Posts Tagged “potato shipments”
Georgia peach shipments enter the final weeks of the season, while Vidalia onions continue providing consistent, steady loads. In the Northwest pears, potatoes and onions are in light, but increasing volume.
Following a shipping in late July, Ft. Valley, GA area shippers are expecting a final season surge of peaches before loadings wind down around August 16-17. The first half of the season was off to a slow start until the middle of June, but it has ramped up and should continue for a couple more weeks. Total Georgia peach shipments this year are expected to be up about 25 percent from a year ago. Some shippers have already finished their season, but a couple of larger ones remain in operation.
Meanwhile, sweet onions from the Vidalia district continue to be shipped from storages, averaging about 250 truck loads per week.
Vidalia onion shipments – grossing about $3000 to New York City.
Northwest Pear Shipments
Northwest pear shipments, primarily from Washington state and Oregon should be very similar to the 2015-16 shipping season, with a 2 percent increase in volume being forecast. Growers in Washington and Oregon should produce about 18.7 million boxes of pears this season, The initial estimate was made last spring and a revised shipping estimated is expected soon. Harvest of bartletts and Starkrimson pears was beginning in late July, with winter pears expected to begin in mid-August.
However, apple shipments continue to have the heaviest volume, even though it is late in the season, with a few early varieties already kicking off the start of the 2016-17 shipping season. Rates to the East Coast may vary by as much $500 to a $1000. For example, recent rates to Atlanta have ranged from $4800 to $5800, although the majority of the shipments seem to going for the higher end of this range.
Potato and Onion Shipments
Northwest potato shipments and onion shipments for the new season are increasing in volume. In the Columbia Basin of Washington and the adjacent Umatilla Basin of Oregon potato loadings are expected to have a sharp increase as the old crop has finished and the 2016-17 is now the primary focus. This same area also has very light onion volume, but it will increasing in the weeks to come.
Here are shipping updates on for Northwest potato shipments starting soon, as well as U.S apple shipments that are winding down before the new crop is ready.
Potato shipments from the Northwest could get underway a week or more earlier than usual this season.
Unlike a year ago when drought and triple digit heat was hitting potato fields, weather this year has been much more favorable. Columbia Basin potato shipments from Washington and Oregon should get underway in late July. That’s a significant change from last year when both potatoes and tree fruits suffered from heat stress.
While estimates have not yet been released on projected volume many see similar volume to last year and probably more. Because of great growing conditions there are concerns of oversupply as shipments take off in August and September.
The great growing conditions in the Northwest includes Idaho, easily the nation’s largest potato shipper.
For Washington’s Skagit Valley potatoes, one of the later starting regions in the Pacific Northwest, is expected to start earlier this year. Harvesting could begin as early as August 15th. For the past few years, Labor Day has been a more typical kickoff.
Apple Shipments
About 238 million bushels of U.S.-grown apples were grown in the U.S. in 2015, 12% fewer the current season that is winding down in the next month or so.
The July estimate, the last one of the 2015-16 season from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, was also 1% lower than the five-year average and 2% lower than a preseason estimate, according to an analysis of the data by the Vienna, Va.-based U.S. Apple Association.
The estimate was higher, however, than the 235 million bushels forecasted at U.S. Apple’s 2015 annual marketing conference.
Shipments by industry leader Washington fell from 174 million last season to 142 million bushels this season.
Washington’s 2015 total was also 4% below the five-year average, and 8.3 million bushels lower than the 2015 USDA preseason estimate.
Shipments from industry No. 3 Michigan also fell, from 24.4 million to 23.7 million bushels. That was 3% less than last year but 14% above the five-year average and comparable to the preseason USDA estimate.
The second and fourth largest U.S. shippers, New York and Pennsylvania, both saw volumes increase in 2015.
New York jumped from 30.8 million to 32.4 million bushels, Pennsylvania from 11.7 million to 12.4 million bushels.
New York’s total was 5% above last season and 13% above the five-year average, Pennsylvania’s 5% above last season and 7% above the five-year average.
The final USDA estimate for New York was 6.2 million bushels, or 24%, higher than its 2015 preseason estimate.
Washington apple shipments – grossing about $4000 to Chicago.
