A&Z Trucking

Don’t get spooked by tightening capacity this Yuma season. ?? Let our team of produce transportation experts help you ??boo-st your transportation performance. #yumaseason #halloween #trucking #produce #supplychain

Yuma Transition Update: Our Warehouse Manager, Humberto Melendrez, has been helping our cross dock teams transition from Salinas to Yuma for the season. He provided us with a real time update: “Our primary focus at this stage is ensuring the efficiency of the refrigeration system. We are prepared to address any repairs that may arise to maintain the temperature at a constant 34 degrees around the clock. In preparation, the system was turned on 2 weeks ago, mainly to proactively identify any failures (mechanical or operational) in the system. Our goal is to ensure that the system operates smoothly to preserve the quality of our products. ? We anticipate having some volume starting next week from November 4th to November 8th. The initial commodities we expect to receive include lettuce, broccoli, asparagus, and some cauliflower. It is worth noting that Yuma is known as the lettuce capital of the world, and lettuce is one of the predominant goods we handle throughout the season. It is safe to say we are ready for the first batch of products to start rolling throughout this cooler!” If your teams are navigating sourcing produce out of Yuma, please reach out to us. We offer robust refrigerated LTL and cross dock solutions, as well as FTL produce transportation out of the Yuma market. #foodandbev #produce #trucking #logistics #transportation #suppychain #coldchain

Today we’d like to better introduce you to Emerald Garza ?? What is your title? Consolidation and Transportation Manager ?? What do you do in your role? I oversee our warehouses that we use for our consolidation program. I coordinate all the transportation for our inter California, Arizona to California, and inter Washington lanes. I take multiple orders from different loads, piece them together, and get them to one central location so that a long-haul truck can pick the product up and take it straight to their delivery. ?? How long have you been in the logistics industry? I have been in logistics for 7.5 years. ?? What is your favorite part about your role and this industry? My favorite part of this job is getting to work with so many different people. Working in logistics, specifically in produce, I have been able to see all the hard work it takes to get food from the fields, into the warehouses, onto the trucks, and to the stores for consumers to use. It makes you appreciate everyone who helps to put food on our tables. I enjoy being able to go from an office setting to working with the warehouse and getting to meet the drivers. It has allowed me to learn from every level of this industry. ?? What is something you are passionate about? I am very passionate about my job, even though it is high paced and stressful at times. I have grown to love this industry so much that it has fueled my passion for a higher education. I am currently pursuing my degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management. Growing up in Salinas with a father who has worked in the fields, then became a loader in the warehouses, to Facility Manager makes doing what I do even more special. Being able to be in a similar field as my Dad and find success has made all my hard work very meaningful. ?? What is a fun fact about you!? Fun fact about me is I enjoy motorcycle rides and squeezing as many concerts into a calendar year as I can. Thank you for everything you do for our clients Emerald, we are grateful you are a part of our team! #team #employee #customerservice #operations #supplychain #consolidation #warehousing #trucking

We are wrapping up the month of harvest season in Salinas! Our Salinas warehouse manager Humberto Melendrez sent in these images of harvest wrapping up in the Salinas valley! What’s next? The big transition to Yuma. Stay tuned for more updates on our Yuma cross dock opening and Yuma market updates! #produce #farming #logistics #foodandbev #coldchain #operations #transportation #supplychain

One of the most significant uses of pumpkins is in the production of canned pumpkin, a key ingredient in many fall recipes. Each year, millions of pumpkins are processed to produce canned pumpkin, with estimates suggesting that around 85% of the canned pumpkin sold in the U.S. comes from just one state: Illinois. The town of Morton, Illinois, in particular, has been dubbed the “Pumpkin Capital of the World,” producing an overwhelming portion of the pumpkin supply used for canning. How Pumpkins Are Grown and Harvested Pumpkins thrive in warm climates, requiring around 100-120 frost-free days to fully mature. They are planted in late spring to early summer in regions with ample sunlight and well-drained soil. Pumpkins are typically grown in wide, sprawling fields, as the vines can cover vast areas. Once they’ve matured, usually by mid-September to October, they are harvested either by hand or using specialized equipment that cuts and gathers the pumpkins. Where Pumpkins Are Grown In the U.S., the top pumpkin-producing states are Illinois, California, Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. While Illinois leads in pumpkins for processing (used in canned pumpkin and other products), other states contribute significantly to the market for ornamental pumpkins and gourds. The pumpkin-growing regions often benefit from fertile soils and temperate climates that allow the plants to flourish. Transportation and Storage of Pumpkins Once harvested, pumpkins need careful handling due to their size and relatively delicate skins. For long-distance transport, pumpkins are packed in bins and shipped in refrigerated trucks to maintain their quality and prevent spoilage. Temperature control is crucial, especially when transporting pumpkins for processing or retail, as improper storage can lead to premature rotting. For storage, pumpkins are best kept in cool, dry environments. They can last several months if stored in temperatures between 50-55°F with moderate humidity. #produce #logistics #foodandbev #trucking #supplychain #freight #coldchain

