5/20/20

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Conventional Items
Lettuce
Market edged higher on lighter supplies and surging demand although with some resistance. Growers continue to leave over-mature acres behind to ensure best arrivals which has reduced overall supplies. An industry wide reduction in planted acres is expected to manifest by early June. Quality is improving daily although some mildew pressure remains.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine   Many shippers continue to harvest to order which might affect daily availability but overall supplies have been sufficient even with some acres being left behind. Quality has improved daily with some mildew , fringe burn and seeder still visible. Romaine Hearts continue to offer a good value.
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  have improved supplies while still dealing with mildew pressure. Most shippers continue to keep product fresh to avoid quality issues on arrival. Regional production is set to begin in the Northeast which will likely help keep prices steady.
Celery
Supplies are steady with lighter demand to finish the week. Overall quality from Oxnard is showing good condition and color. There are still some reports of seeder and light color but this is becoming less of an issue as we finish the Oxnard season. The Salinas season is expected to start the first week of June.
Artichokes
Strong Production continues as well as demand especially for the Heirloom variety. Prices have remained competitive and offer good value. The superior edible Heirloom variety is currently available from multiple growers through the end of the month so take advantage while supplies last.
Cauliflower
Supply seems to be keeping up with demand for this week. We are expecting lighter supplies next week. There is a chance that we could see slightly higher prices next week. My only hesitation is that the weather is going to warm up over the weekend so we could see more volume hit the market. This is a commodity to keep your eyes on.
Broccoli
Steady supplies are available as we finish out the week. Lighter supplies are being forecasted in both the Santa Maria and Salinas growing regions for next week. There is a slight uptick in demand so we could see prices increase by the end of this week or beginning of next week. Overall quality is good. Clean domes, good green color and medium sized beads make for the perfect bunch and crown material.
Brussels Sprouts
Mexico production has slowed with spiking temperatures leading to diminished quality due to insect pressure and seeders .  Domestic supplies from Southern Coastal California are limited with some seeder and off size issues as well . Expect lighter supplies moving forward until new crop production starts in Northern California coastal region later this month.
Green Onions
Mexico production has improved with supplies expected to be steady through May before budgeted acres are reduced for the Summer. Signs of insect pressure are increasing with recent high temperatures.
Strawberries
Demand is steady in California for the best quality fruit. The Salinas/Watsonville area continues to increase volume, while the Santa Maria area is producing decent numbers. In Oxnard. fruit quality is just fair at best, with quality and market factors influencing the shippers’ decisions to continue their harvest in this district. Santa Maria, California, after thunderstorms on Monday morning, is forecast for mostly sunny skies for the balance of the week, breezy on Wednesday and late Friday. Highs are forecast in the 60s on Wednesday, increasing to the 70s for the balance of the week with lows in the 40s, increasing to the low 50s on Sunday. Salinas/Watsonville, after thunderstorms and showers on Monday, is forecast for partly sunny skies for the balance of the week. Highs are expected in the 60s on Wednesday, increasing to the low 70s for the balance of the week with lows in the 40s, increasing to the low 50s on Sunday. Santa Maria, California, fruit has occasional bruising, water damage, decay, overripe, some dark fruit, soft spots, and scarring from the wind. Average counts are 18 to 20.
Raspberries
Steady production will continue into next week. Currently, Mexico and Baja on both conventional and organic; however, we are on the downward side of the most current production cycle, so production will decrease over the coming weeks before it rebounds into the next cycle in June.
Blueberries
The Blues continue to cross from Mexico, but supply is on the decline. California has good volume in Oxnard, with Reedley ramping up. Georgia expects tight supply over the coming weeks, until the transition into Rabbiteye varieties in June. Expect demand to increase exponentially over the coming weeks, with the loss of fruit in Georgia and North Carolina looking at later starts. This will cause blueberry demand to potentially spike and supplies to drop quickly over the coming two weeks.
Blackberries
Supplies are starting to decline, which should firm up the market. There is talk about a small delay between when Mexico ends and California starts due to how early Mexico started this past fall.
Stone Fruit
California peaches are now available. Most are peaking on larger sizing, with 54/56 being most of the volume. Quality is very strong product is making arrivals. Sugar content is improving as weather warms up. Nectarines are much lighter in volume. Sizing is most on the 54/56 scale and limited to no availability on other sizes. We expect better supply towards the middle of next week post Memorial day.
Grapes
The Coachella and Mexican growing season has been delayed due to high heat in desert areas. Both red and green grape production have been affected .There are still Chilean grapes available on both coasts and markets have strengthened as volume tightens up. We expect better volumes on domestic product towards the end of next week and markets should begin to settle the first week in June. Good quality reported on Coachella product. Quality issues are prevalent on the remaining Chilean product.
Citrus
Oranges – Markets are red hot as a result of government contracts requiring heavy volumes for their food bank programs. There has been more demand for bagged oranges, as more consumers are wanting safer options on the retail end. Valencias are beginning to increase in volume which will help take some of the burden off the light navel supply. Strong markets will continue for at least the next two weeks.
Lemons – Less demand this week and volumes are increasing for the start of the summer season in district 1. We expect markets to continue to be weak as long as shelter in place orders are in effect. Quality is very nice and plenty of promotions are available.
Cantaloupe
Supplies were much lighter this week, especially on larger sizes. Offshore has effectively ended their season. Mexico was winding down and domestics started in the desert areas, but sizes were running quite small, peaking on 15s with some 12s and very few 9s. No jbo 9s and 18s in the field but mostly packed to order only. Demand was robust as we headed into Memorial Day. Quality and condition were good. Prices responded accordingly, shooting higher on 9s, and 12s with 15s discounting and 18s being quite stuck if harvested. Next week, more and more growers will start. Those that have been going for a week or more will pick up sizes. Demand will be slow on smaller sizes but good to start the week on 9s and possibly 12s. As the week goes on, we expect 9s and 12s to start trading lower and 15s to become a hard sell. The following week we should see demand pickup and prices to normalize
Honeydew
Have not gotten going as of yet. Offshore finished, and Mexico started to wind down. Desert for all intents and purposes has not started, but should begin this week with smaller sizes for the first week or ten days stretching into next week and the following week. Scarring is prevalent in the desert deal. We look for reasonable prices on 8s and 6s with 5s in short supply until sometime during the first week in June
Dry Onions
California is in full swing as the country opens up to new channels of distribution. The markets are anywhere from $6.00 to $8.00 depending on quality. Demand is good to fairly good, with reds in the $6.00 range. Texas is starting to wind down and the Northwest is done. Keep your fingers crossed as we get food service going…without that sector continuing to open we will be stutter stepping with either overwhelming demand or peaks and valleys until we get on our feet. Pre-pack and medium onions are all committed as the “Farm to consumer” program takes hold.. It looks like our government has let bids for these services to people who are not even in the produce business…people who don’t even have paca license or bluebook ratings. To this writer, it looks like this could be a real trap for people in our industry, not to mention food safety. A real Cluster F—.
Asparagus
California is finished for the year and the deal has switched to Mexico and Peru. Michigan should start building in volume,finally, with
Indiana and Washington throwing in their two cents. Prices will remain high until a push back happens in the chain stores…people are getting used to paying big money for grass, but as other items start to enter the fray ; ie. tree fruit, cantaloupes and honeydews etc.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Broccoli    Production has peaked while demand remains strong allowing prices to firm.  Cauliflower supplies remain steady as well as pricing. Quality remains nice and demand remains strong
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Availability and pricing appear to be mostly steady with Local Homegrown production adding to overall supplies
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady and Demand continues to spike as carrots offer a great grab and go option as well as being a staple commodity in the USDA Farm to Family Food Program. Continue to plan even further ahead to get partial coverage.
Potato and Onions  Demand continues to be steady for new crop production on the West Coast. Retail packs have been in high demand but should ease as customers binge bought while demand for the Larger Foodservice sizes remains non-existent causing a lot of product to be left behind or dumped .
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Demand for Romaine Hearts remain strong with heavy supplies. Green , Red and Romaine show signs of improving quality as temperatures warm .  Quality should see weekly improvements as local Homegrown production is starting in the East.
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Production continues to be strong as well as demand. All retail sizes are in high demand. Many shippers have shifted production towards bags on All Citrus. Limes quality remains inconsistent but all other Citrus quality remains strong. Navels production is winding down as Valencias have begun with a lower sized profile .
OG Avocado
Mexico:  Production remains steady with good demand.
California: California harvest continues to be steady as well with good demand and excellent quality with slightly higher oil content.
OG Grapes
California:   Coachella Valley will start next week with strong supplies expected to start the season.

