Lettuce​

Similar to Romaine, Iceberg production and quality has been inconsistent among shippers. Mild, cool weather has slowed growth but also increased mildew pressure. Showers late last week delayed harvest a squeezed supplies for Holiday demand but production seems mostly back on track and the market has settled down.  Quality issues from mildew , insect pressure and tipburn  are still  common but overall quality is improving.

 

Mix Leaf

Leaf continues to be short supplied​although demand has not been overwhelming. ​Romaine volume has been better but with very uneven distribution among shippers. Wide ranging quality continues to affect the market.  Insect pressure and mildew

​have ​been the main issues.   East Coast production from New Jersey is helping fill needs while  California gets  back to normal production  when the weather is expected to improve this weekend.

 

Celery

Strong markets continue as cool weather and water rationing continues to slow growth. Florida product is finishing up and putting more pressure on west coast growing regions.  Expect a strong market through mid June, at which time Salinas production will be starting.

 

Broccoli

Demand is very strong as yields have fallen off due to the cooler than normal weather in California as well as Mexico finishing up it’s winter program.  For those growers in Mexico that continue with their spring / summer crop they have had bad weather this week and have not been able to harvest any real volume over the last three days.  We do not expect any real change in the weather anytime soon so expect the market to remain unchanged going into next week.

 

Cauliflower

It seems as though the market has hit a saturation point due the fourth week of prices over the $29.00 mark.  Although we continue to see high FOB’s shippers seem to have availability and you can place volume orders and get them covered day of.  I would not get too relaxed thinking the market is falling fast as this cooler weather will not bring on any heavy volume anytime soon.

 

Brussels Sprout

Production continues mainly from  Mexico although some domestic production has started earlier than  projected  Lighter demand caused by overall  fair quality continues with  various sizing and  insect pressure affecting production.
Artichokes

Globe varieties have begun to increase production as the Heirloom season winds down. Large sizes are predominant but medium sizes are also available.  The market is adjusting as more shippers start their summer crop.  Quality has been very nice with occasional insect pressure.

 

Strawberries

Demand has slowed and even with our overcast weather, the market has adjusted to lower price levels. There seems to be a lack of Ads running this week which helps support the market.  As prices come down, growers will begin to look at going to the freezers with their fruit in order to lock in prices.  Temperatures are forecasted to be slightly warmer for the weekend.

 

Grapes

Mexico is in full production on flames and perlettes.  Quality has been very nice, very few problems to speak of.  There is still storage fruit available but quality is very questionable at this point.  California flames are available and pricing is comparable to Mexican fruit.  California sugar ones are also available at a premium price due to limited availability.  Sizing is on the larger side and very little small fruit available.

Citrus

Valencia oranges are peaking on larger sizes.  There is a demand exceeds supply scenario on smaller fruit.  Great quality and bright color. Lemons are peaking on smaller sized fruit.  There are very few large sized lemons available. Drought conditions this year and lack of adequate groundwater caused the fruit to color up quickly and had less time to size up.  The Lime market has dropped substantially over the past few weeks.  The market has mostly bottomed out at this point due to an influx of product.  Supplies have leveled out and we could see some supply gaps in the next few weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lettuce​

Mild weather the past week has slowed production which had been 1-2 weeks ahead of schedule.  Light to moderate supplies put pressure on the market to gain momentum heading into this week.  Continued quality issues from mildew, insect pressure and tip burn have also reduced fields resulting in further strengthening. Better supplies should be available as the weather improves next week along with production starting in Southwest and New Mexico this week.

 

Mix Leaf

Continues to be very short supplied. Romaine volume has been better but with very uneven distribution among shippers. Wide ranging quality continues to affect the market. Insect pressure and mildew have been the main issues. The market will continue to see an imbalance for another couple weeks with Romaine market likely to strengthen as leaf should level off.

Celery

Stronger market overall. Florida is gapping and putting pressure on the west. Cooler weather has slowed production and created gaps in supply. Not much difference in pricing between sizes and most product is coming out of Santa Maria and Oxnard. Salinas pricing is understandably pricier due to transfer costs. Good quality in all areas.
Broccoli

Pricing is steady with light supplies. Bunched continues to be limited and overall quality is improving; however we should see better supplies going into next week.  Better availability on crowns, although there seems to be decent supplies of bunch as well.  Look for the market to come off a little. Central Mexico broccoli supplies are steady but volume will begin to wind down starting next week. Most growers will finish their season by the third week of May. Pricing is improving slightly as we finish the season

 

Cauliflower

Supplies in Salinas and Santa Maria will remain very light for the week.  We do not expect much change in this market next week. Quality is good overall.

 

Brussels Sprout

Light Production continues mainly from Mexico. The market continues to be active mostly from light supplies.  Overall quality continues to be fair with various sizing and insect pressure affecting production.  New Crop production from Santa Cruz and Salinas is expected next month.
Artichokes

Heirloom / Green Globes have peaked for the spring season and light production of the seeded Globe varieties have strengthened the overall market which will remain strong till mid-May when the seeded Globe varieties will begin to produce mostly large sizes.

