July 25th, 2012
ICEBERG LETTUCE
Demand exceeds supply and there
does not appear to be any open fields to buy. Prices will stay strong at least
through next week because demand is strong. Heads are fairly firm to firm and
overall the quality is good but field inspectors are seeing some occasional
weak tip, very occasional mildew stain and a supplier who was experiencing
chemical over spray, see photo below (this product was not packed). Our field
inspectors are seeing some light weights because the packers are harvesting the
fields a little early.
ROMAINE & LEAF
With the rain and extreme
heat in the East and Canada ,
many distributors are going west to get romaine; which is causing inventory to get
a little tight and increasing the markets. However, they are not as short on
supply as they were last week. Romaine cross valley farms is weighting in at
36-38 pounds with several suppliers making the grade to pack our label. There
is a wide range in quality and most of the lower price quotes are sub-par to
say the least. Green Leaf is sluggish and Red Leaf and Boston are active. Green leaf is weighing in
at 22-25 pounds.
POTATOES
Many shippers still have storage crop from last year and want to move that
out before the new crop comes in. They are anticipating new crops from some
suppliers first of August and others the middle of the month. The new crop looks to be average in tearms of
the sizing of the potatoes and potential above average yields. Expect to see an
increase in prices until the new crop is in and the markets adjust to the
supplies. All the major shipping regions have new crop red potatoes available
and the red market remains steady. There is a slight shortage on size A,
leading to higher prices. There is a surplus of size B potatoes leading to
cheaper prices. We are expective the supplies on both to balance out in the
next week. New crop white potatoes are
available from several shipping regions with very stable pricing and good
quality. New crop yellow potatoes will be available this week out of the Midwest . Specialty
potatoes are available out of California and Wisconsin is not far
behind.
ONIONS
Yellow
onion prices continue to increase because of lack of product mainly from New Mexico . This is from
several factor but mainly farmers are planting less so they can make more money
on the crop. This year they also had issues with the extreme heat and some bad
storms during the harvest which led to smaller yields, smaller size and the
loss of acreage. California is having an average
year but with the lack of product from New Mexico
the market is tight and California
just doesn’t have enough product to make up for it. Price increases are common
this time of the year. Colorado
is beginning this week and is produce is starting off with larger sizes. We can
expect to see the market weaken in 2-3 weeks once product from Washington and Oregon
are on the market. Prices of white onions are also climbing due to a shortage
of quality supplies. Jumbo whites are
becoming especially tight. Red onion
prices have firmed up slightly as well. The sweet onion season out of Calif. is still going
strong. There is plenty of availability
on all sizes, and the crop is still looking great!
TOMATOES
Eastern Markets: Virginia is winding down
on the first harvest and there will be a gap in supplies before the second
harvest is ready which will be the middle of September. With the gap in
supplies we are expecting to see price increases. North
Carolina and Tennessee
are harvesting product and the quality is good. Roma tomatoes continue to be
limit in the east, with the main supplies coming from a few local growers and Ohio . The supplies are
not expected to improve until Florida
begins to harvest again in the fall.
Western Markets: California is having a
lighter harvest then desired. This is the result of rains that occurred between
plantings which is causing a gap in supplies and the extreme heat that occurred
a few weeks ago. When tomato plants experience extreme heat there is too much
stress on the plant so they “push” off their flowers so not to produce fruit.
This is referred to as bloom drop. Mexico
and California
have good supplies on Romas and this has caused the market to drop. California product
will be abundant until end of September and Baja , Mexico
will have good supplies until November. Mexico also has an abundance of
grape and cherry tomatoes. There are already ample supplies on the market so we
are seeing price decrease for Roma, Cherries, and grape tomatoes.
Vegetables & Value Added
Produce
CUCUMBERS
Western
Markets: Supplies are
steady from Baja Mexico ,
crossing into San Diego , California . The quality has been good to
excellent, with most packs available. The only pack short in supply is large 60
count. The market is holding steady from previous highs as Michigan gets into steady
production. The quality from Michigan
is reported as good.
Eastern
Markets: Quality is good out of New Jersey and Michigan has been
excellent. North Carolina is reporting inconsistencies
with the market remaining steady.
EGGPLANT
Western
Markets: Demand continues to outpace supply leading to an active market with
prices increasing.
Eastern
Markets: Market is
showing some strength. Michigan and New Jersey have just begun, and limited volume is coming
out of North Carolina and Tennessee . No quality issues have come up at
this point.
