Dog Days of Summer are upon us….Or at least it seems that way. The produce industry is sluggish across the board with no exception to iceberg. Extravagant freight rates, rising fuel costs, lack of sufficient labor force across ALL sectors, pending transition to Fruit season and an overall lack of demand are all contributing factors. Quality remains overall good although tiered as some growers fall behind schedule while most continue to cut to order and “jump” harvest to avoid overmatured lettuce while trying to maintain bottom line pricing. Mostly cool weather has kept supplies moderated with only a couple overall warm days so far this Spring.
Las Cruces, NM production continues with excellent quality and substantial freight savings to begin the week.. Inquire with your Produce West representative.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine and Romaine Hearts Romaine supplies remain heavy with moderate Demand on cartons but slightly better on Hearts. Diminished labor force continues to hamper Romaine Heart production at times leaving plenty of carton supplies available. Quality remains mostly nice from all areas.
Las Cruces, NM production continues from Las Cruces with good reviews. on quality and substantial savings on freight.
Red leaf, Green leaf and Boston Demand on Leaf has followed Romaine. Quality remains nice from Northern production areas but demand lags behind.
Celery
We could see a slight price increase over the next week. The Oxnard district is finding more seeders in their crops as the season begins to come to an end in that region. This will decrease their yields as the month winds down. Santa Maria is in full production and seeder free at this point and Salinas will start harvest the first week of June.
Artichokes
Thornless varieties from Central Coast production areas have peaked on larger sizes and are now peaking on medium sizes especially Heirloom and Original varieties. Markets have eased slightly with availability is expected for a couple more weeks. Take advantage of these superior edible varieties before the season ends.
Broccoli
Prices have come down over the last seven days and shippers are looking to move some product, especially crown cuts. Good availability in Santa Maria and Oxnard. Product of Mexico has been somewhat limited which is normal for this time of year. Limited acreage is planted in the Northern part of Guanajuato to protect themselves from the summer rains. Light production is forecasted for the next few weeks
Cauliflower
Plenty of cauliflower available. Make offers as shippers are looking to move product.
Brussels Sprouts
Production from Mexico has peaked while demand has remained steady. Quality has been mostly very nice from Mexico with minor insect pressure while limited domestic production has shown improvement.
Green Onions
Mexico production has resumed full capacity with most product loading now from the Central Coast. Quality has shown improvement as growers finally get back on schedule.
Strawberries
As Mothers day passed, and demand declined, we have seen decent supplies coming to the marketplace. Quality has been good and we have seen a wide range in prices. The weather forecast for next week will be sunny and warm. The ideal conditions will push prices to lower levels.
Raspberries
Supplies remain tight and are expected to remain snug throughout May. Baja and California are forecast better numbers the first week of June.
Blackberries
Quality has been fair to good as all areas are increasing production. Central Mexico, Baja, and central California have all experienced a rise in volume.
Blueberries
Numbers out of California are increasing and are expected to move up over the next few weeks.
Stone Fruit
Chilean peach and nectarine finished for the season, limited availability on Chilean plums, mostly 2LTP. Quality is declining on imports. California tree fruit has started with limited availability, sizes mostly 64 and smaller. Production is slowly increasing on California peaches and nectarines. Get orders in early on domestic fruit as demand exceeds supply. California cherries have started volume will improve next week. Varieties are Tioga Royal and Brooks, mostly 11R and 12R available.
Grapes
Green Seedless are very limited in supply, with most shippers quoting sold out. Red Seedless market is firming up quite a bit and will continue to do so for the duration of the season. There is a wide range of pricing as a result of varying quality industry wide. Mexico has seen some delays in production as they battle poor weather and quality. Tight markets will continue through next week.
Citrus
Oranges – Navel supplies are tightening up, particularly on small sizes and prices are increasing. Valencias will soon be starting, which will take some of the pressure of the dwindling navel supplies. Demand has been slowly increasing and should continue to be strong as we head into summer and restaurants and institutions return to normal capacity. Quality has been very nice overall.
