Posts Tagged “feature”
More produce loadings are available at three ports in the Southestern United States.
According to fiscal year 2014 statistics, more than 1 million 20-foot equivalent units — the standard measurement for cargo containers — moved through Port Everglades, almost evenly split between imports and exports. A continually increasing portion of the import units were filled with fresh produce, primarily from Central America and South America.
PortMiami is the only U.S. port with direct, non-stop access to the U.S. interstate highway system. Its rail and highway connections are promoted as ensuring that perishable goods reach 70 percent of the U.S. population in four days or less. It boasts same-day delivery of perishable goods to markets in central Florida, with next-day service to markets in Atlanta and the Southeastern U.S.
PortMiami has 228 million square feet of warehouse space with more than 13 new bulk warehouses under construction. It also lays claim to being the U.S. port closest to Latin America and the Caribbean, resulting in shorter shipping times and extended shelf life for perishables.
Last summer, the Port of Savannah, GA, announced it would import South American citrus, grapes and blueberries that “will arrive sooner and last longer for consumers in the Southeastern U.S.”
South American fresh fruit destined to the Savannah port has traditionally been shipped to Northern U.S. ports. Delivery to Savannah means fruits won’t have to be trucked as far to reach Southeastern markets, allowing fresher fruit and longer shelf life.
Vegetable shipments are typically down this time of the year, but it will be even lighter than normal the remainder the year for many items.Although the Yuma area in Arizona is experiencing warmer weather, there have been plenty of cold spells and morning frost. Thus, it will take a while for Yuma vegetable shipments to rebound.
Oxnard will probably be the main supplier on celery going into Christmas.
Celery shipments will most likely be light through the New Year and into January. As a result, there will be a later start for harvest, probably after Christmas in the desert.
Cauliflower is in a similar situation. It was to start in the desert the week of Thanksgiving, but the pace is more of a crawl than a sprint.
A similar situation is found as well with various with head lettuce, romaine, and other lettuces. Head lettuce is averaging around 1200 truck loads per week, but volume really drops off for other desert items ranging from broccoli to cauliflower, celery, escarole-endive and greens.
If winter weather cooperates, there should be a significant increase in desert vegetable shipments after the New Year. The same can be said for winter produce shipments from Mexico crossing through Nogales.
California and Arizona desert veggies – grossing about $4000 to Chicago and $7300 to New York City.
Here is a glimpse of produce loading opportunities on Mexican produce shipments crossing the border into Texas, as well as domestic citrus shipments from the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
In 2013, about 170,000 truckloads of fruits and vegetables from Mexico came into the United through the ports of entry in South Texas, making it the leading state in the country for imports of fresh produce.
Approximately 40 to 45 percent of the fresh produce consumed in the United States is imported.
It has been estimated annually an additional 500,000 truckloads of goods (not just produce) will travel through Texas into the United States because of the ease of driving across Mexico through the mountains and into the Lone Star State.
There’s probably more Mexican avocados crossing the border into the Lower Rio Grand Valley of Texas now than any other produce item – averaging about 800 truck loads per week. There is also much lighter volume with various tropical fruits.
In South Texas, shipments of domestic grapefruit is averaging about 200 truck loads weekly, with oranges amounting to about one-half this volume.
There also is light volume with Wintergarden District cabbage, which is located just south of San Antonio.
South Texas domestic citrus and Mexican tropical fruit – grossing about $2900 to Chicago and about $4500 to New York City.
By the California Walnut Commission
FOLSOM, Calif. — A new animal study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease indicates that a diet including walnuts may have a beneficial effect in reducing the risk, delaying the onset, slowing the progression of, or preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
Research led by Abha Chauhan, PhD, head of the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR), found significant improvement in learning skills, memory, reducing anxiety, and motor development in mice fed a walnut-enriched diet.
The researchers suggest that the high antioxidant content of walnuts (3.7 mmol/ounce)1 may have been a contributing factor in protecting the mouse brain from the degeneration typically seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Oxidative stress and inflammation are prominent features in this disease, which affects more than five million Americans2.
“These findings are very promising and help lay the groundwork for future human studies on walnuts and Alzheimer’s disease – a disease for which there is no known cure,” said lead researcher Dr. Abha Chauhan, PhD. “Our study adds to the growing body of research that demonstrates the protective effects of walnuts on cognitive functioning.”
The research group examined the effects of dietary supplementation on mice with 6 percent or 9 percent walnuts, which are equivalent to 1 ounce and 1.5 ounces per day, respectively, of walnuts in humans. This research stemmed from a previous cell culture study3 led by Dr. Chauhan that highlighted the protective effects of walnut extract against the oxidative damage caused by amyloid beta protein. This protein is the major component of amyloid plaques that form in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease every 67 seconds, and the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are expected to rapidly escalate in coming years as the baby boom generation ages. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease may nearly triple, from five million to as many as 16 million, emphasizing the importance of determining ways to prevent, slow or stop the disease. Estimated total payments in 2014 for all individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are $214 billion2.
