Salinas and Santa Maria production continues to level out while demand has been varied. Quality has been as good as we’ve seen in months in some cases although tipburn, insect and mildew continue to be present. The market has ferris wheeled among shippers and could react with any improvement in demand. The weather forecast continues with cool coastal temperatures and warm inland valleys. This pattern can contribute to the inconsistent quality and supplies among shippers with varying land bases.
Mix Leaf
Romaine market remains flat with mixed demand and increasing pressure from homegrown supplies while hearts continue steady with only limited homegrown pressure. Quality has been very good with mildew and fringe burn showing on occasion. Green and Redleaf are also showing variable quality around the valley. Local Homegrown production areas are starting to improve and will continue to put pressure on California market to remain steady.
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 continue to lighten well into June.
Celery
This market remains strong as we head into June. Pricing is believed to be nearing its peak although there is still a demand exceeds supply scenario through next week. Salinas production has started with very light numbers, although this will not affect the market until volume picks up and pressure is taken off Oxnard and Santa Maria areas. Recent cool temperatures will further slow production.
We will have celery available out of Mexico at the end of this week shipping out of Pharr, Tx….Sizing will be mostly 24 and 30’s with a few 18’s and 36’s. Check with your sales representative for pricing.
Oranges
Valencias are now in full production and we are seeing nice fruit. Volume is less than last year and shippers are keeping more product on the tree to cover future orders. We expect this market to remain strong through the summer as inventories diminish and less product harvested. Also as a result, we will see more large sized fruit in inventory throughout the summer and fewer small sizes.
Broccoli
We have seemed to reach a trading level where demand is meeting supply at the same rate. Current pricing will remain for the rest of the week and we could see crown cut prices rise slightly. Quality has been nice. The domes have a nice green color and the beads are tight, slightly branchy but overall pretty good quality.
Cauliflower
Product seems to be moving through the pipeline fairly smoothly. The current prices seem to have hit the floor and we could see a slight increase by the end of the week. Quality is very nice, good white domes with very little blemishes.
Artichokes
Production for the Heirloom/ Green Globe variety is winding down and the seeded varieties are starting to increase with larger sizing profiles expected.
Asparagus
Domestic supplies from the Central Coast are decreasing but Washington and new crop Mexican production are increasing along with increased offshore supplies from Peru allowing the market to ease.
Strawberries
We experienced an unexpected change in weather patterns in the Salinas Watsonville area on Mondayand it certainly kept pricing firm in the north with some discount pricing occurring in the south. Cooler and damp conditions has slowed production in the Salinas / Watsonville areas. Some quality defects that have been reported this week are white shoulders, bruising and some dry calyx. Strawberry counts are mostly 14-16 for the Monterey variety and fairing better than most of the other varieties Peak production is about 2 weeks away as long as the weather cooperates.
Cantaloupes
Off shore ended shipping and were no longer a competing factor for domestic fruit. Athenas continued to ship. Yet the leftover supply from the Caribbean Basin lasted long enough to interfere with the Memorial Holiday demand. Also, freight rates were very high crimping demand for western product as well. Supplies surged as everyone got underway. keeping a cap on prices. Sizes kept peaking on 9s and Jbo 9s. Next week supplies look to continue their ample ways and sizes look to stay large. Freight rates could ease a bit as we get past the Holiday disruptions and more tucks drift west to take advantage of the increased demand for their services. All this could help demand making allowing the market to improve a bit.
Honeydews
It feels as if may less honeydews were planted this year. Mexico kept producing. Off shores were done. Freight rates were high. Sizes peaked on 5s and 6s. Demand was tepid in the face of reasonably priced cantaloupes. Prices rose a bit but only moderately. Next week we should see steady to slightly higher prices.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Broccoli and Cauliflower production has finally started in improve which will help with demand as retailers can start to offer promotions.
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 on green and redleaf but romaine continues to see sporadic supplies from Central Valley and Salinas. Markets are slowly retreating to a more sustainable level with homegrown offerings expected to increase in coming weeks.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrots production will be strong for the next few weeks . Potato and Onion demand has also been good with White, Yellow and Red Onion supplies improving from Southern and Central California with good quality.
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 improving availability. Peruvian Limes are in full swing with excellent quality.
OG Melons
Watermelons , Cantaloupes and Honeydews are starting to wind down from Mexico and domestic production is just starting in the desert . Production should transition to Central California in a couple weeks. We’ll keep you updated as promotional pricing becomes available
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