Lettuce

Transition from the California Central Coast to Southwestern desert winter production region has created a gap in supplies pushing markets to 12 month highs.  Shortages will likely continue for another couple weeks but should peak early next week. Quality from all areas has issues with rain in the north on already weak fields and continued heat on early distressed lettuce from the desert resulting in high core, pale lettuce. Quality should rebound as growers get into their 3rd or 4th blocks.

Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout quality continues to improve increasing yields and softening market especially on off sizes   . Improved demand anticipated for Thanksgiving promotions will strengthen the market next week and beyond as most retailers will promo sprouts through the end of the year.

Mix Leaf

Romaine and Romaine Heart production continues along the California Coastal areas from Salinas to Oxnard. A few shippers will start Yuma this week but most won’t start for another 10 days.  Shortages on lettuce have increased demand for Romaine resulting in much higher markets. Quality continues to suffer from twist, seeder, and tip burn.   Greenleaf and Red leaf supplies have been less affected by burn and disease and continue to follow behind Romaine pricing. Yuma / Coachella Valley should be in full production by the middle of November.

Broccoli

Look for prices to trend slightly upwards as we head into next week. Lighter supplies out of Salinas and Santa Maria are expected over the next two weeks.  There is availability out of Mendota, Ca as well as product of Mexico out of Texas.

Cauliflower

Market is slightly higher and will most likely continue to increase into next week.  Warmer than normal weather over the last month has pushed harvest schedules which will now leave lighter supplies in Salinas and Santa Maria over the next two weeks

Celery

This market is just starting to heat up which is normal for this time of year.  Good volume is expected on the west coast, but we will still see a demand exceeds scenario, causing prices to inch upwards throughout the thanksgiving pull. There will be some gaps in production as northern area supplies lighten and more pressure is put on Oxnard product. Quality issues like pith have been reported in all areas.  Small sizes are currently more prevalent.

Artichokes

Thorn-less, seeded artichokes continue to be the predominate variety available.  Most shippers have been peaking on large sizes with light volume matching light demand on medium and small sizes.  Although still limited Green Globe, Heirloom varieties have begun to increase with the cooler more seasonable weather.  Demand will ramp up as the Holiday season approaches which will have a significant effect on the overall market.

Strawberries

The strawberry market is higher due to heavy rain during the past week and stripping of fruit on the plants.  The Majority of the shippers went to the Juicers with anything that was salvageable. There will be very little fruit available for the fresh market until next week. Growers expected some fruit for shipment at the end of the week, but the fruit in the field had very little legs, thus plants had to be stripped or fruit is scheduled for the juicer again. The weather forecast for Santa Maria, California is sunny, highs in the 70s reaching into the 80s on Wednesday with lows in the 50s; Salinas/Watsonville, California is sunny with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s; the forecast for Oxnard, California is sunny skies, with highs in the 70s reaching into the 80s Wednesday and Thursday with lows in the 50s. In Salinas/Watsonville, most shippers are finished for the season. There may be some fruit available mid-week out of this area, but on a limited basis.

Melons

The cantaloupe market is active due to light supplies. Central California is finished. Central Arizona is going with light supplies. Mexican fruit is available and quality has been good.

Honeydew supplies are available in Nogales and quality is good.

Quality on both cantaloupes and honeydews is mixed.

Watermelons

We are seeing an increased supply of Seedless Watermelon coming from Mexico.  The market is very active as supplies increase to meet demand.

Grapes

The grape movement is very good. Most shippers have good inventory on red seedless grapes. The predominant variety on green seedless is Autumn King and they are moving very well at this time. The market is good on most varieties. Seems we still have a good amount of grapes to pick, but we are still waiting for color and sugars. We have good supplies of Red Globes and fair supplies of Autumn Royals.

Citrus

Valencia’s – Are finished for the season.

Navels – Are being harvested in CA now… Limited supplies of 72-88 with fruit peaking on 113, 138 and 163’s.  Quality has been the best we’ve seen in years.  High sugar and good color!!!!

Lemons – We are seeing good supplies of new crop lemons. District III and Mexican supplies are in better volume.  Mostly 165-200-235 here, district III is packing out 70% fancy and 20% choice.  The market has adjusted downward for the small fruit. Grapefruit – The market is active and supplies are increasing, but slowly.  Quality has been great.

Tree Fruit

Pomegranates are now being harvested is full force.  Good supplies on all sizes in #1 and #2 grade fruit.  Market is strong as demand outpaced supply.  Asian Pears are available with good supply.  Both varieties Shinseki (Brown) and Hosui (Yellow).

Persimmons are fresh and being harvested in the central valley now.  Fuyu and Hachiya are both available for your holiday baking and snacking needs.

Dry Vegetables

Green bells are active this week, with sporadic volume available from most regions.  The CA desert is starting up with light supplies and will need pre-books to play ball.