5/13/20

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Lettuce
Market continues to be relatively steady with continued oscillating demand. More growers have learned it’s best to leave over-mature acres behind to ensure best arrivals which in turn helps keep pricing firm. An industry-wide reduction in planted acres is expected to manifest by early June. Quality is improving daily although some mildew pressure remains. Production from Las Cruces NM is wrapping up this week well ahead schedule. We will return in the Fall. Thanks for all your support.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine   Many shippers continue to harvest to order which might affect daily availability but overall supplies have been sufficient even with some acres being left behind. Quality has improved daily with some mildew , fringe burn and seeder still visible. Romaine Hearts continue to offer a good value.
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  have improved supplies although most growers are still battling mildew pressure while many shippers are harvesting to order to keep products fresh as possible. Red leaf acres appear to already been adjusted as supplies remain limited although matching limited demand. Regional production is set to begin in the Northeast which will likely help keep prices steady
Celery
Prices have come down slightly since the beginning of the week. There is good availability on most sizes, especially 24 and 30’s. The more aggressive pricing is available in Oxnard and Santa Maria, CA. Overall quality has been good, nice green color and little to no seeder.
Artichokes
Strong Production continues as well as demand especially for the Heirloom variety. Prices have remained competitive and offer good value. The superior edible Heirloom variety is currently available from multiple growers for a few more weeks so take advantage while supplies last .
Cauliflower
Supply seems to be keeping up with demand. The market has remained somewhat steady over the last 5 days. Prices range mostly from $7.00 – $9.00 with wing sizes slightly reduced. Growing conditions have been perfect and the quality is very nice.
Broccoli
Good availability on both bunch and crown cuts from both the West Coast and off the East Coast currently shipping out of Georgia. Overall quality is good. Clean domes, good green color and medium sized beads make for the perfect bunch and crown material. Run your orders by us!
Brussels Sprouts
Mexico production has slowed with spiking temperatures leading to diminished quality due to insect pressure and seeders .  Domestic supplies from Southern Coastal California are limited with some seeder and off size issues as well . Expect lighter supplies moving forward until new crop production starts in Northern California coastal region later this month.
Green Onions
Mexico production has improved with supplies expected to be steady through May before budgeted acres are reduced for the Summer. Quality has improved but may be affected with hotter recent temperatures.
Strawberries
There is steady demand in California for the best quality fruit. The Salinas/Watsonville area continues to increase their volumes, while the Santa Maria area is producing good numbers and quality. We are expecting volumes to slightly increase over the next three weeks as we will have warmer weather next week. Oxnard is wrapping up their season.
Raspberries
Slow volume out of Oxnard and Baja. Central Mexico volume continues to decrease. California regions will begin to increase.
Blueberries
California will be working every other day as the deal winds down and Mexico and Peru build in volume. Michigan is still missing in the cold snap from last week. There are still crossings coming in from Obregon crossing in Holtville, CA. San Miguel de Allende has started and are crossing in Texas with a trickle of supply. The prices are still outrageous in the $36.90 range in CA and Mexican with occasional deals being made on odd sizes. Still hard to get Air service on Peruvian grass…most coming in by ship.
Blackberries
California regions are underway. Central Mexico will start to decrease in the coming weeks with only high elevation areas increasing.
Stone Fruit
California peaches are available but in limited volume and elevated pricing. Quality is strong, although there have been some reports of low brix levels. Nectarines are extremely tight due to high demand on the retail level. Quality has been strong, but like peaches, lacking in sugar. Hotter weather in the coming days will improve sugar levels and overall taste. Red and black plums are still very light supply with no significant volumes until the end of this month.
Grapes
Mexico and Coachella growing areas have started and the remaining import inventories are being sold at a discount. Plenty of deals available on Chilean red grapes being offered on both coasts. Quality is starting to decline on import fruit, especially on green grapes, and shippers are trying to move as quickly as possible. Mexico and Coachella grapes are increasing in volume . Early quality reports are very positive on new crop, and pricing will be elevated until production increases.
Citrus
Oranges – Stronger markets this week as navel supplies clean up . Recently implemented government food bank programs are creating a demand exceeds supply scenario on all oranges. Valencias are slowly starting but still need a few weeks to reach full production. We expect markets to continue to strengthen as government programs continue and restaurants begin to open in the coming weeks.
Lemons – District 1 is the main production area currently . Demand has leveled off and shippers are looking to move supplies; especially on 115 and 140s. Bagged lemons are in higher demand, however as a result of government food bank demand.
Limes – Good volumes coming out of Mexico this week. Demand is still very low as most bars and restaurants remain closed. Quality is excellent and shippers are looking to move volume on all sizes.
Cantaloupe
The times are finally changing in the cantaloupe market. Offshore are winding down to a close and peaking on jumbo and regular 9s with very few smaller sizes. Domestic deal is off to a slow start with mostly undersized fruit. Mexico going and running mostly small fruit as well with a wide ranged in quality. Meanwhile demand has improved a bit. Yes there is still the pandemic, but the warmer weather and lighter supplies made the market stronger, especially on good quality larger sizes. Next week the offshore will effectively be over. Mexico will still be shipping but with moderate supplies. Domestic fruit should increase in volume over the course of the week but sill skew heavily to 12s and smaller until the following week. Demand should continue to me moderate with some improvement due to warming weather and some retail promotional activity. We look for a higher market on jbo 9s and 9s early in the week with a discounting abounding on 15s and some discounting on 12s.
Honeydew
Like cantaloupes, Honeydews traded higher this week. Supplies were much lighter, as the offshore deal effectively ended. Mexico supplies were steady but moderate and peaking on 6s and 8s, with a lot of fair product.  Domestic have not started yet but are expected to begin by the end of this week or early next week, and volume not kicking in until the following week.  Sizes are looking like they will be quite small with a slow start as is the case with cantaloupes. We look for a firm to higher market on jbo 5 and 5. Steady but firm on 6s with discounting on smaller sizes.
Dry Onions
Texas has product but is starting to come to the end. California is going strong with Jumbo yellows in the $7 to $8 range…however the prices last week were $5-$6 range with a good pull and good arrivals, even by rail. The receivers that handle food service are starting to buy for various Federal programs, so there is a little more demand. The $7 level is meeting some resistance from the big volume buyers as the final loads from Northwest show up. To summarize…we still have onions coming from too many areas so it’s hard to put an exact barometer on the market. The Pandemic is still in charge.
Asparagus
California will be working every other day as the deal winds down and Mexico and Peru build in volume. Michigan is still missing in the cold snap from last week. There are still crossings coming in from Obregon crossing in Holtville, CA. San Miguel de Allende has started and are crossing in Texas with a trickle of supply. The prices are still outrageous in the $36.90 range in CA and Mexican with occasional deals being made on odd sizes. Still hard to get Air service on Peruvian grass…most coming in by ship.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Broccoli    Production has surged as pricing has eased on Broccoli offering excellent value. Cauliflower supplies have also begun to improve as prices ease as well. Quality remains nice and demand remains strong
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Demand continues to intermittently surge along with supplies.  Availability and pricing appear to be mostly steady. Local Homegrown production will impact sales by late May.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady and Demand continues to spike as Retailers are stocking shelves with hearty , sustainable, grab and go commodities. Continue to plan even further ahead to get partial coverage.
Potato and Onions  Demand continues to be steady for new crop production on the West Coast. Retail packs have been in high demand but should ease as customers binge bought while demand for the Larger Food service sizes remains non-existent causing a lot of product to be left behind or dumped .
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Demand for Romaine Hearts remain steady offering a solid retail value while Green , Red and Romaine show signs of improving quality as temperatures warm although likely leading to increased aphid pressure. Quality should see weekly improvements as local Homegrown production is set to begin in coming weeks.
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Production continues to be strong as well as demand. Sizing profile on most citrus continues to run towards larger sizes while demand for medium sized fruit surge due to retail sales spike. Navels production is winding down as Valencias should be ready to step in.
OG Avocado
Mexico:  Production remains steady with good demand.
California: California harvest continues to be steady as well with good demand and excellent quality.
OG Grapes
California:   We expect to see domestic supplies start from the Coachella Valley before the end of the month with strong supplies expected .

4/15/20

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Lettuce
Full transition to the Salinas and Santa Maria Valley is almost complete. Weather has been mostly below normal temperature with above normal precipitation keeping supplies light to moderate matching demand. After a couple much needed warm days , Forecast calls for a return to cooler temps. Sporadic surging Retail demand continues while foodservice struggles. Customers and growers continue to adjust to new buying patterns. While growers battle heavy mildew pressure , quality should see improvements moving forward.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine  Strong demand continues especially on Romaine Hearts, although with transition behind us, and a bump in temperatures, supplies are expected to increase which likely push prices lower. Many shippers will continue to harvest to order which might affect daily availability but overall supplies will exceed demand.
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  have been limited due to cool weather and transition but supplies are expected to improve .
Celery
The market has not changed in over a month and it will not be any different for next week. Shippers are looking for business primarily in Oxnard and Santa Maria,CA. Please run any offers by us and let’s get some orders on the books. Quality is very nice, good green color and very little pith.
Artichokes
Heavy production continues with strong demand at retail especially as artichoke quality improves . Prices have remained competitive and offer good value. The superior edible Heirloom variety is currently available from multiple growers . Take advantage while supplies last .
Cauliflower
Prices are starting to subside and look as though they will continue a downward spiral as the week comes to an end.   Overall quality has been nice, with clean white domes and nice green jackets, there is the occasional soft shoulder.
Broccoli
Prices are now on the decline, there is good availability and deals to be had. Product is readily available to ship out of both Santa Maria and Salinas,CA. Overall quality out of Santa Maria and Salinas has been fair, the late spring rains we have been receiving in both these areas will cause some light water spotting on the domes and with the sun out the last few days this quality issue will be minimal.
Brussels Sprouts
Mexico production is peaking and Sprouts have been in high demand. Supplies are expected to remain stable.
Green Onions
Mexico production has stalled from last week’s Easter Holiday labor disruption. Labor still hasn’t returned in full keeping supplies limited . Expect improvements heading into next week.  Quality remains variable, especially iceless packed during precipitation.
Strawberries
The Berry supply on the West Coast is fair at best which includes the new crop coming out of the Salinas / Watsonville areas. Rains over the weekend did not seem to disrupt much in the way of harvests coming into Monday and Tuesday. Cool-weather has kept the water-related issues at a minimum. Look for numbers to increase as we move into next week with clearer weather and slightly higher temperatures in the forecast. Look for the market to ease up as demand falls off slightly for the weekend. Limited numbers and fair quality out of Mexico.
Raspberries
Good supplies and promotable volumes are expected next week out of Mexico and Oxnard. Quality has been good
Blueberries
Blueberries are readily abundant out of several growing regions. Quality has been good and promotable volumes are expected through the end of April. Look for the market to trend downward as shippers struggle to move volume
Blackberries
Several shippers are in good supply with promotable volumes in Central Mexico and Central California. Quality has been good and the market will remain steady with lower undertones through this week.
Stone Fruit
Very little product currently available on either coast. We expect the California peach and nectarine season to start around the middle of next week. Expect light supplies, and pricing will be elevated during the first few weeks of production. Markets should start leveling out around mid May although weather and covid-related labor issues will likely be factored into the equation.
Grapes
Red Grapes – Good volume on multiple varieties this week. With the last of the offshore product arriving, supplies have increased temporarily and deals are being made. Crimson and Sweet Celebrations are currently the most plentiful. Much of the product have gone into storage to fill the production gaps before the Mexican growing season. Quality is holding up for now, but we expect issues for the coming weeks on storage fruit.
Green Grapes — Supplies are becoming snug as fewer green grapes are arriving on both coasts. Shippers are more hesitant to keep product in storage for long periods of time so product is being moved quickly and inventories are low. There have been some reports of soft berry and shatter and those issues are not expected to improve until Mexico starts next month.
Citrus
Oranges — Good movement on oranges this past week. Vitamin C being a priority for health conscious consumers, we are seeing more sales on the retail level. Pricing has not taken off, mostly due to less demand on the foodservice end. Quality is very nice; a trend we expect to continue as weather forecasts show good growing conditions through the remainder of the month.
Lemons — Production is now mostly district 1 California. Volumes are predominately mid sizing, and large sizes are heavier in production. Small lemons are lighter in supply, and markets are beginning to creep up on 140 count and smaller. Much better volume on choice lemons and shippers are looking to move product. Quality is very nice industry wide.
Limes — Supplies are steadily increasing from, last week. There were some gaps in supply as a result of lighter harvests in Mexico during Holy Week.
Supplies are now recovering . Quality remains very nice.
Onions
If it’s a Jumbo onion…nobody wants it. The great divide is upon us with food service being shut down. The chains are all pre-packs and mediums are also in big demand. Fortunately Vidalias are starting and there is generally good demand for those. Texas and Mexico are shipping, but there again, very little demand on Jumbos. Until foodservice comes back it’s going to be pretty dismal for jumbo onion shippers.
Asparagus
Lock and load. The California asparagus market is going to be expensive…the shippers hope. Grass has been so cheap this year that shoppers were treating it like lettuce, very easy to come by. Now, with Mexico over, the only game around is California. Washington will start in a week or so and slowly build in volume. Michigan and Indiana were preparing to start, but were held back because of weather conditions. If Michigan gets past the present cold spell and the snow stops, we’ll see fairly good volume and California will have to back off in pricing.
Cantaloupe
The retail promotions put little dent into the abundant supply of off shore cantaloupes, which until May or June are mostly a food service item and we all know that sector is all but completely shut down. At the same time, Mexico has dried and warmed and has started producing export volume. Sizes in both areas peaked on 9s then jbo 9s then some 12s and virtually nothing smaller. Add it up; increased supply; dull demand and you have an continued weak market. Off shore is a two tiered market with poorer quality trading 2.00-3.00 lower than better quality. Next week supplies should continue to be ample with offshore going full steam for at least two more weeks and Mexican production continuing to rise. Demand will not change in light of the continued social distancing protocols. Domestic lopes should start the first week in May and pick up steam by mid may. Outlook is not rosy for cantaloupes in the near future.
Honeydew
Just repeat above and sub the word honeydews for cantaloupes and you have your report. Sizes also running large peaking on 5s then jbo 5s with some 6s and virtually nothing smaller. Two tiered markets due to quality in both Mexico and the Caribbean. Domestic dews will be starting around mid May. Yawner markets to continue.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Broccoli    Production has mostly transitioned to the Northern part of the state and supplies remain limited but improvements are expected heading into next week. Expect prices to edge lower.  Quality remains nice and demand remains strong
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Demand continues to intermittently surge along with supplies.  We expect both to settle next week with improved availability ad pricing
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady and demand is spiking as retailers are stocking shelves with hearty , sustainable, grab and go commodities. Continue to plan even further ahead to get partial coverage.
Potato and Onions  Demand continues to be strong while storage supplies are dwindling. New crop production will be available in coming weeks from the CA/AZ desert.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Demand for Romaine Hearts initially spiked but has since settled. Hearts remain a solid retail value while Green , Red Romaine have struggled with increased mildew pressure. Quality should see weekly improvements
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Production continues to be strong as well as demand.  Rain has delayed some harvest and has pushed sizing profiles to larger fruit on all citrus .
OG Grapes
California:   Availability on both coasts although demand continues to struggle even at retail mostly due to packaging and overall quality as most grapes , especially green varieties come from storage. Improved quality isn’t expected until new crop production begins later next month .
OG Asparagus
Mexico:  Production is transitioning to new, smaller areas in Mexico with improved quality although some issues will continue to exist.
California: California harvest continues with slightly improved but limited production. Significantly tiered pricing vs product of Mexico remains and should continue to be strong until regional homegrown production begins in coming weeks.

