North America

VentureFruit Partners With California Giant to Bring Premium Berry Genetics to North America

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:12:59 GMT

VentureFruit, a global plant variety management and commercialization company, has introduced its portfolio of blueberry and boysenberry genetics (known as Rubus varieties) into North America to help meet consumer demand for premium berries. The company says this addition will accelerate its growth in North America’s high-value berry category.

This introduction is supported by a testing network of 14 sites across Canada, Oregon, California and Washington, as well as a new strategic partnership with California Giant Berry Farms (California Giant).

VentureFruit General Manager Morgan Rogers says this expansion provides growers and consumers with unique, high-value berries.

“Within our portfolio, we have new-generation raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries, as well as elite mid-to-high-chill blueberries,” Rogers says. “These genetics provide consumers with flavorsome, firm fruit, while providing growers with better-performing, market-desirable varieties during the traditional — and now short-supply — shoulder seasons.”

Partnership with California Giant Berry Farms

As part of its North American growth strategy, VentureFruit has entered into a strategic relationship with California Giant.

“Partnering with California Giant is a pivotal next step in VentureFruit’s Americas plan. They provide the commercial scale and market access needed to accelerate the introduction of our premium genetics across North America,” Rogers says. “We have licensed to California Giant a selection of premium new varieties from our joint breeding partnership with New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science Institute, a world leader in plant variety breeding. Initial plant orders are scheduled to begin this year.”

California Giant Berry Farms President and CEO Joe Barsi says supporting grower success remains central to the company’s strategy.

“At California Giant, our priority is supporting the long-term success of our grower-partners,” Barsi says. “That means advancing genetics that deliver the high-quality, great-tasting blueberries consumers expect, while also ensuring strong yields, disease resilience and sustainable profitability for growers. As the category grows more competitive, access to differentiated, high-performing varieties is essential. Partnering with VentureFruit strengthens our ability to progress genetics that help growers thrive and keep the North American blueberry category moving forward.”

VentureFruit says all varieties in its berry program undergo rigorous evaluation for both agronomic performance and eating quality. This depth of testing is essential to ensuring market relevance and long-term demand, the company says, adding that these evaluations consistently demonstrate clear advantages for both growers and consumers.

Over the past year, VentureFruit has introduced 20 advanced berry selections into the United States, South America, Europe and China.

Used Farm Equipment Swindle Alert: BBB Warns Virtual Vendor Vehicle Scams on the Rise

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:50:12 GMT

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning used equipment buyers nationwide about another sophisticated scam involving used farm equipment.

This particular grift, according to a press release from BBB, involved a fake online heavy equipment retailer impersonating a legitimate Missouri dealership, Cook Equipment & Trucking (Marble Hill, Mo.).

Buyers from across the U.S., some even from as far away as California and Arizona, reported losing a total of $223,000 after attempting to purchase heavy equipment and farm machinery through fraudulent websites and Facebook Marketplace ads.

Related: Essential Advice for Safely Buying Used Farm Machinery

Victims say they were “ghosted” after wiring money for equipment that never arrived. The BBB does not say whether the victims were able to dispute the fraudulent charges and claw back the proceeds from the scammers.

The reported fraudulent transactions include:

$45,000 for a skid steer loader from a buyer in Oak Hills, Calif.
$32,000 for an excavator from a buyer in Hancock, Mich.
$29,500 for a trailer from a buyer in Amanda, Ohio
$29,000 for a trailer from a buyer in Greenville, N.C.
$28,000 for a skid steer loader from a buyer in Eastman, Wis.
$31,000 for an excavator from a buyer in Des Moines, Iowa.
$29,000 for a skid steer from a buyer in Blue, Ariz.

BBB says the real Cook Equipment & Trucking, a small business operating since 2010, confirmed it has no website and is not affiliated with any online sales. The impersonators registered three fake websites, the most recent on July 14, and continue to run deceptive ads on social media.

“Those shopping for heavy equipment and farm machinery online should do their due diligence so they don’t fall victim to a virtual vehicle vendor scam,” says Michelle L. Corey, president and CEO, BBB St. Louis. “If an item is priced well below market value, that’s a red flag.”

To avoid getting swept up in an online virtual vehicle vendor scam the Better Business Bureau offers these tips:

Research the business at bbb.org or call 888-996-3887
Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true
Verify the website and contact the business directly
Read all terms and understand refund policies
Use a credit card for added protection
Report scams to BBB Scam Tracker, your state attorney general, the FTC, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center , and notify the social media platform where the fraud was discovered

To learn more about how to avoid online fraud in the used equipment auction world, check out BBB’s 2024 study on virtual vehicle vendor scams.

Your next read: U.S.-Canada Trade Spat Leaves Farmer’s New Holland Combine Stranded Up North

Farmers, Truckers and Gear Heads Rejoice: EPA Rolls Out Streamlined Diesel Engine Fluid Guidelines

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:04:22 GMT

EPA is rolling out new guidance for manufacturers of farm equipment and other heavy-duty vehicles, removing regulatory red tape requiring diesel-powered farm equipment to reduce engine torque dramatically when a problem arises with the machine’s Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system.

You can read EPA’s statement on the announcement here.

The new rule making goes into effect immediately for all new diesel engines on model year 2027 machines. It should also be noted the new guidance from EPA is voluntary for all non road equipment. Ultimately, each manufacturer will have the right to choose whether it implements the new inducement strategy or maintains the status quo with its own machines.

To fix the problem for farm machinery already in the field, EPA’s new guidance, developed in collaboration with farm equipment manufacturers, will work to ensure necessary software changes can be made on the existing fleet.

(EPA)

EPA administrator Lee Zeldin says now all non-road equipment, like farm tractors, combines and sprayers, must be configured so there is no impact on engine power for up to 36 hours when a DEF system malfunction occurs. Once 36 engine hours have passed, a 25% reduction in engine torque will go into effect until the machine is serviced. If the farm equipment is not fixed within 100 engine hours, then a 50% reduction in torque is activated until the machine can be serviced.

Additionally, farm equipment can be restarted with full engine power three times for up to 30 minutes after inducement, according to the EPA release.

“This is the first crack in the ice toward saying we don’t need these expensive systems on our farm equipment,” says Ben Reinsche, owner, Blue Diamond Farming Company in Jesup, Iowa. “We don’t need to immediately shut off an engine or be restricted for 36 hours if you have DEF unavailable or a malfunction.

“This is a positive step and maybe a formative step toward saying that having these emission standards on farm or off-road equipment is not critically necessary,” adds Reinsche. “There are so many other things farmers can do that are planet positive, like using conservation and sustainability practices, rather than having an after treatment system on our diesel engines.”

Small Business Administration (SBA) leader Kelly Loeffler says the new rule will save 1.8 million family farms across America a staggering $727 million per year while offering “vital financial and operational certainty.”

“This announcement today is such a big deal, especially on behalf of our farmers and ranchers,” says USDA secretary Brook Rollins. “At a time when our ag sector is really hurting, our farmers have had to endure a 30% cost increase in inputs, and a $30 billion Biden-era trade deficit, these everyday regulations being lifted makes such a difference.”

The new guidance greatly reduces a machine setting known as DEF derating and allows operators more time to secure DEF, refuel and make repairs. The new guidance also reportedly retains the environmental benefits of Tier 4 engine and DEF regulations for farm equipment and trucks.

“Today we are taking another important step forward by undoing these diesel fluid guidelines that have hurt our farmers and small rural businesses,” says U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). “Not only will these new guidelines save family-run farms hundreds of millions of dollars per year, but it is also just common sense, folks. No farmer should have their tractor come to a halt in the middle of a field due to Green New Deal-style regulations from Washington.”

How Did We Get Here?

EPA ushered in DEF requirements for large farm equipment when it enacted broader Tier 4 emissions standards in 2004.

Tier 4 Interim rules, which required DEF for farm machines 750 horsepower and up, then went into effect in 2008.

In 2015, EPA’s final Tier 4 regulations were put in place, meaning all new non-road diesel engines — regardless of horsepower rating — had to comply with new emissions standards.

Curious where your farm equipment is made? Check out Farm Journal’s “Who Makes What Where” feature to learn more.

