Agronometrics Blog

Overview of the Mexican grape season by Miky Suarez of MAS Melons & Grapes, complemented by charts from Agronometrics.



Original published in FreshPlaza.com on May 26, 2020

Monday, May 18, 2020 marked the first day of grape harvest in Hermosillo for MAS Melons & Grapes. “Harvest started about 10 days later than normal,” says Miky Suarez, Founder & CEO of the company. “At the beginning of the cycle, in early January, the growing season started off well. Enough chill hours were accumulated for the plants to go dormant and rest.” It was a pretty smooth ride until the second half of April. “These last weeks of April and even into May, the weather was cooler than normal. As a result, grape harvest in Hermosillo started last week as opposed to the first or second week of May.”

Overlap with Chile non-existent

“We have started picking green grapes,” said Suarez. “The red varieties have been very slow to mature and aren’t ready yet.” On the positive side, a later start also means t…

This week we're going to take a look at the unusual dynamics in the U.S. asparagus market over the last few weeks amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While prices in the U.S. market are currently declining, they have been substantially higher than previous years over the last few weeks. In week 19, the average was US$5.36 per kilo, which is 22% up on last year.

The high prices - coming on the back of very low prices - are likely related to a sharp drop in available supplies.

Historical prices of asparagus (USD/KG) in the U.S. market


Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
Asparagus volumes

In line with the high prices are the lowest of the last few years, coming mainly due to a drop in volumes coming from Peru.

Volumes of asparagus in the U.S. market


Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
As can be seen in the chart below, volumes from Peru have been w…

Overview of lemons prices in U.S. market, complemented by charts from Agronometrics.



Original published in ThePacker.com on May 20, 2020

This information, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, shows week-by-week shipments and f.o.b.s for commodities from shipments for the fresh market. Protective services are extra unless otherwise stated. Shipments, in 1,000 cwt., are for weeks ending: 1st no. = May 2; 2nd no. = May 9; 3rd no. = May 16. Expected movement is for May 24 to June 6. F.o.b. prices are as of May 18.

Lemons

SOUTH AND CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments Moderate — Movement expected about the same. Trading Fairly Active. Prices Slightly Higher. 7/10 bushel cartons Shippers First Grade 75s mostly 25.18-28.20, 95-140s mostly 27.18-30.20, 165s-200s mostly 24.18- 26.20, 235s mostly 20.18-23.20; Shippers Choice 75s mostly 17.18-19.20, 95-115s 19.18-21.20, 140s mostly 20.18-23.20, 165-200s mostly 22.10-25.20, 235s mostly 18.18-21.20.…

Overview of the grape varieties and the expected peak times for volume, complemented by charts from Agronometrics.



Original published in ThePacker.com on May 18, 2020

The Mexican grape season has been ramping up and the number of available varieties keeps on growing, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold in the U.S.

Main grapes varieties in the US market in 2019


Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
“Grape sales continue to move along at a steady pace despite COVID-19,” said Vivianna Greene, marketing manager for Los Angeles-based Pacific Trellis. “Much of this movement can be attributed to the fact that grapes eat and hold up well, their packaging eliminates direct exposure, and retail pricing has been consumer-friendly.”

Prices (in USD) of grapes in the US market


Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
George Matoian, who handles sal…

Overview of the impact of importation of blueberries from Mexico on Florida’s growers, by Frank Giles, complemented by charts from Agronometrics.



Original published in Growing Produce on May 11, 2020

As the coronavirus crisis unfolded, Florida specialty crop growers were thrust into the spotlight as mainstream media covered stories of crops being plowed under as markets dried up. As hard a pill as it was for growers to swallow, there was at least some cause and effect to rationalize what happened. Many of those growers sell a larger part of their production into foodservice. With restaurants, cruise lines, hotels, schools, and other foodservice customers partially or completely shut down, it was not surprising market demands fell off.

But, what growers could not stomach was the fact that Mexico product continued to flood across the border in the heart of Florida’s season. COVID-19 has clearly shown the importance of food grown at home, and growers hope the spotlight can move governmen…

Overview of table grapes in U.S. market, complemented by charts from Agronometrics.



Original published in ThePackeNews.com on May 18, 2020

Conventional availability and seasonality

Quarter 1

Available out of Chile and Peru at ports of entry. Packed in 18-pound cartons, average f.o.b. costs are normally in the mid to high $20s to begin the quarter, dropping to the mid- to high teens in March. Each size larger runs a $1-$2 premium. Different varieties run different costs depending on volumes, but expect the newer, high-flavor varieties to be more expensive.

Price of grapes of Chile and Peru in U.S. market.


Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
Quarter 2

Available out of Chile at ports of entry to start, then transitioning to Mexico through Arizona and California towards the end. Packed in 18-pound cartons, transitioning to 19-pound, the average f.o.b. costs tend to spike into the twenties early in the quarter. In 2019 …

Overview of the chilean and peruvian blueberry exports, complemented by charts from Agronometrics.



Original published in FreshPlaza.com on May 18, 2020

For the first time, Chilean blueberry exports have not increased. In the 2019/20 season, exports of blueberries from Chile decreased slightly. That was compared to the previous season. In total, 133,650 tons were exported. That is two percent less than the 2018/2019' season's 137,100 tons. It is also a little less than the previous season. Then, 135,800 tons of blueberries were exported.

In the US, Peru now outshines Chile

There is a single reason for the lower Chilean blueberry exports. Less was sold on the North American market. Eleven percent less was sent to the United States, and 25% less to Canada. Last season the North American market imported more blueberries from Peru than Chile. That is the first time this has happened. Peruvian imports are growing strongly in the US. They grew by almost 50% to 65,000 tons. That is ve…

As Mexico's season just reached its peak, the opportunity lends itself to look a bit deeper at the origin in the U.S. markets. The rise of Mexican blueberries in the U.S. market has been no small achievement. In 2010, they represented a mere blip on the map. In 2019, with 75 M lbs, they were the second largest importer of fresh blueberries to the U.S., second only to Chile, but with Peru trailing closely behind Mexico.

Historic Volumes | Non-Organic

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
In 2010, the landscape for blueberries was very different from what it is today. Chile has grown considerably, the U.S.’s production has evened out more, pushing more volume into April and May, and of course, Mexico is now a primary source through this time period.
U.S. Volumes by Origin 2010 | Non-Organic


U.S. Volumes by Origin 2019 | Non-Organic

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart …