Posts Tagged “feature”
By TransFresh Corporation
Salinas, CA — TransFresh Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands, has announced that its flagship technology, Tectrol® Modified Atmosphere Packaging Systems, recognized worldwide for delivering an added level of protection to help ensure the quality and marketability of fresh strawberries, has now significantly modified the Tectrol System to help deliver more consistent supplies of fresh blueberries.
TransFresh has successfully completed a multi-year research and development initiative resulting in a unique Tectrol Storage Solution that utilizes Apio’s patented BreatheWay® Technology to deliver a sealed package system with adjustable oxygen transfer rates that react dynamically to changes in temperature and berry respiration for more reliable fresh blueberry storage. Apio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Landec Corporation.
According to TransFresh, the breakthrough sealed pallet process delivers to customers a unique storage solution with stable oxygen and carbon dioxide. “What’s remarkable about the Tectrol Storage Solution for fresh blueberries is that the innovative zip-sealed pallet system combined with the patented breathable membrane allows just the right amount of oxygen transfer needed by the fruit, resulting in greater atmosphere control than previously possible and a virtually fool-proof packaging operation,” stated Rich Macleod, TransFresh Corporation vice president (in photograph). “Customers who may have struggled in the past to meet the specific atmosphere needs of fresh blueberries are now finding they have a new solution available with higher consistency and a more stable atmosphere for greater storage reliability,” he said. Macleod further commented that customers may now have much more confidence in their storage solutions by being able to more effectively match supplies with market demand. TransFresh expects that its new storage solution can be adapted to other commodities such as fresh cherries and grapes.
To develop the unique Tectrol Storage Solution for fresh blueberries, TransFresh looked more closely at storage needs versus shipping needs. According to Reilly Rhodes, TransFresh Tectrol business manager for fresh blueberries who spearheaded the multi-year development project, the “A-ha” moment came when the pallet sealing method used for fresh strawberries was “turned on its head.” “We redesigned our seal system for the fresh blueberry market and then married the redesigned seal and bag with the Apio BreatheWay® technology,” he explained. The new Tectrol Storage Solution for blueberries is not only high-performance operationally, but is also fully “adjustable” to blueberries and their storage conditions. “At that stage,” Rhodes said, “we were no longer simply adapting a successful program for fresh strawberries to fresh blueberries, we were actually creating a new and highly adaptable solution designed specifically for fresh blueberries.”
In completing the initiative, TransFresh drew upon the extensive expertise of Apio’s BreatheWay® Technology team and also worked alongside several of the key customers who participate in the fresh blueberry industry. BreatheWay® Technology is a trademark of Apio, Inc.
Domestic markets have sold 15 percent more blueberries this year than last and represent a fast growing berry segment. As these markets have grown, the demand for a more effective storage solution has accelerated. Because blueberries are grown in a variety of countries and districts, and varieties tend to have steep production peaks, the ability to hold blueberries in modified or controlled atmosphere conditions helps to smooth out the bumps in market supply and demand. A pallet-sized atmosphere package such as the Tectrol Storage Solution gives suppliers the flexibility to market a quality product through the peaks and valleys of the distribution system.
Customers who are interested in more information may contact Reilly Rhodes, TransFresh Corp., at (949) 279-5084.
About TransFresh®
TransFresh Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands, is a pioneering and established global company with nearly 50 years of experience in perishables transport. Tectrol® is the trademarked brand name for the TransFresh® family of proprietary modified and controlled atmosphere systems and processes developed and owned by TransFresh. The Tectrol Service Network™ services, markets and supports the Tectrol Pallet Systems operations and technologies. Since inception, TransFresh’s innovations in packaging, equipment and sealing processes have established Tectrol as the industry standard. For more information, please visit www.transfresh.com.
About Chiquita Brands
Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) is a leading international marketer and distributor of nutritious, high-quality fresh and value-added food products – from energy-rich bananas, blends of convenient green salads and other fruits to healthy snacking products. The company markets its healthy, fresh products under the Chiquita® and Fresh Express® premium brands and other related trademarks. With annual revenues of more than $3 billion, Chiquita employs approximately 20,000 people and has operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.chiquita.com.
