Lettuce​​​

​​​Favorable  growing conditions in the SW Deserts has  allowed   production to finally get back on track and combined with a slow down in demand caused by the severe East Coast blizzard the market decline has been accelerated. Shippers have begun to offer steep discounts for volume buyers but the overall tone is weak.  Quality continues to be sporadic with blister,   peel and associated discoloration  still evident.   Quality should start to rebound in a couple weeks but shippers will also now have to be more selective as the market descends to  production  cost levels.  Take advantage while shippers are offering more ad pricing.

 

Mix Leaf

Romaine and  Romaine  heart supplies have been improving daily  .  There continues  to be a wide range in quality  with  Blister, peel and discoloration  still  prevalent causing some  disconnect in  pricing structure from shipper to shipper.  The  market  has been trailing iceberg  but they will likely end up trading at similar levels  by the end of the week. Red and Greenleaf supplies will  also continue  to increase  with  markets  easing through the week.  Shippers  will offer steep discounts to spur movement .

 

Celery

This market has settled this week as Yumas begins production. The main production areas continue to be Oxnard and Santa Maria. Yuma production is off to a slow start, although we expect volume to increase next week. There is a wide range in pricing among shippers and some are reporting light supplies. Overall we expect this market to settle through next week, and overall volume should improve. Good weather forecasted in Yuma will help production.  Quality is nice and very few issues reported.

 

Broccoli

Plenty of supply currently.  Multiple regions producing. Slower demand from the east has resulted in sluggish markets.  Aggressive pricing and shippers are looking to move. Santa Maria is reporting some pin rot and water spotting.  Expect a buyer’s market though next week.

 

Cauliflower

Sluggish markets this week.  Shippers are looking for volume deals. There is a wide range in quality due to recent rains out west.  This market will remain slow through next week until next week.  Desert temperatures are expected to cool toward the later part of next week which could eventually slow production.

 

Artichokes

Just like most commodities  Artichokes  have gotten a shot in the arm  with ideal growing conditions and  production has begun to increase .  Mostly  large sizes  but supplies of all sizes have begun to increase.  Beware , there are distinct differences in quality.  A few shippers are offering “Frost Free”  artichokes while the majority still  have burn and discoloration from last months  freezing temperatures.

Brussel Sprouts

Supplies continue to be limited  with the vast majority of production coming from  Mexico.  Supplies have been sporadic along with quality . As the weather improves look for a continued improvement in  quality and  production.  The market is  currently holding steady with good  demand as supplies increase look for the market to  adjust in coming weeks.

 

Strawberries

California

California production remains limited and will continue to be throughout the next

several weeks.  With no substantial increases in the forecast expected until the

3^rd week of February, supplies will remain very tight through the Valentine’s day pull.

Weather will have an influence on production as we are looking at rain in the forecast

for this weekend and again early next week.  We have  a slight break and then potential

for another storm the back half of the week.  El Nino looks to be coming into play as

we are getting the call for wetter than normal out west.

 

Mexico

Central Mexico continues to have cooler weather keeping overall production limited.  This week

and next, the berry category should be at a high point in production of our season, however due to the cooler

weather, our production is limited.  We will also begin to feel more pressure to fill orders

that would have been placed in Florida as they experience rain this Wednesday and Thursday.

Look for our supplies to be very stressed out of Central Mexico as our production on the coasts

remain limited due to the weather.

 

Florida

Dover has heavy rain in the forecast for Wed and Thursday.  Some reports show a forecast

in some areas as high as 2-2.5” on Wed, and .75-1” on Thursday.  Rain this heavy will halt

production for Wednesday and Thursday and could possibly take us out  several additional

days if heavy enough. Rain of .10” or better, for all intents and purposes is enough to kill

stem production.  The fruit will surely take in the water and typically this rapid expansion of

the fruit leads to cracked fruit.  Not good for stems.  Certainly this weather is not timely with

Valentine’s day just around the corner.  Look for berries to remain tight out of Florida through

the Valentine’s day pull.

 

 

Raspberries

The cooler nights have had a big influence on our production out of C Mex over the last several weeks.  This will likely continue as temperatures several weeks ago have influenced the smaller fruit that was on the plant at the time and also the bloom. At this point we continue to forecast that supplies will be limited all the way through the Valentine’s day pull.

 

 

Blackberries

Blacks continue to struggle with cool nights and less than ideal daytime temperatures

leaving the fruit in state that is less than ripe, limiting our production   Although forecasted

for larger numbers, like the rasps the colder weather several weeks ago and the cool trend

that continues, will keep production limited.  Expect very tight supplies this week and through

the second week of February.

 

Blueberries

Blue supplies continue to be limited, with minimal arrivals from Chile on both coasts.  Supplies

will stay at steady volume for the next two weeks and then look for an increase the backside

of February. Mexican production from C Mex has continued to help supplement supply offerings

into the marketplace and will continue with steady numbers through February.

 

Watermelons

Watermelon volume from Mexico is picking up slowly this week and prices from the fields  are edging lower. The East coast is opening back up after the storms of last week . Once the East Coast supermarkets assess  their inventory after restocking shelves  there should be a brief surge in demand. The increased demand should not influence the lower FOBs as volume will increase proportionality . Produce West currently has Seedless Watermelon available to load  in McAllen and has watermelon year round.

 

Limes

618 loads from 1/19-1/25, and  the inventory continues to build in the warehouses. Prices have dropped considerably and will continue to drop as supply greatly exceeds demand. Look for deals on pretty much all sizes and be careful of older fruit. The era of $50-100  during this time is over unless there is a catastrophic event affecting the supply chain.

 

Cantaloupes

The market remained dull and steady this week. Lightish supplies kept the market from falling in the face of the East Coast storms and frigid weather but held prices in check in the 10.95-12.95 range with fair quality lower on 9s through 12s. Jbo 9s were about $1.00 higher.

Next week demand will determine the market. With the worst of the storms over and temps warming to the 30s and 40s demand could improve, or rather not stop dead as it had this week.  Supplies should be adequate. Market should be steady to perhaps a bit stronger on best quality. with dealing on #2 fruit

 

Honeydews

We could just echo what was said about cantaloupes. Supplies will be adequate and moslty running 5s and 6s. Demand should be helped a bit by moderating weather in the Midwest and East. Market should be steady to higher with dealing on #2 fruit.