Why Do Many Farmers Hate Using Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)?

American farmers say they detest using DEF due to the challenges and additional fuel cost it tacks onto their operations.

Here are some reasons farmers aren’t big fans of DEF:

Higher Costs and More Maintenance: DEF adds on extra materials costs for machinery-based field work. Farmers must purchase large amounts of fluid, and the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) framework that processes DEF is prone to malfunctions and expensive to repair. Often a simple-but-unexpected repair can pop up out of nowhere and end up costing farmers thousands of dollars and leave equipment inoperable.
Field Work Interruptions: If a tractor runs out of DEF or if the system breaks down, under the now-defunct previous guidelines engine power was greatly reduced, which is known by many farmers as “going into limp mode.” For farmers who rely on their equipment to operate consistently and reliably during planting and harvesting, any issue quickly becomes a major headache.
Storage Issues: DEF has a limited shelf life and is sensitive to temperature ups and downs. A quick Google search says DEF freezes at around 12°F and can degrade if stored in temperatures above 86°F. And who wants to look at a giant pallet of DEF cartons stacked in their machinery barn? Nobody, that’s who.
Contamination/Quality Control: DEF fluid must be pure and free of contaminants. Accidentally using the wrong type or getting foreign substances in the tank during refilling can wreak havoc throughout the system, leading to repairs and downtime.
Engine Performance Concerns: There are farmers who believe newer emissions systems, including those that use DEF, reduce the machine’s total power output and lower fuel efficiency.

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Right To Repair Granted? John Deere Launches Digital Self-Repair Tool for $195 Per Tractor

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:29:05 GMT

In what appears to be a direct response to anti-competition claims raised in the ongoing FCC v. John Deere Right to Repair lawsuit , the equipment manufacturer has released an updated digital service tool to enable equipment owners to maintain, diagnose, repair and protect farm equipment.

The new Operations Center PRO Service tool is available now in John Deere’s Operation Center app to equipment owners in the U.S. and Canada.

John Deere says it will charge farmers an annual license starting at $195 per machine for the tool. The company is charging independent service professionals $5,995.00 per year, which includes up to 10 local downloads.

The increased functionality of the new service tool replaces John Deere’s previous digital service iteration, known as Customer Service ADVISOR. John Deere representatives confirm ADVISOR will be phased out over the next year.

What farmers need to know

John Deere says the new Operations Center PRO Service “delivers digital repair content filtered by year and model number and provides users with additional relevant machine information to help troubleshoot, diagnose and repair Deere equipment. It’s designed to be intuitive and deliver support in real time.”

Here are the new service and repair capabilities within the tool:

Machine health insights and diagnostic trouble codes
PIN-specific machine content, including manuals
Software reprogramming for John Deere controllers
Diagnostic Readings
Diagnostic Recordings
Interactive diagnostic tests
Calibrations

Quick Analysis

If you’ve been following the FCC v. John Deere Right to Repair lawsuit, you may recall FCC’s legal team asking the equipment manufacturer to release a full digital repair and diagnosis tool for farmers and independent service technicians as part of its filed request for injunctive relief.

Related: What Does Right to Repair Really Mean?

Right to Repair advocates and antitrust attorney James Kovac, along with the FCC’s legal team, at the time were critical of the Customer Service ADVISOR, calling it an incomplete diagnostic tool. Kovacs himself says “independent repair pros and the farmers have access to (the tool), but (it) doesn’t give them the full suite of options to repair all the needs of their farming equipment.”

What John Deere is saying about the new tool

“Our development of these tools reaffirms John Deere’s support of customer self-repair,” says Denver Caldwell, vice president of aftermarket and customer support with John Deere. “We view continuously enhancing self-repair as consistent with our mission to ensure John Deere customers have the best machine ownership experience possible.”

What about independent repair technicians?

(John Deere )

In addition to equipment owners, a local service provider can also use Operations Center PRO Service, John Deere says. With a John Deere equipment owner’s permission, independent technicians can gain access to diagnostic and repair information to support the equipment owner’s needs.