About Apio
Apio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Landec Corporation (LNDC). Landec, through Apio, is a market leader in the commercialization of specialty packaged vegetable products using Apio’s BreatheWay® patented technology. Landec also develops and commercializes injectable medical materials for ophthalmology and orthopedic applications. Landec’s Apio food subsidiary sells its products nationwide under the Eat Smart® and GreenLine® Brands. For more information visit www.apioinc.com.
The California drought is hurting everyone from growers to shippers – and produce truckers – to the consumer, who ultimately is paying more for their food.
Groundwater supplies pumped from wells will make up most of the shortfall in agricultural water caused by the California drought.
A new study says the drought will still result in $810 million in lost crop revenues this year. The study, “Economic Analysis of the 2014 Drought for California Agriculture,” published by the University of California at Davis Center for Watershed Schiences, the study estimated the total statewide economic costs of the drought at $2.2 billion, including the loss of 17,100 seasonal and part time jobs.
Crop values of the state’s fruit and nut trees will decline by $277 million because of the drought, while losses to vegetables and non-tree fruit are estimated at $47 million in 2014.. The drought is expected to decrease cropland in California by 428,000 acres in 2014. Of that total, fruit and nut trees account for 41,000 acres of the total reduction, with vegetables and non tree fruit representing 10,000 acres of idled ground.
The surface water reduction caused by the drought, according to the report, is estimated at 6.6 million acre-feet. The increase in groundwater pumping of water was estimated 5.1 million acre-feet, leaving the net water shortage of 1.6 million acre-feet. Besides crop revenue losses of $810 million, other costs include additional water pumping expenses of $454 million and $203 million in livestock and dairy revenue loss. That totals $1.5 billion in direct costs.
This is an update on produce shipments from Washington, Oregon and California.
Northwest Onion Shipments
Potato shipments for the new season have recently got underway from the Columbia Basin in Oregon and Washington state. They are now moving into good volume.
In Walla Walla, WA, shipping of Walla Walla sweet onions have been ongoing for serval weeks and will continue until around Labor Day.
Northwest potato shipments from the old crop are still happening, but declining in volume as the season concludes.
California Produce Shipments
Strawberry shipments have been on a steady keel for a while now out of the Watsonville area averaging about 900 truck loads per week. Volume also is steady from the Santa Maria district, although volume is only about 25 percent of that from Watsonville.
Meanwhile moderate loadings of broccoli, cauliflower and celery continues. Lettuce, not surprisingly, leads Salinas Valley vegetable shipments. Head lettuce and romaine alone, are averaging over 1800 truckloads per week. There also are other types of lettuce and a few dozen different other veggie items being shipped.
Tomato loadings are available from the Central San Joaquin Valley, as well as the Oceanside area, and from Baja crossing the Mexican/US border at Otay Mesa.
Pear shipments are now ongoing from the Sacramento area and the northern San Joaquin Valley.
California pears – grossing about $4900 to Dallas.
Salinas Valley produce – grossing about $5600 to Cleveland.
Labor Day (September 1st) is less than a month away and here is a quick view of some items that should be available for hauling between now and then.
Michigan sweet corn shipments are currently at a peak, and there is decent volume coming out of the Goshen, IN area…..Michigan also continues with good volume blueberry shipments and summer vegetables.
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Sweet Corn Shipments
Western North Carolina sweet corn shipments should still have good volume by Labor Day, along with tomatoes.
California sweet corn should have good volume out of the San Joaquin Valley for Labor Day, although shipments will be ligher than Memorital Day or the Fourth of July. Melons out of the Westside District will continue in steady volume, as will as grape shipments, whose volume has been excellent, but the majority of the loadings will take place after Labor Day through the end of the year.
Sweet Potato Shipments
With a short sweet potato crop nationally for the 2013-14 season, limited loading opportunities are available as the seasons comes to an end. However, the 2014-15 sweet shipments should improve, particular since leading producer North Carolina has increased its plantings from 54,000 acres a year ago to 66,000 acres this year.
Here’s hoping sweet potato shippers don’t get in such a hurry to ship product in the new season that they don’t take time to cure first. Curing sweet potatoes, which doesn’t take that long, are much better. North Carolina shipments should get underway after Labor Day, while Mississippi may start the last week of August.