Red and Gold peppers are still available out of most regions.  Central CA is finishing up soon and the market is expected to stay strong.

Cucumbers seem to be coming consistently from Mexico.  The market is steady and so is supply.

Zucchini, and yellow squash is available from Mexico in Nogales with lighter supplies, but good quality.  We should see steady supplies via Baja and Central Mexico

Lettuce

Lettuce production has begun to wind down in the Salinas Valley for some shippers as most have transitioned harvesting to the Central Valley Huron area.  Lettuce quality in both areas continues to suffer affecting yields which in turn has strengthened the market back to seasonal highs.  Last week’s hot weather pushed an already stressed crop creating a temporary glut.  Normal Fall cool temperatures now dominating the State should have a positive effect on quality but will also stall needed production leading to a shortage of lettuce once again for the next couple weeks. Additional Growing areas such as New Mexico have also started new crop production with good quality and availability.

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Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout quality should get a boost with the cooler night time temperatures allowing the sprouts to grow at a normal pace, lessen insect pressure  and increase yields,  The volume should be heavy through the fall  but since it got off to sluggish start overall volume may not be as abundant as  once thought.  Watch for the market to surge as the heavy demand Fall/Winter season kicks in.

Mix Leaf 

Mix Leaf continues production along the California Coastal areas from Oxnard to Salinas.  Only a couple of shippers transition their production to Huron this week. Quality continues to suffer from twist, seeder, and tip burn. The market will firm as the Iceberg lettuce strengthens.   Green leaf and Red leaf supplies have been slightly less affected by burn and disease and continue to follow behind Romaine pricing.  Las Cruces has started production this week with very good quality.

Broccoli

Steady supplies are expected for the remainder of the week.  This is one of the few commodities that is still reasonably priced although there is the chance that the crown market could start to react due to lighter yields of tight beaded, uniformed heads.  Some fields have grown at faster rates than expected this time of year due to the warmer than normal night time temperatures.  Current loading locations are Mendota, Santa Maria and Salinas, CA along with product of Mexico shipping out of the McAllen, TX area.

Cauliflower

Demand has increased and will continue in this manner for the remainder of the week and most likely into next week.  Expectation of a supply gap is becoming a reality as warmer than normal weather in the California growing regions has pushed the crop ahead of schedule.  Many growers are finished harvesting fields two weeks ahead of schedule.  There is not enough product left in the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys to fill the void and the Desert region is not expected to start until late November.

Celery

Steady market and supplies currently coming out of Salinas and Santa Maria.  Oxnard product will begin regular production around the beginning of November.  Quality is looking nice in all areas and volumes remain consistent. Small sized celery is less prevalent and is normally a dollar or two more than larger sizes. Thanksgiving ads are quickly being locked up for mid-November pull.

Artichokes

Thorn-less, Seeded artichokes continue to be the predominate variety available.  Most shippers have been peaking on large sizes with light volume matching light demand on medium and small sizes.  Green Globe, Heirloom variety will begin to increase when the normal cooler evening temperatures return.

Strawberries

The strawberry market will have a wide range in pricing depending on the growing area, which include Watsonville, Santa Maria, Oxnard, Baja and Central Mexico.  Fruit quality is good out of most of the southern areas but field inspectors are reporting some pin Rot and bruising issues. Fruit sizing continues to in the 20 to 24 count range.  Expect better volume out of Oxnard next week.

Blackberries
Production continues out of Guatemala, as well as the Mexican harvesting is underway.  Guatemalan quality has been fair. Looking forward, we expect to see full production and good quality in a few weeks out of central Mexico in the next couple of weeks.

Raspberries

There will be good availability this week and next Suppliers will be looking to promote in order to stay in front good volume for the rest of the month

Blueberries

Some domestic crop remains in the marketplace with very light availability. This is mostly controlled atmosphere storage product and quality is fair at best. Offshore product is available from Central America and Central Mexico. Availability will be volatile depending on where you choose to load as product is being transferred daily to meet order requirements.

Melons

The cantaloupe market is very active due to very light supplies. Central California is finished. Central Arizona is going with light supplies. Yuma and Nogales (Mexican) cantaloupes will not start until next week. Honeydew supplies should are getting better.

Quality on both cantaloupes and honeydews is mixed.

Watermelons

We are seeing an increased supply of Seedless Watermelon coming from Mexico.  The market is very active as supplies increase to meet demand.

Grapes

The grape movement is very good. Most shippers have little to no inventory on red seedless grapes. The predominant variety on green seedless is Autumn King and they are moving very well at this time. The market is very firm on all varieties. Seems we still have a good amount of grapes to pick, but we are still waiting for color and sugars. We have good supplies of Red Globes and fair supplies of Autumn Royals.

