Transition is about to hit full swing with Yuma expected to start up this weekend for a couple shippers while Huron, Salinas and Santa Maria wind down. A few shippers will be overlapping production areas while others are gapping resulting in tiered quality , availability and price. If your transportation is flexible you’re able to get the right product at the right price. Demand remains steady but better at reduced prices. Cool overnight temperatures with Chamber days have helped growers stretch out their acreages to ensure limited production gaps. Quality in Huron remains the best although there are some potholes to avoid as well. We anticipate quality to improve daily from new production areas while Salinas and to a lesser extent Santa Maria will continue to vary with Tip burn, decay and insect pressure. Markets should ease as volume increases from multiple production areas although Volatility is expected to remain through mid November. Las Cruces, New Mexico continues to offer very nice quality daily. Ask your Produce West rep for updates on transportation as well.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine While Demand for Carton and Hearts remain strong , supplies although scattered have improved slightly and pricing continues to slowly ease. Fringe, tip burn, high core, twist, insect pressure and discoloration remain widespread although cooler overnight temps have helped growers stretch current supplies until transition to the desert commences over the next couple weeks. Some shippers will start as early as Monday while others will transition as late as Mid November. Wide variations in quality and availability will lead to a widening price gap. Continue to be flexible to take advantage of the best deals. We expect quality issues and escalated but flexible prices to continue well into November.
Red leaf, Green leaf and Boston prices have eased somewhat as improved quality leads to better production along with transition to new production areas. Quality is expected to improve weekly and pricing should ease to more sustainable levels.
Celery
Currently there is good availability out of both Santa Maria and Salinas. We will start to see an increase in prices as we get closer to the Thanksgiving pull. Expect an increase in pricing starting next week. Everything looks pretty good with nice green color and good weights coming out of both growing regions.
Artichokes
Production of the thornless varieties continue to be steady. with Improved sizing. Availability is expected to improve now that the weather has started to cool .Heirloom and Original varieties will return in the spring after a small production window comes to a close .
Broccoli
Due to cooler nighttime temperatures and shorter days along with the gradual decrease in production as the Salinas season begins to wind down we are starting to see a slight price increase. Also the East Coast and Canadian local deals are coming to an end and most of those customers are telling us that they will start to pull from the West Coast next week. Watch for a little more active market as we head into November. We have now started our Shui Ling crown program out of Central Mexico. We are loading in Pharr ,Tx and quality has been nice as we start out our season. Get with your Produce West salesperson for the latest information.
Cauliflower
Prices are at rock bottom and shippers are looking for business. There is word on the street that we will see lighter volume next week but currently the ball is in your hand, let us know what it will take to get an order.
Brussels Sprouts
Coastal California supplies continue to improve with a mix of quality and sizing as pricing remains competitive. Demand is improving although Supplies are still outpacing demand . Insect pressure should subside as Fall weather begins to settle in .
Green Onions
Mexico production continues steady with their Fall crop with quality and yields showing improvement. Pricing remains mostly steady at slightly elevated rates.
Strawberries
Supplies are limited. Colder weather this week has limited California harvest. As Northern California winds down, Oxnard and Central Mexico are beginning with light volume. Santa Maria, California is forecast for sunny skies Wednesday and Thursday, becoming mostly cloudy Friday through the weekend. Highs are forecast in the 70s with lows in the 40s, increasing to the low-50s for the weekend. Salinas/Watsonville, California is forecast for mostly sunny skies on Wednesday, becoming partly cloudy for the balance of the week. Highs are forecast in the 70s, decreasing to the 60s on Friday, and then increasing to the 70s for the weekend with lows in the 40s. Central Mexico is forecast for partly cloudy skies. Highs are expected in the 80s with lows in the 50s. Santa Maria, California fruit has some occasional bruising, white shoulders, soft shoulders, water damage, decay under the calyx, pin rot and misshapen. Average counts are 26 to 28, occasionally higher and lower.
Raspberries
Warmer than expected weather has produced a spike in production. Production is coming on in Central Mexico! Steady volumes out of Baja.
Blueberries
Peruvian imports continue to come in with good volume and will continue to ramp up until years end. The Mexico season is ramping up at a fast pace. Expect good supplies across all regions by late October through November. The pacific Northwest is finished for the season.
Blackberries
Supply projections have increased for the balance of the year. The quality of the Mexican production on both organic and conventional has been excellent.
Stone Fruit
Nectarines and peaches are unavailable until the offshore season starts. Late season red plums will continue to be available through November. Demand has picked up and we are seeing stronger markets this week as a result. Quality is strong and sugar levels are adequate. Black plums are finished for the season. Pluots are expected to be available for another two weeks. Be sure to order early as demand picks up.
