Posts Tagged “produce haulers”
Produce haulers truck a lot of imported fresh fruit from various U.S ports to destinations across America and into Canada. The largest volume of imported fruit this time of year is from Chile, arriving at such U.S. ports as Philadelphia; Wilmington, NC; and Long Beach, CA.
However, at the Port of San Antonio, Chile, dockworkers have been on strike for the past week. It’s gotten so tense that police special forces have intervened.
If some sort of solution to the strike isn’t resolved soon, your loading opportunities at U.S. ports will be significantly affected – in a negative way. Chilean fruit arrivals reach a peak between now and stretching into March.
Information is somewhat sketcky, but demonstrations are persisting and shipments to the U.S. and elsewhere have been hindered by the strikes. Union representatives claim that the government has not honored a recent agreement, due to the stubbornness of a port connected company, which the unions says is unwilling to negotiate.
The second week of the strike would jeopardize the export of an estimated 1.5 million boxes of fresh fruit, worth an estimated $40 million. Even more losses are expected if the dispute remains unresolved.
It is estimated that in February there would be 6 million-plus cases per week of fruit being loaded on boats at the port for export. One union spokesman said of the situation, “this is war.”
The Maryland Wholesale Produce Market in Jessup, MD, which been open since the mid 1970s, is installing security cameras.
The project has been implemented since the market sees a need to understand and monitor regulations affecting both the produce and seafood industries. The security cameras are vital to providing food safety and security for the complex.
Hundreds of produce haulers deliver fruits and vegetables to the market weekly.
Additionally market officials are working with an engineering company for plans to bring the dock canopy up to the condition that will meet audit requirements.
Located on about 400 acares, it is home to some major companies, such as Sysco Food Services of Baltimore, T.A. Baltimore South, Merchants Terminal, BTS Distribution Centers, Terminal Corporation and the Maryland Wholesale Produce and Seafood Markets.
Giant Foods was previously a tenant on the market, but it moved its operation to another location last year, taking with it a significant portion of the 3,500 people who were employed at the market. Virtually every category of fruits, vegetables and seafood are processed, packaged and distributed through the Maryland Food Center into the Mid-Atlantic region. This requires thousands of refrigerated trucks each month delivering product to the market for distribution.
The market is operated by the Maryland Food Center Authority, which has a 12-member executive board that is appointed by the Governor of Maryland.
Last year, the market completed a $780,000 roof replacement project on both market buildings.
Produce haulers can expect less loading opportunities of Chilean fruit at U.S. ports this winter.
Freezing temperatures Sept. 17 and again a week later hit Chilean orchards with the worst cold since 1929 as temperatures plunged to 19 degrees F. for an average of seven hours.
Last year, Chilean fruit exporters sold about 282 million boxes of fruit to global markets, and for 2013-14, exports are expect to decline about 50 million boxes short of that level.
How much of Chile’s total fruit goes to the U.S. this season is still up the air. America took about 42 percent of Chile’s total grape exports a year ago. Imports of grapes from the South American country normally hit stride in January and continue for about three months.
The effect of the frost will mainly be in stone fruit, though grape volume could also be down an average of about 15 percent. Stone fruit is mostly peaches plums and nectarines, with much fewer apricots.
Early grapes will fare better than later-season grapes. If this holds true grape arrivals by boat at U.S. ports will probably be much lighter than usual in March.
Kiwifruit damage is rated very heavy, at close to 60 percent.
Further updates will be reported as they become available.
Florida certainly isn’t a destination many produce haulers seek in the fall, unless they are taking a vacation. It is historically quite difficult to find return loads out of the Sunshine state after delivering there. Still, here’s a look at what should be available with citrus and vegetable loads during the next couple of months.
There will be fewer navel oranges available, but larger volumes of grapefruit and tangerines as Florida’s early season shipments move to bigger volumes. The USDA issued on October 11th it’s first season forecast. Florida expects to ship 2.2 million equivalent cartons of navels, 17 percent less than a year ago. Although fewer loads are forecast, it still is a decent volume for the state. While citrus shipments are moving into good volume, lighter movement is seen starting in late December and early January.
Fall vegetable loadings from Central and Southern Florida are expected to be down from a year ago, particularly with items such as sweet corn, green beans, bell peppers, cucumbers and squash. While the harvest began last month, we’re looking at mid November to around Thanksgiving before better volume starts.
