Posts Tagged “produce shipments”
Here’s a glimpse of produce shipments from Mexico crossing the border at McAllen, Tx, plus some domestic items coming out of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Sweet onion shipments from Mexico and Texas are expected to start later than normal this year. By contrast, in the Northwest storage onion shipments could last longer than normal simply because there is such a big volume.
Mexican sweet onions shipments are expected to start crossing the border into South Texas in good volume by the middle of March, which would be three to four weeks later than normal. South Texas sweet onions also are behind schedule and should get underway around mid to late March…..Meanwhile, imports of sweet onions from Peru are expected to wrap up by the end of February.
Meanwhile, there’s dozens of other items crossing the border from Mexico into the Lower Rio Grand Valley. Mexican avocado shipments are averaging over 500 truck loads per week. There also are lesser amounts of produce shipments ranging from Mexican strawberries and limes to tropical fruits and vegetables.
While much of the Texas produce growing over the past couple of decades has shifted to south of the border, South Texas growing operations are still in business.
Texas grapefruit shipments are averaging around 200 trucks loads weekly, with Texas oranges amounting to roughly one-half this amount…..The Lower Rio Grande Valley, as well as the Winter Garden District, which is closer to San Antonio, are shipping cabbage in light, but increasing volume.
South Texas produce shipments – grossing about $2800 to Chicago and $4700 to New York City.
Desert vegetable shipping gaps have been expected for several weeks, and recent freezes appears to be making it even more of a sure thing.
Light freezes started December 26th, but the heaviest frosts started hitting vegetable fields in the Imperial Valley of California and the Yuma, AZ area December 29th.
Frost conditions are tightening lettuce shipments in January. Growers are losing up to 40 percent of their harvests each day as long as they wait for the fields to thaw out.
In the Coachella Valley, temperatures ranged from 30 to 32 degrees at hillside operations, but plunged to 22 to 25 degrees on the valley floor. The Yuma area also had a temperature drop into the 20s.
The cold snap is affecting lettuce and leaf items including romaine and iceberg; green leaf and red leaf lettuce; butter lettuce; and spinach.
It is difficult to predict whether loadings will be available from one day to the next as shipping gaps have started.
Before the freezes, there was a broad consensus that desert vegetables were two to three weeks ahead of normal production due to the warm weather pattern that’s persisted in California throughout 2014.
Produce shipments can be unpredictable anytime of year, but never more so than in winter.
Desert vegetables – grossing about $4400 to Chicago.
(Note: Our 12/31 post was about possible damaging freezes hitting the citrus crop in the San Joaquin Valley. The crop dodged the proverbial bullet, so citrus shipments should be normal this season — unless Mother Nature decides to take another shot at it.)
Mid December rains on the West Coast will benefit produce truckers hauling California citrus next year, plus will be helpful long term with produce shipments throughout much of the state.
The rain storm hit the main citrus shipping regions, but more importantly provided more water for storage, as an initial start to climbing out of a three-year-long drought. The rains are helping to reinvigorate citrus trees, which helps with fruit sizing.
California citrus is about seven weeks into the season with another 25 weeks of shipping ahead.
California Navel loadings began in mid-October, but a lack of rainfall over the summer had led to a smaller-than-usual fruit sizing.
The California Department of Water Resources says the state needs about five or six of these storms this winter and spring to have an above-average water year and to begin to make up the deficits racked up over the past three years. Because of the mid December storms, three of California’s largest reservoirs – Oroville, Shasta and Folsom – rose for the first time since last spring. But each of those reservoirs, which provide much of agriculture with the summer irrigation water it needs, still stand at only about one-third of capacity.
For the drought to be declared over, several cold weather storms that drop snow in the higher elevations are needed. Currently, the snow pack remains below normal. Each year’s snowpack and spring runoff provides California with the vast majority of its reservoir water.
But there is no doubt that the rains have helped.
Southern California citrus – grossing about $4200 to Chicago.
Here is a round up on the best produce loading opportunities in the great Northwest, particularly for hauling potatoes, onions, pears and apples. Trucks are said to be in short supply in all the shipping areas reported below.
Idaho Potato Shipments
The largest vegetable volume in the country is with Idaho potatoes. It is another very large russet crop, averaging about 2,000 truck load equivalents being shipped weekly. The primary Idaho shipping areas are around Twin Falls, Caldwell, Pocatello and Idaho Falls.
