Posts Tagged “feature”
California grape shipments should remain in good volume, providing steady loading opportunities through the end of the year. Meanwhile, the state’s citrus shipments will be picking up soon, while vegetable loadings will be limited as volume gradually shifts to the the desert areas.
Grape shipments at this point in the season are right on the heels of last year’s record loadings of 116 million, 19-pound boxes. If this year’s grape shipments don’t break last year’s volume, at the least it will be the second largest on record. About 70 percent of the total crop has been shipped .
Citrus Shipments
It is estimated California will ship 81 million, 40-pound cartons of navel oranges this season. Of that total, 78 million cartons will be shipped from California’s Central San Joaquin Valley. Shipments are modest, but will be increasing in the weeks ahead.
Mandrian orange shipments are also on the rise, with greater volume than a year ago being forecast.
Vegetable shipments
Salinas vegetables ranging from broccoli to cauliflower, among others, will be shifting from the Salinas Valley to the desert areas. The shift to California’s Imperial Valley and the Yuma District in Arizona will be taking place around the third to fourth week of November. Head lettuce from the Huron District is winding down and also will be shifting the desert areas.
Central San Joaquin Valley grapes and other fruit – grossing about $7100 to New York City.
Since our initial report October 27th on a devastating freeze in Chile, it is now appearing the damage was not nearly as serious as initially thought.
A highly damaging freeze could drastically reduce imported Chilean winter produce — and hauling opportunities for American produce haulers.
Chile was hit hard a year ago by freezing temperatures, and this time around it doesn’t seem as bad.
While limited volume of Chilean blueberries have been arriving in the U.S. by air since early October, it will be early December when “blues” begin arriving by boat and significant volume will occur.
Besides blueberries, kiwifruit, cherries and apples had been cited as being adversely affected by the cold. The freeze occurred October 8-9.
Chile is perhaps been known for its table grapes, which normally arrive in good volume at U.S. ports during January, February and March. However, the vast majority of Chilean grape vineyards are located much further north in Chile than where the October freeze occurred.
More updated information on Chilean winter imports should become available in the weeks ahead. Chile is a primary exporter of fresh produce to the U.S., with produce arriving at ports on both coasts, particularly during the winter months. This is possible since that South American country has opposite growing seasons from the United States.
So far West Mexican produce shipments, much of which will be destined for markets across the United States and Canada, has mostly avoided any serious problems from a couple of hurricanes. Volume is expected to be lighter than normal for early season shipments, but should improve significantly as the season progresses.
Some commodities, including squash, watermelon, cucumbers, bell peppers and even a few tomatoes, already are crossing the border into in Nogales. Volume should pick up significantly by mid-to late November. However, the biggest volume typically doesn’t hit until late December or early January. Anytime now, there should be substantial volume of colored and green bell peppers from Sonora and Sinaloa, with the biggest increases being with greenhouse colored bell peppers.
The earliest season cucumbers from Caborca are just now starting to arrive and will continue until early December. Cucumbers should start arriving from Culiacan the first or second week of November and continue until the end of May.
As we approach the winter months, Mexican watermelons are increasing. Over 350 truck loads of watermelons weekly are passing through Nogales and volume is on the rise.
Nogales produce crossing from Mexico – grossing about $5700 to New York City.
The completion of an eight-year construction project at the Mariposa Land Port of Entry, Nogales, AZ, was recently marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The project was designed to increase traffic flow at the border, update facilities and accommodate new Customs and Border Protection inspections procedures.
The port now is able to inspect about 4,000 trucks per day through eight primary commercial booths and 56 secondary commercial inspection bays, and non-commercial travel is expedited through 12 primary booths and 24 secondary personal vehicle inspection spaces,.
Northbound pedestrian processing walkways and inspection facilities were constructed as part of the project along with five booths and two processing facilities for southbound inspections.
The project has doubled the capacity of the port of entry, said Will Brooks, director of field operations for Customs and Border Protection.
“It will help facilitate legitimate travel and trade as well as be an economic gain to the Arizona communities it serves as well as to the nation,” he said.
Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Nogales-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said the community “got a big jolt in the arm (from) this $220-million project.” For produce operations, “This is where you want to be,” he said, especially for companies whose distribution base is west of the Mississippi. The next challenge, he said, is to increase staffing and improve access on the Mexican side of the border.
The project was sorely needed, said Bruce Bracker, chairman of the board of directors of the Greater Nogales-Santa Cruz County Port Authority. “We started with a port that was designed for 500 trucks a day crossing 1,800 trucks,” he said. With the redesigned port, “We have a facility that’s designed for 4,000 trucks a day.”
