Posts Tagged “Nogales produce shipments”
While some winter vegetables from West Mexico have been crossing the border at Nogales, AZ since mid November, volume has been gradually increasing. Peak shipments occur during January, February and March.
Importer/exporter and shipper EarthBlend of Nogales was receiving a steady supply of Sonoran soft squash and cucumbers, and Sinaloa volume in mid November. Volume is now significantly more now and will get even better after the New Year.
Among its first items for shipping were Sonoran soft squash and cucumbers. It has good volume with beans, soft squash (Italian, yellow and grey), hard-shell (butternut, spaghetti, acorn and kabocha), cucumbers (slicer, European and Persian), bell peppers (mini sweet peppers, green, red, yellow and orange) and hot peppers (jalapeno, serrano, poblano and Anaheim).
When spring arrives it will be loading watermelon, honeydew and roma tomatoes.
This will be Earth Blend’s first season to have steady shipments of melons. The past three years the company has been increasing its roma crop volume, starting the harvest in mid-April and finishing mid-June.
EarthBlend’s peak shipments with Mexican watermelons and honeydew will occur from mid-March through the end of May.
Importer Rich River Produce of Rio Rico, AZ started shipping Mexican vegetables in mid October, a full month ahead of when it normally starts. However, weather factors and strong domestic demand has interrupted a steady flow of product.
Rich River Produce specializes in chili peppers and other hot pepper varieties. Besides hot peppers, the company also has good supplies of bell peppers, cucumbers and roma tomatoes.
The company works with eight to nine growers throughout theMexican winter growing regions.
January typically is when produce shipments from West Mexico build in volume and continue for the next three to four months. A majority of it crosses the border at Nogales, AZ.
Calavo Growers Inc. of Nogales expects to have the same acreage in Mexico this winter, but has shifted emphasis with commodities grown. It is increasing roma tomato volume, while and decreasing round tomatoes.
There will be a 15% increase on romas and a 15% decrease on round tomatoes.
The roma harvest got underway the third week of December, and round tomatoes will start in limited volume this week.
Significant volume of romas should be available by mid-January.
Volume of round tomatoes likely will be lighter than normal until mid-February.
Calavo also will have a winter grape tomato shipments out of Culiacan for the first time. The harvest starts in early January and loadings continue until April.
Crown Jewels Produce of launched its green bean program the first week of November and hopes to make the program year-round by adding product out of Baja California and Texas. The company also now ships cucumbers year-round, sourcing from Nogales, Baja California and Texas.
Crown Jewels was receiving Mexican green, yellow and gray squash, bell peppers and eggplant in November received its first colored hothouse bell peppers the first half of December.
Overall, the firm’s volume should be 20% to 30% higher than last year.
Divine Flavor of Nogales has transitioned its organic program from Baja California to West Mexico. The company is shipping cucumbers, grape tomatoes, watermelons and table grapes.
Earth Blend LLC of Nogales is shipping European cucumbers, Persian cucumbers, eggplant, squash, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes. The company has also added organic Italian squash and yellow squash.
Fresh Farms of Rio Rico, AZ already is looking forward to its spring table grape season out of Mexico, with volume growing each season. Mexican grape shipments usually get underway as the last of the Chilean import grapes finish.
Table grapes are described as backbone of its company. The grapes start in Jalisco in late March with several new varieties and an abundance of fresh grapes including Cotton Candy. Fresh Farms also will offer some organic squash.
MAS Melons & Grapes LLC of Rio Rico has honeydew melons, seedless watermelons, mini watermelons, cantaloupes and orange candy melons this season. The program will continued until late December out of northern Mexico and then switched to fields in the south for the winter and spring months.
The company had butternut, kabocha, spaghetti and zucchini squash until mid-December.
Grower Alliance LLC of Nogales, Ariz.-based has launched a logistics company and added a produce brokerage.
The move was made to get loads out the same day the produce was picked, resulting in a fresher product.
The new entity, which came about as a result of a merger with Lugo’s Trucking, formerly of Tucson, AZ., will have access to eight trucks, three of which will be dedicated exclusively to Grower Alliance. Eventually the fleet will expand.
For now, the new company will cover primarily a route from Nogales to the greater Los Angeles area, but eventually the service area will expand nationwide and into Canada.
