Posts Tagged “feature”
There seems to be very few examples of bumper, much less record setting produce crops around the country this spring and summer. That will probably translate into produce freight rates not being exceptional – at least for this time of year. Typically, the heaviest volume and highest rates hit sometime in May and continue through June and July.
For example, California avocados, lettuce, many other vegetables and stone fruit are not expected to set any shipping records. You’ll also see the results of this lower volume translating into significantly higher retail prices at your local supermarket.
Other shipping areas around the country expect small volumes of produce to be shipped, due to weather factors, ranging from Texas to Michigan and the Southestern U.S.
There have been produce industry estimates ranging from a half-million to 1 million acres of agricultural land likely to be affected by the current California drought, with between 10 and 20 percent of the supply of certain crops possibly lost. California grows and ships around 50 percent of the nation’s fresh fruits and vegetables.
One study estimates the following possible price increases due to the drought: avocados, up 17 to 35 cents to as much as $1.60 each; berries, up 21 to 43 cents to as much as $3.46 per clamshell; broccoli, up 20 to 40 cents to a possible $2.18 per pound;. grapes, a rise of 26 to 50 cents to a possible $2.93 per pound; lettuce, could rise 31 to 62 cents to as much as $2.44 per head; packaged salad, up 17 to 34 cents to a possible $3.03 per bag; peppers, up 18 to 35 cents to a possible $2.48 per pound; and tomatoes, likely to rise 22 to 45 cents to a possible $2.84 per pound.
“We predict the increased prices will change consumer purchasing behavior,” Sherry Frey, vice president of Nielsen Perishables Group, said in a release. Frey said that certain consumers — young consumers of avocados, for example — will be more heavily affected by the price increases.
All of these factor don’t even take into consideration mounting rules and regulations by state and federal governments on the trucking industry. The hours-of-service rules implemented last year alone will undoubtedly reduce the number round trips. There is still a push for electronic on board devices, and the feds want higher insurance requirements for truckers — and the list goes on and on.
So will there be any $10,000 gross freight rates on coast-to-coast produce hauls this year? Probably not, or at the best very few. But no one really knows for sure.
Here’s a preview of Georgia peach shipments and South Carolina peach shipments, which will be starting soon. Additionally, most loading opportunities for potatoes around the country these day are limited mostly to three states.
Shipments of Georiga peaches will be light, especially when loadings get underway the first half of May, thanks in part to a late March freeze. The first half of June will also see lighter-than-normal volume. However, with the maturing of later variety Georgia peaches, the month of July should experience more normal shipments.
Most of the peach shippers are located in the Fort Valley area, just south of Macon.
South Carolina peach loadings typically follow Georgia’s start about a week or so later. Carolina peaches also were hit by that March freeze and if anything, suffered more damage than Georgia. Intial reports indicate South Carolina lost at least half of its peach crop. The only sales of Carolina peaches in May and June will be locally. There should be better volume in July.
Potato Shipments
Although there are a few other states in the mix when it comes to current potato shipments, Idaho easily is leading the pack, followed by Colorado and Wisconsin.
Wisconsin and Colorado russet potato shipments should remain steady heading into summer. However, volume from the nation’s biggest shipper, Idaho, could decline some in May and June.
Idaho is averaging about 1700 truckload equivalents of spuds being shipped each week. Colorado is a distant second with around 600 truckloads weekly, and Wisconsin is third at about 300 truckloads per week.
In the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota about half of the sheds continue to ship, mostly red potatoes. Some of those packinghouse will close for the season anytime now, others will be following in May and only one or two sheds will still be shipping in June.
Idaho potato shipments – grossing about $3000 to Chicago.
Colorado potato shipments – about $2900 to Atlanta.
Wisconsin potato shipments – about $34oo to New York City.
Eating blueberries reduces the risk of contracting Parkinson’s disease and may protect human brain performance, according to a new study.
Scientists from North Carolina State University, Purdue University and Rutgers University investigated how extracts from blueberries, grape seeds, hibiscus, blackcurrant and Chinese mulberries, all of which are rich in health-promoting phytochemicals, could suppress cell death caused by Parkinson’s. The study, Neuroprotective effects of anthocyanin- and proanthocyanidin-rich extracts in cellular models of Parkinson’s disease, was published in the March 25 issue of the Brain Research scientific journal.
Two specific classes of phytochemicals are effective against the neurodegeneration or loss of nerve cell function in the brain brought on by Parkinson’s,the study indicates. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins are naturally occurring plant compounds prevalent in some fruits and vegetables.
“Blueberries have both of these natural chemicals in high concentrations, so they pack a more powerful, 1-2 punch,” researcher Mary Ann Lila, director of North Carolina State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute in Kannapolis, N.C., said in a release. “They can have synergistic benefits that surpass many other fruits when it comes to protection against brain cell death, which in turn may reduce the risk of contracting Parkinson’s.”
