March Produce Reefer Volumes 🚀

We’re diving into the latest produce reefer volumes from the USDA looking at the top 10 commodities, volumes, and where they originate from.

Image: USDA March Refrigerated Truck Volumes

Top 10 Produce Commodities:

-Potatoes 🥔 (79 million pounds): Idaho reigns supreme, with Colorado, Washington, Florida, and Canada sharing the remaining bounty.

-Apples 🍎 (58 million pounds): Washington takes the crown, contributing the lion's share (50 million pounds), while Michigan and New York round out the production.

-Tomatoes 🍅 (42.5 million pounds): Mexico dominates the tomato scene, with Florida chipping in some additional supply.

-Onions 🧅 (41 million pounds): Washington leads the pack, followed closely by Mexico. Idaho and Oregon also bring their A-game for onions.

-Lettuce 🥬 (39 million pounds): Arizona takes the lettuce title, with both types flourishing under its sunshine. California contributes some additional lettuce, while Mexico holds a smaller share.

-Strawberries 🍓 (31 million pounds): Mexico takes the top spot for strawberries, with Florida and California trailing closely behind.

-Cucumbers 🥒 (25.5 million pounds): Mexico reigns supreme when it comes to cucumbers.

-Avocados 🥑 (24.5 million pounds): Mexico holds an unshakable grip on the avocado market, supplying all the volume.

-Peppers 🫑 (22.5 million pounds): Mexico leads the way for peppers, with Florida claiming a smaller share.

-Cabbage 🥬 (12.5 million pounds): Florida boasts the most impressive cabbage production, with Arizona, California, Texas, and Mexico contributing additional volumes.

With the unofficial start of produce season starting in early March, we should see volumes continue to drive upward momentum as produce season gets into full swing.

Image: Trucker Tools

A Few "Must Knows" From Trucker Tools, CEO, Kary Jablonski 🧠

🥑 South to North: Not all produce is harvested at the same time… fruits and vegetables that are grown in Mexico and the southern/western US are moved earlier in the year while vegetables grown in the middle of the country peak later in the spring and summer.

📈 State-Level Volume Spikes: Some analyses suggest that outbound volume in Florida can rise as much as 30% during the spring. Understand produce-specific harvest schedules to inform your geographic capacity planning.

🚜 Inbound v. Outbound Imbalance: Truckload demand will shift across the country to hot spots for different produce (like Florida, Texas, and Washington state). Markets that are usually your backhauls may become your headhauls during very specific weeks and vice versa. Be prepared for these micro-capacity shifts several weeks in advance.