Supplies continue steady from California although many shippers are skeptical regarding future available acres with pending transition and prices have begun to spike with uncertainty of future supplies. Overall quality is holding with wide variations in color and weights , mostly due to mildew with most trimmed at field level. Central Valley CA has begun with mostly good quality but with similar variations in color and weights. Processors will continue to have the largest impact on markets as they supplement supplies during the upcoming transition. Expect volatility to last through the Fall season. Las Cruces , NM continues with light production due to the impact of previous and current rains. Streaming Pacific Hurricane season continues to affect mostly Mexico region producing dry veg and berries it has also has impacted Arizona , New Mexico and Texas all of which are either currently in production or will be in coming weeks.

Romaine and especially Heart demand continues to be strong with steady supplies. Increase pressure from the rising iceberg market will pressure Romaine markets higher. Demand has improved from all parts of the country. Quality has varied with a return of seeder growth. Transition to the Southern CA , Arizona deserts will take place in a couple weeks with reports of a few days behind schedule. Green leaf and Red leaf demand has also started to improve along with Romaine.

Domestic production from Northern Coastal region continues to be strong. The market has held mostly steady although surging supplies ahead of Thanksgiving promotions will result in some significant volume deals .A few quality issues from insect pressure remain but overall good quality. Regional production continues from Eastern Canada for a few more weeks.

Green Bell supplies continue steady as production transitions south with strong demand due to weather related losses in the Southeast and Mexico production areas . Prices spiked with increased demand from the east. Red Bell production has peaked and markets have spiked as well.

Good supplies on large sized celery. There is availability on all sizes, although small sizes are beginning to tighten up. Market is stronger than last week overall as colder nights and shorter day set in. Quality is nice with very few problems to report industry wide. Good production expected through next week. Demand should start picking up later next week and stronger markets will subsequently follow.

The Salinas and Watsonville areas are winding down, more buyers are looking for new crop fruit in the Santa Maria and Oxnard growing areas, Even with lighter available numbers, demand has been lackluster. The Salinas/Watsonville area is forecast for mostly sunny skies, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. The Santa Maria, California growing areas are forecast for sunny skies, becoming partly cloudy for the weekend, with highs in the 80s decreasing to the 70s on Sunday and lows in the 50s. The Salinas/Watsonville fruit has occasional bruising, white shoulder, overripe and decay with an average count of 22 to 24, occasionally smaller. Santa Maria fruit has occasional bruising, soft shoulder, misshapen, windburn and overripe. The average count is 20 to 22, occasional smaller.

Good availability and lower prices will remain for this week. Overall quality is fair, we are seeing some yellow cast and soft shoulder on all product loading out of California.

The market has remained unchanged for the last 10 days out of California. It does not look like we will see any changes anytime soon. Markets will remain constant through the remainder of the week. We are seeing a slight increase in price with product coming out of Central Mexico, cooler temperatures and rain are the factors behind price increase. We should have our first cartons of “Shui Ling” crowns crossing in Texas next week.

Lime – Fairly good availability on 175’s and smaller. The peak sizes are 235/200’s with 110’s and 150’s very limited. Even with the recent rains the quality has remained good. The market is to remain steady for the next week. Reports from the fields say size should pick up in 2-3 weeks.

Production continues steady with improving demand especially on the Heirloom variety.  Most varieties currently are seeded or Thornless. at reduced prices. Production is peaking on Medium size profile.

Volume has yet to increase in the desert and is all but finished on the Westside. Mexico volume is moderate. Next week other than the Westside finally being completely done volume looks to increase a bit as we get past the rain damage in the desert. Ground spots however will most likely remain for the rest of the deal. Mexico is bracing for a Hurricane which could inhibit production and transporting to the border, keeping their volume limited. Demand had been lackluster due to high prices and underwhelming quality, which is limiting the retail appeal leaving processors and food service as the only significant sectors still demanding product. Next week this dynamic looks to change little. We expect at tense but steady market next week.

Scarring is still an issue in the desert. Volume has been low due to spotty quality and light plantings this year in those areas. Mexico has been better quality and in good volume. The price gap between domestic and Mexican product has been significant with Mexico trading at a 6.00 discount compared to domestic. The irony here is that Mexico has much better product right now with much less scarring, better condition and better brix. Domestic commercial grades are selling closer to the # 1 grades from Mexico. Domestic sizing continues to run very big with jbo 4s and 5s the prominent counts per carton.  Mexico has more of a run of sizes peaking n 5 and 6s. Next week this dynamic looks to continue. Domestic will struggle with quality and volume. Mexico should continue to be in good quality and volume unless they are affected by the hurricane. Demand should continue to be lackluster. We look for a steady market next week unless the Hurricane significantly disrupts production and transport.