Grapes
Harvests are starting to wind down on red, green and black seedless grapes. We expect sufficient volumes for the next two weeks, followed by gradual decreases in supplies. Red grape volumes should carry us into the month of December with minimal volume gaps until late December when Peruvian grapes arrive on the west coast. Green grapes are still being harvested, and good volumes are expected for the next two weeks, followed by lighter supply. Green grape volume will be lighter than reds during the month of December. Black grapes are still available, but volumes should taper off towards the middle of November.
Citrus
Oranges – Strong demand continues this week on California valencias, particularly on smaller sizes. Quality is beginning to suffer as we get later in the season. Navels have started in California, although color has been an issue, with much much of the product showing up yellow in every box and low sugars have been reported. Pricing remains high and should remain strong for the coming weeks.
Lemons – Supplies continue to be plentiful and shippers are still looking to move as much product as possible. Demand is extremely low as food service business continues to be hit hard by covid shutdowns. Quality is very nice and plenty of volume available on all sizes.
Limes – Plenty of small fruit available in Texas this week. Quality is very nice overall and shippers are looking to move fruit. Weather in Mexico has been mostly favorable and we expect improving quality and plenty of volume for the coming weeks. Run offers by us on limes.
Dry Onions
It looks like there is going to be a stutter step in the onion market coming soon. As the “second wave” starts to take it’s toll on the Midwest and south, there is bound to be some closures taking place. The fine line of balancing your storage is being crunched now by onions shippers. Most shippers report they
are ahead of last year on total volume…but hope spring eternal and here comes Thanksgiving…will families be able to get together?
Asaparagus
Little by little we are seeing supplies increase and markets decreasing in price.
Peru is getting in the groove with shipments increasing by ship (air is till hard
to come by). We are hearing pricing of $26-$28.00 from Mexico and $22-$24 as lids for the Thanksgiving pull. There is always the danger of cold snaps in
Mexico that could really impair the production…after all Mother Nature is in
charge of just about everything.
Cantaloupes
Supplies of cantaloupes is ample but not overwhelming. The Westside is for all in intents and purposes done. Arizona is running small sizes, mostly 12s and 15s with few if any jbo packs. Nogales is running larger sizes. Quality and condition for the most part is okay. Little looks to be changing these patterns next week. However the cooler weather in the desert this week could have domestic sizing skewing a bit larger next week. Demand has been very slow. Retail is focused on fall fruit especially with Thanksgiving just ahead, and traditionally the week before the holiday shipping begins demand is slow. Thus prices languished and were being deeply discounted on 12s and 15s. Nogales, has good production and light demand leading to them discounting on larger sizes. Next week little should change other than perhaps larger sizing on domestic fruit. Demand will stay slow as it will be focused on fall fruit products. We look for a steady to slightly lower market on larger sizes and steady but more stable pricing on smaller sizes next week.
Honeydews
Much like cantaloupes, demand has been very slow on dews as the weather cools around the country and consumers are more interested in fall and winter fruits. Domestic supplies have been moderate and peaking on 5s and 6s. Nogales supplies have been abundant and skewing quite large. Next week demand should be no better as melons are not Thanksgiving centric. Supplies should be steady and the market should remain dull.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Broccoli . More seasonal weather has allowed quality to improve. Markets remain mostly steady with demand expected to improve weekly. Cauliflower production remains mostly steady with improving demand. Prices have been gradually escalating as demand increases weekly.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Availability and pricing appear to be mostly steady with demand expected to surge as local Homegrown production comes to a close.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady and demand continues to spike led by the Farm to Family Program. Most growers have been reaching for supplies and will likely begin to gap as they transition to Southern California growing areas. Continue to plan ahead even further to get partial coverage.
Potato and Onions Markets continue to be strong as well as demand for retail packs. Northwest production continues to be limited. We expect shortages and elevated prices through the Fall.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine Demand for romaine continues to be strong especially hearts with continued light supplies due to reduced acres, increased insect pressure and diminished quality Cooler overnight temperatures will significantly improve quality in coming weeks although keeping supplies in check. Green and Red quality has been marginal with production lighter and demand improving weekly. We look forward to transitioning to Southern desert production areas in a couple weeks for improved quality and supplies.
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Demand continues to be strong throughout the Citrus category due to retail sales. Mexico’s lemon crop is peaking with mostly Fancy supplies and the California Fall/Winter crop has started with limited production. Pricing remains competitive. Many shippers have shifted production exclusively to bags on All Citrus. Lime quality remains inconsistent but has shown signs of improvement. The Navel crop is just beginning as Valencias wind down with similar sizing profile expected. Mandarins have also just begun limited production with expected excellent flavor and sizing profile. Now is the time to get in your orders for the Holiday’s
OG Grapes
California: Central Valley production has another week or two left before quality and size declines. Reds continue to offer the best value while Green grape production will likely finish much sooner .
OG Melons
California: Cantaloupes, Honeydew, have one last surge in Northern California while Watermelons have started strong in Southern California and Mexico loading in Nogales .
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