The calendar says we are in spring out West, but you’d never know it. Continued below normal temperatures, and continued rain (albeit light) and threats of rain. This is keeping the summer fruit crops at bay, as well as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. It also slows down growth and production of vegetables in the Salinas/Santa Maria areas, allowing shippers to push for higher prices.

All we need is a few warm days to kick start product, but the next 10 days show cool temperatures, and light rain for the next 48 hours.

Trucks are trying for more money, figuring the summer fruit deal is here. But, it isn’t, so rates are steady. However, by the end of this month, we will see rates to the East coast around $500 more than we are paying now.

LETTUCE–a REAL shortage. This is all related to the planting gaps we had with heavy rains in February and March. We seem to forget that when it rains, growers just can’t go out and plant, hence the gaps. Supplies look tight all this week, and fob price are already near $20, and will probably go up from there as this week progresses.

BROCCOLI–tight supplies and strong market here, too. Again, the planting gap has resulted in light supplies, and shippers are pushing bunch and crown prices daily. However, we see the market stalling out by mid week. Prices will probably stay firm, we just don’t see it going up.

CAULIFLOWER–as predicted, shippers pushed their prices up and up, and killed the market, when retail prices went up. Even though our cool weather isn’t brining on supplies, demand has fallen off, and there are deals around. We see prices falling this week, so don’t get caught with high priced product.

LEAF ITEMS–steady on red, green, and romaine. Even though supplies are light, there just isn’t a lot of interest for leaf right now. But, with iceberg so tight, we could see some receivers switching over to leaf for the “lettuce” needs. And that could create some markets with those items, especially romaine.

CELERY–still tight supplies and strong market. Couple the fob prices with freight that is near $10/box, and delivered prices for just about all size celery on the East coast is close to $35.00. We are scratching our heads to figure out why the fob prices are remaining where they are. Oxnard and Santa Maria are the two areas going, so Salinas is still 4 weeks away.

STRAWBERRIES–cool, wet weather is keeping supplies of ALL berries(straws, raz, and blacks) down, and the market firm. Driscoll continues to pro rate 50-75% on your orders, and with some rain coming in tonight and into tomorrow, we see the berry deal strong ALL week. Quality

Ed Brem

Produce West Inc.

ed@producewest.com