Improved demand has been tempered by higher freight rates due to DOT inspections while supplies have steadied with improving quality. Truck rates likely won’t improve with the Summer Fruit season upon us. Quality remains varied but improved with still ranging Color, Texture , Shape and sizing. Production from Las Cruces , NM continues through this week before transitioning to Southern Colorado.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine and Romaine Hearts Production remains strong with moderate demand . Pricing momentarily firmed, especially Romaine Hearts , although volume deals remain available mostly because of wide ranging quality. Color, Texture and Ribbiness continue to vary although overall quality has improved. Romaine production from Las Cruces, NM will be available through the weekend before transitioning to Colorado .
Red leaf, Greenleaf and Boston Demand on Leaf remains steady with moderate supplies as the Eastern Homegrown season has begun easing demand on the West Coast.
Celery
The seeder issue out of Oxnard and Santa Maria has not gone away but the high price FOB’s are starting to cool. Demand has waned as the excitement of limited volume and high prices has slowed purchases. We expect the market to come down a few more dollars by middle of next week. The seeder issue will be present until Salinas starts harvesting around the middle of June.
Artichokes
Production of the Original and Heirloom varieties will continue for another couple weeks before thornless varieties become dominant. Sizing has begun to peak on medium sizes. Take advantage of these superior edible chokes while in season.
Broccoli
Not much change here over the last week. Prices will remain at current levels as we finish out the week. Quality and availability are good out of Santa Maria and Salinas.
Cauliflower
Good availability and some shippers will be looking to move some product over the next few days. Get with your Produce West representative for the best pricing and quality available.
Brussels Sprouts
Good Demand continues with mostly strong pricing as production continues to decline from Mexico. Limited production from Coastal California will supplement supplies but overall volume will be light. Insect pressure in Mexico will dictate when their season comes to a close.
Green Onions
Mexico supplies have steadied although quality remains varied with insect damage causing discoloration issues on arrival. Border delays remain an intermittent issue and have been magnified with the extra travel day.
Strawberries
Colder temperatures and windy afternoons will give to a more mild and warmer conditions with decreasing winds for the weekend. Temperatures are forecasted to range from 72 to 78 degrees in the Salinas and Watsonville areas. Production will continue to increase and should bring on promotable volumes for late may and early June. Quality is expected to be excellent and count sizes are expected to range 10 to 14 on Conventionals and 14 to 18 ct. on the Organics. The Oxnard areas volume and yields are expected to decrease over the next few weeks, but quality remains good with nice shape, sheen, but with occasional green or white tips. Pack count will range from 18 to 22 per on conventionals. Santa Maria will begin to peak next week, continuing into the middle of June. Conventional quality is good with some green shoulders and tips due to cooler nighttime temperatures. Organic quality is good with full color and occasional minor berry on berry bruising. The weather is predicted to be warmer this week than previous weeks which will greatly decrease the ripening time of fruit and boost harvested volume.
Blackberries
Transitioning continues between Central Mexico and the California regions. Mexico is expected to end the 3rd week of June, but the increase from the California regions should keep the Supplies steady over the next 4 weeks
Raspberries
Central Mexico’s volumes will begin decline with the end of their season forecast for late July. Adverse weather in this region will impact yields and fruit quality as are expecting high heat, windy conditions and wet weather. Increasing numbers will be coming out of the Baja area are into the middle of June. Better volume will be coming in the near term out of Santa Maria and the Salinas / Watsonville areas as well.
Blueberries
Mexican production is on the decline into the end of the month. The San Joaquin Valley will be producing substantial volumes moving forward for the next 3 to 4 weeks. The Baja area is producing good numbers and should be hitting peak numbers in the following weeks. North Carolina is slated to start harvesting late next week while Georgia has about 2 weeks left. Oxnard production is downtrending.
Stone Fruit
The weather forecast is great for growing stone fruit this week. White Peach are readily available and shippers are looking to move out of California. Yellow Peaches will be steady this week. Yellow nectarines will be limited for the first half of this week and white Nectarines will be light this week. Apricots volume will remain extremely limited this week. Red and black plums have started and plumcots are just around the corner. Apricot volume will extremely limited this week. We are waiting for the next variety to start this weekend and will not have availability this week. Production will finish up the first week of June.