BELL PEPPERS
Western
Markets: The green bell
pepper market is holding steady as supplies have stabilized in the San Joaquin,
California
growing areas. The crop is still running very large in size, with most shippers
packing Jumbo and Extra-large and very few Mediums and Large. The quality is
excellent. The red bell pepper market is barely steady as supplies
increase in California
and demand is very light. The quality is excellent.
Eastern
Markets: Michigan and North Carolina have steady supplies
available. The red bell pepper market is barely steady as supplies increase in California and demand is
very light. The quality is excellent.
SQUASH
Western Markets:
Market is tending up for both Italian and Yellow. Some growers are reducing production due to
low markets and quality. Weather has
been an impact especially in yellow straight-neck squash. A wide range of quality is noted and demand
for yellow continues to exceed demand.
Eastern
Markets: Eastern market
is fairly stable moving into the fourth week of July. North
Carolina and Tennessee
continue to harvest. Michigan and Jersey have product readily available as well.
CAULIFLOWER
The market is now active.
Larger sizing is lighter in availability and prices are climbing. Expect
the market to continue to get stronger.
Light brown spotting continues to show up on arrivals across all
vendors.
CARROTS
CELERY
GREEN ONIONS
The market is steady much like
last week. Supplies are coming out of Mexico with
most suppliers. The quality continues to
have a few issues of decay upon arrival with pencil sizing having the best
availability.
ASPARAGUS
The market on asparagus continues to be fairly good. The
demand has improved compared to last week. Supplies of Mexican-grown product
are available to load in Los Angeles and Salinas , California .
Prices are anticipated to gradually increase as supplies are slightly lower and
demand increases
Fruit
BLUEBERRIES
Georgia has completed their harvest and North Carolina will be
done by first week of August. California
is improving in overall volumes due to good weather but harvest volumes
continue to be less than overall demand.
Region still in a demand exceeds supply due to limited east coast
offerings.
RASPBERRIES
California continues strong production in this region overall as the USDA
report over 2 million more cases produced in the last 4 weeks of this year
compared to last year industry wide.
STRAWBERRIES
GRAPES
Just like last week the market steady because the valley is
going in good volume on all colors. The overall quality is excellent. Expect
good supplies of fruit out of the valley through November.
APPLES & PEARS
Prices on pears and apples in general are increasing as
storage crops are finishing up. Suppliers have Gala and Fuji for 3-4 weeks and then they will be out
of product. Anjou
pears are expected to run out of supplies in about a week. Some import are
available but all in the largest sizes and not on a products. There was MAJOR
hail damage throughout all of Washington
last week and the damage of the crop is still being assessed.
AVOCADOS
There
is more supplies on the market from CA, Mexico
and Peru .
Due to the abundance of fruit prices are decreasing. Overall quality is
excellent: flavor is nutty and texture is creamy. California harvest is in peak season; Hass
variety with an outstanding quality.
Market steady with good supplies of fruit especially on 88’s
and larger, overall quality is fair to good with excellent juice and sugar
content. Expect to see some green around the stem end and the blossom end. We will have good supplies of fruit through
October and then start navels around that time, there are also some Chilean and
Australian navels around.
LEMONS
Market steady with good supplies of 115’s and larger, as we
are peaking on the larger fruit. The overall quality is good with good color
and very good juice content. Expect good supplies of fruit going forward as we
are seeing some Chilean arrive and will continue to increase in volume which
should help keep the market steady.
LIMES
Market
is steady but we are expecting it to increase in August. Growers are still having issues recover from
the rains and getting the product packed. Expect to see lighter colored limes,
blanching and shading due to the conditions (higher temperatures and
rain).
CANTALOUPES & HONEYDEWS
The
market is level and decreasing. There has been an increase of supplies with the
new crop from Bakersfield
and Westside being harvested. Farmers
are balancing fruit coming on earlier as result from extreme heat a few weeks
ago and it being cooler the last week which has slowed the availability of
product. Sizing on cantaloupe seems to
be running normal with a good mix of 9’s-15’s with a few 18’s. Honeydew
production is on the lighter side with sizing running mostly 5’s and 6’s with
few 8’s.
WATERMELON
Demand is stronger than supply, consequently fobs are up
this week. We don’t see the market easing up this week and I doubt if
next week will offer any changes.
PINEAPPLES We are
starting to see fewer products on the market and this trend will continue.
Expect to see prices increase from this trend. Texas ,
east Florida
and the west coast are very short or completely lack 5 ct and 6 ct fruit. This
shortage is expected for the next 3 weeks.
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