Posts Tagged “Florida tomato shipments”
Florida strawberries and tomatoes are leading produce shipments from the Sunshine state this month.
Florida has over 11,000 acres of strawberries are grown in the Plant City area each year, with Hillsborough County shipping about 15 percent of the nation’s strawberries and virtually all the berries grown during the winter.
Since late spring, the weather was good and the state has been leading the nation in strawberry shipments now for a number of weeks. Although small compared to California’s total strawberry shipments, Florida ships about 20 million flats each year.
Florida is loading about 1,000 truck loads of strawberries per week.
Florida Vegetable Shipments
Unlike some winters, Florida growing conditions also have generally been favorable for vegetables, leading to fairly stable shipments from week to week. Mature greens provide Florida’s heaviest tomato volume, with much less amounts coming from plum and grape tomatoes. However, if you add the three types of tomatoes together, they are averaging about the same amount of volume as Florida strawberries.
However, a major difference between hauling strawberries and tomatoes relates to geography. Florida’s strawberry shipments are concentrated in a relatively small growing area just west of Tampa. By contrast, Florida tomato shipments are spread throughout much of the state, with some areas being more active depending on the season.
At the same time, Florida also is shipping a number of other winter vegetables. However, volume with Florida vegetable shipments are much lighter this time of the year. While Florida may be shipping around 1,000 truckloads of mature green, plum and grape tomatoes each week, the next closest item is bell peppers, averaging only 250 truck loads weekly. Other leading Florida vegetables range from cabbage, to sweet corn, cucumbers, and beans, but the volume this time of year is only 50 percent or less that of bell peppers.
This will remain so until the last half of March, or April, depending upon weather conditions. All of this means mixed loads and only partial loads for the most part in the winter. Even during the heaviest Florida produce shipping season in the spring, multiple picks and drops are very common.
Florida tomato shipments look to be similar to last season, while a big plunge is seen with Florida citrus.
During the 2015-16 season, which ended in June, tomato growers packed 28.2 million 25-pound equivalent cartons of mature greens and vine-ripe tomatoes, down from 36.5 million from the previous season. The decline is attributed primarily to excessive rains during the growing season. Torrential spring rains reduced yields that caused the 8 million carton shortage,
Last year, Mexican tomato imports increased 18 percent from the prior year from October to mid-June. Imported Mexican tomatoes are primarily vine ripes, while Florida’s tomatoes are mostly mature greens.
Fall plantings for this season are expected to be similar to a year ago. Florida tomato shipments will get underway in October. In fact Florida typically is shipping tomatoes most of the year, with the exception being July, August and September.
Florida Citrus Shipments
Florida citrus acreage has declined to its lowest level in nearly three generations.
On September 12th, the USDA reported the Sunshine State’s citrus acreage declined to 480,121 acres for 2015-16, the lowest since the agency began surveying acreage in 1966.
Oranges, which constitute 89 percent of the state’s citrus acreage, is the lowest since that period as are grapefruit and tangerines. In 1970, Florida growers planted 715,806 acres of oranges, 124,050 acres of grapefruit and 101,615 acres of specialty fruit or tangerines and tangelos.
Currently, oranges make up 425,728 acres, grapefruit, 40,316 acres and specialty fruit, 14,077.
Orange production is down 3.7 percent from the 2014-15 season while white grapefruit sustained the biggest loss at 17 percent for the period. Red seedless grapefruit experienced only a 4 percent decline.
Tangerine and tangelo acreage declined 17 percent respectively from the previous year.
Of the 27 citrus-producing counties, 24 recorded acreage declines.
The Indian River region produces the most grapefruit acreage while the central region leads in the production of oranges and specialty fruit.
In terms of total citrus production, the central, southern and western regions represent the biggest acreage.
Florida will have light overall shipments of produce until March or April when spring vegetables get underway. In fact the whole Southeast is pretty “dead” this time of year.
Southern Georgia vegetable shipments – grossing about $800 to Atlanta.
Here’s an update on Washington apples shipments, as well as Florida tomato shipments and Florida orange shipments.
Washington apple shipments now shows the total crop remaining in storages at 116.7 million boxes, down a fraction from 116.9 million a month ago and 117.1 million on January 1st. Record apple shipments occurred in 2014 totaling 141.8 million boxes.
The 2015 crop is 54 percent, 62.9 million boxes, shipped versus 54 percent a year ago and 56.7 percent two years ago. Weekly shipments are averaging a healthy 2.5 million boxes.
Florida Tomato Shipments
Abnormal winter storms have caused shortages of all Florida grown produce. Damaging winds, heavy rains and even tornadoes have crossed the state nearly every week since the holidays. About 80 percent of the tomatoes in the U.S. are currently coming from Mexico. Meanwhile, Florida production and shipments of tomatoes should increase significantly by Mid April.