​

 

 

 

Strawberries

Strawberries continue to be in a demand exceeds situation for the Mother’s day pull.  Supplier shortages and prorates will continue into mid-week next week. Warmer weather has been forecast for the end of this week followed by cooler temps for the front part of next week. The Memorial Day pull is right around the corner!

 

Grapes

Coachella and Mexico should start in light numbers next week.  Early reports show strong appearance, but light numbers for the first few weeks. This will create a much stronger market on greens, as receivers are wary of storage fruit. The good product that is available is very expensive with as much as $8-10 spreads between quality ranges.  Red Grapes continue to have good appearance and are holding up nicely. Coachella has started small numbers with very nice quality reports.

Citrus

Orange market continues to rise as navels finish and Valencia’s play catch up. Small sized fruit volume is becoming very tight.  Most of the volume is peaking at the 72 count fruit and going up from there. Quality is very nice, very few problems to speak of. Lime volume is up over 500 loads per week for the second week in a row.  Sizes are peaking on 200s, 230s, and 250s. 110,150s, 175s are in shorter supply. Prices continue to slip on all sizes as we approach the Cinco de Mayo holiday. Look for prices to keep falling after Cinco de Mayo with deals on small sizes.

 

Mangos

Mango rounds are beginning  to trend into the 9,10 count sizing down from  7,8 count look for continued deals on large fruit this week with deals to be had after the Cinco de Mayo holiday on the mid and small size fruit. Ataulfos are still in short supply with demand exceeding volume on 12s, 14s. Look for the volume to pick up toward the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

 

 

 

 

 

Lettuce
Moderate production from Central Coast and Santa Maria has kept the market steady. Continued quality issues from mildew, insect pressure and now tip burn have reduced availability and the market has begun to inch higher. Some shippers continue to discount palletized lettuce due to trimming off troubled outer leaves.

Mix Leaf
Leaf continues to be very short supplied. Romaine volume has been better withsome shippers offering volume deals but wide ranging quality continues to affect the market. Insect pressure and mildew have been the main issues. The market will continue to see an imbalance for another couple weeks.

Celery
Supplies are tightening up as weather cools and Oxnard volume decreases. Shippers are getting premium pricing on small sizes, with larger sizing more readily available. The Mexico growing season is finishing up and all the pressure will be put on west coast product. Water shortages will also start affecting acreage. Celery requires a large amount of water so farmers will be focusing on less thirsty alternatives. Expect this market to get stronger and remain high indefinitely.

Broccoli
Active market on west coast product. Supplies have tightened up on bunch and crowns on the west coast which has increased demand for Mexican product. As Mexican volume lightens up for the next few weeks we will see some gaps in production as more pressure is put on the west coast growing regions. Overall quality has been strong.

Cauliflower
Very active market over the past 2 weeks. The current gaps in production due to transition have been widened as a result of cooler weather. Many shippers are sold out for the remainder of the week. Quality has been nice overall, good white color and strong appearance. Volume is expected to remain tight into next week.

Brussels Sprout
Light Production continues mainly from Mexico. The market continues to be active. Overall quality continues to be poor with various sizing and insect pressure affecting production. New Crop production from Santa Cruz and Salinas is expected late next month.

Artichokes
Light production of the seeded Globe varieties have strengthened the overall market. Heirloom / Green Globes have peaked for the spring season. The market will continue to be strong till Mid May when the seeded Globe varieties will begin to produce mostly large sizes.

Strawberries
Very tight market currently. Oxnard is finishing up and all of the focus is in Salinas and Santa Maria fruit. Forecasts show lighter volume than previous years. Sting of cold days with very little sun, will make things a little dicey heading into the Mother’s Day pull. The Salinas / Watsonville Area has a forecast for rain this Saturday as well. The fruit will be 60% to 70% color with white shoulders being the norm. Prices should range in the $12 to $14.00 range.

Grapes
Stronger market on greens than last week. Quality has been marginal at best. We should see higher prices over all into the Coachella season. Red Quality is good and should continue to be nice as the Chilean season finishes up. Mexico and Coachella are still planning on starting full production the first week of May.

Citrus
Navel market is getting stronger as supplies tighten up. Quality has been good, although Valencia’s will be in better shape as navels finish for the season. Expect this market to remain active as we head into May. The lemon market is very active, a result of transitioning growing districts and a very wide range in quality. This market will remain active for the next few weeks as northern growing regions struggle to catch up. Beware cheap deals, which usually indicate poor quality. The lime market remains very active, not much fruit available. There are more small sized limes available, larger are harder to come by so expect higher prices on the large fruit. Low supplies are expected into May, which will keep this market strong for weeks to come.

Mangos
Mango volume is increasing coming into the Cinco De Mayo Holiday. The quality so far this season has been good on Mexican fruit with some issues in the offshore fruit. Look for promotions on 10/12 Tommies and 18/20 Ataulfos. There will also be deals on large size Tommies 6,7,8,9 and ataulfos 14/16. Market will ease slightly after the Holiday.

