Production continues mostly steady as the market and demand work its’ way back to sustainable levels.Overall quality is good with wide variations in color and weights, mostly due to distribution of mildew around the valley with most trimmed at field level. Processors will continue to have the largest impact on markets as they supplement supplies during the upcoming transition. Expect volatility to last through the Fall season. Transition to Central Valley growing areas will begin in a couple weeks. Las Cruces , NM has begun their Fall harvest with excellent quality and color. Call for daily availability as the season will extend through November.

Romaine and especially Heart demand continues to be strong. Improved demand especially from the East continues to fuel higher pricing.. Quality has improved slightly with cooler evenings limiting seeder growth and improving texture although mildew pressure remains. Greenleaf demand remains strong while Redleaf is along for the ride. Quality has been improving as well.

Domestic production from Northern Coastal region continues to be strong. The market has held mostly steady. Some quality issues from insect pressure have been more frequent but overall quality is good. Regional production continues from Eastern Canada.

Green Bell production continues steady with improving demand allowing for continued firmer pricing especially with weather affecting Eastern production. Red Bell production has peaked and markets have begun to firm as well.

We expect steady supplies to continue through next week. Larger sizing available and shipper are looking to move volume deals. Supplies are good on all sizing and please run offers by us. Quality is very nice, with nice color and structure. Salinas and Santa Maria are the main growing areas and competitive pricing is available out of both areas.

Salinas and Watsonville are winding down for the season. Buyers are more interested in the new crop fruit in the Santa Maria and Oxnard growing areas. Volumes are keeping up with the demand and we expect demand to increase further as the North areas finish. The Northern areas are forecast for mostly sunny skies, some low clouds then sun on Thursday and sunny for the rest of the week with highs in the 60s increasing to the 70s Friday and lows in the 50s. The Santa Maria, California growing areas are forecast for partly cloudy skies with a chance of a morning shower on Thursday and sunny for the weekend with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Salinas/Watsonville fruit has occasional bruising, fan and overripe with an average count of 25 to 27, occasional smaller. Santa Maria fruit has occasional bruising, soft shoulder, misshapen and overripe. The average count  is 22 to 24. Even with warmer temps forecast for the weekend, We are looking for the market to stay strong into next week.

 Mexico will continue to come in with good supply and promotable volumes for the remainder of the month. Any supplies of California Blackberries are small in numbers and hard to find.

Supplies will continue to cross steadily from Mexico with good enough numbers to promote for the next 2 weeks. There still in a few supplies pushing small numbers of California fruit. There have been some quality issues reported as soft berries have been found in a few lots.

Product remain tight as imports from Argentina, Mexico and Peru continue to arrive in small numbers. Volumes are not expected to increase until around the 2nd week of October. Promotable supplies may are not expected until mid November.

There has been a lull in the market the last week or so but it looks like that will be changing. Lighter supplies are expected over the next week or so and markets have begun to reflect this. Prices will increase steadily going into the first part of next week. Order early to make sure you get everything covered.

The market remains fairly stable. We have seen a few shippers adjust prices slightly lower this week but most are staying at the mid teen levels they have been at over the last 10 days. We expect the market to continue at current trading levels into next week. We will start our “Shui Ling” crown and florette program next week. Call your sales representative for details and availability.

Lime -There is a two tier market. 200’s and smaller are plentiful with opportunity buys available .  175’s and larger are limited in supply on strong demand with market pricing firm. Quality is fair to good from Mexico. This could change with wet weather (thunderstorms) forecasted for Veracruz this week.

Lemons – Weak demand is driving the market lower as domestic supplies increase. The new crop from the Desert areas of California is coming in with very nice story. Best availability is on the small sizes. By the end of October, the transition to the domestic crop will be complete.

Oranges – Limited availability on 88’s and smaller for both California Valencias and Offshore Navels.  California Valencia quality is fair at best due to regreening, decay, and mold. The Offshore Navels are mixed in quality with older lots exhibiting mold. Buy only recent offshore arrivals. With that said, the new crop California Navels will be harvested in a limited way at the end of the week.  After gassing, the California Navels will be available to load next week.  Better supplies of California Navels are expected the week of October 22.  Overall market prices for next week will be steady to higher.

Production continues steady with limited demand . Market continues to offer values on all sizes. Current varieties are solely seeded or Thornless. Green Globe or Heirloom variety will appear in limited quantities later this month.