Grapes
Offshore red and green grapes are still arriving daily and shippers are doing their best to move inventories. Mexican fruit is starting in light numbers and it will take a few weeks before there will be any significant volumes. We will see better volume of Mexican grapes towards the first week of June and numbers will increase from that point on. There is plenty of old fruit in the pipeline that shippers are moving at discount prices. Continue to be aware of aged fruit and know what you are getting. Shippers are looking to promote for the first half of the Summer as they are expecting strong volumes to continue for the near future.
Oranges
Navel oranges are still available out of the California central valley in light volumes. Excellent brix and color being reported. Large sizes are more prevalent and peak sizing is on 72 and 88 count fruit. Small sizes are less available and commanding a higher price. Valencia oranges are available out of the the central valley and the season will likely last through September. Quality reports are excellent and good sugars have been reported. The outer skin is rougher than navels, but that is typical for the variety. Markets will remain firm until volumes improve.
Lemons
District 2 on the coast is now the main growing area. peak sizing is 115 – 140 count fruit. Majority of the fruit remains fancy grade, although more choice will come into the mix as district 2 has more quality issues overall due to high winds. Plenty of volumes and deals are available, especially on large sized fruit.
Limes
Moderate demand this week. Better supplies have settled this market dramatically and shippers are making deals this week, especially on small fruit. sizing is peaking on 200 and smaller sized fruit. Markets will likely remain flat through next week, barring any unforeseen weather occurrences.
Cantaloupes
Transitioning continues between Central Mexico and the California regions. Mexico is expected to end the 3rd week of June, but the increase from the California regions should keep the Supplies steady over the next 4 weeks
Honeydews
Domestic has really not started but for one or two shippers. Mexico is going strong and offshores are winding down out. Like lopes prices firmed this weekend with delayed start of domestic supplies. Domestic quality is excellent, with a range in Mexico and off shore. As with lopes we look for the market to open firm then wane toward the end of the week.
Dry Onions
Onion business in general has been flat and the market continues to be steady. Some receivers and foodservice entities are wondering “where’s the business”? Ultimately, it’s the consumer who has the hammer as to what demand is based. There doesn’t seem to be too much of the demand thing going on right now. Memorial Day should bring more to the table. Interestingly the market hasn’t reacted too much to the lack of spot demand and the contracts that are in effect seem to be enough to keep the market at the levels that are existing right now. Stay tuned, something’s got to give. Maybe the
consumers are tired of paying high freight and fob prices and are about to make a line in the sand.
Asparagus
Indiana has started and Michigan is going now too. That means there will be less demand for the Mexico and California asparagus deal. Look for ad ideas from the western growers to try to compete with the local Midwest deals in the near future. FOB prices are falling to new lows for this period…$14-$16…but
when the local deals clean up, the prices will go back up to higher levels…when will that be. It’s been real hot in the Midwest lately, so we’ll see.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Broccoli Northern California production is in full swing. After a surge in production , supplies have steadied as well as prices. Hot and Cold temperatures have resulted in mostly good quality.
OG Celery
Demand and Pricing continue to surge as supplies have been impacted by seeders. Pricing will continue to be elevated, especially in Salinas where supplies are transferred from Oxnard until June.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Production has mostly transitioned to Northern California and quality remains varied with overall adequate supplies.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production remains unstable especially Cellos with production areas transitioning and a major processor having issues with production lines. Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine Romaine and Romaine Heart supplies have steadied while quality has shown improvement. Some tip burn and rib discoloration continue to show on arrival but overall quality has improved. Heavy insect pressure will remain throughout the Summer for all leafy greens.
Green and Red leaf .Overall supplies have improved although they remain varied throughout the Valley. Quality continues to vary as well with sporadic issues with tip burn , russet spotting and insect pressure from all Northern California production areas .
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Strong demand throughout the entire Citrus category due to strong retail sales and revived foodservice activity.
Lemon production eased from its peak with prices expected to firm especially on the smaller retail sizes.
Lime quality and supplies remain inconsistent and very limited.
Valencia production has begun with limited volume but good sizing.
Grapefruit supplies have peaked with lighter volume expected .
OG Stone Fruit
Stone Fruit Production has begun on Peaches and Nectarines with limited Apricot supplies as well as Plums. White varieties are expected to begin next week.
OG Melons
Melons Production from the Southern California Desert has begun with strong supplies and excellent quality of Watermelons and mini’s.
Cantaloupes and Honeydews will begin limited production this week in the desert with a short season window before transitioning to Northern California .
OG Grapes
Production from the Desert will begin at the end of the month with current production coming from Mexico . Consolidation is available .
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