Posts Tagged “grape shipments”
Here’s shipping updates for California relating to Coachella Valley grapes, Imperial Valley onions and prunes from the San Joaquin Valley.
Grape Shipments
In the desert of the Coachella Valley, table grape shipments are a big deal for about six weeks every year. The late timing of Memorial Day (May 30) will mean added loading opportunities for produce haulers due to demand leading up to this holiday. Though Coachella grapes are a bit earlier this year, it still will be around May 10th before good volume occurs. That means the weeks of May 16th and 23rd there will be heavy shipments.
For the Coachella Valley, the months of July, August and September, daytime temperatures can easily top 110 degrees and approach 120, making this region inhospitable to field-grown crops. But other times of the year grapes, watermelon, sweet corn, Bell peppers and grapefruit are just a few of the crops that are shipped, especially in the spring and fall. The Coachella Valley is located about 130 miles southeast of Los Angeles and only a few miles from Palm Springs.
Changing weather patterns for the last few years have meant an April start for grapes, which some are calling the effects of global warming and others are saying is merely a few-year anomaly from normal patterns. For whatever reasons, this year saw grapes being harvested in April once again, as they were in 2014 and 2015.
Imperial Valley Onion Shipments
Onion shipments are now in full swing in the Imperial Valley of southern California. These shipments from the desert occur during April and May, after which the season is continued in Fresno from June until September.
Prune Shipments
Storms hit Northern California in March damaging this year’s prune crop. The result of potential damages may result in prune shipments being reduced this season by 75 percent.
Prune loadings have declined in recent years while struggling to compete with the high prices commanded by walnut and almond crops. Growers have ripped out prune orchards to plant nut crops, causing the amount of prune acreage in California to shrink from 67,000 acres in 2005 to 44,000 acres in 2015.
Southern California fruits and vegetables – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
California produce shippers are looking to a spring and summer of good produce shipments, while mostly avoiding talk of bumper crops.
It should be a decent year for produce haulers looking to transport items ranging from stone fruit, to table grapes, cherries, melons, apples, citrus or berries. While El Nino didn’t happen, at least to the extent many thought it would, there has been average rains in much of the state that have helped to fight, but not eliminate the California drought. Adequate labor also continues to be a concern.
Here’s a look at California produce shipments in the coming months.
Apple Shipments
California apple shipment should get underway the week of July 20th with galas and continue through September. Fujis loadings should be available from mid-August through October. Granny Smith apple movement should be from late August through December; Pink Lady apple loadings will occur from mid-October through December.
About 1.8 million boxes of apples will be shipped, with around two-thirds of the volume marketed by Primavera Marketing of Linden, CA.
Berry Shipments
Strawberry shippers from Ventura County are in a seasonal decline. However, good volume is predicted for Watsonville starting in May and will continue into August. Strawberries out of Santa Maria have started and will continue through July. Raspberries have a similar season, although there is much less volume with shipping gaps. California will ship blueberries through May, before loadings shift to the Pacific Northwest.
Melon Shipments
California cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon shipments should be in good supply this summer. Prior to California, there will be cantaloupe loadings starting out of Yuma, AZ. This is followed by the melon harvest shifting to Huron, CA around June 20th.
Stone Fruit Shipments
Loadings for stone fruit shippers from the Southern San Joaquin Valley are just starting and will continue for the next four months. Leading items are peaches, plums and nectarines.
Citrus Shipments
Late-season navel oranges and mandarins continue to be shipped for a few more weeks. Valencias get underway in July. Lemon loadings are virtually over in the Central San Joaquin Valley. Loadings are now shifting to production areas on the coast.
Orange and mandarin shipments – grossing about $5000 to Atlanta.
Grape Shipments
Coachella Valley grape shippers should start the first week of May and continue through most of June. Shipments will then shift to the Arvin district (Bakersfield) around July 1.
Vegetable Shipments
There is light but increasing volume with vegetable shipments from both Santa Maria and Salinas. Items range from head lettuce, to leaf lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, romaine, celery, kale, parsley and cilantro, among others. There should be good volume by early May.
Santa Maria vegetable shipments – grossing about $6500 to New York City.
As many Mexican produce shipments through Nogales, AZ wind down this time of year, an exception are table grapes. The fruit also will be crossing into South Texas.
Grape shipments from south of the border will get underway the first week of May in light volume. Decent volume is being forecast for loadings to be delivered to U.S. markets in time for Memorial Day, May 30th. Last year Mexico shipped 17.2 million cases of grapes. While volume is expected to be good this year, it will most likely be below the total of a year ago.