Plentiful supplies and exceptional quality continues to be the story on California grapes. We are now in the peak season.  Market prices remain flat with plenty of spot buy opportunities available.  There is a plethora of varieties out there on red seedless and green seedless and certainly a variety for everyone. Now would be a good time to speak with us about booking your needs for the balance of the season to maintain the lower pricing.

Over the next 2 week, the California stone fruit season will be finishing up. Given the current demand, Black Plums should be available through early November with Red Plums going into late November. Markets have been steady and the quality remains good.

Production continues light with continued recent heavy rains further hampering harvest . Supplies are expected to remain tight through the month but should slowly improve with expected increase in demand next month.

Increased production from Western Mexico has started to materialize and the market has begun to ease. Many shippers are expecting good demand in anticipation of Holiday promotions . Quality has shown improvement . Production from Peru has also begun to increase. Prices are expected to firm during the Thanksgiving promotional season.

From Mexico, very little fancy grade fruit is being produced. Heavy to the choice grade from Mexico with the peak sizing of the crop small with a peak of 165/200’s. Demand exceeds supplies on 115’s and larger.  From California, quality is very nice out of the desert. Peak size is 140/165’s.  The market from California is mixed. One day it is lower with the day day it is back up.  As we settle into November, promo opportunities will abound.

New crop California navels have started with more volume coming over the next 2-3 weeks. Remember this early fruit has been gassed and the external and internal color/quality may be an issue relative to your specs.  This will improve as we work through this early fruit. There will be plenty of 113’s and 138’s for the season with shipper ready to book ads on those sizes.

Yellow squash has mostly finished in Santa Maria growing areas. Italian squash is still readily available on the coast and quality has been holding up. Yellow and Italian squash now available out on Nogales. We are seeing good volume for now, although quality is beginning to suffer as a result of the recent tropical storms in Mexico.

Cauliflower  The market has been firm with lighter supplies due to cooler evenings. Quality has been good with some insect pressure in the hotter inland locations.

Broccoli Production continues steady with a strong market. Demand has been steadily improving.

Most Herbs and Bunching Green production continues to be light with improved demand. The markets are expected to advance with increased pressure from East coast demand. Expect some volatility in supplies as we approach the Fall and “Homegrown ” production becomes scarce.

Leaf, Iceberg  as well as Romaine Production has been limited , mostly due to quality with heavy insect and mildew pressure. Expect markets to continue to advance as demand increases from the east.

Lemons: Improved production and reduced quality has eased demand, although quality has improved from the desert as well as Mexico and Chile. Supplies should hold steady with a higher percentage of fancy fruit expected.

Oranges  Navels have begun with limited supplies  Expect limited supplies and reduced sizing profile through November.

Limes: Supplies from Mexico continue to improve and the market remains steady. Quality has held steady despite weather interruptions with improved color but continued small sizing profile.

Grapefruit: Production is light and desert supplies will be limited through November.

Mandarins: Limited Production  has begun and is expected to ramp up in November although sizing nor volume is expected to fill Holiday demand . Time is running out to Reserve your promotional supplies for the Holidays.

Mexico: Mexico production has improved with additional supplies expected.. Quality has been good although continuous rain has increased spotting or darkening skin. Promotional supplies are available through November. as well as off shore varieties.

California: Season will begin early 2019.

Green & Red  Central Valley supplies continue to be excellent along with outstanding quality. Specialty varieties , especially reds are exceptional size and brix levels.

Carrot Production has been steady but excessive heat in the Central Valley most of the Summer has interrupted production , further hampering availability with advanced notice already required with current heavy demand .

Potato supplies will continue steady with most supplies moving into storage on Gold, Red and Russets.

Onion demand has been good and production is steady with improving demand .Quality has been very good The market continues to be strong, especially on Red and White.

OG Watermelons Production from Mexico (Nogales) has been improving although they have been hampered by continued rains throughout Mexico Supplies of the mini’s will remain limited as well.

OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews  Production from the Southern desert and Mexico has been slow to start with intermittent rains from the remnants of Pacific Hurricanes.. After a long run of extremely high quality we are currently evaluating quality after heavy rains soaked the production area last week.

