Shorter days and cooler nights on both sides of the country are setting in and markets have begun to firm . Production continues mostly steady as many shippers are expanding their Fall acreage to offset lower yields and expected higher demand. Overall quality is good with wide variations in color and weights , mostly due to distribution of mildew around the valley with most trimmed at field level. Processors will continue to have the largest impact on markets as they supplement supplies during the upcoming transition. Expect volatility to last through the Fall season. Transition to Central Valley growing areas will begin next week. Las Cruces , NM continues their Fall harvest with excellent quality and color. Production has been light due to previous Summer rains impacting plantings although supplies look to rebound next week extending into November.
Mix Leaf
Romaine and especially Heart demand continues to be strong although supplies have improved with increased Fall plantings allowing the market to soften. Improved demand is expected next week as East Coast production areas have experienced their first Frost. Quality has varied with a return of seeder growth. Cooler nights forecast should help improve quality going forward. Green leaf and Red leaf demand has stalled but is expected to improve next week.
Brussels Sprouts
Domestic production from Northern Coastal region continues to be strong. The market has held mostly steady. Some quality issues from insect pressure have been more frequent but overall quality is good. Regional production continues from Eastern Canada.
Bell Peppers
Green Bell supplies continue steady as production transitions south with strong demand due to weather related losses in the Southeast and Mexico production areas . Prices spiked with increased demand from the east. Red Bell production has peaked and markets have spiked as well.
Celery
Steady production continues this week out of Salinas and Santa Maria. not much change from last week, shippers are still heavier on the large sizes. All sizes are plentiful however. Quality remains strong, with good color and condition throughout. We expect this market to tighten towards the end of this month as temperatures cool and buyers begin to stock up for thanksgiving pull.
Strawberries
Lighter supplies due to smaller yields in all the growing areas will continue into next week. Harvest estimates have been lower than expected. This is due to the loss of fruit from the rain that hit several days ago. We saw market prices jump up if in the front part of this week and remain firm. The weather has cooled down a bit, especially at night and early morning. This cooler weather will help improve quality and produce firmer fruit. We had several reports of soft berries and bruising over the last week, which is to be expected after a rain. Moving forward, we expect supplies to remain consistent, and quality will be better. I do not foresee a big jump in market prices, but it will be a slow and gradual incline. Barring any more rain or freeze, we expect Salinas and Watsonville to continue with production for the next several weeks. Santa Maria and Oxnard will continue to be in full production and Mexico will slowly ramp up toward the end of the month.
Blackberries
Prices are in a range right now due to quality. Consider the domestic market finished. Mexico is slowly ramping up, but volumes are still low. Very little of the Mexican fruit is making its way over to California, so markets remain higher in all California loading locations. However, the fruit that is coming up from Mexico is being sold out of McAllen, TX at a much more aggressive price. Unfortunately, this still leaves most shippers in a “demand exceeds supply” position, and we can continue to see limited supplies until Mexico’s production is consistent enough to fill the pipeline. Additionally, Mexico has received some heavy rains over the last several days which could further delay harvest.
Raspberries
Supplies have been steady. We now have several areas in production. Salinas / Watsonville are winding down, but are still harvesting. Santa Maria has small volume, and Mexico is ramping up. As we transition to primarily Mexico production, we expect no gaps or shortages of supplies. Demand has been consistent, and markets have been steady. We have fruit available to load in California and Texas. Quality is good.
Blueberries
Supplies are light and we see increasing supplies over the next few weeks. We are seeing more arrivals of Peruvian fruit on the east coast and Mexico is increasing for the west. We expect to see supplies continue to be light for the next week, then ramp up by the end of the month. We will see Mexico and Baja start transferring more fruit to McAllen and California. Additionally, we will see Chilean production start up in November. As stated above, demand is still very strong. Market prices have remained higher and firm.
Cauliflower
Unlike broccoli cauliflower can not figure out what it wants to do..Markets at the beginning of the week were good and so was demand. Now it seems like there are ample supplies, especially in the Santa Maria area, and shippers will be looking to make deals as we finish out the week. Run your offers by us please!!
Broccoli
There has not been much change in the market this week. Crown cuts loading out of California are still in good demand and prices are staying in the mid to high teens. We expect the market to remain at these current trading levels for the rest of the month. Prices may fluctuate up and down slightly, but no major corrections are expected. There is more product crossing into Texas out of Central Mexico and the market is trading at $2.00 – $3.00 lower there than in California. We will start our “Shui Ling ” broccoli program loading in Pharr, TX next week.
Citrus
Small fruit like 200, 230, & 250’s remain plentiful with opportunity buys out there. Supplies of the larger sizes (110’s, 150’s, and 175’s) are slowly increasing in volume. Unfortunately, the rains have continued in Mexico making for fair quality. The forecasts are for the rains to continue.
Artichokes
Production continues steady with limited demand . Market continues to offer values on all sizes. Most varieties currently are seeded or Thornless. Limited supplies of the superior Green Globe or Heirloom variety have begun with expected elevated pricing.