4/1/20

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Due to the Pandemic , We are seeing customers and growers adjusting to daily changes in buying routines. Many growers are abandoning remaining acres in the desert for new Northern California production areas . Quality should see improvements as most growers are harvesting to order. Overall supplies will exceed demand for the next month as we ride out our current crisis. We are fortunate as Produce remains an essential part of our daily life.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine  See above .
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  see above
Celery
Celery supplies look to remain unchanged going into next week and there should not be much change in pricing. Celery production out of the Imperial Valley and Yuma, AZ is all but finished. There will continue to be some light supplies imported from Mexico over the next two weeks. The major production areas are now Oxnard and Santa Maria, CA. Current quality-related issues include the occasional pith and some light-colored stalks.
Artichokes
Heavy production continues with strong demand at retail especially as artichoke quality improves . Prices have remained competitive and offer good value. The superior edible Heirloom variety is currently available from multiple growers . Take advantage while supplies last .
Cauliflower
Demand continues to remain good for cauliflower. It sounds like we are going to see a supply gap starting as early as Monday of next week. We are already seeing a slight increase in FOB’s both in Santa Maria and Salinas,Ca where most of the harvest has transitioned to  Overall quality has been nice, with clean white domes and nice green jackets, there is the occasional soft shoulder.
Broccoli
Pricing and supplies will remain unchanged for the remainder of this week.  Speaking with a few large growers, they are forecasting a supply gap starting the week of April 13th if not sooner in both Santa Maria and Salinas,Ca. This will be something to keep an eye on. Most product will now be shipping out of Santa Maria and Salinas,CA with some light supplies continuing out of the Desert growing regions through next week. Overall quality out of Santa Maria and Salinas has been fair, the late spring rains we have been receiving in both these areas will cause some light water spotting on the domes We have finished up our Shui Ling Crown program out of Mexico for the season, thanks for all your support.
Brussels Sprouts
Mexico production is peaking and Sprouts will be in high demand for Easter promotions as Brussels Sprouts offer a hearty , stable option.
Green Onions
Mexico production has remained steady but will again slow down in a couple weeks as labor force usually takes the Holy week off , disrupting supply flow.
Strawberries
We have several growing regions in play at the moment.
Some are finishing and others are just starting. Florida is finishing
up and considered done with production. Mexico is phasing out with
little fruit remaining out of McAllen. Quality on the last of the
Mexican fruit is fair, Oxnard continues to have regular production
and numbers are climbing. Santa Maria is gradually picking up pace,
but still limited. Salinas / Watsonville has not yet started, but we
expect the first harvest to get going by the weekend and slowly build
momentum. Most of the fruit is coming out of the Oxnard area and that
is where our main FOB point is at this time. We did see some light
rain over the last 2 weeks. This will have some residual effect on
quality this week. We can expect to see soft spots and occasional
bruising. However, the weather is expected to be clear for several
days, so quality should improve and production should increase. Retail
demand is still very strong, so many shippers are holding market
prices firm. However, with temps reaching in the low 70’s, we may see
a wave of product come on. If so, we may see some more aggressive
prices going into the weekend and into the front part of next week.
Raspberries
The market will be steady to weaker into next week.. We
have several areas in production. Mexico continues with good
production, Baja is increasing production and California fruit is
ramping up. Quality is strong and demand is steady. Due to the
increased production, we are seeing a decrease in market price with
some aggressive deals being offered on volume. We expect supplies to
remain strong through next week.
Blueberries
Supplies are increasing as new regions are starting up,
but market prices have remained firm this week. The import season is
winding down with limited availability of Chilean and Peruvian fruit
left in the market. However, domestic production is ramping up with
new harvest in Florida and Georgia. The weather has been ideal in
these growing regions and we expect to see increased production for
the next 4 weeks. California has been slow to start due to cooler
weather, but with the warmer temps expected this week, we may see some
incremental increases in harvest. Mexico is also expected to pick up
production over the next several weeks. Although the drastic increases
have yet to fully impact the supply flow, we do expect things to
improve consistently as we move forward. We expect markets to remain
steady this week and possibly see some more aggressive prices later in
the month (barring any weather events).
Blackberries
Supplies remain limited but steady. We have both
Mexican and California fruit available. California harvest is slow due
to the cooler weather, but we should see improvements with the warmer
temps over the next several days. Retail demand is still very strong
and it’s keeping the market prices firm. Quality is good and we expect
to see improvements in supply and better prices as we move forward.
Stone Fruit
Supplies are limited as the offshore season comes to a close. White flesh peaches and nectarines are finished for the season. Yellow peaches and nectarines are lighter in volume, and limited to only a few sizes. This season will likely finish for the season as early as next week. Red and black plums are limited volumes for the rest of the month. Domestic production of stone fruit will not begin until the end of this month.
Grapes
Red — Demand has slowed this week and plenty of volume available. Shippers are looking to move inventory. Quality is holding up very nicely. Markets should remain fairly steady through the month of April and then gaps in supply as we switch to domestic product.
Green — Limited supply this week on greens. Quality is beginning to show some age as we tap into storage fruit. We expect supply shortages throughout the month of April and markets will remain active.
Citrus
Oranges — Demand has been up and down over the past few weeks as a flurries of buyers cleaned out supplies, followed by very little business. It is no secret that demand has been down significantly as a result of school and restaurant closures. Demand is again on the upswing as the CDC is requiring more consumption of vitamin C rich foods to combat the virus. Large sizes are in higher demand as small sizing is often used for food service. Quality is very nice and good sugar levels industry wide.
Lemons — California is the main growing area as desert production has completely finished. Demand has slowed on larger sizes and pricing has decreased this week. Small sizes are in more demand, creating an uptick in pricing as a result of more bagged product.
Limes — Better volumes this week as more product is coming out of Mexico. Demand has decreased substantially. Good supplies on large sizes and shippers are looking to move inventory. Be aware of old fruit, as product is being stored for longer periods of time.
Onions
Jumbo Yellow onions from Washington and Northwest continue to be available…as these are primarily for food service customers, the movement has been slow to moderate..Mediums and pre-pak yellows are inbox demand and are the one generally used by chains for 3 lb bags etc. Reds are another food service item but as pizza stores remain open for carry out the business is off but supply is plentiful.
Texas 1015’s are selling at a good clip and seems be holding in the high teens to low $20’s
Asparagus
Ahem. What a cluster —— This has been the worst season, price wise, in history. The amount of acres and the yield is unprecedented…and it’s only going to get more plentiful as we go forward.As the Mexican deal winds down we will see the California deal begin…it will have a small window before Washington state, Michigan,even Indiana has a deal that will be starting soon. As far as prices are concerned we will be seeing mid to high teens on 28# and California in high 30’s and
Cantaloupe
Another week of dull demand, with increasing volume led to a market lower pricing. There was a two tier market with fair quality selling for about $3.00 less than best quality. Sizes ran large, peaking on jbo and regular 9s with some 12s and few smaller. Melons are facing the same COVID19 challenges that entire economy is up against. This time of year food service is the main source of demand with retail lagging seasonally. Also it is not a stock up item as due to the perishable nature of melons. Supply has been somewhat hampered by virus related delays in unloading and clearing at various Pos. Little looks to change next week, as production looks steady and COVID19 restrictions will still be force.
Honeydew
Could cut and paste the cantaloupe outlook for honeydews. The economic shutdown is the overarching factor keeping honeydew demand down. Supplies would be ample in normal demand times with offshore and Mexican product both available. Sizes off shore are running quite large peaking on jbo and reg 5s with some 6s and virtually none smaller. Mexico continues to peak on regular 5s and 6s, although under current market conditions they are curtailing harvest. Once again we see more of the same for next week.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Production has mostly transitioned to the Northern part of the state and supplies remain limited with mostly cool temperatures. Additionally retail demand has pushed prices significantly higher although they appear to have peaked.  Quality remains nice and demand remains strong
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
 See Above as retail demand spikes .
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady and Demand is spiking as Retailers are stocking shelves with hearty , sustainable commodities. Continue to plan even further ahead to get partial coverage.
Potato and Onions  Supplies shortages are expected with spiking retail demand .
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Demand for Romaine Hearts initially spiked but has since settled. Hearts remains a solid retail value while Green , Red Romaine have struggled with increased mildew pressure. Quality should see weekly improvements
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Production continues to be strong although demand continues to outpace current supplies as customers continue to look for healthy food choices.
OG Grapes
California:   Mexican product has started to arrive with much improved quality .
OG Asparagus
Mexico:  Production continues to surge even with some weather delays. Like most retail commodities , Demand surged and since retreated bringing back competitive pricing. Take advantage now to cover your Easter promotions.