(JohnDeere.com screenshot)

On the John Deere online store, it currently lists a Operations Center PRO Service annual license for a “Service Business” as costing $5,995.00 . The license provides for 10 local downloads of the PRO Service application, the listing says.

“Our message to our customers is clear,” Caldwell continues. “Whether you want the support of your professionally trained and trusted John Deere dealer, to work with another local service provider or to fix your machine yourself, we’ve created additional capabilities for you to choose the option that best fits your needs.”

How does it work?

Equipment owners must access Operations Center PRO Service through the John Deere Operations Center. Once connected to the platform, owners will add their equipment into their account using the machine’s serial number. Use of an electronic data link might be required for more advanced features within Operations Center PRO Service, including software reprogramming. Certain interactive tests, calibrations and reprogramming limitations will exist at initial release.

John Deere says it will deliver additional capabilities in future updates. See JohnDeere.com/PROService for further details.

How can I find out more?

Operations Center PRO Service is available today. For more information on how to access all of the digital support tools offered by John Deere, visit Deere.com/RunItYourWay or see your local John Deere dealer.

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Trump Again Demands a Wall as Lawmakers Chase Immigration Deal

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:28:57 GMT

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he’s not backing down on funding a border wall in any immigration deal as lawmakers from both parties were rushing to cobble together an agreement that can survive hardliners’ opposition and win bipartisan support.

“It’s got to include the wall,” Trump said at a news conference Wednesday where he was asked if he would sign immigration legislation that didn’t provide funding to begin building a physical barrier on the U.S.-Mexico border. “Security is number one, so the answer is you have to have the wall.”

Lawmakers involved in the negotiations shuttled between the House and Senate seeking accord on legislation that would give protection against deportation to some 800,000 young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, while also meeting Trump’s conditions of tighter border security, restrictions on family preferences in immigration and an end to a diversity visa lottery.

An immigration agreement could open the way to a broad spending bill, which in turn could carry disaster relief funds, legislation stabilizing Obamacare and other measures that stalled in December.

Hurdles Remain

Democrats have been insisting that any immigration compromise be part of a spending deal, which is needed to keep the government open after Jan. 19, and that remains major hurdle. Lawmakers also haven’t reached a consensus on border security and the other terms set by Trump, while a group of conservative Republicans in the House were pushing for a deal with tighter restrictions on immigration.

While Trump has never wavered in his demand to build the wall, he told a group of lawmakers from both parties at the White House on Tuesday that he’d go along with whatever they hammer out.

“I will be signing it,” Trump told them. “I’m not going to say, ‘Oh, gee, I want this or I want that.’”

Despite Trump’s record as an unpredictable negotiating partner who sometimes switches positions, members of both parties expressed optimism that they had room to negotiate.

“Oh yeah, we’re close,” Arizona Republican Jeff Flake said after leaving a meeting of a bipartisan group of senators who have been working on an immigration compromise for weeks.

Judge’s Ruling

Republican and Democratic leaders said that a ruling by a federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday that temporarily blocked Trump’s decision to terminate the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative won’t hold back the effort to write the program into the law.

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer of New York said on the Senate floor Wednesday that the court decision “in no way diminishes the urgency of resolving the DACA issue.” Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn of Texas agreed, telling reporters he’s determined to help set up a timetable for further bipartisan negotiations that will also involve top administration officials.

“My sense is that it doesn’t change the need for us to act, so we’re going forward,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn set up a meeting Wednesday with No. 2 Senate Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland to talk about a timetable for negotiations. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen will also be part of the talks, he said.

Durbin, who also is part of the bipartisan Senate group, expressed concern that there was so little time left to get an agreement before the Jan. 19 deadline for a funding measure. He wouldn’t say whether that meant an increased risk of a partial government shutdown if there’s no deal on immigration, but said the group is moving closer to agreement.

“We still have some work to do, but we have made real progress,” Durbin said.

Hoyer, who was at the White House meeting with Trump on Tuesday, said despite support for finding a legislative fix for DACA from Trump and other Republicans, “There were obviously items that were listed on which there clearly is disagreement.”

Among those are how extensive a border wall might be included, and how much to restrict family preferences for immigration, which Trump calls chain migration.

