Lettuce​​​

​​​ Market prices have adjusted on falling demand while supplies have held mostly steady. Salad processors filled in their production gaps purchasing lettuce acreage which attributed to the previous sharp escalating market.  Supplies look to be steady for the balance of the month with slightly improving but WIDE ranging quality.

Mix Leaf

Romaine and Romaine heart markets have been slow to ease but weaker demand and improved quality will lead to better availability and lower pricing.  Quality has been mostly fair with a wide assortment of issues resulting from late spring showers and heavy winds.  Redleaf and green leaf will follow a similar path as most shippers are seeing improved quality production combined with pending regional homegrown production markets are expected to ease.

 

Celery

Good supply industry wide.  Better volume on smaller sizes and we are seeing a $2 spread between sizes.  Good color and quality and very little seeder to report.  Midwest production had been delayed due to cold weather and is slowly getting started.  Salinas production will be getting started later next week which will overlap Oxnard, keeping volume strong.  Expect steady markets and competitive pricing for the next few weeks.

 

Broccoli

Supplies are lighter this week in Salinas and Santa Maria due to a planting gap from rains back in late February and early March. Demand is good and the market is trending upward. Overall quality is good but product has been branchy and knuckly which results in lower yields for crown packs, especially Asian cut.  Light supplies continue to cross out of Mexico and the market is increasing there as well.

 

Cauliflower

Quality is very nice but supplies are limited.  The market will stay active at current trading levels of $25.00 – $27.00 FOB through the week.  There should start to be some reprieve in price by the middle of next week.

 

Artichokes

Production  of Heirloom /Green Globes  varieties  has dwindled and the Thornless varieties are still limited.  Look for the market to be active on all sizes until the Seeded varieties increase next month.

Brussel Sprouts

Domestic production is increasing as  supplies  from Mexico are still showing significant insect issues.  The market has  adjusted and is currently trying to find a proper level.  The likely scenario has Mexico finishing prematurely early eventually leading to lighter overall supplies  until the Fall.

 

Strawberries

This market has been settling over the past 2 weeks and is believed to have bottomed out. The most recent reports show lighter supplies this weekend and into next week as shippers clean up supplies.  Many shippers are close to being sold out for the week.  Strong Memorial Day business mixed with cooler weather and possible rain in the forecast will result in stronger market conditions in the coming days and could last through the remainder of the month. Quality has been good overall, with the better fruit coming out of the Salinas/Watsonville growing areas.

Cantaloupes:

Off shore melons continued shipping this week and domestic production picked up causing the areas to compete with each other driving prices downward.  Sizes ran from jbo 9s thru 15s, with some domestic producers running smaller than anticipated and others running heavy to larger sizes.  There were some retail promotions on domestic 9s, but overall trading was lackluster. Next week off shore product should begin to run down, but needs to work its way through the supply chain. Domestic fruit will pick up in production as those that have started this week will begin to pick up was their deals mature. Central Az and Blythe will also start. Demand will start dull, but should pickup toward the end of the week as memorial day demand will begin in earnest and wholesale markets will begin to clear up the last of their off shore inventories.  Market should start dull and steady but become active and stronger by the weekend.

 

Honeydews:

Off shores were shipping their final inventory. Mexico was in heavy production and domestic just started to scratch the surface of their deals.  Demand was hampered by the legacy of higher priced inventories, the plethora of cantaloupes and falling prices in Mexico.  Market was weak with sizes peaking on 5 & 6s.  Next week off shores will finish.  Mexico will continue to be in good supplies and quality and domestic will pick up. Demand should start slow but could activate as we approach Memorial day and the onset of summer demand.  We look for market to start slow and weak but level off toward the weekend with better demand pointing to a higher market the week of 5/29

 

Watermelons:

Rain has slowed production in both Texas and Florida and Mexican production as decreased from 400 loads a day to 200. This coupled with the upcoming Memorial Day Holliday should tighten up supplies through the early next week . Produce West will have good supplies out of Texas and Florida for any promotions. Contact your salesperson for  more information.