Lettuce

Markets have for the most part leveled although demand remains sporadic. Any shift on either side of the supply / demand formula has had considerable influence. We expect this volatility throughout the summer. Quality is mostly good although many fields continue to show irregular sizing which is impacting overall supplies. Tip burn continues to be present as well.

Leaf Lettuce

Romaine   Demand for both carton and hearts remain strong. Supplies, quality and pricing continue to vary. Reduced plantings has led to firmer overall pricing with occasional deals available. Quality is mostly good with growers managing tipburn at field level.

Green leaf , red leaf and boston  plantings are also reduced as demand and pricing has been mostly mild. Regional production has begun in the Northeast which has countered any reduction in acres on the West coast.

Celery

Steady supplies of celery are available out of both Santa Maria and Salinas. High freight rates along with areas like Michigan starting harvest has flattened the demand curve out of California. Quality reports in the Santa Maria and Salinas growing districts show overall good quality with very occasional signs of heat damage in the form of pith and some light color stalks.

Artichokes

Production of the Heirloom /Original Green Globe has finished for the Spring season. Supplies of the thornless varieties have begun to increase with mostly a large sizing profile and highly competitive pricing especially on mid sizes.

Cauliflower

It has been a cauliflower roller coaster ride over the last four weeks. Pricing is at the bottom again. Most shippers in both Santa Maria and Salinas are selling in the single digits. Good availability out of both regions. Run your offers by us.

Broccoli

Good supplies available this week out of both Santa Maria and Salinas as crops have turned the corner. For the most part we are finding good green color and tight domes with small beads. Mexican supply is somewhat limited for the next month during the growing regions rainy season. Product out of Mexico will be showing 50-75% hollow stem and yellow bead. Maine has started in a light way.

Brussels Sprouts

Coastal California supplies have improved with a mix of quality and sizing. Production is expected to remain steady as prices have moderated in recent weeks.

Green Onions

Mexico growers continue their reduced Summer acres which offset increasingly Hot temperatures in Mexico and local Eastern production this time of year. We expect the market to remain steady on moderate supplies and smaller sizing.

Strawberries

Cooler temperatures continue to slow fruit growth. Good demand is still in place for limited amounts of fruit. Look for this trend to stay in place until the second week of August when new crop Santa Maria fruit is expected to begin to produce

Raspberries

Similar to blackberries, raspberries are in very short supply and look for this trend to continue through next week. At that point we are expecting increasing volume week over week into September when the Mexican deal begins.

Blueberries

Multiple growing and better yields are serving to lower the market range and look for the market to stay flat through this week. The British Columbia region continues to come on slowly due to colder weather and intermittent rains.

Blackberries

Supplies will begin to ramp up week over week as the late season varieties are coming into peak production. We expect peak production by the 3rd week of August.

Stone Fruit

Peaches are available in the central valley of California and more large sizing available this week. Quality is good overall , although there have been some reports of soft fruit, a result of constant high temperatures in growing regions. Nectarines are heavier on the small sizes, and shippers are looking to move volume orders. Quality has been holding up overall with very few problems to report. Plums are peaking on the large sizes and deals are being made on red and blacks, especially on 60-70ct. Apricots are extremely tight and markets are getting active. All sizes have been light in volume and expected to continue through next week.

Grapes

Plenty of red seedless available in the California central valley and shippers are looking to move product. Many growers are coming on strong with product this week. We expect volumes on reds to continue building over the next few weeks. Quality is very nice on reds and product is holding up well at the store level. Green seedless are lighter in volume this week and expected to remain on the lighter side for the next two weeks. Quality is very nice with good sugar and strong fruit.

Citrus

Oranges – Valencias are in full swing in the California central valley. Production is beginning to catch up with demand, although product is still tight overall. USDA orders continue to consume much of the available inventory. Offshore navels have been slow to get started and still a few weeks out from any significant volume. Overall quality has been ok , although some issues have been reported as result of high heat in the central valley.

Lemons – Demand has slowed this week as more virus concerns creep back in and many restaurants close across the country. Mexican lemons have started to arrive, which is also easing demand. Offshore lemons have started to arrive on the west coast, which will also help ease demand and settle pricing in the coming weeks. Quality has been good on domestic, as well as import fruit.