Grower Alliance also has launched a produce brokerage called Grow-All Procurement. The brokerage will be able to offer items like citrus that Grower Alliance does not handle.
IPR Fresh of Rio Rico now has expanded its slicer cucumber program, which was offer intermittently in the past. Slicers began shipping in mid-November and will continue through April.
IPR Fresh also has increased volume of sweet corn through the end of March, and will continue to have its year-round supply of organic and conventional colored bell peppers as well as a green bell peppers.
IPR Fresh also will have more watermelon this winter, which will run through April, and has organic and conventional yellow and zucchini squash.
Produce House of Nogales expected to have similar volume this season out of Mexico.
New items include mini watermelons, seedless watermelons and honeydews.
The company also is entering into the southern state of Sinaloa to source tomatoes, roma tomatoes and bell peppers this season.
Tricar Sales Inc. of Rio Rico will have its same West Mexico program as last year, which will include cucumbers, European cucumbers, roma tomatoes, round tomatoes, eggplant and green, red, yellow and orange bell peppers.
Demand for new commodities and specialty items continues to increase at the key Nogales point of entry in Arizona.
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) has been monitoring trends for commodities in southern Arizona, and reports new and specialty items continue to add shipping opportunities at the produce hub.
During the past couple of months, commodities have been reintroduced to the area as demand grows for unique products. Additionally, the area has seen sustainable increases in volume for fresh produce.
Nogales continues to expand with new commodities being imported into the U.S. each year, with highlights including figs, pomegranates, Brussel sprouts and lemons.
Southern Arizona continues to import reliable volumes of tomato, watermelon, cucumber, bell pepper, eggplant, and many other key vegetable items. Commodities with the greatest growth include strawberries, broccoli, and radicchio.
Florida is pretty dead for produce shipments this time of year, but a faint “pulse” will be found with new season citrus. Nogales is another dead spot, but here’s a preview of when it is expected to come to life. Finally, Mexican avocado loads through South Texas are coming back, joining a number of other produce items.
Florida’s Indian River citrus harvest has just started, making it 10 days to two weeks later than normal due to excessive rains, that were compounded by the arrival of Hurricane Matthew. Matthew dumped up to seven inches of rain on the region, but the brunt of the storm was further north. While Vero Beach sustained 70 mph-80 mph winds, wind speeds hit 50 mph-60 mph in the groves. In Central Florida, harvesting started about a week earlier than Indian River. Florida citrus really dodged a bullet and in the weeks ahead normal shipments are seen.
Nogales Produce Shipments
This is one of the slowest times of the year for Mexican produce crossing into Nogales, AZ for distribution to U.S. and Canadian markets. The next big volumes will occur from January through March. A second, but smaller surge typically takes place from mid-April through June. Tomatoes have historically led produce shipments through Nogales from Mexico, but watermelon volume has increased to the point it could over take tomatoes. Other big volume items range from squash to peppers and many other winter vegetables. A significant factor in the growth and popularity of Mexican grown produce is due to many California farming operations investing and marketing produce from south of the border. They see lower production and labor costs with fewer stifling rules and regulations, which continue to come with doing business in California….Kind of sounds like trucking in California, doesn’t it.
Mexican Avocado Shipments
A projected 40 million pounds of avocados were expected to be shipped to the U.S. for the week ending October 21st. Mexican volume, entering the U.S. primarily through South Texas, had fallen sharply to 13.7 million the week of Oct. 10 – 14.
There had been a strike by Mexican workers with the primary issue revolving around sales negotiations between the growers and packers. The dispute apparently has been resolved.
Mexican tropical fruit, tomatoes and vegetable shipments through South Texas – grossing about $2100 to Chicago.
Here’s a look at spring produce shipments from across the United States.
Northwest Cherry growers released their second crop estimate of the season on Friday 13. In May — 19.8 million 20-pound boxes were forecast, and this should not have been affected by rains which hit Washington nearly a week ago.
Washington cherry shipments are still expected to occur ahead of normal schedule. Initial cherry shipments are expected about May 20 – 23 for the earliest varieties. Approximately 600,000 boxes of cherries are expected to be shipped by the end of May. In total, shipments are forecast to be in the 18.5 to 20.5 million box range, a slight increase from a year ago.
