Posts Tagged “feature”
Winter Iceberg and leaf lettuce shipments from the California and Arizona deserts have been practically non existent for the past week due the cold and wet weather. The situation could last into mid February.
The desert region received ¾” – 1+” of rain between Sunday, January 21 and Monday, January 22. Many growers were forced to cancel harvesting operations due to extremely muddy field conditions, according to Markon of Salinas, CA.
Over the past three weeks, the region has experienced freezing morning temperatures followed by above-normal humidity, and now significant rainfall. The erratic weather has caused many quality and shelf-life concerns to develop which will last for two to three weeks at minimum.
Markon inspectors are working with suppliers to minimize some of the following issues in lettuce and tender leaf items, but many cannot be avoided completely:
- Bottom rot
- Decreased case weights for commodity lettuce items
- Discoloration and/or decay on epidermal blistering and peeling
- Dirt/mud on the product
- Increased mildew pressure
- Premature pinking in some commodity and/or value-added salads or Washed & Trimmed leaf lettuce packs
- Reduced shelf-life potential
- Yellowing leaves/discoloration
- Ordering for quick turns is highly recommended
CHARLOTTE, NC – Dole Food Company recently announced the launch of a new weekly vessel service that will call the Northeast United States that started December 31, 2023.
The expanded service will increase capacity of tropical fresh fruits, including Dole branded bananas, pineapples, dragon fruit, mangoes and limes coming to the US from Colombia, Honduras and Guatemala into the Port of Wilmington, DE.
The service will deploy two 1,200 FEU container vessels, MV Robin-2, and MV Robin-5 in a 14-day rotation,with one of these vessels making weekly ports of call in Santa Marta, Colombia, Puerto Castilla, Honduras, and a new port of service in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala before landing in Wilmington, DE each Saturday.
Both additional vessels entering the expanded service will allow for optimum freshness of the fruit through increased sourcing options, discharges, and port rationalization. These vessels allow for increased fuel efficiency of our service derived from slow speed operation.
All other existing Dole shipping services will be unchanged.
Dole Ocean Cargo Express, the company’s commercial marine transportation service is also utilizing these vessels with the introduction of the Mayan Express Service between the Northeast United States and Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The new service will expand ocean network coverage providing an additional alternative to North Central America to and from the Port of Wilmington, DE.
“Dole is excited to expand our service level into the Northeast, bringing even more fresh tropical fruit to market,” stated Nelson Montoya, President of Dole Fresh Fruit North America. “Both existing and future Dole customers can be equally excited at this growth in our service as we continue our journey to make the world a healthier place.”
About Dole Food Company
Dole Food Company, part of Dole plc, is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education.
By B&W Quality Growers
FELLSMERE, FL – In a groundbreaking move to revolutionize dietary habits for health and wellness, B&W Quality Growers is proud to advocate for watercress as a crucial ingredient in weight loss diets. Recognized as the most nutrient-dense food, watercress surpasses other leafy greens in its benefits, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a healthier lifestyle.
Unparalleled Nutritional Value:
Watercress is not just another leafy green; it’s a powerhouse of nutrition. Watercress is the only food to receive a perfect score and be ranked at the top of the nutrient-density scale by the CDC and ANDI; it packs a wealth of vitamins and minerals in every bite. This includes Vitamin K for bone health, Vitamin C for immunity, and antioxidants that combat free radicals, promoting overall wellness and over 50 other essential nutrients.
Low in Calories, High in Fiber:
For those on a weight loss journey, watercress is an ideal ally. It’s incredibly low in calories yet high in fiber, making it an excellent choice for calorie-controlled diets. The high fiber content aids in digestion and helps maintain a feeling of fullness, reducing the temptation for unhealthy snacking.
Boosts Metabolism and Detoxifies the Body:
Watercress has been found to boost metabolism, a critical factor in weight loss. Thanks to its high chlorophyll content, its detoxifying properties help cleanse the body, thus enhancing overall health and aiding in weight management.
Versatile and Delicious:
Beyond its health benefits, watercress is celebrated for its culinary versatility. Its peppery flavor adds a delightful zest to salads, soups, sandwiches, and smoothies, making healthy eating enjoyable and delicious.
A Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Choice:
In our commitment to sustainability, B&W Quality Growers emphasizes that watercress is good for your health and the planet. It’s a sustainable crop that requires minimal land and water resources, aligning with eco-friendly dietary choices.
Join the Watercress Revolution for Health and Wellness:
B&W Quality Growers invites everyone to embrace watercress as a staple in their diet. It’s not just about weight loss; it’s about nourishing your body with the best nature offers. With watercress leading the way, let’s move towards healthier, more sustainable eating habits.
