Posts Tagged “Oregon blueberry shipments”
Now that we are well into summer, here’s a look at California strawberry shipments, blueberries from the Northwest and New Jersey, as well as from Michigan, plus more.
For the 2016 season, California will ship nearly 80 percent of the strawberry volume in the United States.
The 2016 California Strawberry Acreage Survey from the California Strawberry Commission notes 32,515 acres of strawberries were planted in California for the 2016 season. This breaks down to 27,783 acres planted in the fall of last year for production in the winter, spring and summer and then 4,732 acres planted this summer for production in the fall.
California strawberries are shipped year-round in California, with the ‘late-season strawberries’ second planting often referred to as the “summer plant.”
The majority of this acreage is shipped into the fall/early winter, and primarily originates from the Oxnard and Santa Maria areas.
Watsonville strawberries and Salinas vegetables – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
Blueberry Shipments
Oregon blueberry shipments are now coming out of the Willamette Valley region with mid- to late-season varieties. Fresh shipments have ended a week or so early this year and now loadings are coming with “blues” out of storage. Shipments should continue through September.
Meanwhile, peak blueberry shipments are expected through August from British Columbia and New Jersey, with both areas continuing with lighter volume through September.
Michigan Produce Shipments
Michigan could set record blueberry shipments as loadings continue this season. However, growers are fighting a pest known as the Spotted Wing Drosophila, a nasty invasive fruit fly. It’s requiring close attention with insecticides, are abundant, requiring stringent controls, DeGrandchamp said.
Meanwhile Southwestern Michigan also is shipping peaches and plums (Berrien County), but in much lighter volume. The apricot season has ended.
Berian County apple shipments get underway in September, followed closely by loadings from Allegan County.
Michigan blueberry shipments – grossing about $3500 to Dallas; Michigan vegetable shipments grossing 25 to 30 percent less, depending upon destination.
Virginia vegetable shipments and Oregon blueberries are about to start, while Salinas lettuce is emerging from a shipping gap.
Virginia potato shipments of round whites in Lower Northampton are scheduled to begin about June 20, while reds, russets and yellows will start approximately one week later. Loadings will be in full force by early July. Virginia growers typically produce between 3,000 to 4,000 acres of potatoes each season.
Most Virginia potato shipments are destined for receivers throughout the Northeast when whose areas are not producing. When the potato season is completed in the south, Virginia spud loadings are redirected there. Some potatoes, depending on market conditions every year, are distributed in Canada.
One of Virginia largest potato shippers is Dublin Farms in Horntown. Founded in 1876, the family operation grows and ships 12 to 15 loads daily from late June through mid August with primarily white, red and yellow potatoes.
Other produce shipments have been increasing in Virginia led by tomatoes and green beans. C&E Farms in Cheriton, VA is one of the nation’s largest shippers of green beans and also has farming operations in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Virginia’s three major tomato operations, Lipman Family Farms, Pacific Tomato Growers and Del Monte are expected to ship about the same volumes of round, Roma, grape, cherry and heirloom tomatoes from late June through September.
Oregon Blueberry Shipments
Oregon blueberry shipments got underway with light volume this week from the Willamette Valley. Good volume is expected the week of June 13th and will continue into the last half of July.
The state of Oregon is one of the largest blueberry shipping states in the country behind Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, California and Washington.
Salinas Lettuce Shipments
Following a chaotic growing season resulting in shipping gaps, Salinas lettuce shipments are back on track with relatively steady volume from week to week. Head lettuce is averaging more than 1250 truck loads per week, while romaine shipments are exceeding 800 loads.
Salinas lettuce shipments – grossing about $6800 to New York City.
The last potatoes of the shipping season, which have been held in storages for months, may have quality problems which could result in rejected loads or claims. The good news is there are very few russetts left in major shipping states such as Idaho.
What started out as a huge crop last fall, has faded quickly since spring. Packouts have been off due to quality problems and some spuds have even been used a cattle feed.
There is light volume with the new crop of red and yellow potatoes out of Washington and Oregon with shipments picking up the week of July 22. Russet loadings should get going between July 22 and Aug. 1.
Overall potato shipments are going to be very light around the country until about the second week of August, as the new crop starts gaining steam.
Blueberries
Big volumes of blueberries are seen from Oregon and British Columbia in July and August — and likely even into September. There have been few complaints regarding size, or taste, which means fewer problems for drivers at unloading docks.
Grapes
In California, record shipments of table grapes are still being seen for this season. Another forecast will be issued in late July.
Last year California topped 100 million boxes of grapes shipped for the first time. This season observers are looking at shipments hitting nearly 107 million, 19-pound cartons. Hang on sloopy, that’s a lot of fruit! Grape loadings are taking place from the Arvin district.
Over half of California’s grapes will be shipped after Labor Day and extending into December, a trend that has come as newer, late variety grapes have been developed.
San Joaquin Valley grapes and stone fruit – grossing about $8,000 to New York City.