Lettuce​

Transition is almost fully complete with production areas in Yuma and Huron finishing up this week.  The market will strengthen based on fewer overlapping production areas along with rain showers temporarily hampering harvest.  Production should even out by the weekend.  Quality has improved with the new growing areas but there will continue to be issues with light weights and heavy insect pressure.

 

Mix Leaf 

Secondary transition from the central valley to the coastal production areas in Salinas and Santa Maria is almost done.  Romaine, romaine heart and leaf markets have all strengthened because lighter supplies.  Many shippers are well ahead of budgeted schedule, Quality has been better from the new production areas especially Santa Maria. Supply swings will continue for another couple weeks.

 

Celery

Good quality product out of multiple areas out west.  Volume remains good, Oxnard is in full swing and there is still product coming out of the desert. Good production on all size and large sizes are more prevalent.   Inventories are expected to tighten up towards the latter half of this month as desert product finishes up for the season and more pressure being put on coastal growing areas.
Broccoli

Demand is starting to pick up and it looks as though prices will increase over the next few days.  We will be in a small supply gap over the next 10 days due to weather.  The warmer weather we had about a month ago pushed the product at a faster than normal pace and the cooler temperatures over the last seven days has now slowed it down.  There are still supplies available out of Mexico loading in Texas.  It would be best to place your orders in advance to make sure we can get them filled.

 

Cauliflower

Market continues to be in a demand exceeds scenario.  We will continue to see lighter supplies into next week.  Cooler night time temperatures along with labor shortages will maintain the market at its current trading levels.  Please try and place orders in advance and expect some pro rates.  Quality in both Santa Maria and Salinas has been good, weights have been 26-28 lbs. with some rough curd and not much yellowing.  Head size has been good and we are seeing nice tight packs.

 

Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout production continues  primarily from  Mexico Quality has been fair most of the season and will likely continue to have issues  with  heavy insect pressure and  the lack of water in the growing areas in Mexico.
Artichokes

​G​reen Globe / Heirloom variety from Castroville have peaked especially large sizes.  There will be better availability on medium and smaller sizes as the spring crop winds down through April. New crop seeded globe varieties will start to increase early next month.

 

Strawberries

The market will remain firm until we work our way out of the rained on fruit over the next few days. We will see some bruising and sunken areas in some boxes as the rains over the few weeks look for production to increase out of the Watsonville / Salinas areas. The principal varieties out of Watsonville and Salinas will be Albion, San Andrea, and Monterey varieties.

 

Grapes

There is a wide range in quality coming out of the LA area.  Cheap grapes are cheap for a reason, so don’t be afraid to pay a little extra for solid product.  Crimsons have been nice quality these past few weeks and are holding up nicely.  Greens are showing some age on storage fruit, with brown berry and early mold stages.  Mexican grapes will start up in a few weeks to relieve tired Chilean fruit.

 

Citrus

Market starting to heat up on lemons and oranges.  Demand is getting better as Asian exports increase and spring approaches. Volume has been steady and should continue to produce consistently through spring. The Lime market he hot and high prices will continue into next week. Rain in Mexico has cause extreme supply shortages and demand has caused this volatile market to explode. Expect light supplies into next month.

 

Mangos

Mango volume for the 2015 will be up from the 2014 season. There was a good bloom along with a good set. Volume to date is up significantly over last season.  Tommy Atkins volume is increasing as the Haden variety slowly winds down. Ataulfo volume is down for the next few weeks but look for that to increase coming into the Cinco de Mayo holiday. Look for promotional pricing in the upcoming weeks on all varieties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the first day of spring upon us we can now reflect on a quite unusual winter season.  The Northeast is continuing to get hit with bitter cold and snow.  Although spring storms normally don’t last long, they still affect markets and slow retail traffic throughout the eastern states.  Out west, we continue to see unseasonably warm days and very little rain.  This results in larger yields and better overall quality. Though this may sound positive, the oversupply will slow demand and hurt most markets.  On any normal year the west experiences multiple rainstorms and cool temperatures, but this year has been warm and dry, not good for an already parched west coast.  Truck rates are steady, plenty of trucks available and rates are consistent with last week’s trends.  We could see rates increase by the first part of next month and remain strong into the summer.

 

 

Lettuce​

Transition has begun with  production mainly in the southwest desert but start up is underway  from Huron  and Santa Maria. Yuma quality continues  to suffer with a range of defects and it’s  highly recommended to stay with the new crop  even though  production may be  sporadic  with the secondary transition to Salinas looming.

 

Mix Leaf 

​ Similar to Iceberg new production areas have begun  in Santa Maria, Oxnard and Huron with  improved quality.  Quality in the desert continues to be inconsistent with heavy twist, seeder and mildew pressure.  Production in the desert will wind down rapidly but transition to  newer areas has started earlier than budgeted allowing  shippers to avoid any significant gap in production for now.