Eastern North Carolina sweet potatoes – grossing about $2500 to New York City.
Mississippi sweet potatoes – grossing about $2100 to Chicago.
Here is a look a new season shipments for New York and California apples, plus some other loading opportunities in both of these states.
New York Apple Shipments
New York state’s apple harvest is scheduled to begin August 15th, with shipments getting underway shortly thereafter. The Empire State expects to ship about 30 million bushels of fruit this season, down only slightly from the 32 million bushels shipped during the 2013-14 season. However, total volume is still expected to stay above the state’s five-year averages of 29.5 million bushels. Although the apple harvest should end in November, loading opportunities will continue well into next spring, if not summer. The Hudson Valley is New York’s leading area for apple shipments, although several other areas of the state also have the fruit in significant volume.
New York vegetable shipments are moving in steady volume, especially from western and central areas of the state.
Western New York vegetables – grossing about $1600 to New York City.
California Apple Shipments
Apple shipments out of California’ San Joaquin Valley got underway a couple of weeks ago, but are only entering volume loadings now. This is one of the earliest maturing crops on record. Overall, California expects to ship about 2.4 million boxes of apples this season, which is fairly normal.
While gala shipments started in mid July, granny smiths should get underway the week of August 11th, followed by fujis around August 18th. followed by Pink Lady apples in the middle of October.
California’s San Joaquin Valley produce shipments are in good volume with everything ranging from grapes to tomatoes, stone fruit and vegetables.
San Joaquin Valley vegetables and melons – grossing about $7500 to New York City.
India Globalization Capital, Inc. based in Bethesda, MD is working with TerraSphere Systems and Greenlife Ventures to develop multiple facilities to produce organic leafy green vegetables, with plans to eventually transition the facilities to produce legal cannabis, according to a news release from the company.
The facilities, planned for unspecified locations in the U.S. Northeast and Canada, will utilize TerraSphere’s advanced pesticide free organic indoor farming technology. The transition to support the legal cannabis industry will occur when there are clear rules on the cultivation of cannabis in each region.
TerraSphere designs and builds contained vertical farming systems, according to the release. “We are excited to partner with TerraSphere as we look to both develop proven pesticide-free organic growing intellectual property and secure a meaningful footprint of high tech facilities, in important states, for ultimately growing legal cannabis,” chief executive officer Ram Mukunda said in the release. “In the interim, we expect these facilities to generate accretive revenue from other plants as part of our strategic short-term goal of building profit, while simultaneously moving IGC closer towards meeting our long-term goal of becoming a dominant player in the emerging legal cannabis space.”
The release did not say what organic vegetables will be cultivated or when the facilities would be operational, and a spokesman for the company. Each of the four planned facilities will range in size from 10,000 to 30,000 square feet and will feature LED lighting for developing faster growing plants with additional yields of up to 20 percent. When the facilities are operational, India Globalization Capital will own 51 percent of each venture. The company will make a cash investment in the venture and will receive a seven-year option to purchase the venture for cash and shares of its common stock, according to the release.
A planned fall rollout at U.S. retail supermarkets of the vegetable Kalettes is planned, which is a cross between kale and brussels sprouts.
It is spearheaded by based sales manager of Tozer Seeds America, said in a news release.
“We started selling seed in the U.S. in 2012 and quickly realized that this new vegetable was going to be a huge hit with consumers due to the popularity of both vegetables,” Kuykendall said. So far, Kalettes has appeared in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. It was developed over more than a decade of research by cross-pollinating brussels sprouts with kale through traditional methods.
Plans for the U.S. launch include consumer and social media activity. A website offers recipes; a Facebook page and other outlets have been established. Rock Garden South, a Miami-based grower and subsidiary of Miami-based specialties distributor Coosemans Worldwide, introduced organic BrusselKale — a cross between brussels sprouts and red kale — last year.
Here’s a quick glimpse at some produce loading opportunities from 11 different states ranging from coast-to-coast.
Washington Produce Shipments
Washington state continues to ship its 2013-14 season crop of apples, averaging about 1,500 truck load equivalents per week. Also coming out of the Yakima and Wenachee vallies are fresh cherries. Volume remains strong, but is still only about one-third the volume of apple shipments.
