This Summer is moving so fast, that if you blink, you might miss it! July as about to close, and with August coming, schools will start, and Fall is around the corner. Enjoy it now! Stores are full of seasonal tree fruit, grapes, and melons, all the veggies from California, as well as local gardens.
Long range weather throughout the country show seasonal warm temperatures, along with occasional seasonal rain and thunder showers across the midwest and east coast. As far as the growing regions of California, Salinas will have continued mild temperatures and no rain, while the fruit areas around Fresno show continued hot, which is also normal for this time of year.
Trucks are plentiful, although truckers complain that “westbound” freight is scarce, which is a sign of our continued slow economy. Rates are slipping a bit for most areas of the country, but with fuel remaining strong, truckers bow their backs at lower rate offers.

LETTUCE–plenty of lettuce in the Salinas and Santa Maria areas. Shippers are looking for business, and prices are “negotiable” for liner and wrap 24s. Quality is mostly good, and it is a good item to advertise right now.

BROCCOLI–prices are a bit firmer, especially crowns, as they are a bit more scarce this week compared to the past few weeks. We don’t expect prices to go up too high, though. Supplies are coming out of Salinas or Santa Maria.

CAULIFLOWER–continued scarce supplies, and VERY active market, with prices $16-18.00 FOB. But, retails will now be adjusted, and business will slow. Shippers claim they are light, and that is true. However, demand will dictate what the market will do, and if prices are too high at the store level, demand will come to a screeching halt. So, we recommend that you only buy what you need, and leave the rest. Prices should start coming down by this weekend.

LEAF ITEMS–after a big run up last week on romaine prices, demand has fallen, and prices are dropping. The same for green leaf. Supplies are improving for both of those items, and things are settling back down. Red and boston are, and have been, steady.

CELERY–plenty of product, and prices are still down. Heart 12s and 18s available.

STRAWBERRIES–Driscoll has peaked, and their volume is down. As a result, they have been raising their prices the past 2 weeks. The rest of the shippers are also stronger in price due to Driscoll orders that are spilling over to them. Quality is still holding up nicely, as long as the weather in Salinas/Watsonville stays cool and mild.