Hopefully this isn’t a prelude to December’s weather outlook, but the next few days is supposed to be below normal temperatures, with a touch of freeze in the desert growing areas. As we all know, December weather can create a real disaster with regards to quality and supplies of various veg items, not the least of which are lettuce, romaine, leaf, cauliflower, broccoli, green onions, and other assorted items that are susceptible to freeze damage. Not only quality, but markets can really take spikes upward, depending upon the damage and delay in growth and harvesting that happens.
Trucks are getting back to normal after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and rates should start to settle back down.
Long range weather in the desert growing regions show below freezing at nights for the next 2 days, then warming to above freezing. Daytime highs should be in the low 70s.

LETTUCE–market coming off after the shippers ran prices up the past 2 weeks. Supplies aren’t  overly heavy, so its more a factor that retails are pushed up, and that has slowed the demand. Cold weather may slow production this week, and firm up the market.

BROCCOLI–cold temps in Salinas and Santa Maria have slowed down growth and production of bunch and crowns. The desert isn’t getting going as fast as we had hoped for, either. This is keeping prices strong, and we see it that way this entire week.

CAULIFLOWER–in a word, THERE IS NO CAULIFLOWER!  Again, the past few weeks of cold has slowed growth and harvesting to a standstill. You order 4 pallets of cauliflower, and you get one. You order 6 pallets, and you get one. You order 10, and you get one. Notice the pattern? The market is closing in on $30.00 fob, and will keep climbing, until folks stop buying . Basically, the shippers can ask for any price they want, and it doesn’t look to get better anytime soon. We need warmer temperatures.

LEAF ITEMS–strong market on red leaf, boston, and green leaf. Romaine is firm with most shippers, but there are some deals out there. With the cold weather coming in, we will see some damage done, with romaine, in particular. Just how much damage remains to be seen. Expect the markets to remain active on all leaf items if that happens.

CELERY–after Thanksgiving, there is NO business. Even the “preferred” labels are showing sluggish sales and lowering to rock bottom prices. The freight cost is about the only thing keeping the delivered prices up. Hearts, however, are still holding firm.

STRAWBERRIES–With the cold weather, prices look to go up AGAIN. Driscoll is threatening to go up even higher than where they are now. We could see $30 delivered for a box of strawberries on the East coast. The shippers will just keep pushing up prices until people scream “UNCLE”.

Ed Brem
ed@producewest.com