 

Celery

Plenty of volume and shippers are looking to move most sizes. Quality has been nice, very few issues to report.  Yuma is still producing, although production is slowing down for the season. Oxnard has good volume across the board. Long range weather shows nice weather for the next 10 days so expect continued good quality and availability.
Broccoli

Supplies have increased but not enough to cover demand.  Prices are down slightly from last week and looks like they will settle in the current price range going into next week. All broccoli is now shipping out of Santa Maria or Salinas.  Yuma is now done for the season.  Quality is very good, nice green color, dome size is slightly smaller than normal but has nice tight beads and no spotting of any type.

 

Cauliflower

Market is trending lower and will continue in this manner going into next week.  All flower is now shipping out of Santa Maria or Salinas the Desert region is now done for the season.  Quality is outstanding, good white color and nice size domes. Buy conservatively over the next few days as prices will most likely not bottom out until middle of next week.

 

Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout production continues  primarily from  Mexico . Quality has started to show signs  of insect damage.  Warm weather and water shortages have impacted  production and quality. Lesser quality has led to  market deals although demand should  improve  before easing post  Easter holiday.
Artichokes

Green Globe /  Heirloom variety  from Castroville  are the preferred variety for the Easter Holiday . Maximum promotions have strengthened the market significantly.  Large sizes have been the  primary yields but medium and smaller  chokes  will become the predominate sizes starting early April. Lesser quality seeded globe varieties  have been available for fill  in  but  production will decline  until late April.

 

Strawberries

Good Supplies of Strawberries will continue into next week. The perfect weather we have been experiencing is expected to continue into next week. All varieties of berries are coming on at the same time, leaving a glut of berries in the market place.  Look for prices to firm up as we move closer towards Easter.

 

Grapes

Good volume on crimsons and thompsons from Chile. Quality is very nice on greens, not many issues overall.  Reds are much nicer quality than previous weeks, mostly due to the fact that the crimson crop is newer and a better variety. There are still some flames available but quality is poor and most of the product has is quite old.  A much better option is to pay more for crimsons and avoid problems.  There is currently a run on extra-large 900 code and good deals on load volume orders.

 

Citrus

Market starting to heat up on lemons and oranges.  Demand is getting better as Asian exports increase and spring approaches. Volume has been steady and should continue to produce consistently through spring. The Lime market he hot and high prices will continue into next week. Rain in Mexico has cause extreme supply shortages and demand has caused this volatile market to explode. Expect light supplies into next month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lettuce​

​Production in the southwest desert has  a couple weeks  left  while production from California Central Valley and Central Coast regions will get underway next week.  Quality remains fair from the desert and should improve from the new growing areas.  ‘Hot weather in the desert will keep pressure on production and lead to tiered market pricing depending on individual shippers transition schedule.

 

Mix Leaf 

New production areas have begun in Santa Maria, Oxnard and Huron with improved quality.  Quality in the desert continues to be inconsistent with heavy twist, seeder and mildew pressure.  Production in the desert will wind down rapidly but transition to  newer areas has started earlier than budgeted allowing  shippers to avoid any significant gap in production for now.

 

Celery

Still a steady market with multiple areas producing. Mexico, Yuma and Oxnard are all the main growing areas. Santa Maria has been producing on a less consistent basis.  Quality remains nice overall, very few issues to speak of.
Broccoli

Market has been very active over the last 10 days, but now it looks like it may have reached it’s price limit.  Look for the market to settle at current trading levels for the next few days and then will most likely decrease towards the end of next week as shippers start harvesting new fields in the Santa Maria and Salinas Valleys. The best quality is out of Santa Maria and Salinas.  Mexican Crowns are shipping out of Texas and available for loading as well at a $5.00 – $7.00 discount compared to pricing out of California.

 

Cauliflower

Supplies have been very limited over the last 7 days, but it looks like we will start to see better production going into next week.  Harvest volumes will increase in Santa Maria and Salinas and should help relieve prices.  Look for the market to decrease starting the first of next week.

 

Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout production continues primarily from  Mexico . Quality has started to show signs  of insect damage.  Warm weather and water shortages have impacted production and quality.  Delayed holiday demand and lesser quality has led to  market deals although demand should  improve into next week before easing post  Easter holiday.
Artichokes

Green Globe /  Heirloom variety  from Castroville  are the preferred variety for the Easter Holiday . Maximum promotions have strengthen market significantly.  Lesser quality seeded globe varieties  will be available to fill in  a portion of the demand.

 

Strawberries

Strawberries will have a wide range in prices as the Oxnard, Santa Maria and even Watsonville areas are experiencing perfect weather conditions.  Quality has been good and is expected to remain that way thru next week. Florida will be winding down over the next week, so we can expect better demand as buyers switch growing areas to the west coast.

 

Grapes

There have been plenty of quality issues with the flames, remaining product is old and getting tired.  Crimsons are starting to come in but at a much higher price.  There is supposed to a large fleet of crimsons arriving later next week which should ease the pricing.  Greens are readily available and quality has been nice.

