Lettuce​

​​​Moderate temperatures have allowed production to increase  from the desert  and the Imperial Valley increasing pressure on the market. Improved lower pricing  has created  better movement in some sectors. Many shippers are at full capacity because of labor constraints  and with possible  cold weather forecast for next couple weeks supplies  again could shrink  causing the market to  firm.   Overall  quality other than blister has improved along with better weights.

 

Mix Leaf

Romaine production

​ and quality  continue to  improve with a few shippers offering sharp volume discounts.  Quality varies among shippers based on  production area and severity of blister.  Strong supplies  should continue through next week but cold overnight temperatures forecast for upcoming weeks will once again tighten supplies  and further increase blister and peel issues.    Greenleaf and Redleaf  production  looks  like it may  continue to be  moderate  with no impending spike  which will allow the market  to maintain near current levels.

 

 

Celery

This market continues to gain momentum, even in the mid $30 range we can safely say that prices have not yet peaked.  Soil borne disease has plagued coastal growing areas, keeping volume down with little hope of catching up this week.  Quality issues are generally resolved before product leaves the field and overall reports show good quality at the consumer end. Desert production is still weeks away so we will continue to see tight markets and high pricing through the first of the year.

 

Broccoli

Demand exceeds and market will remain strong into next week.  Light volume from all growing regions including Mexico is expected for all of next week.  Cooler weather in California and Arizona is forecast-ed for next week as well which obviously wont help increase volume.

 

Cauliflower

There seems to be a little more product around, yet prices will stay at current trading levels all next week.  Shipper to shipper business and processor demand will remain strong next week.  We should start to see a price decrease and better availability the week of 12/21.

 

Artichokes

Production of thornless /seeded varieties continues to be limited but will likely start to  pick up in coming weeks ​from Oxnard and Mexico. The preferred eating Green Globe / Heirloom variety won’t return until spring.

 

Brussel Sprouts

Production continues to be heavy towards small sizing  with good demand on  Regular and  Jumbos.  Most shippers  are offering discounts on smalls while the standard medium sizes have remained strong. Issues  with insect and water quality remain along with  continued  heavy percentage of small sizing keeping yields far from optimal . Demand will continue to  increase as Christmas promotions begin.

Strawberries

As the market adjusts due to slightly better supplies and a sudden lack of demand, there will be a wide range in quality and pricing out of California and Mexico.  The market should find a bottom by the weekend. The weather forecast for the weekend is calling for periods of showers and heavy winds and this will continue into next week. If this storm front slides down the coast as forecast, it will help clean up inventories out of Santa Maria and Oxnard.

Cantaloupes

Product was tight all week as labor strife in Guatemala and weather related issues have caused a rather severe drop in production. At the same time there are contracts to fill and promotions set up a while ago to fill.  Production is falling far short of covering these needs.  Mexico is finished.  Prices this week on what little fruit was available shot up into the low 20s, although almost all shipments are at previously committed lower prices.  Next week we could see a slight increase in fruit as promotions will be ending. The following week of 12/21 there should be fruit arriving from newer areas such as Honduras and Costa Rica which should drive prices down.

 

Honeydews

Mexico was wrapping up and running moslty 8s. Off shore production was moderate but demand was slow.  Market was barely steady to lower.  Sizes running mostly to jbo 5s and 5s for Off shore fruit. Market should decline a bit next week with real weakness showing up the week of 12/21.

 

Watermelons

Supplies of Mexican watermelons are good and the quality is very good.  There are virtually no domestic watermelons left and the quality on those is varied. There are good supplies on  45s,60s and 4s,5s. The market in McAllen is slightly stronger than that of Nogales due the cheaper freight rates to Nogales

 

Limes

The lime market has continued to fall off. Supplies are down  considerably, but the market seems to be weaker than the lack of supply dictates due to slow movement. There are good supplies on the core sizes 150s-230s but quality varies do to light demand.

 

Mangos

Peruvian Kent Mangos are on the water and should be available by the end of the month . The will be loading in both Philadelphia and Los Angeles . There are still good supplies of Ecuadorian  Tommy Atkins around but quality is varied container to container. Produce West is working directly with importers for the upcoming Peruvian season and Mexico season .