Citrus

Valencia’s – There are good supplies of most sizes of Valencia’s.

Navels – Are being harvested in CA now… Limited supplies of 72-88 with fruit peaking on 113, 138 and 163’s.

Lemons – We are starting to see more new crop lemons. District III and Mexican supplies are in better volume.  Mostly 165-200-235 here, district III is packing out 70% fancy and 20% choice. We are going to see adjustments in the market. Grapefruit – New crop will start the end of October.

Tree Fruit

Pomegranates are now being harvested is full force.  Good supplies on all sizes in #1 and #2 grade fruit.  Market is strong as demand outpaced supply.  Asian Pears are available with good supply.  Both varieties Shinseki (Brown) and Hosui (Yellow)

Lettuce

Lettuce production continues from Coastal California with some shippers transitioning to the Central Valley of California by the end of the week.  The past weekend warm weather has pushed additional acres further ahead leading to a sudden surge of availability.  As the weather returns to more moderate temperatures production will level and the market should firm.  In the meantime take advantage of reduced pricing some shippers are offering.  Additional Growing area in New Mexico has also started new crop production with good quality and availability.

Brussels Sprout

Hot Weather has also affected Brussels Sprout Production causing the sprouts to be puffy and elongated limiting supplies of #1 and causing a heavy pack out of off sized Jumbo Sprouts.  Also insect pressure has become a major concern.   Production is still scheduled to increase with the return of the normal cooler fall weather pattern.  The volume should be heavy through the fall as long as weather and insect pressure don’t continue to interrupt the normal growth.  Promotional pricing will be available for the next couple weeks before the market firms.

Mix Leaf 

Similar to Iceberg Lettuce, Mix Leaf continues production along the California Coastal areas from Oxnard to Salinas.  Only a couple of shippers transition their production to Huron later this week.  Last week’s warm weather accelerated production but also tip burn and dehydration were added to existing pressure from Insects, Seeder, Twisting, Tip burn, Mildew and Soil Born disease.  The best quality will have limited defects upon shipping but will still likely show problems on arrival.  This reduction of quality continues to affect yields and overall availability although a temporary increase in volume will ease the market.  Green leaf and Red leaf supplies have been slightly less affected by burn and disease but have shown more dehydration issues on arrival.  New Mexico will start limited production next week with very good quality anticipated.

Broccoli

Steady markets for now. Product is coming out of Salinas, Santa Maria and Mcallen.  Yuma will start towards the end of November, with possibilities of a supply gap early next month. Quality is currently very nice in all regions.  Eastern broccoli is still producing, although production is decreasing daily.

Cauliflower

A softer market with more deals available on smaller sizes.  Quality has improved from the past week and inspections are showing product and color is getting back to normal.  We could see a stronger market later next week as preliminary harvest forecasts are down and transition is approaching.

Celery

This market is slightly stronger than last week, demand has seen some improvement and there have been some quality issues in Salinas and Santa Maria, mostly with pith.  There is small sized product available, and a dollar or two difference between sizes.  Oxnard is going to start in small numbers next week and early reports are showing good quality.  Mid-west product is finishing up and more demand will be focused out west as we get closer to holiday season pull.

Artichokes

Thorn-less, Seeded artichokes continue to be the predominate variety available.  Most shippers have been peaking on large sizes with light volume matching light demand on medium and small sizes.  Green Globe, Heirloom variety will begin to increase when the normal cooler evening temperatures return.

Strawberries

4 growing regions now harvesting.  Watsonville, Santa Maria, Oxnard and light supplies out of Mexico. Quality out of the north has improved, but some lots still have sheen and bruising. We expect the market to adjust down as demand has cooled off.  Prices should adjust $2.00 to $4.00.

Blackberries
Wet weather continues to hamper supplies out of Mexico. An improving weather forecast will increase available volume over the next week.

Raspberries

Producing regions are Baja, Oxnard, Watsonville, Santa Maria and Salinas. Supplies are increasing and quality is very good the further south you load. Varietal shifts have contributed to higher quality yields. Conventional production is forecasted to increase during October. Organics continue to be tight. Look for increased volume starting next week with new growing areas getting started.

Blueberries

Light supplies of Argentine blueberries are making their way into US ports as the domestic season winds down. Most customers have begun to switch from domestic to imports. The majority of the volume coming into the states are 6ounces with some 4.4’s available as well.

Melons

The cantaloupe market is very active due to very light supplies. Central California is finished. Central Arizona is going with light supplies. Yuma and Nogales (Mexican) cantaloupes will not start until next week. Honeydew supplies should are getting better. Quality on both cantaloupes and honeydews is mixed.

Watermelons

We are seeing an increased supply of Seedless Watermelon coming from Mexico.  The market is very active as supplies increase to meet demand.