Mexican produce crossing the border at Nogales – grossing about $3600 to Chicago.
by The Mississippi State Port Authority
GULFPORT, Miss. – The Mississippi State Port Authority is in final lease negotiations with Dole Fresh Fruit Company which will provide Dole with a state-of-the-art, expanded port terminal.
Under the agreement, Dole will relocate their operations to the west pier, significantly increasing capacity at the Port. The new lease calls for a 13-year extension with two, additional five-year extension options, providing Dole the opportunity to remain in Gulfport through 2037.
“Dole has been a valued member of the Port of Gulfport family for 50 years, and we look forward to many more years of partnership and success,” Gov. Bryant said. “ The progress currently underway at the Port will enhance Dole’s ability to compete effectively in a global market and allow them to expand their economic footprint in the Gulf Coast region.”
“While we are still working on the final details of the financial terms, we have come to an agreement on the length of the lease extension,”said Jonathan Daniels, MSPA executive director and CEO. “Dole’s commitment to the Port, region, and the State of Mississippi fully entrenches the company in the Gulfport community for decades to come. The state of Mississippi is making a significant financial investment in the company, and we are pleased by the loyalty Dole is showing to the state.”
Dole currently occupies more than 140,000 square feet of warehouse space as well as 24 acres of open storage and container parking space on the port’s east pier. The new terminal on the west pier will encompass almost 40 acres and will also allow them to increase container storage capacity by nearly 50 percent. The new warehouse complex will increase dry storage capacity, while also including construction of 20,000 square feet of temperature controlled space.
“We have been at the Port of Gulfport for 50 years, and this agreement affirms our continued commitment to the people of Mississippi,” said Barry Jung, Director of North American Terminal Operations for Dole Fresh Fruit Company. “We are confident that our decision to stay in Gulfport will maintain Dole’s position as a leader in the fresh fruit market and Gulfport’s geographic location, ease to market, combined with our new terminal, creates a highly efficient environment for our import and export activities.”
The long term commitment Dole is making to the Port mirrors the agreements made in the past year and a half by tenants such as Island View, DuPont and McDermott International. If all options are renewed, Island View’s agreement totals up to 50 years, DuPont 60 years, and McDermott International for up to 40 years at the Port of Gulfport.
California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) issued regulatory guidance last week stating the state is cleared to enforce elements of its emissions regulations requiring truck and trailer owners to install aerodynamic add-on devices and use certain tires.
A ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency gives the go ahead for CARB to enforce areo add-on requirements on 1011-2013 year-model tractors and integrated sleepers, plus with trailer equipment.
CARB’s guidance issuance comes two months after the EPA issued California a waiver allowing it to enforce in full its greenhouse gas regulations.
The rule went into effect in January 2010 and requires the use of SmartWay-verified tires and other SmartWay-verified equipment on all new trucks and trailers.
CARB had only been enforcing the rule for 2010 and earlier model trucks and trailers However, the EPA’s Clean Air Act had preempted state regulations.
In June 2013, CARB asked EPA for a waiver of the preemption, which would allow it to enforce the GHG regs for 2011-2013 year model trucks and 2011 and later trailers.
The equipment required by CARB are verified by the EPA to improve fuel economy and therefore reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Both the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and Owner Operator-Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) had released statements in August stating their opposition to enforcement of the rule, but for different reasons.
Meanwhile, it appears more owner operators and small fleet owners are refusing to truck in California for economic reasons and in some cases in opposition to mounting and intrusive regulations.
Thanksgiving produce shipments should be in good supply in the weeks ahead, with the exception of green beans.
Bean loadings will be about half of normal for the holidays this year due to excessive rains in the Belle Glade, Fla., growing area over the past two months. Additionally, other shipping areas are not expected to pick up much of the slack. This time of year Northern Florida is too cool, while there are not as many growers in Homestead as there used to be.
Sweet Potato Shipments
The 2013 storage sweet potato crop ended early, creating a strong demand and shipments right out of the gate for the new season. However, it also resulted in a tremendous amount of sweet potatoes being shipped green early in the season. That’s okay if the receiver is aware before what he is being delivered. However, Thanksgiving shipments of sweet potatoe should be another story, because North Carolina will have good-quality cured product in time for the holidays. Sweet potato shipments from North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi and California should remain steady into November, until shipments start picking up for Thanksgiving, which is November 27th.
Eastern North Carolina sweet potatoes – grossing about $3000 to Chicago.
