Lettuce​

Production continues winding down in Salinas while a few shippers are already transitioning out of Huron CA to Yuma AZ .  The market has peaked with shippers trying to price new crop areas higher although most quality issues remain   (see inset picture from Yuma) in all growing areas. We’re expecting quality to improve in a couple weeks when the desert is fully established.

 

Mix Leaf

Romaine and Romaine Heart market continues to be strong. Production from multiple areas has helped supplies although quality continues to affect yields.  Many shippers continue to strip down romaine into hearts reducing overall quality even further. Greenleaf and Redleaf  supplies have slowed and the market has begun to react.  Many shippers will begin production from Yuma  and Coachella next week.  Once the desert is established, supplies should rebound in a couple weeks, barring any further weather issues.

 

Celery

Salinas production is slowing down.  There is product available in Oxnard, although light volume.  This market is expected to continue to gain momentum and remain strong through the thanksgiving pull.  Quality remains very nice with very few issues to report.

 

Broccoli

This market has remained strong, although multiple growing regions are currently in production.  Salinas and Santa Maria continue to produce but lighter numbers than previous weeks.  Mexico production is picking up and should remain consistent through November, though there has been a wide range in quality. Multiple quality issues include yellow beading, hollow core, pin rot, light green color, as well as a rubbery texture to this commodity in all the growing regions.

 

Cauliflower

As Salinas and Santa Maria volume continues to decrease we should see sharper markets into next week.  Yuma is not expected to start full production until the end of this month so we expect production gaps to widen as we near the Thanksgiving holiday.  Quality has been strong up to this point, but there have been more reports recently of yellowing and brown spotting.

 

Artichokes

Production on  seeded / thornless varieties  is starting to ramp up from Salinas and Oxnard.  The better quality chokes are producing larger sizes with most shippers limited on 24’s and smaller. Promotional volumes available on  12’s

 

Brussel Sprouts

Supplies continue to be heavy with an increasing amount of promotions to keep market elevated.  Occasional deals are being offered for volume but the market has begun to firm.  Quality is improving but still issues from insect and water quality remain.

 

Strawberries

The effects of Hurricane Patrica from a few weeks ago, combined with the current rainy & stormy weather, continue to make it difficult to get any fruit out of the 2 main growing areas, Central Mexico and Baja, California. It has been difficult to get product across the borders, as in most cases it is being kept close or rejected all together due to rain related defects. The forecast is for rain in both areas over the next 3 days. The northern areas are finished due the 2 inches of rain we received over the weekend.  There will be a few growers that will still try and harvest in watsonvile, but the fruit will be need to be kept close due to quality. Our best guess is we will see more volume coming into the marketplace late next week. This all depends on the lingering effects of the rains this weekend. The industry will be prorating at heavy levels for the next 7 to 10 days.

 

Cantaloupes

Supplies were moderate this week and still skewed to a large sizes. Demand was dull with few if any promotions and consumer focus on more autumnal fruit.  Thus the market was slightly weaker with some dealing.  Quality was adequate.  Next week we could see the very beginnings or transitioning from the Arizona deal to the off shore deal.  Yet we don’t expect demand to be much improved as Thanksgiving is not a melon holiday to say the least.  We look for the market to be slightly weaker next week.

 

Honeydews

The market on domestic dews stayed firm as plantings this year were light and yields have been very low.  Nogales has had adequate supplies. Sizes, for the most part ran large, particularly, in Nogales.  The market finished firm except on 4s in Nogales. Next week domestic dew supplies should stay relatively light, but Nogales should be ample.  We look for a steady market next week.

 

Watermelons: Produce West is finishing this week in Texas and will start packing melons in the Immokalee, FL area as well as Mexican Watermelons in McAllen and Nogales. Sizing on the remaining Texas Watermelons is running smaller with deal on 60s and 80s , carton 5s and personal 6s.

 

Mangos: Ecuador has started with good quality and pricing has remained steady . Brazil quality varies and there have been some arrival issues. There are deals to be had especially on  12s. Peru expects to start around the 1^st of December.

 

Limes: Demand is light. The market tried to pick up some last week but has weakened again . 568  loads crossed  in 7 days as of 11/7/2015 , this coupled with lack of demand will keep prices weak  for at least the next week.  There are deal on most sizes however quality is varied.