3/14/11

The 2011 desert deal is rapidly coming to a close, and will be totally finished by the end of this month, or first of April. This has truly been one for the record books. We are still dealing with freeze issues that hit the first of February, so we are closing in on 6 weeks, and look to continue to see the effects for the balance on this Winter deal. Most everyone has cooperated during this troubling times, dealing with quality problems, shortages, and high markets, and it all has to do with keeping everyone informed beginning with  the grower and all the way to the store level.
Long range weather in the desert show the highs creeping into the low 90s and nighttime lows in the mid 50s, typical for this time of year. No rain in sight.
Trucks are readily available with rates steady, although with higher fuel costs, truckers are balking at these prices.

LETTUCE–the market is starting to crack, after peaking out the past 2 weeks. Its difficult to predict what will happen to the market in the coming weeks, but it definitely won’t go up. A $30 fob is tough to sustain, although we have seen it stay there for the past 3-4 weeks. We expect the market to drift downward this week, maybe a $10/box drop, then possibly firm back up. Overall quality in the desert is slowly improving, but size and weights are still down. Huron starts next week, and if history holds, the early quality won’t be anything to write home about.

BROCCOLI–plenty of supplies throughout the desert, and now Salinas is getting started, so we should see some deals around for bunch and crowns. Quality, for the most part, is holding up, although there is purple cast out there due to the cold weather these past weeks.

CAULIFLOWER–quite a wide range in price, depending upon the area and label. In fact, there is as much as a $5.00/box SPREAD out there, so it would be wise to shop around. Salinas has also started in a light way.

LEAF ITEMS–green leaf and red leaf are finally coming down to fairly normal prices, while romaine still up there, relatively speaking. The romaine, which had hit upwards of $45.00/box these past weeks is cut in half, but that still makes if over $20.00/box fob. Huron has actually started in a light way, but the desert will continue to be the main source of supplies for another 3 weeks,or so.

CELERY–steady market. The desert is winding down, and cooler weather is forecasted for Oxnard, with a chance of rain later this week. There are plenty of reports of seed stem that will be a factor in April and May, which will probably keep the overall celery market strong, so we don’t anticipate much of a market drop for quite a while.

ASPARAGUS–we are seeing about the lowest prices for asparagus right now, so now is the time to advertise. Good quality, too. Looking ahead, with Easter coming so late this year(April 24th), the desert will be TOTALLY finished, which means supplies will have to come out of Salinas, Lodi, and Stockton areas.

Ed Brem
ed@producewest.com