A Message from Our CEO

To our customers,

With autumn upon us, we look forward to fall harvest yields and prepare for the busy holiday season ahead. While reports in global logistics remain stable, crop conditions across the globe continue to be impacted by inclement weather.

The summer months of 2023 brought record-high levels of containerized imports, as the supply chain continues to recover from the lingering crisis. Exiting the peak season, we anticipated seeing a slight decline in reported volumes; however, import levels continue to surpass pre-pandemic averages.

Conditions in the Panama Canal remain stable as the NeoPanamax Locks are still unaffected by the Panama Canal Authority’s vessel restrictions. At this time, container vessels are able to pass freely without disruptions or severe transit delays.

The El Niño weather phenomenon continues to affect crop yields across many categories and nations. For example, current inclement conditions have impacted the abundance of anchovies and quinoa coming from Peru. To avoid further complications with El Niño, alternative sourcing may be necessary.

In addition, a combination of adverse weather conditions across the U.S. has impacted cherry yields from the 2023 harvest. As a result, cherries will be in limited supply.

At Roland Foods, our priority remains our customers. Below are actions we are taking to ensure customer satisfaction:

1. Strategic Supplier Relations – We will continue to monitor the crop landscape with our trusted international partners to navigate inclement conditions and secure alternative sourcing if needed.

2. A Close Eye on The Panama Canal– At this time, we do not anticipate the NeoPanamax Locks to be impacted by the restrictions; however, we have planned alternative vessel routes to avoid transit delays should they tighten.

To stay abreast of the most up-to-date and in-depth details regarding the supply chain, freight, and crop updates, please read our Market Updates provided below. We look forward to helping you make the rest of 2023 a success. As always, thank you for your business.

Sincerely,

Keith Dougherty

CEO of Roland Foods