Posts Tagged “feature”
Did you ever consider it doesn’t make much sense for some South American produce items to be loaded onto a boat, then set sail for the USA and pass right by Florida, before it arrives at some northern port like Philadelphia, then you pick it up and drive south 1,200 miles to Miami, FL, near where that ship had passed several days earlier?
It may be good for you as a produce hauler being paid for that load, but otherwise it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Bite into an imported grape or blueberry in South Florida and you’re probably eating a fruit that was shipped from South America all the way to the Philadelphia area before being trucked back down to your local supermarket.
A business coalition wants to change that, so those imports can now come directly to South Florida seaports, saving time and money for importers and providing fresher produce to consumers.
A pilot program unveiled at a briefing Tuesday will allow grapes and blueberries from Peru and Uruguay to enter Broward County’s Port Everglades and Port of Miami, starting Oct. 1. If the program works, it could be extended to other fruits and nations currently off limits for direct imports, potentially bringing millions of dollars in business and cheaper fruit to South Florida.
But what seems like a no-brainer for direct imports is tougher than you think, according to Lee Sandler, the attorney representing the Florida Perishables Trade Coalition.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Sun Sentinel
Potato shipments from the old season are rapidly coming to a close, which is probably best since quality problems are showing up in product coming out of storages. There are less late season spuds available and loading opportunities are going to be relatively scarace until the new crop gets going.
You are seeing the results in high potato prices at your local supermarket.
The USDA reports US potato shipments for the weeks ending July 27 and Aug. 3 were down 15% and 24%, respectively, compared to the same weeks in 2012.
Shipments for new crops of potatoes have just started from Wisconsin, Colorado and Nebraska.
Even with the new crop of potatoes, some problems are already being reported. For example, diggings in Rupert, Idaho, began August 6, and growers are experiencing some skinning problems. That means a potential for potato haulers facing claims or rejected loads.
Shipments from Idaho are not expected to be significant until late August.
Texas is shipping some russets shipments and Washington state began in late July with light volume.
After this past season’s disaster with low prices on a huge crop, Idaho growers planted fewer acres and the new season is expected to be more normal in terms of volume.
Volume of old crop shipments from Idaho and Washington-Oregon have been higher in late July and early August than the previous season. However, shipments from Colorado this season were off by as much as a third.
Red potato shipments from the Big Lake area of Minnesota have started within the past week. In the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, it will be late September or early October before decent shipments occur with red potatoes.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $5300 to New York City.
California avocado shipments should hit about 12,500 truckloads equivalents this year, up about 1,000 truck loads from 2012. Because of the larger crop, California avocado loadings are expected to run later than last year, continuing at peak volume through August and into September, with shipments running into November.
About 2,050 truckloads of fruit is expected to be hauled from September through November.
Weekly avocado shipments in the USA this year have reached as high as 1,000 truckloads. Loadings take place mostly in Southern California.
California tomato shipments
California mature green tomato shipments out of the San Joaquin Valley remain good, but are lighter than when loadings got underway in mid- to late June. That steady, but lighter volume should continue through the end of the year.
Around the Oceaside area of Southern California, there are loadings of cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and romas in addition to the vine ripened tomatoes.
Mature greens are typically sold to foodservice operators for their use with burgers or other dishes, or repackers, who package them in multiples, complete the ripening process and shipped to a variety of customers. Vine-ripe tomatoes are often shipped directly to the retailers.
Meanwhile volume shipments of Salinas Valley vegetables and San Joaquin Valley produce loadings of vegetables, stone fruit, grapes and melons continue.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $5300 to Chicago.
Southern California avocados – grossing about $7500 to New York City.
Whether we are talking Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, Eastern Canada and points in between there have been significantly fewer loading opportunites for vegetables this summer – due primarily to weather factors.
Vegetable fields throughout the Southeast were flooded, destroying crops and inflating prices for produce and adversely affecting produce shipments.
For example, produce loads on squash, okra, butter beans and string beans have been hit hard. You’ll also notice these items are costing 20 percent or more at your local supermarket.
Some parts of Georgia has received rainfall amounts far exceeding normal. In June, for example, Augusta Regional Airport measured 10.83 inches of rain, the wettest June on record. July recorded 9.05 inches of rain, 4.72 inches above normal. The excessive mositure also is adversely affecting quality of produce.
Check closely what you are putting into the truck to reduce your chances of a claim or load rejection.
In another example, the South Carolina State Farmers Market in West Columbia, S.C., was recently selling sweet corn for $16 a box compared to $10 to $12 last summer, and a box of apples was up $5 to $35.
Weather has greatly reduce shipments of tomatoes from East Coast shipping areas. With no tomatoes in Florida or Georgia, East Coast markets area having to rely much heavier of truck loadings of tomatoes out of California.
Besides the excessive rains in the Southeast, it has been too wet in New Jersey which ships a lot of vegetables from the Southern part of the state. Eastern Canada also has have heavy rains. In Ohio, vegetable shipments are down due to excessive heat.
One truck owner Henry Lee has pretty much told the state of California they can take their loads and shove ’em. Well, not exactly. But the old Johnny Paycheck country hit (Take This Job and Shove It) seems to apply here.
Henry is a veteran driver who became an owner operator six years ago and has never looked back. He does what is best for his business, and one of those decisions has been to avoid trucking in California. It’s just not worth it to him.
The trucker owns a 2001 Peterbilt, pulling a 2006 refrigerated trailer.
“The California (Air Resources Board) rules are not fair. My reefer unit works fine and I have no problems with it,” he states. However, California certainly does. Under the state’s CARB rules his seven-year-old refrigeration unit has to be replaced no matter how well it is working.
“My trailer and the motor on my SB-310 (Thermo King) reefer unit are still in good condition. This refrigration unit should be good for another three years. My truck also is in good condition,” Henry says. “To replace the motor on my reefer unit would cost $10,000.”
He had recently spent $14,000 for an overhaul on his 500 h.p. Caterpillar C15 diesel.
“I like Cat engines. They have got power and they are dependable. I call it American power,” Henry says.
The resident of Ellenwood, GA has been trucking since 1997, never has pulled a dry van, and he has always hauled refrigerated loads, including plenty of produce.
“I have quit going to California because of the excessive and unfair rules and regulations there. Now, I am running between the northeast and southeast United States,” he says.
Henry says he never regrets becoming an owner operator.
“If I want to take a couple of days off, I can. If the load does not pay well, I can decline it. There is just a lot more freedom as an owner operator,” he states.
Henry is currently leased to a carrier, but is planning to have his own operating authority within the next few weeks.
By The Alliance for Food and Farming
A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that consumption of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day leads to a longer life. The comprehensive research, conducted in Sweden, studied more than 71,000 people aged 45 to 83 for 13 years. Among the key findings, eating fewer than five servings of fruits and vegetables each day is linked with a higher chance of dying early. Participants who ate at least one serving of fruit daily lived 19 months longer than those who never ate fruit, on average. And those who ate at least three servings of vegetables per day lived 32 months longer than people who reported not eating vegetables.
This Swedish study can be added to the decades of nutritional research that show the benefits of eating fruits and veggies on improved health. Another important example is the recent peer reviewed study published in the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology which found that if half of Americans increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables by a single serving, 20,000 cancer cases could be prevented. (It should be noted that most of these nutritional studies were conducted using conventionally grown produce.)
This type of science based evidence is why the Alliance for Food and Farming joins with public health experts, the government, and environmental groups in encouraging consumption of all fruits and vegetables – organic and conventional. Experts agree that both are grown safety and can be eaten with confidence.
Onion shipments from the Northwest will be cranking up soon and produce truckers should use caution if you plan to haul this product. Excessive heat during the growing season has adversely affected quality of at least a small portion of the crop.
