ICEBERG LETTUCE
Industry supplies of Iceberg are
normal and market has moved up a bit as demand has increased. Many
suppliers are expecting this market to rise steadily throughout the week due to
romaine having issues on availability. We are seeing growth cracks with many
supplies. The weights on palletized lettuce are coming in around 48 pounds.
ROMAINE & LEAF
The leaf market continues to gain
strength on green leaf and especially on romaine. Supplies are expected to be
light on romaine throughout the week. With Romaine we are seeing dark green
hearts and a trace of yellow fringe; this is an issue with many suppliers.
Supplies out of Canada and other local growing regions have had hot weather
that has made for low crop yields. This has created a higher demand for
California product. Romaine is weighing in at 37 pounds
POTATOES
Idaho potatoes – The market is mostly steady with good
supply. You will start seeing sheds drop out as many are preparing for an
early new crop harvest. The western side of the state will begin around
the first of August (two weeks early) the southern side of the state will be a
couple days after. Eastern Norkotahs will also be early with a reported
date as early as August 6th. With everyone starting early and
at the same time it is more likely than not that we will continue to see a weak
market.
Western Markets: Colorado is now shipping a
combination of Norkotahs and Centennial varieties. Their next source
potatoes will be brought in bulk out of Kansas which is projected to begin
around August 9th. Current old crop supplies are getting
tighter and it would be well advised that customers give their shippers a
little extra notice to get manifest filled as ordered.
ONIONS
Supplies are very tight in New Mexico and most sheds are
packing to the lower end of the USDA #1 grade standard to generate the necessary
volume. That means divisions may start seeing their competitions jumbo
counting as high as the 80’s as opposed to the CVF which will count in the
60’s. The size profile in NM will improve around July 26th.
5 Points, CA have push their market up today on all yellows as a result
of heavier demand. Colorado onions are projected to begin around
July 23rd, supplies will be light. Whites are steady to lower and
the quality has been good on all colors.
TOMATOES
Western Markets:
Production in the San
Joaquin Valley district in California is in full swing, with only a few
shippers not online yet. Quality is excellent & volume is picking up, which
is having the normal inverse reaction on price. Most of the Midwest repackers &
distributors have transitioned sourcing-wise to California from the East, but
the Eastern wholesalers have yet to totally make the switch. Romas are mainly
coming from Mexico but the market is very tight.
Eastern Markets: Romas continue to be very short on the market. The Charleston SC
deal has begun to wind down from a supply standpoint, and that should be
supplanted within a few days by production in eastern North Carolina and the
mountain deal in Tennessee, with the Eastern Shore of Virginia/Maryland in the
on-deck circle. However, it is too early to say whether the intense heat that
has gripped much of the nation will have an effect on yield in these areas.
Vegetables & Value Added Produce
CUCUMBERS
Supplies are
steady out of Michigan and the quality is good.
Tennessee and New Jersey also have product.
EGGPLANT
Western Markets:
Reports that supply is
lightening up as growing area transitions are taking place.
Eastern
Markets: Georgia still
has product and North Carolina picks up steam.
BELL PEPPERS
Western Markets:
Reporting adequate
supply and a soft market.
Eastern Markets:
North Carolina has the
majority of the Eastern Pepper. This week as Michigan still has a few weeks to
go. Product is good and there is plenty
of product.
SQUASH
Western Markets: Picking up production on both yellow
and zucchini although yellow is still short with inclement weather affecting
quality.
Eastern Markets:
Readily available from
many areas with some reports of scuffing due to recent rains.
CABBAGE
Much of the same as Cabbage is sourced in the Salinas and
Georgia growing areas. Michigan and Ohio will begin production in ten
days. Supplies are good for green cabbage in all areas. Red cabbage
supplies are good for California. Georgia is finishing seven to ten days
early due to weather issues. Red supplies are light in the east.
CAULIFLOWER
Market is
flat, there is plenty of product, now is the time to order! Main sizing continues to be 12 counts. Light brown spotting is being reported, upon
arrivals watch out for this.
CARROTS
Much the same from last week. California carrot supplies
remain good. Sizing of the carrots are good with steady warm weather.
CELERY
The market continues is very active. Ruff weather in Michigan as well as other
local growing areas has shifted demand to California. Demand exceeds supply. The option is for Salinas and Santa Maria to
choose from out of California. Escalated
pricing!
GREEN ONIONS
Market is steady with supplies coming out of Mexico. The quality continues good with some reports
of decay upon arrival.
ASPARAGUS
This
market is steady to start the week. Mexico supplies still light. Demand
continues to exceed supplies. Jumbo grass is the most difficult size to
purchase.
VALUE ADDED
The
lettuce quality continues to have some issues of decay, supplies adequate. The Romaine supplies will be extremely light
throughout the week. Broccoli supplies are better with all
suppliers. The cauliflower supplies will be ample for all orders. Occasional
brown spotting has been reported on this commodity.
Fruit
STRAWBERRIES
Very
good demand with good supplies is keeping the strawberry markets firm but
steady. The Salinas/Watsonville growing areas are in their peak production
currently which should last thru this month then we should see harvest numbers
start to back off. Quality is good with a few fair lots being packed currently.