3/19/20

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Lettuce
Hope this Newsletter finds everyone safe and healthy . Multiple factors have been influencing the produce markets as well as our daily lives. Weather initially started the tightening of supplies as a forecast for showers turned into significant rain storms last week as showers continue to interrupt harvest as well as the unprecedented response to the COVID-19 virus. Everyone has seen the stories as consumers barrage the retail stores creating hysteria while leaving the Foodservice sector deserted. Combined these factors are leading to binge buying in the produce aisles as Growers and Shippers try to keep up with the overall demand. Weather and plausible government restrictions continue to weigh on the industry. This is leading to significant spike in prices across all commodities especially retail packaged items including Cello Lettuce .  Keep in mind quality remains fair during and after rains which will lead to increased mildew pressure and red ribs. Transition to Northern California production areas will commence this week although weather will impact supplies there as well. There shouldn’t be any shortages for normal demand but NOTHING is normal currently.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine  See above .
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  see above
Celery
Demand has picked up over the last few days and prices are reflecting that. An increase in demand from the retail side and the fact that the Desert growing regions of the Imperial Valley and Yuma are finishing up with lighter supplies has helped jump start this market. Expect prices to remain at current levels for the remainder of this month until Santa Maria and Oxnard,CA increase their harvest.
Artichokes
Heavy production continues with strong demand at retail especially as artichoke quality improves and retailers reach for items to fill their shelves .
Cauliflower
Demand is steadily keeping in step with daily harvest estimates. Like broccoli we are currently in a supply gap in the desert growing regions. Prices will continue to trade at current levels into the middle of next week. Overall quality has been nice, with clean white domes and nice green jackets. There are a few shippers out of the Salinas Valley that have started harvest and their harvest estimates should start to increase early next week.
Broccoli
The market has picked up this week due to a supply gap in California and Arizona along with lighter volume being imported from Mexico. Look for prices to remain at the current trading levels for the remainder of the week.  A few Salinas shippers have started harvest with volume expected to pick up next week. We continue to ship our Shui Ling Crowns out of Mexico loading in Pharr, TX. Quality has been very nice and we appreciate the business you have given us. Our volume will be lighter out of Mexico as we finish out the season over the next 2 weeks.
Brussels Sprouts
Mexico production is peaking and Sprouts will be in high demand for Easter promotions. Current retail frenzy as Brussels Sprouts offer a hearty , storable option.  Pricing has spiked with strong demand expected to continue especially on retail packs.
Green Onions
Mexico production slowed as a result of weather over the Monday holiday, but should rebound quickly with strong retail demand expected to push prices significantly higher.
Strawberries
Light supplies in all areas. The Santa Maria and Oxnard areas are experiencing intermittent rain events and much cooler than normal weather, which is lowering yields and affecting quality. We expect to remain light through the end of this week and into the next as shippers work through rain issues. Look for the market to remain firm. Mexico is also experiencing cooler weather accompanied by rain. Foodservice business sector is down as a result of several corona virus-related closures to schools, hospitals, airlines, and other related markets. This is more than being offset with the recent retail surge phenomena also related to the national virus pandemic. Florida is still producing decent numbers of berries, although we expect this season to end any day now due to increasing heat in the area.
Raspberries
With the extra demand for fruit raspberries remain tight. Oxnard has some fresh arrivals all week from Mexico. We will be in our peak volumes over the next couple of weeks which should help quench increased demand. Quality has been good out of Central Mexico. Markets will remain firm through next week.
Blueberries
The Blues continue to be lighter in numbers coming out of Central Mexico, Georgia, and Florida. Production is expected to increase but is being offset by heavy demand. Chilean imports are still arriving sporadically on both east and west coast ports. Quality on fresh product has been good. Prices will remain strong into next week.
Blackberries
Blackberries will be scare into next week. Quality has been good out of Central Mexico and Santa Maria. Look for markets to remain firm into next week while this item enjoys heavy retail demand.
Stone Fruit
The import stone fruit season is slowing down and supplies are diminishing quickly. White peaches and nectarines are finished for the season. Yellow peaches and nectarines are lighter in volume, especially on smaller sizes. Red and black plums are also lighter in volume this week and volumes will continue to decrease over the next two weeks. Offshore yellow nectarines and peaches will finish by the end of this month, and plums will finish soon after. Domestic production is not expected to begin until late April , so we will certainly experience supply gaps next month on most stone fruit.
Grapes
Red — We are nearing the end of the import season on grapes. We expect storage fruit to last into the middle part of April. Quality has been very nice, although be aware of arrival dates and how long the product has been in storage. Supplies should easily carry into the Mexican growing season, although early reports of Mexican fruit have been lighter volumes, so we expect higher pricing during transition.
Green — Supplies are lighter this week on green grapes. Much of the product is going directly into storage, anticipating supply gaps over the coming weeks. Mexican production will start out in light numbers, and gradually increase over the latter half of April. Quality has been strong overall, although more quality issues are expected the longer the product remains in storage.
Citrus
Oranges — Stronger markets expected in the coming weeks as demand increases on oranges. High retail demand this week as more people look to stay healthy with vitamin C rich items. Rain in the central valley has slowed production, and labor shortages are creating some supply gaps. We expect markets to continue trending upwards at this point.
Lemons — Higher demand this week and diminishing supplies are strengthening markets. Like, oranges, we are seeing more consumers gravitate towards vitamin C rich products as they stock up on food supplies. Current rains and labor shortages have also hampered production. Small sizes are cleaning up, resulting in higher pricing. Quality has been holding strong for now, although we could see some issues in the coming weeks if the rains continue.
Limes — Tighter supplies this week, especially on smaller sizes. Rain in growing regions, as well as slower border crossings have contributed in lighter volumes. We expect this market to continue strengthening through the rest of the month. Quality remains very nice.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Broccoli    Production has begun to transition to the Northern part of the state and supplies have been limited . Additionally retail demand has pushed prices significantly higher with no signs of easing.  Quality remains nice and demand is off the charts
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
See Above as retail demand spikes .
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady and Demand is spiking as Retailers are stocking shelves with hearty , sustainable commodities. Continue to plan even further ahead to get partial coverage.
Potato and Onions  Supplies shortages are expected with spiking retail demand .
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Demand for Romaine Hearts is spiking rapidly as retailers search for sustainable items to fill shelves.
OG Citrus
Lemons, Oranges, Limes and Grapefruit Production continues to be strong although demand continues to outpace current supplies as retailers look to stock shelves. Expect an early end to the season as Growers push production to meet unexpected and robust demand.
OG Grapes
California: Central Valley of California harvest have finished with some storage fruit available.  Offshore fruit is available on either coast.
OG Asparagus
Mexico:  Production continues to surge even with some holiday and weather delays. Expect demand to completely flip and the market to spike significantly higher as ( say it with me) Retail demand surges especially with strong traditional Easter promotions on deck.
California: Coastal California harvest has begun although low pricing on Mexican product has lead to a delay in volume. Expect significantly tiered pricing vs product of Mexico especially as quality diminishes at the end of the month but in the meantime take advantage of promotional supplies.

