Posts Tagged “feature”
As the Northern Hemisphere citrus season comes to a close and the Southern Hemisphere season begins, Salix Fruits, a leading company in the import and export of fresh fruits, said shipments of citrus are arriving steadily.
According to Alejandro Moralejo, CEO of Salix Fruits, South Africa, the major citrus supplier in the Southern Hemisphere has grown in all citrus varieties.
“The first week of April, RSA (South Africa) started with lemon shipments to the Middle East, their most important market, and to Canada,” he said.
Currently, the U.S. is also sourcing the last shipments of lemons from Mexico while Argentina is starting its shipments to Canada, along with Russia and other parts of Europe. Moralejo said that despite the summer drought in Argentina, lemon volumes are guaranteed for all markets.
On the other hand, the mandarin market is the only one still covered by the Northern Hemisphere. The U.S. is sourcing the last shipments of mandarins from Morocco, while Chile and Peru are waiting for their crops to be ready.
“Peru will start the early mandarin season in the next few weeks. It will be the late mandarin supplier to Northern Hemisphere markets. The earliest fruit is waiting for market windows in the Northern Hemisphere,” said Moralejo.
In all, Moralejo noted that it is a season with an earlier window for the Southern Hemisphere citrus because of the lack of product from Spain, Morocco and Turkey, though later production will continue from Mexico, Spain, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco.
Moralejo said there is strong demand in the U.S. and Canada for imported citrus, and Salix will continue offering citrus from its sourcing regions including Argentina, South Africa, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.
“We are very pleased with the supply from our Egypt office, which will give us a large volume for the next season in the Northern Hemisphere,” he said. “This is in addition to the excellent quality product from Spain and Morocco, where Salix has been present for the last two years.”
By Michael Tanaka, ALC Phoenix
There has been a long foretold narrative that a driver shortage, along with other concerning factors, are leading toward a long term deficit in the truck-to-load market balance. Today it may seem that there is no longer a looming crisis. Due to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, conflict in Ukraine, fuel rates, inflation, and fluctuations in consumer spending habits, volumes have seen significant decreases overall. For customers and brokers alike, this has led to temporary alleviation, but when the market inevitably stabilizes, we may see that these trends are still problematic. The core issues remain with the driver market: average age, more available/flexible/safer employment options, unpredictable market, legal risks, etc. Experts are predicting that the driver shortage will grow to 160,000 drivers by 2030. There has also been a decline in the ability to keep up with semi-truck production and an increase in carriers leaving the market. While there was a slight ease in 2022, due to raises in driver pay that are not sustainable in this market, we still face an uphill battle and a vacancy of 78,000+ drivers.
One significant way the industry is trying to help close the gap is by adopting and implementing self-driving trucks. While there have been autonomous trucks tested and implemented on the road to some success, we have a long way to go before significant adoption. The majority of self-driving trucks making deliveries are running short, simple, light runs with smaller trailers. Currently, only 24 states allow autonomous semi-trucks (most states do allow testing if a backup driver is present). Interstate usage has yet to be approved by the federal government.
Due to the remaining legal, technological, and financial (cost of production not yet scalable) issues combined with the costs and challenges of replacing and upgrading the fleet, it is hard to see a significant percentage of adoption within the next few years. In 2021, 91.5% trucking companies were made up of six trucks or less. Expecting the hundreds of thousands of small carriers and owner-operators to replace and upgrade their fleets is a big ask. In 2021, there were 4.6 million semi-trucks in the U.S. The nature of the industry, legally and culturally, means major changes are typically implemented and standardized slowly. Lobbyists and unions often curtail progress further. Additionally, there are currently issues in the production of semi-trucks. Even in this extended soft market, a multi-year parts and worker shortage has limited the ability to keep up with orders.
It may be safe to assume that supply chain and consumer patterns will begin to stabilize before the adoption of autonomous trucks are significant. Carriers have had to work with lower rates and higher costs for years, causing an increase in bankruptcies and closures. As volumes increase and the supply and demand paradigm flips, expect to see the remaining carrier market use all of their leverage to offset their losses. While the development of self-driving trucks is progressing, it’s not going to save the day in the near term. Therefore, we must rely on our own preparation to weather the coming storm.
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Michael Tanaka graduated from Arizona State University in 2014 with a BA in Business Communications. Upon graduation, he began working in the transportation industry. He started off as a Business Analyst in the private emergency services sector but eventually pivoted to the OTR freight industry. He has spent time on both the asset and brokerage sides of the industry gathering experience through his roles in Operations, Carrier Sales, and Account Management. He began working for the Allen Lund Company in September of 2021 as a Transportation Broker and is now an Account Development Manager.
To pick a great mango, make sure you learn about the different varieties you can find when shopping.
When choosing a mango, don’t focus on color – it’s not the best indicator of ripeness. Mango varieties come in a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes.
First, squeeze it gently. A ripe mango will yield slightly. A medium-ripe one will be somewhat firm and an unripe fruit will be very firm to the touch.
Flavor varies from tart for green mangoes to naturally sweet for ripe mangoes.
Use your experience with produce such as peaches and avocados to help you easily choose, as mangoes also become milder as they ripen.
Ripe mangos will sometimes have a fruity aroma on their stems. When considering how to choose a fresh specimen, this is one of the nicest ways!
The red color that appears on some varieties is not an easy way to spot a perfect mango, as it is not an indicator of ripeness. Always judge by feel.
U.S. importers report heavier imported mango supplies will be coming this summer, while 2023 so far has had lighter than normal volume.
Mexico is the primary source of mangoes during spring and summer months, providing over 90% of the total supply, according to the National Mango Board, Orlando, FL.
The supply of mangoes to the U.S. from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador for 2020-22 has been on average 135 million boxes.
Mission Produce Inc. of Oxnard, CA notes rain early this year led to a slightly delayed start to the Mexico mango harvest. Mission Produce receives several varieties of mangoes from multiple growing regions.
The company reports high-quality tommy atkins and honey mangoes from Mexico have been arriving at its North American forward distribution centers, although in limited volumes. Mission also is sourcing tommy atkins mangoes from Nicaragua and Guatemala.
As summer approaches, the harvest of fibreless varieties, such as kent and keitt mangoes, generally begins in northern and central Mexico. Mission will start sourcing kent mangoes from Mexico this month. It also plans to source organic tommy atkins, kent and keitt mango varieties from Mexico.
Central American Produce, Pompano Beach, FL., will import mangoes from Central America until around mid-May and will continue to source from several areas of Mexico throughout the summer. The company offers tommy atkins, haden and honey mangoes.
Central American Produce also imports a few organic mangoes.
Vision Import Group of River Edge, NJ, which early this year formed a joint venture called Vision Global Group with William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. of Great Neck, NY, is importing mangoes from Mexico and Guatemala this spring.
The company handles mostly the tommy atkins variety, some honey mangoes and a few hadens. A few kents should be available from Guatemala.
Although not sweet, avocados are botanically classified as a fruit with a large berry and a single central pit, from the Persea americana tree.
Their nutritional profile makes them a staple in several healthy meal plans, such as the Mediterranean and DASH diets.
Avocados are a good source of fiber and contain more fat (the good kind) than carbohydrates, making them popular in low-carb diets.
Their heart-healthy fats do not raise blood cholesterol, which can be advised in traditional cholesterol-lowering regimens.
It is one of the most fat-rich plant foods, making it a popular inclusion in vegan and vegetarian diets.
The slightly earthy but neutral flavor of avocados works well in sauces, salad dressings, sandwiches, baked goods, salads and grain dishes for added richness.
Multiple vitamins
- Source of fat (mainly monounsaturated 67%)
- Fiber (mainly insoluble, but also soluble)
- B group vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Folate
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin)
A medium whole avocado contains about 240 calories, 13 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of protein, 22 grams of fat (15 grams monounsaturated, 4 grams polyunsaturated and 3 grams saturated), 10 grams of fiber and 11 milligrams of sodium.
A difficult California growing season characterized by rain, snow and unusually low winter temperatures is finally giving away to more promising weather and more shipments of table grapes, strawberries and cherries.
Grape Shipments
The California table grape season starts in the Coachella Valley with harvesting just getting underway.
Harvesting in the San Joaquin Valley (Arvin) should begin in late June or early July. Early expectations are the 2023 crop will be similar or slightly larger than last season’s 95.1 million 19-pound boxes.
Autumn King, Scarlet Royal, Sheegene-20, flame and Sheegene-21 varieties accounted for 47% of the total volume in 2022. Exports accounted for 30% of the volume last season. The top three markets included Canada, Mexico and Taiwan.
Strawberry Shipments
Strawberry volume began recovering from adverse weather in early April, with shipments much lower than last year.
As of the week ending April 1, California shipments of conventional and organic strawberries totaled 8.5 million trays, down from 20 million at the same time in 2022.
Fall-planted acreage for 2023 winter, spring and summer production was 31,852 acres, up from 30,499 in 2022. About 45% of the acreage is in the Watsonville growing region, 34% is in the Santa Maria area and 20% is in Oxnard. Although some acreage was lost due to a levee break along the Pajaro River in March, about 95% of the strawberry crop was undamaged from the storm.
