News
Courtesy Freska Produce InternationalGary Clevenger, right, managing member of Freska Produce International LLC, Oxnard, Calif., expects to ship Peruvian kent and tommy atkins mangoes through late March. The company’s Mexican ataulfo deal kicked off about Feb. 1 this year. On the left is Jesus “Chuy” Loza, another Freska managing member.
Despite reports of some rain damage, which shippers and importers couldn’t confirm, Mexico is on track for another record year of mango shipments, with quality excellent and movement brisk at the beginning of the deal.
Splendid Products, Burlingame, Calif., expects to continue receiving ample volumes of Peruvian mangoes through early March, but volumes will decline after that, with Mexico taking over the deal, said Larry Nienkerk, general manager.
“The increase in volumes over the next few weeks from Mexico will just about offset the decrease in volumes from Peru,” Nienkerk said Feb. 20.
Supplies from the early, southern Mexican deal will likely begin peaking in mid-April, Nienkerk said.
Peruvian volumes are between 30% and 50% lower than last season, Nienkerk said, depending on the region.
Gary Clevenger, managing member of Freska Produce International LLC, Oxnard, Calif., reported similar volume declines from Peru, due to cool weather early in the growing season and to the alternate bearing cycle.
Freska expects to ship Peruvian kents and tommy atkins through late March. The company’s Mexican ataulfo deal kicked off about Feb. 1 this year, earlier than last season’s start in the second week of February, Clevenger said.
The Mexican ataulfos shipped by Nogales-based Farmer’s Best International LLC in the second half of February were smaller than last year, with sizes peaking on 16s-23s, but quality was outstanding, said Jerry Wagner, director of sales and marketing.
“They’re super clean, and the eating quality has been excellent,” Wagner said.
Farmer’s Best plans to begin shipping tommy atkinses from Mexico in late March, Wagner said. Freska should receive its first Mexican tommys about Feb. 27.
While there have been reports of rain damage to some mangoes in southern Mexico, Chris Ciruli, partner in Nogales-based Ciruli Bros., had not heard of any damage as of Feb. 20.
Nienkerk also had not heard confirmed reports of rain damage. Clevenger said “the jury is still out” on possible damage.
Even if some Mexican acreage was damaged by rain, the accelerated production of new plantings should guarantee another big year for Mexico, Wagner said.
“There were still be ample promotable volumes through the early deal,” Wagner said.
By the week of Feb. 20, Mexican ataulfos already were shipping at promotable volumes, he said. Ciruli reported strong retail interest in February and March promotions.
On Feb. 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported prices of $5.50-6.50 for one-layer cartons of ataulfos 18-20s from Mexico, up from $5-6 last year at the same time. Cartons of 16s were $7-8, up from $6-7.
Ataulfo prices would likely start to drop in late February and early March as Mexican volumes increased, Nienkerk said.
Ciruli expects another potentially record-breaking year out of Mexico, with a 10% increase in production likely.
“There’s no way we’re not on track” for record volumes, he said. “Crossings have been very good for late February, and we’ll have very good numbers out of Chiapas and Oaxaca for the next 12 weeks.”
Clevenger also expects another record year out of Mexico, with plantings especially heavier in Sinaloa, in northern Mexico.
Sizes were peaking in the 18-20 range for Ciruli Bros. the week of Feb. 20, with size expected to increase as the southern deal progresses, said Ciruli, who also reported very clean fruit in early shipments.
|
ThePacker.com Home News Leadership Video Opinion Careers About Us Advertise |
Other Websites The Grower Produce Retailer Red Book Credit Services Produce Market Guide Greenbook |
©2012 Vance Publishing Corporation Terms of Use Privacy Policy Copyright 
|
Comments (0)
Leave a comment