Posts Tagged “watermelon shipments”
A week ago you were presented a smorgasbord of produce hauling opportunities from around the county. Well, here’s Part II ranging from Mexican crossings into the Lower Rio Grand Valley of Texas to Northwest blueberry loadings, Wisconsin potatoes – and more.
South Texas Produce Shipments
Mexican produce shipments crossing the border into Pharr, Tx cover a lot of items ranging from citrus to tropical fruit and vegetables. However, no one item has real heavy volume at this time. Among the heaviest volume commodities are: avocados hitting about 675 truck loads per week, but volume is increasing; mangos with about 500 truck loads a week and limes at about 450 trucks load each week.
Around 550 truck loads of vine ripe, as well roma tomatoes are crossing the border weekly.
There’s also many other products coming into South Texas, but in much lighter volume ranging from lemons to papayas, broccoli, carrots and cucumbers.
Mexican produce crossing into South Texas – grossing about $2400 to Chicago.
Wisconsin Potato Shipments
Loadings of the old 2015-16 russet potato crop had in a fast seasonal decline. Meanwhile, the central part of the state has just started shipping a few of the 2016-17 potato crop, but we’re another month of so away of good volume.
Northwest Blueberry Shipments
Blueberry shipments are increasing from both Oregon and Washington state, as well as from British Columbia.
Washington Apple Shipments
The consistent item in the Northwest is typically apples, especially since Washington easily lead the nation in apple shipments. Even though it is very late in 2015-16 shipping season, Washington is still average over 650 truckloads each week.
Yakima Valley apples – grossing about $4600 to Dallas.
Watermelon Shipments
A week ago we cover Midwest watermelon hauling opportunities, here are some more.
California’s central San Joaquin Valley is moving around 350 truck loads per week. On the east coast, North Carolina may be your best bet loading around 230 trucks loads of watermelons a week.
Both eastern Texas and western Oklahoma combing to ship nearly 500 trucks of watermelons per week.
Good volume and produce loading opportunities are expected leading into celebrating our nation’s independence. Here’s a look at a number of fruits and vegetables that are popular Fourth of July items.
Cherry Shipments
A 4 percent drop in cherry shipments is estimated from the previous 19.8 million boxes. Loadings now appear to be more like 18.4 million boxes. About 10 million boxes of cherries will be shipped during June and almost 8 million in July.
The decline is due to a compression with the bloom period, so there will be compression in harvest. This will translate into fewer days for shipments.
Loadings for the East Coast should be especially heavy the week of Father’s Day for July 4 and Canada Day on July 1. Heavy volume will continue the first half of July.
Berry Shipments
Northwest blueberry shipments will be heavy, especially for the Fourth of July. This also in the time with initial loadings will start for Michigan blueberries.
In California’s Watsonville and Salinas district, strawberry shipments were not hurt by the cool weather that resulted in quality issues with some vegetables.
Peak Watsonville strawberry shipments and other berries are occurring and will continue into mid-July. Weekly fresh strawberry volumes exceeded 7 million trays in May, roughly on par with last year.
Blueberry, blackberry and raspberry shipments are a little early out of the Pacific Northwest.
Sweet Corn Shipments
Georgia sweet corn volume should be light through mid-June but begin increasing significantly by June 17th through the Fourth of July. Normal shipments are seen leading into the Fourth of July.
The majority of the nation’s sweet corn shipments leading up the Fourth, originate from Georgia
Watermelon Shipments
Georgia should begin shipping watermelons in big volume by June 15th.
Rain-caused losses in Texas, the end of Nogales, Ariz., (Mexican) season and the tail end of central Florida shipments. All of these factors will mean excellent loading opportunities for Georgia watermelon shipments.
South Carolina should start watermelon loadings by June 24th, while North Carolina will get underway by June 29th.
West coast produce shipments are early this year, while East Coast produce shipments are running late. Here’s a round up on loading opportunities ranging from California stone fruit, Southeastern produce shipments and watermelons.
Stone Fruit Shipments
California stone fruit shipments have started a few days earlier than normal. Last year shipments totaled about 35 million cartons. This year estimates are about 40 million cartons. Apricot shipments got underway a couple of weeks ago. Good volume is expected in the days leading up to the Memorial weekend May 28-30.
Yellow nectarine shipments get underway around May 5th and yellow peach shipments will start about May 7-10. Plum loadings kick off about June 1st.
Even at a total of 40 million cartons of the peach, plums and nectarines, California is still 20 percent below the volume it had a decade ago. A lot of fruit acreage was pulled out of the ground and replaced with nuts in first decade of this century.
Florida Produce Shipments
Unlike the early start for many California produce shipments, Florida is the opposite. In late April, growers were beginning to ship good volume. However, this was later than the typical mid-April start of larger shipments. Large volumes of sweet corn shipments are seen for the month of May. While some shippers had good volume the last week of April, other shippers will not move into good volume until the middle of May.
