Posts Tagged “Washington”
Pictured here is a seeded watermelon. Don’t see ’em near as much as you used 
to. They have kind of gone the way of “plucking” a watermelon before you buy it. Remember that? Try plucking one today, and you just might be arrested (plucking is using a knife to cut a triangular piece out of the watermelon to taste to see if it’s worth buying). I never was very good at thumping melons to see if they were ripe. I generally just go by color and making sure they don’t have any soft spots. Anyway, I’ve had bought my share of watermelons over the 10 weeks or so. Some were good and others not so good.
This is first seeded watermelon I’ve purchased this year. Seedless melons are just about all the produce departments in stores sell anymore. They assume we consumers are simply too lazy to be bothered with spitting out seeds. Anyway, the seeded melon was as good as any watermelon I’ve had this summer – and was better than most. It was shipped out of Edinburg, TX. Enjoy watermelons while you can, supplies and quality often diminshed after Labor Day.
Another item that has had fantastic quality this summer are cherries – first out of California and now they are coming out of Washington state and Oregon. A record crop has resulted in reasonable retail prices. Like watermelons, enjoy the Northwest cherries while you can. They will be vanishing from your local supermarket by Labor Day.
Another great buy now in retail stores are California grapes, both red and green. They will typically be available through the end of the year, although supplies in the fall drop and prices trend up. But right now, a record crop is being harvested, quality is excellent and prices good. Let’s hope the heat in the San Joaquin Valley subsides some and doesn’t take a toll of the quality of what is a fruit that has excellent eating.
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.
Produce shipments from the Western half of the USA offer perishable haulers 
some obvious and not-so-obvious choices for obtaining loads.
Here’s some places you may not have considered. New crops of potatoes are now available in some upper mid-western states. The Big Lake, MN area is shipping both red potatoes and russets. New crops of spuds have recently got underway from Central Wisconsin, Nebraska and Northern Colorado.
In Idaho and Malheur County, OR., loading opportunities have recently become available with a new crop of storage onions. While the area is known for its onions, a few shippers are starting to offer sweet onions. Just be aware that these shippers are new at this game and still may be on a learning curve relating to quality. Sweet onions often do not store well.
In California, the heaviest volume from the Salinas Valley is with head lettuce, averaging about 1,100 truck load equivalents per week. Many other vegetable items are also being shipped…..In the nearby Watsonville District, about 750 truckload equivalents of strawberriers are being loaded weekly.
Plenty of loading opportunities are coming from the San Joaquin Valley of California with stone fruit, veggies and grapes. Heaviest table grape movement is from the southern valley area known as the Kern District, but volume is rapidly increasing from more northern areas of the valley.
An update on apple shipments from Washington state, shows it will account for 77 percent of the nation’as apple shipments during the 2012-13 shipping season. Washington always leads the nation in this category, but with heavy weather related losses to apples in Michigan and New York state, the northwest will provide an even more than normal percentage of the country’s apple loads. Washington expects to ship its second largest amount of apples in history; and this is despite a 10 to 15 percent crop loss due to hail storms earlier this year.
Salinas Valley produce – grossing about $7500 to New York City.
Big Lake MN potatoes – about $1300 to Chicago.
Central Wisconsin potatoes – about $2500 to Atlanta.
Most fruit and vegetable rates are paying significantly more than rates on 
potatoes and onions right now, but the difference in rates will be shrinking in the next several weeks as overall fruit and veggie volume seasonally declines and the spud and onion volume rises with the new crops.
There is over 1 million acres of potatoes planted in the USA for the crop that is now being harvested. That is 46,000 more acres than at this time a year ago! Translation: There’s a huge crop that will need to be transported to market – and the railroads can only haul a relatively small amount of it. That means plenty of hauling opportunties this fall, winter and next spring for truckers with refrigerated equipment.
The top nine states with the most potatoes in order of size are: Idaho, Washington, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan and Oregon.
Idaho, the USA’s biggest potato producer, will have a lot more potatoes for hauling this season.
Potato shipments from Washington and Oregon get underway in early August, with volume expected to be normal and about the same as a year ago. Washington has about 25,000 acres of spuds for the fresh market. The Umatilla-Hermiston potato volume may be down a little from last season. No big deal though.
In central Wisconsin, red, white, yellow and russet potato diggings have been underway and shipments begin when the old crop is all sold, or customers begin demanding fresh potatoes from the new season, over the old ones which have been in storages forever. The spuds becoming available will be more abundant than on average from the past five years.