Grapes

The grape movement is very good. Most shippers have little to no inventory on red seedless grapes. The predominant variety on green seedless is Autumn King and they are moving very well at this time. The market is very firm on all varieties. Seems we still have a good amount of grapes to pick, but we are still waiting for color and sugars. We have good supplies of Red Globes and fair supplies of Autumn Royals.

Citrus

Valencia’s – There are good supplies of most sizes of Valencia’s.  Navels – Are offshore and in good supplies on 36-40-48-56. Limited supplies of 72-88 and a few 105-113 are available. Lemons – We are starting to see more new crop lemons. District III and Mexican supplies are in better volume. Offshore lemons are still coming in. Mostly 165-200-235 here, district III is packing out 70% fancy and 20% choice. We are going to see adjustments in the market. Grapefruit – New crop will start the end of October.

Tree Fruit

Pomegranates are now being harvested is full force.  Good supplies on all sizes in #1 and #2 grade fruit.  Market is strong as demand outpaced supply.  Asian Pears are available with good supply.  Both varieties Shinseki (Brown) and Hosui (Yellow)

Vegetables

Green bells became very active last week as other growing districts finished up across the U.S.  The Central California is beginning to wrap up this season as well.  We will be looking to Coachella earlier this year to get supplies.  Red and gold bells will be promotable this week, but next week we will see Oxnard and Gilroy finishing up for the season.  Mexico will have less supplies due to Hurricane Odiles destruction.  Cucumbers, zucchini, and yellow squash very tight as we are transitioning from our summer fields into our fall fields.  October will be a very turbulent ride until newer districts will have stable supplies.

Lettuce

Lettuce market continues to be active. Fueled by quality issues affecting yields and Processors continuing to acquire acres to offset low yields. Recent hot weather will enhance soft, puffy lettuce further lowering yields. Some shippers will transition to the Central Valley in Huron next week which could help supplies but will likely just increase pressure on logistics. 

Brussels Sprouts

Hot Weather has also affected Brussels Sprout Production causing the sprouts to be puffy and elongated limiting supplies of #1.  Production is still scheduled to increase with the return of the normal cooler fall weather pattern.  The volume should be heavy through the fall as long as weather and insect pressure don’t continue to interrupt the normal growth.  Promotional pricing will be available for the next couple weeks before the market firms. 

Mix Leaf 

After a weekend heat wave along California Central Coast Quality conditions have worsened.  Internal burn and dehydration will be evident along with existing pressure from Insects, Seeder, Twisting, Tip burn, Mildew and Soil Born disease.  The best quality will have limited defects upon shipping but will still likely show problems on arrival.  This reduction of quality continues to affect yields and overall availability while keeping overall market active. Green leaf and Red leaf supplies have been slightly less affected by burn and disease but have shown more dehydration issues on arrival. East Coast demand will also increase as their local production areas fade.   

Broccoli

The weather over the last 4 weeks is beginning to take its toll on quality.  We are starting to see big bead, some spread and the occasional brown spot.  Market prices are at floor level and should start to trend upwards as yields decrease.  As an alternative to the current supplies from the Central Coast of California, Mendota growers will start their harvest next week and there are ample supplies of Mexican broccoli crossing in Texas.

Cauliflower

The excessively warm temperatures experienced throughout most of California last week has created some quality issues such as rough curd and slight yellow cast.  Lighter volume in California is expected over the next 14 days. Combine that with the termination of the Canadian and regional growing seasons we will see higher markets for most of October.

Celery

A steady market continues and large sizes are more prevalent.  Shippers are still struggling with smaller product, mostly because product is sizing up too quickly and shippers are less eager to harvest quickly.   Some issues with seeder, a result of the hot ‘Indian summer’ weather.  Good volume is expected for the next few weeks and thanksgiving promotions are currently available.  Let us know your needs and we will make sure you are covered.

Artichokes

Thorn-less, Seeded artichokes continue to be the predominate variety available.  Most shippers have been peaking on large sizes with light volume matching light demand on medium and small sizes.  Green Globe, Heirloom variety will begin to increase when the normal cooler evening temperatures return. 

Cabbage

The cabbage market continues to hold firm with light supplies in California. Better supplies out of California are expected around the middle of October.  The Upper Midwest will have steady supplies through the first of November.  It does not look like there will be much of a gap between the Mid-West regions finishing and the start of the southern states season which should create a seamless transition. 

Strawberries

Salinas / Watsonville / Santa Maria: Quality is still fair at best with the main issue as suppliers are quoting 20%defects at loading. Bruising and soft shoulders are the main issue. Harvest numbers are still less per acre than typically expected and labor shortages remain throughout the industry. Many fields in the Watsonville and Salinas area are going to be shut down for the season. Play orders and inventories close until quality improves. The fall crop fruit is still limited and commanding more dollars. Cooler temps

Blackberries
We have small volume coming out of Mexico with good quality being reported, but the recent rains in the region over the weekend will slow down volumes and cause a few arrival problems. Guatemalan product has good volume with fair quality.