Blueberry Shipments
The eastern U.S. is currently providing the vast majority of blueberry shipments, with loadings taking place out of northern Florida, southern Georgia and North Carolina. Florida “blues” should quickly wind down next week….In Georgia, expected a shipping gap of just a few days as the season shifts from the highbush to the Rabbit Eye variety. Fair to good volume is continuing from Eastern North Carolina. Mexican blueberry shipments are light and erratic.
Georgia blueberries, sweet onions, and mixed vegetables – grossing about $2400 to New York City.
Cantaloupe Shipments
Melon loadings led by cantaloupe and honeydew are coming out the desert regions of California and Arizona. California produce shipments are coming out of the Imperial Valley and the nearby Palo Verde Valley. Just to the east, Arizona loadings are taking place from the Yuma area, as well as in the central part of the state closer to Phoenix.
Nogales Produce Shipments
Imported Mexican produce, led by watermelons and table grapes are crossing the border at Nogales, AZ. Most other imported Mexican produce commodities that crossed here are not available now. Watermelon crossing are averaging about 2700 truck loads per week. Table grape volume is around 750 truck loads weekly.
Mexican produce through Nogales – grossing about $3400 to Chicago.
Idaho Potato Shipments
Although we are entering the latter months of the 2015-16 shipping season, there are still over 1600 truck load equivalents be shipped each week.
Idaho potato shipments – grossing about $5100 to New York City.
We’re in the lightest time of the year for domestic produce shipments, so here’s a look at the Western USA where the heaviest volume loadings are taking place.
Washington Apple Shipments
While there is no record volume this season, it is still a good sized crop that is averaging around 3000 truck load equivalents weekly from the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys. There’s also pears available in much lighter volume.
Washington apples – grossing about $6100 to New York City.
Yuma Arizona Vegetables
Head lettuce and romaine easily lead the lettuce family in volume with the two items averaging about 1875 trucks per week from the Yuma district. There’s also lettuce, in much in lighter volume, coming out of California’s nearby Imperial Valley. Other veggies also are available to help fill out loads.
Desert vegetables – grossing about $4700 to Atlanta.
Nogales Produce Shipments
Dozens of different Mexican vegetables are crossing the border here, although it sure seems volume is lighter than usual, in what is normally the peak season for volume. Tomatoes (vine ripe, cherry and grape) lead the pack with about 1500 truckloads per week. Bell peppers are shipping about one-half this amount in volume.
Idaho Potato Shipments
Spuds are available for the nation’s leading shipper. About 1750 truckload equivalents are shipping each week, with rail handling a much higher percentage than with produce items from most other shipping areas.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $3000 to Chicago.
Idaho / Oregon Onion Shipments
It seems all onion shipping areas from around the country have lighter volume this season. Heaviest volume is coming from Western Idaho and Malhuer County, Oregon, averaging about 750 truck loads per week.
While we tend to focus more on imported produce during the winter months when Southern Hemisphere fruits and vegetables are in good production, there is still a substantial amount of product crossing our borders or arriving at ports.
Mangos have become a major commodity over the past couple of decades in America and there currently are larger-than-normal volumes expected from Mexico during the second quarter of 2015. Mexican mango imports will be approximately 36 million boxes during Q2 of 2015, which is about 10 percent more compared to approximately 33 million boxes of mangos imported during the same period from Mexico a year ago.
Additionally, Mexican mango imports in Q2 of 2015 are expected to be 3 percent higher than in 2013, which is the year that had the highest volume of Mexican mango imports on record. The tropical fruit is crossing the border both at Nogales and in South Texas.
Peruvian Avocados
Peruvian avocado exporters expect to ship 204,000 tons of fruit for the 2015 season, an increase of more than 16,000 tons from the 2014 season. Over 71,000 of those tons will be destined for the U.S. market, arriving primarily at East Coast ports. Hass avocados will begin in late April, with production hitting its stride in the summer months and winding down in September.
Nogales Produce Shipments
Mexican imports through Nogales are past a peak for the year, but there is still substantial product, ranging from cucumbers to melons, squash and peppers. The first Mexican grapes should start crossing the border any time now.