3/4/20

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Conventional Items
Lettuce
Strong production and improving quality has led to slightly improved demand although prices remain flat. Growers are still dealing with some weather related quality issues such as epidermal peel, mildew and bottom rot but overall sizing, color and texture have all improved. Possible showers forecast for early next week could hamper quality but Warm weather is expected for the duration of the desert growing season.
Leaf Lettuce
Romaine  market continues to be depressed.  Quality is improving with continued ranging degrees of epidermal peel. Some growers continue to skip over acreage to ensure the best quality.
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  are seeing similar quality with some districts offering much more consistent improvements .  Overall demand has been slow and markets remain flat with some tiered prices reflecting varied quality.
Celery
Celery supplies are expected to remain plentiful over the next few weeks and overall quality is reported as excellent. We are approaching the transition period for this commodity as most growers are expected to move operations at the end of March north from Yuma and the Imperial Valley up to the Oxnard growing region. Toward the end of the season in the desert growing regions as temperatures rise, it is not uncommon to see more pith near the base of the stalks. Current quality-related issues include insect damage, occasional pith and some light-colored stalks. The extended forecast calls for more ideal growing conditions with no major frost or rain expected over the next 10 days. The primary shipping points for celery off the west coast are Brawley, Yuma, Oxnard and Santa Maria.
Artichokes
Heavy production continues with strong demand for “clean, frost free” Artichokes although Northern California has been hampered by another round of frost Southern California and Mexico has shown improved quality recently. Check with your Produce West rep to find the best area to load “clean” Artichokes. The superior edible Heirloom variety will be available in limited supplies from Northern California later this month.
Cauliflower
Demand is steady keeping in step with daily harvest estimates. Prices will continue to trade at current levels into the middle of next week. There is a two tiered market with Santa Maria quoting in the mid teens and product out of the Desert being quoted in the high teens. Overall quality has been nice, with clean white domes and nice green jackets.
Broccoli
The market continues to drag out of California and Arizona. Take note that there is an increased interest with the product coming out of Central Mexico as supplies have waned. Prices loading out of the Texas Valley have increased slightly as growers have either sent more of their product to local freezers or decided to supply the National market instead of exporting to the USA. This may cause an uptick in California prices, something to keep an eye on. A few Salinas shippers will start harvest tomorrow or Friday . We continue to ship our Shui Ling Crowns out of Mexico loading in Pharr, TX. Quality has been very nice and we appreciate the business you have given us. Our volume will be lighter out of Mexico as we finish out the season over the next 4 weeks.
Brussels Sprouts
Mexico production is increasing daily. Pricing continues to be aggressive especially for volume . Demand is expected to catch up to production as Easter promotions kick in.  We expect supplies to be strong heading into the spring with excellent promotional opportunities.
Green Onions
Mexico production has leveled off after a recent surge and pricing appears to have settled at current levels with well rounded sizing profile. Quality should be peaking before hot until temperatures increase insect pressure next month.
Strawberries
The market is stronger in Santa Maria and Oxnard California areas, Texas, and Florida. Oxnard. Santa Maria currently has the higher quality fruit right now, as Mexico and Florida deal with sporadic rain and plants nearing the end of their growth cycles. Look for the market to remain firm through the end of the week. Quality issues related to wet weather have been reported primarily out of the Mexico, Baja, and Florida regions. California’s quality has been good.
Raspberries
Supplies remain tight although numbers are slightly improving out of Mexico into next week. Product is available on both coasts and FOB McAllen, TX. Look for the market to decline slightly as numbers begin to build out of Mexico. Quality has been generally good with the occasional age issues occurring upon arrival.
Blueberries
Expect to see low volume to continue out of Santa Maria for the next 2 months. Mexico should begin to increase volume moving into next week. Growers are still anticipating lighter supplies this month up until the week of the 22nd. Imports are also very light as both Chilean and Peruvian production arrivals are sporadic and on the decline. Look for this market to remain firm through the end of next week.
Blackberries
Supplies will increase over the next few weeks. Quality has been fair coming out of Mexico and to a lighter extent Oxnard and Santa Maria. Look for this market to remain steady with lower price trends moving into the weekend.
Stone Fruit
Better supplies this week on large sized peaches and nectarines. Most of the volume is in tray pack, with limited supplies of volume fill. White peaches are lighter in volume , resulting in stronger markets. Lighter supplies on red and black plums, but most sizes are still available. Good quality on all stone fruit. Product is strong and very few issues to report.
Grapes
Red Grapes- Good supplies on red grapes this week and shippers are looking to move product. Supplies will remain consistently strong for the remainder of the month. Quality is starting to show some age as more inventories build up. Be sure you know what you are getting. There is better quality expected in the coming week as more boats arrive. Product is still available on both coasts.
Green Grapes – Good supplies currently available on both coasts. We expect supplies to drop off substantially over the next couple of weeks. Markets will begin to creep up as shippers anticipate lighter volumes. Some grapes are going into storage to prepare for the inevitable supply gaps, and we will likely begin to see some quality issues on the storage fruit.
Citrus
Oranges- Good supplies this week on most sizes. Quality is very nice with very few issues to report. Sizing is peaking on 72ct and 88ct. 138ct are less available and markets are stronger an smaller sized fruit. Brix levels have been good and overall weather continues to be optimal for growing.
Lemons – Supplies are improving this week on large sizes. There have been shorter supplies of small sized fruit. most sizes are peaking on 115 and 140ct. Desert supplies will be winding down over the next 2 weeks. Weather has been optimal for growing and we expect good quality to continue over the next few weeks.
Limes – mostly large sizes currently available. Better supplies of small sizes are expected to be available in the coming weeks, although rain has been delaying harvests and volumes are shrinking daily. Stronger markets this week on product crossing into Texas. This trend will continue for the remainder of the month.
Cantaloupes
We could simply cut and paste the past few weeks of reports and they would be accurate. Good growing conditions in the Caribbean basin and Central America will continue for the next week. Supplies look to flow unabated through the week into POEs. Sizes will continue to peak on 9s and jbo 9s with ample 12s and 15s. Quality will continue to be good and volume will continue to be dominated by two big vendors. At the same time demand has been tepid at best and there appears to be no promotions on the horizon. We look for another dull and steady market with discounts available through next week
Honeydews
Same cut and paste routine could be done on honeydews. The above mentioned growing conditions for cantaloupes will exist for dews as well. Mexico will be mild as well and continue to produce . Peak sizes are 5s and 6s with jbo 5s and some 8s available as well. Quality remains variable with some good lots and others showing scarring. This does not look to change as well. Like with cantaloupes, we expect honeydews to remain dull and steady to lower next week with discounts readily available.
Onions
Dry onions remain steady and in some cases, depending on the size, some pretty cheap deals are around. Generally speaking jumbo yellows are in the $5-$7 range and reds are in the $4-$6 range. There are starting to have good supplies crossing from Mexico and the pricing is in the $7-$8 range Depending on who you talk to…whites are around $12 with decent supplies.
Asparagus
Asparagus. Hopefully some 99 cent retails will start some demand for Mexican Asparagus, because at this point people don’t seem to be too interested in buying any volume. Supply is enormous and I’m sure there are consignments available. The Ad pricing, well into March, are in the $16- $18 range.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower – Production continues from the desert with transition to Central Valley expected over the next couple weeks. Quality has been nice and demand continues to match supplies.
Broccoli – Production continues to be strong and prices have remained flat although demand continues to be solid with many promotional opportunities. We do expect prices to firm with current demand levels. Quality has been very nice as we enter the final leg of the desert growing season.  We expect a smooth transition to Northern California production areas over the next month.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Green production will continue to improve with most of the items originating from Mexico . The full range of commodities should be an excellent category to promote through the end of the month
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot- Production has been steady . Demand has been very strong. Temperatures are expected to warm and slowly improve supplies. Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage. Bunch Carrot Quality has improved although the tops are still showing signs of previous frost damage.
Potato- Supplies continue to come mainly from storage on the west coast. We expect new production by late spring.
Onion- demand remains good with plentiful supplies remaining in storage. Quality is starting to show the effects of over wintering. Expect supplies to lighten by the end of March and the market to escalate before new crop arrivals late Spring.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Increased supply is expected as quality begins to improve. Most lettuce will continue to show some epidermal peel and discoloration although romaine hearts have improved the most with the ability to trim excess blister in the field. All growers are quoting product with these defects .
OG Citrus
Lemons: The market remains steady with good demand for domestic product as production continues to transition back to the coast and Central Valley. Quality remains smaller profile but a high percentage of fancy grade.
Oranges Navels production has peaked with excellent sizing and sugar profile. Optimum growing conditions has resulted in mostly larger sizes limiting smaller fruit.  Expect tiered pricing on smaller fruit. Strong supplies of mandarins continue to available with Cara’s and Bloods peaking and Golden Nuggets becoming available as well.
Limes:   The market has begun to edge higher on reduced supplies . Expect prices to continue on an upward trend. Quality is improving but remains inconsistent
Grapefruit:  Production is slowly transitioning back to the West Coast with supplies still coming from Texas and Mexico.
OG Grapes
California: Central Valley of California harvest have finished with some storage fruit available.  Offshore fruit is available on either coast.
OG Asparagus
Mexico:  Production has surged as the weather has improved and Export demand has fallen off significantly. Take advantage of strong promotional supplies between now and Easter.
California: Coastal California harvest has begun although low pricing on Mexican product has lead to a delay in volume. Expect significantly tiered pricing vs product of Mexico especially as quality diminishes at the end of the month but in the meantime take advantage of promotional supplies.
OG Avocados
Mexico:  Production has slowed and sizing appears to be leaning towards smaller profile which will allow growers to continue to pace their harvest although demand is improving, which should lead to better supplies as prices firm.
California: Good Demand continues to push prices higher as growers have slowed harvest to improve sizing and quality. We still expect this year’s crop barring any significant weather issues to be substantially larger than previous years with excellent promotional opportunities.

