Posts Tagged “feature”
Northwestern shipments of blueberries and apples will be ramping up in the next month or so.
Washington and Oregon will be shipping blueberries this month and loadings will continue into the fall. Both states consistently rank among the nation’s top in blueberry shipments.
Washington is expected to ship approximately 90 million pounds of blueberries this season — an increase of 10 million pounds when compared to 2013. The Evergreen state is a national trendsetter when it comes to organic blueberry production, with 75 percent of its overall volume falling into the category.
Oregon shippers are expected to load more than 80 million pounds of blueberries this year, which would be another record for the state.
The United States is the world’s largest producer of blueberries, harvesting a total of 564.4 million pounds of cultivated and wild blueberries in 2012. Of this total volume, approximately 84 percent of the harvest fell into the cultivated category. Blueberries rank as the second most important commercial berry crop in the United States, with a total crop value of $781.8 million in 2012.
Apple Shipments
The official estimate will not be announced until August 11, but observers are seeing the potential for a huge crop. starting with shipments in volume of Galas by mid-August. Regional shipping areas in the Eastern U.S. are running later than normal due to the very cool spring, while Washington state apple shipments will start several days earlier than normal. Washington apple shipments should be taking place in good volume starting sometime in August and really ramping up in September.
Here is a glimpse at loading opportunities from a couple of districts in California, as well as from New Jersey and at U.S. ports.
Westside Melon Shipments
Melon shipments from the Westside district of California’s San Joaquin Valley got under way last week, with normal acreage and loadings predicted. The peak shipping period will be in July, August, September and into October. The biggest volume will be with cantaloupe and honeydew.
Sacramento Valley Prunes
The trend of removing Sacramento Valley prune orchards for more profitable nut crops continues. Prune production takes place in August and early September. California statewide should total to around 45,000 acres, amounting to about 95,000 tons of prunes. Last year volume was around 82,000 to 84,000 tons.. The 95,000 may also be close to what can be expected in the future. Typical volumes of a few years ago was in the 120,000 to 140,000 range.
California Pears
California pear shipments from the Sacramento River district and the mountain district get underway within the next week. While loadings may be off 10 to 15 percent from a year ago, there still will be decent volume.
New Jersey Peach Shipments
New Jersey’s peach crop has folks optimistic this year with about 30,000-35,000 tons of fruit forecast from the state’s 5,500 acres of trees. Peaches shippers are located near such towns as Bridgeton, Salem, Mullica Hill, and Glassboro. Good volume is expected by the second week of July with shipments continue through mid September.
New Zealand Kiwi
Arrivals of New Zealand kiwifruit began in mid-May and should be available for loadings at U.S. ports until mid-October.
Central San Joaquin Valley melons and vegetables – grossing about $5700 to Chicago.
San Joaquin Valley grape shipments got an early start this year, when the Arvin District in the Bakersfield area began shipments nearly two weeks ago. It is now shipping in good volume.
Spring grape loadings out of Sonora, Mexico, and California’s Coachella Valley both got off to an early start this year and are finishing earlier than usual. Early Arvin District grape shipments have made for a smooth transition from Mexico and Coachella into the San Joaquin Valley.
At this point, it looks like the San Joaquin Valley will be shipping into February 2015 as the harvest spreads northward.
Loading opportunities for California grapes continues to become spread out over a longer period of time as new grape varieties are developed, which extend the season. It started in Coachella Valley this year on April 28. It has just finished.
2013 California fresh grape shipments exceeded expectations and came in at a record 116.2 million 19-pound boxes. The 2014 crop is officially estimated at 116.5 million boxes, which, if realized, would just edge out last year’s record.
One of the nice aspects of hauling California grapes, is the growers have been successfully producing quality fruit that makes for good deliveries. This results in fewer claims and rejected loads at destination.
San Joquin Valley stone fruit, berries and grapes – grossing about $8500 to New York City.
No one doubts cargo theft is a big problem, but do you know what type of cargo is the biggest target, which states lead in these type of thefts and when they are most likely to occur?
These are some of the questions that were answered by Sal Marino, vice president of CargoNet, who is based in New Jersey. He was speaking at the 2014 United Fresh Produce Association’s annual convention and exposition in Chicago recently.