Shorter days and cooler nights on both sides of the country are setting in and markets have begun to firm . Production continues mostly steady as many shippers are expanding their Fall acreage to offset lower yields and expected higher demand. Overall quality is good with wide variations in color and weights , mostly due to distribution of mildew around the valley with most trimmed at field level. Processors will continue to have the largest impact on markets as they supplement supplies during the upcoming transition. Expect volatility to last through the Fall season. Transition to Central Valley growing areas will begin next week. Las Cruces , NM continues their Fall harvest with excellent quality and color. Production has been light due to previous Summer rains impacting plantings although supplies look to rebound next week extending into November.

Romaine and especially Heart demand continues to be strong although supplies have improved with increased Fall plantings allowing the market to soften.  Improved demand is expected next week as East Coast production areas have experienced their first Frost. Quality has varied with a return of seeder growth. Cooler nights forecast should help improve quality going forward. Green leaf and Red leaf demand has stalled but is expected to improve next week.

Domestic production from Northern Coastal region continues to be strong. The market has held mostly steady. Some quality issues from insect pressure have been more frequent but overall quality is good. Regional production continues from Eastern Canada.

Green Bell supplies continue steady as production transitions south with strong demand due to weather related losses in the Southeast and Mexico production areas . Prices spiked with increased demand from the east. Red Bell production has peaked and markets have spiked as well.

Steady production continues this week out of Salinas and Santa Maria. not much change from last week, shippers are still heavier on the large sizes. All sizes are plentiful however. Quality remains strong, with good color and condition throughout.  We expect this market to tighten towards the end of this month as temperatures cool and buyers begin to stock up for thanksgiving pull.

Lighter supplies due to smaller yields in all the growing areas will continue into next week. Harvest estimates have been lower than expected. This is due to the loss of fruit from the rain that hit several days ago. We saw market prices jump up if in the front part of this week and remain firm. The weather has cooled down a bit, especially at night and early morning. This cooler weather will help improve quality and produce firmer fruit. We had several reports of soft berries and bruising over the last week, which is to be expected after a rain. Moving forward, we expect supplies to remain consistent, and quality will be better. I do not foresee a big jump in market prices, but it will be a slow and gradual incline. Barring any more rain or freeze, we expect Salinas and Watsonville to continue with production for the next several weeks. Santa Maria and Oxnard will continue to be in full production and Mexico will slowly ramp up toward the end of the month.

Prices are in a range right now due to quality. Consider the domestic market finished. Mexico is slowly ramping up, but volumes are still low. Very little of the Mexican fruit is making its way over to California, so markets remain higher in all California loading locations. However, the fruit that is coming up from Mexico is being sold out of McAllen, TX at a much more aggressive price. Unfortunately, this still leaves most shippers in a “demand exceeds supply” position, and we can continue to see limited supplies until Mexico’s production is consistent enough to fill the pipeline. Additionally, Mexico has received some heavy rains over the last several days which could further delay harvest.

Supplies have been steady. We now have several areas in production. Salinas / Watsonville are winding down, but are still harvesting. Santa Maria has small volume, and Mexico is ramping up. As we transition to primarily Mexico production, we expect no gaps or shortages of supplies. Demand has been consistent, and markets have been steady. We have fruit available to load in California and Texas. Quality is good.

Supplies are light and we see increasing supplies over the next few weeks. We are seeing more arrivals of Peruvian fruit on the east coast and Mexico is increasing for the west. We expect to see supplies continue to be light for the next week, then ramp up by the end of the month. We will see Mexico and Baja start transferring more fruit to McAllen and California. Additionally, we will see Chilean production start up in November. As stated above, demand is still very strong. Market prices have remained higher and firm.

Unlike broccoli cauliflower can not figure out what it wants to do..Markets at the beginning of the week were good and so was demand. Now it seems like there are ample supplies, especially in the Santa Maria area, and shippers will be looking to make deals as we finish out the week. Run your offers by us please!!

There has not been much change in the market this week. Crown cuts loading out of California are still in good demand and prices are staying in the mid to high teens. We expect the market to remain at these current trading levels for the rest of the month. Prices may fluctuate up and down slightly, but no major corrections are expected. There is more product crossing into Texas out of Central Mexico and the market is trading at $2.00 – $3.00 lower there than in California. We will start our “Shui Ling ” broccoli program loading in Pharr, TX next week.

Small fruit like 200, 230, & 250’s remain plentiful with opportunity buys out there. Supplies of the larger sizes (110’s, 150’s, and 175’s) are slowly increasing in volume. Unfortunately, the rains have continued in Mexico making for fair quality. The forecasts are for the rains to continue.

Production continues steady with limited demand . Market continues to offer values on all sizes. Most varieties currently are seeded or Thornless. Limited supplies of the superior Green Globe or Heirloom variety have begun with expected elevated pricing.

