Posts Tagged “feature”
Spring South Carolina produce shipments are taking place, although the main volume is still ahead in the weeks and months to come. However, it is not going to be a normal, or typical year for shipments due to weather factors.
South Carolina peaches rank second in volume nationally, however a freeze wiped out the early season peaches. While there will be limited volume in June, it will July and August before there are significant peach shipments.
South Carolina Vegetable Shipments
The state also ranks in the top six in the nation for leafy green, cantaloupe and watermelons, while placing eighth in cumber volume.
It has been cooler longer than normal in South Carolina slowing the 0growth of vegetables, plus some crops had to be replanted due to the earlier freezing conditions. More recent warmer weather has crops trying to catch up. The state ships produce throughout the year. Currently, South Carolina vegetable loadings range from leafy greens, to more limited amounts of broccoli and asparagus.
Among the early season summer items to start shipping in the next month or so are watermelons, cabbage and early summer vegetables, plus blueberries.
With Mexican watermelon shipments coming across the border ending soon, here’s three states looking to take up the slack. There also are a couple of shipping areas becoming active with other items in the west.
Mexican watermelon volume is rapidly coming to a close, but it is a slow start for the new watermelon season in Florida and Texas.
Immokalee watermelon shipments started in early May, with decent volume finally arriving this week – just in time for Memorial Day arrivals. Mexico had some late season disease problems with watermelons and you need to use caution loading Florida melons, as similar problems are being reported.
Texas Watermelon Shipments
Texas watermelon shipments are running a little late and good volume is not expected before May 2oth, meaning for the most part shipments will come after Memorial Day. Again, we on the look out for what you put in the truck as quality problems may exist due to high winds and other factors. Another concern is if hot weather arrives, the melons could suffer from being on the plants too long. This will not be one of the larger volume crops Texas has had.
Arizona Watermelon Shipments
Yuma watermelons should be getting underway in light volume this week. Average yield and good quality are being reported.
Arizona Potato Shipments
Red and yellow potato loadings from the Elroy, AZ , just southeast of Phoenix, have started and should conintue until about July 4. Mini reds, mini yellows and purple varieties of spuds should ship through August.
Walla Walla Onion Shipments
Walla Walla sweet onions are expected to begin shipments up to 10 days behind typical starts. The onions are grown on 600 acres. Volume should be normal, which would amount to around 600,000 40-pound cartons for the season. Shipments should ramp up towards the end of June and run through mid-August.
Florida watermelons, veggies and other items – grossing about $3600 to Chicago; $4800 to New York City.
Vegetable consumption has been stuck at barely half the recommended amount, despite for years the government has been urging Americans to eat more vegetables for better health. However, there has been little to show for the effort.
Less than 5 percent of Americans younger than 50 are getting the recommended amount of vegetables, and only 10 to 25 percent of older adults achieve this goal, according to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, a panel of experts that helps set federal nutrition policy.
Two long-running Harvard studies reveal people who ate at least five servings of produce a day had about 30 percent lower risk of heart disease than those who ate less than one and a half servings. Federal trials have also found significant reductions in blood pressure and LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol. And some vegetables may help to protect against cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, stomach and cervix, according to a science review by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Now it appears private industry is working to accomplish what the government has been unable to do.
Making Vegetables Cute — This is the food industry’s effort to make vegetables more attractive and less threatening, which started with baby carrots and moved on to baby greens.
Convenient —Vegetable growers are making their produce easier to cook with by doing the prep work themselves: washing, trimming and combining varieties in the same package.
Compelling — Wegmans, a family-owned grocer in the Mid-Atlantic region, is pioneering other enticements to draw shoppers to its sprawling produce sections. Its 84 stores have farmer meet-and-greets, cooking demonstrations and counters where workers prepare fresh vegetable mixes for stir-fries and other produce-heavy meals that can be made at home.