Citrus

Navels are in full production and more large sized fruit available. Quality is nice with good color.  The lemon market remains steady even with the desert finishing up. More fruit coming out of the coastal areas with better quality. The Lime market continues to gain momentum and product is tight. Rains in Mexico last week have hurt production and fewer trucks are crossing. There are fewer limes in the forecast for the next 10 days so expect the high market to continue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severe winter weather continues to assault the Midwest and East Coast.  Just when is seems like there is a break in the forecasts, another round of blizzards hits.  This undoubtedly has had an effect on overall markets for the past few months, mixed with warmer than normal weather in production areas.  Long range weather shows a possible warming trend on the east next week which has been long overdue.  The west coast will also see a warming trend over the next week, helping close the gap on transition to northern growing regions.  Desert temperatures are warming up, normal for this time of year as transition time approaches.  Florida will see scattered rain over the next week, which should put more focus on the west coast for berries and vegetables.  Truck rates have slowly been inching upwards from last week, although there are still plenty of trucks available.

 

Lettuce​

Production continues in the southwest desert region.  Quality has improved but has been very inconsistent especially after significant rain in the region earlier this week delaying harvest of mature lettuce.   Temperatures have moderated especially night time temps which will help overall quality conditions but with limited acres and warmer temps forecast for next week quality won’t improve until transition to northern and central California production areas.  Growers have been fighting blister, mildew, high core, pale color, rib blight and now over maturity mostly from rapid growth. Better weather forecast for the east coast next week will lead to better demand and uncertain harvest projections from many shippers will tighten market although poor arrivals will

likely dampen overall demand.

Mix Leaf 

New production areas have begun in Santa Maria, Oxnard and Huron with improved quality.  Quality in the desert continues to be inconsistent with heavy twist, seeder and mildew pressure.  Production in the desert will wind down rapidly but transition to newer areas has started earlier than budgeted allowing shippers to avoid any significant gap in production for now.

 

Celery

Good volume throughout California and Arizona.  Demand is still a bit sluggish, although we have seen a slight uptick in pricing overall.  The best deals are in Oxnard where most of the volume remains. Quality has been nice, a result of warmer winter temperatures over the past 3 months.
Broccoli

Broccoli demand and prices have increased this week due to lower yields and quality issues in the desert and the cooler temperatures in Santa Maria and Salinas districts. Harvest has begun in the Salinas Valley and product continues to be harvested in Northern Mexico, Central Mexico, Imperial Valley and Santa Maria, CA. Asian Iced and Iceless Crowns are available in McAllen, TX.  Overall quality is good.  The better quality product can be found in Santa Maria and Salinas.

 

Cauliflower

Cauliflower supplies will be very limited over the next 10 days. Quite a few shippers in the Imperial Valley and Yuma areas have finished for the season and there is not enough volume in Santa Maria or Salinas to fill the void. Quality is good from all regions.  Weights are 26-28# with nice white color.  There is the occasional rough curd on some heads.

 

Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout production continues  primarily from  Mexico . Quality has started to show signs  of insect damage.  Warm weather and water shortages have impacted  production and quality.  ​The market has firmed with increased promotions but if quality continues to suffer  demand will be impacted.

Artichokes

Green Globe /  Heirloom variety  from Castroville  will be the preferred variety for the Easter Holiday . Maximum promotions have strengthen market significantly.  Lesser quality seeded globe varieties  will be available to fill in  a portion of the demand.

 

Strawberries

Wet weather, which included some sporadic hail storms will lead to higher pricing out of California next week. The growers had to clean up rain damaged fruit which will make less available to market in the short term. The cold weather in Florida has given away to warmer temps, thus weakening the majority of the fruit out of the east. McAllen is finished for the season.

 

Grapes

This market bottomed out last week, particularly on the smaller sized fruit.  Pricing has now turned around and is slowly creeping up.  Quality has been surprisingly nice over all, although there have been some reports of brown stem on the reds.  Volume is definitely better than last year’s Chilean crop, a result of warmer weather over the past few months in the main growing regions of Chile.  Demand is expected to pick up over the next few weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week is quite similar to last week unfortunately. Weather pattern continue to severely freeze the east coast and Midwest states with little relief in sight.  This has been a detrimental blow to already sluggish markets.  West coast and desert temperatures remain warm, although there has been some cooler evening temps over the past week, and rain in the forecast for this weekend.  Still, plenty of product continues to flood markets and keep prices at or below break-even levels on most items. Trucks rates have slowly risen over the past week, although the range in rates is widening and there still seems to be plenty of trucks. Rates should remain steady into next week as more trucks return from the east coast blizzard.

 

Lettuce​

​Production continues in the southwest desert region.  Quality has improved but has been very inconsistent.  Temperatures have been 8-10 degrees above normal but are forecasted to be near normal for the next couple weeks. This will help overall quality conditions.  Growers have been fighting blister, mildew, high core, pale color and now rib blight mostly from rapid growth. Better weather forecasted for the east coast next week and re-opening of West Coast Ports will lead to better demand and an upswing in the market sometime next week.
Mix Leaf 

​Production has leveled off especially Romaine while supplies of Green and Redleaf continue to be plentiful.  Quality issues continue with blister, tip burn, mildew and soil borne disease (Scelrotinia).  These quality issues will lead to shortages as most shippers are a couple weeks ahead of planting schedules.  Transition into new northern growing areas will begin the end of next week. Normal temperatures forecasted for the coming weeks should improve quality and tighten supplies.