California melon shipments will be ramping up soon from the San Joaquin Valley, while further south in this valley, various colored potato shipments are picking up. Finally, we take a look at the season closing shipments for Florida Valencia oranges.
California’s Westside district of the San Joaquin Valley should have normal shipments this season, with loading underway by the end of June. Most shippers will begin packing between June 20 and July 1. California desert produce shipments are winding down, which means most of the nation will be receiving its supplies of cantaloupe, honeydew and other melons from and the Central San Joaquin Valley.
Consistent shipments of California melons are now expected through Labor Day. This will follow a trend for this year’s spring melon shipments that started from Arizona and California’s Imperial Valley where there good supplies and steady loadings of trucks.
Potato Shipments
Potato shipments have been decent from the Bakersfield (Kern County) area this spring, but are expected to get even better now that loadings out of Florida and Arizona are winding down. This Southern San Joaquin area is shipping primarily yellow and red potatoes, with lesser amounts of white potatoes. Shipments of white potatoes are just finishing, while reds will go through July 4th and yellows through mid-July.
Kern County potatoes, carrots – grossing about $4500 to Chicago.
Florida Valencia Shipments
Florida has slightly increased shipments of valencia oranges and honey tangerines. The USDA reports late season valencia oranges increased production by 300,000 equivalent cartons while honey tangerines increased by 10,000 cartons. Grapefruit and non-valencia orange shipments remain unchanged from the previous month’s report. In its June 10 report, the USDA reported all oranges at 81.4 cartons compared to 81 million cartons the previous month and 96.9 million cartons the previous season.
Florida Valencia orange shipments are 97 percent complete, while growers have finished grapefruit and tangerine shipments.
Decent loading opportunities for Yakima and Wenatchee Valley cherries are upon us. Meanwhile, California spud loadings are now available from Kern County.
Washington cherry shipments are now forecast to be up 7.5 percent from last year’s 19.3 million boxes. Strong volume of early varieties led by the Rainier is expected to be similar in volume to last year — 1.7 million 15-pound boxes.
Initial loadings got underway around May 23-25. About 200,000 boxes of cherries were expected to be shipped by the end of May.
The weeks mid-June through mid-July should produce the largest shipments. Producers are also talking about a compression of The 2016 Washington cherry season is expected to be somewhat “compressed” because different cherry varieties in different locations are seen maturitying at the same time.
To be more specific, Bing cherries will be getting underway on or about June 1st. Volumes in the Bing variety are light this season due to pollination problems. Peak shipments of Bings are expected from June 5th until June 20th.
Rainier cherries will being increasing in early June and peak loadings should occur between June 13 and June 25. Final shipments will take place in early July.
Kern County Potato Shipments
After a 20-year decline in russet potato shipments from Kern County, California, there’s zero acres this year. The area simply couldn’t compete with places like Idaho and Washington state. However, over the years Kern County has replaced russets with red, gold and white potatoes.
This season, the golds are up about 20 percent with an additional 300 acres, now totaling over 1,800-acres. Reds still lead the way with over 2,000 acres, followed by the white rose potato at about 1,100 acres. There’s also much fewer shipments of specialty potatoes, such as fingerlings.
Kern County is a major shipper of carrots and is currently averaging around 375 truck loads per week.
Kern County potatoes and carrots – grossing about $3600 to Dallas.
Washington produce shipments play an integral part of the Evergreen state’s economy.
The state has rich soils, abundant fresh water, low cost hydropower, a favorable climate and hard-working people. Washington farm lands grow more than 300 varieties of crops, which is second only to California in crop diversity, according to a recently published report by the Washington Policy Center (WPC) .
Farms accounts for 13 percent of the state’s GDP and employ more people than Microsoft and Boeing combined. Some 160,000 Washington jobs associated with agriculture. Agriculture accounts for $51 billion in Washington yearly economic activity.
Over 200 food processors are supported by Washington farmers.
The apple is still rules in Washington. Two-thirds of the apples shipped in the U.S., originate from Washington state. One interesting fact coming out of the report is if the number of apples picked in Washington last year were placed side-by-side, they would circle the earth 29 times. Every apple is hand-picked.