Raspberries

Demand exceeds supply and volume will continue to decline as California finishes up its crop. Quality is still an issue with soft, leaky fruit. Temperatures in the mid to high 90s this past week have continued the decline in production out of California. We will be in this situation until  adequate fruit coming out of Mexico which is projected in the next 2 to 3 weeks. 

Blueberries

We have begun to see some of the imported Argentine blueberries come into the U.S. ports, as the domestic season comes to an end. Some domestic storage fruit is still available; but we have seen the majority of customers switching to the imports. Currently the imports that have arrived are being packed into 12/4.4oz clams.  There will be more of the 12/6oz clams over the next 7 to 10 days. Argentina will continue to export product by air, until we hit peak volume which will then be brought over on ships. The market will remain tight, with firm pricing, 

Melons

The cantaloupe market is very active due to very light supplies. Outside of a couple shippers, Central California is finished. Central Arizona is going with light supplies. Yuma and Nogales (Mexican) cantaloupes will not start until next week. Honeydew supplies are also limited, but Nogales (Mexican) supplies should increase also by next week. This 7 day gap in supplies will keep the market very high, but next week should be different. Quality on both cantaloupes and honeydews is mixed.

Watermelons  

Fall is setting in and the CA watermelon crop is beginning to show it. Sizing is down, with more of the volume being in the 45ct and smaller size profile. Quality remains in the very good to excellent range and markets seem to have stabilized. Seeded are still available in limited volumes with fair to good quality. Mini seedless are still in production but CA shippers are wrapping up quick. Baja supplies have seen quality challenges but growers are anticipating a rebound from recent issues. We will see Mexican supplies in mid-October and expect CA supplies to bridge the gap. 

Grapes

The grape movement is very good. Most shippers have little to no inventory on red seedless grapes. The predominant variety on green seedless is Autumn King and they are moving very well at this time. The market is very firm on all varieties. Seems we still have a good amount of grapes to pick, but we are still waiting for color and sugars. We have good supplies of Red Globes and fair supplies of Autumn Royals.

Citrus 

Valencia’s –  There are good supplies of 56-72-88’s, the 113-138’s are very limited on both grades. Fruit quality is fair. Navels – Are offshore and in good supplies on 36-40-48-56. Limited supplies of 72-88 and a few 105-113 are available. Lemons – We are starting to see more new crop lemons. District III and Mexican supplies are in better volume. Offshore lemons are still coming in. Mostly 165-200-235 here, district III is packing out 70% fancy and 20% choice. We are going to see adjustments in the market. Grapefruit – New crop will start the end of October.

Tree Fruit

Nectarines are finished packing, only a handful left. Peaches are still available for a couple more weeks. Mostly large fruit, very few small available. Plums are in good supply for large Reds and a full range of sizes for Black. Some shippers are packing from storage bins, few fresh pack from Northern area. Pomegranates are in! There are limited supplies of fuyu persimmons available in 1-layer and VF.

Vegetables

Green bells became very active last week as other growing districts finished up across the U.S.  The Central California is beginning to wrap up this season as well.  We will be looking to Coachella earlier this year to get supplies.  Red and gold bells will be promotable this week, but next week we will see Oxnard and Gilroy finishing up for the season.  Mexico will have less supplies due to Hurricane Odile’s destruction.  Cucumbers, zucchini, and yellow squash very tight as we are transitioning from our summer fields into our fall fields.  October will be a very turbulent ride until newer districts will have stable supplies.

Lettuce

Lettuce market continues to be active. Fueled by quality issues affecting yields and Processors continuing to acquire acres to offset low yields.  Overall acreage has increased but continued insect and disease pressure along with mild evening temperatures has resulted in less than optimal quality and yields. Deals on 30 size lettuce will continue as the Salinas Valley season winds down over the next couple weeks.

Brussels Sprout

Production has begun to peak with significant acres dedicated to processors.  By default the fresh market receives a substantial increase in volume from the residual overflow.  The volume should be heavy through the fall as long as weather and insect pressure doesn’t interrupt the normal growth pattern.  Promotional pricing will be available for the next 3 or 4 weeks before firming up for the Holidays  

Mix Leaf 

Steady markets along California Central Coast.  Quality conditions continue to dominate market tone.  Pressure from  Insect , seeder, tip burn, mildew and Soil Born disease has limited quality supplies keeping pressure on the market to remain relatively active especially Romaine and  Romaine  hearts.  Green leaf and Red leaf supplies have been slightly more abundant. East Coast and Canadian supplies will likely continue for another couple weeks or until significant weather approaches. 