In the U.S., 1 million people are estimated to suffer from Parkinson’s, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that involves the malfunction and death of vital brain nerve cells. The disease leaves people unable to control movement normally. Early symptoms include shaking, stiffness, slowed movement and difficulty walking.
Because of stable volume and higher pricing, retail fresh produce sales in 2013 were up 4.8 percent, according to the review edition of the United FreshFacts on Retail Report. The United Fresh Produce Association report, produced in partnership with the Nielsen Perishables Group and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce, showed annual trends for top fruits, vegetables, value-added produce and organic commodities.
A strong year in 2013 was enjoyed by organic produce, with sales gains of near 20 percent for both organic fruits and vegetables compared with 2012. Fruits saw strong sales gains in 2013 includingd avocados (11.7 percent), specialty produce (11.5 percent), citrus (8.9 percent) and apples (6.5 percent).
The highest sales gains with vegetables in 2013 were cucumbers (7.8 percent), cooking vegetables (7 percent), packaged salad (6.7 percent) and onions (6.5 percent). Volume gains for fruits in 2013 were topped by avocados (10.3 percent), stone fruit (5.1 percent), citrus (3,3 percent) and apples (2.4 percent).
The top gains in volume for vegetables included peppers (3.9 percent), packaged salad (3.8 percent), and carrots (1.7 percent).
Highlights for 2013 in the report include: produce department sales averaged $47,000 per week per store, up 4.8 percent from 2012; volume sales declined for four of the top 10 vegetable categories; value-added vegetables posted an increase of 15 percent in weekly dollar sales; fresh-cut fruit sales increased 13.2 percent; organic fruit volume up 17.8 percent compared with 2012; and organic vegetable volume 14.2 percent higher than 2012.
The Salinas Valley is shipping alot of mixed vegetables and generally receives most of the attention, however there are veggie loadings taking place just to south in Santa Maria. As with other coastal regions in the state, Santa Maria vegetable shipments got started nearly two weeks earlier than normal.
Items available for hauling range from leaf lettuce to romaine and broccoli, the latter which is shipped from here year around. Just becoming available now is celery. In all, while Santa Maria lacks the volume of Salinas, it still ships over 70 speciality vegetables, baby lettuce and speciality greens all year long.
California Grape Shipments
It also looks like California grape shipments will be early as well. The Coachella Valley should get going within a few days of the Mexican grapes — by early May. Coachella typically ships grapes out of the desert for a month or so. This will be followed by the Arvin District in the Southern San Joaquin Valley.
Cherry Shipments
Intial predictions call for California to ship between 2.5 and 3 million trays of cherries this season. This would be considered a decent sized crop, but certainly not a bumper crop. The early cherry deal in the southern and central San Joaquin Valley of California will have an earlier start than usual this year, by as much as two weeks
While initial shipments are expected the last week of April, peak loadings in the southern SJV are expected between May 5 – 19. Northern valley cherry loadings should occur around May 27 to the middle of June.
For the first time, moderate volume shipments of cherries were expected to be shipped in time for Mother’s Day (May 11th).
The early season cherries from the southern San Joquin Valley are expected to have lighter volume, while more normal shipments are expected from the northern valley areas from the later varieties.
San Joaquin Valley vegetables – grossing about $7800 to New York City.
Mexican watermelon imports are heavy, tomatoes moderate, with grape loadings about to start.
Mexican Grape Shipments
An early start to Mexican grape shipments through Nogales, AZ will take place as much as two weeks ahead of normal. That means the initial crossings will occur in late April. There should be good volume heading into Mother’s Day (May 11) as well as for the the long Memorial weekend (May 24-26). Peak shipments will occur during June and there still should be decent volume for deliveries prior the the Fourth of July weekend. No estimates have been provided on the size of the crop but it is not unsual for Mexico to ship 10 million, if not more cartons of grapes during the season.
Mexican Watermelon Shipments
Watermelon crossings into Nogales from Mexico continue to increase. About 1700 truckloads of melons are crossing weekly, with even heavier volume ahead. Mexican watermelons crossing into South Texas at Pharr are up to 500 truckloads weekly and are increasing as well.
Mexican Tomato Shipments
Mexican vine ripe and roma tomatoes are not crossing the border in the numbers watermelons are, but there is still moderate volume in both South Texas and at Nogales.
Both of these ports in Arizona and Texas are going to continue handling heavier volume of Mexican produce shipments in the years ahead. Each port has had significant upgrades to move traffic faster and more smoothly across the border. The new Mexican highway stretching from Western Mexico to nearly the Gulf of Coast will result in entries at South Texas growing faster than ever, especially for produce being shipped to the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada.
Nogales produce loads – grossing about $4500 to Atlanta.
Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas – grossing about $5700 to New York City.
Initial Vidalia sweet onion shipments from Southeast Georgia got underway April 16th, despite an order from the Georgia Agricultural Commissioner that loadings would not be allowed before today — April 21st. Bland Farms, the nation’s largest sweet onion shipper has been in a legal battle with Georgia over a starting date for Vidalia sweet onion shipments. However, The Superior Court of Fulton County, GA has declared the April 21st start day void, so the rest of the Georgia sweet onion industry may or may not have started shipping before April 21st. From a hauling stand point, it may not matter that much, since it will be the first half of May before there is good volume.
