The Market continues to leisurely ease with improving Production and Quality in the desert. Now that transition has concluded supplies are expected to be steady while weather remains mild. Impulse buys may return with more sustainable pricing levels.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine and Romaine Hearts Romaine production remains moderately steady with good demand especially Hearts resulting in continued elevated pricing. Market declines have been slow but are expected to continue to more sustainable levels especially now that iceberg prices have settled lower. .Quality is improving daily from most desert locations with some twist and varied color and texture.
Red leaf, Green leaf and Boston Demand on Leaf continues to mirror Romaine especially Green with Redleaf lagging behind
Celery
Now that the Thanksgiving push is behind us for the most part prices will be lower over the next couple of weeks. There will be a lull in the market until the pull starts again the week of December 6th for the Christmas holiday. Quality is good, dark green color with weights averaging around 55#. We now have celery shipping out of Santa Maria, Oxnard and Yuma. Run your offers by us, shippers are looking to move!!
Artichokes
Limited production window on the Heirloom Variety is closing as most Thornless production transitions to the South Coast with predominantly large sizes. Limited supplies in the Deserts as most will be transferred from Coastal production areas , significantly increasing cost.
Broccoli
Market is trending downward. Better availability is forecasted for the Desert growing regions as well as product coming out of Mexico. The expectation is for the market to gradually decline going into next week.
Cauliflower
Good availability out of the Desert growing regions. Supplies are a little lighter coming out of the Santa Maria area. If you are looking for a price buy the Desert is the place to load. Weather has been perfect during the growing season in the Yuma Valley and the product looks very nice. Good white domes with nice green jackets.
Brussels Sprouts
Northern California continues with full production. Demand as well as pricing have eased slightly post Thanksgiving but are poised to firm heading into The Christmas Holiday. Quality has been mostly nice with some insect damage reported . Production will remain mostly in Northern California through the end of the year with most product being transferred for loading in the Desert at Significant cost
Green Onions
Mexico production has been slow to fully rebound. Supplies have finally begun to improve as well as quality although ( EARLY Reminder) expect supplies to recede as we get towards the end of the year as many laborers take off for The Christmas and New Year Holidays
Strawberries
Strawberry estimates should increase as Oxnard and Mexican production get underway, which should help to lower prices. The Salinas/Watsonville area may finish for the season depending on the weather for the next couple of weeks. Santa Maria, California is forecast to be mostly sunny and warm with highs in the 80s on Wednesday, decreasing to the upper 60s to 70s for the balance of the week, and lows in the 40s. Oxnard, California is forecast to be windy with plenty of sun on Wednesday and mostly sunny for the balance of the week, with highs in the 70s on Wednesday, decreasing to the 60s for the balance of the week, and lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. California fruit may be subject to occasional bruising, misshapen, white shoulder, scarring, and tip burn on calyx.
Blackberries
Minor quality issues. Blackberries continue to see varying issues from the rain in Mexico–minor red cell and mold issues. Overall quality is good; supplies are fair.
Raspberries
Very loose market as a lot of supply came in throughout the holiday week. Promotional volumes will be available.
Blueberries
The market is dropping again as another glut of inbounds arrived on the East Coast, combined with a slower retail week, means good availability and promotable pricing!
Stone Fruit
Red and black plums are finished for the season. #2 Utility plums are available in good numbers. #2 Utility red plums available in 40’s, 50’s & 60’s. Utility black plums are also available in limited supplies although we expect supplies to be finished by the end of the week.
Grapes
California central valley production is finishing for the season. There are still supplies of domestic red, green and black seedless available. Imported fruit is arriving on the east coast and product is looking good overall. West coast arrivals will start to ramp up over the coming month. Demand has been good overall on red seedless and markets remain firm. Good supplies of autumn kings currently available and shippers are looking to move. Expect strong markets to continue through the month of December.
Oranges
The California navel market is beginning to settle and sizing is peaking on 72-88 count fruit. Large sizes are starting to get snug although markets are softer overall this week. Quality has been outstanding, with good color and and high sugar content. Mexico production remains limited, although better volume is expected in the coming weeks. Quality reports are marginal out of Mexico, with some defects reported on recent crop. Run offers by us on California navels.
Lemons
Plenty of product available this week and shippers are looking to move all sizes. Quality has been excellent overall with very few issues to report. Current harvests are peaking on 140 and 165 count fruit. Mexican lemons are available out of Texas, although volumes are limited. California product will be coming out of district 1 and district 3 for the remainder of the month.
Limes
Lack of demand is keeping markets from gaining momentum. Sizes are peaking on 175 and 200 count and shippers are looking to move on all sizes. Variable quality has been reported as rain continues to hit Mexican growing regions. Quality issues include blanching, scarring and discoloration. Shippers are listening to reasonable offers.
Dry Onions
Jumbo Yellow onions are still in mixer volume only in some areas, as Washington and Oregon get further into the storage the red market is very hot having few open market Jumbos mixer business only…
Asparagus
The market got a little tight going into Thanksgiving week end. There seemed to be activity from chains and still no much for the terminals. The Market is still $12-15 with some lower. There is no shortage overall, just some unexpected demand. Ho Hum. Peru is still struggling to get their transportation situation
straightened out.
Cantaloupes
Not much changed in the cantaloupe market this week. Pries off shore remained steady, albeit with some discounting. The volume off shore is controlled at least at this time by very few players and much of their product is contracted so spot markets are nearly inconsequential. Late this month or early this month there will some independent and less contracted importers starting. Nogales supplies remain steady to lighter but skewing to smaller sizes than before. Quality off shore is good and Nogales in variable. Demand remains lackluster due to unseasonable nature of the product, COVID restrictions and logistic issues. In spite of that larger fruit in Nogales were a bit higher in price due to diminishing supplies. Next week existing offshore shippers should have a bit more volume which could put some downward pressure on prices and evidence more discounts. We look for a steady market with some discounting on smaller sizes next week.
Honeydews
Offshore supplies continue to lag and sizes are running quite large with variable quality. Nogales, as with the cantaloupes ae skewing smaller sizes and once again viable quality and brix. Overall demand is lackluster at best due to the same factors effecting cantaloupe demand. We look for a steady to lower market with discounting mostly on smaller sized fruit. Overall supplies should pick up a bit by the first of the year., but still lag behind cantaloupes.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Broccoli Production has improved as we transition to the Desert as Demand continues to be good with steady pricing. We anticipate markets to settle near current levels especially as Holiday demand approaches.
OG Celery
Availability continues to be steady with good supplies., Prices have begun to recede in Coastal growing areas but are expected to remain elevated in the Desert as most production remains on the coast and will be transferred to the desert at significant cost. Preferred deals with tiered pricing will remain available on the Coast.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Availability and pricing appear to be escalating with improved demand as production has transitioned to the deserts.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production remains light with damage from previous heat waves impacting suppliers. Expect to see improved supplies as the weather cools heading into the Winter. Continue to plan ahead to get coverage.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine Romaine and Romaine Heart production remain moderate with good demand . Transition to the desert has resulted in improved quality and supplies, eventually leading to promotional opportunities . Green and Red leaf Supplies have begun to improve along with quality.
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Strong demand throughout the entire Citrus category due to strong retail sales and revived foodservice activity. Mexico Lemon crop continues strong with heavy Choice fruit while California desert crop is also strong with improved sizing and Fancy grades. Lime quality and supplies remain inconsistent. Navel production stalled as harvest was delayed due to weather but availability has begun with improved sizing and flavor. Clementines have begun with reduced yields and higher pricing expected all season . Expect Caras and Blood Oranges in coming weeks .
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