Lettuce market continues to hold tight as Romaine sales have stalled. Even as production has modestly increased, demand peeling away from Romaine has been enough to maintain pricing. Cool but seasonal weather pattern has set in and should keep supplies steady . Demand could ease for the next couple weeks as schools let out for the Holidays but should rebound for New Years business but will it ease enough to affect the market. Either way expect continued volatility to continue through the new year. Quality from the desert although improving continues to vary with many soft puffy heads and light texture as shippers reach for supplies. Occasion blister has been seen in a few fields harvested in the far eastern part of the Yuma Valley.

Demand for Romaine after the initial surge has stalled as news outlets continue to drag up old unsubstantiated claims of unsafe Romaine. Very few leaders in the industry have stood up to refute the irrational claims https://www.wsj.com/articles/lettuce-try-not-to-panic-1543534658?emailToken=8458a0bcc7801439b3830362961d148av86i93Ma1VtWYLKfLty/VxRfmzW/iLfbeaoTlZikNPb7ved55R9yBQsa0rbvaCHEqXzpC/sYUiDJQYRo5Lu2Iw%3D%3D&reflink=article_email_share#comments_sector . All of which continue to erode consumer confidence and overall demand. Although demand has shifted to Green leaf and Redleaf as well as other “salad Bowl” commodities pushing prices substantially higher. Expect continued volatility until the Romaine situation stabilizes.

Domestic production from Northern Coastal region continues to be strong. The market has held mostly steady with heavy demand helping keep prices firm. Increased quality issues from insect pressure remain with Mexico production still a few weeks away.

Oxnard and Santa Maria are now the primary growing areas. Overall quality is good out of both areas. Last weeks rain had delayed production and volume decreased as a result. Markets are active and are expected to remain strong through next week. There have been isolated reports of mud on stalks and in bags, typical for this time of year.

Lighter supplies continue to be a struggle this week. In California, shippers have stripped and cleaned their fields of the rain damaged fruit. The yields this week have been greatly impacted by the effects of the rain and harvest is a slow go. Availability continues to be very light and markets remain high and firm. Quality is fair and bruising can be expected for the next 5-7 days as we recover from the storms. Mexico production was also slowed due to weather as well, but has picked up pace this week. Unfortunately, with the strong demand and limited availability industry wide, Mexico’s volume is not enough to offset the shortages. Lastly, Florida is being hit with cold temps and rains this week. Harvest has come to a crawl and is expected to remain very limited all week. As a whole, the industry continues to be in a demand exceeds supply situation and markets will stay high. This will continue into the first week of January.

Supplies remain good. Production from Mexico has been consistent despite the weather. Quality has been okay, but we have seen some reports of soft fruit and decay. We do expect quality to improve moving forward and we anticipate good supplies over the next 2 weeks. Promotable volume and aggressive prices are available.

Raspberry supplies have been lighter, but consistent. Market prices did inch up a bit this week. Some delayed arrivals from Mexico have played a role in short supplies this week, but we expect availability to remain fairly steady moving forward. We do expect to see another peak in production over the next 2 weeks.

Delays have occurred in the Import blueberry arrivals. Supplies have been tight since last week. Markets jumped up last week and are firm for the remainder of this week. Containers of fruit are expected to arrive later this week and we anticipate to see better supplies by the weekend. Additionally, Chilean harvest is expected to improve and we will see a swing in supplies over the next 2 weeks. This shortage will be short lived and we will see promotable volumes and more aggressive prices moving forward.

There seems to be a little more product available this week and FOB prices are declining.  Some of the seasonal shippers out of the Imperial Valley are now in full swing. Overall quality is good, nice white domes and good weights.

 California and Arizona production remains limited due to cooler than normal temperatures so the market should remain strong as we finish out the week. We are seeing increased production out of the Imperial Valley of California and Yuma, AZ but not enough to outpace demand. Central Mexico has increased production and prices have fallen a few dollars since last week but demand remains at current market pricing so we do not expect prices to fall any lower and we could even see a slight increase starting early next week. Quality has improved dramatically out of Mexico over the last ten days..Good color and nice tight domes. We are currently harvesting our Shui Ling crowns and should have steady volume for the remainder of the season.

There is a wide range in quality and condition making for a wide spread of pricing between shippers. Market prices on big sizes have dropped and small size pricing is starting to climb higher.

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 and now the desert which will impact quality.

The first arrivals of imported stonefruit season is expected for the end of December/first of the year.

On the Green Seedless, prices are climbing higher as the crop winds down. Quality is mostly fair on the Green Seedless due to discoloration and soft berries on arrivals. With the current pace of sales, we should be done with the Greens in 10-12 days.  On the flip side, the Red Seedless should take us into early January. The market is higher and will continue to climb higher as we head to the finish line. For now the quality overall remains good. On the Black Seedless, limited supplies.  They should be finished by the end of next week. The predominant varieties are: Red Seedless- Scarlet Royal, Allison, & Crimson, Green Seedless – Autumn King, and Black Seedless – Autumn Royal.