Cantaloupes continued on the snug side, especially early this week as rain in the desert delayed the harvest of those starting their deals and interrupted that of those already started. Westside is down to a mere 2 or 3 still harvesting. Sizes were skewing large in the desert peaking on 9 and jbo 9s with even some jbo 6. There were more 12s starting to be harvested as of today. The Westside has been running mostly 12s and 9s with very few larger and smaller sizes available. Quality has been okay, but fall melons always run a bit greener than peak season melons on the Westside. Demand was slowed by higher prices. Some users bought ahead of the gap and have had enough to carry them through. Thus when desert production began to pickup up prices stalled and discounts are starting to creep into the deal. Mexico is going and is selling at a 1.00-3.00 discount, but domestic buyers in many areas tend to shy away from Mexican cantaloupe. Next week the Westside will be wrapping up over the course of the period. The desert should keep producing and supplies could increase as the weather is expected to be stable and warm. Demand will be hampered by expected cool weather in the Midwest and East and high costs of current inventories. We expect a somewhat lower market next week.

Honeydews fell into the same supply gap as cantaloupes. There were even less available. This week they were even a bit shorter in supply as domestic growers struggled to get started in the desert and the Westside was done but for one supplier. Mexico had light supplies. Sizes ran large in the desert and was showing quite a bit of scarring. Sizes were small on the Westside pretty much 5s and 6s in Mexico. Next week Mexico and the desert should increase in supplies as they get past their weather issues. Westside for all intents and purposes will be done. Demand has been and will continue to be slowed by high priced inventories and cooler weather in populated consumption areas. We look for a lower market next week.

Steady as we go. Grapes are plentiful on excellent quality. We have not seen any issues from the past rains. Markets continue to be on the bottom and flat. The shippers will be aggressive on volume deals. Plan aggressive promotions for the balance of the California season.  Have confidence in the eating quality as all varieties are brixing high.

The season is just about over from California. There are a few large size Peaches around but those will clean up quickly going into next week. Black and Red Plums continue to be available through next week but will continue to taper off. Market prices have been steady on moderate demand.

Production continues light with recent heavy rains further hampering harvest . Supplies are expected to remain tight through the month but should slowly improve with expected increase in demand next month.

Increased production from Western Mexico has started to materialize and the market has begun to ease. Many shippers are expecting good demand in anticipation of Holiday promotions . Quality has shown improvement. Production from Peru has also begun to increase with prices easing.

The offshore deal is quickly finishing. Mexican production continues with demand exceeding supplies on the Fancy Grade Mexican fruit. Southern California and Arizona are continuing to crank up volume, 140’s & larger continue to tight with the smaller sizes most plentiful. The quality is coming in very good and will continue to as we hit peak production. Markets mostly steady to slightly lower.

New crop California Navel will be available next week. Peak sizes will be 88/113/138’s. This will be a great time to push bag promo opportunities. The eating quality is expected by good with the brix levels higher than normal for this time of year. Market prices on the New Crop Navels is expected to be strong. The California Valenica crop will continue limping to it’s end. Poor to fair quality expected with plenty of soft fruit and regreening.

Good supplies of zucchini still coming out of Santa Maria. Yellow squash is nearing the end of the season in Santa Maria. Nogales squash has started and product is crossing daily from Mexico. Italian and Yellow Squash are plentiful out of Nogales at this time. Grey squash is also available. We expect some quality issues ahead on Nogales squash as a result of heavy rain and wind that came through Sonora Mexico last week. The extent of the damage is yet to be determined.

Cauliflower  The market has been firm with lighter supplies due to cooler evenings. Quality has been good with some insect pressure in the hotter inland locations

Broccoli  Production has improved slightly but the market continues to be strong. Demand is expected to improve heading into the fall as eastern regional supplies are likely to finish with frost expected on the East coast.

Most Herbs and Bunching Green production continues to be light with improved demand. The markets are expected to advance with increased pressure from East coast demand. Expect some volatility in supplies as we approach the Fall and “Homegrown ” production becomes scarce

Leaf, Iceberg  as well as Romaine Production has been limited , mostly due to quality with heavy insect and mildew pressure. Expect markets to continue to advance as demand increases from the east.

Lemons:  Improved production and reduced quality has eased demand, although quality has begun to improve from the desert as well as Mexico and Chile. Supplies should hold steady with a higher percentage of fancy fruit expected.  .

Oranges  Valencia season has finished prematurely and Navels are ready to start up next week.  Expect limited supplies and sharp price increases until the Navel crop comes in fully early next month.