Walnuts have other nutritional benefits as they contain numerous vitamins and minerals and are the only nut that contains a significant source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (2.5 grams per ounce), an omega-3 fatty acid with heart and brain-health benefits4,5. The researchers also suggest that ALA may have played a role in improving the behavioral symptoms seen in the study.
This study was supported in part by funds from the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the California Walnut Commission.
About California Walnut Commission The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The Commission is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The CWC is mainly involved in health research and export market development activities. For more industry information, health research and recipe ideas, visit www.walnuts.org.
By the Produce for Better Health Foundation
The vast majority of shoppers cite the importance of eating fresh produce, but they also find it to be a hassle, according to a new report.
Since 1991, Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has been dedicated to producing a healthier America through increased fruit and vegetable consumption. PBH conducts regular consumer surveys to identify psychosocial factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in an effort to monitor progress and inform industry, health influencers, and policy makers. Primary shoppers were surveyed in 2012 and 2014 and are the basis for PBH’s latest report, Primary Shoppers’ Attitudes and Beliefs Related to Fruit & Vegetable Consumption 2012 vs 2014.
Highlights from the report include:
- Shoppers Eat More
- More than 80% of primary shoppers think it’s important to eat fruit and vegetables and nearly that same percentage find them enjoyable to eat.
- Consuming Fruit & Vegetables Can Be A Chore
- Concerns about spoilage is cited as more of a problem in 2014 than two years prior when it comes to increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables.
- Favorability
- Despite the fact that shoppers recognize the health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, virtually all forms of fruit and vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and 100% juice) are viewed less favorably in 2014 than two years prior.
- Communications
- Primary shoppers report that TV news segments, supermarket flyers or newspaper ads, and signs on supermarket displays are the most effective ways to communicate with them when they are making a food decision.
- Income Differences
- Lower income households consume fewer fruit and vegetables than higher income households, yet they equally perceive that they consume enough.
- Motivated Purchases
Two out of three shoppers are favorable toward the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® national health campaign and brand and appreciate the message as a reminder to eat more fruit and vegetables.
You know there’s a glut of potatoes available when you can go into your local supermarket and find a 10-pound bag of russets for $1.49, while a five-pound bag of the same spuds is selling for $2.47. That means plenty of potatoes for hauling this season. In fact, truck shortages are being reported in most of the major shipping areas, ranging from Idaho to Washington, Colorado and Wisconsin.
Idaho grows and ships about one-third of all U.S. potatoes each year. The state’s 2014 harvest, which recently completed, yielded about 13 billion pounds of potatoes from a little over 320,000 acres. That is enough potatoes to fill 500 football stadiums 10 feet high.
Idaho potato shipments should be pretty normal this season. Known for its russet potatoes, over the past decade, growers have diversified and now have an assortment of specialty potato varieties. The state is the number one shipper of fingerling potatoes, and Idaho is now the number two shipper of red potatoes.
Twin Falls, Idaho potatoes – grossing about $6000 to New York City.
U.S., Canada Potatoes
About 508 million cwt. of potatoes potentially will be shipped in the U.S. and Canada this season, 2 percent more than last season. U.S. fall production is estimated at 406 million cwt., Canadian production at 102 million cwt. The U.S. total is 3 percent higher than in Fall 2013. Canada’s production is down 1 percent. Production is up in the U.S. even though acreage is down. About 926,000 acres were harvested this fall, down from 934,000 acres last fall. Yields rose, however — from 425 cwt. to 439 cwt. per acre. Harvested acreage in Canada fell from 351,000 acres to 342,000 acres. Yields rose from 292 cwt. to 298 cwt. per acre.
San Luis Valley, Colorado potato shipments – grossing about $2700 to Atlanta.
Columbia Basin, Washington potato shipments – grossing about $3000 to Chicago.
Stevens Point, Wisconsin potato shipments – grossing about $3400 to Dallas.
Florida produce shipments
Florida isn’t exactly a hot bed for produce haulers this time of the year, but when you get right down to it, neither is Nogales, the Arizona and California deserts, or many other places. But here’s what’s happening in Florida, or will be occurring in the weeks and months ahead.
Grapefruit shipments provide some of the best loading opportunities. It started in October and will continue through April, although January through March provides the biggest volume. Florida typically ships 18 to 20 million boxes of grapefruit each season. Pink grapefruit comprises about 70 percent of the shipments, and Florida remains the world’s largest shipper of commercial grapefruit.
Winter veggies provide light to moderate loading opportunities out of Florida this time of the year. The state ranks second nationally in bell pepper shipments, which kicked off last October and should be available through June, Florida is number one in both sweet corn and snap bean shipments., which started in November and should continue through May. Typically April and May are the top two months for Florida veggies loadings.