2/5/20

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Conventional Items
Lettuce
Last weeks warming trend helped push product forward and this week temperatures have moderated including a return of frost in most Southern Desert and Mexico production areas. Through all this demand remains mild. Markets have stabilized at current levels and could escalate with improved demand. Quality has tried to improve but weights, size and color remain varied as shippers continue to deal with widespread Epidermal Peel and increasing degrees of isolated verticillium wilt which manifests itself as reduced yields. If prevalent, supplies will become limited and prices will rise sharply.
Mix Leaf
 Romaine production also surged with warming temperatures although demand remains mild resulting in aggressive pricing options.  Quality has shown signs of improvement although epidermal peel and discoloration remain evident in varying degrees among shippers . Most Shippers are still quoting product with Epidermal peel and discoloration.
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  are seeing similar quality although they tend to grow through these issues quicker. Overall demand has been  slowed and markets have eased although still elevated above Romaine. Expect tiered quality and pricing to become more prevalent .
Brussels Sprouts
California has mostly finished for the season and Mexico is ramping up supplies quickly. Quality will benefit from cooler temperatures and will allow for promotional volume.
Celery
Slightly lighter supplies out of  Mexico. Offshore fruit is becoming scarce at the same time. Peru and Chilean offerings are somewhat sporadic keeping markets firmer. Look for this trend to continue through the weekend. Quality has been good out of Mexico with Peruvian product showing a little weakness in shelf life
Artichokes
Production has surged after a delayed start in the Desert. This week’s cooling will help preserve quality if they can avoid any extended frost damage. We anticipate promotional volume for the next couple weeks on all sizes especially the Largest sizes. The superior edible Heirloom variety will be available in from Northern California later this month.
Cauliflower
Supplies will be somewhat limited as the week finishes out due to the cold temperatures. Prices will not fall below current levels and we could see a slight uptick as we finish out the week. Quality from all growing regions is good, mostly full white domes, nice green jackets. We are seeing some soft shoulder on product loading in the Santa Maria area but this is isolated to mostly 9 size.
Broccoli
Abundant supplies are available from all growing regions in California, Arizona and Mexico. We expect to have heavy production over the next 7 days. We are packing excellent quality shortcut crowns in our Shui Ling label and are currently shipping out of Pharr, TX. Get with your Produce West sales representative for pricing and availability.
Green Onions
Mexico has finally resumed full production after its annual New Years hibernation. Expect pricing to stabilize at promotional levels by the end of the week. Quality has been improving and should strengthen through February barring any significant heat spells which impacts insect pressure .
Strawberries
The market is experiencing a demand exceeds supply situation, as shippers struggle with cooler temperatures out west in the midst of a heavy Valentine’s day loading period. Mexico and Florida are producing steady numbers but not enough to keep demand in check. Stem berries are being offered up in moderation out of all areas. Demand is heaviest in California as the traditional quality is superior at this time. Expect the market to remain firm through next week.
Raspberries
Volume will continue to lighten up due to lighter numbers coming out of Mexico causing lack of transfer product to the West and East coasts. Quality has been good. Look for slightly higher pricing moving into the end of the week.
Blueberries
Slightly lighter supplies out of  Mexico. Offshore fruit is becoming scarce at the same time. Peru and Chilean offerings are somewhat sporadic keeping markets firmer. Look for this trend to continue through the weekend. Quality has been good out of Mexico with Peruvian product showing a little weakness in shelf life.
Blackberries
Moderately good supplies will continue coming out of Mexico. Quality has been good with the occasional red cell still present in some lots. Look for the market to remain steady with higher undertones.
Stone Fruit
Pricing is beginning to ease up as supplies increase this week. Yellow and white nectarines are ramping up in supply and more sizes options are available. Great quality and very strong fruit is being reported. Product is holding up nicely well beyond the store level. With more arrivals scheduled in the coming days, shippers are starting to promote and deals are being made.
Grapes
Red – Better supplies expected for the coming weeks. Shippers are beginning to ease up on pricing in anticipation of heavier supplies going forward. Quality on Chilean and Peruvian fruit has been very strong with very few issues to report on arrival.
Green – Supplies on greens are increasing weekly as more fruit arrives to port. We are nearing peak production season which should last for the remainder of the month. Quality is very nice with little or no issues to report.
Citrus
Oranges – Small sizes remain tight this week. There is some relief in sight, however, as more smalls are expected to be harvested over the weekend. Good sugar levels industry wide and very few serious quality issues to report other than the occasional snowball. Expect steady markets for the remainder of this week and into next.
Lemons – District 1 fruit in California is looking very nice with good supplies on all small sizes. Large sizes are slightly less available, but markets are expected to remain steady as supplies increase into next week. There is still some desert fruit available in storage but quality is declining the longer it sits.
Weather in district 1 remains continues to be very nice for production.
Limes – The market appears to be settling with some deals still available. We expect supplies to begin to tighten in coming weeks. Quality is improving although it remains inconsistent . Expect demand to improve through February.
Cantaloupes
Lighter supplies and more plentiful trucks did not help the market this week. Comatose demand was the story and continues to be the story. This looks to continue next week. Winter storms heading across the country with snow and cold will not exactly inspire any desire for consumers to eat melons. Production will be about the same leading peaking on larger sizes with good quality. That leaves us with not much else to say except, more the same for next week.
Honeydews
Increased supplies from Mexico and offshore combined with numb demand and drove the market weaker this week. Offshore sizes peaked on 5s then Jbo 5s and 6s. Quality was variable. Brix were good. Next week we could see a bit more production from Mexico and off shore, but should remain lethargic at best. We see a steady to lower market next week on honeydews.
Onions
There seems to be downward pressure on all onions as of late. The shippers want business but the overall demand is wobbly and there are deals being buried to keep the packing houses busy. The market was trying to get to the $9.00 range but fell back to $8 with some folks in Washington in the $7 range. Reds too, are experiencing the same fate…deals at $4-$4.50.
Mexico is starting to cross whites in the $16 range and were run over the first two or three days. Rain has hampered some crossings as well.
Asparagus
The volume has a slight stutter step due to some chilly temps in the growing area. Ads are being made throughout the month of February with prices in the low $30’s and a few shippers in the high $20’s. Once these ads start the market will find its footing and “I’m sure we will have a very orderly situation appear” please note the quotes…these is never any order in this business.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower   Production has stabilized with recent cooler overnight temperatures allowing for pricing to firm. Current forecast calls for seasonal weather through February .
Broccoli    Production surged sharply with last weeks spike in temperatures. Although cooler overnight temperatures this week supplies remain abundant. Prices may firm slightly but expect excellent supplies and improved quality as we enter the prime growing season in the desert.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Green production will continue to improve with most of the items originating from Mexico . The full range of commodities should be an excellent category to promote.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady . Demand has been very strong. Temperatures are expected to warm and slowly improve supplies. Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage. Bunch carrot quality has improved although the tops are still showing signs of previous frost damage.
Potato Production continues to come mainly from storage on the west Coast. We expect improved supplies by late spring.
Onion demand remains steady along with pricing for mostly storage supplies.  Quality is still good although some shipments have shown signs of age. New crop is expected later this month from Mexico before transitioning to the west coast later this spring.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Increased supply is expected although quality will take a few more weeks to improve. Most lettuce will continue to suffer from epidermal peel and discoloration although Romaine Hearts should be affected the least with the ability to trim excess blister in the field. All growers are quoting product with these defects .
OG Citrus
Lemons: The market remains steady with good demand for domestic product as production continues to be steady. Quality from Arizona deserts remain smaller profile but higher percentage of fancy grade.
Oranges Navels production has begun to peak with improved sizing and excellent sugar levels. Optimum growing conditions has resulted in mostly larger profile limiting smaller fruit.  Expect tiered pricing on smaller fruit. Strong supplies of mandarins and Caras are also available .
Limes:   The market appears to be settling with some deals still available. We expect supplies to begin to tighten in coming weeks. Quality is improving although it remains inconsistent . Expect demand to improve through February.
Grapefruit:  Supplies have transitioned to Texas  and should return to the West Coast in coming weeks
OG Grapes
California: Central Valley of California harvest have finished with some storage fruit available.  Offshore fruit is available on either coast.
OG Avocados
Mexico:  Heavy supplies supported strong demand. Expect production to ease although reduced pricing remains available. We anticipate prices to firm by the end of the month.
California: Production has increased although prices remain relatively strong. We still expect this year’s crop to be substantially larger than previous years with excellent promotional opportunities.

1/29/20

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Conventional Items
Lettuce
Warmer temperatures arrived in the desert and production is on the rise while demand remains moderate.  Markets have eased and appear they will settle at current levels for the next couple weeks . Quality continues to vary with wide ranging weight , size and color. Shippers are still quoting product with epidermal peel and discoloration although many have been focused on removing any excess in the field.
Mix Leaf
Romaine  market has also slowed as production begins to improve while demand remains slightly off normal.  Quality will remain varied with twist , pale ribs along with epidermal peel and discoloration all evident . Some growers will skip over acreage with extensive epidermal to minimize arrival issues while others will continue full production which will result in slightly tiered pricing and quality.  Most shippers are still quoting product with Epidermal peel and discoloration.
Green leaf, Red leaf and Boston  are seeing similar quality although they tend to grow through these issues quicker. Overall demand has slowed and markets have eased although still elevated above Romaine. Expect tiered quality and pricing to continue.
Brussels Sprouts
California production is finishing for the season and Mexico is ramping up supplies. Tiered quality and pricing are still available We expect the market to remain strong through early February.
Celery
Supplies of celery are plentiful with most growers looking to promote over the next few weeks. Overall quality is reported as excellent. The weather in both in all growing regions of California has been very mild for this time of year. The extended forecast calls for ideal growing conditions with no major frost or rain expected over the next 10 days. The primary shipping points are Santa Maria, Oxnard and the Desert regions.
Artichokes
Production improves as weather in most production areas has been ideal.  Demand continues to be strong for “clean, frost free” Artichokes although most still have light to moderate frost damage . We anticipate improved quality heading into February. The superior edible Heirloom variety will be available in limited supplies from Northern California only .
Cauliflower
There will be good availability for the remainder of this week and going into next. Prices are beginning to decline and look for further declines as we finish out the week. Quality is good shipping out of the desert districts and is continuing to improve out of the Santa Maria area. Please run your offers by us.
Broccoli
Abundant supplies are available from all growing regions in California, Arizona and Mexico. With perfect weather expected across all growing areas. We expect to have heavy production over the next 10 days. We are packing excellent quality shortcut crowns in our Shui Ling label and are currently shipping out of Pharr, TX. Get with your Produce West sales representative for pricing and availability.
Green Onions
Mexico is ready to resume full production after its’ annual New Years hibernation. Expect pricing to ease sharply heading into February and quality should see improvements as long as insect pressure remains minimal.
Strawberries
Volumes are slowly increasing as a result of moderate climates with slightly warming temperatures, especially on the West Coast. Mexico has just recently experienced cooler weather but their yields are also expected to increase late this week just in time for the big Valentine’s day pull. Florida is coming out of a small planting gap but projections are they will begin to ramp back up towards the end of this week with fair numbers. The Stem Strawberry orders for Valentine’s Day are being booked now out of all areas. Look for markets to remain firm through next week in all areas
Raspberries
Moderate supplies out of Mexico. Quality has been good. Look for the market to remain firm with higher overtones for this week. We may see lower availability next week and at the same increased demand.
Blueberries
Blueberry availability is beginning to taper off for some shippers out of Mexico and demand is shifting to the offshore fruit to cover orders. Peruvian and Chilean product is available in Miami, Philadelphia and in smaller numbers the West Coast. Look for the market to begin to firm up as we see lighter availability overall in the industry. Quality has been good on fresher lots.
Blackberries
Good supplies coming out of Central Mexico loading in Texas FOB or West Coast distribution points in Oxnard, Yuma, and Florida. The market is on an upward swing from last week with lighter harvests being projected. Quality has been good overall although red cell is still present in some lots.
Stone Fruit
Lighter supplies and stronger demand this week as offshore product is being gobbled up the moment it arrives to port. More shipments are expected to arrive in the coming week, which should ease demand and build up inventories on multiple sizes. Quality reports are positive, with strong fruit arriving on both coasts.
Grapes
Red – Light supplies this week, a result of delayed arrivals from South America. Red grapes are in high demand as less product is available on both coasts. We expect better supplies towards the end of next week. We are about 2-3 weeks away from peak production, barring any transportation delays.
Green – Better supplies this week on both coasts. Markets have remained steady as volumes fluctuate. There have been some deals made on greens this week, but expect shortages in the coming days as there will be gaps in arrival of offshore vessels. Quality remains very nice with few or no problems to report.
Citrus
Oranges – small sizes are less available this week. Sizes are peaking on 88 and larger and there is a spread in pricing as a result. We expect markets to climb on smaller sizes as we go into next week. Quality has been good overall, although there have been some isolated reports of snowballs and soft fruit. Brix levels are excellent.
Lemons – better supplies this week as district 1 is in full production. There are still some desert lemons available and shippers are looking to clean up those inventories. Some quality issues are being reported however on storage fruit. Plenty of deals are being made on old and new crop so don’t hesitate to run offers by us.
Limes – Good supplies continue this week. Pricing is settling and shippers are looking to move product. Quality is very nice with good color and condition on most of the product coming in from Mexico.
Cantaloupes
As expected the cantaloupe market has improved. Supplies lightened up a bit Guatemala finishing up and Costa Rica starting but overall volume has been lower. Demand has been sluggish most of the season but with lower prices the past couple of weeks it has improved. Yet pricing has remained flat. Quality overall has been good as has been brix. Sizes have continued to peak on 9 then jbo 9s then 12 with few 15s and jbo 6s. Next week the current trends look to continue. Moderate to light production will continue for another week and demand should stay moderate, but could increase if there is warm spell in the Midwest and East. We look for a steady to slightly higher market next week.
Honeydews
Finally prices have faltered on honeydews. After spending December and good part of January in the upper teens, they have trended lower this past week. Quality continues to be fair. Production continues to be moderate at best, but feels as if the buyers are fed up with high prices, fair quality fruit. Added into the mix are slight increases in Mexican and off shore production and viola, we have a lower market. Next week production looks to be stable from the Caribbean Basin and increased in Mexico, with variable quality and condition. Demand should continue to be tepid at best. We look for a steady to lower market next week with some deep discounting on fair quality or off sized fruit.
Onions
Onions continue to hold steady with Idaho and Oregon trying to get a premium. Demand has slowed as receivers adjust to higher pricing. Storage quantities remain in sync with shipments for the time being. There is still a premium being paid for true Jumbo Yellow onions. Mexico will start to cross in the next few weeks.
Asparagus
Ads for 28/1’s are starting to appear as warm weather asserts itself in Caborca. Volume is gushing and the spot market has adjusted downward. Once all the Peruvian is cleaned up and the ads kick in we should see a stabilized market with promotable volumes.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower   As with most commodities in the desert production and quality is expected to take a step up. Expect prices to ease as temperatures continue to warm. Current forecasts call for ideal weather through mid February.
Broccoli    Production has begun to rebound and prices are reacting. Expect excellent supplies and improved quality as we enter the prime growing season in the desert.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Green production will continue to improve with most of the items originating from Mexico . The full range of commodities should be an excellent category to promote.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady . Demand has been very strong. Temperatures are expected to warm and slowly improve supplies. Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage. Bunch carrot quality has improved although the tops are still showing signs of previous frost damage.
Potato Production continues to come mainly from storage on the west coast. We expect improved supplies by late spring.
Onion demand remains good and the market appears to be steady for storage supplies.  Quality is still good although some storage shipments have shown signs of age. New crop is expected in the Spring.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Increased supply is expected although quality will take a few more weeks to improve. Most lettuce will continue to suffer from epidermal peel and discoloration although romaine hearts should be affected the least with the ability to trim excess blister in the field. All growers are quoting product with these defects .
OG Citrus
Lemons: The market remains steady with good demand for domestic product as production continues to be steady. Quality from Arizona deserts remain smaller profile but higher percentage of fancy grade.
Oranges Navels production has begun to peak with improved sizing and excellent sugar levels. Optimum growing conditions has resulted in mostly larger profile limiting smaller fruit.  Expect tiered pricing on smaller fruit. Stronger supplies of mandarins and Caras are also available .
Limes:   The market appears to be settling at current levels with improved labor  supplies although quality is improving it remains inconsistent . Expect demand to improve throughout January.
Grapefruit:  Supplies have transitioned to Texas  and should return to the West Coast in coming weeks
OG Grapes
California: Central Valley of California harvest have finished with some storage fruit available.  Offshore fruit is available on either coast.
OG Avocados
Mexico:  Heavy supplies support strong demand. We anticipate prices to begin to ease as we enter February.
California: Production has increased although prices remain elevated with strong demand. We expect this year’s crop barring any significant weather issues to be substantially larger than previous years with excellent promotional opportunities.