Limes:  Supplies from Mexico continue to improve and the market remains steady. Quality has held steady despite weather interruptions with improved color and sizing.

Grapefruit:  Production is light and desert supplies will be limited until December. expected for the balance of the month.

Mexico: Mexico production has improved with additional supplies expected.. Quality has been good although continuous rain has increased spotting or darkening skin. Promotional supplies are available through November. as well as off shore varieties.

California: Season will begin early next year 2019.

Green & Red  Central Valley supplies continue to be excellent along with outstanding quality. A few older varieties with smaller sizing profiles are expected to decrease resulting in a tighter price range. The remaining “newer” varieties, especially reds are exceptional size and brix levels.

Carrot Production has been steady but excessive heat in the Central Valley most of the Summer has interrupted production , further hampering availability with advanced notice already required with current heavy demand.

Potato supplies have transitioned to the Northwest with improving supplies of Gold, Red and Russets. Cooler nights will impact supplies moving forward.

Onion demand has been good and production is steady with improving supplies of Reds. Quality has been very good. The market continues to be strong, especially on Red and White.

OG Watermelons Production is winding down from Central Valley California and is in transition to Mexico (Nogales) Supplies are expected to improve by the end of the month.

OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews production from Westside District, CA is just about finished and only a few shippers have begun harvest from the Southern desert and Mexico . After a long run of extremely high quality we are currently evaluating quality after heavy rains soaked the production area last week.

Most shippers have improved although below budgeted volume but stalled demand has led to a reluctant market correction. Forecast call for mildly warm temperatures which should be ideal for quality . Limited labor will keep supplies from overwhelming the market. Overall quality is good with some variations in color , weight and appearance due to fringe burn and mildew pressure.

​Romaine and Heart production continues to be managed with some shippers harvesting 50% of their product while others continue full harvest. Demand has slowly improved. Labor shortages will avert any potential oversupply. Expect continued variations in quality, availability and price until consumer confidence fully returns.  The Green leaf and Red leaf markets have also been depressed with Eastern regional production eroding demand.

Production from Mexico is winding down with heavy insect pressure forcing an early end to the season. Central Coast supplies have been slow to start but should improve heading into next week. The market has shot up dramatically with most shippers allocating supplies until their new crop gets fully started.

We are seeing tighter supplies industry wide. Salinas production is slowly picking up momentum. Oxnard production is winding down and is expected to be completely finished by the second week of July. Quality has been nice with very few issues to report. There have been more large sizes available, with small sizes are in tight supply. We expect supplies to carry through the holiday and volume will improve post holiday.

Green Bell production looks to be strong from the Central Valley with pricing adjusting from it’s seasonal high. Red Bell production will now be limited until production begins in Central California, expect higher pricing for the balance of the month.

There is higher demand on Valencia oranges. Harvests have been keeping up the pace at this point. There are fewer small sizes available and pricing is reflecting this. Quality has been very good on Valencias with very few problems to report other than some slight greening. We expect this market to strengthen as supplies dwindle in the coming weeks.

Market has weakened and most shippers are looking for business. Both bunch and crown cuts are readily available. Run your offers by us.

The market has cleaned up as we move towards the end of the Holiday pull. Many suppliers have gone the route of the juicers and the freezers in order to clean up the large inventories of fruit. Promotional pricing for the 4th help clean up the large cooler inventories. Expect fruit sizing to continue to run small into next week. Estimates will continue to be down for the majority of shippers out of the Watsonville area. Prices will be of the steady and most likely range from $9.00 to $10.00 next week. The weather forecast for next week the Salinas / Watsonville area is for Sunny and mild temps ranging from 68- to 72 degrees all week.

Expect California supplies to continue to lighten up. The central valley areas have seen warm weather, and it has pushed fruit forward. Quality is being reported as good, but with the recent heat, we can expect to see some softer berries if the cold chain is broken. Maintaining proper ride temperatures is imperative on long trips. Growers are packing mostly 6oz, but Pints are available. North Carolina continues with harvest, but has had a recent set back due to rain. We expect production to recover quickly. Quality is good, and prices have been steady. New Jersey is getting started with light production this week and the Pacific Northwest begin around the 1st of July.

Demand exceeds and extremely limited industry-wide.  Mexico’s seasons has come to an abrupt end and California is slowly ramping up. Georgia has been increasing supplies this week.  Supplies are expected to remain very limited for the next 1-2 weeks out of all other areas. Look for North Carolina to come into play next week. We will have some light central valley harvest starting in California next week. While at the same time the areas of Santa Maria, Salinas and Watsonville will hopefully bring some relief to the market place.

