact the value of the retail market basket, and identifies key shoppers and purchase behaviors driving these results, according to a new study by the Hass Avocado Board.
For example, the retail market basket analysis shows that shoppers spend 65 percent more in-store overall when avocados are in the basket; and millennial shoppers spend 73 percent more in-store overall when avocados are in the basket.
“The study, based on IRI household panel data, yields actionable insights into how high-value shoppers, such as millennials, are driving the category by purchasing avocados more frequently and spending more each time,” Emiliano Escobedo, executive director of the Hass Avocado Board, said in a press release. “Equally as interesting is how regional segmentation sheds light on areas that may be poised to deliver the next big wave of category growth.”
When viewing information on total U.S. households, the study found that over half of U.S. households purchase avocados with an average of 33 days between purchases. On average, shoppers purchase avocados six times per year and spend $3.49 per purchase. This equates to an annual avocado dollar spend of $20.76 per household.
The study offers in-depth insight into various consumer groups and geographic regions:
- Millennial Avocado Buyers — Millennial households are more likely to buy avocados and spend more on avocados than non-millennials. Millennials spend 22 percent more per occasion. Millennial baskets with avocados are $76.36, which is $8.74 above the average basket with avocados and $10.08 greater than non-millennial baskets with avocados.
- Bulk and Bagged Avocado Buyers — Buyers who purchase both bulk and bagged avocados spend more each year and purchase more frequently than bulk-only and bagged-only buyers. Bagged-only buyers have the highest avocado market basket at $137.93; both buyers also drive a higher-than-average avocado basket at $81.22; and the avocado market basket for bulk-only buyers is slightly below the average at $61.57.
- Avocado Buyers in Geographic Regions — The retail market basket with avocados in Emerging Regions (Aggregate of Midsouth, Great Lakes, Northeast, Plains and Southeast) is higher than in Developed Regions (Aggregate of California, West and South Central). Emerging Region baskets with avocados are $69.11, which is $1.49 above the national average for baskets with avocados and $2.92 greater than Developed Regions. However, the annual avocado spend is increasing at a faster rate in the Emerging Regions.
B
y The Florida Citrus Commission
The Florida Citrus Commission unanimously agreed recently to industry requests to lower fruit quality standards for the 2015-16 season.
The commission governs the Florida Department of Citrus, which regulates fruit quality standards. Citrus fruit must meet certain maturity standards before it can be harvested for commercial use. The commission agreed to lower the standard for sugar solids in oranges to 8 percent from 8.7 percent. Annually, 95 percent of Florida oranges go to juice. It also agreed to suspend for the 2015-16 season the regulation that navel oranges, mostly sold as fresh, must have at least 0.36 percent citric acid. Oranges were having difficulty reaching those levels because of the damaging effects of the fatal bacterial disease citrus greening, which is endemic in Florida groves.
Apparently items such as limes and lemons were not affected by the new standards.
Florida Pepper Shipments
Florida pepper shipments continue and may improve some. Pepper prices have been high, but now Mexican peppers are giving Florida competition, and lower prices, which result in more shipments.
Florida Grapefruit Shipments
Florida grape fruit shipments are underway, and apparently haven’t been as adversely affected as navel oranges due to a disease call greening. Grapefruit shipments have declined over the years with fading popularity, but some observers believe shipments this season will exceed those of a year ago.
Light to moderate shipments of Central and Southern Florida citrus, vegetables and strawberries – grossing about $1900 to Chicago.
As we grow older, we lose strength and muscle mass. However, the cause of age-related muscle weakness and atrophy has remained a mystery.
Scientists at the University of Iowa have discovered the first example of a protein that causes muscle weakness and loss during aging. The protein, ATF4, is a transcription factor that alters gene expression in skeletal muscle, causing reduction of muscle protein synthesis, strength, and mass. The UI study also identifies two natural compounds, one found in apples and one found in green tomatoes, which reduce ATF4 activity in aged skeletal muscle. The findings were published online recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, could lead to new therapies for age-related muscle weakness and atrophy.
“Many of us know from our own experiences that muscle weakness and atrophy are big problems as we become older,” says Christopher Adams, M.D., Ph.D., professor of internal medicine in the UI Carver College of Medicine, and senior study author. “These problems have a major impact on our quality of life and health.”
Previously, Adams and his team had identified ursolic acid, which is found in apple peel, and tomatidine, which comes from green tomatoes, as small molecules that can prevent acute muscle wasting caused by starvation and inactivity. Those studies set the stage for testing whether ursolic acid and tomatidine might be effective in blocking the largest cause of muscle weakness and atrophy: aging.
In their latest study, Adams’ team found that ursolic acid and tomatidine dramatically reduce age-related muscle weakness and atrophy in mice. Elderly mice with age-related muscle weakness and atrophy were fed diets lacking or containing either 0.27 percent ursolic acid, or 0.05 percent tomatidine for two months. The scientists found that both compounds increased muscle mass by 10 percent, and more importantly, increased muscle quality, or strength, by 30 percent. The sizes of these effects suggest that the compounds largely restored muscle mass and strength to young adult levels.
California grape shipments should continue through December, but your chances of claims or rejected loads may be increasing as late season quality problems are reported.
Confidence in the product is declining as complaints from retailers ranging from poor color on red grapes to decay and condition issues on all varieties are rising. As a result wholesalers are managing increased volumes of fruit that fail to make a satisfactory arrival to retailers. It is recommended drivers check grape quality at shipping point and make sure your receivers know what is being delivered. Meanwhile, meaningful arrivals of imported Chilean grapes won’t occur until January.
