Dole?s Chilean imports on track
Dole?s Chilean imports on track
EDDYSTONE, PA " The Chilean fruit deal now has plenty of fruit to promote, according to Brad Cantwell, vice president of North American sales for the deciduous group of the Dole Fresh Fruit Co., based here.
The deal started with high prices because of a fruit shortage in Chile?s northern growing areas. But situations have normalized, Mr. Cantwell said during a Feb. 15 interview with The Produce News. Also participating in the interview at the Dole offices, located near the Philadelphia International Airport, was Mike Schiappa, director of sales.
?We were down on grapes from projected volumes," Mr. Cantwell said, but supplies in the end of January and early February normalized. "Grapes are now OK on all varieties. We started Globes two weeks ago."
Mr. Schiappa said that Sugraone and Thompson seedless volumes were strong and will increase as the deal moves into March. "The Flames are in peak now, tailing off from now until they?re done at the end of March."
Mr. Schiappa said that prices on all four grape varieties " whites, Flames, blacks and Red Globes " were about $14 a box for large berries and around $12 for medium sizes. These prices for whites and Flames were about $2 per box higher than usual.
The Flame seedless grapes will finish in two weeks. The Rubies were expected to begin the week of Feb. 21, and some Crimsons were beginning to arrive in mid-February, with volumes building to a peak in late March or early April. Red Globes are also be a late Chilean grape variety, and the condition of Chile?s Thompson seedless is strong enough to hold as a storage grape through April.
?Movement is good," Mr. Schiappa said. "The retailers are finally adjusting down out of the $20 fruit [that opened the season]. That has helped with the movement."
If there was a blemish on the season, it was the marketing of Chilean peaches, according to the Dole executives. "Peaches are the main problem every year, and this year was difficult," Mr. Cantwell said. "The market is weak," as the fruit would remain on the market through March.
Chilean nectarines and plums have had a better season. There is a strong demand for fresh stone fruit, so it is important that coolers are cleaned out every week. "You can?t hold stone fruit more than a week," Mr. Cantwell said.
Mr. Schiappa said that nectarines have been steady in volume with "very manageable supplies. We?re able to keep pace." Eighteen-pound flats of nectarines have been in the range of $7-9. The $7 price is considered low, while $8-10 is considered an optimum price.
The standard 14-pound plum flats have been around $12-14 for size 40, Mr. Schiappa said. "We?ve had a lot of volume and movement has been very good. Smaller sizes, such as 60s, are around $7." He added that prices vary by plum variety.
Mr. Cantwell said that the Chilean deal should have a normal finish. "It should be a good year for the growers."
Dole?s late Castanza plum, featuring a dark purple skin and yellow flesh, will come onto the market in mid-April and run through mid-May. "We should have it in promotable volumes," Mr. Cantwell said.
The deal started with high prices because of a fruit shortage in Chile?s northern growing areas. But situations have normalized, Mr. Cantwell said during a Feb. 15 interview with The Produce News. Also participating in the interview at the Dole offices, located near the Philadelphia International Airport, was Mike Schiappa, director of sales.
?We were down on grapes from projected volumes," Mr. Cantwell said, but supplies in the end of January and early February normalized. "Grapes are now OK on all varieties. We started Globes two weeks ago."
Mr. Schiappa said that Sugraone and Thompson seedless volumes were strong and will increase as the deal moves into March. "The Flames are in peak now, tailing off from now until they?re done at the end of March."
Mr. Schiappa said that prices on all four grape varieties " whites, Flames, blacks and Red Globes " were about $14 a box for large berries and around $12 for medium sizes. These prices for whites and Flames were about $2 per box higher than usual.
The Flame seedless grapes will finish in two weeks. The Rubies were expected to begin the week of Feb. 21, and some Crimsons were beginning to arrive in mid-February, with volumes building to a peak in late March or early April. Red Globes are also be a late Chilean grape variety, and the condition of Chile?s Thompson seedless is strong enough to hold as a storage grape through April.
?Movement is good," Mr. Schiappa said. "The retailers are finally adjusting down out of the $20 fruit [that opened the season]. That has helped with the movement."
If there was a blemish on the season, it was the marketing of Chilean peaches, according to the Dole executives. "Peaches are the main problem every year, and this year was difficult," Mr. Cantwell said. "The market is weak," as the fruit would remain on the market through March.
Chilean nectarines and plums have had a better season. There is a strong demand for fresh stone fruit, so it is important that coolers are cleaned out every week. "You can?t hold stone fruit more than a week," Mr. Cantwell said.
Mr. Schiappa said that nectarines have been steady in volume with "very manageable supplies. We?re able to keep pace." Eighteen-pound flats of nectarines have been in the range of $7-9. The $7 price is considered low, while $8-10 is considered an optimum price.
The standard 14-pound plum flats have been around $12-14 for size 40, Mr. Schiappa said. "We?ve had a lot of volume and movement has been very good. Smaller sizes, such as 60s, are around $7." He added that prices vary by plum variety.
Mr. Cantwell said that the Chilean deal should have a normal finish. "It should be a good year for the growers."
Dole?s late Castanza plum, featuring a dark purple skin and yellow flesh, will come onto the market in mid-April and run through mid-May. "We should have it in promotable volumes," Mr. Cantwell said.