About B&W Quality Growers:
B&W Quality Growers has been farming responsibly since 1870. We’re the largest growers of distinctive leafy greens, including watercress, arugula, spinach, and water spinach. We sustainably grow, pack, and ship the highest quality distinctive leafy greens, providing well-being for our consumers and value for our customers. We’ve done this with zero product recalls and aim to provide a healthier, more flavorful world using premium leaves in everyday recipes.
Los Angeles, CA – Pacific Trellis Fruit, LLC. dba Dulcinea Farms, the owner of the Dulcinea® brand, announced that after several years of successful production trials, they will be expanding the sourcing of their PureHeart® Mini Seedless Watermelon from Guatemala beginning in January 2024 and extending into April.
Product shipped will arrive via the West Coast Port Hueneme, California, as well as to the East Coast, through Port Everglades, Florida.
“We are extremely excited about this development as it will expand our ability to deliver Dulcinea PureHeart mini watermelons 52 weeks per year, “explained Rob Markel, VP of Sales – Melons at Pacific Trellis Fruit. “At this time, we are also growing the melons in both Los Mochis and Colima, Mexico, and the fruit to market ships through Nogales, AZ.”
“In addition, the watermelon from Guatemala is currently undergoing Fair Trade Certification, which is a rigorous and globally recognized sustainable sourcing model that improves livelihoods, protects the environment, and builds resilient, transparent supply chains” added Markel.
*****
About Pacific Trellis Fruit
Pacific Trellis Fruit® is one of North America’s top year-round importers, growers, and marketers of premium fresh fruit, including melons, grapes, stonefruit, cherries and citrus. In 2014, Dulcinea® was acquired by Pacific Trellis Fruit and became their consumer-facing brand. Dulcinea is the pioneer of the PureHeart® personal seedless watermelon, the Tuscan-Style® cantaloupe and SunnyGold® yellow mini seedless watermelon. Pacific Trellis Fruit also features Kiss Melons, a line of high quality, great tasting melons. Pacific Trellis’ corporate headquarters is in Los Angeles, CA, with sales offices in Fresno, CA, Gloucester, NJ, and Tucson, AZ.
Container xChange has released its “2023 Shipping Industry Trends and Future of Shipping in 2024” report.
The second annual report analyzes key impacts that shaped the container shipping industry in 2023 and provides predictions and scenarios for 2024 with an aim to help the industry plan ahead for what the report called a “grumpy” 2024, according to a news release.
Overall, the report indicates a high probability of market recovery failure in 2024, the release said.
The industry surveys conducted with supply chain professionals globally indicate that, in 2024, the shipping industry is predicted to grapple with persistently reduced demand and oversupply, potentially leading to fiercer competition, further reduced profits and possible market consolidation, the release said.
Although container schedule reliability is improving, persistent challenges remain. Blank sailings are expected to rise in response to market volatility, while imbalanced container availability, driven by economic crises, may continue in certain regions, according to the release.
The shipping industry faces the risk of oversupply in 2024 as deliveries are set to increase to 2.95 million TEUs, according to the release. The surge in deliveries, including “Megamaxes” and “Neopanamaxes,” may lead to intense competition, reduced profits, and potential mergers and acquisitions, the release said.
Carriers, particularly in North America, are navigating a delicate balance between government-driven demand and rising interest rates.
“Overordering of ships during the economic boom could create overcapacity, turning 2023’s profits into 2024’s losses,” the release said. “The sector is projected to face challenges to restore supply and demand equilibrium until 2026.”
The trade group U.S. Apple Association of Falls Church, VA held a webinar following the December 1st update on the amount of apples remaining in storages.
Chris Gerlach, USApple’s director of industry analytics, said the total figure was about 190 million bushels — 140 million of those bushels are in fresh apples while 51 million remain in processing.
“The last time we had a total holding of this size in November it was the November 2014-15 season with 188 million bushels — 144 million bushels in fresh and 44 million bushels in processing,” Gerlach said. “For the most part, we’re right on par with the production with the fresh crop there.”
Gerlach said one deviation from the 2014-15 figures is the number of apples in processing this season. He suspected with a down market last year, processors used the opportunity to fill holdings then.
“It’s a big year,” said Gerlach, who added that fresh apple holdings are closer to 40% greater than a year ago.
Washington state contributes the majority the year-over-year growth. The state is up 38% over last season, which is equivalent to 42 million bushels and about 90% of total growth in the U.S.
New York state’s 15 million bushels is 10% of the national growth; its crop is up 44% year over year.
Michigan shows a 6% decrease year over year, but at 12 million bushels, it is down only 1 million bushels from 2022 and still above the state’s five-year average.