While neighboring Idaho leads the nation in potato shipments, Washington also has significant potato loadings. Between the two states, they account for 44 percent of the nation’s potato shipments. When you order fries at a restaurant, you are likely to be served potatoes processed in the central part of Washington state.
The Washington Potato Commission reports that 99 percent of Washington potato farms are family businesses whose owners have deep roots in their communities.
Trucks move an estimated $42 million of freight on roadways in Washington state every hour of every day, yet many of them idle in traffic. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) estimated traffic bottlenecks cost truckers $49.6 billion in 2014.
While the state has a prosperous agriculture sector, the Washington Policy Center believes farm families, similar to those in trucking, feel the pressure of harmful legislation and regulations.
In 2013, the agriculture community faced nearly a billion dollars tax increases from legislation introduced in Olympia. That would be on top of the estimated $230 million farmers and agriculture-related businesses pay in property taxes annually.
Finally, farmers will feel the cost impacts of the governor’s proposed greenhouse gas rules which hit fertilizer makers and food processing facilities hard.
The report’s bottom line is agriculture must be given equal priority with high-tech, software, aerospace and biomedical research when the state’s leaders set tax, regulatory and economic policies.
Columbia Basin potato shipments – grossing about $3800 to Chicago.
Yakima Valley apple shipments – grossing about $6000 to New York City.
Here’s an update on the Michigan apple shipments, as well as U.S. potatoes, and mango imports from South America.
Michigan’s apple growers will harvest approximately 24 million bushels of apples this year for the 2015-16 shipping season. In 2014, Michigan shipped 24 million bushels (1.008 billion pounds) of apples, after shipping a record crop of 30 million bushels in 2013. In 2012 Michigan had only three million bushels, due to extreme weather conditions.
Apples are Michigan’s largest and most valuable fruit crop. The state ranks third in national in apple shipments, behind Washington and New York.
Potatoes
It is estimated U.S. fall potato shipments for 2015-16 will be 404 million hundredweight, slightly higher than the 403.7 million loadings for the 2014-15 season….North Dakota potato loadings are expected to come in at 23.5 million cwt., down 1.6% from a year ago.
Mango Imports
Peak U.S. arrivals of mangos from Brazil are expected to begin arriving this week, while imports from Ecuador will be arriving late this year.
The Brazilian season, which started in August, is running a little lighter than last year’s crop, although it’s on par with volumes from previous seasons. Total imports are expected to reach 6.7 million boxes by the time it wraps up in November.
Ecuador mango imports should be delayed this season because of cool weather. While shipments usually ramp up in October, sizable volumes could be delayed to as late as November. Additionally, it is estimated cooler weather could cut yields by 20 to 25 percent.
Early season Washington cherry shipments have gotten off to a less than a stellar start, thanks to adverse weather, plus a shipping update on other Northwest produce shipments.
What should have been big time volumes of chelans early in the season, instead has been only a trickle. Rainiers also have suffered some wind and rain damage.
Volumes were down about 65 percent the week of June 1st. Loadings also were expected to be off 50 percent the week of June 8th.
This week, the initial harvesting of bings should start from growing areas not hit as hard by the rains. However, cherry shipments will continue to struggle through June. In July, late season volumes should be much better.
Blueberry Shipments
Blueberry shipments are just getting underway from British Columbia through Northwest Washington state. Blues also are just getting started from Oregon and Washington. Volume currently is very light.
Potato Shipments
Potato shipments in the latter part of the season continue from Washington’s Columbia Basin and Oregon’s Umatilla Basin. About 450 truck loads of potatoes are being shipped weekly. The region’s onion season has pretty much wrapped up.
Washington/Oregon potatoes – grossing about $6000 to Atlanta.
Apple Shipments
Washington apple shipments and pear shipments are experiencing steady loadings from week to week.
Yakima and Wenatchee Valley apples and pears – grossing about $6900 to New York City.
As we get back in the groove following the long Memorial weekend, here are some of the better produce loading opportunities at various shipping points across America.
Western Produce Shipping Areas
Washington state easily provides the most loading opportunities in the Northwest with apples averaging over 3200 truck loads per week. The Yakima and Wenatchee Valleys also have pears in much smaller volume.