Status quo for the market. Supplies remain limited. Mexico’s season has come to an end, and California is slowly ramping up. The general feedback from all shippers is that availability will continue to be light until Salinas/Watsonville increase production. The transition will be slow, but we expect improvements week over week for the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Good availability on all sizes. The weather along the Central Coast growing regions of California has been very nice this week and harvest volume has increased. Run your offers by us.

Production of the heirloom artichoke has peaked on large sizes with still good values on medium sizes. Markets on larger sizes have firmed while deals continue to be available on medium sizes. Take advantage of the superior Heirloom variety. while supplies last.  Moderate supplies of the “thornless” variety continue to be available at reduced pricing.

Transition time is here. Desert deal is winding down and could be hastened due to poor market conditions that will be exacerbated by competition from the Westside. Transportation woes continue. A few of the Westside growers are harvesting now, but more will join the pile this weekend and next week. Demand has continued to be tepid at best due to the aforementioned transportation woes and general overall slow trading. Next week demand cold pickup at bit as there seems to be some increased promotional interest from retailers. Transportation will continue to be an issue but that could be offset as Westside loading makes it easier to lad partial trucks and mix it with other products. It has yet to be determined how sizes will run in early fields but 9s and 12s are expected to be peak size. Quality in desert is getting a bit tired but Westside should be nice. We look for a steady to slightly better market next week with less discounting than has been the case in the desert.

Like cantaloupes the transition from the desert to the Westside is well underway. In fact, honeydews have started slightly before the cantaloupes. Sizes as with the desert are running mostly 5 & 6s. Quality is good. Transportation and overall slow trading has kept prices in check with discounting occurring in the desert. Next week the desert should be done for all intents and purposes. Westside should continue to increase supplies. We look for the market to firm next week with less discounting, But no dramatic price rises either.

Desert will continue for another week, and northern districts should be starting about then. Demand has been tepid as the same transportation woes are affecting demand. Supplies have been moderate but have felt abundant due to the lack of demand. That should continue when the north starts. We see little change next week but a possible rise in prices the following week.

Central Valley greens will start towards the middle of July. Current growing areas are Mexico and Coachella Valley. Quality and color is very nice and good sugar is being reported. This market is slipping as Mexico rolls loads and cleans up inventories for the season.

Red grape pricing is coming off as the growing regions overlap . central valley reds are expected to start harvesting this weekend, which will help ease the market. Early quality reports are good on central valley grapes.

Cauliflower production has improved as weather returns to near normal. Expect steady supplies into July. Quality has been excellent.

Broccoli  production has been steady with most shippers expected to be steady for the next couple weeks . Quality is improving with the mild weather.

Most Herbs and Bunching Greens have maintained good production although expect some volatility in supplies throughout the month. The market is expected to stay steady.

​​​Leaf, Iceberg  as well as Romaine  supplies  continue steady with improved availability and quality.

Lemons:  The crop has been very good quality with mostly large sizing profile . The market has strengthened even on large sizes and is expected to remain strong through the month as we see production limited to Southern California district.

Oranges: Valencia’s supplies have improved with increased sizing and sugar profile.  Demand continues strong.

Limes: Quality is showing signs of improvement from Mexico and the market continues strong​.​ California production is limited.

Grapefruit:  Supplies have been steady with good quality and demand keeping prices elevated. Sizing profiles have increased.

Carrot ​Production has been steady but warmer weather in the Central Valley will help improve supplies although advanced notice is still required with current heavy demand .

Potato supplies from California continue steady supplies on Gold ,  Red and now Russets although sizing has been smaller than anticipated limiting bulk count packs.

Onion demand has been good and production is strong as new crop production has begun from Southern California deserts supplementing supplies from Mexico. Quality should improve as storage supplies have been reduced. The market continues to be strong.

Mexico: Production from Mexico has been hampered by rain and is declining weekly.  Expect lighter volume through the month. Anticipating Flor Loca crop to begin in July. California: California Hass continue with strong demand and elevated pricing compared to imports and other varieties. Expect limited domestic supplies to last through the Summer.

​OG Watermelons  Supplies on seedless are steady.  Quality has been good from Mexico with slightly smaller sizing profile. Availability has improved and the market remains strong with reduced east coast supplies keeping pressure on West Coast production. Bakersfield has started with excellent quality and brix levels .Mini seedless ​supplies continue to improve.

OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews production from California , Arizona desert region has good volume with excellent sizing and flavor profiles .Overlap supplies should allow for good values heading to the weekend. Honeydews will increase availability this week. as well.

