5/17/17

Lettuce

 Supplies from Salinas and Santa Maria settled and consumer confidence returned once the market  found its’ footing. Cooler weather this week has kept volume in check but demand has also slowed slightly. Many shippers have firmed pricing although warmer weather is forecast for the weekend and should push supplies slightly ahead.  Quality  has been mostly good  with some  mildew  and over mature heads  showing issues on arrival.

Mix Leaf
Romaine and Heart markets adjusted  and demand is  slowly rebounding. Production will continue to vary as many shippers are still experiencing harvest schedules interrupted by Spring rains.  Quality has been very good  with mildew and fringe burn showing on occasion.  Local Homegrown production areas are starting to improve on Green leaf and Red leaf  and Romaine  is reportedly not far behind. Romaine hearts production varies by shipper allowing for a wide spread in the market.  Expect possible continued sporadic interruptions in supplies through  May which will keep volumes imbalanced among shippers.
Brussels Sprouts
Production continues from Mexico and Central California with declining quality due to heavy insect pressure leading to a decrease in supplies. The market remains strong for good quality.   Supplies are expected to lighten throughout the month.
Celery
Markets are highest they have been all year with very little relief in sight. Volume remains extremely light on all sizes.  Little relief is expected for at least another 2 weeks.  Unseasonably cold weather on the west coast has slowed growth significantly in Oxnard and Santa Maria.  Salinas would normally start at the end of this month, but due to the cold weather will be at least a week behind schedule. Michigan growers are reporting that their production will also be delayed until the middle or end of June which will keep pressure on west coast production. there are small amounts trickling in from Mexico but currently not enough to ease the production gaps we are now facing.  To add to the problems, seeder is becoming more of a problem industry wide.
Broccoli
Strong markets continue this week. Demand has been strong as we near the summer season on the west coast.  Mexico has increased production this week which has helped take some strain off Salinas production. Santa Maria is picking up production and we should see more steady supplies as we head into June. Quality has been very nice with very few problems to report.
Cauliflower
This market has bottomed out and shippers are looking to move product this week.  We expect good supplies into next week.  Quality has been very nice. Quality reports show good white color and strong structure coming out of Salinas and Santa Maria.  Weather is expected to be warm next week which will bring on more product, although we may see quality issues surface if it gets too hot over the weekend.
Artichokes

 Production for the Heirloom/ Green Globe  variety is  winding down from Castroville CA which currently has a medium sizing profile  but will start to peak on smaller sizes. Production of the seeded varieties with larger sizing profiles has  started to increase.

Asparagus
Domestic supplies from Salinas, Central  Valley and the North West  continue with good  quality and good demand. Limited supplies from Mexico are also available as Baja production areas will begin to increase in coming weeks.  The market has eased  post  Mothers Day and increased offshore supplies from Peru.
Strawberries
Santa Maria, Salinas, and Watsonville continue to have good quality. With the weather warming up over the next couple of days, volume will continue to increase. Santa Maria should not expect to see down sizing for a couple more weeks. Going into the Memorial Day pull there should be plenty of volume. We should see the same situation with Organic Straws, good quality and increasing volume.
Cantaloupes
This has been transition week.  The Caribbean Basin has harvested their last fields and when they arrive and are sold, they will be for all intents and purposes done for the year.  Domestic production has started but in a much smaller and somewhat delayed way than anticipated, which avoided an overlap glut.  Demand, however has been rather anemic. Offshore fruit lowered prices to make sure they were able to sell their last volume blast.  Domestics were able to clean up during the first part of the week but as production slowly crept up, unsold inventories began to accumulate, especially on 12s and 15s.  Next week domestic production will kick in to full swing peaking, we suspect on Jbo and regular 9s.  Caribbean will cease to be a competitive factor.   Demand should pick up for Memorial day.  We look for a bit weaker market early next week, but by mid week the market should level if not firm up.

Honeydews

This has been an transition week as well.  However the phase in of domestic production is about a week to ten days behind cantaloupes.  Weak demand has plagued the markets on honeydews as well.  Mexico has been in abundant supplies and cheap. Overall off shores were trading lower and even the few domestic supplies were being somewhat discounted. Mexico remained cheap. Next week off shore should be cleaning up the last of their arrivals. Mexico will continue to be abundant and cheap and domestic will pick up production slowly.  We look for a continuing dull market most of next week with a possibly firming toward the end of the week in response to holiday demand.

Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Broccoli and Cauliflower production has hit another gap in supplies but warmer weather forecast for the  weekend should  increase offerings and lower pricing heading into next week. Uneven supplies look to continue  through Mid June.
OG  Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most of the Herbs and Bunching Greens continue with improving supplies.  Quality continues  to be very nice with occasional intermittent shortages. Expect Local Homegrown supplies to start increasing which will  lessen the dependence on West Coast supplies.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Supplies have improved but still sporadic  from Central Valley and Salinas.  Varying shortages will continue for the next couple weeks  although markets should be at a more sustainable level with homegrown offerings are expected to increase in coming weeks.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrots production will be strong for the next few weeks as weather has improved leaving it as one of the few commodities to promote. Potato and Onion demand have also been good with White and Yellow Onion supplies  transitioning more to Southern  and Central California with good  quality and availability.
OG Citrus
Steady production with mostly Larger profiles  continue on Lemons  with good demand for export keeping pressure on the market to remain active. Valencia production has started to ramp up with  Navels finishing. Peruvian Limes are in full swing with excellent quality.

Leave a Reply