Limes – This market is strengthening quickly. Heavy rains and high humidity in Mexico have resulted in issues and creating a shortage in supplies. As rains continue through the month of August, we will see short supplies and stronger markets. Expect markets to continue to rise in the coming weeks.

Cantaloupe

Supplies were running steady to slightly increased overall this week, but with robust retail promotions in place, they felt on the tight side for spot market availability. Sizes ran early in the week heavy to 9s and jbo 9s, but were starting to trend smaller as we approached mid week. Quality is good and market seems firm with some discounting on 12 count and a few jbo 9s count. Next week supplies should be picking up again, or at least available supplies as promotions are less robust. Production should be about the same overall with a few shippers that had good supplies this week will be lighter and vice versa. Sizes should swing back to mostly 9s and jbo 9s. We Look for a steady to slightly lower market next week.

Honeydew

Dews were also steady this week. Supplies remained ample and still skewing toward 5 and jbo 5s count with ample 6s count and few 8s. Quality was running quite good. Demand lacked the promotional support than cantaloupes enjoyed and the market was basically unchanged all week. Next week looks to be unchanged as well, with ample supplies of 5s and 6s. August is a good promotional month for dews which could improve demand somewhat, but no dramatic price changes are expected.

Mix Melons

A few suppliers have varied availability of varieties and sizes. Overall supplies are adequate and demand seems to be mostly matching up with them. Market is steady and appears to be staying so next week.

Dry Onions

Mexico has white onions and mixer quantities…California is going strong with long day varieties showing mostly good arrivals and occasionally bad. Idaho/Oregon have also started with light skinning, as have a few Washington Shippers. The market is holding strong in the $8-$9 range.

Asaparagus

Asparagus will start to show some tightness next week and remain tight all the way through August & most of Step, price is Going up, there are still a few deals around right now but shipment should start to subside next week. We expect to see higher prices in Mid-August. We expect volume to really start to pick up by the end of September with good promotable volume October through November all the way through Thanksgiving. December Looks like it’s going to be good all the way to Christmas.

Organic Items

OG Broccoli & Cauliflower

Cauliflower and Broccoli    The market has firmed on lighter supplies due to Summer reduction in planted acres. Quality remains mostly good but growers will battle insect pressure throughout the summer. As long as the weather remains mild we can expect steady supplies and pricing.

OG Herbs & Bunch Greens

Availability and pricing appear to be mostly steady with Local Homegrown production adding to overall supplies.

OG Root Vegetables

Carrot Production has been steady and Demand continues to spike as carrots offer a great grab and go option as well as being a staple commodity in the USDA Farm to Family Food Program. Continue to plan even further ahead to get partial coverage.

Potato and Onions  Markets continue to be strong as well as demand for retail packs. The USDA Food Box Program continues to be the driving force. Foodservice demand has improved but continues to lag behind norms. High temperatures have impacted quality and will likely lead to a premature end to the California potato crop with transition to the Northwest expected to be delayed. We expect shortages and advancing prices through August.

OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce

Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Demand for Romaine remains strong especially Hearts with lighter supplies due to reduced acres and increased insect pressure . Green, Red and Romaine show signs of improving quality as temperatures remain mostly mild . Quality should see weekly improvements as local Homegrown production is advancing in the east.

OG Citrus

Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Demand continues to be strong throughout the Citrus category due to retail sales and Food Box programs . California lemon crop has finished up as supplies from Mexico have been slow to improve with an overall small sizing profile. Pricing continues to be strong. All retail sizes are in high demand.  Many shippers have shifted production towards bags on All Citrus. Lime quality remains inconsistent and Hot weather followed by rain has significantly impacted harvest. Expect severe shortage through mid August possibly longer.  Valencias sizing profile has been leaning toward the smaller sizes which has benefitted from increased demand for bags at retail

OG Avocado

Mexico:  Production remains steady with good demand

California: California harvest continues to be steady as well with good demand and excellent quality with slightly higher oil content.

OG Grapes

California:   Central Valley production remains strong with good demand. We expect excellent flavor, quality and size to last through the Summer with promotional volume available. Some Mexican product continues to be available with significantly reduced quality.

OG Melons

California:   Cantaloupes and Honeydew production has been limited with strong demand. Watermelon production also continues to vary with growers hampered by high temperatures especially the mini Watermelon varieties. Demand remains strong for both.