Green & Red :  Mexico and Coachella production has increased and the market has started to settle although many shippers selling out daily. All varieties continue to struggle to reach appropriate color, sizing and brix levels. Central California production is right around the corner but most shippers are reporting to have continued smaller sizing, color and brix levels . Shippers are starting to offer Ad promotions.

Weather continues to be cool and mild throughout the production area which has kept supplies moderate although with demand to match, the market has retreated .Quality has been improving with mildew pressure expected to increase as a result of the persistent heavy marine layer along the coast. Some shippers are still packing lighter lettuce while some are reporting heavier lot.

​Romaine and Heart production continues to be moderate with many shippers harvesting 50% of their product while others continue full harvest. Demand has started to slowly improve from the outbreak debacle which would explain the slow down in iceberg demand. Labor shortages will avert any potential oversupply. Expect continued variations in quality , availability and price until consumer confidence fully returns.  The Green leaf and Red leaf markets have also retreated, with Eastern regional production getting started.

Production mostly from Mexico and Southern California​ has slowed allowing for the market to improve. Production from Central Coast is limited , Quality continues to be mostly good with some insect damage reported from all districts.

This market continues to be steady this week. There have been a few shippers trying to raise pricing on small sized celery but overall we are seeing similar conditions as last week. Shippers are still looking to move product, especially on large sizes.  There is availability in Salinas, although at a premium price above Oxnard. Salinas is not expected to harvest any significant volume until the middle of next month. Quality is very nice overall.

Demand from the East has kept prices strong. Supplies on Green Bells should be steady although transition to Central Valley could create lighter supplies. The Red Bell market has been tiered with better quality from Coachella while deals continue on mostly fair quality from Nogales. Expect lighter supplies as Mexico finishes in coming weeks.

 California Valencias are increasing in volume, mostly on large sizes. Quality is very nice with very few problems to report. There are still some navel varieties available but supplies are diminishing quickly. We expect lower than normal supplies all summer in California due to abnormal weather conditions this past winter.

We are starting to see a slight reprieve in prices, mainly with the crown cuts. Bunch broccoli remains somewhat limited and will finish the week in that manner. Overall quality is fair. Product remains branchy and some yellow spotting is being reported. Make sure your orders are being inspected before loading.

A plethora of supplies will be available thru the front part of next week.continue to Santa Maria, Salinas and Watsonville are in full production with good quality and heavy volumes. Transportation continue to be tight. Consider Oxnard finished for the season as supplies are dwindling fast. The majority of the suppliers are pulling out of fresh harvest and are using the remaining fruit for juice and processing. Quality has been fair at best in this area. To absorb the sudden onset of volume, Santa Maria growers have also dedicated a big portion of their fruit to processing this week. Although this will help, supplies continue to be heavy with plenty of good quality fruit to push. Aggressive prices and volume opportunities are available. Salinas and Watsonville production saw a boost last week as well. This week, harvest continues to be steady with good availability and good quality. Again, aggressive prices and volume opportunities are available. As we move past this wave of volume and post-holiday demand lull, we hope to see markets begin to normalize. Looking forward, all areas expect to.

Blackberry supplies are gradually increasing. Domestic harvest is still limited, so Mexico continues to be the primary source. However, shippers expecting Santa Maria to start ramping up over the next two weeks and Salinas / Watsonville to start by the beginning of June. Quality is good; berries are large with good flavor. Market prices have been fairly steady and will gradually adjust as volume increases. Georgia has now started with light volume. Quality is good, but price is higher. Supplies will improve in this area moving forward.

Due to weather in Florida, Supplies came to a sudden halt last week their season ended abruptly. Georgia has had light harvest with on and off rain. California is very slow to get started with minimal harvest, and Mexico is winding down. All of this led to an industry-wide supply gap. Demand continues to far exceed supply this week as we wait for production to increase in California. Market prices have escalated, and coverage remains a challenge. That being said, the shortages are expected to be temporary. California growers are expecting supplies to increase rapidly over the next two weeks and North Carolina will begin harvest by the end of the month. Total production numbers are expected to ramp up and hit peak volumes by the first two weeks of June. New Jersey will start the middle of June.

Supplies have started to improve as domestic production in California is gradually increasing. We continue to see an overlap with Mexican fruit being harvested consistently. Quality in both regions is being reported as good, and prices have started to decline slowly. Moving forward we expect to see domestic harvest continue to improve as Salinas and Watsonville areas begin early June. Market prices are expected to adjust down gradually as volume increases.