Tomato shipments are just coming into decent volume and will be available through the spring. Loadings are originating from the Palmetto-Ruskin area, as well as Immokalee. There also is light volume with cherry and grape tomatoes from Central Florida.
Strawberry shipments from the Plant City area provide some of the best Florida hauling opportunities during the winter. Light volume is under way and good volume will be available in the next week or two. Shipments will continue into the middle of March.
Florida blueberry shipments have seen dramatic increases in recent years, but won’t be available until March, continuing through May….Likewise, watermelon shipments will start in mid-March and continue to early June. In fact, Florida is the only state shipping watermelons during much of this time period.
Central and South Florida vegetables and tomatoes – grossing about $2700 to New York City.
Savannah, Georgia trails only New York City as an East Coast container port and ranks No. 4 nationally after Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, according to Datamyne and compiled by Bloomberg.
Now, the city, which as a modest population of 143,000, is opening another shipping market in the city’s emergence as a major trade hub with the Port of Savannah.
The Georgia Port Authority reports not only has Savannah been the fastest-growing port in the U.S. for the past 10 years, but it is now in a position to grow and become No. 1., something that was unfathomable a decade ago.
Ongoing improvements at the port are continuing to push it forward.
Bloomberg reports that the Port of Savannah’s September imports rose 21.7% compared to a 7% increase for New York. However, keep in mind that New York still imported nearly twice the cargo.
Of course, New York will always move large cargo volumes because of its massive consuming population.
One of the large selling points for Savannah is the port’s proximity to major expressways like I-20 and I-95. The port is currently working to deepen its waters to attract larger ships that may come through the expanded Panama Canal as well.
We take this opportunity to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving, and feel very blessed to live in the United States, which still offers so many opportunities. If you were not able to make it home this holiday, we wish you safe travels and to be with those closet to you soon.
Thanksgiving in the United States is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November.
In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a poorly documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. Pilgrims and Puritans who began emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s carried the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to New England.
Several days of Thanksgiving were held in early New England history that have been identified as the “First Thanksgiving”, including Pilgrim holidays in Plymouth in 1621 and 1623, and a Puritan holiday in Boston in 1631. According to historian Jeremy Bangs, director of the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, the Pilgrims may have been influenced by watching the annual services of Thanksgiving for the relief of the siege of Leiden in 1574, while they were staying in Leiden. In later years, religious thanksgiving services were declared by civil leaders such as Governor Bradford, who planned a thanksgiving celebration and fast in 1623. The practice of holding an annual harvest festival did not become a regular affair in New England until the late 1660s.
Thanksgiving proclamations were made mostly by church leaders in New England up until 1682, and then by both state and church leaders until after the American Revolution. During the revolutionary period, political influences affected the issuance of Thanksgiving proclamations. Various proclamations were made by royal governors, John Hancock, General George Washington, and the Continental Congress, each giving thanks to God for events favorable to their causes. As President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God”.
In modern times the President of the United States, in addition to issuing a proclamation, will “pardon” a turkey, which spares the bird’s life and ensures that it will spend the duration of its life roaming freely on farmland.
Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated the second Monday in October. The first Canadian Thanksgiving is often traced back to 1578 and the explorer Martin Frobisher. Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean, held his Thanksgiving celebration not for harvest but in thanks for surviving the long journey from England through the perils of storms and icebergs.
The South American country of Chile exports more than 800,000 tons of fruit to the U.S. annually, and over half of that is supplied during our winter months.
As the largest fruit exporter in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile has everything from blueberries, to grapes and stone fruit — such as peaches, plums and nectarines — during the winter months. When you see these items in the produce department of your local supermarket, chances are the fruit is from Chile. This results in many fresh fruits being available the year around, something that did not exist, at least on today’s scale, 20 years ago.
Most of the Chilean produce items arrive by boat on both the east and west coasts of the United States.
Chilean cherries are available from November through January. Blueberries run from November through March. The grape arrivals from Chile runs from December through May, and peaches, plums and nectarines arrive in the U.S. from December through April.
Chile exports around 400,000 tons of grapes to the U.S. each year, representing about half of Chile’s entire export volume to the U.S.
Volume in tons of Chilean fruit imports has been fairly stable over the years, although the 2013-14 was certainly an exception.
Chile experienced its worst drought in 80 years, and the country also had a three-week port strike. With Chile continually expanding its global presence and selling to more international markets, one might expect to see decreasing volumes to the U.S., but that is not the case. Some commodities, like grapes, have seen decreased volumes, but others, such as blueberries and citrus, have had huge growth.
The potential fly in the ointment this season is the port strikes on the West Coast, particularly as L.A. and Long Beach, escalates.