The leading target for thieves are food and beverages, accounting for 25 percent of cargo thefts, followed by electronics at 14 percent. Others include household goods (11 percent), apparel and accessories (10 percent), containers (9 percent), metals (8 percent), with miscellaneous items making up the balance.
Leading America in cargo thefts is the state of California (23 percent), followed by Texas (19 percent) and Florida (10 percent).
When is cargo theft most likely to occur? 21 percent of the incidents happen on Friday, 19 percent on Saturday and 14 percent on Sunday. Marino says the weekends are more risky because a lot of trucks have to wait to get unloaded in the upcoming week. It also depends where the truck is parked over the weekend.
Marino said most thefts occur at warehouses and distribution centers. Truck stops ranked fourth as locations for cargo theft.
When it comes to cargo theft of produce items, nuts make up a third of the top 10 items. Almonds ranked first as the primary target for theft, followed by tomatoes, avocadoes, grapes, apples, bananas, mangoes, pineapple, pistachios and walnuts.
When a cargo theft occurs, Marino said it is very important report the theft to authorities as soon as possible and get the word out about the loss. The more specific details you provide the better.
It was in early June that truck broker Kenny Lund saw the spot market on produce freight rates hit $10,000 for loads between California and the East Coast. While part of the reason was seasonal volume increases for fresh fruits and vegetables, and truck availability, he saw other factors contributing to the rise in rates.
Lund was speaking at the 2014 convention and exhibition of the United Fresh Produce Association in Chicago June 11th.
The vice president, support operations, for the Allen Lund Co. Inc. of LaCanada, CA cited the recently completed 72-hour U.S. Department of Transportation check points held across the country. This was delaying truck schedules.
Another factor was the CARB (California Air Resources Board) regulations, which Lund said were resulting in more truckers refusing to come to California. It takes a minimum investment by truckers of $8,000 to comply with CARB regulations.
“It is impossible to be compliant and move significant amounts of refrigerated product into and out California,” Lund stated
He noted less than 30 percent of refrigerated carriers are compliant with CARB and truckers simply do not have the money to become compliant.
In an effort to assist produce haulers, he noted Allen Lund Co. provides $1.5 million a week in advances to drivers.
Lund, who has been with company founded by his father and namesake 25 years, said there were over 50,000 carriers in the United States, but the average trucking company has less than six trucks.
“90 percent of the trucking companies have six or less trucks,” he noted. At the same time the percentage is very low of trucks having team drivers.
Getting more specific, Lund said refrigerated carriers are dominated by owner operators and companies with less than five trucks.
As for CARB, Lund said he has “fought tooth and nail with them” (California bureaucrates). Since the CARB rules were implemented in 2004 fines have been extended to brokers, shippers, receivers and specifically to drivers.
“It (CARB rules) has driven a lot of drivers away from California,” Lund stated.
He also was critical of hours-of-service regulations, and particularly the 34-hour restart. While the restart requirement may be okay for local trucking, it is not good for long haul drivers.
During a question and answer session, Lund said the reason more large refrigerated carriers do not haul produce is because “it comes down the driver having a stake in that load. I see a lot of large carriers get in and out of hauling produce. It comes down to not having enough good drivers,” Lund concluded.
You know summer has arrived when Michigan vegetable shipments finally start picking up, mostly from the western part of the state.
Within the past few days, light volume has gotten underway with squash, cucumbers, grape tomatoes. These items should have good volume from July through September. Cabbage loadings also have started and will continue into mid November.
Shortly after the Fourth of July, look for blueberry shipments to get started. Leafy greens and radishes also get underway in early July. By mid July you’ll find loadings of celery and carrots.
Around the third week of July, sweet corn shipments start. Peak volume will be the month of August but shipments tailing off after Labor Day. Late July also means roma tomatoes are available, with round tomatoes coming on about August 1st.
Michigan apple shipments from the large 2103-14 crop are still ongoing, but a seasonal decline is underway with loadings now less than 100 truckloads per week.
The Wolverine state produces the second most diverse crop of agricultural products (after California) , including fresh fruits and vegetables.
Michigan apples – grossing about $2500 to Atlanta.
Here’s a glimpse of loading opportunities around the country ranging from New Jersey blueberries to Washington state stone fruit and apples, as well as peaches and vegetables from Georgia. Finally, California’s San Joaquin Valley grapes have gotten an early start.