Wall Proposal

A Homeland Security proposal to spend $18 billion over 10 years for a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, including 722 miles of new and replacement barriers, was circulated last week and immediately rejected by Democrats.

Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday, called the wall plan a “last-century solution.”

But what a “wall” would look like has been the subject of debate among Republicans. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 3 Republican, told reporters Monday that “a wall can be defined in a lot of different ways.”

With Republicans holding just 51 of 100 Senate seats, at least nine Democratic votes are needed to push a deal through that chamber, and that gives Schumer leverage.

“Senator Schumer basically has a veto card” on government spending and immigration, said Representative Chris Collins, a New York Republican and close Trump ally.

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.

Del Monte pineapple tags highlight sustainability projects

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:24:38 GMT

Del Monte Fresh Produce North America Inc. , Coral Gables, is introducing pineapple tags to highlight sustainability efforts.

The company’s gold pineapples will feature tags featuring six Del Monte Fresh sustainability facts, according to a news release.

“Sustainability is ingrained in our company values,” Dennis Christou, vice president marketing for Del Monte Fresh,” said in the release. “We not only strive to conduct our business in ethical, socially responsible and transparent ways due to our respect for our employees and the communities they live in, but we want our consumers to feel good about the food they are eating when enjoying Del Monte Fresh products.”

The tags will focus on six sustainability facts:

In Kenya, Del Monte’s protected waterway supports more than 95 hippopotamuses;
The company gave 640 scholarships to children in Central American communities in 2017;
Del Monte Fresh Produce has recycled more than 30,000 tons of plastic used on its banana farms since 1995;.
More than 1,000 species of animals live at Del Monte’s El Tigre Forest Reserve in Costa Rica;
A redesign of Del Monte pineapple boxes in 2000 has reduced paper use by more than 160,000 tons; and
More than 90% of Del Monte pineapples are grown on sustainably grown certified farms.

Del Monte Fresh Produce has also planted more than 700,000 trees, funded clean water projects in Kenya and the Philippines and has reduced energy consumption, according to the release.

The Del Monte Sustainability Report outlines the company’s progress.

Related stories:

Value-added sales growing, says Fresh Del Monte Produce

Del Monte Fresh details sustainability measures in report

Del Monte Fresh Produce launches ‘Better in Bananavision’ campaign

Manfredi Cold Storage grows to meet East Coast importers’ needs

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:49:46 GMT

Expansion across the Delaware River into New Jersey is one way that Toughkenamon, Pa.-based Manfredi Cold Storage is looking to accommodate future growth in imported fresh produce.

Frank Manfredi, president of the company, is partner with his brother John Manfredi in owning the Manfredi Cos., a group of companies that also include Inland Transportation Corp., Manfredi Logistics Service, National Refrigerated Freight and International Repack.

Manfredi Cold Storage opened in 1985 and completed its first cold storage room in early 1986. It has grown from two employees to about 270 employees, he said. The firm doesn’t own or market any fresh product, but rather offers short-term cold storage services to customers importing fruit.

“From (that beginning) we’ve done small additions and larger additions ever since,” Frank Manfredi said.

“We have been fortunate enough to team up with some really good customers, particularly importers gave us a lot of support.”

Toughkenamon is located just outside Kennett Square, Pa., and mushrooms are part of the history of the family and the company.

After coming to America from Italy in the early 1900s, Manfredi’s grandfather and his grandfather’s brothers had settled in the Kennett Square region in the 1930s and worked on mushroom farms. That generation gave way to the next generation, which included Manfredi’s father and uncle, both of whom grew mushrooms.

When brother John Manfredi got into the sales and marketing of mushrooms, Frank began growing mushrooms, he said.

After about 12 years, their business model changed when a customer who bought mushrooms from them wanted the Manfredis also to pick up pallets of fruit to deliver with the mushrooms.

“My brother told the guy we’re not in that business, and the guy told my brother, ‘If you don’t bring the fruit, don’t bring the mushrooms’ So my brother went to the port and picked up two skids (of fruit),” he said. “The rest is history.”

Access to River

The firm has easy access to ports on the Delaware River, the largest terminal for fruit imports in the U.S., Manfredi said.