Lower Rio Grand Valley Produce
Mexican produce items crossing the border in South Texas range from watermelons to papayas. Texas items range from sweet onions to citrus and cabbage.
Nogales Produce Shipments
As the Midwest and Northeast endured one blizzard after another in late January and early February, it was 90 degrees in the vegetable fields of Culiacan, Mexico. As a result, shipments may not been as brisk as normal, but shipments still are heavy.
Eggplant loadings should increase leading up to Ash Wednesday (February 18), as retailers double their eggplant orders for Catholics to find a meaty item to replace meat in their diets, particularly in markets such as Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston, which use a lot of eggplant during Lent.
Besides eggplant, this is a peak shipping period for Mexican items ranging from bell peppers to broccoli, cucumbers, green beans, watermelons, tomatoes and squash.
Concerning spring Mexican grape shipments, it is still early, but initial reports note excellent weather and growing conditions. Initial harvest is expected around May 1st, with crossings at Nogales starting soon afterwards.
Here’s a list of some of the Nogales produce shippers: Bay Area Produce, Big Chuy Distributors, Calavo, Crown Jewels Produce, Delta Fresh Produce, Fresh Farms, Franks Distributing, Lisa Inc., Pacific Tomato Growers, P.D.G. Produce, Tepeyac Produce and Weis-Buy Farms.
Mexican vegetables crossing the border at Nogales – grossing about $1300 to L.A.; $3200 to Chicago; and $5400 to New York City.
Mexico produce shipments are crossing the U.S. border at Nogales, AZ in good volume – at least with several items.
The heaviest amount of product is with cucumbers, bell peppers, squash and tomatoes. Cucumbers are averaging around 675 truck loads per week. However, keep in mind most of these items are shipped as mixers, instead of straight loads of product. In fact, a lot of trucks arrive at Nogales to fill out a load, after multiple picks up California and other parts of Arizona.
Tomatoes are biggest volume right now, averaging nearly 1,000 truck loads per week. The biggest tonnage is with vine ripes and plum tomatoes, with much lesser amounts of grape and cherry tomatoes.
There also are decent crossings of Mexican bell peppers (600 truck loads weekly) and nearly as much volume with squash. Much lighter crossings exist with Mexican watermelons, beans, eggplant and other types of peppers than bell peppers.
With the completion of the Mariposa Land Port of Entry at Nogales last year, arrivals of Mexican vegetables has been more predictable. Because of the finish of the eight-year-long construction project, fewer delays are being experienced by produce haulers picking up product one of the dozens of warehouses in Nogales.
The upgraded port of entry was designed to increase traffic flow at the border because of better facilities, new Customs and Border Protection and inspection procedures. The port now is able to inspect about 4000 trucks per day through eight primary commercial booths and 56 secondary commercial inspection bays.
Nogales produce shipments – grossing about $1300 to L.A.; $5600 to New York City.
Nogales produce shipments have been light and inconsistent for the past couple of months, which is pretty typical this time of year. However, volume should show significant increases once we are past Christmas and heading into the New Year.
Everything from Mexican grown peppers to cucumbers, squash, eggpland, beans, tomatoes and melons should be crossing the border into Arizona in good volume.
A lot of people are keeping a close eye on the volume coming through Nogales to see if the port is losing business to the port of entry in McAllen, Tx, which is now receiving vegetables from West Mexico, with the completion of the 143-mile Autopista Durango-Mazatlan highway. West Mexican vegetables have historically moved through Nogales to destinations across the United States and Canada. With the new highway opening, it cuts a days travel time off of loads destined to points east of the Rocky Mountains.
While some Nogales distributors see the area losing business to Mexico, most say this is not the case. Between September 2013 and April 2014 movement across the Arizona border had increased 17 percent. Another advantage some are citing with Nogles over McAllen is the Arizona distribution facilities are fairly close together, while more spread out in Texas. This is a disadvantage for truckers picking up product at multiple distribution centers in McAllen.
Finally, some products in central Mexican – especially toprical fruits and avocados – that used to go through McAllen, are now being hauled westbound over the new Mexican highway and crossing the border at Nogales, for destinations in the Western half of the United States and Canada.
Mexican produce crossing at Nogales – grossing about $4100 to Chicago.