As we approach the transition season, production continues to run ahead of demand as many growers, in an effort to maintain a
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supply, have extended their acreage into transitional production areas which appears to be leading to an overlapping surplus. Quality should continue to vary from all production areas with typical season ending / beginning defects mostly resulting in varied weight, color and texture. Production from Las Cruces, NM has been yielding some of the best quality with all the logistical advantages.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine Romaine supplies continue steady with improving demand , mostly from the East. Quality remains mostly good with some mildew, tip burn and seeder pressure resulting in some discoloration , twist and ribbiness. INSV has increased in some areas although still manageable.
Romaine Heart supplies also remain steady with improving demand but heavily tiered pricing.
Red leaf, Green leaf and Boston Continue with steady supplies with improving demand from the East Coast which will result in elevated pricing as shippers look to push prices closer to break-even levels. Quality has been varied with mildew and tipburn expected to remain.
Celery
We are not finding any real increases in pricing but there seems to be a slightly better demand, especially from East Coast customers. Expectations are for prices to increase slightly next week and look for further pricing increases as we head into the week of October 30th and the start of the Holiday pull. The Oxnard district is scheduled to start the week of November 6th.
Broccoli
Pricing is on a slight decline and will continue to come down a little more before the week’s end. There is good availability out of both Santa Maria and Salinas going into next week. Run your ideas by us.
Cauliflower
The market is in somewhat of a freefall. Best advice would be to get some market protection when placing orders over the next few days. The warmer weather we are currently experiencing here on the Central Coast is going to push the product along at a faster rate than normal.
Artichokes
Fall production of the thornless variety yielding a full sizing profile. Limited quantities of the Green Globe variety are also available for another week
Brussels Sprouts
Domestic production has begun to improve in Northern California as quality , higher yields and acres increase with some growers beginning mechanical harvest . Prices have receded slowly but should accelerate next week.
Green Onions
Production has been slowly ramping up with Growers in Mexico now mostly in new fields with improved quality and yields boosting supplies as prices recede back to seasonal levels. Some younger plantings are still showing some effects of recent storm damage which could impact supplies as we enter the Holiday loading window.later next month.
Strawberries
Salinas and Watsonville continue its volume downtrend at an accelerated rate as the heat begins to impact fruit size as well as available harvest hours. The northern season should be complete by early November. Quality in this area has been fair to good with berry sizes ranging 24 to 28 count. The overall quality in Santa Maria has been good and Production will remain steady into next week. There have been occasional reports of overripe fruit. Oxnard’s volume is trending up. Fruit quality has been nice, with large Berry sizes ranging 15 to 18 count. Peak volumes forecasted for early November. The numbers out of Mexico are increasing, but there is a forecast for on and weather for the area which could affect available volume crossing into Texas.
Raspberries
In California, conventional fruit production is in a post peak phase, gradually decreasing for this season.Oxnard experienced a spike in numbers due to an increase in temperatures. Volumes will start to head down next week. Santa Maria’s production is steadily declining. The quality has been excellent. The Northern areas numbers are beginning to decline week over week. Mexico continues to produce good numbers as they head toward their peak production next week.
Blackberries
Supplies out of Mexico are still feeling the effects caused by hurricane Lydia a few weeks ago. Mexico will begin to increase production for the next several weeks. California experienced some minor damage due to excessive heat. The damage was mostly on the fruit on the end of the covered rows. California’s production is on the decline overall, but Oxnard will continue with steady numbers into mid November.
Blueberries
The Baja area is well past its peak and will continue to decline at a rapid rate. Mexico is expected to see increasing numbers next week with more significant numbers beginning the 1st week in November. Argentina and Uruguay are finally experiencing better weather conditions for shipment to the states. Light volume will begin to arrive next week. Chile will continue with light volumes over the next 4 to 6 weeks.
Stone Fruit
The white and yellow peach season is winding down, with limited availability of white and yellow nectarines. While white nectarines have finished for the season, black and red plums are still available in all sizes. As we near the conclusion of the California stone fruit season, prices are anticipated to continue strengthening until the offshore season starts.
Grapes
Shippers are packing limited quantities of red and green seedless grapes daily, and this slow packing process has been coupled with high production costs.
Supplies are expected to hold steady into next week. , We expect similar market conditions until at least mid-November. Quality has been mixed, although reports have been positive overall.
Oranges
Valencia oranges are currently experiencing higher demand, particularly for the 88 and smaller sizes. The fruit market is currently peaking with 88, 72, and 56 count fruit, with very limited availability of 113 and 138 count oranges. It is anticipated that this market will continue to advance in the coming weeks, as consumer interest remains strong. However, it’s worth noting that the overall fruit quality of Valencia oranges is only fair at the moment. Offshore production is gradually coming to a close.
