Perishable produce puts more pressure on tight air cargo market
Fruit export season kicks off with fewer airfreight options A warehouse worker scans a shipment of strawberries. (Photo: Scott Case/Commodity Forwarders Inc.)
The competition for scarce aircraft to transport international cargo is about to get even more intense, especially for exports from the U.S. West coast, as seasonal fruit growers look to squeeze their way onto already crowded aircraft.
Expectations for a strong growing season combined with high fruit demand around the world point to robust exports this year. California cherry harvesting went into full swing earlier this month. After that, stone fruits like peaches and apricots head to market, followed by grapes. Pacific Northwest cherries arrive in early June. And blueberries and blackberries will be shipped in July.
May 10 , 2021
Western U.S. states are forecasting big cherry crops this year, with both California and the Northwest region expecting to harvest some of the largest volumes in years.
Industry association Northwest Cherry Growers (NWCG) has forecast what would be its third-largest crop in history for the 2021 season, with the first estimate pegging volumes at 237,992 metric tons (MT). California meanwhile is expected to produce a crop nearly reaching the 2017 record levels.
NWCG President BJ Thurlby said that although the size may change over the coming months, signs suggested a longer crop, with a more typical distribution between growing districts.
He also said that he is not concerned about a potential oversupply situation, amid strong demand.