Arrow in photo points to yellow spot virus. Very light shipments of of Northwest onions actually started in mid July, but for the most part loadings of any significant volume will be coming in the next few weeks.
It already has been reported some onion fields in the Pacific Northwest are showing signs of stress because of excessive heat earlier in the summer. However, farmers are still saying the overall the crop looks good.
The initial shipment of reds and yellows for the 2013 season got underway last week.
Columbia River area onions are said to have tolerated the hot weather thus far, and with the eternal optimisim only seen in farmers, they still believe there will be plenty of loads availabe, not only for fresh onions, but from storage this year.
A similar situation is seen from onion fields in the Snake River area, which are showing a little stress from near-record high temperatures. In the Treasure Valley, there are already reports of some Irish yellow spot virus, but growrs are playing it down as not being serious.
Irish Yellow Spot Virus is a damaging viral pathogen of onions. The disease can devastate an onion field by destroying the photosynthetic area of the leaves of infected plants, thus reducing the ability of the plant to develop bulb size and directly affecting yield and grade of onions at harvest. Infected onions can overwinter and harbor the disease from one season to the next and serve as a reservoir of disease the following season (see photograph).
Northwest onions grossing about $4300 to Dallas.
The Salinas Valley remains one of the most active areas for produce shipments in the nation, not to mention the world. In the adjacent Watsonville district, strawberry shipments are averaging nearly 1,000 truck loads per week. This doesn’t include other berries and artichokes from this area.
California strawberry shippers are optimistic about a strong fall, unless of course, something like fall rains put a damper on loadings. Shipments to date are on track for yet another record-volume year. In 2012, California shipper over 190 million trays of strawberries.
Salinas Vegetable Shipments
While overall Salinas Valley vegetable shipments have been okay, it sure hasn’t been a “barn burning” year for loads. Whether it is lettuce, broccoli or cauliflower, which normal lead the pack of veggies when it comes to volume, none have been excetionally heavy.
This a a primary reason produce rates out of California have been anything but steller for this time of the year.
But keep in mind, even though California hasn’t been exceptional this summer, it still easily beats any other shipping area in country for the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables it ships. This holds true not only for the Salina Valley, but the San Joaquin Valley.
Salinas Valley vegetables and berries – grossing about $7900 to New York City.
San Joaquin Valley stone fruit, grapes, veggies – about $5300 to Chicago.
A lot of summertime produce shipments are occuring from Texas to states further north ranging from Missouri, to Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Michigan has the widest variety of produce shipments in this region of the country this time of the year. It is the leading state in blueberry shipments, which are increasing by the day. Michigan also ranks eighth in potato shipments. Its new season spud crop starts in a light way this week with round white potatoes. Michigan also has a wide variety of mixed vegetables ranging from sweet corn to celery, and watermelons that are on the increase. Most loadings are available in the central and western areas of Michigan.
Wisconsin
The Badger state has 63,000 acres of potatoes and ranks fourth nationally in spud shipments. Red potatoes and white potatoes are the first to come out of the ground and volume is increasing. Russets easily provide the heaviest volume and will start shipments in a few weeks.
Illinois/Indiana
Southeast Illinois and Southwest Indiana are just getting cranked up with loadings of watermelons and sweet corn.
Missouri
This writer has been feasting a on large, red fleshed seedless watermelon from the boot heal of Missouri, and it is excellent. Shipments have already moved into good volume.
Texas
Rio Grande Valley watermelon shipments are moving into good volume. There also are Mexican tropical fruits, plum tomatoes and mixed veggies crossing the border into South Texas….From the High Plains area around Hereford, TX as well as parts of Eastern New Mexico, the new crop of potatoes are increasing in volume.
South Texas produce – grossing about $2800 to Chicago.
Southeastern Missouri watermelons – about $1700 to Chicago.
Indiana/Illinois produce – about $1700 to Atlanta.
Michigan blueberries – about $3200 to Orlando.
I found this on the Texas Watermelon Association website for your reading pleasure. For what it’s worth!!!
When you sink your teeth into a slice of sweet, juicy watermelon, did you know you also could be enjoying a natural treatment for erectile dysfunction? Watermelon is a great source not only of beta-carotene and lycopene – two important phytonutrients for the heart and for sexual function—but also citrulline. Citrulline is important for several reasons. One, it can relax the blood vessels, which in turn improves blood flow. Two, when you eat citrulline-rich watermelon, the body transforms citrulline intoarginine. The amino acid arginine boosts the body’s levels of nitric oxide, which in turn relaxes the blood vessels in the penis and promotes an erection, which is the same basic effect Viagra has on the body. Although it might be a stretch to say that watermelon could be an erectile dysfunction treatment, it certainly won’t hurt to try it.
The Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences has published research linking mango consumption to a better diet quality and nutrition intake in adults and children. This research, funded in part by the National Mango Board (NMB), suggests that consumption of mangos in adults is not only associated with an overall better diet, higher intake of whole fruit and certain nutrients, like dietary fiber and potassium, along with lower body weight and C-reactive protein, a measure of inflammation that may be associated with cardiovascular risk.
Mango consumption associated with a healthier diet
The study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences suggests that adults who consume mangos tend to have a higher intake of certain nutrients like potassium and dietary fiber than those who do not eat mango, which contributes to a balanced diet. The researchers compared the diets of more than 29,000 children and adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2001 and 2008 and used the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to determine diet quality relative to federal dietary guidance.
The researchers found those that ate mangos scored higher on the HEI than those that did not. Compared to non-mango consumers, mango eaters, on average, had higher intakes of whole fruit, vitamins C, potassium, and dietary fiber (in adults only) while having lower intakes of added-sugars, saturated fat (in adults only) and sodium (in adults only).
Additionally, lower levels of C-reactive protein were found in adult mango-consumers. C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation and it has been suggested that high levels of it in the blood may be linked to increased risk for heart disease.
“Overall, the results found in this study show that people who consume mangos tended to have better intake of nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and dietary fiber, contributing to better overall diet quality than those who do not,” explained Dr. Victor Fulgoni III, of Nutrition Impact, LLC. “This research also underscores the importance helping individuals identify fruits such as mangos that can be readily incorporated into their diets for greater variety.”
This research, “Mangoes are Associated with Better Nutrient Intake, Diet Quality, and Levels of Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,” was co-authored by Dr. Carol E. O’Neil of Louisiana State University’s Agricultural Center; Dr. Theresa A. Nicklas of USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine; and Dr. Victor Fulgoni of Nutrition Impact. The research was supported with funding from the National Mango Board (NMB) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. NMB supported it with the goal of better understanding the relationship between mangos and healthy diets.
According to NMB, results from this published research will help add to the existing body of evidence suggesting mangos are a nutritional powerhouse. “Mangos are by far one of the tastiest ways to consume more than 20 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants all in one bite. With such great flavor and nutritional benefits, mangos are clearly a smart addition to anyone’s diet,” said Megan McKenna, National Mango Board’s director of marketing.
For more information about fresh mango varieties and availability, storage, handling tips, recipes and nutrition, visit www.mango.org.
About National Mango Board
The National Mango Board is a national promotion and research organization, which is supported by assessments from both domestic and imported mangos. The board was designed to drive awareness and consumption of fresh mangos in the U.S. One cup of mango is only 100 calories, an excellent source of vitamins A and C, a good source of fiber and an amazing source of tropical flavor.
Mango availability per capita has increased 32 percent since 2005 to an estimated 2.47 pounds per year in 2012. Mango import volume for 2012 was 804 million pounds. Learn more at www.mango.org.
Source: National Mango Board