Washington fruit – grossing about $7500 to New York City.
Michigan Produce Shipments
Peach shipments from the Benton Harbor area and other areas of Southwest Michigan have started. Loadings for the stone fruit are generally a relatively short haul – within a 500 mile radius for the most part. Chicago is one of the more popular destinations…..Apples from the area are expected to get underway the third week of August. Meanwhile, Michigan blueberry shipments are moving into good volume, while summer mixed veggies continue.
Michigan blueberries – grossing about $2700 to Atlanta; Michigan vegetables grossing 15 to 20 percent less.
New Jersey Produce Shipments
Garden State peach shipments started a couple of weeks ago and are now moving into good volume. Jersey blueberry loadings are still occurring, butare now past peak volume. The southern part of the state also is shipping a mixture of vegetables.
Watermelon Shipments
Watermelon loadings continue from a number of states. While eastern Texas watermelon shipments, as well as Georgia watermelon shipments are declining, volume is steady out of South Carolina, but cranking up in North Carolina, followed closely by the Eastern Shore states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia…..Look for increasing volume of Missouri watermelons out of the boot heal area…..The watermelon season has recently started out of Southwest Indiana and Southeast Illinois.
While peak summer California produce shipments continue, few record shipments are taking place, with the possible exception of table grapes.
Most commodities and are having normal volume, or being slightly off of average shipments. Record California grape shipments occurred last year, totaling 116.2 million boxes of grapes (19-pound equivalent). This year, shipments are estimated to bet over 116.5 million boxes. The San Joaquin Valley is California’s largest grape shipping region, and loadings started earlier than usual. As of the week ending July 4, shipments were well ahead of the prior year, amounting to six million boxes out of the Coachella Valley and the San Joaquin Valley. This year, during the same period, 9.2 million boxes were shipped. The vast majority California grape shipments will take place after September 1st, when as much as 65 or 70 percent the volume will take place during the fall an into the winter.
The Central San Joaquin Valley also has good, steady volume with peaches (averaging about 425 loads per week) as well as plums and nectarines. There also are tomatoes, sweet corn and dozens of other vegetables loadings taking place, plus Westside district melons.
Further south in the valley in the Bakersfield area are avocados, with truckloads averaging over 1,000 per week, plus steady movement with carrots.
Moving to the Salinas area, strawberry shipments from Watsonville continue. Lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and celery lead a wide contingent of other veggies being shipped from the Salinas Valley. A similar situation exists just to the south in the Santa Maria shipping district, although on a smaller scale.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $8300 to New York City.
Central San Joaquin Valley stone fruit and grapes – grossing about $5200 to Chicago.
U.S. potato shipments from the old crop are still on going as the new season rapidly approaches. Plus, Rocky Ford cantaloupe shipments in Colorado are now underway..
Idaho and a number of other potato shipping states are scrambling to unload their old crop in order to get going on shipments for the 2014-15 season. The old crop of potato shipments is expected to continue well into August. At the same time, depending on the growing and shipping area, the new crop of spuds became available last week. Both Washington and Oregon are expected to have their first potatoes for the new season by early August, while Wisconsin potato shipments will soon follow. Then you have Idaho russet potatoes being shipped by the week of August 10th. Some red potatoes and other varieties have already started out of Washington state.
Colorado Cantaloupe Shipments
A spring freeze and two major hailstorms will have a significant effect on Colorado’s Rocky Ford cantaloupe shipments, leaving farmers uncertain over how big their crops will be this year. One grower is reported to have lost an estimated 60 acres of the 360 acres of cantaloupes that he planted this spring. Just how much yields will off set the weather damaged melons, remains to been seen. Loadings of cantaloupe started last week and will continue into September. Overall, it is estimated anywhere for 15 to 25 percent of the cantaloupe were lost. The area also ships honeydew and watermelon, but no reports on these items were available.
Arkansas Valley growers banded together in 2011 to trademark the Rocky Ford cantaloupe name and define its boundaries after melons from Jensen Farms in Holly, 90 miles east of Rocky Ford, were implicated in a listeria outbreale that killed at least 32 people.
Over the past decade, Colorado growers have planted an annual average of 2,000 acres of cantaloupes.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5500 to New York City.