Last weekends warming trend produced hot, humid conditions along the coast andaccelerated growth adding volume to an already tepid market. Quality appears to be unchanged varying from excellent to fair throughout the valley. Tip burn and mildew are visible on many lots with the best quality having lighter weights and darker color. Forecast calls for more moderate temperatures which could return supplies to more sustainable levels and steady the market.
Mix Leaf
Romaine market remains steady with mild demand and Romaine Heart production has surged causing the market to soften for most shippers. Quality has also downgraded with fringe burn, mildew and seeder pressure all increasing as well as building inventories leading to aging product. Mild temperatures this week will help shippers ease production and help stabilize the market. Green and Red leaf are also showing variable quality around the valley. Local Homegrown production areas continue with some weather issues but will continue to put pressure on California market to remain steady although with many shippers in their reduced summer acreage ,spikes in demand could lead to sudden price fluctuations.
Brussels Sprouts
Production continues from California with improving quality but still showing varied sizing, discoloration and insect pressure. Supplies are not expected to increase for another month.
Celery
Much slower market this week as local and regional areas increase production throughout the country. Salinas and Santa Maria are producing good, high quality volume and shippers are looking to deal on most sizes, especially 24 and 30 count celery. Be sure to run deals by us, as it will likely be a buyers market for the next couple of weeks.
Bell Pepper
Green Bell production in Gilroy and Hollister has started to peak with better pricing available. Increased production on Red Bells will follow by next week which should allow the market to adjust.
Broccoli
Sufficient supplies out of California, Maine and Canada are keeping up with demand creating a very dull market and making buyers complacent. Shippers on the East Coast are not very interested California or Mexico product. Movement is sluggish and does not look to change for the remainder of the week. Overall quality out of California has been nice and Mexico is a mixed bag due to the on and off again rains that growing region has been dealing with over the last few weeks.
Cauliflower
Supply exceeds demand and shippers are looking to make deals in order to get product moved. Please run any offer you may have by us and lets see what we can get done. Now is the time to promote as we have been offered some very aggressive prices for the remainder of the week.
Artichokes
Seeded varieties are in full production with sizing profiles starting to peak on medium sizes although demand has diminished entering the Summer season making Artichokes a Great value.
Strawberries
The central coast is finally experiencing normal temperatures in all growing areas. Very consistent temperatures have been ranging 75 to 80 degrees are expecting to continue into the weekend. The Majority of the suppliers have cleaned up the large inventories by discounting fresh prices and diverting fruit to the freezers. The Monterey Variety continues to dominate the market place with counts averaging 20 to 24 per clamshell. There has been some quality issues reported in the form of light bruising, few soft and an occasional soft shoulder.
Raspberries
A wide range in quality and pricing will continue into next week. California supplies are trending to the lighter side as volume out of Mexico is looking to increase over the next few weeks.
Blackberries
We are experiencing a split market as far as price and quality out of California. There is as much as a $8.00 spread between suppliers and we expect this to continue into next week.
Blueberries
Expect light supplies as we move to the varieties Blue Cro and Elliott. Volume over the next 2 to 3 weeks will be sporadic as we get set for the upcoming import season.
Oranges
Demand exceeds supply scenario on Valencia oranges this week. Suppliers are receiving premium pricing due to low supply. Heavy rains had initially resulted in lighter summers volumes, and now excessive heat is damaging some of the little fruit still available. The central valley has been receiving higher than normal temperatures this Summer. Quality is marginal, but with limited supply, buyers are taking any they can get their hands on. Schools are starting up this month which will further diminish supply and strengthen markets. Expect markets to climb throughout the month of August.
Cantaloupes
Prodigious local production and ample California production clashed to make the market struggle all week. Also the August swoon in demand commonly called Dog Days combined to make for a weak and dealing cantaloupe market this week. Sizing peaked on Jbo 9s which also drove up yields. Next week, production should continue to be ample and the slight cooling trend in the San Joaquin Valley could keep sizes running big. Labor day demand, if there is such a thing, will not kick in until the week after next. Demand could be helped as this week’s lower prices product is passed on to the consumer. Production has had some gaps and gluts this year so we could see an unexpected ebbing of supplies. Market should be dull and steady most of next week with a chance for improving conditions and prices toward the end of the period.
Honeydews
Although there are few local deals on honeydews, there is still plenty of product available in the face of lackluster demand. Sizes peaked on 5s then jbo 5s then 6s. Prices dipped a bit. Next week production will continue to be ample with Sacramento Valley picking up. Demand usually picks up a bit in September but that is 3 weeks away. Dull and steady as she goes is the outlook for honeydews
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Broccoli and Cauliflowerproduction continues to be steady with overall light supplies and good demand. Insect pressure is the main culprit limiting supplies. The market has remained firm on limited supplies but should settle at sustainable levels later this month.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most of the Herbs and Bunching Greens have experienced quality issues along with persistent insect pressure causing intermittent shortages although local Homegrown supplies have been sufficient to offset any availability issues.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Supplies have improved on Leaf, Iceberg as well as Romaine from California although heat and insect pressure will continue to impact supplies. Markets continue steady with limited demand to due competition from homegrown supplies.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot production continues to be strong although wind and heat have impacted harvest and quality. Onion & Potato demand has been good with good quality White, Yellow and Red Onion supplies from Central California while Potato supplies are expected to remain light due to extreme heat in the Central Valley .
OG Citrus
Lemons: Demand exceeds supply on all sizes and grades of fruit; anticipated to last into early fall. Chilean imports are helping overall availability and Mexico is trying to get started, but has been hindered and delayed by intermittent rain. Even with imports, overall supplies will remain tight.
Limes: The market is steady after rising last couple of weeks. Heavy precipitationhampered supplies but should rebound with drier conditions.
OG Melons
Central Valley Watermelons have been hampered by heat and delays on new plantings leading to limited production from California. Hot weather continues in the forecast and will likely lead to continued shortages on all melons including OG Cantaloupes and Honeydew
OG Avocados
Mexico: The Summer crop is starting slowly with volume increasing in the coming weeks. Sizes are peaking on 60s and smaller; limited availability on larger fruit.
California: Harvest volume continues to decline with some shippers packing only a few day per week. Supplies will continue to trend downward through August and the crop finishes for the season.
OG Berries
Strawberry production from Salinas and Watsonville continues with sizing and quality still hampered by fluctuating high temperatures and overcast weather. The market has tried to strengthen on better quality although bruising remains prevalent. Most shippers are trying to limit problems by sending their marginal fruit to the freezer / processors.
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