Onions
Helping Western onion shipments was the early demise of the Vidalia, GA onion season. It has created bigger demand for onions in the West and demand for trucks from places such as Bakersfield, CA and from Southern New Mexico and the Pasco area of Washington state. Also, imported onions from Peru will begin arriving at USA ports in early August.
Idaho potatoes are grossing – about $4800 to New York City’s Hunts Point.
Since a significant rise in early June of rates for hauling fresh produce from 
some major shipping areas — particuarly the west coast, it has been a pretty quiet summer as rates have remained relatively stable, and few serious truck shortages have occurred.
While some produce items may have record shipments this year, such as California grapes and Washington state cherries, other areas ranging from Michigan fruit to South Texas vegetables, as well as California stone fruit, have taken some hits from the weather. I’m sure there may be other factors involved ranging from more contract rates, which tend to provide more rate stability on a seasonal, if not a year around basis. The struggling economy, with a lot of pitfully low rates for dry freight, may have more carriers seeking higher paying produce loads, particularly this time of the year.
Nationally, here’s a glimpse at loading opportunities for fresh fruits and vegetables.
South Carolina peaches are still being shipped , primarily in an area located south and southeast of Columbia stretching to the Georgia state line. Speaking of Georgia, peach loadings are on their last leg and should be finished within a week as the latter part of the season had exceptionally light production. South Carolina won’t be far behind.
In South Texas, various citrus, tropical fruits and vegetables from Mexico continue crossing the border into the Lone Star State. They join lesser amounts of produce grown and shipped from the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Southern New Mexico continues to ship onions…..In Michigan, blueberries and various vegetables such as cucumbers and squash are providing loads.
In Idaho, the country’s largest potato shipper continues to provide hauls from the 2011-12 harvest. New product should become available for hauling next month.
In the Columbia Basin of Washington state, potato and onion loads remain available. An excellent crop of sweet cherries are now coming out of Washington’s Yakima and Wenachee valleys, along with late season apples. Shipments of Washington pears are virtually finished.
In California, the vast majority of produce shipments are now coming from shipping areas north of Interstate 10.
Salinas Valley vegetables are generally grossing – about $7700 to New York City.
Washington states potatoes and onions from the Columbia Basin – about $3000 to Chicago.
South Carolina peaches – about $3400 to Boston.
Georgia peaches – $3300 to New York City.
Normally we would see a bump in rates for hauling produce as the Fourth of 
July holiday approaches – when Independence Day falls on any day but Wednesday. This is not to say there will not be a increase in produce rates, but some observers are saying it may not be as high, or may not even occur this year for the holiday. Regardless, strong demand for refrigerated equipment will continue before and after the Fourth, and rates are expected to remain healthy in the coming weeks.
In Southeastern Arkansas, peak tomato shipments are continuing. While it has been an excellent growing season, triple digit temperatures have moved in. If the extreme heat continues the mid July conclusion to tomato shipments may happen even before that.
In Virginia, some are not aware the state ranks fourth nationally in tomato shipments, and 6th nationally in potato, apple and snap bean volume.
Moving to the Northwest, Washington state cherry shipments are in heavy volume. Loadings should continue until September and the state is on a course for record shipments.
In California, rates have had only minor fluctuations since early June. The Salinas Valley has lighter than usual volume with broccoli and cauliflower, plus lettuce shipments have been hampered as East Coast receivers took advantage of coastal shipping areas such as New Jersey, which started weeks earlier than normal. This put Eastern lettuce shipments on a collision coarse with West Coast lettuce shipments. Eastern receivers could save $7 to $8 per carton on lettuce, just on shipping costs, when they purchased eastern lettuce as opposed to that product from California.
Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $8500 to New York City
Record shipments of highly perishables, but high rate paying cherries are 
getting underway from Washington state, along with apricots and onions, and joining the late season apples and pears.
Cherry loadings start in limited volume from the Yakima Valley, but tonnage quickly increases. 23 million boxes are forecast to be shipped from Washington state, which should break the previous record by 3 million cartons….Apricot loadings are close behind starting in mid June, with peak movement occurring the first half of July.
The Evergreen state continues to ship apples and pears from the 2011/12 season, and remains the heaviest volume for produce. About 1,750 truck load equivalents of apples and pears are being shipped weekly from the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys.
Onions from the Walla Walla Valley should get underway the week of June 18th. The Walla Walla onion shipping area is located in Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon. Primary shippers are located in or near Walla Walla, WA and Hermiston, OR.
Washington apples and pears – grossing about $6000 to Philadelphia.
NOTE: Apples, pears and apricots can be loaded on the same truck, but oder from the fruit can be absorbed by potatoes, onions and some other items. Source: TransFresh “Fresh Produce Mixer & Loading Guide.”