Broccoli

This market remains steady, plenty of product coming out of California. More supplies are also coming out of Mexico and quality is good industry wide.  Some slight hollow stem but not enough to cause arrival problems.  There will be more emphasis on west coast product once eastern product finishes up within the next two weeks.

Cauliflower

Plenty of supply available and pricing is weaker industry wide. Although there is more product than in weeks past, there are still supply gaps.  This is market is close to bottoming out. There is a large range in quality, and reports of yellowing and spotting are quite common. 

Celery
Sluggish markets continue and plenty of product available in Salinas and Santa Maria areas. There has been some reports of pith in both growing regions.   To combat quality problems, growers have been forced to shed outer stalks, leaving us with a few more small sizes than normal. Michigan growing regions are winding down, which will put more emphasis on west coast product. We could see stronger markets as early as 2 weeks from now.   

Artichokes

Thorn-less, Seeded artichokes continue to be the predominate variety available.  Most Shippers have been peaking on large sizes with light volume matching light demand on medium and small sizes.  Green Globe, Heirloom variety will begin to increase when the normal cooler normal evening temperatures return. 

Cabbage
The cabbage market has tightened up in the past week with supplies dwindling down in the upper Midwest. Look for cabbage availability to start up in the north east and upper Midwest. Texas will look to start mid- October.   California supplies are limited but they expect to see an increase in volume by mid-October.

Strawberries

We now are working 3 areas as Watsonville winds down, Santa Maria has steady to slightly declining numbers and Oxnard is under way and commanding premium pricing. The quality is best out of the Oxnard area, but expect a $4-$6 range in pricing when compared to the Watsonville area.

Blackberries

Supplies are available out of Santa Maria, California, Texas and Mexico. Retailers are aggressively looking for Ad pricing over the next few weeks.

Blueberries

Winding down and will continue to be scarce as the domestic crop is dwindling and atmosphere controlled Blueberries are finished.  Argentine blues will be next.

Raspberries: 

Supplies will improve over the next few weeks as numbers are improving and we will have fruit available out of Mexico.

Melons

The cantaloupe market is very active with supplies winding down on the Westside.  There is a small gap in production, but the desert will get started next week.  Cantaloupe quality is fair to good.  The fruit will not travel very far. The honeydew market is steady with good supplies. Nogales has just begun to receive product and the desert should start next week. The honeydew quality is good to excellent.

Watermelons  

The watermelon market is very active and supplies are very limited domestically.  Baja is starting and Nogales will begin crossing soon. 

Grapes

The grape movement is very good. Most shippers have little to no inventory on red seedless grapes. The predominant variety on green seedless is Autumn King and they are moving very well at this time. The market is very firm on all varieties. Seems we still have a good amount of grapes to pick, but we are still waiting for color and sugars. We have good supplies of Red Globes and fair supplies of Autumn Royals.

Citrus 

Valencias – There are good supplies of 56-72-88’s, the 113-138’s are very limited on both grades. Fruit quality is fair. Navels – Are offshore and in good supplies on 36-40-48-56. Limited supplies of 72-88 and a few 105-113 are available. Lemons – We are starting to see more new crop lemons. District III and Mexican supplies are in better volume. Offshore lemons are still coming in. Mostly 165-200-235 here, district III is packing out 70% fancy and 20% choice. We are going to see adjustments in the market. Grapefruit – New crop will start the end of October.

Mangos 
There are a very limited supply of Brazilian mangos entering the U.S. in the Northeast. The variety is Tommy Atkins and peak sizes are 7s and 8s. Brazil’s volume is not expected to improve much in the next two weeks and demand is expected to continue to exceed supply. Going into October we anticipate the volume will improve and the sizing is also expected to shift to peak sizes of 9s and 10’s

Tree Fruit

Nectarines are finished.  Peaches are available for a couple weeks.  Sizing tends to be larger. Red Plums and Black plums are available and the market is strong. Pomegranates have started in CA.

Vegetables

Zucchini and Yellow squash are both very active with demand exceeding supply.  Nogales has started so supplies should increase.  Green Bell Peppers are moving very well and supply is good.  Red and Gold Bell Peppers are moving well and supplies are tightening next week.  Cucumbers are available and the market is steady this week.  Nogales has started and demand is expected to increase next week.

Lettuce: Lettuce market continues to be active. Fueled by quality issues affecting yields and Processors continuing to acquire acres to offset low yields.  Overall acreage has increased but continued insect and disease pressure along with mild evening temperatures has resulted in less than optimal quality and yields. Deals on 30 size lettuce will continue as the Salinas Valley season winds down over the next 3 weeks.

Brussels Sprouts: The market has firmed with increased demand although production should start to increase heading into the peak of the California and Eastern Canadian season. Quality has not been ideal due to warm nights elongating the Sprouts and increasing mildew and insect pressure.

