Transition continues with production finishing in Salinas and just underway in Yuma AZ while Huron will continue for another week. Some shippers have overlapping production areas and have offered discounts to intensify buyers but overall volume is light to moderate. Huron continues to have the preferred quality with weight, size and color all excellent while Yuma is starting with good color but light and variable solidity.. Processors will continue to have the largest impact on markets as they alternately supplement and sell off supplies leading to increased volatility. Las Cruces, NM production looks to improve next week as they move past fields that were affected by heavy rains last month.
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 initial production from the desert has been well received. Some shippers are holding customers to 8-10 week allocation while others have sufficient supplies. 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 anticipated for Thanksgiving.. have resulted in significant volume deals .A few quality issues from insect pressure remain but overall quality is good.
Celery
This market is becoming extremely active. Thanksgiving pull is among us and demand has picked up substantially. Production is slowing due to colder nights and shorter days. We are starting to see some mechanical defects normal for this time of year. There are more deals on large sizes, and smaller sizes are harder to find. Expect strong markets to continue through next week.
Strawberries
Increasing supplies as we enter the 2nd week of November.. All shippers had anticipated November to be their shortest production month. However, with the current weather patterns in all growing regions, production has not slowed down. Actually, it continues to be above forecast. Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Maria, Oxnard and Central Mexico are all in production. Supplies are steady with plenty of promotional and volume buy opportunities available. Quality is being reported as good in all areas, but Santa Maria and Oxnard have proven to be the best fruit at this time. Shippers do not expect any major shifts in supply over the next 2 weeks as weather forecasts call for more sunny days and cool nights. Market prices are lower with spot buys opportunities available for the weekend.
Raspberries
Good supplies are expected as we move into next week as Mexico production is increasing. We are seeing good volume of fruit available to load in McAllen, TX and Oxnard, CA. The domestic harvest has slowed down, but as expected, we will not see any disruption in supply as we transition to all Mexican production. Quality is being reported as very good and markets will remain steady.
Blueberries
There has been a big shift this week in both supply and price. 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 are higher than the east coast, but have also come down from weeks past. Quality is being reported as strong in all areas.
Blackberries
Supplies are improving. We have moved past the supply shortages and Mexican production is getting up to speed. Domestic harvest is done. Initially, most of the fruit was being sold out of McAllen, TX, but we have seen it make its way out west and has helped fill the pipeline for orders loading in Oxnard. Quality is being reported as good with occasional red cell. Markets have been split; cheaper fruit in Texas and a little more expensive in California. I expect to see supplies continue to improve as we move forward.
Cauliflower
Prices are increasing as nighttime temperatures lower along the central coast of California. Lighter yields are expected for the remainder of this week. Most shipper will continue to ship out of Salinas and Santa Maria for the next two weeks.
Broccoli
The market is slightly weaker but it does not look like it will fall too much this week as supplies continue to meet demand with not much oversupply. We do not expect much change as we enter the transaction period over the next 14 days. Quality has been good out of California, nice green domes with tight but fairly large beads. Central Mexico product is available out of Texas but quality has been an issue. The heavy rains that occurred during the beginning of the growing season has hampered some of the early product. Going forward quality should improve.
Limes
Plenty of fruit available on all sizes. The quality has been mixed due to the recent rains. The market is steady to slightly higher but remains at promotable levels.
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.
Cantaloupes
The market firmed this week, not from increased demand but from falling supplies. Blythe would down considerably and should be finished by early next week. Sizes in that area were quite large. Yuma has about 10 days to 2 weeks to go with sizes peaking in regular 9s. Phoenix will also have fruit until almost November but lighter supplies and smaller sizing. Nogales is shipping and peaking on 9s and jbo 9s with adequate volume. Their price structures have gone up to match or nearly match domestic levels. The harvest has started in Guatemala with one importer selling cornering those supplies until after Thanksgiving when others will start. Sizes look to be jbo 9s, 9 and 12s from there and they are expecting one load to arrive Miami next week. Demand should be lackluster in response to the prices and wintry weather that is coming into some of the more populated areas of the country. We look for a firm and steady to slightly higher market next week.