As more information becomes available on the prospects for the nation’s apple shipments, which 
get underway in August for the 2012-13 shipping season, it’s becoming apparent there should be record setting loading opportunities for apple haulers out of Washington state.
The reasons are two-fold. First, Washington is on course to pick, pack and ship 120 million boxes of apples in the upcoming season, which would be nearly 7 million more boxes than the season which will close in the coming weeks. Secondly, an April freeze clobbered upcoming crops in Michigan, parts of New York state and in Ontario. This means apple buyers who normally source the fruit from these areas will be relying on Washington state more than ever. In a normal year, Washington state accounts for about 60 percent of the USA’s apple shipments.
Apple volume is expected to remain more normal for the upcoming season from the Mid Atlantic states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virgina, as well as from the New England states. This holds true as well for New York’s Hudson and Champlian valleys. However, central and western New York apple shippers were not near as lucky during the April freeze.
Washington state apples – grossing about $6200 to Orlando.
There are fruits and vegetables being shipping from a number of California 
districts. As strawberry volume declines from Ventura County, there’s good volume from Santa Maria, as the Salinas Valley gears up to get rockin’. The same can be said for Salinas vegetable tonnage, which is building as well. Southern California is shipping citrus, plus there are avocados and tomatoes from shippers located between L.A. and SanDiego. Mexican tomatoes are crossing the California border at Otay Mesa. Coachella Valley grape loadings are on the rise and should be peaking most of June.
CALIFORNIA RATES RATES ARE ON THE RISE. WE’RE APPROACHING THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE PRODUCE INDUSTRY STARTS PAYING FOR ITS SINS OF LOOKING FOR THE CHEAPEST TRUCK, KICKING OVER LOADS FOR WHICH THEY’VE PAID TOO MUCH FOR PRODUCT AND GENERALLY BEING BAD BOYS TO TRUCKERS.
While Nogales is pretty much finished with vegetables from Mexico, Mexican grapes crossing the Arizona border are hitting full stride.
In Washington state, there’s light volume of potatoes from the Columbia Basin and the nearby Umatilla Basin in Oregon, but onion shipments are about finished….About the only thing that leaves in Washington are Yakima Valley apples and pears.
Washington apples and pears – grossing about $4900 to Cleveland.
Mexican grapes from Nogales – about $4100 to Chicago.
Southern California produce – about $7600 to New York City.
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By Northwest Cherries and Washington State Fruit Commission
YAKIMA, WA — Everyone loves a fresh batch of sweet cherries, but these delicious treats are not just for tasty pies — research have
 received increased recognition for their role in preventing serious illness and diseases as well as regulating existing ailments. From fighting the onset of Alzheimer’s to improving joint flexibility, here are seven documented health benefits linked to sweet cherries:1. Alzheimer’s Disease: Research shows that compounds found in sweet cherries can play a role in protecting neuronal cells, which are involved in brain function and reduce oxidant stress and can potentially reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s (Kim, 2005).2. Cancer: Fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids and anthocyanins are a quadruplet of cancer-preventative components found in sweet cherries. In addition, cyanidin, also found in cherries, significantly increases free radical scavenging of the body, which is known to help prevent and fight cancer (Acquaviva, 2003).3. Cardiovascular Disease: The anthocyanins found in cherries can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease; it does this by protecting your body’s lipids from a host of damaging possibilities, including inflammation, cardiovascular plaque and nitric oxide formation (Reddy, 2005).4. Diabetes: Though a protective role in diabetes is relatively rare, researchers are interested in the role of anthocyanins in reducing insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Since the role of glycemic index in diabetes control has gained renewed interest, sweet cherries, with a moderate glycemic index of approximately 22, are thought to be a better fruit-based snack as compared to higher fruits such as apricots (57), grapes (46), peaches (42), blueberries (40) or plums (39).5. Inflammation: Cherries have also been shown to reduce inflammation through their powerful phytochemicals, which are known to inhibit the enzymes responsible for causing painful inflammation (Seernam, 2003).6. Hypertension and stroke: A serving of cherries has a whopping 270 mg of potassium, compared to apples which have 148 mg and strawberries which have 254 mg. Evidence shows that adequate potassium reduces the risk hypertension and stroke (He, 2003).
