There’s rarely a dull moment in produce transportation. It seems that when one season of hauling fruits and vegetables ends, the next begins. And each season brings its own set of challenges. Shippers should have a trusted produce transportation provider as a year-round partner to ensure capacity is at the ready to get perishable fruits and vegetables to the end customer in prime condition.
Produce seasons affect both reefer and dry van capacity. The recruiting platform Truck Drivers USA explained that produce season in the United States follows a south-to-north pattern, with increased demand for truckload capacity occurring in central and southern Florida in late April and early May, “driving up rates and attracting trucks from other regions.” As Memorial Day approaches, spot rates climb in south Texas markets such as McAllen and Laredo as the demand for produce from Mexico and Latin America increases.
“By late June, harvests migrate northward, leading to heightened demand for refrigerated shipments,” Truck Drivers USA said. “Carriers allocate more capacity to markets like Atlanta, Savannah, and Jacksonville, where prices soar.”
In New Jersey, the blueberry picking and packing season usually begins in mid-June and ends in early August. “Blueberries are quick to perish, and for growers to obtain the best prices at the market, reefer capacity is required to handle loads delicately and fast to overnight markets,” DAT Freight & Analytics said.
Red and green chile season in New Mexico got underway this year at about the end of July and was expected to be the best harvest in at least the last three years. Demand was high as well. A co-owner of Wagner Farm in Corrales, New Mexico, told KRQE News the office phone had been ringing off the hook with requests for chiles.
Extreme heat in California’s San Joaquin Valley has resulted in an earlier harvest of certain grape varieties, and Fresh Plaza reported in mid-August that the crop “doesn’t have the legs to sit in cold storage too long.”
Capacity may have shifted west earlier than anticipated. A reefer capacity shortage was reported in mid-August in southern Indiana, where the watermelon harvest was peaking.
At the same time, heat and rain from El Nino were being blamed for a lower blackberry supply coming from Guatemala.
Warmer temperatures across the globe are affecting fall harvests as well. Apple harvesting in New York was expected to get underway about Sept. 1, a week earlier than usual, and end early, about the first week of November.
Brett Baker of United Apple Sales told Fresh Plaza that while domestic demand for apples is good, export markets for apples are challenging. “We do still have opportunities but the return on export fruit is not what it was,” he said.
On the import front, 90% of the fresh asparagus imported and consumed in the United States comes from Peru, where the season lasts from October to December, according to Fresh Plaza. Much of that asparagus comes into the United States at Port Miami, where fruits and vegetables are the top commodity handled.
Port Miami, as well as other ports on the East and Gulf coasts, could be impacted by the Atlantic hurricane season, which is expected to be extremely active with 23 named storms.
There is another potential big hit to ports on the horizon. The International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents about 45,000 port workers on the East and Gulf coasts, could go on strike if its contract ends Sept. 30 without a new agreement in place. A work stoppage at the ports could severely impact the imports and exports of fruits and vegetables. Fresh Plaza said a supply chain recovery from just a one-week work stoppage could take a month or more.
Early harvests, import and export snafus, critical weather events, and labor shortages can all impact the capacity for reefers and dry vans.
Efficiently surmounting capacity challenges requires:
Shippers of fresh produce have enough on their plates dealing with Mother Nature. They shouldn’t have to worry about whether they can get a refrigerated truck at a certain facility at a certain time.
Partnerships and collaboration are critical for produce shippers for:
At VCPB Transportation, we’re experts in the temperature, humidity, and handling requirements for all types of fruits and vegetables, and we customize logistics solutions based on the unique attributes of different produce types.
Our produce shipping specialists provide 24/7/365 service to promptly address any and all issues – capacity and otherwise. We leverage advanced technology for real-time visibility and the temperature-controlled transport of fresh produce. We check, double-check, and triple-check the status of perishable goods every leg of the journey using our state-of-the-art tech stack.
Start shipping with VCPB today.