“More fruit comes up the river than anywhere else,” he said. “We are a short haul to the river and we pick up at the waterfront every day,” he said, noting business at the Port of Wilmington, the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, Penn Terminal and Holt Terminal, and others, he said.

“We are at all of them every day, and that’s really driving the bus (of growth),” he said.

Manfredi said the volume of fruit imports, and the variety of origins for those imports, has really changed the business since the late 1980s.

“Having summer fruit all winter long and having access to avocados all year long; you look at berries, you look at citrus, you look at avocados, those three categories have taken off like gangbusters,” he said.

With that growth of imported fruit volume, Manfredi has expanded along with its customers.

“The first cooler box we had here started out with like 60 skids, and I think the first year in business on the warehouse side, I think we handled 60,000 packages,” he said.

Today, with the 48-acre site in Pennsylvania, Manfredi Cold Storage can handle 30,000 pallets at one time and this year will handle more than 40 million packages, he said.

Earlier this year, the company opened up a 30,000-square-foot expansion at its Toughkenamon base and the company expects to open a new facility on 52 acres across the Delaware River in New Jersey by the end of next year.

Manfredi said the company has heavily invested in technology and software to make its operations as efficient as possible.

Every box is tracked and that leaves no confusion on where product is in the facility.

“There is no searching for product, and that allows us to turn around a truck relatively quickly,” he said.

“With changes we made with the software system here in the last 17 months, we’ve increased our throughput by 15%,” he said. “There as investment but the payback was quick.” Team meetings every week look at ways to solve problems and increase efficiency, he said.

With about 90 docks for trucks, the operation can unload and receive 110 truckloads of product in a day and ship out as many as 150 truckloads, if needed.

Shipping Costs are Surging Globally, Squeezing Grain Traders

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:00:58 GMT

(Bloomberg) -- Booming rates to ship iron and coal are giving grain traders a migraine.

The cost of moving pretty much every dry-bulk commodity -- from fertilizer to salt to rocks -- has surged since July, lifting the London-based Baltic Exchange’s main freight gauge to its highest in almost four years. The rally has been fired by China’s insatiable demand for coal and iron ore, more than tripling rates for giant Capesize ships that dominate both trades.

With the surge driving up shipping rate across the board, that’s bad news for agricultural traders already contending with the biggest supply gluts in years: they’re having to pay more to transport crops at a time when they can least afford it.

“Demand for Capesize vessels in the Pacific has been very brisk, partly due to China,” said Alexander Karavaytsev, an economist at the International Grains Council. There’s been a “spillover of demand” for smaller ships -- so-called Panamaxes, Supramaxes and Handysizes that are also used for grains -- because the availability of larger carriers is also restricted in the Atlantic Ocean, he said.

Commodity shipping markets, having gone through a nadir of their own, are now starting to rebound thanks to flows of iron ore and coal that will expand this year by the most in tonnage terms since 2014. That’s at a time when a fleet expansion has slowed dramatically.

Order books for dry-bulk shipping, tankers and container fleets are at very low levels by historic standards, Hartland Shipping Services said in a report, citing data from Clarkson Research. Order books for dry bulk stand at 8.2 percent of existing fleet. The last time it was below 10 percent was in October 2002, two years after which the industry had its biggest boom ever.

The Baltic Dry Index, an overall measure of the Baltic Exchange’s key dry-commodity routes, averaged 1,127 points so far in 2017, on course for its best year in four.

The surge has been led by China. Global trade in iron ore and coal will jump by 5.3 percent to a combined 2.69 billion metric tons of this year about half the cargoes heading to the Asian country, according to data from Clarkson Research Services Ltd., part of the world’s biggest shipbroker. With the fleet of Capesizes expanding by just 3.2 percent, that’s lifted vessel use -- and rates -- for all vessel classes, right down to smallest.

Agricultural traders are finding it harder to stomach the rising freight bill because prices for crops are being undermined by oversupply. World grain stockpiles for this season are forecast to rise for a fifth straight year to a record of about 726 million metric tons, according to the most recent data from the United Nations’ Food & Agriculture Organization. That surpasses last year’s record and is 7 million tons higher than the prior month’s forecast.

