Lettuce market has begun to adjust as demand weakens and supplies increase. Above seasonal temperatures have fields moving forward once again and demand has temporarily slowed to avoid mid week Christmas

Holiday closures. Weather is forecast to remain above normal through next week with possible frost returning next weekend. With another week of interrupted sales expect the market to continue to be uneasy before bouncing back next weekend. Demand is expected to be strong through the new year now that pricing is at a more sustainable level and many consumers shift away from Romaine as they continue to get bombarded by misinformation. Quality from the desert continues to improve although some blister has begun to show with most being trimmed in the field , expect to see some in the finished carton.

Demand for Romaine continues to suffer from misinformation . As a result many shippers are harvesting Romaine to order . Some blister has been seen in the fields but most is being trimmed off with overall quality very nice. Demand will continue to shift towards Green leaf and Red leaf as well as other “salad Bowl” commodities keeping pressure on prices to remain elevated although sales have slowed this week due to avoiding Holiday closures. The markets have retreated but expect prices to firm once full week of demand returns.  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 expected to begin soon.

Heavy production and lack of demand has sent prices to the floor. Most shippers out of all growing regions are looking to make deals and get product moving. It looks like we will go into next week with the same type of market. Run your offers by us.

Though weather conditions have improved, the market will remain tight as we move towards the weekend. Advanced bookings with lighter than normal harvests are combining to leave the open market with minimal product available. Santa Maria is beginning to recover from the weekend rain which severely hampered harvests. Quality is only fair due to the recent rains. Oxnard continues to slowly increase volume as more growers begin the new crop harvesting. Quality is good due to the fact that the recent rains did not have as much of an impact in that area. Expect to see similar availability and prices through next week. Mexico is still exporting sporadic amounts of strawberries into the McAllen point of entry as well as the distribution points in the Yuma AZ and Otay Mesa. The Florida berry harvest has been severely curtailed by intermittent periods of heavy rains over the past week with more in the forecast Thursday and Friday.

Good supplies will be coming out of Mexico and pricing remains steady with the occasional shipper temporarily looking to move to maintain rotation in inventories. Quality has been good overall with the rain having little effect with most of the berries being grown under hoops. As with the raspberries, there has been some concern about the cooler weather affecting yields in the near future. Look for pricing to remain steady through the end of the week.

Inadequate supplies with the only problems being late or delayed crossings into the US from Mexico. Prices have fluctuated slightly upward due to the brisk holiday demand but overall look to remain steady for the end of the week. .There has been some talk of a recent cold snap in the Mexican growing areas that may affect supplies down the road.

More containers are expected at the end of the week. Blueberries are expected to be in better supplies though next week. Increased numbers of import fruit is anticipated for the end of the week with Chile, in particular, ramping up volume. The quality in all areas has been good. Many shippers are looking to promote to help stay ahead of the upswing in volume and the typical lull in the market just prior to the holidays.

Market has declined in California and Arizona as more product comes on in the winter growing regions..The Imperial Valley of California and Yuma, AZ have seen increased production over the last 7 days. Central Mexico on the other hand continues to grapple with weather issues. Central Mexico experienced 2 consecutive nights of freezing temperatures this week which will definitely slow down production for the remainder of the week. Demand out of Texas for Mexican broccoli seems to be a little better than that of California or Arizona.

Good availability expected for balance of the month. All sizes available with a peak on 175’s. Quality and condition of the limes is solid with good green ready to ship. Market expected to be steady.

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 arrival of Chilean imported stonefruit has arrived on the West Coast. Supplies will be spotty and prices are high until after the first of the year.  For now, limited supplies of Yellow Flesh Peaches are available.  Mostly 2 layer 48/50’s and some 40/42’s.

The end of California season continues to approach us. Most shippers have committed their remaining inventory for the balance of the season. The transition to offshore grapes should be fairly smooth with no gap. Overall demand remains good and the market should continue to strengthen.  The predominant varieties are: Red Seedless- Allison, & Crimson, and Green Seedless – Autumn King

Production has started it’s annual slow down and the market has begun to shoot back up. Expect reduced supplies through the New Years as most labor takes off for the Christmas and New Year Holiday. Supplies usually stabilize by the second week of January barring any Cold weather affecting growth.  Quality should also improve with an improvement in weather.

Good supplies of Lemons from California and Arizona. Promotional opportunities available.  Peak sizes of 140/165/115’s. Market steady to slightly lower. Quality has been excellent.

Supplies remained quite light as Mexico virtually finished is exporting, leaving the Offshore areas the only current source. Guatemala is still the main supply source from the Caribbean. Honduras has started but is just scratching the surface of their deal. Demand has remained mostly at contract prices which are much lower than spot market at this time. Spot market demand has slowed due to high prices and the unseasonality of melons. Sizes are running big, peaking on jbo 9s then 9s then jbo 6s with few 12s and smaller. Prices came off their peak but remained in the low to mid $20 range. Next week will be one of disruption. Port arrivals and clearance will be slowed by the holidays. Demand will also be slowed by the holidays as will transportation. This could hold the market steady, with some discounting. Supplies should pick up after the first of the year and prices should be coming down by the second week of January.

Once again supplies were quite tight and failed to meet even the limited winter demand keeping price high all week. Mexico struggled with cold weather and they are in light winter plantings. Offshore just seemed to plant a whole lot less than in the past, and with only Guatemala going supplies from there have been anemic and peaking on very large sizes. There are few melons smaller than jbo 5s for sale on the open market. Next week there will be holiday disruptions and supplies are not expected to increase. But holidays will disrupt demand as well keeping prices in check, but not trending lower. After the first when Costa Rica gets going this could change, but we see little change until at least the second week of January.

On the quality front, shippers are no longer gassing navels. We are into good natural colored fruit. Supplies remain good with promotional opportunities on 72’s for the next 3-4 weeks.  Size structure peaking on 88/113/72.  Also, Navels are eating good with fruit brixing as high at 12.5.

Quality is starting to wan in Peru and the Midwestern and Eastern buyers will start to come back to California / Mexico right after Christmas. We won’t see any 28/1 bunch packs until well into late January.

Prices at the moment are in the $34.90 to $36.90 range on 11/1 standard, lower prices on Jumbo.

 Washington /Idaho

Demand is good and transportation is getting some relief due to the Christmas Trees pull being over. Smaller onions are in big demand and exports are contributing to that demand. The jumbo Red market is steady with a few deals being made on volume order but mostly $5.50 on 25 pounders.

Most shippers are talking about going up after the new year, so there may be reason to lock in some advanced pricing.

Mexico

Rio Rico, Az, and Weslaco, TX- will begin receiving White Onions in light supplies. Onions are on track due to perfect growing weather of warm days and cool

Cauliflower  The market has been steady although supplies have begun to improve. Expect some improvement in pricing now that the Christmas Holiday has past. Traditionally the market eases after Christmas before demand strengthens for the End of January.  Quality has been good.

Broccoli    Production has begun to improve with many shippers yields and quality improving in the desert areas.  Expect the market to remain steady. 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 demand continues to be strong as Romaine markets adjust to demand shift. Expect volatility for the duration of the Winter season.

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 as well as sizing profile . 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 been strong for the Christmas push and should continue strong for the New Year.

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 average supplies. Demand has been very strong for the Christmas Holiday . Supplies should start to improve after New Years as production shifts south for the Winter. 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.