While plantings of Florida fall veggies are generally lower this season, larger volume with strawberries from the Plant City area is expected. Light harvest starts in late November with volume and shipments increasing during December.
Produce haulers found plenty of potatoes for hauling out of Idaho last year 
(season) and this time around there will be even more, if predictions hold true.
The nation’s biggest shipper of potatoes expects to have a volume for the 2012-13 shipping season that is 8 percent more than a year ago. Nationally, 5 percent more spuds are forecast to be shipped.
Idaho has a whopping 345,000 acres of potatoes planted. It’s true that the early variety norkotah russets harvest has been underway about a month. However, the tale of how many loads will be available this season comes with the main variety from Idaho, the russet burbanks. Still, with 25,000 more acres of spuds in the grown this year, Idaho most likely will have a huge amount of shipments.
Of course, not all of these loads will be by truck. Potatoes are a prime candiate for rail shipments every year – and the railroads do haul a significant amount, particularly out of Idaho.
Nationwide, total planted acreage is estimated at 1.15 million. The figure includes plantings from all four season, with fall plantings being about 1 million acres alone.
The actual potato volume for the fall season will have a better handle come November 9th when The USDA will issue a new crop estimate.
A primary threat to a reduction in loading opportunities is if an early, hard frost or snow hits the Idaho farming areas. This could damage potato crops. Thus, farmers will be harvesting quickly as possible through October to beat cold weather.
Idaho potatoes – grossing about $4300 to Atlanta; $5500 to New York.
There will be fewer apples for hauling in two of four of the leading eastern states this fall. 
New York got hit the hardest by frost related weather earlier this year, but there also will be fewer loads available for produce haulers in North Carolina. Pennsylvania and Virginia will be up in volume only slightly.
New York state’s Western and Central apple shipping areas were hit the hardest, with less frost damage occuring in the eastern part of the state, home of the Hudson Valley. Still, New York’s volume will be down 52 percent from last apple season ( 590 million pounds compared to 1.2 billion pound a year ago).
In Pennsylvania, apples are forecast to be at 481 million pounds. It shipped 458 million pounds last year.
North Carolina took a beating. This year it expects to load 40 million pounds of apples compared to 140 million pounds in 2011.
The leading apple shipper in the mid-west, Michigan will ship 85 percent fewer apples this season.
Ironically, Washington state, which normally ships about half of the nation’s apples every year, is expected to account for 77 percent of the nation’s apple loads for 2012-13. This is despite suffering some hail damage. The state was on track for historic volume, until the fowl weather hit. Still, Washington state is expected to have its second largest amount of apple shipments on record.
One difference produce haulers can expect out of the Northwest this season is for Washington shippers to be packing more apples than normal in the smaller, consumer bags. This is because Michigan normally is heavy with bagged apples, and Washington packers will be looking to help fill this void.
Produce truckers should always watch what is being loaded, not only for proper count, but for quality and appearance of the product being loaded. This is especially true if you are hauling apples from most shipping areas this season. Expect shippers to be loading some fruit with pits or hail damage marks on it. Just make sure whom you are hauling for is aware of this situation to help reduce changes of claims or rejected loads. Also, be sure and note it on the bill of lading.
Washington state apples grossing – about $5600 to New York City.
As expected, there will be a record number of cherries shipped from 
Washington state this season by produce haulers.
Washington state had shipped 18.7 million boxes of cherries as of August 22nd. If you include the Northwest, in other words, mostly Oregon, as of Aug. 22, 22.8 million boxes of cherries had been shipped, which also is a record. By the end of August most of the fruit will have been packed and shipped, and total volume will likely top a record 23 million boxes.
California table grape shipments are ahead of schedule this season due to the warmer-than-normal weather. The primary concern is if the San Joaquin Valley heat eventually starts taking a toll of the vineyards, which could lead to quality problems, something we’ll watch out for as it could impact claims or rejected loads for produce truckers.
It appears this year will be the first time California hits 100 million or more boxes of grapes.
In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, watermelon shipments continue. Quality appears good enough that you should be able to avoid unfair claims or rejected loads – depending of course, upon whom you are delivering to. There also are steady shipments of Mexican citrus, tropical fruit and vegetables crossing the border into South Texas.
In the Hudson Valley of New York, various vegetables such as sweet corn are being loaded in light to moderate volume. The new apple harvest has just started and volume is very light, but increasing.
South Texas produce loads – grossing about $220o to Atlanta.
San Joaquin Valley grapes – grossing about $4300 to Chicago.