Yuma production continues to be heavy with unseasonably warm weather expected to continue into next week. Cooler weather has hit the Coastal portion of California but the deserts have yet to experience their normal heavy chill.Shippers continue to be 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule. Quality has been good with some puffy, ribby or pale heads . Bottom rot in some areas has shown up as well but most shippers are being extra selective and passing up a lot of lettuce. Demand has improved slightly and has a few shippers with itchy trigger fingers although for the market to improve significantly needs a change in the forecast.
Mix Leaf
Romaine and Romaine Heart production continues to be heavy with most shippers 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule. Quality has been mostly fair on hearts especially with many ribby and pale susceptible to discoloration. Demand has been good although some poor arrivals have slowed overall movement. Green and Redleaf markets have had similar issues with heavy production , moderate quality and demand. We still expect some volatility if/when seasonal frost conditions materialize later in December.
Brussels Sprouts
Production continues from Northern California with mostly good quality.Central Coast California supplies have improved and volume deals are available but demand continues strong for the Holiday season. Light production has started from Southern California and Mexico. The market continues to adjust slightly and deals continue to be available but the floor appears to be elevated over past years. Stalks are available for the Holidays.
Celery
This market continues to be steady, with plenty of volume coming out of Oxnard and Santa Maria. With mild to warm weather expected over the next 10 days, good supplies should continue through the Christmas pull. Quality has been very nice with very few problems to report.
Broccoli
Supplies out of California and Arizona continue to exceed demand. We could start to see this start to turn around as early as next week. Cooler night time temperatures are starting to slow the growth of the plants and should start to adjust harvest projections downward. Look for prices to start escalating next week. Production out of Central Mexico has been somewhat limited due to cooler temperatures in the growing regions. It looks like it will be at least a couple more weeks before we see an increase in production. Overall quality out of all areas has been very nice.
Cauliflower
Harvest estimates have started to decline and are forecasted to remain lower going into next week. We are already seeing an increase in demand and of course an increase in price. Look for this pattern to remain into next week as we head towards the holiday pull. Quality has been good with nice white domes and we have seen the occasional soft shoulder but it is not common throughout the industry. Availability out of Santa Maria, Imperial Valley and Yuma.
Asparagus
Heavy production from Mexico and Peru continues with good availability Demand has improved and the market will likely firm as we get closer to Christmas.
Artichokes
Production continues to be moderate although a sharp increase in pricing stalled demand and now has a few shippers offering deals ahead of the Christmas promotions. Take advantage of deals before Holiday demand ramps up.
Strawberries
We continue to pull out of 3 locations and supplies have been steady.California continues harvesting in Santa Maria and Oxnard areas. The slighter higher volume out of Santa Maria will begin to decline as Oxnard number begin to increase. California’s quality continues to be fair with some reports of bruising on arrival being the norm. the colder night temps that are forecast for next week will help firm up the berries and will help improve quality in the short term. Fires in the area may disrupt supplies as many freeways have been shut down as the fire fighters attempt to establish containment lines. The berries out of Florida are increasing in daily volume and will continue to do so into next week. Sizing has been small, but arrival have been better as the fruit has been firm. The Mexican Harvest is steady, but supplies have been light. Demand for fruit out of McAllen steady. We are expecting increased supplies the 3 rd week of December.
Blueberries
Blueberry supplies continue to be light even with multiple areas of production. The Peruvian fruit volume is declining each week and looks to be leveling off.The berry size out of this area has been small all season. We are forecasting of volumes to increase in this area by the end of the month.The remainder of the Argentina fruit will most likely land in Miami. We expect to see better supplies of Chilean fruit arrivals around the first of the year. Central Mexico continues to churn out consistent supplies, with the majority of the fruit going to the West Coast.
Raspberries
Limited supplies will continue into next week.The harvest out of Watsonvillle and Salinas are all but over as we transition to Mexico.The next few 3 to 4 weeks product will be limited. Quality has been fair to good.
Blackberries
The Blackberry market continues to be steady this week.The majority of the fruit is being harvested in Central Mexico. The are limited harvest out of Oxnard as well. Prices have been steady with the sharper price available out of Texas. Quality has been good with only a few cases of Red cell being reported.
Green Onions
Green Onion production continues steady from Mexico. Demand is expected to improve for the Holidays although like many Western Veg , supplies exceed demand currently.
Oranges
Small sizes are now in short supply. We are seeing better volume on large sized fruit. Quality has been hit and miss, with some mold and decay reported. Weather conditions are now improving, with colder nights helping color and firming up the fruit which should help improve overall quality on navels in the coming weeks.
Cantaloupes
Little changed this week in cantaloupes. Mexico production waned and Caribbean imports rose keeping supplies rather steady. Demand remained uneventful, but adequate and the market leveled after a slight decline. Next week the dynamic looks similar. Caribbean imports should remain steady for the nxtw couple of weeks then rise a newer areas get started. Demand will be sluggish for the next week, but could improve for the holiday. Little should change next week.
Honeydews
Little changed for honeydews as well. Mexico continued ample production but their volume dropped a bit. Caribbean had steady supplies. Mexico prices rose moderately this week and Caribbean prices retreated a bit, lessening the gap between them. Yet that price gap still remained significant. Next week Mexico should begin to wane; but the Caribbean is expected to increase production. Little looks to change demand until the following week, when it could improved for the holiday. We look for a slightly lower market next week.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower: Production is currently running strong from the desert as warm conditions continue. Strong demand is expected next week and the market is likely to firm. If weather cools the market has potential to significantly react upwards rapidly. Take advantage of current over supply before cooler weather takes hold.
Broccoli : Production has improvedas well although quality remains inconsistent. Supplies and quality will again be volatile come December especially if seasonal cooler weather arrives anytime soon
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Greens have maintained good production with the warm weather to start the desert season. Intermittent shortages could likely occur with cooler weather pattern and an inconsistent labor force.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg as well as Romaine from Arizona continue strong with improving quality and demand.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production continues to improve but advance notice is still required through December.
Potato supplies continue to be erratic from the Northwest Rocky Mountain region. Onion demand has been very good with Holiday demand with strong and steady pricing expected through December.
OG Citrus
Lemons: Production continues from the desert and Mexico . The crop has been good quality with better sizing profile. Supplies from Central California have also started in a light way . The market is expected to remain strong through January.
Navels :Navel Crop continues with good sizing and quality . Demand continues strong. Expect production to improve through December with ideal growing conditions.
Limes: Quality is starting to show signs of improvement and the market continues strong but we’ve seen increased production from Mexico .
Grapefruit: Supplies from the desert with good quality and demand keeping prices elevated.
Mandarins: The Clementine season is underway with good demand. Supplies are currently good but demand for Christmas will limit availability once again.
OG Avocados
Mexico: Production continues to be steady from Mexico , Chile and Columbia. Demand has improved and we’ve seen prices firming heading into the Holidays . Availability should be good through January .
California: New Crop is not expected to start until later this Winter.
OG Melons
OG Watermelons: Supplies on seedless are very tight. Quality has been good with lower temperatures in Northern Mexico. Availability has been very limited with mostly smaller fruit. East coast demand has improved with limited supplies out of Florida. Mini seedless have good supplies but the brix are a little low as well.
OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews: production from Mexico is winding down with East coast offshore fruit now available with mostly smaller sizing profile
OG Grapes
Green & Red : California season is complete as we await offshore fruit from Peru to hit the East coast. Some shippers have storage fruit available but flavor profiles and brix levels will be less than ideal.
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