The whole onion “war” pits most Vidalia shippers and the Georiga Ag Department against Bland Farms. Supporters of the fixed starting date feel the extra time will allow the onions to mature and reduce chances of shipping poor quality, hot tasting onions, that hurts the reputation of the the Vidalia name.
Delbert Bland, owner of Bland Farms told this writer last winter that he should be able to ship sweet onions prior to the April 21st date, because part of his 3,000 acres of onions are in the southern most part of the 20-county region in Georgia. This is located where these onions can be legally grown, and is in this southern most area where onions mature earlier than other areas.
By The California Strawberry Commission
WATSONVILLE, Calif. — According to new published research in the Journal of Nutrition, consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods such as strawberries may play an important role in lowering cholesterol and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
To evaluate the effects of strawberries on cardiovascular risk factors, researchers at Oklahoma State University conducted a 12-week study with a group of 60 overweight adults. Participants were randomly selected to consume a high (equivalent to 500 g fresh strawberries) or low (equivalent to 250 g fresh strawberries) daily dose of a beverage made with freeze-dried strawberries, or a control beverage.
The study revealed the high dose strawberry supplements were effective in significantly reducing total and LDL cholesterol levels. Additionally, both the low and high dose supplements were equally effective in decreasing lipid peroxidation compared with the control groups.
“With more than two-thirds of U.S. adults being overweight or obese, and having metabolic abnormalities associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors, we are pleased to see the positive effects that strawberries can have on lowering serum cholesterol,” said lead researcher Arpita Basu, Ph.D., RD, associate professor of nutritional sciences, College of Human Sciences at Oklahoma State University.
As the first 12-week study to report the total and LDL cholesterol-lowering effects of a higher amount of strawberries in obese adults, the researchers suggest that a strawberry-supplemented diet may be of clinical significance as a nutritional strategy to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
About the California Strawberry Commission
The California Strawberry Commission, www.californiastrawberries.com, is a state government agency representing all of California’s strawberry farmers, shippers and processors. With an emphasis on food safety education, commission activities focus on production and nutrition research, trade relations, public policy, marketing and communications. California produces more than 85 percent of all strawberries grown in the United States.
Eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day reduces your risk of death at any point in time by 42 percent compared to eating zero portions, claims a recent study published in the Journalof Epidemiology & Community Health by researchers from the University College London (UCL).
The research revealed the more fruit and vegetables people ate, the less likely they were to die at any age. Eating seven or more portions reduced the specific risks of death by cancer and heart disease by 25 percent and 31 percent respectively. Interestingly, vegetables were found to have a significantly higher health benefit than fruit.
“We all know that eating fruit and vegetables is healthy, but the size of the effect is staggering,” says Dr Oyinlola Oyebode of UCL’s Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, lead author of the study. “The clear message here is that the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the less likely you are to die at any age. Vegetables have a larger effect than fruit, but fruit still makes a real difference. If you’re happy to snack on carrots or other vegetables, then that is a great choice but if you fancy something sweeter, a banana or any fruit will also do you good.”
This is the very research to link fruit and vegetable consumption with all causes including cancer and heart disease, across a nationally-representative population, as well as the first to measure health benefits per portion.
Researchers studied from 2201 to 2013 the eating habits of more than 65,000 people, which were said to be representative of the English population. The data was collected as part of the Health Survey for England.
Here’s an outlook for Michgian apple shipments that will start soon with the new season. However, there are still plenty of apple loads remaining for the current season that started late last summer, particularly from Washington, New York, and Michigan.
Michigan apple shipments should be good this spring, despite a harsh winter. Initial loadings are only a few weeks away. However, the jury is still out on other fruit items ranging from blueberries, to cherries, grapes, plums, apricots and peaches, The fate of these items and the amount of damage will depend largely on what Mother Nature has in store the next few weeks.
National Apple Shipments
Concerning the old apple crop, about 48 million bushels of U.S.-grown fresh-market apples had yet to be shipped as of April 1, three less than last year at the same. The April total was, however, eight percent higher than the five-year average. Washington accounted for 41.7 million bushels of the U.S. total, Michigan 2.8 million bushels and New York 2.5 million bushels.
Michigan apples – grossing about $3400 to Dallas.
Washington state apples – grossing about $4000 to Chicago.
Mango Imports
Mango imports in 2013 compared to 2000 have increased a whooping 236 percent from Peru. Peru is now the second largest source for imported mangoes, representing 10 percdent of mango volume. Another big importer is Ecuador, which also has seen a rise in imports to the U.S., with a 160 percent increase from 2000 and 21 percent over last year. Peru has seen the biggest jump, with a 53 percent increase over last year. As of mid-March, 12 million boxes had been shipped. The projection for the year is 10.9 million boxes.