Honeydews
A completely different story. Mexico supplies are abundant and peaking on 5s and 6s. Domestic supplies have been underwhelming all season, but with demand has been quite slow due to poor appearance of the fruit and the cheap competition from Mexico. These things look to change little next week. As with cantaloupes, there will be some Guatemalan fruit arriving with one supplier next week in Florida. Expected quality is being touted as good with sizing running Jbo 5s. 5 and some 6s. Prices being quoted are quite high at this point. With Mexico going strong and off shore coming in and some continued production domestically, supplies look ample. There is nothing in the offing that should pique demand, so market should stay dull and steady next week.
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 some as high as $7.50 range with deals being made on volume. Jumbo Whites are $10.00-$11.00 range in Washington.
Idaho and eastern Oregon seem to be holding in the $5.00-$5.50 range and deals are being made to multiple load volume. Whites are in the $12.00-13.00 range seem to be holding steady.
The tone of demand is “Fair” according to most shippers with the hope of Thanksgiving demand rising next week.
Potatoes
Best Deals on count cartons are running from as low as $6.50 on 40 count cartons all the way up to $8.00-9.00 on 80’s, 90’s, and 100’s. 10# poly and 5# poly are in the $6.00-7.00 range with bins growing in more popularity.
Stone Fruit
We are currently in transition. The California Stonefruit season is virtually done with very little left in storage. The Imported Stonefruit season will kick off in late December.
Grapes
The October 31st USDA Table Grape Storage Report stated we have 18.1 million boxes of grapes in storage vs. 13.6 million a year ago. That is an increase of 33% with a ton more of late season grapes yet to be harvested. So it will be more of the same. Expect excellent supplies on good quality for all colors. With this, we forecast pricing to remain steady for the next 3-4 weeks including the Thanksgiving holiday. The Autumn King is the predominant green seedless variety with Scarlet Royals still the predominant red seedless variety. At this point look for good volumes into December with pricing at very promotable levels.
Green Onions
Production continues light with continued 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 as rains fade and the market has eased. Many shippers are expecting good demand in anticipation of Holiday promotions and have already firmed pricing. Quality has shown improvement. Production from Peru has also begun to increase.
Lemons
The Mexican lemon crop is past its peak. The Mexican fruit is looking tired and arrival issues are steadily increasing. California supplies are steady with fruit being clean with good quality from both the Desert and the San Joaquin Valley. Peak sizes are 140/165/115’s. Please keep in mind that the San Joaquin Valley (District 1) has started a month earlier than normal. This could make transition to the offshore crop in early summer 2019 tricky as there will be less fruit available.
Oranges
Shippers are now packing volume. 48’s through 72’s are light in supplies on good demand. 88’s are in moderate supply with good demand yesterday with a few ads taking hold. 113’s, 138’s, and 163’s are fairly heavy in supplies with opportunities to drive prices lower on volume. Weather is expected to remain mild and with no rain for the next 10 days. The brix averages are 10-11 with the oranges eating well so early in the season. Gas times are coming down now averaging 72 hours. Pack outs have been running 85% Fancy and 10% choice.
Squash
Production in Mexico continues and quality is improving daily. There are plenty of deals on Italian squash and yellow straight neck out of Nogales and Mcallen Texas. Grey squash is also available in both areas. Supplies are good; it is a buyers market and shippers are looking to deal on both #1 and #2s.
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 with increased pressure from East coast demand.
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. 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: Escalating discord among growers, laborers, cartels and the Mexican government continues to hamper production and artificially pushing prices higher. Improved weather should help quality if the fruit is allowed to be harvest within a short period of time. 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.
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 with improving demand .Quality has been very good The market continues to be strong, especially on Red and White.
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