Florida vegetables shipments – grossing about $3400 to New York City.
Georgia Sweet Corn Shipments
Georgia sweet corn should start shipping in small amounts from May 20 until early June, before hitting good volume.
Watermelon Shipments
Texas watermelon shipments should get underway the second week of May, while light supplies of Mexican melons continue to cross the border at McAllen. Heavier Mexican melon volume is crossing the border at Nogales. About 750 truck loads of Mexican watermelons crossed the border into Nogales last week, while volume continues to increase. Florida watermelon shipments are miniscule to that at Nogales right now, but is increasing.
Mexican melons, tomatoes and vegetables at Nogales – grossing about $3200 to Chicago.
Florida sweet corn and watermelon shipments are showing an increase, although moderate, while we take a look at onions shipments out of the Northwest.Florida Vegetable Shipments
Sweet corn shipments and other vegetables from Florida continue to be light due to the lingering effects of seven days of heavy rains the second week of December. Sweet corn loadings are expected to return to normal the week of January 18th, barring other adverse weather events. Only Florida and Mexico have sweet corn shipments during the winter months….South Florida watermelon loadings are underway, although volume is light.
Central and South Florida vegetables, tomatoes, watermelons and strawberries – grossing about $2800 to New York City.
Northwest Onion Shipments
The National Onion Association is reporting estimated nationwide production levels dropped by nearly 7.6 million bags so far this season from a year ago, a 7.7 percent decrease. Much of that decrease is attributed to Eastern Oregon and Malhuer County, Idaho, as well as Washington state, where production cumulatively fell by approximately 5 million bags.
While many onions that were harvested and placed into storage looking great. The product began to show flaws three to five weeks later. This is resulting in quality problems being higher than normal. It also could result in a number of northwest onion shippers finishing up in March instead of late May.
Oregon/Idaho onion shipments – grossing about $4600 San Antonio.
Columbia Basin potatoes and onions – grossing about $4100 to Chicago.
West Texas watermelons are now being loaded, plus here’s an update on California Valencia orange shipments in the latter part of the season before navels get underway.
Texas Watermelon Shipments
Watermelon shipments are underway from West Texas, with good growing conditions and rainfall report to be producing one of the regions better crops. For example, loadings are now taking place with Warren Produce LLC, out of Brownfield, Tx. Acreage is up a little in West Texas this season, particularly on seeded watermelon varieties. Shipments are expected to continue through August and September.
West Texas watermelons – grossing about $2600 to Chicago.
California Orange Shipments
California valencia shippers are reporting brisk loadings of high-quality fruit after a lull the first half of August. Volume has picked back up, especially with the kids starting back to school. Meanwhile, the forecast for the upcoming navel shipments, initially is showing lower volume ahead due to water restrictions.
Valencia shipments have been a mixed bag this summer, as growers approach water restrictions in different ways. Some shippers pushed heavy at the front end of the season, while others took a break and are now increasing shipments heading into fall. Valencia shipments should be strong until early October, about two weeks before growers transition to navels.
The initial estimate of 20 million cartons of California valencias could wind up being slightly high.
Southern California citrus – grossing about $5600 to Atlanta.
Here are some produce loading opportunities from the Central and Mountain time zones.
Texas Produce Shipments
Most Texas produce loadings are coming out of the Lower Rio Valley, much of which is Mexican product crossing the border at McAllen. Watermelon shipments continue from South Texas, and starting to come out Central areas of the Lone Star State. Caution is advised as there are reports of variable quality….Meanwhile tropical fruit items ranging from mangos to avocados among other are crossing the border from Mexico. There’s also light volume with a number Mexican vegetables ranging from broccoli to various kinds of peppers.
South Texas/Mexican produce – grossing about $2700 to Chicago.
Colorado Produce Shipments
The old crop of russet potatoes continues to be shipped out the San Luis Valley, as growers and shippers gear up for the new season harvest. Colorado is still shipping nearly 600 truck loads of potatoes weekly….Western slope Colorado peach and pear loadings have just started within the past week, continuing through most of September….Sweet corn shipments get underway this week and lasting through September….Cantaloupe shipments start about August 1st.
Colorado potatoes – grossing about $2300 to Chicago.
Wisconsin Produce Shipments
Shipments of russet potatoes from Central Wisconsin remain light to moderate as the season gradually winds down. Diggings of the new crop of red potatoes is just getting underway.
There should be excellent loading opportunities for produce haulers as shipments start to ramp up ahead of the Fourth of July. Here’s a round up of some Independence Day produce favorites.
Watermelon Shipments
On the East Coast watermelons loadings will be available from Northern Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. While Florida melon shipments are rapidly declining, Georgia loadings just started this week, with decent volume seen the week of June 15th….Meanwhile, in North Carolina, shipments of seeded watermelons should get underway around June 25th, followed by seedless melons about July 1st.
Northern Florida watermelons – grossing about $3200 to New York City.