Production has been steadily increasing and demand is improving daily as we approach the Christmas Holiday. Expect continued surge of supplies at better pricing before production takes their usual siesta between Christmas. and New Years. Quality should also improve with an improvement in weather.

Markets have leveled off this week as a result of better weather and improved volume. We expect current production to keep up pace with demand for the holiday pull. Weather in Sinaloa and Sonora growing areas is warming this week and production is expected to improve through the weekend.

Good supplies available from the West Coast through the holidays. The market has been a little softer this week and is expected to continue that way as we are in a supply exceeds demand situation. Sizing is peaking on 140/165/115’s.

As expected cantaloupes remained in a demand exceeds supply situation. Domestic production finally ended. Mexico was petering out effectively leaving the offshore deal as the only supply source of consequence, and only Guatemala producing from that venue. Sizes continued running large peaking on jbo 9s and 9s with but only a few 12 count. Demand continued to be dominated by contracted sales at much lower prices than the spot market which was trading in the mid $20.00 range. Next week looks to change little. Honduras could be starting but with only dribs and drabs coming from the early fields and any volume being another week away. Market should be steady next week.

Honeydews continue to be in short supply. Domestics have done for a while. Mexico is going but supplies are fair at best. Offshore is very light. Demand has been tepid, but supplies remain short with Mexico and Guatemala the only producing areas. Mexico sizes are mostly 5 and 6s count. Guatemala are big, mostly 4, jbo 5 and 5 count. Next week Mexico will continue to be in a quasi-off season light production mode. Offshore supply should change little. We see little changing for next week.

The rain seems to have had a positive impact on size. Peak sizes for this week will be 88/72/113’s. Quality is excellent and flavor is good. Brix averages remain at 10-12, some 13. Most shippers are no longer gassing Navels. December is a good promotional month for 72’s and smaller.

Shipping has now shifted from the Central California to Brawley. This is for loading only…the product is still coming from Baja Mexico now but Oberon San Luis and Caborca are around the corner, but will not start until Constitution’ is finished in the Baja.

Prices at the moment are in the $30.90 to $32.90 range on 11/1 standard, lower prices on Jumbo. Ad prices from Peru remain in the $30-$40 range for next week’s Christmas pull.

Washington Onions

Demand is good but transportation is dictating the prices growers are getting for Yellow’s in general. Christmas trees are almost done shipping so the demand for trucks will start to subside. Medium and smaller onions are scarce and are commanding higher prices.

Idaho-Eastern Oregon

Demand is good but transportation is still the governing factor for demand.

Most shippers are complaining about the market being as low as it is…Pretty much on the bottom

Mexico

Rio Rico, Az, and Weslaco, TX- will begin receiving White Onions in light supplies and then the deal moves to Morelos nin-month and to to Tamaulipas in January where it will stay until the Texas Rio Grande Valley starts in March.

Cauliflower  The market has been firm with lighter supplies due to cooler weather. Quality has been good with some insect pressure reducing yields.

Broccoli    Production has begun to improve with many shippers starting production in the desert areas.  Expect the market to remain strong . Demand has been strong especially from the desert.

Most Herbs and Bunching Green production has improved along with demand. The markets are expected to remain strong through December.

Leaf, Iceberg has become extremely in demand with prices elevated to unsustainable levels. as Romaine Production rebounds from the CDC advisory expect volatility to continue for another couple weeks or beyond.

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 as well as sizing profiles after the rain helps boost sizing and brix levels. Expect prices to ease heading into the Winter Citrus season .

Limes:  Improved weather in Mexico should help increase Supplies. Quality has held steady despite weather interruptions.

Grapefruit:  Production is improving from the desert , while supplies from Mexico are expected to continue to improve as well

Mandarins:  Production  has begun and is expected to ramp up in time for The Holidays. Prebook now to reserve your Christmas volume.

Mexico: Production from Mexico has improved with varied stages of pricing. Rain temporarily slowed harvest but should continue to be strong through the new year.

California: Season will begin early 2019

Green & Red  Central Valley supplies are winding down for the season Some storage supplies will remain but quality will certainly be less after a strong run. Expect off shore grapes to arrive early next year.

Carrot Production has been steady with good supplies . Demand is ramping up quickly so continue to plan ahead to get full coverage.

Potato production has all but finished for the season and whatever remaining supplies will move into storage. on Gold, Red and Russets.

Onion demand has been good and production has finished as supplies will be shipped out of storage Expect quality to decline towards the end of the month.