As we enter Transition we continue to have uncertainty in supplies, quality and results. This has led to markets to react higher although demand remains moderate. Cooler weather is expected statewide next week which will keep supplies limited so It may take a week or two but things are expected to settle with eventual improved production. Yuma, Huron, Salinas and Santa Maria are all in play this week with wide varying availability and quality. Continue to remain flexible with transportation to take advantage of all possible opportunities. . Quality in Huron remains the best followed by Santa Maria with Yuma currently unaccounted. 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 Demand for Carton and Hearts remain strong with supplies spread unevenly throughout the industry resulting in some tiered pricing. Transition to Southern California and Arizona desert production areas has begun. Wide variations in quality and availability remain. 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
As expected demand is starting to pick up, there is availability out of Santa Maria, Salinas and now Oxnard. Prices will continue to escalate next week as will demand. 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. Availability is expected to improve as we get further into new production areas 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 lighter supplies out of California. 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. We have started our Shui Ling crown program out of Central Mexico. We are loading in Pharr ,Tx and quality has been good. Expectations are for prices to climb higher out of all production areas. Get with your Produce West salesperson for the latest information.
Cauliflower
Much like broccoli the market has started to take off. Cooler temperatures and lighter volume out of Salinas and Santa Maria as the season winds down is the main cause. Expect markets to stay active into next week.
Brussels Sprouts
Coastal California supplies continue to be strong with a mix of quality and sizing as pricing remains competitive. Supplies continue to outpace demand although that is likely to change buoyed by Thanksgiving demand. Insect pressure should subside as Fall weather begins to settle in this weekend
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
Limited volume will continue into next week, especially on organics. The California harvests and markets will continue to show strength into next week. Windy conditions and colder temperatures will come to northern California this weekend. Oxnard and Central Mexico are beginning with light volume. Santa Maria, California is forecast for sunny skies, becoming partly cloudy Friday through the weekend. Highs are forecast in the 80s, decreasing to the 60s on Friday through the weekend, and lows in the 50s decreasing to the 40s on Friday and the 30s for the weekend. Central Mexico is forecast for mostly sunny skies, with highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s. 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
Production is increasing as supplies out of Central Mexico increase. Steady volumes in Baja.
Blueberries
Imports continue to come in with good volume on the East Coast. Peruvian volume has increased and will continue to ramp up through the year end. Mexico is ramping up volume as well. Expect good supplies across all regions now through December.
Blackberries
Mexican production on both organic and conventional is expected to ramp up, but will stabilize as the weather cools.
Stone Fruit
Late season red plum production will continue through November. Demand is very strong and markets will continue to strengthen. Quality remains strong and product is holding up nicely. Black plums are finished for the season. Pluots are now completely finished for the season. We are still about a month out from the first arrivals of offshore stone fruit.
Grapes
Late season crop has been picked and much of the supply is now going into storage. Good supplies and availability is expected on red, green and black grapes. Red seedless will be the most plentiful, while green and black grapes will be in short supply for remainder of the month. This year’s supplies are expected to be significantly less than 2019 totals, although overall demand is down due to ongoing covid restrictions. Imports will begin arriving in early December and increase from that point on. We should continue to see steady markets for the month of November on red, green and black grapes.
Citrus
Oranges – Strong pricing continues this week, although markets are beginning to settle as more navels become available. Sizing is currently peaking on 88ct and 113ct. We expect pricing to decrease as more navels become available in California. There are still some valencias available in larger sizing, but quality is becoming an issue as the season comes to a close.
Lemons – Heavy supplies continue this week. There are deals available as shippers attempt to rotate inventories. Chilean lemons are finishing up as district 1 is starting. District 3 is still in production and sizing is heavier on the mid sizes. Quality is good overall.
Limes – Good supplies this week, especially on small fruit. Weather was been good in growing regions and more fruit will come on as a result. Quality is very nice overall, although some overripe fruit has been reported. Shippers are looking to move small sizes and listening to offers. Rain is in the forecast for next week in Mexico growing regions, which could slow production and tighten supplies.
Dry Onions
Most Onion shippers this week are a little slower than last week, with pricing holding steady. The Washington deal seems a little more active that the Treasure Valley location. This might have to do with the West Coast demand on the rise a bit. The East hasn’t started their Thanksgiving pull yet, but it’s just
around the corner. Freight is outrageous and will continue to be with the Washington apple deal in full swing competing for refrigerated transportation.
Asparagus
Mexico has a gush of product coming and the chains are starting to take
advantage of the lower prices. Standard and small asparagus is very plentiful
with a slight premium on the large and jumbo. Peru continues to have better
boat service and has cut a few days from the voyage to Miami. Mexican prices
are as low as $15 on standard and small, as low as $9-10. These prices will
quickly clean any back log and the market will snap back for the Thanksgiving
pull starting the week of the 16th .
Cantaloupes
All fruit is now coming from the CA/AZ desert or Nogales. Little has changed in the way of trends. Domestic fruit continued to mostly 12s and smaller and retail demand continued to focus on 9s and larger which remained tight. Spot market demand was very quiet. Nogales ran better sizing but there was a wide range in quality with some old fruit which sat in warehouses either in Mexico or Nogales and was only fair quality at best. Demand was quite slow on due to the stigmatic legacy of old recalls. Mexico production was also quite high causing deep discounts and low prices on that fruit, keeping all prices in check. Larger domestic fruit was strong with much higher priced than smaller sizes. Next week domestic production should still be mostly small and a bit less as weather is due to be much cooler in the desert. Nogales will still have good production. Demand may improve a bit due to the holiday but with Thanksgiving being autumn focused the effect should be minimal. We look for little change next week, except for perhaps a small improvement in domestic prices due to lighter supplies
Honeydews
Domestic production remained steady peaking on regular 5s and 6s with some 8s and few jumbos. Nogales has a run of sizes and skewed toward the larger sizes. Quality of domestic fruit was good. Mexico production was abundant and warehouses on both sides of the border were stuffed, leading to less fresh product being deeply discounted. A few better quality fresh product was available at higher prices. Demand was dull. Next week cooler temps could diminish supplies a bit. Demand will remain dull as consumers look to more autumnal products. Perhaps Mexico will cut exports due to the poor market. We look for a steady and dull market next week, with a chance of the bottom prices rising if that occurs.
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 peaks for Thanksgiving Holiday.
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 .
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