As far as the shipping market is concerned, agricultural trade is dwarfed by the heavy industry bulwarks. Grains and oilseeds make up less than 10 percent of all dry-bulk cargoes whereas coal and iron ore account for about half.

The oversupply of crops has helped push the Bloomberg Agriculture Subindex down about two-thirds from its peak set two decades ago. The measure is on course for its lowest annual average since at least 1991. Even agricultural giants, dominated by the “ABCD” quartet of Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Bunge Ltd., Cargill Inc. and Louis Dreyfus Co., haven’t been immune.

At least 40 senior managers and executives in agriculture left their positions at trading houses such as ADM and Louis Dreyfus this year. ADM announced job cuts in July after disappointing earnings and a loss at its international trading operation. Bunge has announced a $250 million cost cutting program, while Louis Dreyfus and Cargill have sold assets amid challenging market conditions.

Freight isn’t helping their cause as it becomes a growing portion of exported cereal prices. This year, shipping costs will account for 11 percent of the average price on trades tracked by the International Grains Council. That’s the highest in seven years and compares with 8.5 percent in 2016.

With exporters’ margins being negatively impacted, those located farther from their buyers will see their competitiveness wane, Rabobank International said in report.

“Some buyers are becoming more price sensitive and adapting by shifting their grain sourcing to origin countries offering cheaper transportation,” said Karavaytsev of the IGC.

Meanwhile things look relatively good for miners, who’ve mostly managed to pass on the higher freight bills to their customers. Global steel production rose to a record 145.3 million tons in October, according to the latest data from the World Steel Association, with almost half of it being made in China. Iron ore rallied back into a bull market last week as China’s curbs on pollution force buyers to chase high-grade ore from overseas.

Shipments of the steelmaking raw material will total 317.6 million tons this quarter, the second busiest three-month period since at least the start of 2015, according to a forecast from Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd. On an annual basis, they’ll be a record, according to Clarkson.

While grain trade is up too, a surplus of cereals like wheat and corn means exporters can’t pass on the cost of freight in the same way as miners can.

“As Capesize rates hit new highs, there is going to be a trickle down effect on smaller size ships and an impact on grain shippers,” said Oscar Tjakra, senior analyst for grains and oilseeds at Rabobank in Singapore. “Margins of ABCDs are very low right now and they will have to compete by exporting to nearer destinations.”

©2017 Bloomberg L.P.

Oppy Transport looks back on 30-year haul

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 14:39:42 GMT

The Newark, Del.-based third-party logistics arm of grower, marketer and distributor Oppy is celebrating three decades delivering goods from around the world to its retail and foodservice partners.

Originally established in 1992 as David Oppenheimer Transport, the logistics company was rebranded to Oppy Transport in 2016. In recent years, the company has expanded to not only contract with carrier partners on fruit and vegetable transportation, but it also moves both dry and temperature-controlled freight too, according to a news release.

“It’s been an evolution over 30 years to develop Oppy Transport into the premier logistics choice for any industry,” Executive Director of Operations and Logistics Stewart Lapage said in the release. “It’s an honor to be a part of this segment of the business that’s emerged from Oppy’s nearly 165-year history and built upon the trust the brand has established throughout the industry and beyond. Which is why our vision is to build our logistics network to service an array of external customers beyond Oppy growers.”

Like Oppy, Oppy Transport is a full-service operation — which includes dry and cold storage facilities where it’s able to warehouse, recondition, convert pallets, inspect and grade product. Its vast network of facilities contributes to its ability to distribute shipments efficiently to all customers regardless of location — that customer base being comprised of some of the largest grower-shippers, manufacturers and retailers in North America.

While Oppy Transport is currently moving over $100 million worth of freight and an excess of 60,000 shipments annually, they are always looking to improve, according to the release.

“Our proprietary technology system enables us to consistently upgrade and meet the unique needs of our customers. We are also closely aligned with Oppy’s internal sustainability committee, routinely seeking sustainable initiatives to broaden our targets — something that is very important to us,” U.S. Transportation Manager Chase Wrightson said in the release.