The first grapes crossing the border will the green Perlette seedless variety. However within days, the most popular variety, the red Flames seedless grapes will be available. Most of the grapes are grown in Mexico’s Sonora state. Weather factors are being cited for lower volume this season. Very low volumes of the black seedless and Red Crimson grapes are predicted. These late season grapes are a primary reason observers are seeing the Mexican grape season ending a little earlier this year than normal – the first of July.
Mexican produce shipments crossing through Nogales – grossing about $3200 to Chicago.
Here’s an update on California fall produce shipments, plus a glimpse at the outlook for Oregon potato shipments.
Among the leading items for fall produce loadings out of California are grapes, apples and citrus.
Grape Shipments
California ships over 60 percent of its table grapes after September 1st. Total California grape shipments this season are estimated at 113.3 million 19-pound boxes. So far grape quality has generally been good. However, we need to keep an eye on hot, humid and occasional rainy weather that could adversely affect quality.
San Joaquin Valley grapes and other items – grossing about $6700 to New York City.
Apple Shipments
California gala apple shipments got off to a slow start in mid July mainly because of Washington state’s old crop still being shipped. Loadings have now picked up. Fujis and granny smith apples shipments get underway in September, followed by pink lady in mid October. Primavera Marketing Inc., of Stockton, CA is the state’s largest apple shipper, with about 1.1 million boxes. The state’s apple shipments have taken a hit, however, with Bidart Bros. of Bakersfield, CA, pulling out of the apple business following a listeria outbreak at its packing facility. The company, which packed about 400,000 boxes of apples, is now focusing on other crops.
Citrus Shipments
California navel shipments should start in mid-October, although volume will be down this season due to 20,000 to 25,000 acres of trees being dozed because of the drought. For easy-peel fruit, satsumas will starte ahead of navels, in late September or early October.v Clementine loadings start soon after navels. Volumes should be up as younger trees come into production.
Oregon Potato Shipments
Oregon fresh potato shipments are expected to be similar to the 2014-15 season.
However, excessive heat could change spuds as the harvest progresses, especially if vines start dying early.
The table stock harvest started in early August from the Columbia Basin, with harvest in the Klamath Basin following shortly thereafter.
Oregon fresh potato shipments are 17 percent of total state production, with fresh acreage being approximately 7,000 acres.
Oregon potatoes – grossing about $4300 to Chicago.
Southern California avocados hit by snow, while table grape shipments are just about finished.
California produce shipments
Sunny Southern California was more like a winter wonder land New Year’s Eve when a snowstorm dumped up to 6 inches on parts of Riverside County and caused damage to avocado orchards.
Damage assessments should be available very soon. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, it snows in Temecula, CA! About half of an estimated 330-million pound crop is shipped from the state’s southern growing regions of Riverside and San Diego counties. To the north, Ventura County got some low temperatures Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 but fruit loss was expected to be minimal.
Avocado tree branches were down, although there is hope the fruit on the tree would still be harvestable. Damage from the weight of the snow doesn’t necessarily mean freeze damage.
Grape Shipments
Meanwhile, California table grape shippers have completed harvests, with what appears to be the second largest crop on record, despite the drought. It is estimated there will be 105.9 million 19-pound boxes shipped, which would be short of last year’s 116.3-million-box haul, but exceeding the 101.3 million packages turned out in 2012. Grape shipments could finish this week for the season.
In the meantime, California desert vegetable shipments are unpredictable as ever with shipping gaps occurring due to past freezing weather.
Imperial Valley/Yuma vegetables – grossing about $3000 to Seattle.
Southern California avocados, berries and celery – grossing about $5000 to Atlanta.
While California’s overall fruit shipments in the fall may not match those of summertime, there are some exception when looking at individual commodities. Here is a round up on leading California fruit shipments this fall.
Grape Shipments
At least 60 percent of California grape shipments occur after Labor Day and continue into January. Since California is easy the biggest table grape shipping state, we are talking about a lot of fruit. The shipping season actually started last May from the desert and the total season forecast calls for 116.5 million, 19-pound cartons to be shipped. That is less than one million cartons away from last season record setting shipments.
Citrus Shipments
Larger volumes of tangerinees (which includes mandarins) are forecast this fall. Numbers are not yet available, but last season there were 26 million, 40-pound cartons of tangerines shipped….Navel orange loadings should become available sometime in October, with full volume coming in November — and in time for Thanksgiving shipments.
