Transition will be completed by this weekend with most shippers focused on a single production area. Overall supplies will tighten with production limited by light weights and labor availability in Yuma. Quality from the desert has been variable with many soft puffy heads , light texture and fringe burn .The weather has been good so quality should improve quickly. Processors continue to buy excess acreage to make up for diminished bin weights which will keep prices artificially inflated. Las Cruces, NM production will wrap up production this week as well.
Mix Leaf
Romaine and especially Heart demand continues to be strong with steady but transitioning supplies. Quality has varied widely with seeder growth and mildew pressure from the Northern districts while the desert has shown some yellow fringe and weak texture. Near ideal weather should improve quality heading into next week. Overall Romaine acreage appears to be off in Yuma to start the season. Green leaf and Red leaf demand has been good but lagging behind Romaine.
Brussels Sprouts
Domestic production from Northern Coastal region continues to be strong. The market has held mostly steady with heavy demand for Thanksgiving helping keep prices firm. A few quality issues from insect pressure remain but overall quality is good.
Celery
This market is red hot as the thanksgiving pull continues. Production is decreasing as shorter days and cooler nights come into play. We currently are in the highest demand period of the year. Quality remains very nice with good color and condition industry wide. Product is coming out of Salinas and Santa Maria / Oxnard areas.
Strawberries
Strawberry supplies will continue to decrease into next week. The drop in supplies started over the weekend and has now lasted through the front part of the week. This was a direct result of the wildfires in the southern part of the state. Unfortunately, the situation is more severe than anticipated and supplies will be affected for the remainder of the week. The winds have not subsided and the fire continues to spread. Air quality continues to diminish and the county officials have ranked it “unhealthy”. Shippers are canceling or delaying harvestharvest and workers are not showing up. This is having a major impact on the volume of fruit being harvested and production is down 20-30%. Because of the delays in harvest and decreased production, we can expect to see limited supplies of strawberries in all California loading locations. Suppliers are warning of possible fill rates on market fruit and are advising of long wait times at the coolers as a result of limited production, same day harvest, and increased demand. Market prices have jumped up in all areas and will remain firm until we get past this rough patch. Mexico production, however, is gradually increasing with good arrivals of fruit into McAllen, TX. If loading in McAllen is an option, that would be your best option for order fulfillment. On the east coast, we are seeing some light harvest already get started in Florida. We expect supplies and quality to improve as we move forward.
OG Strawberries
Lighter supplies and fruit volume will decrease into next week. Colder temps at night night will help firm fruit up. This will help as bruising was the main defect with the Organic fruit. There is a forecast for a heavy and cold storm to hit the East Coast next week. This could curtail demand for the Berry category in general.
Raspberries
Supplies will be good into next As we phase out of domestic production and focus primarily on Mexican fruit, we can expect to see improved supplies and quality. Mexico is gradually building up momentum and that fruit is making its way to McAllen, Oxnard, Yuma, and the east coast. Quality is being reported as strong and market prices have been steady. Promotional opportunities will be available over the next 2-3 weeks.
Blueberries
Supplies are plentiful. Supplies have certainly improved and prices are lower. On the east coast, in particular, shippers have seen a flush of fruit arrive via boat and plane. These import blues are coming from Peru, Argentina and now light volume from Chile. Most of the inventory is in Miami and prices have dropped this week with plenty of aggressive prices available for spot buy opportunities. On the west coast, we are seeing better supplies of Mexican fruit as well as some South American fruit in Los Angeles. Market prices on the west coast continue to be higher than the east coast but have also come down from weeks past. Quality is being reported as strong in all areas. We expect to see continued improvements in all areas moving forward.
Blackberries
Blackberry supplies have steadily improved over the past few weeks. Mexico is the primary source of production and that fruit is working its way through every distribution channel. McAllen has the most available fruit and so we are seeing some aggressive prices being offered to move volume. California and the east coast is a little more expensive as the fruit is being transferred to cover demand. We will have promotional opportunities for the next 2-3 weeks.
Cauliflower
Extremely Limited!!! Cauliflower will be very difficult to procure for the remainder of this week and going into the first part of next week. Cooler temperatures and a gap in production between the end of the Central Coast production and the beginning of the Desert deal has sparked this current situation. Pre -booking a day or two in advance is highly recommended.
Broccoli
We have seen a slight increase in price and demand this week. A perfect storm of cooler nighttime temperatures, transition and holiday demand has created this stronger market. Prices will remain at this level through the middle of next week. The cooler temperatures are starting to create some purple color and knuckly domes. Production out of Central Mexico has been limited again due to cooler temperatures. We have been receiving limited supplies of our “Shui Ling” crowns and expect this to continue into next week.
Limes
Plenty of volume available on all sizes. There a wide range in quality with quality being mostly fair to good. Market prices expected to be steady for the coming week.
Artichokes
Production continues steady with improving demand especially on the Heirloom variety. Most varieties currently are seeded or Thornless. at reduced prices. Production is peaking on Medium size profile Some frost has been reported in Salinas and Mexico which will impact quality.