As expected supplies diminished drastically over the past week driving prices upward. The Westside is dwindling rapidly and could be wrapped up for all intents and purposes by the end of the week. The California and Arizona desert deal has started but slowly, having been delayed a bit by last week’s rain. Sizes are running 9s and 12s from the Westside with very few jumbo 9s and some 15s. Desert sizing is larger peaking on jbo 9s and 9s (especially in Phoenix area). Demand has slowed this week in response to the sharply higher pricing and prices have begun to stall a bit. Next week, the Westside will have dribs and drabs of product left but will nothing significant. Desert supplies should pick up as more shippers start and their deal matures. Sizes should continue to run mostly jbo 9s an 9s. Demand will be fair, which should prompt either a moderate price decline or some discounting by mid week. However there is less product planted this fall than normal, so a significant price drop does not look likely.

There a bits and pieces of honeydew supplies left up north with sizes peaking and 8s with some 5s. Desert has started but is phasing in slowly with sizes skewing toward jbo and regular 5s. Prices have shot up accordingly in response to the light supplies, but demand has diminished in response. Next week we should see supplies in the desert increase gradually while the north finishes. Demand should continue to be lackluster due to the higher prices. We look for a dull and steady market early next week, with lower prices developing mid to end of the period.

More of the same is expected. Excellent supplies and vintage quality continues on all varieties.  There’s a variety for everyone. Opportunity buys and promotional volumes exist. This should continue for the foreseeable future (next 2-3 weeks) unless a weather event like a rain storm develops.

California stone fruit season is winding down. Peaches are finishing up quickly with only a few shippers offering a very limited size range (mostly larger).  Look for peaches to be available through the end of next week.  Black plums should be available through the rest of October with Red Plums going into November. Markets have been steady and the quality remains good.

Production has been light most of the Summer and recent heavy rains further set back harvest leaving availability extremely limited. Supplies are expected to remain tight through the month but should slowly improve moving forward barring any new additional setbacks.

Increased production from Western Mexico has been anticipated for a couple weeks but continued weather delays have kept supplies light. Growers are still expecting supplies to peak before the end of the month and should coincide with Holiday promotions next month. Some seeding has been seen on initial harvest but quality has shown improvement recently. Production from Peru should also be increasing in coming weeks with prices expected to be lower.

Yellow and Italian squash is available out of Santa Maria and Nogales areas. The market has gotten active as a result of heavy rain activity in Mexico. We are seeing better volume on yellow squash this week and light on zucchini. Expect stronger markets through next week as as supplies lighten up.

Cauliflower  The market has been firm with lighter supplies due to cooler evenings. Quality has been good with some insect pressure in the hotter inland locations.

Broccoli    Production has improved slightly but the market continues to be strong. Demand is expected to improve heading into the fall as eastern regional supplies are likely to finish early due to Summer long heat and humidity.

Most Herbs and Bunching Green production continues to be light with improved demand . The markets are expected to advance with increased pressure from East coast demand. . Expect some volatility in supplies as we approach the Fall and “Homegrown ” production becomes scarce.

Leaf, Iceberg  as well as Romaine Production has been limited , mostly due to quality with heavy insect and mildew pressure. Expect markets to continue to advance as demand increases from the east.

Lemons:  Improved production and reduced quality has eased demand. Imported quality from Mexico and Chile has surpassed the limited domestic supply at least until production increases from the desert in coming weeks .

Oranges  Valencia season has finished prematurely and Navels are still a couple weeks away. Expect limited supplies and sharp price increases until the Navel crop comes in later this month.

Limes:  Supplies from Mexico continue to improve and the market remains steady. Quality has held steady despite weather interruptions with improved color and sizing.

Grapefruit:  Production is steady with limited supplies and steady pricing expected for the balance of the month.

Mexico: Mexico production has improved with additional supplies expected.. Quality has been good with promotional supplies available through October. as well as off shore varieties  California: Season will begin early next year 2019.

Green & Red  Central Valley supplies continue to be excellent along with outstanding quality. A few older varieties with smaller sizing profiles are expected to decrease resulting in a tighter price range.The remaining “newer” varieties, especially reds are exceptional size and brix levels.

Carrot Production has been steady but excessive heat in the Central Valley most of the Summer has interrupted production, further hampering availability with advanced notice already required with current heavy demand.

Potato supplies have transitioned to the Northwest with improving supplies of Gold, Red and Russets. Onion demand has been good and production is steady with improving supplies of Reds. Quality has been very good The market continues to be strong, especially on Red and White

OG Watermelons Production is winding down from Central Valley California and is in transition to Mexico (Nogales) Supplies are expected to improve by the middle of the month.

OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews production from Westside CA is just about finished and only a few shippers have begun harvest from the Southern desert and Mexico. After a long run of extremely high quality we are currently evaluating quality after heavy rains soaked the production area last week.