8/22/11

This has been an unusual Summer out West. Salinas area has had  well below normal temperatures for all of July and August, with highs only in the mid 60s, while the San Joaquin Valley has been HOT for the past month, with daily temperatures in the low 100’s. This is what usually happens. When it is cool on the coast, it is hot in the San Joaquin Valley. The cool, sea breezes blow in from the west, and keep the inland areas hot. When the wind switches, the coast gets warm and the San Joaquin Valley cools off. We haven’t seen that for this Summer, which is unusual. This trend keeps produce from growing, quality problems with mildew showing up in some head lettuce, romaine, and leaf, and is also effecting strawberries, which we are seeing more bruising  and lighter colored fruit.
Long range weather shows more of the same, with a slight warming in Salinas this week, but still below normal. The San Joaquin Valley will continue hot.
Trucks are a bit more available this week, as there isn’t much demand for produce, due to local markets and gardens producing. Rates, which peaked out several weeks ago, are still relatively high, with rates $7000-8000 to the east coast, depending upon how far east you are going, amount of pickups, and area you are covering.

LETTUCE–still not much action, and prices are flexible. Most shippers start out with strong quotes, but by the end of the day, they are looking for business, and “flexing”. Quality is mostly okay, although size and weights are only fair. Condition is mostly good, but there is some mildew showing up, due to cool, damp nights and mornings.

BROCCOLI–still plenty of crowns in Maine and Canada, which is taking care of those eastern areas. Out west in Salinas and Santa Maria, there aren’t too many crowns available, and prices are firm. Growers plan their fields that way, knowing full well that this time of year demand is usually slow, so they don’t plant heavily.

CAULIFLOWER–a wide range in price, depending upon area, quality, label, and shipper. We are seeing as much as a $5.00 spread in price on 12s, so its worth shopping around.

LEAF ITEMS–plenty of romaine, red, and green leaf, and shippers are dealing. Quality is nice, overall, but, like head lettuce,  there is some mildew showing up.

CELERY–no change. Most shippers dealing, while Dole is $3-4.00/box higher than the “mostly”  market. Supplies coming out of Salinas or Santa Maria areas.

STRAWBERRIES–the cool, damp nights and mornings are effecting supplies and quality. Driscoll has raised their price AGAIN, and pro rating 50% and HIGHER this week. Other shippers, while looking for business, are capitalizing on the Driscoll shortage, and raising their prices, too. But, many shippers want to keep their fruit west of the Mississippi, due to heavy bruising, and other issues. Even Driscoll berries are only fair to fairly good, with smaller size, lighter color, and their own share of bruising.

Ed Brem
ed@producewest.com