Two transportation related companies are among several organizations that have been named as New Product Award finalists by the United Fresh Production Association. The winner will be honored at the association’s annul convention and expo in Chicago June 10-13.
Allen Lund Co.
The customizable truck load transportation management software (TMS) is designed to simplify and streamline the tendering and tracking of freight. The ALC software provides the option to simply and quickly award a load directly to a shipper’s carrier, create a spot bid that goes to your selected carriers, or use the custom routing guide feature to award the load to a carrier based on pre-loaded contract rates. You can maintain both historical and current routing / pricing guides for all your contract carriers.
The Allen Lund Company was established in 1976 and is a national third-party transportation broker with nationwide offices and over 390 employees working with shippers and carriers across the nation providing transport for dry, refrigerated (specializing in produce), and flatbed freight. Additionally, the Allen Lund Company has a Logistics & Software division, ALC Logistics, as well as an International division.
Locus Traxx
Disposable by design, the SmartTraxx GO by Locus Traxx Worldwide of Jupiter, FL is the temp-recorder done better. Pull the tab, instantly temperature and location data begin streaming in real-time to the cloud. Complete visibility at your fingertips, in transit and at the dock.
The OverSight™ system blends sophisticated SmartTraxx™ telematics with innovative, SmartTag™ wireless sensors to continuously monitor and instantly send data on shipment temperature, door security and location from shipments on the road to your computer or Smartphone.
When any issue is detected, Intelligent Alert text and email messages are automatically sent. This gives you and your team the information you need, when you need it.
No driver involvement. No power required. Simply put the sytem in place and it will start notifiying you of shipment details.
Volume is headed upwards from coastal areas for California vegetable shipments, as well as stone fruit out of the San Joaquin Valley. We’ll take a look at both, with a note to be on the look out for some quality issues in both regions.
Vegetable Shipments
There are strong shipments of vegetables coming out of the Santa Maria and Salinas valleys, although we’re not boasting of any bumper crops. Temperatures in both valleys recently topped 90 degrees. When loading, just keep an eye out for what’s going onto the truck in case there are issues with tip burn on some of the leafy items. Also make sure the receiver is aware of any problems, if a problem develops.
At the same time, the heat could bring on some fields faster, which would increase shipments.
Avocado Shipments
California’s avocado crop, which is currently in full production, has been estimated at less than 60 percent of the volume of last year’s 500 million pounds.
Stone Fruit Shipments
California has recently been shipping in very light volume of stone fruit from the Coachella Valley and the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. Now it’s time for the main varieties and product in the primary SJV production areas to get cranked up. Volume is expected to be about normal. While peaches and nectarine quality seems to be pretty good, use caution loading apricots and plums until we get a better feel for quality. Just reading between the lines of shipper comments leads one to suspect potential quality issues due to weather factors. In general, stone fruit shipments are about 10 to 14 days earlier than normal, which means there will be good volume loadings in time for arrivals at destination for the Memorial weekend of May 24-26.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $7500 to New York City.
Another large volume of Mexican grape shipments are crossing the border into Nogales, AZ. We’ll also take a look at some produce shipments out of the Southeastern US.
Observers are stating this is the earliest start on record for the grape shipments originating out of Sonora Mexico. Loadings will probably be down more than 10 percent, due to weather issues, but there will still be a lot of grapes for hauling.
The forecast predicts about 1.77 million fewer 19-pound boxes to ship out of the region in 2014. A year ago Mexico had nearly 16 million boxes of grapes. The estimate for this season is about 14.2 million boxes.
Georgia Watermelon Shipments
Southern Georgia watermelons have had excessive rains and wind, delaying plantings and in some cases has resulted in replantings. If the weather improves there should be fair to good shipments taking place in time for the Fourth of July holidays. Shipments of everything from green beans to sweet corn and peppers will also be a little later getting started this sprinand summer….Vidalia onion movement continues to increase, although this will not be one of the larger crops….Georgia blueberry shipments also are be late this year, but are now underway, although in light volume. Georgia “blues” should be in good volume through the Fourth of July.