Oppy Transport continues to widen its reach too, Lapage said in the release.

“We look towards aggressive expansion plans for the U.S. and Canada for our fresh and non-produce transportation customer base. Our intention is to work with you for the long haul, providing a wide array of solutions to help manage the ongoing impacts of the supply chain as we look toward the next 30 years and beyond,” Lapage added.

NatureSweet estimates $8M worth of produce donated to food banks in 2022

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 15:36:10 GMT

NatureSweet says it has donated 8 million pounds of produce to food banks throughout North America in 2022.

The estimated $8 million worth of produce provided to food banks in the U.S. and Mexico has included tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, according to a news release. The company said the donations have provided 6.25 million meals to families in need.

“During a challenging year of record inflation that has resulted in higher food costs, we hope our produce donations to food banks will provide nourishment to families and help ease the financial burden many are experiencing this year,” Lori Castillo, NatureSweet vice president of marketing, said in the release.

About 800,000 pounds of the produce donated this year has helped feed families in San Antonio, where NatureSweet is headquartered, the company said. The San Antonio Food Bank recently honored NatureSweet with a Hunger Fighter of the Year award for the gift of food in 2022, according to the release.

“We’re proud to support food banks locally, and across the continent,” Castillo said in the release. “This is a fairly new initiative for us and after witnessing the positive impact it has on so many people, we plan to continue donating NatureSweet produce to communities in need.”

Oppenheimer’s Sun World grape program expands availability

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:14:22 GMT

The Oppenheimer Group is able to offer grapes grown in Southern Hemisphere country, as dictated by demand.

Sun World Innovations, which licenses proprietary grape varieties to be grown in numerous countries, recently named Oppy as one of a group of North American countries to import and market Sun World varieties.

“This is meaningful for Oppy because it broadens our grape portfolio with many of the exciting varieties our customers are seeking,” Bill Poulos, grape category director at Oppy, said in a news release. “We’re honored to have been selected among the handful of marketers granted a standard import license, which enables us to partner with a wide span of growers throughout the Southern Hemisphere — and beyond — in this innovative program.”

Those varieties include Sun World’s AutumnCrisp, Midnight Beauty and Scarlotta Seedless,

Oppy will be working with retailers on South American grape promotions soon, and Sun World varieties complement the company’s current grape program, according to the release.

Companies receiving licenses from Sun World completed comprehensive applications covering sales, marketing, importing, quality control and logistics practices, according to the release.

“It’s an exciting time to be in the grape category, with a wide range of varieties produced by top growers in several countries,” Poulos said in the release.

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Sun World Innovations names grape marketers for U.S., Canada

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:42:25 GMT

Sun World Innovations, Palm Desert, Calif., has chosen a group of companies to import and market proprietary grapes in North America.

The May 23 announcement follows Sun World International’s decision to focus on genetics and breeding through Sun World Innovations, and exit all farming activities.

Ten companies now have licenses to distribute and market Sun World varieties in the U.S. and Canada, according to a news release:

Camposol Fresh U.S.A. Inc.;
The Oppenheimer Group;
Dayka & Hackett LLC;
Divine Flavor International LLC;
Dole Fresh Fruit Co.;
Fresh Flavor International Inc.;
North American Produce Buyers Ltd. CCPC;
Summit Produce Inc.;
Vanguard Direct LLC; and
William H. Kopke Jr./Southern Fruit Import Co.

The grapes they’re marketing are grown by Sun World Innovations-licensed growers in Chile, Peru, Brazil and South Africa. Those growers “nominated” the fruit marketers, according to the release.

The proprietary varieties include Autumn Crisp, Midnight Beauty and Scarlotta Seedless.

“We’re pleased to invite these prominent fruit import companies to join the Sun World family as we further broaden our Southern Hemisphere licensed producers and exporters’ distribution reach into key American and Canadian markets,” David Marguleas, Sun World Innovations president, said in the release.

In early May, Sun World International LLC, Bakersfield, Calif., announced it was selling its farms to investors that contracted Sun Pacific to manage and harvest the grapes, to be marketed by a new company, Famous Vineyards.

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