Fruit size is medium running in the 16 count to 22 count range with full color
fruit. Strawberries are still be harvested in Salinas/Watsonville and Santa
Maria growing areas. Santa Maria has hit and miss quality depending on shipper
with size being medium to small.
RASPBERRIES
The
market is steady with good quality fruit being harvest currently. Look for Watsonville to have strong volume
over the next week before it peaks in mid-July.
BLACKBERRIES
The
blackberry market is very tight.
California has started, but they are still in a demand exceeds supply
situation this week. Eastern supplies
continue to be tight as Georgia has peaked and North Carolina is still ramping
up. Quality is being reported as fair to
good.
BLUEBERRIES
The California growing areas are
done for the season with the Northwest growing area picking up speed. The east
coast growing areas have been getting some weather on and off which has
interrupted harvest in some growing areas. The main pack sizes are 6oz and
larger. Quality is reported as good.
GRAPES
Market steady to strong and starting to transition to the
central valley as Mexico and Coachella valley winding down and should be close
to finished by the middle part of next week. The overall quality out of all
regions is good except for some lighter color fruit crossing from Mexico on the
reds. The green grapes are in very good supply and overall condition and sugar
is very good. We are starting in the central valley now with some of the first
flames looking very good and minimal amount of cracks which we typically run
into on the first early blocks, but the fruit this year looks very strong now
and hopefully will continue through the season. Expect good supplies of fruit out
of the valley through November.
STONE FRUIT
California
peaches are now in full swing with good sizing and promotable volume. Both the
nectarine and plum market remains strong as demand exceeds supplies. Apricots
have good size and quality.
CHERRIES
Bing cherries are finishing up in the San Joaquin Valley.
Washington started up last week, but production is off heavily this week with
rain. Demand exceeds supply at the
moment.
APPLES
New York is packing light volumes of Empire, Rome, and Red
Delicious apples but they will only pack for a couple more weeks. Washington
Reds are peaking on 88/100’s and the higher grades. The lower grades remain
limited. Golden delicious are heavy to the higher grades and size 88/100’s.
Lower grade Golden’s remaining limited. Granny-Smiths are also peaking on extra
fancy 88/100’s and the lower grades are limited. Galas are heavy to 88’s and
smaller and the higher grades but are almost finished. Washington Fuji’s are
peaking on extra fancy 72/80/88’s and they are still very short as well.
PEARS
D‘Anjou pears continue to peak on the US#1 grade and are
evenly spread across the size spectrum but supplies are limited especially on
the fancy grade. Washington Bosc pears are finished. There are a few Red Pears
still available but they are also almost finished as well. California will have
new crop Bartlett Pears at the end of July.
AVOCADOS
Mexican
supplies are declining weekly, with decent volume into July. California volume
is good; peak size has switched to 48’s and larger, with 60ct and 70ct much
lighter in supplies. California fruit has good maturity, flavor and oil
content.
ORANGES
Market steady with good demand on most all sizes, the
overall quality of the fruit is good with some re-greening and also some
softness, the interior color, sugar and juice content is excellent. Expect
smaller sizes to stay firm as we are peaking on 56’s and 72’s and fruit will
continue to size as we progress through the summer. We will be running
valencia’s through October and then start the navels, we need to keep in mind
that the quality will only continue to get rougher as we progress through the
summer and the trees take care of next year’s crop which is on the tree,
therefore the quality suffers on the fruit we are harvesting this year.
LEMONS
Market strong to steady with good supplies of larger fruit
and tighter supplies of the smaller fruit as we are peaking on 95’s and 115’s,
expect the market to keep steady and possibly ease up as we are starting to get
Chilean arrivals and will continue to see fruit arrive from Chile which will
help keep the pipeline filled through the next few months along with Mexico
which will start to cross next month. The overall quality is fair to good with
some blocks showing some checkerboard color and some with a tinge of green as
well.
LIMES
Market
continues to remain steady but there is the potential for things to strengthen
heading into August. Quality of the
limes is fair at best due to a week of rain.
We will be seeing lighter colored limes, blanching and shading due
to the conditions (higher temperatures and rain). Dark green limes will
return in mid October.
CANTALOUPES
This market is steady to weakening as we are going strong on
the Westside fruit which is peaking on 12’s and 15’s. There is excellent demand
and the larger fruit is a little tight and smaller fruit is available in good
numbers. The overall quality is excellent again with our high heat we will
experience some lower sugars, but they will bounce back by the first of next
week as our weather gets back to normal. Expect good supplies of fruit through
October and this is a great time to promote.
HONEYDEWS
Market steady to strong with fair supplies out of the
Westside, the overall quality is very good and demand is excellent keeping the
market strong. The fruit eats and cuts very well with tight cavity and very
clean fruit. Expect good supplies of fruit through October as well, we will
start to see better volumes as our temperatures come off next week.
WATERMELON
Markets are steady. Continues demand exceeds on seedless
watermelon. Phoenix is currently
shipping but will wrap up within a week or two. Monsoonal weather will also
slow down production. Other loading points have same market trends, Yuma,
Southern Cal.
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