Florida Produce Shipments
Florida blueberry shipments have totalled only about 25 percent of the volume compared to this time a year ago. Instead of shipments ending in May, loadings should be available into early June.
Meanwhile Florida is in peak volume with a number of mixed vegetables, which should continue well into May.
Florida blueberries, vegetables and watermelons – grossing about $4000 to New York City.
South Georgia mixed vegetables – grossing about $3000 to Boston.
Mexican grapes, tropical fruit and watermelons – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
California desert produce shipments are early this year with everything from grapes to vegetables.
Grape loadings from the Coachella Valley got underway with very light volume about a week ago, which is about two weeks earlier than normal. This will probaby result in the season ending around July 1st, instead of mid July. Coachella typically ships about 6 million boxes of grapes each year. Likewise, the Arvin district (Bakersfield area) also is early this year and is expected to get underway in the last week of June, instead of around the Fourth of July.
Vegetable Shipments
Some shippers see this as a banner year for desert vegetables.
In the Coachella Valley, early starts are occuring with vegetables. Decent supplies are already underway. Peak desert vegetable shipments should hit around Memorial Day, with good volume still happening for the Fourth of July, with items ranging from sweet white, yellow and multi-colored corn to watermelons and peppers. Pepper loading should continue through June, with corn and melons finishing up after Memorial Day.
Imperial Valley Onion Shipments
Anticipating start dates for harvest in truckload volumes range from April 21 to May 1, although some early harvesting had already begun as of the second week of April.
The Imperial Valley, one of California’s major onion growing districts and the earliest to harvest, is located at the southern tip of California, about 130 miles inland from San Diego.
The total acreage planted with onions in the Imperial Valley in 2012, the most recent year for which final data are available, was around 8,500 acres. Roughly half of the production grown is for the fresh or fresh-cut market and a similar amount for processing.
Blueberry Shipments
Initial shipments of California blueberries got underway a couple of weeks ago from the Central San Joaquin Valley.
The state ranks 5th in shipments with about 54 million pounds, which is similar to a year ago. Loadings should peak in mid-May and continue through mid-June.
San Joaquin Valley carrots, blueberries and other produce – grossing about $7600 to New York City.
BOISE, Idaho – The head-turning, jaw-dropping Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck is back on the road for its third consecutive cross-country tour with a new message for women: Take care of your heart! The five-month long, 2014 Big Idaho® Potato Truck Tour kicked off in Boise, Idaho with waves, cheers, and hugs from the students of Riverside Elementary School and salutes from soldiers at the Air Force Base in Mountain Home.
In 2011, fresh Idaho® potatoes were certified by the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check Food Certification Program by meeting the program’s nutrition requirements and they now bear the highly recognized and respected Heart-Check mark on the packaging. This recognition is profoundly helpful in reminding consumers that Idaho® potatoes can be a part of their everyday diet. Knowing that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women (mothers, sisters, daughters, friends) and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined, it’s more important than ever that women understand the role both diet and exercise play in achieving a healthy lifestyle.
“The Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) support of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement provides another new and exciting way we can remind consumers, especially women, of the nutritional benefits Idaho® potatoes offer,” said Frank Muir, President and CEO, IPC. “In addition to a new charity beneficiary, we’ve rebranded the Truck so it showcases fresh Idaho® potatoes prepared in various ways and creatively communicates the potato’s nutritional benefits.”
“The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement is grateful to the Idaho Potato Commission for supporting us in our fight against heart disease in women,” said Bernie Dennis, Chairman, American Heart Association National Board of Directors. “This is an exciting opportunity for the Idaho Potato Commission to help educate consumers on ways they can prevent heart disease through diet and exercise.”