Washington apples – grossing about $5000 to Dallas.
Idaho potato shipments continue as we approach the last few months of the 2014-15 shipping season. About 1300 truck load equivalents are being handled weekly, although rails account for a larger percentage than with most produce items. However, trucks still rule!
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $4700 to New York City.
In California, strawberry shipments remain in heavy volume, with about equal movement coming out of the Watsonville area and the Santa Maria District. Nearly 1200 truck loads per week are being shipped from these two areas…Also, big volume with mixed vegetables continue from the Salinas Valley.
Salinas/Watsonville vegetables and strawberries – grossing about $6300 to Orlando.
At Nogales, AZ, about 2500 truck loads of watermelons are crossing the border from Mexico each week. Mexican grape shipments also are increasing.
Nogales produce – grossing about $2600 to Dallas.
Central Produce Shipping Areas
San Luis Valley potato shipments from Southern Colorado continue on a steady pace averaging about 600 truck loads per week…..Central Wisconsin potato loadings are much lighter heading towards the end of its season.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $2200 to Chicago.
In South Texas, about 1000 truck loads of Mexican avocados are crossing the border each week at McAllen. There also are a number of tropical fruits and limes crossing in moderate volumes. Texas sweet onion shipments are just about finished for the season.
South Texas produce – grossing about $2600 to Atlanta.
Eastern Produce Shipments
While Florida is headed towards a seasonal end to its spring produce shipping season, more of the focus moves to Georgia. As Florida blueberry shipments rapidly decline, “blues” are gaining in volume from Southern Georgia. The state also has moderate volume with vegetables ranging from cabbage to beans and Vidalia onions.
North Carolina sweet potatoes continue to be shipped in moderate volume, mostly from eastern areas of the state.
A major shift in the Bakersfield, Kern County potato shipping region has occurred over the past decade as russets have lost favor to red, gold and white potatoes.
In 2004, the acreage for russets in Bakersfield was 4,667 acres, but this year it is down to only 506 acres. The plunge in russet acreage corresponds with the overall drop in acreage in the past 10 years. In 2004, total acreage of all varieties planted in Bakersfield was 10,922; this year it is half of that at 5,398. The 4,000-plus-acre decline in russets represents a vast majority of the difference.
Kern County potato shipments are still an important area for reds, Yukon Golds and even white potatoes, as well as some specialty items such as fingerlings.
The change in shipments refers to the shift from storage potatoes, which fills produce shelves through the winter and early spring, to the first fresh potatoes, which come from California in the spring and are noted for a thinner skin.
This time of the year storage potatoes are starting to look “tired” and retailers are looking for the fresh crop.
Red potatoes are now the number one potato crop grown in Kern County, with about 2,000 acres this season.
The Yukon Gold potato is gaining in popularity and its acreage has increased over the years. The 2015 season total is over 1,500 acres, representing a significant increase in the past decade.
White potatoes have lost some acreage, but at 1,300 acres the crop is still substantial.
Bakersfield fresh potato shipments start in May and continue through June and into early July.
Kern County potatoes and carrots – grossing about $4000 to Dallas
Spring Florida produce shipments are shifting towards high gear!
Florida produce shipments for this spring are shaping up to be a good one for produce haulers because of excellent weather and growing conditions.
Vegetables being harvested in the Sunshine State range from tomatoes to snap beans, sweet corn, cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, celery, squash, lettuce and other leaf vegetables. Florida citrus shipments continue, while the strawberry harvest has concluded, but blueberry loadings are ramping up.
The state grows and ships over 350 commodities.
Weather didn’t pose any significant obstacles to growers this season as the state has experienced a mild winter.
Tomato shipments for both grape and cherry tomatoes from the Palmetto/Ruskin areas of Florida should get underway about April 10th, while romas and rounds should follow around April 17-20.
Tomato shipments should reach seasonal norms the week of April 6 or the week of April 13.
South Florida fresh potato shipments commenced in early February and will continue until early to mid-May. Peak Florida potato shipments are occuring during March and April.
Florida red, yellow and white potatoes – grossing about $2975 to Dallas.
Florida mixed vegetables – grossing about $3400 to New York City and about $3100 to Chicago.