Lemons – Good supplies of fancy lemons this week. Like navels, the majority of the product is coming in fancy and quality will likely continue to be strong for the coming weeks. Demand is picking up and markets have strengthened.
Cantaloupes
Transition is the word for cantaloupes. Offshore is still shipping and will possibly dribble out a few more next week. Mexico will still be shipping some as well. But domestics have started in a small way from Yuma and Brawley and should pick up more volume as more shippers get started next week. This should force imports to stop. Sizes look to start with mostly 9s and 12s but quickly switch to more jumbo 9s as the week progresses. By the week of the 25 the domestic desert deal should be in full swing or close to it. Demand has been lackluster for all produce as the industry as a whole struggles with expensive and tight trucks, which does not look to be letting up soon. Drivers have been hard to find and competing fruits have started shipping from the West Coast, thinning supply. We look for prices to start in the low to mid-teens next week and possibly drop as volume picks up.
Honeydews
Offshores are coming to an end and have been in very light supplies for a couple of weeks. Sizes are peaking on jbo 5s, 5 and 6s , but are trickling down and should be ending next week. Mexico has more than made up for light offshores with copious amounts of regular 5s. 6s and 8s but few if any jbo 5s. Prices have reflected the supply difference with offshore holding up in the low teens but Mexico easing the $5.00- $7.00 range and lower on 8s. Domestic dews will start in a small way next week and pick up steam the following week following the cantaloupe narrative but a week later. Steady pricing most of next week with few off shores, pentyl of Mexican supplies and domestics just scratching the surface at higher prices.
Dry Onions
As the world of food service starts to open, demand is starting to improve. The Northwest is slowly closing down for the season. There are still plenty of shipments, but in the next two week it will dwindle down to nothing and most receivers will have to come to areas that have new crops. I foresee an up
market when that finally hits the mainstream supply and demand picture. By the 4th of July, in most metro areas, all the foodservice should be open and firing on all cylinders and with that we’ll see demand pop…but right now it’s not happening.
Asparagus
We will have California asparagus for the next two weeks. Mexico is shipping
but is all 11/1’s and Michigan is stutter starting due to cold weather.
Washington is going but with limited volume. There will be a lot of local deals
that are going with not enough supply to handle the chain business. When the
foodservice gets going the demand will increase and by then we’ll have Peru
and deep Mexico. Prices on Mexican are in the $16-18 range and demand is a
little wobbly.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Broccoli Cooler temperatures have kept supplies moderated matching demand on Broccoli while Cauliflower supplies are starting to improve as prices are expected to adjust, Quality has been good to start the Central coast season with mostly ideal growing conditions.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Availability and pricing appear to be mostly steady with steady demand. Quality remains good from the Northern production areas with an occasional sporadic shortage among growers.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady and demand continues to be strong. Most growers have been reaching for supplies . Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage.
Potato and Onions . New crop Production has begun from Southern California production areas with prices expected to moderate over the coming weeks
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine Currently prices on Romaine and Hearts remain a value with mostly ideal weather to start the season green and red leaf supplies remain affordable as well. Overall quality has been good from Northern California production areas.
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Good demand throughout the entire Citrus category due to strong retail sales and revived foodservice activity. California lemon crop is tightening with limited domestic production. Mexico is expected to resume later this month. Lime quality has shown improvement but remains inconsistent as well as supplies, The Navel crop is winding down as Valencia’s from Mexico begin to expand availability. Seasonal Variety offerings are winding down. Grapefruit supplies have steadied with improved sizing.
OG Melons
California / Mexico : Organic Watermelon , Mini’s , Cantaloupe , Honeydews and Galias remain slightly behind schedule but are expected to start in coming days in the Desert with limited volume but should ramp up in coming weeks.
OG Stone Fruit
Green & Red : Supplies currently remain mostly from storage Imports through mid May with varied Quality. We expect Domestic season to start slightly late but supplies are expected to improve quickly with excellent quality forecasted to promote all Summer.
OG Grapes
Green & Red : Supplies currently remain mostly from storage Imports through mid May with varied Quality. We expect Domestic season to start slightly late but supplies are expected to improve quickly with excellent quality forecasted to promote all Summer.
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