In 2014, the truck will visit 26 states and travel close to 19,000 miles during a five-month period. The Truck and its seasoned traveling Tater Team will stop at high traffic events like the Kentucky Derby, the Art Car Parade and Festival in Houston, Texas and the 55th World Lumberjack Competition in Hayward, Wisconsin. In between events, the Truck will visit key retailers and foodservice operators, and local places of interest it finds along the way.
The Truck The Great Big Idaho® Potato weighs more than 6 tons (the equivalent of 32,346 medium-sized Idaho® potatoes). It has become a traveling ambassador for the country’s most famous potato. After being seen by hundreds of millions of Americans in person and in the IPC’s national television commercial, the most frequently asked question is, “Is it real?” We’ll never tell… but in the event it is, the Great Big Idaho® Potato:
- Would take more than 10,000 years to grow.
- Is 1,102 times heavier than the largest potato ever grown, which weighed 11 pounds.
- Would take 2 years and 9 months to bake.
The Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck was created and built by Chris Schofield and Sharolyn Spruce of Weiser, Idaho. With the help of a few specialized contractors, they spent an entire year designing and building this incredible vehicle. The Kenworth Sales Company and Western Trailer, both based in Boise, Idaho, also aided with the construction.
The Tour To find out when the Great Big Idaho Potato Truck will be in a city near you, please visit www.bigidahopotato.com. The website provides in-depth information about the Truck, the IPC’s support of the Go Red For Women movement and weekly updates with tales and photos from the road.
Washington state’s cherry growers are touting the fruit’s health benefits, including the ability to reduce the risk of arthritis, diabetes and cancer. (Next week, we’ll have a shipping out look for the state’s cherries.)
“Consuming about 45 cherries daily may significantly decrease circulating concentrations of specific inflammatory biomarkers in the blood. The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Nutrition,” According to the Yakima-based trade group Northwest Cherries.
The group cites the fruit’s high levels of fiber, potassium and melatonin, in a new campaign.
The 2014 season for Washington state cherries hasn’t started yet. In 2012, cherries ranked only behind apples as the most valuable fruit crop in Washington state.
Cherry shipments from Washington state typically peak during June and July and continue into August.
Sweet cherries are a good source of potassium, which has been shown to lower blood pressure. Studies also demonstrate that a diet includes cherries can help prevent cancer and reduce inflammation.
The best tasting and most popular variety of cherries is the bing variety, which usually comes shortly after the earlier variety rainier.
However, there are a number of other varieties, which help to extend the cherry season. Chelan and tieton cherries are early seaon offerings, while lapins, skeena and sweetheart cherries can extend the season after the bing harvest.
California cherry shipments are just getting underway and Washington state cherries follow on the heels of the California season.
Citrus Shipments
The latest Florida citrus shipping update shows there are fewer oranges, tangerines and tangelos. Total orange volume dropped 4 percent from the previous month, but plunged 18 perecent from last year. Florida is expected to ship 110 million equivalent cartons of oranges this season, down from the 133.5 million cartons a year ago. Late-season valencia oranges, the only oranges remaining in production, account for all of the decline and are expected to produce 57 million equivalent boxes, a 7 seven percent decline.
Grapefruit volume is unchanged from the March report while the state’s honey tangerines are estimated to be down 300,000 cartons. Tangelo production declined 20,000 boxes to 880,000 cartons. Growers have finished harvesting over 90 percent of the state’s colored grapefruit, 82 percent of its white grapefruit, 75 percent of tangerines and 18 percent of valencias. While an overwhelming majority of the state’s oranges ship to processed channels, 65 percent of its navels, 63 percent of its tangerines and 40 percent of its grapefruit ship fresh. About 9 percent of the state’s 130 million equivalent cartons of citrus ship fresh. Last season, 156 million cartons were shipped.
While citrus shipments are on the tail end of the season, there should still be ample opportunities for hauling a wide variety of Florida vegetable loads ranging from sweet corn to beans and tomatoes out of South and Central areas of Florida.
Florida vegetables, tomatoes and watermelons – grossing about $4000 to New York City.