Transition continues for all shippers with a few overlapping production areas expected to continue through the weekend before everything starts to settle in the desert next week. With Yuma coming in earlier than anticipated many shippers are being forced to leave lettuce behind as the market has yet to recover from its’ hangover. Overall supplies should steady next week with one production area for most shippers Early quality from Yuma has been ok with some high core and fringe burn but color and texture have been an improvement over Huron and Salinas. We still expect some volatility through Thanksgiving and into December where isolated plantings were damaged by flooding, although the majority of those acres were broccoli Las Cruces New Mexico continues for a couple more weeks with excellent quality , size and weight to fill any shortages you may encounter.
Mix Leaf
Romaine and Romaine Heart production areas have begun to overlap and although demand continues strong increased supply is allowing for available volume discounts. We expect this to continue into next week as a few shippers will be motivated to move volume from one area or another.
Quality remains varied with signs of tip burn and seeder although most major issues are being trimmed. Romaine Heart quality has shown improvement with still some twist and ribby but most are being harvested younger with more green to camouflage any issues. Demand for Green leaf and Red leaf is steady but transition will likely bring uneven supplies depending on your loading location. Las Cruces will continue to have supplies of Romaine through the transition.
Brussels Sprouts
Production continues from Northern California with good quality.
Central Coast California supplies have improved and volume deals are available but demand continues strong for the Fall Holiday season. The market has adjusted slightly and deals will continue to be available but the floor appears to be elevated over past years. Stalks are now available for the Holidays.
Celery
This market has slowed slightly this week as Santa Maria and Oxnard ramp up production. Good supplies are expected through the weekend. Next week we will see strengthening markets as the Thanksgiving pull increases. Freight is already high, and is expected to continue upward as demand for trucks increases and we get closer to the holiday week. Colder evening temperatures will also slow production. Expect strong markets to continue through the end of the month.
Broccoli
We are starting to see good supplies coming out of Central Mexico and prices are coming down. Look for prices to decline out of California as well as the Mexican product begins to hit the market. Quality out of Mexico is improving as they move into new fields that were not affected by the rains. California quality is good, there is some purpling on the domes due to the cooler weather. The Yuma region will start towards the end of the month.
Cauliflower
Prices have seemed to top out and we could start to see a decline in FOB’s starting early next week. Overall quality has been fair. We have seen some yellow cast and soft shoulders on some of the product coming out of both Santa Maria and Salinas.
Asparagus
Surging production from Mexico and Peru continues with good availability
Demand has improved heading into Thanksgiving and the market has begun to firm to Ad levels.
Artichokes
Production has started to slow with cooler, more seasonable weather as demand has started to increase for the Holidays. Expect the market to rise through December before additional volume is expected.
Strawberries
Supplies will become lighter as production winds down in the Salinas/Watsonville area. We are expecting a demand exceed market into next week. We will begin to transition into southern California and Mexico. Santa Maria and Oxnard will have steady, but light supplies moving forward.Central Mexico fruit is starting to cross into Texas and barring any inclement weather, crossing will be on the rise. In the Salinas/Watsonville area, we are seeing some bruising and overripe. The average count is 28 to 32, some higher. The area is forecasted for cloudy skies with showers Thursday morning and partly cloudy Friday through the weekend. The weekend should see highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s decreasing to the 40s on Friday. In Santa Maria, California, we are seeing some bruising, soft shoulder and overripe, with occasional misshapen berries. Counts are averaging 24 to 28. Santa Maria is forecasted for mostly sunny with some partly cloudy skies. Highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s, decreasing to the 40s Friday through the weekend. In Oxnard, California, there is some bruising, with soft shoulder and overripe and occasional wind burn with counts averaging 22 to 24. Oxnard, is forecast to be mostly sunny with highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s.
Raspberries
Supplies remain consistent, but with the majority of harvest coming from Mexico, we expect some disruption due to the recent rains. Northern California will be winding down quickly as we move product out of Mexico. The product out of Mexico will be transferred to southern California, Yuma and Texas.
Blackberries
Product will be transitioning out of the North to Southern California , Yuma and Texas. We expect supplies to improve over the next 7 to 10 days. Quality of the Mexican Fruit has been good, with an occasional report of Red Cell.