Mix Leaf: Steady markets along California Central Coast while quality has been very inconsistent from shipper to  shipper. Moderate demand from East coast has kept pressure on the market to remain strong on Romaine and Hearts with  Green and  Red leaf slightly more thrifty.

Celery: Santa Maria and Salinas, California are the primary shipping locations for celery off of the west coast. There are reports of some pith and insect damage in Santa Maria. The quality in Salinas is excellent. Currently, promotable supplies are available out of both areas. Sizes are peaking on 30s

Broccoli: There will not be much change from present conditions.  Prices will remain at current trading levels through the week.  Most shippers seem to have better supplies of crowns this week and you will find suppliers willing to adjust pricing on volume orders.  Mexico will begin to cross more volume over the next two weeks which should drive pricing out of California downward.

Cauliflower: Demand has waned as markets are now saturated with high price product.  Expect a slight drop in price over the next week.  Good supplies on 9 size, some shippers willing to get a little more aggressive on pricing to move some volume on this size.

Bush Berries: Blackberries: Production continues out of Guatemala, with some small volume production out of Mexico. Rain in Mexico has limited some of that production, Guatemalan berries quality remains good and consistent. The forecast for promotable volume out of Mexico will be the first week of October barring any weather problems out of Mexico.

Blueberries: We are experiencing gaps on quality and production with both the domestic and imported blueberries. Production out of Michigan and British Columbia is winding down, as we  the transition to Imports out of Peru and Argentina. Rumors about a port strike in Argentina  could limit fruit exported into the U.S.

Raspberries: A slight delay in available volume this week kept the market active for the front part of the week.  Expect better volume into the front part of next week. Quality is excellent on the better labels.

Strawberries: Cooler nights will help calm down surging prices by the end of this week. We have a slight chance of rain in the forecast for Thursday. The weekend is calling for sunny and mild temps.  Expect prices to adjust to more of a split market ranging from $14.00 to $ 22.00. Sizing continues to be in the 20 – 22 count range.  Some reports of fruit not having the legs to go east.

Melons: The cantaloupe market remains active, due to limited supplies this week.  We should expect to see the prices remain inflated until the Arizona fall melon harvest begins, next week.  Quality on Cantaloupe is hit and miss, and everything is showing a green cast.

The honeydew market is steady and supplies remain good.  Quality has been very good and all sizes are being offered.

Watermelons : The CA watermelon market remains steady and quality is still good.  The sizing profile tends to be smaller at the end of the season, so expect deals on 45ct and smaller.  Seeded are still available in limited volume.  Mini seedless are still being harvested, but CA shippers are wrapping up quick.  Mexican supplies are set to begin by mid October and Baja supplies are showing some issues.

Grapes: The grape market is getting a little active, due to weaker supply.   All varieties are still available, but they are not coloring up as quickly as we would like, which is slowing down the harvest.   Varieties are as follows:  Red Seedless – Flames, Crimson, Scarlett Royal / Green Seedless – Thompson and Autumn King,  Black Seedless – Autumn Royal

Citrus : Valencia’s –  There are good supplies of 56-72-88’s, but the 113-138’s are very limited on both grades.   Fruit quality has been OK.

Navel’s – Import volume is steady on 36-40-48-56, but limited supplies of 72-88, 105-113 are available.

Lemons : We are starting to see more new crop lemons. District III and Mexican supplies are in better volume. Offshore lemons are still coming in. Mostly 165-200-235 here, district III is packing out 70% fancy and 20% choice. We are going to see adjustments in the market. Grapefruit – New crop will start the end of October.

Dry Vegetables: The Bell pepper market is a little active.  Supplies are coming from multiple locations in California and we are seeing product from Baja.

Green peppers are lower in price, but Red’s and Gold’s are a significantly higher.   Quality and supply is dictating this difference.

Zucchini and Yellow squash markets are active, with supplies winding down in California.  Nogales is expecting to harvest this weekend, so relief should be coming soon.  Baja is harvesting and quality is good.

Cucumbers have remained lightly active due to sporadic supplies from Baja.  Nogales is threatening to start in another week or so and California has pretty much wrapped it up.

Tree Fruit

Peaches are available for another couple weeks, with the harvest being heavy on larger fruit.  Very limited supply of Volume filled.

Nectarines are done for the season.

Red plums are being harvested and sizing seems to be on the larger size.

Black plums are more available and all sizes are being harvested.

Lettuce

Lettuce market continues to be active.  Production continues to be hampered by quality issues affecting yields.  Overall acreage has increased but continued insect and disease pressure along with mild evening temperatures has resulted in less than optimal quality. Deals on 30 size lettuce will continue as the Salinas Valley season winds down over the next 3-4 weeks.

