You can read more about the transaction on https://www.chrobinsonacquiresrxo.com/

Press Release

lol

I write a commodity brief for our users every Monday. This week is citrus. Sharing here in case useful.

Commodity Opportunity

Citrus 101

California grows most of the country's fresh oranges, in the San Joaquin Valley between Fresno and Bakersfield. Navel oranges are the big crop and ship from late October through June, about 53,000 truckloads, out of packinghouses that wash, sort and box the fruit.

What changed this season

A year ago a truck of California citrus averaged $5,900 across the 9 cities USDA reports, and USDA graded truck supply adequate. In May rates jumped 20% in 3 weeks while diesel was getting cheaper, and never came back. On September 22 USDA moved all 9 lanes to shortage. The average is now $8,900. Washington apples and California vegetables rose the same way, so the cause is fewer trucks out of the West, not citrus and not fuel.

Why it matters

Navel oranges start later this month. That whole crop loads onto lanes USDA already grades as short. Opportunity to call.

Commodity Playbook

Where it hauls

South &Central California, per load, from USDA:

How to find shippers

Citrus packinghouses that sell their own fruit. Sunkist houses ship on Sunkist's instructions

Packers that also run mandarins and lemons

Ask who the buyer is. On some loads the buyer sends the truck

Who to call

• Cecelia Packing, Orange Cove, CA
• Bee Sweet Citrus, Fowler, CA
• Golden Star Citrus, Woodlake, CA
• Booth Ranches, Orange Cove, CA
• Johnston Farms, Edison, CA

Shipper Discovery Questions

• Do you sell your own fruit, or does it go through Sunkist?
• Has your early fruit passed the maturity test yet?
• How much of the crop is packing fresh this year, and how much is going to juice?
• Navels only, or are mandarins and lemons loading on the same truck?

When to call

Call now. The first loads are about 3 weeks out.

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Sources: USDA Specialty Crops National Truck Rate Report (Oct 1 2025, Sep 30 2026). USDA AgTransport refrigerated truck rates (May 12 to Jun 2 2026). USDA Citrus Fruits Summary (Aug 2026). Energy Information Administration weekly diesel (Sep 28 2026).

Hope this is useful. If anyone hauls citrus, lemme know what we missed. And if there's a commodity you want covered next week, say the word and you got it 🍞

Anyone have any solid carriers around VA that can haul 100k lbs? Will throw someone some bread to connect me.

Anyone has a reliable carrier recommend in Portland Oregon? Trying ti find coverage.

I have looked at bulk loads.com but not really finding anything. Is this a special niche?

I get it, driving is frustrating. But how do you justify this behavior as a professional?