Slightly better supplies have started showing up over the last few days. It seems as though some shippers have better volume than others thus causing as much as a $5.00 spread between the high and low prices. Quality is good, some light cream cast and soft shoulder is being reported but nothing too excessive. Check with your Produce West salesperson for best quality and price.

Production from Mexico has slowed as supplies shift to cooler production areas. Quality from California has been excellent but limited.  Northwest and Eastern regional production areas including New Jersey and Michigan are expected to help fill in supplies as the weather improves and keep prices steady.  Organic supplies are expected to be tight on limited domestic production..Quality has been excellent.

Production of the heirloom artichoke has peaked on large sizes with still good values on medium sizes. Markets on larger sizes have firmed while deals continue to be available on medium sizes. Take advantage of the superior Heirloom variety. while supplies last.  Moderate supplies of the “thornless” variety continue to be available at reduced pricing.

As expected cantaloupes traded higher this week as a gap developed and there were much lighter supplies; The Offshore deal finished. Mexico enjoyed local demand and the desert areas started inconsistently with larger sizes being very tight. By mid week however, more domestic growers started and the early starters’ yields were becoming more consistent and running more 9, jbo 9s and 12 size. Thus prices began to level and then decline. Quality has been quite good. Next week domestic supplies should continue to increase with more growers starting their harvest. By the first week in June all participants should be producing consistent quality volume and sizes. Demand has been slowed by higher prices and tight and expensive trucks. Also next week by mid week there will be holiday arrival date conflicts. Market should be lower over the course of the next week.

Honeydew prices also rose this week with the demise of the off shore deals and the delay in the domestic deal start. Mexico prices went up in response to the overall lighter supplies as well. Demand was and continues to be hampered by expensive freight rates and competing fruits. Next week domestic supplies should increase, albeit at a slower pace than cantaloupes. Demand will be hampered by holiday conflict dates and continuing logistical woes. Market should be lower on honeydews starting the middle to end of next week.

Nogales has a good supply of green grapes available and good quality is being reported. Domestic fruit is starting in the Coachella Valley. Quality is very nice but supplies are limited and prices high, typical for the beginning of the California summer season.

Chilean red grapes are mostly finished. Most of the product is now coming out of Nogales Az. Quality has been very nice for this time of year. California is starting in light numbers and early quality reports have shown strong fruit.

Cauliflower Production has been slowed by extended cooler than normal weather which is forecast to continue through next week . Supplies have slowly improved but light demand will has kept markets steady. Quality has been excellent.  Broccoli  production has been impacted by cooler than normal temperatures but should rebound with any amount of warmth. Quality is improving with the mild weather.

Most Herbs and Bunching Greens have maintained good production although expect some volatility in supplies throughout the month. The market is expected to stay steady.

Leaf, Iceberg  as well as Romaine  supplies  continue steady with improved availability and quality.

Lemons:  The crop has been very good quality with mostly large sizing profile. The market has adjusted on larger sizes but the smaller sizes are expected to remain strong through the month as we see production improve from Southern California district.

Oranges: Valencia’s supplies have improved with increased sizing and sugar profile.  Demand continues strong.Limes: Quality was showing signs of improvement from Mexico and the market continues strong​.​ California production is limited.

Grapefruit:  Supplies have been steady with good quality and demand keeping prices elevated. Sizing profiles have increased substantially .

Mandarins:  Clementine production has almost finished as the California season nears its’ end.

Carrot ​Production has been steady but warmer weather in the Central Valley will help improve supplies although advanced notice is still required with current heavy demand .

Potato Supplies from California continue steady supplies on Gold and Red with Russets expected to begin June 11th.

Onion demand has been good and production is strong as new crop production has begun from Southern California deserts supplementing supplies from Mexico.

Mexico: Production from Mexico has started to tail off with continued strong demand. Expected steady decrease in supplies through the month.

California: California Hass continue with strong demand and elevated pricing compared to imports and other varieties.

​​OG Watermelons  Supplies on seedless are steady.  Quality has been good from Mexico. Availability has improved and the market is good from Nogales. Coachella has started with excellent quality and brix levels. Mini seedless ​supplies look to improve moving forward.

OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews production from Nogales is available with good quality and Domestic cantaloupes are increasing daily with excellent sizing and flavor profiles .  Honeydews will increase availability by the end of the month from the California, Arizona deserts.

Green & Red : Mexico production has begun increasing volume this week with reported excellent quality. The market has been strong but should start to ease as supplies increase. Coachella Valley, which is a little behind schedule, has also begun their domestic crop with limited production but is expected to ramp up in coming weeks as well.