San Joaquin Valley grapes, carrots and kiwi – grossing about $3800 to Chicago.
Northwest Pear Shipments
The preseason estimate of 20 million boxes for Northwest pear shipments — 2 percent less than in 2014-15 — already has fallen to about 19 million boxes and could drop even more. In late November some shippers were transitioning into red anjous, and volumes were picking up significantly after Thanksgiving.
There are also some volumes of boscs now being shipped. Bartlett pear shipments should wrap up in February, while Boscs should ship into April and anjous into July.
Yakima Valley, WA apples and pears – grossing about $5000 to Houston
California Avocado Shipments
California Avocado shipments remain significantly higher than last year, but volume fell off sharply in late November.
About 27.9 million pounds of avocados were shipped in the U.S. the week ending November 28th, down from 48.3 million pounds the week before and from 35.3 million pounds in the same week in 2014, according to the USDA.
For the year, 781 million pounds had shipped through Nov. 28, up from 660 million pounds at that time last year.
Southern California avocados, citrus, peppers and tomatoes – grossing about $5900 to New York City.
Manitoba could give the small island of Prince Edward Island a run for its money when it comes to potato shipments.
Manitoba is partly responsible for an increase in Canadian potato shipments, according to new numbers from Statistics Canada (SC). Currently, P.E.I. is Canada’s biggest spud producer.
SC recently reported potato shipments in Canada are up 4.1 per cent in 2015, Manitoba potato shipments alone accounts for 57.2 per cent of the increase.
In 2015, P.E.I. potato shipments represented 23.7 per cent of total in Canadia. Manitoba was close on its heels with 20.6 per cent.
Prince Edward Island prides itself on being Canada’s king of spuds. The island is Canada’s largest potato producer and the industry is worth more than a billion dollars, according to the Prince Edward Island Potato Board.
The recent surge in Manitoba potato production has to do with how much the main potato processors – McCain’s, Simplot, and Cavendish – contract out to farms. All three demanded fewer potatoes for 2013 and 2014 from Manitoba farms, but in 2015 all three demanded more.
Looking at the long-term trend, it’s clear Manitoba is peeling its way to catch up to P.E.I. The industry has grown substantially in the past 20 years.
Canadian potato production is up overall in part because of the low Canadian dollar compared to the U.S. dollar.
By Allen Lund Company
La Cañada Flintridge Calif. – The Allen Lund Company (ALC) will be participating in Navidad en el Barrio for the 10th consecutive year. Working together with growers, shippers, and carriers Navidad is able to provide food baskets to over 15,000 families-in-need during the holiday season.
This year ALC worked with companies such as Wada Farms, Dayka+Hackett, Rainier Fruit Company, Wonderful Citrus, and Grimmway Farms to provide food donations. “We are thrilled with the great response our customers and shippers have given to Navidad this year,” stated Nora Trueblood, Director of Marketing and Communications. “Adding fresh produce to the dinner baskets is of huge value to the families.”
This year ALC also had the privilege of running a shoe drive in the Corporate office. We were able to collect 130 pairs of brand new shoes ranging in all sizes from toddler to teen. On December 12th the shoes will be handed out at St. Vincent de Paul’s annual shoe and toy drive to hundreds of families that wait in line for hours.
This will make the second year that with the Allen Lund Company’s coordination, Navidad Christmas dinners will also be given to 500 families at St. Vincent de Paul during their annual toy and shoe drive.
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.
North Carolina sweet potato shipments continue to set records as the product gains popularity with consumers.
With Thanksgiving past us and Christmas on the horizon, sweet potatoes shipments are rounding out another strong year due to high demand and a record increase in acreage. Despite some adverse growing conditions more acreage helped offset the poor weather. North Carolina faced delayed plantings due to extreme heat and drought. By harvest time, the entire state was hit by an excess of moisture. Still, sweet potatoes haulers were transporting generally good quality product.
After setting a North Carolina record in 2014 at 72, 000 acres, the state’s growers beat their own mark this year, with 84, 000 acres of sweet potatoes planted for the 2015 season.
Some estimates for the past five years, have North Carolinian sweet potato sweet shipments tripling. Sweet potato growers have planted more and more acres each year as they try to keep pace with consumer demand, and have expanded other aspects of their operations such as storage capacity and new packing lines.
While sweet potato shipments originate from Mississippi, Louisiana, California and Arkansas, North Carolina easily is the largest shipper of the product.
Eastern North Carolina sweet potato shipments – grossing about $2000 to Atlanta, $3000 to Chicago.
Looking for patterns in food consumption among elementary school children, researchers at Texas A&M University found something interesting about when and why kids choose to eat their vegetables. After analyzing plate waste data from nearly 8,500 students, it appears there is at least one variable tending to affect whether kids eat their broccoli, spinach or green beans more than anything: what else is on the plate.
In short, kids, are much more likely to eat their vegetable portion when it’s paired with a food that isn’t so delicious it gets all the attention. When chicken nuggets and burgers, the most popular items among schoolchildren, are on the menu, for instance, vegetable waste tends to rise significantly. When other less-beloved foods, like deli sliders or baked potatoes, are served, the opposite seems to happen.
The problem has been blamed, at least in part, for the deteriorating diets of American youth. It has also been on clear display ever since the government updated, in 2013, its nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program. Children, suddenly confronted with vegetables on every plate (as required as part of the change), have responded not by eating them, but by leaving them on their plates — untouched.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says nine out of 10 children still don’t eat enough vegetables.