Kiwi Shipments
Kiwifruit loadings are predicted to be about 7 million tray equivalents, similar to last season.
Pomegranate Shipments
Loadings of pomegranates have been increasing 20 percent annually in recent years, and volume once again should be bigger – estimated at 6 million 25-pound box equivalents.
Apple Shipments
California apple shipments pale in comparison to that of Washington state. Shipments have been underway since late July and will last into November.
Strawberry Shipments
Peak shipments from the Watsonville area occurred during July and August. There still good volume, but seasonally lower amounts are still occurring there. In October, strawberry shipments will shift to Oxnard and the Baja California peninsula of Mexico.
Watsonville strawberries, Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $5600 to Cleveland.
Central San Joaquin Valley table grapes, stone fruit, vegetables – grossing about $6,600 to Orlando.
Here’s a glimpse of loading opportunities around the country ranging from New Jersey blueberries to Washington state stone fruit and apples, as well as peaches and vegetables from Georgia. Finally, California’s San Joaquin Valley grapes have gotten an early start.
Hammonton, New Jersey calls itself the “Blueberry Capital of the World” because of the heavy volume typically shipped each year. New Jersey blueberry shipments just got underway last week and volume should build rapidly. Total shipments in 2014 could be similar to a year ago, when it totaled 65 million pounds.
Washington state cherry shipments are moving into good volume from the Yakima and Wenachee Valleys. Cherries out of the Northwest (mostly Washington) should total 20 to 22 million boxes this season, not that far off of the record setting shipments of 23 million boxes in 2012…..Other stone fruit shipments, led by peaches, will get underway in July. Peak volume for loadings are expected between mid August to mid September. Good volume, similar to a year ago, is forecast at this time…..Meanwhile, 2013-14 apple shipments continue, averaging over 1,900 truckload equivalents per week.
In California, grape shipments from the Southern San Joaquin Valley started in a light way about a week ago. Volume is increasing from this area known as the Arvin District, which is near Bakersfield.
Sweet onion shipments have started in Washington state from the Walla Walla area. Walla Walla onion shipments come off of 700 acres and typically amount to about 400,000 40-pound cartons per year.
Georgia peaches are about to take off. It’s been a slow start, but as we enter July expect this to be a good month for loading opportunities with peaches out of the Fort Valley area. July should be an active month for Georgia mixed vegetables from central and southern areas. There also are Vidalia sweet onions being shipped from storages.
Georgia mixed vegetables – grossing about $2700 to Chicago.
Washington apples – grossing about $7200 to New York City.
One knows we’re getting close to the peak period for spring and summer produce shipments when California’s San Joaquin Valley starts pumping out everything from stone fruit to grapes, berries and melons.
Stone Fruit Shipments
Very light volume with apricots got underway last month from the San Joaquin Valley, this means peaches, plums and nectarines soon follow. Weather factors has all stone fruit items maturing up to two weeks earlier than usual this spring. Volume is increasing on a weekly basis and should be hitting full stride by June. No estimates have been issued, but it appears there will not be bumper crops this season.
Grape Shipments
The Coachella Valley is currently shipping the nation’s only domestic grapes. However, the vast majority of California grape shipments will get underway with the Arvin district (Bakersfield) around June 23rd. California shipped a record 117.4 million boxes of grapes last season. No record shipments are forecast this year, but it will still be a huge crop.
Cherry Shipments
Sketchy information, and about the best info is it should be a “normal” crop. This is a much smaller volume than you’ll find out of the Northwest in a few weeks.
Apple Shipments
California apples shipments tend to fill a narrow window between the old season ending and the new season starting up in the nation’s leading state – Washington. California’s leading apple variety, galas, should start shipments around July 20th, with fujis getting underway around August 20th.
Melon Shipments
Because of the California drought, now in its third year, some acreage normally used for cantaloupe and honeydew is not being planted this season in the Bakerfield and Huron areas. Shipments will get underway around July 1st, but don’t expect any record volume.
Blueberry Shipments
Central San Joaquin Valley “blues” are in peak shipments, which should continue through June. Lack of water is a growing concern, but volume is expect to meet or exceed last season’s 53.9 million pounds.
Strawberry Shipments
Southern California strawberry loadings should be winding down as volume increases from the Santa Maria district and the Watsonville District.
Central San Joaquin Valley blueberries and cherries – grossing about $6300 to Atlanta.
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.
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.