Lettuce market continues to be steady although some shippers are anticipating lighter production with cooler nights and sporadic lettuce ice. Demand continues to be fair and the market could escalate with even a slight bump in demand. Quality continues to be inconsistent but improving. Forecast call for ideal weather for the next 10 days . Highs in the 70s and Lows 40’s. We stillexpect some volatility through January if colder weather materializes.
Mix Leaf
Romaine and Romaine Heart production continues steady but demand has been good especially Hearts . Quality has been improving steadily although many still are showing seeders and pronounced ribs and ribs. Cooler nights will eventually help improve quality as long as lettuce ice remains light.. Most shippers are expecting lower temperatures this week which will likely result in tighter supplies . Green and Red leaf markets have been weaker with moderate demand.
Brussels Sprouts
Production continues from Northern California with mostly good quality.Central Coast California supplies are heavy and volume deals are available but demand continues strong. Production has started from Southern California and Mexico with varied sizing and quality. The market continues to adjust slightly and deals continue to be available but the floor appears to be elevated over past years. Stalks are also available.
Celery
Plenty of supplies and shippers are looking to move product. Oxnard and Santa Maria are still the main growing areas and quality is nice overall. Factors that have kept this market down include high freight, and higher than normal volumes due to warm December temperatures. Yuma production has started in light numbers. It may still be a few weeks before we see any substantial volume out of the desert.
Broccoli
Market remains snug out of California and Arizona. Light supplies out of both these areas will continue through the week. Crown cuts are tighter than bunch. Current market conditions are due to cooler weather and planting gaps. We are finding better supplies and cheaper pricing from product out of Central Mexico. There has been truck issues with getting this product loaded out of McAllen, TX during this holiday season. Freight is still an issue out of there but we should start to find some normality starting next week.
Cauliflower
There seems to be a wide range in pricing depending on where you can load. Santa Maria pricing is $6.00 – $8.00 cheaper than what shippers out of the Yuma valley are quoting. Overall the market feels like it has topped out and we should start to see a decline in prices by the end of the week. Quality has been fair, there is some yellow cast and soft shoulder on product coming out of all growing regions.
Asparagus
Production from Mexico has slowed and pricing soared for the Holidays and continues to hold firm . Peru continues with some availability for Eastern distribution.
Artichokes
Production continues to be moderate and demand has been good through the Holidays but quality issues from frost damage will slow demand. Quality from the desert has been good but limited with many artichokes still being grown in California where isolated frost has impacted quality. Expect a two tiered market for cleaner artichokes.
Strawberries
Supplies will continue to be tight for the remainder if the week as limited labor, and cold temps will continue to hinder any increase in supplies. Santa Maria was affected by colder temps last week and even though we are experiencing warmer temps, yields have dropped due to throwing damaged fruit in the furrows. Quality will continue to be fair as we limp towards the end of the fall crop season. Oxnard is reporting occasional bruising, soft shoulder and a few overripe. The counts have bee averaging 20 to 22 per clam shell.The 2nd week of January should give way to better supplies for the industry. Central Mexico will remain consistent and continue to cross fruit in to McAllen on a daily basis. Florida will remain light thru the end of this week, but they are expecting improved volume the 2nd week of January.
Blueberries
Lighter supplies will continue into next week. There is better availability expected on the Chilean fruit next week and we could see some price discounting at that time. The forecast is promotable volume the end of the month on both the Chilean and Central Mexican fruit. The biggest challenge as we move into January will continue to be transportation.
Raspberries
Availability will continue to be light as demand continues to good as transfer truck on time arrival at the cooler keeps to be an issue.Mexico continues to be the main growing area as product is then transferred to California or Mexico. Expect supplies to be limited to a degree for the next 2 weeks.
Blackberries
Supplies are excellent as production has improved out of Central Mexico. Suppliers will be promotable over the next few weeks.
Green Onions
Green Onion production is starting to improve for a few shippers with improved shipments from Mexico although labor has not fully returned and cooler nights will continue to impact supplies. Expect wholesale adjustment to the market by the middle of the month barring any unexpected weather.
Oranges
Large sized fruit is in better supply this week. Small sizes are in much lighter supply. This trend is expected to continue through the rest of the season. Quality has been mostly holding up over the past few weeks with very few problems to report. Markets continue to be strong on all sizes, particularly on small fruit.
Cantaloupes
After the disruptions of holidays, one would expect the cantaloupe markets to return to normal. But as 2018 begins the “Cyclone Bomb” weather event sandwiched between two record setting freezes does not bode well for melon demand. At the same time, supplies look to be ample to abundant, with Costa Rica starting. Overall quality is looking good. Sizes are still peaking on 9s size but there are better supplies of 12s and even some smaller fruit available. We look for the market to trade lower starting this weekend and extending into next week.
Honeydews
Mexico continues to produce, although as reduced volume. The Caribbean production is expected to increase as new areas join the fray. Quality has remained good. Sizes have been peaking on 5s and 6s and look to stay as such, but as will lopes, some increase in smaller size production is expected. Demand will be bedeviled by the same weather dynamic described above. As with cantaloupes, we expect the market to wane next week.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower Production is currently running steady from the desert although cooler nights will help improve quality it will slow growth and combined with strong demand the market has firmed heading into January.
Broccoli production also has stalled with more seasonal , cooler temperatures. We expect supplies to remain tight for a couple weeks before any increases. Expect volatility through the month of January.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Greens have maintained good production .
Green Onion production which exclusively is grown and packed in Mexico has slowed mostly due to labor shortage. Some quality issues from recent heavy winds have reduced production on some of the more tender items additionally intermittent shortages have occurred 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 . Recent heavy winds have impacted some production but Lettuce ice will be the determining factor heading into the New Year.
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 is expected to continue strong with most fruit well ahead of schedule. The cooler nights and Holiday hours have tightened overall supplies but expect better availability for the month of January . The crop has been good quality with better sizing profile. 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 as weather improves this month as weather has been near ideal.
Limes: Quality is starting to show signs of improvement and the market continues strong but we’ve seen increased production from Mexico .
Grapefruit: Supplies have been good with good quality and demand keeping prices elevated.
Mandarins:The Clementine season is in full swing with good demand . Supplies are currently good with continued post Holiday promotions keeping supplies moving.
OG Avocados
Mexico: Production from Mexico has been lower mostly due to Mexican growers holding back shipments , While supplies from Chile have been steady. Demand is good and we’ve seen prices firming for the Holidays and into New Year . Availability should be good through January.
California: New Crop is expected to start by the end of the month although the Wildfires near Oxnard will have an impact on a few coastal acres .
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 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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