Cherry Shipments
California’s cherry crop will come on seven to 10 days later than usual, with picking beginning in late April or early May. California is the first state to ship cherries each year.
King Fresh Produce LLC of Dinuba, CA expects there will be good volume by May 20, with loadings continuing until about the third week of June.
Growers project this year’s crop will be slightly larger than last year’s 5.2 million 18-pound boxes, which is down from about 10 million boxes the year prior, mostly because of an unusually warm winter.
DAT Freight & Analytics reports truckload freight volumes declined and national average spot rates for refrigerated loads fell for the fourth consecutive month in April.
The DAT Truckload Volume Index, a measure of loads moved during a given month, was lower for all three equipment types:
- Van TVI was 206, down 15.5% from March and 12.3% lower year over year.
- Reefer TVI fell to 154, a 16.3% decline from March and 12.5% lower year over year.
- Flatbed TVI was 239, 13.7% lower compared to March but 3.5% higher year over year.
It’s not unusual for truckload freight volumes to decline from March to April, according to the DAT report.
The van and reefer TVI numbers were the lowest since February 2021, when a polar vortex and unprecedented winter storms disrupted logistics activity across large areas of the U.S. and Canada.
“May will be pivotal for shippers, brokers and carriers,” Ken Adamo, DAT’s chief of analytics, said in the release. “After a challenging first four months of the year, we expect to see the effects of seasonality on freight volumes and rates. The question is how sustainable those effects will be.”
National average load-to-truck ratios decreased, indicating weaker demand for truckload capacity on the spot market.
The last time van and reefer ratios were this low was in May and April 2020, respectively, during the supply chain shocks of the pandemic:
- The van ratio was 1.9, down from 2.0 in March, and 3.4 in April 2022.
- The reefer ratio was 2.7, down from 3.0 in March and 6.3 year over year.
- The flatbed ratio was 12.1, down from 12.1 in March and 64.5 year over year.
Lower demand for truckload services led to a drop in national average spot van and reefer rates, the report said:
- The spot van rate averaged $2.06 per mile, down 10 cents compared to March and 71 cents lower year over year.
- The spot reefer rate fell 9 cents to $2.41 a mile, 72 cents lower than in April 2022.
- The spot flatbed rate dipped 4 cents to $2.67 a mile, down 70 cents year over year.
Fuel surcharge amounts fell 2 cents to an average of 47 cents a mile for van freight, 52 cents for reefers and 57 cents for flatbeds, the report said. At $4.10 a gallon, the price of diesel was 11 cents lower compared to March.
DAT said the national average rates for contracted freight were lower compared to March, but the spread between contract and spot rates rose to near all-time highs: 62 cents for van freight, 60 cents reefers and 66 cents for flatbeds.
Adamo called the spread between spot and contract rates “an indicator of where we’re at in the freight cycle — the balance of bargaining power among shippers, brokers and carriers.” For the gap to close, two things need to happen.
“One, the supply of trucks on the spot market needs to diminish, which unfortunately means more carriers exiting the market,” he said. “Two, there needs to be higher demand for trucks — in other words, shippers with more loads than they planned for.”
In 2016 and 2019, it was the third week in May when the spot market entered a recovery phase after prolonged declines and stagnation, Adamo said in the release.
“Seasonality kicked in and shippers needed more trucks to move fresh produce, construction materials, imports and summer and back-to-school retail goods,” Adamo said. “If we see an uptick in demand before Memorial Day, it will be a welcome sign for owner-operators and small carriers as we head into the summer and fall.”
The Argentine Citrus Federation reports weather issues could delay Argentina’s citrus production in 2023.
Crops have been significantly affected by the changing weather conditions, including high temperatures causing heat stress. This is adversely affecting fruit size.
AFC is forecasting a 20 percent drop in production with lemons and as much as a 35 percent decline in oranges and mandarins.
Late rains have also caused growers to postpone harvest, hoping to improve fruit size.
About 70% of Argentina’s citrus production is exported, with 296,526 growing acres planted to date.
Main export markets for Argentine citrus include the EU, Russia and the U.S., with a very small percentage going to China, an emerging market for the category.
The Idaho Potato Commission of Eagle, ID and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) have announced a multi-year partnership making fresh Idaho potatoes the first vegetable to participate in the ADA’s esteemed, Better Choices for Life program.
The purpose of the partnership is to help educate tens of millions of Americans on ways they can add Idaho potatoes to their meal plan.
Diabetes is one of the country’s greatest health crises. Every 23 seconds someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with diabetes and 133 million Americans are living with diabetes or prediabetes. With a mission to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes, the number one question the ADA receives is, what can I eat? Many wrongly believe they cannot eat potatoes.