Colorado Potato Shipments
Okay, Colorado isn’t exactly the Northwest, but it is providing the second largest amount of potato shipments in the country. The Rocky Mountain state is averaging over 1,125 truck loads weekly, mostly out of the San Luis Valley.
Washington, Oregon Produce Shipments
One of the most active produce shipping areas in the west this time of year is the Columbia Basin in Washington state that is adjacent to the Umatilla Basin, in Oregon. Those areas combined are shipping around 800 truck loads of potatoes and about 500 truck loads of onions on a weekly basis.
Northwest Pears
Last season Northwest pear shipments set a record. This year is another big crop, although it is 2 percent below the 2013-14 season. Shipments are reported to be ahead of this time last year. Loadings should be available well into the first quarter of 2015. Most volume originates from the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys in Washington state and are averaging about 500 truck loads per week.
Pears are very compatible for mixing with apples loads. Washington apple shipments are expected to easily set an all time record this season (see yesterday’s report).
Washington state apples and pears – grossing about $8500 to Boston.
San Luis Valley potatoes – grossing about $3600 to Orlando.
Columbia Basin/Umatilla Basin potatoes – grossing about $4100 to Detroit.
Twin Falls, ID potatoes – grossing about $4700 to Atlanta.
Here is a glimpse of produce loading opportunities from three states on the east coast.
Florida winter produce shipments are generally increasing. However, the following information is qualified by the fact this is WINTER produce, and while state volume is light and increasing, this is all relative to this time of the year.
Florida’s mature green tomatoes, grape tomatoes and roma shipments have been less-than-normal and larger volumes are expected around Thanksgiving (November 27th). This includes the Palmetto-Ruskin volume that is running lighter than normal and south Florida’s shipments from Immokalee.
Heavy rains that struck during fall plantings should produce lighter-than-normal early loadings of sweet corn and green beans through Thanksgiving. Due to rain in September, there will be shipping gaps.
Florida produce – grossing about $2000 to Chicago.
New York Produce Shipments
Most onion shipments are coming out of Orange County, NY. With the harvest completed, shipments are increasing and averaging about 150 truck loads per week….New York apple shipments are steady from the Hudson Valley, western and central parts of the state and the Champlain Valley….Cabbages shipments are originating from western and central areas of the Empire State.
New York cabbage – grossing $1500 to $2000 to New York City.
Maine Potato Shipments
Light loadings of potatoes are originating from Aroostrock County, ME, averaging around 100 truck loads per week. Most product is destined to east coast markets.
During the winter months when U.S. domestic produce shipments are at their lowest, imports of fruits and vegetables from Southern hemisphere countries, which have opposite seasons from America, provide good loading opportunities at ports and border crossings. Here’s a look at Florida produce ports and South Texas.
South American Mangos
Mangos from Ecuador should be arriving at the South Florida port of Pompano Beach. However, Ecuador, as well as Brazil and Peru are all expected to be down in volume this season as a result of El Niño.
Kiwi Arriving at Port of Miami
Globally, Italy is the second-largest producer of kiwifruit….California production ramped up in early October and will continue through April. Most Italian kiwi imports will be through the Port of Miami.
California and Italy are both Northern Hemisphere producers, and Italian producers expect overall volume will be up approximately 15 percent this season.
Blueberry Imports
Blueberry imports from Argentina are arriving at the Port of Miami. While volume is still very light, it will be increasing soon.
Imports into South Texas
The new Baluarte Bridge in Mexico located between Sinaloa and Durango is changing a lot of things regardomg Lower Rio Grande Valley produce loads in Texas. The bridge, which is 3,000 feet long and soars 1,300 feet above the Baluarte River is resulting in a lot of winter West Mexican produce being shipped through south Texas, especially if the final destination is in the eastern half of the United States. 45 percent of all Mexican exports to the U.S. are now coming through Texas. Based on the past five years of trends, imports of Mexican fruits and vegetables through Texas will grow by an amazing 62 percent.
Mexican produce crossing at McAllen TX – grossing bout $2700 to Chicago; about $4400 to New York City.