Blueberries
Light volume continues to challenge the market place as loading days have been sporadic. Weather issues in Mexico and delayed transfer trucks crossing the boarder have been the norm. The east coast supplies have slowed down to the point as the supply is similar to the west coast. We are expecting increasing supplies over the next 2 weeks as the Chilean imports arrive. Quality on the imports has been excellent.
Green Onions
Green Onion production continues steady into transition. Demand is expected to improve for the Holidays and the market is likely to firm in coming weeks.
Oranges
Navel production is increasing and showing better numbers this week. Volume is not expected to be as high as last year, with season projections showing 15-20% lower this year. Any type of significant precipitation could pose challenges on this season’s crop and market spikes are expected. Quality has been nice overall with very few problems to report at this time.
Cantaloupes
Even though the domestic deal continued to struggle coming up with larger fruit (9 & J(9) the overall supply of product increased this week as Mexico stepped up its game and Off shores started in a very small way. Demand was slowed by colder weather striking the Midwest and East coast and by the lack of desirable retail sizes. Thus overall the market waned a bit. Next week Arizona will still be shipping albeit with sizes still skewing small. Mexico will continue to have robust supplies. Offshore will increase a bit as a couple of new producers will join the party with their first ships arriving. Offshore supplies are skewing larger. Demand could improve slightly for Thanksgiving but that is not a melon holiday so we don’t see any significant impact on the market. We look for steady to lower prices on larger fruit and continue discount dealing on smaller sizes next week.
Honeydews
Even though domestic production on honeydews never really got off the ground with any volume this year, Mexico hit its stride with a swell of supplies, running most to 5 and 6 size. Thus that deal dropped its prices prompting lower markets to develop in all areas. Like lopes Offshore supplies started to trickle in as well. Next week we see no significant increase in domestic production. Mexico will continue to have a bountiful supply and Offshore should begin to increase. Like cantaloupes we see little hope for improved demand keeping the market democratic and discounting next week.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower Production continues with light supplies and an active market with little volume available heading into the Holiday season. Book your orders early as cooler weather is forecast for the end of the week.
Broccoli production has improved slightly although cooler weather is expected with surging Holiday demand. Supplies and quality
will continue to be volatile through December .
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Greens have experienced quality issues along with persistent insect pressure causing intermittent shortages. Local Homegrown supplies have diminished and have added pressure on West Coast supplies.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg as well as Romaine from California have started to improve quality and demand has also increased with East coast demand slowly returning their attention to the West.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has improved slightly but advance notice is still required through December.
Potato supplies have been cut short due to extreme heat in the Central Valley this Summer. Supplies are expected to be limited through the Fall season.
Onion demand has been good with good supplies shifting to the Northwest.
OG Citrus
Lemons: Imports from Mexico have improved supplies and quality with 70% reported fancy. The desert crop has started with mostly fancy. Supplies are expected to improve by the end of the month.
Navels: New Crop has begun with improved sizing and quality. Demand continues strong. Expect production to improve by the end of the month.
Limes: Quality is starting to show signs of improvement and the market continues strong but is expected to ease as production increases.
Grapefruit: Supplies from the desert have begun but demand has kept prices elevated.
Mandarins: The Clementine season is underway with good demand. Supplies are currently limited filling pent up demand for the Holidays.
OG Avocados
Mexico: The Main Fall crop continues steady as well as demand . Supplies have evened out and availability should be good through Mid December. The crop is currently peaking on 48’s and 60s with improved oil content.
California: New Crop is not expected to start until early Winter.
OG Melons
OG Watermelons: have transitioned to Mexico loading in McAllen and Nogales. Supplies are good although sizing has been peaking on smaller 45’sand 60’s
OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews: production
from Arizona remains steady for the next couple weeks
with strong demand. Supplies from Mexico loading in Nogales have also begun with limited availability.
OG Grapes
Green & Red : All colors are experiencing tightened supplies and very good demand. The harvest is reaching its’ final stages. The quality continues to be very good although Scarlett’s have been slow to color. Expect Greens to finish this week and Red Production to finish next week. Also expect to have significantly less storage grapes available as yields have been impacted by the Summer long heat in the Central Valley. As a result pricing is expected to escalate through the Holidays.
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