1/22/20

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Lettuce
Forecasts finally call for a transition to milder more seasonal overnight temperatures in the desert which will increase soil temperatures and accelerate growth. In anticipation, demand has slowed awaiting lower pricing heading into the weekend. Quality continues to be fair with weak tip, mildew pressure,  Epidermal peel and discoloration all resulting in light weight and varied size. Discounts mainly on off-sizes have been available but will include all packs moving forward. Shippers are still quoting product with Epidermal peel and discoloration although many have been focused on removing any excess in the field.
Mix Leaf
Romaine production will also be increasing which will also accelerate epidermal discoloration. If markets continue to be lukewarm, expect growers to pass fields with excessive blister or possibly transition these acres to Romaine Heart production with the ability to trim heads fully.  Quality will remain varied with twist , pale ribs along with epidermal peel and discoloration all evident . Expect peel and discoloration to be evident for at least 3 weeks . Most shippers are quoting product with epidermal peel and discoloration.
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  are seeing similar quality issues although they tend to grow through quicker. Demand has also been much better than Romaine which has allowed markets to remain escalated although expect prices to adjust as availability increases. Tiered quality and pricing will also continue to exist.
Brussels Sprouts
Production from Central California is winding down while Mexico is expected to improve production by the end of the month. Currently supplies are light and prices have peaked.  We expect the market to continue strong for a couple weeks before easing.
Celery
Sufficient supplies available in all growing regions. The most affordable prices are coming out of Santa Maria and Oxnard,CA. Celery quality is good with weights ranging in the mid 50’s.
Artichokes
Production finally has begun to improve and will likely increase sharply with improved weather.  Demand continues to be strong for “clean” Artichokes although most have light to moderate frost damage . We anticipate improved quality heading into February. The superior edible Heirloom variety will be available in limited supplies from Northern California only
Cauliflower
The flower market has firmed as shippers run into lighter supplies. Demand has been good and we expect that to last for the remainder of the week. We should start to see prices flatten out and begin declining next week as warmer weather in the Desert growing regions start to push growth. Quality looks very good especially out of the Imperial Valley and Yuma, AZ districts. Please get with your Produce West sales representative for best quality and price options.
Broccoli
Good availability from all growing districts. Prices out of California and Arizona have gradually been coming down and it will continue to decline as we close out the week. There is a plethora of product shipping out of Mexico into the McAllen, TX valley. We will see supplies start to subside out of Mexico next week as growers go back to their contract pricing as opposed to the lower open market prices being offered. The Eastern growing regions such as Florida and Georgia are pretty much done for the season after the cold snap that occurred earlier this week. Overall quality has been good, inspectors are still finding light water spotting on product coming out of Santa Maria and expect to see more purple color on domes from product out of Arizona and Mexico due to cooler growing temperatures.
Green Onions
Production from Mexico has begun to wake from it’s annual slumber although markets remain escalated we expect slightly increased availability by early next week and better pricing to follow shortly thereafter .
Strawberries
Expect a firm market into next week with heavy retail commitments keeping pricing buoyant. School business is back in high gear adding to the already brisk demand. Quality out of California and Mexico is being reported as very good with the occasional light color and some white shoulder being reported. Shelf life is much improved over previous offerings and movement is good. Florida berries are in a natural planting gap and look to remain lighter in yields for the next 5 to 7 days. Growers in Florida are hoping to be ramped back up just in time for Valentine’s Day pull. Look for the markets in all areas to remain firm through the weekend.
Raspberries
Raspberry crossings out of Mexico are on the decline bringing firmer markets along with fewer numbers. Quality has generally been good on the fresher lots. Some of the older pack dates are arriving with some mold or leaker issues. Look for this market to rise slightly as we move into the weekend.
Blueberries
Good supplies with promotable volumes coming from Mexico, Peru, and Chile. Promotable numbers are going to last through the month of February so there is plenty of time to plan Ad campaigns and in-store promotions. Quality has been good in all countries of origin
Blackberries
Crossings have reduced slightly, thus reducing availability next week. Blackberries are following the same type of availability profile as the raspberries. Quality has been just fair with red cells and leakers present in some lots upon arrival.
Stone Fruit
Stone fruit supplies are improving as more offshore fruit arrives on both coasts. Better volumes this week on peaches, nectarines, and plums. Quality reports have been very positive and are expected to remain strong for now. Markets should ease into the month of February as more product arrives on both coasts.
Grapes
Red – lighter supplies this week on reds, as shipments have yielded fewer reds than anticipated. Demand has been strong, keeping the markets active. Quality is very nice with very few quality issues to report. We will continue to see gaps in supply as shipments have been delayed from Peru this week and next. Most of the current volume is large fruit. We expect better volume toward the end of next week as more fruit is expected to arrive by then.
Green – Better supplies on green this week and markets have eased up slightly as volumes improve. Chilean and Peruvian fruit is available on both coasts and quality has been very strong overall.
Citrus
Oranges – Supplies have tightened up this week, especially on small sizes. Pricing is stronger on small sizes and expected to remain active for at least the next two weeks. Overall quality has been positive with very few issues to report.
Lemons – Steady supplies this week on all sizes. District 1 is producing some very nice fruit. There is still some district 3 product available, but mostly storage product. Weather has been optimal for production and we expect good quality and supplies for the next few weeks.
Limes – Supplies are improving out of Mexico into Texas. Markets have eased up significantly. Quality has been very nice, with good color and condition. Run offers by us.
Cantaloupes
Good supplies available on both costs. Small fruit is in higher demand as most of the volume has been larger sizes. Overall demand has eased up however and markets have settled.Good brix is being reported on recent arrivals. Quality has been very nice with very few issues to report. We expect better volumes on all sizes as more product arrives over the next few weeks.
Honeydews
Lighter supplies this week on honeydews and markets are strong. Delays have created small gaps in supply on both coasts and supplies are having difficulty keeping up with demand. Light numbers have come up from mexico, but supplies are tight industry wide for the next two week. We expect better supplies by the second week of February.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower   Production has been slow in the desert and prices have been firm . Expect improved production as we approach February as the weather warms. Quality has held steady and should continue to be strong as overall temperatures although warmer are still mild.
Broccoli    Supplies are likely to increase rapidly as the desert and Mexico production areas have finally seen soil temperatures rise.   Quality should also see improvements with dry conditions.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Green production will improve with much of the bunched items originating from Mexico. Should be an excellent category to promote.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady . Demand has been very strong. Temperatures are expected to warm although root crops typically take longer to react. Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage. Bunch Carrot Quality has improved but recent frost delays may impact tops once again.
Potato Production continues to come mainly from storage on the West Coast. We expect improved supplies by late Spring. .
Onion demand remains good and the market appears to be steady for storage supplies.  Quality is still good although some storage shipments have shown signs of age. New crop is expected in the Spring.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Production is expected to increase although quality will take a few more weeks to improve . Most lettuce will continue to suffer from epidermal peel and discoloration although Romaine Hearts should be affected the least with the ability to trim excess blister. All growers are quoting product with these defects .
OG Citrus
Lemons: The market remains steady with good demand for domestic product as production slowly increases . Quality from Arizona deserts remain smaller profile but higher fancy grade.
Oranges Navels production has begun to peak with improved sizing and excellent sugar levels. Optimum growing conditions has resulted in mostly larger profile limiting smaller fruit.  Expect tiered pricing on smaller fruit. Stronger supplies of mandarins and Caras have also begun to be available .
Limes:   The market appears to be settling at current levels with improved labor  supplies although quality remains inconsistent . Expect demand to improve throughout January.
Grapefruit:  Supplies have transitioned to Texas  and should return to the West Coast in coming weeks
OG Grapes
California: Central Valley of California harvest have finished with some storage fruit available.  Offshore fruit is available on either coast.
OG Avocados
Mexico:  Supplies have been lighter than anticipated and the market has firmed along with Demand. which should only improve as we approach Superbowl promos
California: Production has been limited at elevated prices . This year’s crop barring any significant weather issues should be substantially larger than previous years .