California spring produce shipments are gradually building in volume as we look at Salinas vegetables and some San Joaquin Valley stone fruit. But overall, this spring and summer in California doesn’t appear to be shaping up as any barn burner when it comes to volume and loading opportunities. Between the continuing drought in the state and only moderate volume with many fruits and vegetables, I don’t see produce freight rates setting any records.
Salinas Valley vegetables have had some ups and down in volume recently due to weather, but head lettuce and other items should be significantly increasing as we get closer to May.
Broccoli and cauliflower shipments are expected to fluctuate over the next several weeks.
Meanwhile, Huron lettuce shipments from the Westside district of the San Joaquin Valley have been lighter than normal this season as the one-month spring shipping season comes to a conclusion.
California Cherry Shipments
The California cherry harvest is shaping up to be a light crop this year
California initial loadings should start around Easter in the Arvin district and peak cherry shipments should occur from mid-May into the first week of June, with product becoming available from the San Joaquin Valley further north in areas such Fresno and Reedley.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $7000 to New York City.
In an update from last week’s report, the desert shipping areas for winter vegetables in California and Arizona are pretty much history. Heat in the desert is taking its toll on any leaf lettuce left, and it’s best to avoid hauling that product. The transition to the San Joaquin Valley, Salinas Valley and the Santa Maria district continues and light volume loadings are underway.
In the weeks ahead, produce haulers should see a dramatic improvement for produce loads. Not only is California weather bringing the crops along nicely, but weather around the country is on the mend. That means more consumers getting out more often, buying fresh fruits and veggies, which increases demand for product. It all translates into more produce shipments, and higher freight rates.
Light shipments of broccoli and cauliflower are coming out of Salinas and some oberservers are predicting record volume this spring.
The Central San Joaquin Valley produce shipments are limited with broccoli and cauliflower, while light volume of head lettuce gets underway around March 21st in the Westside district. These loadings out of the Huron area should continue through mid April.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $6600 to New York City.
I’ve been asked several times recently why produce rates from several areas around the country, including California, have declined in recent weeks. Many factors seem to play into this going beyond just the demand for trucks and for produce shipments by the produce buyers.
- First of all, it is February, perhaps the slowest time of the year for over all fresh fruit and vegetable volume – and shipments.
- It has been one hellacious winter over much of North America. When it is bitter cold, with ice and snow covered streets, people tend to hibernate. They go to their supermarket less frequently and when they do, often purchase less.
- With a hard winter, come added expenses, whether you stay warm by using home heating oil, propane, natural gas or electricity, or a combination of these items. This is resulting in some record setting utility bills for consumers. The more one spends on necessities such as these, the less cash consumers have to spend on food. While food is certainly a necessity, it still can mean fewer purchases, as well as more selective buying of fresh produce items that are cheaper than others.
Hang in there; we’ve got at least another month or so of winter weather. Until the weather improves, winter vegetables quit shivering so much, and start growing more, the winter doldrums will continue.
California and Arizona winter vegetables – grossing about $6000 to New York City.
Central Florida tomatoes and vegetables – about $2500 to New York City.
Whether we are talking Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, Eastern Canada and points in between there have been significantly fewer loading opportunites for vegetables this summer – due primarily to weather factors.
Vegetable fields throughout the Southeast were flooded, destroying crops and inflating prices for produce and adversely affecting produce shipments.
For example, produce loads on squash, okra, butter beans and string beans have been hit hard. You’ll also notice these items are costing 20 percent or more at your local supermarket.
Some parts of Georgia has received rainfall amounts far exceeding normal. In June, for example, Augusta Regional Airport measured 10.83 inches of rain, the wettest June on record. July recorded 9.05 inches of rain, 4.72 inches above normal. The excessive mositure also is adversely affecting quality of produce.
Check closely what you are putting into the truck to reduce your chances of a claim or load rejection.
In another example, the South Carolina State Farmers Market in West Columbia, S.C., was recently selling sweet corn for $16 a box compared to $10 to $12 last summer, and a box of apples was up $5 to $35.
Weather has greatly reduce shipments of tomatoes from East Coast shipping areas. With no tomatoes in Florida or Georgia, East Coast markets area having to rely much heavier of truck loadings of tomatoes out of California.
Besides the excessive rains in the Southeast, it has been too wet in New Jersey which ships a lot of vegetables from the Southern part of the state. Eastern Canada also has have heavy rains. In Ohio, vegetable shipments are down due to excessive heat.