This month we are talking: ?? Jobs Data ?? PMI ?? Construction Spending ?? Interest Rate Cuts ?? Credit Card Delinquency ?? Change in Carrier Population - Equilibrium ?? Truckload Rates ?? The Salinas to Yuma produce transition ?? Oregon's fall produce output ?? Produce Spotlight on Pumpkins ?? Can social media influences impact produce consumption? Thanks for reading! #logistics #trucking #freight #supplychain #coldchain #crossdock #distribution #consolidation #transportation #foodandbev

What it takes to open a Yuma produce cross dock each season ?? As Salinas' season winds down, our Salinas cross dock continues to operate, but our team begins prepping for the transition to Yuma. We asked our Warehouse Manager Humberto Menendez Melendrez to explain what it takes to operate a produce crossdock that has to be shut down and opened at the start and end of each season: “An update on the transition to Yuma, which is set to kick off the first week of October (maintenance wise) - We’ve got quite a bit of work ahead of us, including some cleanup, sanitation, and pressure washing of the whole cooler. Also, all of the paperwork for the food and safety programs. To stay compliant with food safety standards, we began scheduling pest control services in the first week of September. We require records of pest control treatments for three months prior to opening the coolers. The refrigeration systems will get turned on during the first or second week of October. This is crucial for ensuring that everything operates efficiently. By addressing any potential issues proactively, we can avoid downtime, in the opening month (November). Additionally, I must start conducting swabs throughout the cooler and sending them off to the lab for testing. Listeria, Salmonella, coliform, and generic E.coli. Again, this is all part of our food safety requirements 3 months prior to opening and these processes ensure we provide safe, high quality services to our produce cross dock customers. We need to have everything up and running by the first week of November, because we’ll start receiving products the following week!” We are thankful for our amazing cross dock teams who play a crucial role in the Yuma cold chain! #coldchain #supplychain #logistics #trucking #produce #yuma #growing #foodandbev #foodsafety

??The official first day of fall is here! Goodbye summer! This means the winding down of the busy Salinas produce season. We want to thank our Salinas cross dock team for working so hard this year to help our clients have the best experience possible pulling their produce out of the Salinas market. What’s next? Our teams are already busy prepping our Yuma facility for the Yuma produce season. While the Yuma season usually kicks off the first week of November, it takes a lot of work to be ready for that! Thank you so much to our teams and our clients who trusted us with Salina's LTL and FTL produce needs this season. See you again next year, but see you soon in Yuma! #logistics #salinas #produce #yuma #foodandbev #supplychain #transportation #distribution

?? Produce Spotlight Many of you will flock to your local orchards to hand pick your own apples this fall as a much loved family tradition and outdoor fall activity. But for those of you who also prefer the ease of picking up an apple on a grocery store shelf, here’s the background on your apple origin story ?? ?? Where Apples Are Grown Did you know that apples are grown in nearly every state in the U.S? However, the top-producing states are Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California. Washington alone accounts for over 65% of the country’s apple production! ?? Peak Harvest Apple harvest season typically peaks from late August through October, making this the busiest time of year for apple shipments. With such a short window to move this seasonal favorite, our Pacific Northwest operations kick into high gear! ?? Moving Millions of Apples Each year, the U.S. produces around 11 billion pounds of apples. Transporting this enormous harvest is no small feat. Our team contributes to this massive endeavor, and ensures that apples make their journey from orchards to grocery stores and restaurants nationwide. Optimal Temperature: Apples should be transported at a consistent temperature of 30-32°F (-1 to 0°C) to maintain freshness. This helps to slow down the ripening process and extend shelf life. #logistics #trucking #produce #harvest #foodandbev #supplychain

Fall is just around the corner! As leaves begin changing and apple orchards and pumpkin patches are opening, we want to highlight a few key shifts in the produce markets that happen each September. ?? Pumpkins! Pumpkins actually began their transportation in August, but will stay steady through September and October. A surprising fact for many, Illinois produces over 40% of our nation’s pumpkins. ??The Pacific NorthWest sees a dramatic increase in outbound shipments as apples and potatoes increase out of this region through October ??California produce begins to wind down in September as growers? prepare for the seasonal shift back to Yuma ??Texas citrus season can start in late September and into October, when harvest time for oranges and tangerines begins As we near the first official day of fall, we hope you get a chance to enjoy some fresh seasonal produce this season! #fall #produce #foodandbev #logistics #transportation #supplychain #freight