“We want those living with diabetes and prediabetes to feel confident eating potatoes with their breakfast, lunch or dinner as long as serving size and preparation recommendations are followed,” explained Jamey Higham, President & CEO, IPC. “This partnership aims to enhance people’s understanding of nutrition, especially carbohydrates; help build healthy eating habits and debunk some myths about potatoes and diabetes.”
The Better Choices for Life program uses the ADA’s evidence-based guidelines and perspective to help consumers make informed choices about the products they purchase. Participating products prominently display the Better Choices for Life mark on their packaging. In the coming months, consumers will begin to see this well-respected mark on select 5-lb and 10-lb bags of fresh Idaho potatoes.
“The American Diabetes Association’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. One way we do this is to educate on ways to improve nutrition status and overall health using the Diabetes Plate Method,” said Dr. Laura Hieronymus, VP of Health Care Programs for the ADA.
“We are proud to announce that the Idaho Potato Commission meets the American Diabetes Association’s Better Choices for Life nutrition guidelines. Idaho potatoes are a healthy vegetable on the Diabetes Plate, and we look forward to working together to bring awareness of healthful choices and food preparation in our fight to better manage and prevent diabetes.”
The Diabetes Plate Method was introduced by the ADA to help those living with diabetes and prediabetes to prepare healthy meals that can help manage blood glucose (blood sugar). This approach allows individuals to put together a plate that includes a healthy balance of vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates, which can include potatoes.
The Diabetes Plate Method
Step 1: Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables.
Non-starchy vegetables are lower in carbohydrates so they do not raise blood glucose very much. They are also high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Step 2: Fill one-quarter of your place with lean protein.
Foods high in protein like fish, chicken, lean beef, soy products, and cheese are all considered protein foods.
Step 3: Fill the last one-quarter of your plate with carbohydrate foods.
Foods that are higher in carbohydrate include grains, starchy vegetables, beans and legumes, fruit, yogurt, and milk.
Step 4: To complete your meal, add water or another zero-calorie beverage.
Step 5: Choose healthy fats in small amounts.
One 5.3-ounce potato has only 110 calories and contains no fat, cholesterol, sodium or gluten. Plus, it is loaded with important vitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin C and fiber. The key to enjoying potatoes is knowing how to prepare them healthfully:
• Be mindful of serving size.
• Combine with heart-healthy olive or avocado oils.
• Prepare with the skins on for added fiber.
• Bake or boil instead of frying.
For diabetes-friendly recipes, click here.
About The Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho®” seal, a federally registered certification mark that assures consumers are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain-fed irrigation and rich volcanic soil, give Idaho potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance. These ideal growing conditions are what differentiates them from potatoes grown in other states. For more information, visit idahopotato.com.
California growers and shippers are saying there should be good supplies and good-quality tree fruit, melons and other commodities this summer, despite a winter filled with unusually cold weather, combined with record rain and snow.
At the same time there will some items getting off to a later start than usual, and early volume on others may be less.
Trinity Fruit Sales Co. of Fresno, CA notes despite the rains, it really didn’t damage the product. However, the start of the season is experiencing a little lighter volume.
Early volume of peaches and nectarines is down because rain prevented bees from pollinating the flowers.
Trinity Fruit is optimistic about getting past early May and when it enters the main part of the season in June, July and August, when it expects a full crop and good volume on everything.
An early freeze affected the apricot crop, so it will get a later start. Supplies during May will be lighter than usual. However, good volume will be available in June continuing into early September.
Westside Produce of Firebaugh, CA reports California’s melon crop dodged the state’s cold, rainy winter.
Though the California melon industry has had a reduction in acreage over the past 20 years, things seem to have stabilized during the past five years. Volume has stayed the same due to better yields, even as some acreage has fallen off.
The company expects similar volume of cantaloupes, honeydews and mixed melons planted as in 2022 as in 2023.
As with other commodities, the season may get a later start, about late May, rather than usual for California’s Imperial Valley spring melon deal and the Westside summer program.
“I anticipate there will be some gaps throughout the spring, summer and fall based on the weather, water and environmental impacts we’ve seen,” he said.
Westside Produce recently joined with Classic Fruit Co. of Fresno to offer melons year-round.
Crown Jewels Produce of Fresno started its melon program in late April. The company offers cantaloupes, honeydews and watermelons as well as grapes, pears and pomegranates. All commodities will start 10-14 days later than usual because of rain and cold weather, but size and quality should be good. Volume should be similar to last year.
Grapes will start the last half May, pears will get underway the second week of July and pomegranates in September.