Hammonton, New Jersey calls itself the “Blueberry Capital of the World” because of the heavy volume typically shipped each year. New Jersey blueberry shipments just got underway last week and volume should build rapidly. Total shipments in 2014 could be similar to a year ago, when it totaled 65 million pounds.
Washington state cherry shipments are moving into good volume from the Yakima and Wenachee Valleys. Cherries out of the Northwest (mostly Washington) should total 20 to 22 million boxes this season, not that far off of the record setting shipments of 23 million boxes in 2012…..Other stone fruit shipments, led by peaches, will get underway in July. Peak volume for loadings are expected between mid August to mid September. Good volume, similar to a year ago, is forecast at this time…..Meanwhile, 2013-14 apple shipments continue, averaging over 1,900 truckload equivalents per week.
In California, grape shipments from the Southern San Joaquin Valley started in a light way about a week ago. Volume is increasing from this area known as the Arvin District, which is near Bakersfield.
Sweet onion shipments have started in Washington state from the Walla Walla area. Walla Walla onion shipments come off of 700 acres and typically amount to about 400,000 40-pound cartons per year.
Georgia peaches are about to take off. It’s been a slow start, but as we enter July expect this to be a good month for loading opportunities with peaches out of the Fort Valley area. July should be an active month for Georgia mixed vegetables from central and southern areas. There also are Vidalia sweet onions being shipped from storages.
Georgia mixed vegetables – grossing about $2700 to Chicago.
Washington apples – grossing about $7200 to New York City.
Colorado peach shipments are expected to get underway in the middle of July.
Peach shipments originate from relatively few shippers on the Western Slope of Colorado’s, beautiful Rocky Mountains, generally in the Grand Junction area. Shipments should continue through mid August and possibly up to the first of September.
There also will be a limited amount of cherries coming on around the first of July. The apricot crop apparently will amount to few, if any this year. The Grand Junction area also will start shipping watermelons in mid July.
Colorado ranks sixth nationally in peach shipments, behind top ranked California, then South Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey and Pennyslvania.
Looking a bit further down the road, Colorado’s Western Slope will have apple shipments and pear shipments starting around the end of August.
Chiquita Brands International Inc., is returning to the Port of New Orleans after a 40-year absence.
Based in Charlotte, N.C., Chiquita plans to relocate operations from Gulfport, Miss., to The Crescent City in early 2015. During the mid-1970s, Chiquita, which then did business as United Brands, transferred shipping operations from New Orleans to the Port of Gulfport after importing bananas and other fruit for more than 70 years in New Orleans.
Chiquita is forecast to ship 60,000-78,000 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) a year at the New Orleans port. The volume represents a 15% increase in the port’s current container volume. Chiquita plans to handle 30,000-39,000 TEUs of bananas and other fresh fruit at the port as well as export those same volumes of other outbound cargos.
Louisiana was in talks with Chiquita for a decade and to help reduce the port’s increased shipping and handling costs. The state of Louisiana plans to provide the banana giant $1.11 million-$1.45 million or $18.55 per TEU in yearly performance-based incentives.
The port is planning to invest $2.2 million in improvements at a port-owned distribution and ripening facility to be leased to Chiquita As part of the deal, the port also intends to fund $2 million in refrigerated-container electrical infrastructure improvements and rehabilitate a container freight warehouse, according to the release.
By Vidalia Onion Committee
Vidalia, GA — Recent sales data research by the Vidalia Onion Committee indicates that sweet onions lead the onion category with the largest dollar sales (35%) and Vidalia onions represent 62% of sweet onion sales. In addition, Vidalia onion sales grew by 12% while all other sweet onions sales grew by only 5%.
The study conducted by the Nielsen Perishables Group, on behalf of the Vidalia Onion Committee, analyzed national sales data over a two year time period (2012-13) and also reviewed retail performance. The results found that Vidalia volume growth at 8% outpaced total onions (4%) during the April 20 – August 17, 2013 season. In addition to the category sales data, the study highlighted key retail opportunities.
“This is exciting news to learn that when in season, Vidalia onions play such a key role in driving the growth of sweet onion sales nationwide,” stated Kevin Hendrix Chairman of the Vidalia Onion Committee. “Our previous consumer research reveals that 91% of consumers are familiar with Vidalia onions and they associate them with superior, sweet flavor so it’s great to match the consumers’ perceptions with the actual sales results.”