Lettuce​

A surge in  production overwhelmed  moderate demand and the market has softened significantly.  Quality issues still  dominate the industry.  The are still many shippers with tight supplies but enough shippers  have been hunting orders which allowed the market correction.  Look for continued  surplus for another week  and then the market will likely firm heading into the Fall transition.  New production areas will include Huron , CA  and  Las Cruces NM starting in a couple weeks.

 

Mix Leaf

Romaine and  Romaine hearts production continues to be  moderate with  lighter supplies  looming .  A Few larger shippers have already begun raising  prices  to slow demand.  There are still values available but look for rising markets and stronger demand as local homegrown deals wind down. Quality  still is fair with a range of  problems from  Mildew , Insect  , Tipburn  and  Seeder.  Green and  Redleaf  continue to be abundant but will likely  tighten as Romaine gets  stronger.

 

Celery

Steady supplies on the west coast this week.  Shippers are looking to load volume orders for discounted pricing. Quality is very nice, strong structure and good color. Santa Maria volume is picking up. Oxnard is also starting up in small numbers. Michigan is finishing for the season which will put more pressure on west coast product. Pricing should remain steady for the next two weeks and then we could see markets strengthen and remaining strong through the holidays.

 

Broccoli

Look for a slight decline in prices over the next few days.  Yields are starting to increase due to normal growing temperatures and better quality.  Although some of the local deals on the East Coast as well as the Canadian growers are starting to finish,  supplies out of Mexico are starting to increase which will help offset the loss of local deals.  Quality is getting better, we are not seeing as much yellow bead and the domes are nice and tight with light green to green coloring.  Expect to start to see some purple color on the domes as nighttime temperatures in California growing regions decline.

 

Cauliflower

As we head towards November and the start of transition, shorter days and cooler temperatures we will begin the roller coaster pricing ride on most commodities and cauliflower looks like it will be the first. Supplies look like they will tighten over the next few days.  Prices have already begun to increase and will continue as we head towards the end of the week.  Fields will be yielding predominately 16’s and 12’s, there will be very few 9’s available.  Pre – books are highly recommended in order to get your orders filled as requested.

Artichokes

Production continues to suffer the effects  of the heat a couple weeks ago . Even with only moderate demand  the  market has spiked.  Look for continue lack of supply and high markets  through the month of October.

Brussel Sprouts

Stronger demand  , mainly from  Canadian Thanksgiving ,  has strengthened the overall market  .  Look for a slight respite in demand  for the next couple weeks until  promotions kick back in for the Holidays .  Take advantage of locking up pricing  for the Holidays while there is a surplus.  Quality has improved  with some Insect  and water quality issues affecting yields.

 

Strawberries

Quality continues to be the main concern in Watsonville, Santa Maria, and Oxnard.  Soft and bruising have been the main quality issues.  We are expecting warmer temperatures for the weekend, but volume looks to decline slightly in the coming weeks as number will not pick out of Oxnard area for another few weeks.

 

Cantaloupes

West side continues to wind down and will most likely peter out over the next week. Central Arizona has started and is running mostly large sizes. Yuma in on tap to start next week with Blythe close behind.  That being said, there is significantly less fall acreage planted than in the past. Also desert spring rains could affect yields and quality.    Central Arizona is the more mature fall deal and the sizes there should run a bit smaller next week. Newer areas of Yuma and Bltyhe should run larger.  Overall the market should be firm next week with 9s running 10.00 and higher and 12s running 9.00 some higher and lower.

 

Honeydews

Westside is virtually over but growing areas north of Sacramento have a week to ten days to go. Desert is going with Maricopa going and other areas getting started. Yuma and Blythe are about a week away. Sizes are peaking on 5s and 6s in the north and jbo 5s and 4s in the desert.  Markets are generally ruining in the 8.00-9.00 range with some lower.  We look for a change in volume producing areas with most shifting to the deserts over the course of next week. However, with the north winding down, we see steady market next week.