Apple Shipments
The two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving are the biggest weeks of the year for granny smith shipments. Granny smith loadings typically double in some cases because the apple variety is so popular in making pies and other baked goods for Thanksgiving. However, the apple category as a whole typically dips in shipments running up to Thanksgiving, as consumers are focused more on their big meals and less on snacking.
Michigan apples – grossing about $4400 to Miami.
Washington apples – grossing about $7100 to New York City.
Idaho apple shipments will provide the most loading opportunities since 1999, while Texas citrus is cranking up. Meanwhile, bad news from Chile as a killer freeze will take its toll on imports.
Idaho certainly isn’t a Washington state, or even a New York state, or Michigan when it comes to apple shipments, but it does provide moderate loading opportunities. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Idaho has a bumper apple crop this season….Of course, as is often the case, Idaho is shipping plenty of potatoes – and needs more trucks.
What is normally thought of as a potato shipping state, has an estimated 70 million pounds of apples this year, believed to be the largest in 15 years. With harvest winding down, yields have been great and apple quality is reported excellent, while growers are scrambling to find as many bins as possible.
Idaho’s apple harvest generally begins around the first part of September and is mostly wrapped up by the end of October, though some picking extends into November.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $1700 to L.A.; $5700 to New York City.
Texas Citrus Shipments
Harvesting of both grapefruit and oranges out of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas is well underway. Volume has been light thus far, but shipments should increase significantly by the week of November 10th. Good quality is reported and loadings should be available through next April.
Texas citrus – grossing about $2500 to Chicago.
Chilean Fruit Hit by Freeze
Lightning seems to have struck twice in Chile as frosts last week devastated crops in some southern growing regions, with one large producer estimating between 30-100 percent crop loss for fruits including kiwifruit, blueberries, cherries and apples. The freeze occurred October 8-9. We’ll keep you updated since Chile is a primary exporter of fresh produce to the U.S., with produce arriving at ports on both coasts, particularly during the winter months.
7 -Eleven, the world’s largest convenience store chain recently rolled out a test in 104 Los Angeles area to sell a line of what the chain calls “nutritionally balanced” fresh sandwiches, wraps and salads — and even cold-pressed juices — under the banner of fitness guru Tony Horton Kitchen.
Horton is the health and fitness executive whose DVD home workout series P90X has sold more than 4 million copies. More recently, he’s delved into better-for-you foods.
For 7-Eleven, it’s not about getting rid of other stuff in order to sell better-for-you items. It’s about offering both. It still will sell beer and cigarettes and Twinkies and hot dogs, but as Millennials and other core customers demand more better-for-you offerings, the chain is eager to expand its lineup of fresh foods and drinks. Health and wellness, after all, is a $50 billion category in the U.S., and growing.
The new menu includes two sandwiches (including Grilled Chicken with blueberry mustard on a whole-grain sub); two salads (including Spicy Quinoa Salad with Chimichurri dressing); two wraps (including Spicy Black Bean Hummus & Vegetables); and four cold-pressed juices (including one that combines apple, celery, beet, ginger, parsley, spinach and lemon).
7-Eleven sells seven times more bananas than it sells Snickers. If the new product line is a hit, it could be extended throughout Southern California and maybe even go national.
Sesame Street-branded products are in, or are planned for over 40 retailers representing more than 19,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada. It is part of what is known as the Eat Brighter! movement.
A series of updates have been added to the program and marketing to allow produce industry members to incorporate the Sesame Street character images, royalty-free, into their marketing strategies. according to a press release from the Produce Marketing Association.
Five retailers received their own licensing to display Eat Brighter! in-store signage and dozens of other retailers have said they will accept Sesame Street-branded in their stores. More retailers are expected to become licensed in coming weeks .
“We’re delighted by the response from both the supply- and buy-side of the industry,” Cathy Burns, president of PMA, said in the release. “We’ve spoken with each and every one of these companies, and they believe in the movement to help kids eat more fruits and vegetables. They are all industry leaders and recognize that success is defined through the collaboration and support they lend to one another.”
“The goal here is grand, but simple — to change the conversation around fresh produce and inspire kids to think about fruits and veggies in a completely different way,” Todd Putman, chief marketing officer of Bolthouse Farms and chairman of PMA’s marketing taskforce, said in the release. “The U.S. is in a serious health crisis — one third of all kids are obese and our industry has the answer. The Eat Brighter! movement is exactly what we need to help the entire industry come together, change that conversation, and ultimately create healthier generations for decades to come.”