Cantaloupes
Cantaloupes continued on the snug side, especially early this week as rain in the desert delayed the harvest of those starting their deals and interrupted that of those already started. Westside is down to a mere 2 or 3 still harvesting. Sizes were skewing large in the desert peaking on 9 and jbo 9s with even some jbo 6. There were more 12s starting to be harvested as of today. The Westside has been running mostly 12s and 9s with very few larger and smaller sizes available. Quality has been okay, but fall melons always run a bit greener than peak season melons on the Westside. Demand was slowed by higher prices. Some users bought ahead of the gap and have had enough to carry them through. Thus when desert production began to pickup up prices stalled and discounts are starting to creep into the deal. Mexico is going and is selling at a 1.00-3.00 discount, but domestic buyers in many areas tend to shy away from Mexican cantaloupe. Next week the Westside will be wrapping up over the course of the period. The desert should keep producing and supplies could increase as the weather is expected to be stable and warm. Demand will be hampered by expected cool weather in the Midwest and East and high costs of current inventories. We expect a somewhat lower market next week.
Honeydews
Honeydews fell into the same supply gap as cantaloupes. There were even less available. This week they were even a bit shorter in supply as domestic growers struggled to get started in the desert and the Westside was done but for one supplier. Mexico had light supplies. Sizes ran large in the desert and was showing quite a bit of scarring. Sizes were small on the Westside pretty much 5s and 6s in Mexico. Next week Mexico and the desert should increase in supplies as they get past their weather issues. Westside for all intents and purposes will be done. Demand has been and will continue to be slowed by high priced inventories and cooler weather in populated consumption areas. We look for a lower market next week.
Grapes
Steady as we go. Grapes are plentiful on excellent quality. We have not seen any issues from the past rains. Markets continue to be on the bottom and flat. The shippers will be aggressive on volume deals. Plan aggressive promotions for the balance of the California season. Have confidence in the eating quality as all varieties are brixing high.
Stone Fruit
The season is just about over from California. There are a few large size Peaches around but those will clean up quickly going into next week. Black and Red Plums continue to be available through next week but will continue to taper off. Market prices have been steady on moderate demand.
Green Onions
Production continues light with recent heavy rains further hampering harvest . Supplies are expected to remain tight through the month but should slowly improve with expected increase in demand next month.
Asparagus
Increased production from Western Mexico has started to materialize and the market has begun to ease. Many shippers are expecting good demand in anticipation of Holiday promotions . Quality has shown improvement. Production from Peru has also begun to increase with prices easing.
Lemons
The offshore deal is quickly finishing. Mexican production continues with demand exceeding supplies on the Fancy Grade Mexican fruit. Southern California and Arizona are continuing to crank up volume, 140’s & larger continue to tight with the smaller sizes most plentiful. The quality is coming in very good and will continue to as we hit peak production. Markets mostly steady to slightly lower.
Oranges
New crop California Navel will be available next week. Peak sizes will be 88/113/138’s. This will be a great time to push bag promo opportunities. The eating quality is expected by good with the brix levels higher than normal for this time of year. Market prices on the New Crop Navels is expected to be strong. The California Valenica crop will continue limping to it’s end. Poor to fair quality expected with plenty of soft fruit and regreening.
Squash
Good supplies of zucchini still coming out of Santa Maria. Yellow squash is nearing the end of the season in Santa Maria. Nogales squash has started and product is crossing daily from Mexico. Italian and Yellow Squash are plentiful out of Nogales at this time. Grey squash is also available. We expect some quality issues ahead on Nogales squash as a result of heavy rain and wind that came through Sonora Mexico last week. The extent of the damage is yet to be determined.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower The market has been firm with lighter supplies due to cooler evenings. Quality has been good with some insect pressure in the hotter inland locations
Broccoli Production has improved slightly but the market continues to be strong. Demand is expected to improve heading into the fall as eastern regional supplies are likely to finish with frost expected on the East coast.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Green production continues to be light with improved demand. The markets are expected to advance with increased pressure from East coast demand. Expect some volatility in supplies as we approach the Fall and “Homegrown ” production becomes scarce
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg as well as Romaine Production has been limited , mostly due to quality with heavy insect and mildew pressure. Expect markets to continue to advance as demand increases from the east.
OG Citrus
Lemons: Improved production and reduced quality has eased demand, although quality has begun to improve from the desert as well as Mexico and Chile. Supplies should hold steady with a higher percentage of fancy fruit expected. .
Oranges Valencia season has finished prematurely and Navels are ready to start up next week. Expect limited supplies and sharp price increases until the Navel crop comes in fully early next month.
Limes: Supplies from Mexico continue to improve and the market remains steady. Quality has held steady despite weather interruptions with improved color and sizing.
Grapefruit: Production is light and desert supplies will be limited until December. expected for the balance of the month.
OG Avocados
Mexico: Mexico production has improved with additional supplies expected.. Quality has been good although continuous rain has increased spotting or darkening skin. Promotional supplies are available through November. as well as off shore varieties.
California: Season will begin early next year 2019.
OG Grapes
Green & Red Central Valley supplies continue to be excellent along with outstanding quality. A few older varieties with smaller sizing profiles are expected to decrease resulting in a tighter price range. The remaining “newer” varieties, especially reds are exceptional size and brix levels.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady but excessive heat in the Central Valley most of the Summer has interrupted production , further hampering availability with advanced notice already required with current heavy demand.
Potato supplies have transitioned to the Northwest with improving supplies of Gold, Red and Russets. Cooler nights will impact supplies moving forward.
Onion demand has been good and production is steady with improving supplies of Reds. Quality has been very good. The market continues to be strong, especially on Red and White.
OG Melons
OG Watermelons Production is winding down from Central Valley California and is in transition to Mexico (Nogales) Supplies are expected to improve by the end of the month.
OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews production from Westside District, CA is just about finished and only a few shippers have begun harvest from the Southern desert and Mexico . After a long run of extremely high quality we are currently evaluating quality after heavy rains soaked the production area last week.
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