In the Midwest, Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri are typically shipping watermelons by late June or early July. However, use caution as many of these regions have been hit with heavy rains and cloudy weather for days on end. It has to have adversely affected quality, at least with some of these production areas. However, hot, dry weather has set in the past week or so. Maybe this will help.
Sweet Corn Shipments
Georgia should be shipping good volumes of sweet corn ranging from Bainbridge to the Vidalia area.
South Georgia sweet corn, or vegetables – grossing about $3600 to Boston.
Berry Shipments
Heavy volume with strawberries should be coming out of the Watsonville/Salinas area. California also will have strawberry loadings from the Santa Maria district…..California blueberry shipments could be a little “ify.” “Blues” are now shifting from the Golden State to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
Watsonville berries and Salinas Valley vegetables – grossing about $7500 to New York City.
Watermelons used to be the worse item a produce hauler could haul because they had to be loaded and unloaded by hand, which could lead to outrageous unloading charges. But most melons are now placed in bins on pallets and handled by forklifts. Unloading those bulk load wasn’t practical. Truckers are paid to drive, not chuck melons.
As we plunge further into spring, it is appearing watermelon shipments will be similar to last year. Domestic production from the period April 1 through June 1 shows the following forecasted volumes: Florida/499.7 million pounds; Texas/150.5 million pounds; California/59.5 million pounds; Arizona/14.6 million pounds; and Georgia/3.3 million pounds.
During this period, Mexico is forecasted to export 523.8 million pounds. Volume exported by Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama tails off at this time.
As shipments increase heading towards Memorial Day, the volume should peak at about 45 million pounds per day.
At 16 pounds per watermelon, you’re talking close to 3 million individual watermelons sold on a single day.
Florida is the biggest contributor for the holiday. But Texas is usually fully up to speed by then to help offset the decline on Mexican imports. California and Arizona are also shipping at that time to help supply west of the Rockies.
Florida watermelons, vegetables – grossing about $3000 to Philadelphia.
Here’s an outlook on loading opportunities for imported mangoes and watermelons for the next few months.
Cool weather has slowed watermelon shipments in Mexico crossing the border into the U.S., both at Nogales, AZ and South Texas until the middle of March. The good news is Mexican watermelon shipments could be up 20 percent from last year by the last half of March.
Mango shipments could be light until March, when Mexico and Guatemala start shipping in volume.
Peruvian mango volumes were increasing on a limited basis in the second half of January.
At the same time Ecuadorian mango imports to the U.S. should wind down by the end of January. About 8.9 million boxes of Ecuadorian fruit had shipped to the U.S. as of January. 10th.
Peru is expected to ship about 8.9 million boxes to the U.S. this season Through January 10th, about 1.6 million boxes of Peruvian fruit had been received, 21 percent less than was projected for that date.
Mexican mango exports should start arriving at American ports in mid-February and Guatemalan exports about a week later.
Peruvian mango imports will likely peak in early February at U.S. ports before tapering off. Imported mango loading opportunities won’t likely return to seasonal norms until Mexico and Nicaragua ramp up in the middle of March.
Mexican mixed vegetables and melons crossing at Nogales, AZ – grossing about $4100 to Chicago.
Citrus, mixed vegetables, melons, mangos and tomatoes from South Texas and/or Mexico – grossing about $5200 to New York City.
Here’s a quick glimpse at some produce loading opportunities from 11 different states ranging from coast-to-coast.
Washington Produce Shipments
Washington state continues to ship its 2013-14 season crop of apples, averaging about 1,500 truck load equivalents per week. Also coming out of the Yakima and Wenachee vallies are fresh cherries. Volume remains strong, but is still only about one-third the volume of apple shipments.
Washington fruit – grossing about $7500 to New York City.
Michigan Produce Shipments
Peach shipments from the Benton Harbor area and other areas of Southwest Michigan have started. Loadings for the stone fruit are generally a relatively short haul – within a 500 mile radius for the most part. Chicago is one of the more popular destinations…..Apples from the area are expected to get underway the third week of August. Meanwhile, Michigan blueberry shipments are moving into good volume, while summer mixed veggies continue.
Michigan blueberries – grossing about $2700 to Atlanta; Michigan vegetables grossing 15 to 20 percent less.
New Jersey Produce Shipments
Garden State peach shipments started a couple of weeks ago and are now moving into good volume. Jersey blueberry loadings are still occurring, butare now past peak volume. The southern part of the state also is shipping a mixture of vegetables.
Watermelon Shipments
Watermelon loadings continue from a number of states. While eastern Texas watermelon shipments, as well as Georgia watermelon shipments are declining, volume is steady out of South Carolina, but cranking up in North Carolina, followed closely by the Eastern Shore states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia…..Look for increasing volume of Missouri watermelons out of the boot heal area…..The watermelon season has recently started out of Southwest Indiana and Southeast Illinois.