 

Celery

Similar predicament as last week, plenty of product, wide range of pricing. Quality is very nice out of Oxnard, Yuma and Texas with very few issues to report.  Shippers looking to move on all sizes, now is the time make friends.
Broccoli

Steady supplies from all growing regions and we do not expect prices to increase over the next 7 days.  We are finding better quality product in Santa Maria and Salinas.  Demand for Mexican product has increased and prices are slightly higher.  Mexico will begin to wind down production over the next 4 weeks.

 

Cauliflower

Lighter volume is expected starting next week and prices will most likely begin to trend upwards.  It looks like growers in the desert regions will finish their season starting next week.  Santa Maria and Salinas growers are harvesting daily but there may not be enough volume to fill the gap as the desert finishes.  Look for volatility in that market over the next couple of weeks.

 

Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout quality continues to improve from Mexico. Supplies have been slightly heavier from Mexico.  ​The market has adjusted with lighter demand but will likely rebound in a couple weeks with better demand for Easter holiday.

 

Artichokes

Green Globe / Heirloom variety from Castroville will be the preferred variety for the Easter Holiday.  Production should be sufficient for promotions, starting with large sizes through March leveling off to medium and smaller sizes for April.   It is by far the best eating Artichoke available. Take advantage of promotional pricing in advance of the Easter Holiday.

 

Strawberries

Better supplies out of Oxnard. Quality is nice, with occasional white shoulder. Volume will beginning to pick up in the Santa Maria area. Watsonville supplies began packing this week with good quality but only pallet quantities available. The Florida market has plentiful supplies for the next week. That market has been ranging from $6 – $8.00 and is expected to stay in that range. The majority of the McAllen shippers have gone to the freezer with their remaining fruit. Good Supplies on organic straws, available out of Santa Maria and Oxnard. Wide range in pricing and Quality

 

Blackberries

Expect volume on Blackberries to lighten as weather in Mexico will affect the number of crossings. Some quality issues have been reported with red cell and light mold the main issues.

 

Raspberries

The market remains steady with good supplies coming out of Mexico. There have been less quality issues thus keeping the market in the $20.00 to $ 26.00 range.  Good supplies on organic raspberries available next week.  Suppliers will be looking to promote!

 

Blueberries

Supplies are limited with a wide range in pricing.  The Chilean season is coming to a close in the next 2 to 3 weeks.  The California season has started and is expected to come on slowly with better volume still 4 weeks away. Good Supplies on organic blueberries out of Oxnard and Santa Maria. The market will range in the $28 to $30.00 range.

 

Citrus

Now the port disputes are apparently free and clear, we can expect steady volumes good quality on Lemons and Navels.  There has been an oversupply of export sizes waiting for a home and now the pipeline is moving again. Good quality industry wide, and plenty of volume on all sizes.  The Lime market is still very active with fewer loads coming in from Mexico this week. This market appears to have leveled out on the high side for now.

 

Grapes

This market has eased up this week and with port disputes over, the will be more product flooding the market over the next 10 days. After that we could see lighter supply and stronger markets.  Beware of quality issues, product that has been sitting during the strike now has to be moved, make sure you know what you are buying.  Some issues of mold and decay have recently been reported.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abnormal weather patterns continue across the US.  Warm, dry conditions out west matched with freezing temperatures in the east have resulted in over supply and sluggish demand.  Weather patterns for the next 10 days show little signs of changing.  Southeast and Florida weather has cooled significantly over the past few days with temperatures below freezing at night.  This should slow over all Florida production which up to this point has flooded the markets with an abundance of product.  Truck rates have dropped over the past 2 weeks and should begin to bottom out over the next few days.

 

Lettuce​

​Production continues in the southwest desert region.  Quality has improved but has been very inconsistent.  Most shippers are harvesting at full capacity.  Weather continues to be warmer than normal, averaging 82/55.  These temperatures continue to accelerate growth but also contribute to the wide range of quality. Harvesting crews are having a difficult time getting through plantings before the lettuce over matures.  Starting fields near 40 lbs. and finishing them a day or two later at 48-50lbs.  Poor weather across the rest of the country and closures/ delays of West Coast Ports have slowed overall demand and have depressed the market.  Continue to take advantage over the next couple weeks to promote lettuce and increase your 8 week averages used by many shippers to allocate volume when markets tighten next month.
Mix Leaf 

Production has leveled off especially Romaine while supplies of Green and Red leaf continue to be plentiful. The market has also began to firm in anticipation of lighter supply and better demand from the east once their weather improves.   Quality issues continue with blister, tip burn, mildew and soil borne disease (Scelrotinia) . Overall quality has improved but the better shippers are being selective. These quality issues will lead to shortages as most shippers are again a couple weeks ahead of planting schedules.