Lemons
There has been a notable surge in demand across the board, encompassing all sizes and grades. The availability of domestic fruit has become exceedingly scarce, as the supply struggles to keep pace with the heightened demand. Offshore fruit supplies are light and these conditions will likely continue for the coming weeks.
Limes
Quality remains subpar and requires some repacking adding costs to each box. Peak sizing still small 230ct & 250ct. Finding large fruit is still a challenge. Costs are still high, especially on large fruit. We see a large gap in pricing between small and large fruit and expect things to remain steady for at least a couple of more weeks. Some experts warn that the challenges could last well into the final 2 months of the year. Rain, heat, and humidity all to blame for the current situation.
Avocados
The word on the street is that supplies should steadily improve as harvest ramps back up. The pipeline is being refilled and the market should reflect as most sizes are available. 48’s tend to be more snug as they are the most popular size, but were told those too will see better supplies. Good supplies on 32’s, 36’s, and 60’s. 70’s good to promote and #2 fruit is becoming more available.
Dry Onion
Harvest is mostly complete and now the jockeying for position begins. Demand is variable in Food Service and Retail. The Farmers Market business is starting to dry up as the days get shorter. The prices seem to have stabilized somewhat over last weeks fire sale. Idaho prices have remained in the $7-7.50 range and are breezing along with demand and supply being in equilibrium.
Asparagus
When inquiring about long range and short-range projections on supply from various growers, I began to get an out look that was a little disturbing…one shipper reports” Going to be limited supply through the winter months. Limited production out of Peru due to El Niño and less production than anticipated from Sonoyta Mexico and Caborca for the fall harvest. Expect strong markets”
Cantaloupes
The narrative elements of cantaloupes are rather dramatic: promise, disappointment, waiting, and fear. The promise of supplies remains unfulfilled. The Westside is all but done, with nothing left but the shouting. The desert has fruit planted, but it can’t seem to achieve robust volume due to whitefly and bacterial issues resulting from the extreme heat and unusually wet weather. Many commitments are going unfulfilled. There is virtually nothing in the pipeline available for spot market users, who appear to have given up trying to secure their supplies. All of this leaves us in a supply-driven, high-price, low-demand corner. Sizes of what remains on the Westside are small, while sizes of what is being harvested in the desert are large, and the quality is good. Mexico is in motion, but there is traditionally light demand for Mexican products in the U.S. There is fruit in the desert fields, but yields are quite low, and maturity is significantly delayed. Therefore, at this point, there seems to be little to relieve the supply situation next week. Offshore melons are starting early, as Guatemala has been quite hot. A few will arrive sometime next week but might not be available to ship until the following week, as they need to go through customs, etc. The fear is that offshore volume will increase just about the time the desert finally experiences some robust production. We anticipate the market to remain tight with high prices for most, if not all, of next week, with perhaps a major change the following week.
Honeydew
We could cut and paste the above post and apply it to honeydews. Exceptions being that the desert is more delayed than on cantaloupes. It appears honeydews will also stay quite tight with large sizes in the desert, mostly 6s & 6s in Mexico an offshore arriving the end of next week or the following week.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Broccoli production in Salinas and Santa Maria has improved after being limited by quality issues , especially insect pressure and pin rot. Cauliflower supplies have steadied as well as both markets have receded to more sustainable levels. A brief spike in temperatures could affect harvest before more seasonable temperatures return this weekend.
OG Celery
Production from Salinas and Santa Maria has been steady along with pricing. Quality remains mostly good to fair with increasing insect pressure and pith. Demand is expected to improve in coming weeks which will likely lead to more active pricing as growers try to lift the market for the Holiday season.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Production remains varied among growers in Northern California although with sufficient supplies and mostly good quality . Transitional production will begin in coming weeks which should lead to increased supplies although possible logistical challenges .
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine Lettuce production has seen increased quality issues with mildew, insect pressure as well as increased tipburn resulting in varied quality. Markets remain mostly steady this week as demand continues to be modest.
Green and Red leaf Supplies remain steady with improving demand. Prices remain mostly steady with varied quality including increasing insect, mildew and fringe burn continuing to limit supplies through the Fall.
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Strong demand throughout the entire Citrus category due to strong retail sales and revived foodservice activity.
Lemon Mexico supplies continue to peak on smaller Choice fruit. California has limited production in the desert.
Lime quality and supplies remain inconsistent with varied prices.
California Valencias crop will be winding down in most areas with below normal production and strong demand while Navels are still a few weeks out.
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