“These states account for about 94% of remaining storages,” Gerlach said.
Honeycrisp, gala, red delicious, granny smith and fuji make up 76% of the total apple holdings. Gerlach said USApple pulled Envy out of the “other varieties” category to track its growth individually moving forward. Apple growers harvested 4.2 million bushels of Envy apples this season.
Cosmic Crisp experienced a 41% year-over-year growth with 9.5 million bushels harvested this year.
Gerlach noted that there are two mindsets for how this year’s crop moved through before December. He said if using the figures set in August by the USDA, it looks like a sluggish movement of apples in storage. However, Gerlach said he suspects the crop is higher than projected and therefore moving at a better rate.
He said the figures in the USApple movement tracker shows a 17.8-million-bushel differential between November and December, up 81% year over year, with varieties coming in and out of storage. Gerlach suspects with apples coming in and going out of storage, that figure could be higher. Washington state moved 16.3 million bushels in November, which is up 97% year over year.
Gerlach said by comparison, using the 2014-15 season, data from the tracker shows only 14 million bushels for November. So, apple movement this season tracks considerably higher.
“With the 18-million-bushel figure, we are exceeding the net movement in the November 2014 time frame,” he said. “There’s no reason to think we’re dragging our heels.”
Gerlach noted net movement of varieties show gala moving 4.4 million bushels, up 74% year over year. Honeycrisp movement is up 105% at 3.7 million bushels. Movement of granny smith apples is up 204% at 3 million bushels. Red delicious rounds out the top four with 2.1 million bushels, up 53%.
Florida’s strawberry strawberry shipments are gradually ramp up and should hit peak volume in time to make deliveries for Valentine’s Day, February 14.
The Sunshine State strawberry season got underway in early to mid-November, and supplies slowly increased throughout December.
Gem-Pack Berries LLC of Irvine, CA is partnering with Parkesdale Farms of Plant City, FL. The companies expect to have peak volume the week of Valentine’s Day.
On a note of caution, the company is monitoring for Botrytis and Chile thrips. Botrytis is a fungus causing a gray mold and appears as white specks or brown spots on the pedals which spread to the flower. Chile thrips are microscopic pests that damage the strawberry leaves and fruit itself.
Parkesdale Farms expects similar volume to a year ago with ample supplies throughout the season.
Gem-Pack also will offer Well-Pict-brand proprietary strawberry varieties grown in Florida.
Wish Farms of Plant City began picking Florida strawberries the first week of November, which is about a week earlier than usual with average berry size and above average quality.
Peak season for Wish Farms is expected to be mid-February to early March, with volume similar to other seasons.
California Gian Berry Farms of Watsonville, CA started harvesting Florida strawberries the second week of November, but cooler than normal weather had kept its volume below normal.
But volume had not reached normal numbers as of mid-December because of unusually cool weather. Still the company expects total volume to be similar to last season, shipments extending through March and into early April.
Astin Strawberry Exchange LLC has 2,000 acres of strawberries this year, with decent volume expected by January 20, with peak season likely coming after Valentine’s Day, but earlier if weather is warm in January.
The company notes an early Easter of March 31 will be good for Florida strawberry shipments with peak volume occurring from mid-February to mid-March.
Between January and October of 2023, Chile exported over 2.9 million tons of fruit, valued at $6.85 billion FOB.
Compared to the same period in 2022, this is a decrease in exported volume of 5.4 percent and an increase of 9 percent in value, as reported by Odepa.
Of this total in value, 70.7 percent is for fruit, 20.1 percent to processed fruit (juices, oils, preserves, frozen, dehydrated), and 9.1 percent to dried fruits (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, among others).
Fresh fruit volume reached 2,254,000 tons, amounting to $4.85 billion FOB for the period. These exports registered a decrease in volume of 6.6 percent, and in value an increase of 13.2 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.
The main commodities exported in the analysis period in this group were cherries, registering a volume of 302,842 tons, equivalent to $1.82 billion FOB, which represents 37.6 percent of the total value of fresh fruit exports in the analysis period. An increase of 6.1 percent in volume and 21.9 percent in value is evident in shipments of this fruit, compared to the same period in 2022. The main destination is China (91.1 percent of the total value of exports of Chilean cherries were sent to that country).
Table grapes are next in volume, with 495,308 tons equivalent to $892.7 million FOB, which represents 18.4 percent of the total value of fresh fruit exports. There was a decrease in shipments of 18 percent in volume and an increase in value of 3.5 percent, compared to the same period of the previous year, with the U.S. standing out as the main buyer in this period (47.7 percent) and China (13.1 percent).