 

Celery

Production continues in Oxnard, Imperial, Yuma, Mexico and Florida.  Plenty of product for now and production is peaking on all sizes, particularly the larger celery.  Quality has been nice overall but some issues of epidermal peeling have been reported due to the cold weather in January.
Broccoli

Market remains unchanged from last week.  We still remain in an oversupply situation in all growing regions.  Shippers are looking to make deals, especially on bunch sizes.  Our inspectors are finding the best quality out of the Desert growing regions.  It has the best overall dome appearance with good green color and tight beads.  The only defect we are seeing is some branchiness.  The Salinas valley has started harvesting product as well and Mexico continues to have good supplies crossing into Texas.

 

Cauliflower

Steady supplies available out of Santa Maria, Imperial Valley and Yuma.  Some shippers have started harvesting in the Salinas Valley as well.  There are a few shippers who have lighter supplies and continue to quote higher than average FOB’s but in general we will not see much fluctuation in the price in either direction for the next 10 days.  Nine size flower continues to be the tightest size out of the three.

 

Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout quality continues to improve from Mexico. Supplies have been steady but should start ​increasing with better quality yields from Mexico and additional growers beginning production.  ​The market has adjusted but will likely rebound in a couple weeks with better demand for Easter holiday.
Artichokes

Thorn-less, seeded artichokes continue to be the predominate variety available but the Green Globe / Heirloom variety will begin its’ annual spring surge.  It is by far the best eating Artichoke available. Take advantage of promotional pricing in advance of the Easter Holiday.

 

Strawberries

Strawberries – The market has quieted down slightly after the Valentine’s Day pull.  Supplies are expected to be better out of the Oxnard and Santa Maria areas in the coming weeks. There is very little rain in the forecast for these growing areas and the forecast is for normal temperatures. Supplies are dwindling in Texas as many of the berry growers out of the McAllen area have diverted fruit to the freezer.

 

Citrus

Similar market as last week, shippers believe pricing is at or near the bottom floor. Port issues will affect the citrus market due to the fact that export is a large percentage of business on the west coast.  Less exported fruit will result in more product on the open market.  Quality is ok, but softer fruit has been reported because of warmer temperatures out west.  Expect similar market conditions over the next 10 days.

 

Grapes

Union disputes continue to plague the port systems on the west coast. Currently there are vessels parked offshore waiting to get unloaded.  This will most likely have an impact on the grape market as supplies clean up and nothing coming in.  Luckily volume has been above normal, which should offset most volume gaps.  There are fewer extra-large sizes available and most of the volume is on the smaller sized fruit.

 

Green Peppers

The green market has increased slightly due to cold weather conditions stunting the growth.  Quality is good and shelf life seems to be strong.  Expect this item to remain active through the next couple weeks.

 

Red Peppers

The red market has adjusted downward this week again and now has hit rock bottom.  Quality will be hit and miss depending on age of shipper’s inventory and days on hand.  This item will remain promotable for next couple weeks.

 

Yellow Peppers

The yellow market has stabilized and rests at a very reasonable level.  Quality is good and should remain that way for the next couple weeks.

 

Cucumbers

The cucumber market has stabilized and supplies are consistently arriving from Mexico.  Quality has been good overall.  This market should remain steady through the week.

 

Zucchini Squash

The market is stable and deals are available on volume.  Quality has been very good and expected to become excellent over the next couple weeks.  This market should remain steady for the next couple weeks.

 

Yellow Squash

Yellow squash is following the same pattern as Zucchini, for the most part.  Quality is good and getting better as they break new fields.  This market should remain steady through the week as well.

 

Hard Squash

All varieties are getting tighter and the supply has been lower than average.  Quality has been OK and tending to be heavy to the larger sizes and showing some ground spotting and scarring.  The market is expected to remain active for a while.

 

Avocados

Good Supplies coming from Mexico. 48’s and larger are somewhat limited. 60’s and smaller have good availability, as well as #2’s. Expect good supplies continuing to come in, with deals on the 60’s and smaller and #2’s.  Quality, flavor and oil content is excellent. Price may be up slightly as Growers in the field are slowing harvest and pushing for higher prices. California harvest continues and fruit is available in Santa Paula, CA. Growing conditions have been very favorable and fruit has matured nicely and tastes great.  There is a supply of all sizes, but we are seeing limited numbers of larger fruit.  There are also #2’s coming in. Volumes are still somewhat light and will increase in Mid-March.

Western US is experiencing unseasonably warm weather, bringing on more volume than anticipated on most commodities. Unfortunately the Midwest and East coast weather has been hit hard by cold weather and storms, lowering demand and softening over all markets.  10 day forecast show more of the same; warm in the west and cold in the east. Trucks are plentiful and rates have eased up from last week.  Lower demand and cheaper fuel prices should keep rates down for the next 3 weeks.