Cantaloupes
As expected supplies got rather short this week as a supply gap between domestic and off shore became reality. Westside is completely done. Desert is virtually done as well, with only a few clean up supplies hanging around and running small sizes. Mexico is still harvesting but their deal as well is winding down with sizes peaking on jbo 9s and 9s. Offshore melons started arriving in Florida ports from Guatemala, but it is early and there are very few. They too are running mostly 9s and jbo 9s size. Demand has been a bit better for the holiday but certainly not robust or scintillating. That being said prices are higher this week in all areas. Next week domestic production should be finished. Mexico supplies look to remain light at weather there is much cooler than normal. Offshore supplies should increase but not dramatically. Demand should be quiet after the holiday, but will feel better than due to short supplies. We look for a steady and firm market until offshore supplies get into full swing sometime in December.
Honeydews
Lack of demand continues to keep a lid on the honeydew market. Supplies are light as domestics are finishing up. Mexico however continues to have adequate supplies especially in the face of anemic demand. Off shores will not start for another couple of weeks. That being said supplies could be a bit lighter next week with disrupted crossings from Mexico due to holiday next Thursday and subsequent post holiday lull in activity. We look for the market to be steady to slightly higher next week, but with no dramatic changes.
Onions
Washington is shipping Jumbo Yellow 50# bags at anywhere from $4.50 to $5.50 fob Othello WA. Red Jumbo 25# onions are in the $5.00-$6.00 range with deals being made on volume. Idaho and eastern Oregon seem to be holding in the $5.00 range and deals are being made on multiple load volume there also. Whites are in the 12.00-13.00 range ad seem to be holding steady. Availability is good in all colors and sweets in both conventional and organics with good quality coming out of storage. Demand has picked up on smaller onions.
Potatoes
Best deals on count cartons are running from as low as $6.50 on 40 count cartons all the way up to $8.50 to $9.00 to nine on 80,90, & 100’s. 10# poly and 5# poly is in the $6.00 to $7.00 mostly
Transportation is still relatively high now that Christmas trees will start shipping from the Northwest causing more of drain on available transportation.
Stone Fruit
The Imported Stone fruit season will kick off in December.
Grapes
The harvest from California will start to wrap up over the next 10-12 days. Promotable ad volumes will be available through the month of December. Quality and condition on all varieties is good. The market is steady. The predominant varieties are: Red Seedless- Scarlet Royal, Allison, & Crimson, Green Seedless – Autumn King, and Black Seedless – Autumn Royal.
Green Onions
Production has started to improve mostly on iced Green Onions but iceless supplies should improve heading into the weekend although cooler weather in Mexico will lessen the impact. Quality should also improve with an improvement in weather.
Asparagus
Baja Mexico is still shipping good supplies of 11/1 bunch Asparagus with ad pricing in the $18.90 to $22.90 range…prices for next week will start to rise to the $22.90-$28.90 level…some as high as $30.00+ for the Christmas pull. Peru on boats will continue with good supplies but air shipments could start to become scarce as space availability starts to decrease with the approaching holiday shipping.
Lemons
Mexican Lemons crossing at McAllen, Texas continue to have problems with rind breakdown and decay. Peak sizes on the Mexican lemon are 165/140/200’s. Expect Mexican lemons in the marketplace through December. From California, lemons are available on all grades and sizes. Peak sizes are 115/95/140’s. The market is fairly steady. Quality remains very good. Meyer Lemon are available if you are interested.
Oranges
Cooler temps have finally arrived in the San Joaquin Valley. This is helping to bring on color and reduce the gas times. The navels are coloring up nicely and the eating quality has been good with fruit brixing as high as 12. The market has adjusted lower on the smaller sizes while holding firm on 56/72’s. The packouts continue to run heavy to the Fancy grade (85-90% Fancy) with the size structure peaking at 113/88/138 followed by 72’s.
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 reducing yields
Broccoli Production continues steady with a strong market. Demand has been steadily improving.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Green production continues to be limited until full transition to Arizona and Mexico takes place in coming weeks. The markets are expected to remain strong through November.
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 remain tight as heavy demand continues. Supplies are expected to remain volatile through November.
OG Citrus
Lemons: Steady production and improving quality has led to better demand and stable pricing. Mexico and Chile quality is still variable and supplies should hold steady with a higher percentage of fancy fruit expected. .
Oranges Navel production continues to improve although sizing profile is still running below normal. Expect prices to ease heading into the Winter Citrus season . sizing profile will likely remain smaller through November.
Limes: Improved weather in Mexico should help increase Supplies. Quality has held steady despite weather interruptions. With no further rains forecast quality should improve in coming weeks
Grapefruit: Production is light and desert supplies will be limited through November.
Mandarins: Production has begun and is expected to ramp up in time for The Holidays. Prebook now to reserve your Holiday volume.
OG Avocados
Mexico: Production from Mexico has been shut down for the past 3 weeks with inventories completely wiped out. The discord among growers, laborers, cartels and the Mexican government is expected to end this week although unconfirmed. Additionally rain is forecast for the area next week which could further hamper production. Promotional supplies were expected to be available through November but with the current unrest supplies are on hold.
California: Season will begin early 2019
OG Grapes
Green & Red Central Valley supplies continue to be excellent along with outstanding quality. Specialty varieties , especially reds are exceptional size and brix levels. Possible rain in the forecast next week could affect quality but inventories are reported to be strong.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady and improved weather could further enhance supplies heading into a heavy Holiday demand period. Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage.
Potato supplies will continue steady with most supplies moving into storage on Gold, Red and Russets.
Onion demand has been good and production is steady .Quality has been very good The market continues to be steady, especially on Red and White
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