Brussels Sprout

The market has firmed with increased demand although production should start to increase heading into the peak of the California and Eastern Canadian season. Recent years have seen demand exceeding supply during the Fall/Winter season which should result in additional acres being planted for this upcoming season.

Mix Leaf 

Look for continued strong markets heading into the fall. Leaf markets have been relatively consistent although quality continues to show issues.  Trouble with local production around the country has kept enough demand out West to keep prices elevated.

Broccoli

Still a very active market, broccoli crowns pricing over the $20 mark out west. Demand is still strong and light inventories are fueling the fire.  There were fewer acres planted this year in California which has kept markets strong for broccoli.  Mexican crowns are coming into Texas but the recent hurricane has slowed production and more rain is expected this weekend.  This market should remain active through next week, but should top out by mid-week.   There are a few load volume deals on bunch.

Cauliflower

This market is very active this week. After gaining momentum last week, this week’s harvests were lighter than anticipated and many shippers have sold out for the week.  Markets will top out in the mid 20’s by the end of the week and should top out as production improves. Quality is also improving, although there are still reports of yellowing due to long sunny days. We expect this market to hold steady into next week at the earliest.

Celery

This market remains flat; a trend that is expected to continue. Plenty of product available and shippers are making deals. More large sizes currently available. There are deals on volume type orders. Santa Maria and Salinas are the main growing regions. Quality is good overall, however there have been some reports of black heart, pith and insect damage in Santa Maria growing areas.

Strawberries

The strawberry market is steady with limited supplies in Santa Maria California and declining numbers in the Salinas/Watsonville area. Cooler night time temps the forecast for the Salinas/Watsonville area is partly cloudy skies, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. The forecast for the Santa Maria area is mostly sunny skies with highs in the 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Salinas/Watsonville fruit is firm, with some bruising, over ripes, misshapen and irregular sizing. . Counts are averaging 22 to 24 and higher. Santa Maria fruit is fairly firm with occasional bruising and white shoulder. Counts are averaging 18 to 22. We continue to experience some labor shortages in the Watsonville areas.

Blackberries

Production has picked back up out of Guatemala, as well as some local deals in the U.S. numbers as well. Improved weather conditions is the main reason for increased available volume.

Blueberries

Blueberry production has shifted into Michigan and British Columbia, Canada. We have now seen the transition from Pints back to 6oz clams, most retailers have made this transition as well. The demand has leveled off, and the market remains steady with product becoming more available. The domestic season is nearing the end, with the Import season approaching over the few weeks.

Raspberries:

Several larger retailers will be on Ad next week as volumes for Raspberries out of the watsonville were expected to increase this week but weather has pushed the expected increase in volume toward the end of the month. Supplies will be tight for the next few weeks.
Melons

The cantaloupe market is active and prices are a little higher.  Supplies seem to be limited this week, but new blocks are about to be harvested.  Arizona Fall melons are still a week away. Quality on all cantaloupe is mixed, with color getting more green. The honeydew market is steady with all sizes being offered.  Quality is good and supply is available.

Watermelons

The CA watermelon crop is sizing down, peaking on 45ct and smaller sizes. Quality is excellent and the market seems to have stabilized. Seeded are still available in limited quantities.  Mini seedless are still in production but CA shippers are finishing quickly.  We will see Mexican supplies by mid October, barring any adverse weather conditions.

Grapes

They grape market has been steady and supplies are ample on all varieties.  The industry is now packing Scarlet Royal and Crimson variety red seedless.  The industry is winding down on Thompson seedless and starting to pack Autumn Kings.  There are good supplies of Autumn Royals and Red Globes at this time with quality being excellent at this time.

Citrus

Valencia’s –  There are good supplies of 56-72-88’s, the 113-138’s are very limited on both grades. Fruit quality is fair. Navels – Are offshore and in good supplies on 36-40-48-56. Limited supplies of 72-88 and a few 105-113 are available.

Lemons – We are starting to see more new crop lemons. District III and Mexican supplies are in better volume. Offshore lemons are still coming in. Mostly 165-200-235 here, district III is packing out 70% fancy and 20% choice. We are going to see adjustments in the market. Grapefruit – This will be the last week for California grapefruit. New crop will start in October.

Vegetables

The Green Bell Pepper market is stabilizing.  Supplies are limited but available, starting to wind down in the West.   The red and yellow bell pepper market should remain steady and seems to be peaking this week  Zucchini and yellow squash are very active in California, but supplies will increase by next week as Nogales will start crossing.

Cucumber market is strong and supplies are slowing down out of Baja, but will begin increasing as Nogales starts to cross.

Tree Fruit is wrapping up quickly and most items are on their last variety. Peaches seem to have a decent supply of Tray – packed fruit, but VF fruit is very limited.Nectarines are finished for the season. The plum market is staying active and strong as the last varieties are being harvested now.