Lettuce​

Lettuce market finally has fully corrected from seasonal highs. Production levels are close to maximum and poor weather in the east along with closures/ delays of West Coast Ports have slowed overall demand.   Quality remains a concern with a range of issues from weak texture, mildew and some residual discolored blister.  Warm weather forecast for the month of February will keep production at maximum levels although this will increase the likelihood of shortages again by the end of the month.  Labor shortages and quality will cap volume and force shippers to leave product in the field.  Take advantage over the next couple weeks to promote lettuce and increase your 8 week averages used by many shippers to allocate volume when markets tighten.
Mix Leaf 

Production levels continue to increase while demand has suffered with poor weather in the East.   Market corrections have been slow coming but they will soon bottom out along with Iceberg.  Quality issues continue with blister, tip burn, mildew and soil borne disease (Scelrotinia). Overall quality has improved but shippers will need to be selective to get the best product available.  Projected shortages will likely happen again early March as the Desert production winds  down a couple weeks early and  Salinas, Santa Maria & Huron  are not projected to begin until  Mid-March .      ​​

 

Celery

Wide range in pricing, mostly trending downward due to lack of demand. Florida celery has largely affected over all markets, keeping prices under $10 out west to stay competitive.  More large sized celery this week than last week, however the majority of product has been the smaller sizes. Very nice quality out west, shippers are looking to deal and taking offers.
Broccoli

Market is depressed and shippers are looking for business.  Perfect growing conditions in all areas has provided ample supplies of product.  Our inspectors are seeing slightly better quality in the Imperial Valley and Yuma growing regions.  There is also good availability of Mexican product crossing in Texas.

 

Cauliflower

Demand has improved over the last few days and shippers are now increasing FOB prices due to the better demand.  Prices will be $2.00 – $3.00 higher than they were at the beginning of the week and we could see more price increases next week.  9 size flower seems to be the least available of the three sizes.

 

Brussels Sprout

Brussels Sprout quality continues to improve from Mexico. Supplies have been steady but should start​increasing with better quality yields from Mexico and additional growers beginning production.  ​The market should remain steady as better quality will lead to better movement.

Artichokes

Thorn-less, seeded artichokes continue to be the predominate variety available.  More shippers have started production and have been peaking on large sizes with light volume on medium and small sizes.   Production will continue to increase in coming weeks which has led to more competitive pricing.  ​

 

Strawberries

The Valentine Day pull is officially over. Many shippers out of the Oxnard area will still have light volume for the remainder of the week, but expect supplies out of California to more available next week as the weather is forecast for the high 70’s over the next 7 to 10 days. Many shippers out of the Santa Maria will be coming more into play with several shippers starting harvest this week.

 

Citrus

Not much change in overall market.  Larger sized fruit is more prevalent because of recent rains mixed with warmer temperatures.  Later season varieties are generally known for sizing up quicker, which creates further sizing issues.  Quality has been very nice on the navels, good color and firm upon arrival.  The lemon market is all over the board, lackluster business has created good supplies.  Smaller sized lemons are in more demand mostly because of foodservice needs.  Chilean fruit has been very nice, very few quality complaints.

 

Grapes

Continued steady markets, product continues to land in Los Angeles and New Jersey with very few problems.  Extra-large fruit has been tighter mostly because Chilean fruit historically tends to be smaller in size.  Large price difference between extra-large and medium fruit.  Thompson varieties have shown much better results upon arrival than sugar ones.  Expect good quality for the next 2 weeks. New boats could have different results but it is likely quality will be similar as there has been mild weather in South American growing regions.

 

Green Peppers

The green market has stabilized and has settled at a reasonable price.  Quality is good and shelf life seems to be strong.  Expect this item to remain steady through the week.

 

Red Peppers

The red market has adjusted downward this week and seems to have settled at the bottom.  Quality will be hit and miss depending on age of shipper’s inventory and days on hand.  This item will remain promotable for next couple weeks.

 

Yellow Peppers

The yellow market has stabilized and rests at a very reasonable level.  Quality is good and should remain that way for the next couple weeks.

 

Cucumbers

The cucumber market has increased a little, due to inconsistent supplies arriving from Mexico.  Quality has been pretty good overall.  This market should remain steady through the week.

 

Zucchini Squash

The market is stable and close to the bottom…  Quality has been very good and expected to become excellent over the next couple weeks.  This market should remain steady for the next couple weeks.

 

Yellow Squash

Yellow squash is following the same pattern as Zucchini, for the most part.  Quality is good and getting better as they break new fields.  This market should remain steady through the week as well.

 

Hard Squash

All varieties are getting tighter and the supply has been lower than average.  Quality has been OK and tending to be heavy to the larger sizes and showing some ground spotting and scarring.  The market is expected to remain active for a while.

 

Avocados

Good Supplies coming from Mexico. 36’s and larger are somewhat limited. 60’s and smaller have good availability, as well as #2’s.  Expect good supplies continuing to come in, with deals on the 60’s and smaller and #2’s.  Quality, flavor and oil content is excellent.  Price may be up slightly as Growers in the field are slowing harvest and pushing for higher prices. California harvest continues and fruit is available in Santa Paula, CA. Growing conditions have been very favorable and fruit has matured nicely and tastes great.  There is a supply of all sizes, although growers are choosing to pick 60’s and larger.  There are also #2’s coming in. Volumes are still somewhat light and will increase in Mid-March.