7. Better Sleep: Cherries are a good food source of melatonin, which helps regulate circadian rhythm and promote healthy sleep patterns, making them effective in reducing jet lag. “Sweet Northwest Cherries bring as much to the table, both in terms of nutrition and health benefits, as blueberries, cranberries and other known superfruits,” said James Michael, Promotions Director of Northwest Cherries, a growers’ organization that represents Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Montana. “With more and more research highlighting these health benefits, and what they mean for consumers, people are starting to view fresh sweet cherries in a much broader perspective than just a summer treat. In fact, we are seeing an increase in cherry freezing, preservation and dried formats so people can enjoy the benefits of sweet cherries year round.” When the sweet cherries hit grocery store shelves this year, health-conscious consumers will now have several more reasons to eat handfuls of cherries, beyond the delicious taste. For more information on sweet Northwest Cherries, seasonal recipes and health information, visit www.nwcherries.com , or information on how to preserve that summer sweetness as the season wraps, check out www.sweetpreservation.com . About Northwest Cherries and Washington State Fruit Commission Washington State Fruit Commission is a grower’s organization funded by fruit assessments to increase awareness and consumption of regional stone fruits. The organization is dedicated to the promotion, education, market development, and research of stone fruits from Northwest orchards. It began in 1947 and has since grown to include growers in five states — Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana. For more information, visit www.nwcherries.com or www.wastatefruit.com . shows they also pack a major punch when it comes to improving health and helping fend off a number of serious diseases. Soon this year’s fresh sweet cherry crop will be available throughout the country, as reported by the Northwest Cherry Growers, and consumers can look forward to plenty of opportunities to take advantage of this superfruit, and even preserve them for year-round use. Sweet cherries — including the golden-blushed Rainier and iconic Bing varieties, among others — are known for their high fiber and low calorie count. Over the past few years, they have received increased recognition for their role in preventing serious illness and diseases as well as regulating existing ailments. From fighting the onset of Alzheimer’s to improving joint flexibility, here are seven documented health benefits linked to sweet cherries: 1. Alzheimer’s Disease: Research shows that compounds found in sweet cherries can play a role in protecting neuronal cells, which are involved in brain function and reduce oxidant stress and can potentially reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s (Kim, 2005). 2. Cancer: Fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids and anthocyanins are a quadruplet of cancer-preventative components found in sweet cherries. In addition, cyanidin, also found in cherries, significantly increases free radical scavenging of the body, which is known to help prevent and fight cancer (Acquaviva, 2003). 3. Cardiovascular Disease: The anthocyanins found in cherries can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease; it does this by protecting your body’s lipids from a host of damaging possibilities, including inflammation, cardiovascular plaque and nitric oxide formation (Reddy, 2005). 4. Diabetes: Though a protective role in diabetes is relatively rare, researchers are interested in the role of anthocyanins in reducing insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Since the role of glycemic index in diabetes control has gained renewed interest, sweet cherries, with a moderate glycemic index of approximately 22, are thought to be a better fruit-based snack as compared to higher fruits such as apricots (57), grapes (46), peaches (42), blueberries (40) or plums (39). 5. Inflammation: Cherries have also been shown to reduce inflammation through their powerful phytochemicals, which are known to inhibit the enzymes responsible for causing painful inflammation (Seernam, 2003). 6. Hypertension and stroke: A serving of cherries has a whopping 270 mg of potassium, compared to apples which have 148 mg and strawberries which have 254 mg. Evidence shows that adequate potassium reduces the risk hypertension and stroke (He, 2003). 7. Better Sleep: Cherries are a good food source of melatonin, which helps regulate circadian rhythm and promote healthy sleep patterns, making them effective in reducing jet lag. “Sweet Northwest Cherries bring as much to the table, both in terms of nutrition and health benefits, as blueberries, cranberries and other known superfruits,” said James Michael, Promotions Director of Northwest Cherries, a growers’ organization that represents Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Montana. “With more and more research highlighting these health benefits, and what they mean for consumers, people are starting to view fresh sweet cherries in a much broader perspective than just a summer treat. In fact, we are seeing an increase in cherry freezing, preservation and dried formats so people can enjoy the benefits of sweet cherries year round.” When the sweet cherries hit grocery store shelves this year, health-conscious consumers will now have several more reasons to eat handfuls of cherries, beyond the delicious taste. For more information on sweet Northwest Cherries, seasonal recipes and health information, visit www.nwcherries.com , or information on how to preserve that summer sweetness as the season wraps, check out www.sweetpreservation.com . About Northwest Cherries and Washington State Fruit Commission Washington State Fruit Commission is a grower’s organization funded by fruit assessments to increase awareness and consumption of regional stone fruits. The organization is dedicated to the promotion, education, market development, and research of stone fruits from Northwest orchards. It began in 1947 and has since grown to include growers in five states — Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Montana. For more information, visit www.nwcherries.com or www.wastatefruit.com . |