1/15/20

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Lettuce
Seasonally cool weather continues to keep soil temperatures below optimal growth conditions ,limiting production. Daytime temperatures have been mild and overnight temperatures are forecast to warm slightly which will eventually lead to improved growing conditions. Quality continues to fair with weak tip, mildew pressure and now increased blister , peel and discoloration all resulting in light weight and varied size. Markets have peaked at current levels and will begin to ease as temperatures warm. Be aware , Shippers are quoting product with Epidermal peel and discoloration.
Mix Leaf
Romaine  production has also slowed while demand seems tepidly improved as the industry regains confidence. Cool nighttime temperatures are keeping soil temps below necessary growth levels and supplies have been manageable. Quality remains varied but mostly fair condition with Mildew, twist, pale ribs along with increased blister, peel and discoloration all evident. Expect peel and discoloration to become even more widespread as the product grows. Most shippers have warned and are quoting product with Epidermal peel and discoloration.
Green leaf , Red leaf and Boston  are seeing similar quality issues although demand has been much better than Romaine with escalated pricing. Tiered quality and pricing also continues to exist.
Brussels Sprouts
Production from Central California is beginning to wind down while Mexico has yet to regain full production. We expect overall lighter supplies but improved quality moving forward. Markets prices will begin to firm until improved temperatures return .
Celery
Sufficient supplies available in all growing regions. The most affordable prices are coming out of Santa Maria and Oxnard,CA. Celery quality is good with occasional light blister & peel on the outer petioles.
Artichokes
Production continues to suffer from a delayed transition along with frost on the limited supplies.  Demand has been strong for “clean” Artichokes although most have light to moderate frost damage . We anticipate improved production heading into February. The superior edible Heirloom variety will return in the Spring.
Cauliflower
Demand exceeds and supplies will be limited for the remainder of this week. The market is trading in the high $20’s and there is still good demand for product. Better volume is expected for the end of next week. Quality is good, there is the occasional yellow cast and some soft shoulder.
Broccoli
Supplies have been limited and prices are currently reflecting this out of all growing districts. The forecast is for lighter supplies for the remainder of this week out of California and Arizona. It feels as though the market has peaked and there is no expectation of prices going any higher. There is better availability out of Mexico shipping from McAllen, TX valley. Prices are as much as $10-$12 cheaper on product of Mexico. The Eastern growing regions such as Florida and Georgia are very limited but they expect better volume by the end of next week. Overall quality has been good, inspectors are still finding water spotting on product coming out of Santa Maria and expect to see more purple color on domes from product out of Arizona and Mexico due to cooler growing temperatures.
Green Onions
 ****Continued Late Warning **** Production from Mexico has halted due to its Seasonal end of the year slow down of labor and now with the continued ongoing cold overnight temperatures supplies will continue to be virtually non existent. Supplies will be short for most bunching items originating from Mexico ESPECIALLY Green Onions as demand peaks through January.
Strawberries
 The Straws out of California remain light to steady volume, as we have not experienced any extensive back to back storm fronts in any of the California growing areas that would seriously affect yields or quality. Oxnard and Santa Maria are expecting up to an inch of rain coming Thursday of this week. The extended forecast calls for dry weather with slightly warmer temps the last week in January. The market remains steady with higher under tones. We have seen a big improvement on quality out of all areas. With the current projected weather forecasts this improvement should continue into the end of this month. The fruit out of Florida has been seeing moderate sporadic showers with some cooler than normal temperatures which have lightened yields. Temps are expected to warm this week with an extended dry period lasting through the weekend. This market has tightened up and will remain so through the weekend. The forecasts for Mexico call for dry weather with cooler than seasonal early morning lows. This is not expected to affect yields at this point. Baja Mexico is expecting dry weather through next week with only a slight chance of rain in the higher elevations. The market is stronger and this will continue into next week.
Raspberries
Raspberries remain in good supplies coming out of the Central Mexico region. Quality has been fairly good with some older lots showing problems. The market should remain firm through this week as we see better overall demand with schools back in the mix.
Blueberries
The Blues are hitting peak volumes out of Mexico and Peru. We are looking at volumes starting to decline. This will continue through January as several importers will be gapping next week. Chilean production has also been disrupted somewhat by rain in the growing regions but volume is still cumbersome.
Blackberries
The lack of demand that we have been experiencing over the last few weeks is disappearing as we are headed into a lighter numbers next week. We are still seeing some leakers and red cell in many lots. Expect the market to remain steady with higher pricing towards next week.
Stone Fruit
Supplies on offshore stone fruit are increasing daily. Product is arriving by boat from Chile on both coasts. There is limited volume on various sizes, but quality is very strong on peaches, nectarines and plums. Pricing is currently elevated but should ease up as supplies increase over the next couple of weeks.
Grapes
Red – Demand is picking up nation wide with schools back in session. There have been some arrival delays on grape shipments that have caused some shortages on both coasts, but as of now, volumes continue to keep up with demand. Expect steady supplies at least through next week. Quality has been very strong on arrival. More arrivals are expected toward the end of this month which should ease the market.
Green – Supplies have been lighter on the west coast, with more volume arriving on the east. Markets are currently very strong on green grapes, although volumes are expected to improve as more product arrives towards the latter part of this month. Quality is very nice with good, strong fruit now available on both coasts.
Citrus
Oranges – Large sizes are more readily available and deals are being made. , Small sizes are in tighter supply this week, with stronger markets on 88 and smaller sizes. Quality has been very nice on all sizes, with good color and brix reported. We do expect stronger markets through the rest of the month as demand picks up, particularly on small sizes.
Lemons – Steady markets this week as district 1 starts and district 3 finishes up. The overlap in growing areas has resulted in more supplies, especially on smaller sizes. Weather has been very nice for growing and quality is very strong out of California. Markets should remain steady through next week.
Limes – Better supplies are expected over the next 10 days as harvests return to normal after the holiday. Quality has been very nice with good color and solid structure. Plenty of deals available so run something by us.
Cantaloupes
Prices have remained flat this week in spite of demand picking up on more deeply discounted fruit. Quality remained consistent and good. Sizes peaked on 9s and then jbo 9s and 12s. Next week supplies are expected to be slightly less with volume. First phase Honduras is ending and Costa Rica is staring with Guatemala still shipping. Sizing and quality should stay stable. Demand should also remain about the same or ebb a bit as deep discounting could stop and winter is rearing its head this week into next. The following week, we could see an improvement in pricing as we head into the last week of January and February demand usually picks up a bit. We see a steady market next week with less discounting and a slightly improved market the following week.
Honeydews
For weeks now, honeydews have been much higher priced than cantaloupes. This continued this week, but with price resistance coming into play leading to more discounts being offered than has been the case. Overall supplies were still light and quality still variable with scarring in the off shore product. Demand has been in dull winter drone mode, but light supplies have kept the market feeling more active than the reality.  Next week supplies look to change little form offshore, but with Costa Rica starting they could increase somewhat as It unfolds. Sizes should start peaking on 6s then 5s and then jbo 5s. Mexico struggles with cold and/or wet weather keeping their supplies light. Next week their weather is expected to improve so their supplies could increase as well. Demand should be quite slow in the face of winter’s grip and high priced inventories. We look for a steady to lower market next week.
Honeydews
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Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower   Production has been slow in the desert and prices have reacted higher. Expect continued higher pricing through most of January . Typically the next surge of production will coincide with improved temperatures usually the start of February.  Quality has held steady although some production areas with heavy frost may show increased curd discoloration .
Broccoli    Supplies have declined drastically as the desert and Mexico production areas have seen seasonally colder temperatures . Additionally Northern California production has finished due to wet weather inducing pin rot .  Quality remains variable although drier conditions will help improve quality from all production areas including the Deserts and Mexico.
Production is expected to improve from Mexico in coming weeks.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Green production has stalled with much of the bunched items originating from Mexico. Along with cooler weather , seasonal labor shortages have resulted in substantially reduced supplies which has escalated markets sharply. We expect varied supplies through most of the month.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady . Demand has been very strong. Cooler, Rainy weather has slowed supplies for upcoming next few weeks. Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage. Bunch Carrot Quality has improved but recent heavy rains may impact Tops once again.
Potato Production has been affected by sudden change in seasons as growers scrambled to get their final acres harvested and stored . Expect some long term effects to pricing and availability.
Onion demand remains good and the market appears to be escalating with supplies below normal Quality is currently nice although some storage shipments have shown signs of age..
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine   Production has been steady although most growers have been battling increased mildew pressure from recent rains and now frost delays have increased blister , peel and increased the degree of discoloration . All growers are quoting product with these defects .
OG Citrus
Lemons: The market remains steady with good demand for domestic product as production slowly increases . Quality from Arizona deserts remain smaller profile but higher fancy grade.
Oranges Navels production has begun to peak with improved sizing and excellent sugar levels. Optimum growing conditions have resulted in mostly larger profile limiting smaller fruit.  Expect tiered pricing on smaller fruit. Stronger supplies of mandarins and Caras have also begun to be available .
Limes:   The market appears to settling at current levels with improved labor although supplies and quality remain in consistent . Expect demand to improve throughout January with prices expected to rise .
Grapefruit:  Supplies have transitioned to Texas for the Winter
OG Grapes
California: Central Valley of California harvests have finished with some storage fruit available.  Offshore fruit is available on either coast.
OG Avocados
Mexico:  Steady supplies continue with possible improved sizing and volume as the month moves on . Demand remains good and will only improve as we approach Superbowl promos
California: Production has limited supplies at elevated prices .