In third place are apples, with shipments of 461,500 tons equivalent to $484 million FOB, which represents 10 percent of the total value of fresh fruit exports. There is a decrease of 20.3 percent in volume shipped and 1.1 percent in value, compared to the same period of the previous year. The main destination country was the U.S. (concentrating 14 percent of the total value of apple shipments), followed by Colombia (concentrating 13 percent), and Brazil (10 percent).
And in fourth place are blueberries, with shipments of 72,992 tons and $327 million FOB, equivalent to 6.7 percent of the total value of fresh fruit exports. There is a decrease of 19.5 percent in volume shipped and 8.8 percent in value compared to the same period of the previous year. The main destinations were the U.S. (48.6 percent) and the Netherlands (19.3 percent).
After two years of figures marked by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 brought an improvement in export volumes for Ecuadorian bananas, with 316.35 million boxes shipped to international markets, according to a recent report by the Association of Ecuadorian Banana Exporters (AEBE) latest report.
The U.S. posted a moderate increase in imports of this product, totaling 28.44 million boxes in 2023 with a 9% share of shipments.
The report has statistical data collected by DATACOMEX and the Banana Statistical Observatory, considering consolidated figures up to November 2023.
During 2021 and 2022, the sector experienced an accumulated 14% drop in shipments, with the European Union and Russia as the main destinations. Although figures remain below pre-pandemic levels, exports rose 6% in 2023.
In 2023, 91.86 million 40-pound boxes were shipped to the EU, while in 2022 exports to said market totaled 78.00 million boxes, an 18% increase for this destination.
In the case of Russia, shipments totaled 67.28 million boxes in 2023, with a slight 4% decrease year-on-year, as shipments stood at 70.08 million boxes in 2022.
As for other markets, the U.S. posted a moderate increase in imports of this product, totaling 28.44 million boxes in 2023 with a 9% share of shipments.
Africa also reported an increase in Ecuadorian banana imports. In 2023, 3.83 million additional boxes were exported to this region, reaching 17.64 million boxes and a 6% share of overall shipments.
On the other hand, Asia bought 3.62 million additional boxes compared to 2022, reaching a 6% share.
In total, the ten main brands of Ecuador shipped 118.16 million boxes to international destinations, thus placing 37.35% of the domestic banana supply abroad. Dole and Global Village stand out as the main ones.
The EU and Russia maintained their positions as main markets, accounting for 29% and 21% of total shipments, respectively.
In 2023, 91.86 million 40-pound boxes were shipped to the EU, while in 2022 exports to said market totaled 78.00 million boxes, an 18% increase for this destination.
In the case of Russia, shipments totaled 67.28 million boxes in 2023, with a slight 4% decrease year-on-year, as shipments stood at 70.08 million boxes in 2022.
Africa also reported an increase in Ecuadorian banana imports. In 2023, 3.83 million additional boxes were exported to this region, reaching 17.64 million boxes and a 6% share of overall shipments.
On the other hand, Asia bought 3.62 million additional boxes compared to 2022, reaching a 6% share.
In total, the ten main brands of Ecuador shipped 118.16 million boxes to international destinations, thus placing 37.35% of the domestic banana supply abroad. Dole and Global Village stand out as the main ones.
CJ Buxman, a third generation San Joaquin Valley grower/shipper, and former President of Fruit World Company, has started Sunny Cal Farms in Reedley, CA.
Sunny Cal Farms is offering organic and conventional California-grown specialty and traditional citrus, along with heirloom and novel grapes.
The original Sunny Cal Farms was started in 1981 by CJ’s father, Carl Jasper Buxman, and packed under the Jasper label, which is also being resurrected. CJ, along with his wife and partner Maureen, wanted to use the historic company name and label to rekindle the yearning for fruit that puts quality and flavor above all else.
“It’s great to continue the Sunny Cal legacy,” relates CJ “We’re farmers first, and are committed to providing the highest quality, most flavorful fruit. We’re also focused on listening to our customer needs, and satisfying those needs with the best customer service possible.”
The Buxman’s grow 120 acres of organic and conventional citrus and table grapes, manage another 100 acres, and have long-standing relationships with other foundational California family farmers who share the Buxman’s commitment to providing quality fruit and exceptional customer service.
As curators of specialty and unique products, Sunny Cal Farms can bring program buying consistency to small and mid-sized retailers. Sunny Cal Farms is currently shipping organic and conventional citrus, including specialty varietals, lemons, and navel oranges.
“Our long-standing grower relationships helps us secure a consistent supply of the best quality fruit, and allows us to fill orders,” CJ added. “We’re dedicated to honoring all our commitments and will only sell what we can deliver.”