Lettuce​

​An improvement in  supplies  along with poor weather in the East has turned the tide on most western veg markets including Iceberg Lettuce.  Markets  are still currently adjusting  and are predicted to bottom out next week .Quality concerns with  fringe burn, blister and peel along with associated discoloration will remain for another couple weeks.   Forecast calls for continued above normal temps through January  with a possible return of light frost early February. Take advantage next week to  secure promotional pricing .

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Mix Leaf

Romaine and leaf production has also been ramping up with  improved weather conditions .  Quality concerns  will remain with  Blister and discoloration being common in all growing districts but still varying degrees by shipper.   Romaine heart supplies should increase  as blister conditions worsen many shippers  will strip some of their romaine into hearts increasing supplies .

 

Celery

Strong markets continue this week as product remains tight in Oxnard and Santa Maria.  Yuma has started production in light numbers, which has eased markets slightly but will not make a significant impact until volume increases.  Production is expected to increase by late next week and markets will correct.  Quality remains nice with very few problems to report.  Temperatures are warming in the desert which will help production over the next 10 days.

 

Broccoli

Supplies have improved over the past week with lower markets as a result. The market has believed to have bottomed out this week and supplies are limited out of Mexico.  With good weather forecasted in growing areas expect sluggish markets through next week.  Shippers are listening to offers.

 

Cauliflower

Good supplies and a flat market. Shippers are overloaded with product and are trying to move product. Expect a flat market through next week.  Good quality industry wide.

 

Artichokes

Production of thornless /seeded varieties have pick up  slightly although still limited.  The  frost conditions in the desert and in Oxnard have limited production   by  “frosting” the outer leaves,  a characteristic still  frowned upon by most consumers. Limited production from  frost protected areas in Mexico has  started to arrive in the desert.   The preferred eating Green Globe / Heirloom variety won’t return until Spring from Northern California.

Brussel Sprouts

Northern California  season is nearing its end with  recent heavy rains interrupting the final week of harvest. Production in Mexico  has improved slightly  but with  strong demand the market has been  steady.  Supplies will increase going forward  and the market is likely to ease off it’s current high level but the market will  still be good.

 

Strawberries – Oxnard area

The  Weather continues to remain cool, with limited sunshine and cooler temperatures expected to continue. It has rained at least once a week for the last 4 weeks. Not ideal growing conditions.  It does look like there will be a break in the rain after this week’s event and the balance of the month looks to remain cool, possibly dry.  However, this is an El Nino year and we will get more precipitation.

 

 

Strawberries – Mexico

The production areas in the Mexican States of Jalisco have had some weather

challenges.  In particular, Jalisco had some very cold weather

over the past few days, with freezing temperatures in the higher elevation growing

regions.  This will have an impact on future production, as well as an immediate

impact on this week’s forecast.  This cold and continual cool weather has kept one of the industries largest

production regions significantly behind over the last several weeks and this looks to continue

for the next two weeks.

 

 

Strawberries – Florida

Dover has had some heavy rains hit over the last week.  Combine this with cooler weather

the area is experiencing and some of the issues associated with the warmer temperatures earlier in their

production cycle and we will have very light supplies coming out of Florida.  At this point

it looks to remain very short for the next two weeks.  Also, the weather along the

gulf coast states has had an impact on some of the other smaller regional deals in the

area, adding an additional amount of pressure on the already short supplies

 

Raspberries

Production has dropped due the cooler weather in Central Mexico.  This area is one of the largest

production regions for the industry during this time of the year and without much volume from

other districts, it really places a tremendous amount of pressure on this district to cover

the marketplace with supplies.  At this point, raspberry supplies look to remain very

tight for the next two to three weeks, possibly even through the month of February.

Expect the usually boarder delays as well.

 

 

Blackberries

Cooler weather continues to be the nemesis and the Blackberry patch is suffering as

well.  Blackberries need warm sunny days to ripen and achieve their full color potential

as well as flavor profile.  We have not had this ideal weather and  production levels are

far off of forecasted numbers.  It is likely we will see very light volume coming out of

Central Mexico over the next several weeks. Border delays of 12 to 24 hours may be the norm.

 

 

Blueberries

Our offshore program has been limited to minimal arrivals on both coasts.  This has kept

supplies of large packs (pints and larger) to a very limited offering into the marketplace.

Central Mexico  continues to produce and supply  McAllen Texas with blues. Mostly

packing 6oz out of Mexico, but volume is light there as well. We expect better volume in about 2 weeks

out of Central Mexico, but not enough to effect market pricing dramatically.

 

Watermelons

Watermelon supplies are still on the short side. Quality from Mexico has been good, but offshore has been sporadic at best. The Seedless Watermelon market is still strong but demand to the East has wained due to the massive weather fronts affecting the east coast. There will be more availability for other areas but pricing should remain the same for the next few days . Expect volume from Mexico to increase later next weak and prices to soften towards months end.

 

Limes

718 loads crossed from 1/13-1/19 .  Suppliers are trying to hold pricing and keep it from free falling ,but with that amount of volume this week and last expect there to be a significant adjustment down. Quality could become an issues if inventory doesn’t move through the system quickly. The East coast weather will limit shipping possibilities and force the volume on the central and western United States. Produce West has limes available to load in McAllen and in Los Angeles.

 

Cantaloupes

Ample supplies of a wide range of sizes this week, coupled with demand challenges such as cold and story weather in Midwest kept prices on lopes in check and dealing the 10.95-12.95 range.  Some deals were being made for less.  Sizes were skewed a bit smaller with good supplies of 12s and 15s early the week. Next week sized will be running more toward 9s and jbo 9s again. Volume will continue to be ample.  Demand will be even more challenged than this week due to the winter storms bearing down in the East Coast. We look for prices to be lower and dealing on 9 and jbo 9s count. Steady possibly a bit higher on 12s and smaller

 

Honeydews

As has been the case all year, honeydew production has been lower than average. This has kept the market firm in the 10.00-1400 range with fair fruit at the lower end. Sizes ran heavily toward 5s and 6s with 4s becoming scarce.  Mexico got back into production following the holidays and traded a bit higher. Sizes there also ran heavily to 5s and 6s. Next week open weather in all of Latin America should lead to somewhat increased supplies. The weather challenges mentioned above will be afflicting demand. We look for lower market next week.