Florida Orange Shipments
The USDA 2015-16 Florida orange shipping estimate has increased 3 percent to 71 million, though it is still well below the 96.8 million boxes of oranges moved during the 2014-15 season. A 2 million box rise in Valencias to 35 million accounted for the increase, while early and mid-season varieties stayed at 36 million boxes. Florida citrus officials say its citrus crops remain in a “crisis” situation due to disease issues.
The USDA’s estimate of the 2015-16 Florida grapefruit crop also rose slightly to 10.7 million boxes from 10.5 million. Specialty citrus decreased a fraction to 1.8 million boxes.
More California walnut shipments are seen this year, plus lighter loadings of early season desert veggies. Also, a look at Florida tomato shipments.
Walnut production in California is slightly more than that of the previous season. But because exports to China are down because of duties imposed, this may actually result in more domestic shipments than last season. However, the amount of domestic shipments will be determined in part, if exports to Turkey and the Middle East replace of the China bound walnuts.
The forecast has walnut production at 575,000 tons, a one percent increase from last year.
Central San Joaquin Valley walnuts, kiwi, pomegranates, apples, etc. – grossing about $4000 to Dallas.
Desert Vegetable Shipments
Both the Salinas Valley and the Santa Maria district were wrapping up shipments early at the close of November. Combine that with the seasonal shift of broccoli, cauliflower and other items to Yuma, AZ and the Imperial Valley of California, where volume is lighter than normal, and we’re looking at shipping gaps. Good volume and steady shipments may not occur until after Christmas.
Deserts shipments still too light to get an accurate quote on truck rates.
Florida Tomato Shipments
South Florida is shipping grape, mature green and cherry tomatoes, primarily from the Homestead and Palmetto-Ruskin areas. However, temperatures that often have been running 15 to 20 degrees warmer than normal have reduced volume and sizing on the product.
For example, as of mid November, growers had harvested a little more than 1,158 40,000-pound units of mature greens compared to 1,383 units the same time last fall.
Central and South Florida tomatoes, mixed veggies – grossing about $2500 to New York City.
Florida always has light produce volume in the fall and the winter, but the Sunshine state’s produce loads has been even lighter this year. After a tumultuous fall which brought lighter shipments with central Florida’s tomatoes, volume is finally, a long last, picking up. Still, don’t expect spring like volumes.
Yet, the higher volume has actually led to some rate increases.
Florida tomato shipments out of Immokalee have been just okay in terms of quality, but apparently have looked pretty good compared to the early stuff out of the Palmetto-Ruskin area.
Heavy August and September rains stunted yields and certainly did not help the quality in the early fall. As late fall growing conditions become more favorable with moderated temperatures and lower humidity levels, volume and loading opportunties showed some improvement.
Fall tomato shipments yields were down 30 to 70 percent from normal depending on plantings, but the Palmetto-Ruskin region has been increasing.
The quality of the central Florida mature green tomatoes is reported good and Florida is now entering the time of year — early winter is when you should be hauling the best quality tomatoes that have been available in awhile.
Central Florida usually starts in early October with grape and cherry tomatoes and begins harvesting mature-greens by early November.
Central Florida freight rates have increased 10 to 15 percent to places such as New York, Philly and Boston due to increasing volume with tomatoes, strawberries out of Plant City and exisiting light production of veggies.
Central Florida produce – grossing about $3000 to New York City.
Texas citrus shipments from the Lower Rio Grande Valley have moved into good volume…..In Florida, tomato loadings are underway, but will not hit decent volume until the end of November.
In Texas, there has been a major change in citrus shipping. Paramount Citrus of Delano, CA has acquired Rio Queen Inc. in Mission, TX and Healds Valley Farms Inc. in nearby Edinburg.
As a result, Paramount Citrus now owns 10,000 acres in the valley, plus is handling sales and marketing for 40 growers with another 10,000 acres.
About 60 to 70 percent of the Lower Rio Grande Valley citrus shipments this season will be through Paramount Citrus. Consolidations in south Texas have been occurring for the past 25 years. There are now just a handful or so companies that both grow and ship their own citrus.
About 85 percent of the valley’s citrus shipments are with grapefruit, with the balance being in oranges. Total citrus shipments from south Texas this season are expected to be slightly below that of a year ago, but still will be a good sized crop.
South Texas Citrus, plus Mexican produce – grossing about $2300 to Chicago.
Florida Tomato Shipments
Due to heavy September rains, Florida mature green tomato shipments will be down by about 25 percent from the Homestead and Palmetto-Ruskins areas. Loadings also are taking place later than normal this year. Shipments typically start in late October and hit volume in mid-November. This year, however, volume shipments are not expected to begin until late November. Florida tomatoes are shipped in 25-pound cartons.
South Florida produce shipments – grossing about $2400 to New York City.