A shift in the weather on both coasts is reflecting in firmer markets. Forecast call for below normal temperatures in the desert with Lettuce ice and intermittent heavy winds through next week. Although demand has yet to surge it won’t take much for shippers, who have been leaving significant acreage behind the past 6 weeks, to raise prices. Quality remains sporadic with mostly good condition with some still showing misshapen and pale color. Expect the market to be more active by mid week
Mix Leaf
Romaine and Heart demand have been improving ahead of the cooler weather in the desert. Shippers are expecting production to slow with the below normal weather pattern forecast over the next couple weeks. Firmer markets are expected to follow. Quality continues to vary with wide ranging color and texture. High winds early in the week and isolated frost will likely affect overall quality and availability. Green and Red leaf markets are expected to follow closely behind the Romaine trend.
Brussels Sprouts
Production mostly from Mexico and Southern California along with decreasing production from Northern California. The market appears to have bottomed out although deals remain for volume orders. Quality continues to be excellent.
Celery
The market is slightly stronger this week. With colder weather this week, decreasing volume should result in some better markets next week. The majority of production is still localized in the Oxnard and Santa Maria areas. Quality has been good overall, although there have been some reports of slight bowing, bruising and mechanical defects.
Strawberries
California production areas (Santa Maria & Oxnard) will experience a cold front, in both day time and night time temperatures. Colder temperatures will cause the fruit to ripen slower. Along with the cooler temperature, Santa Maria has rain in the forecast. Availability for shipping out of California will vary by day, so please pre-book your orders! Florida berries have experienced some quality issues, which have placed more pressure on Central Mexico supply. Night time temperatures in Central Mexico are forecasted to dip into the 30’s the front part of this week. If that forecast is accurate, there is potential for disruption in harvest in Central Mexico.
Blackberries
The rains from 2 weeks ago in the Central Mexico area will continue to limit volume until the 1st week in March.
Raspberries
Expect a dip in volume as weather in central Mexico and varietal shifts will limit any expected increase in volume.
Blueberries
Very limited out of the Watsonville and Santa Maria areas and it expected to remain tight as temperatures are foretasted to be cold for the next 2 weeks. The main sources of Blues will continue to come from Central Mexico and volume is expected to be steady thru next week.
Broccoli
Cooler weather in California and Arizona is creating lighter supplies. Prices will react accordingly but we do not expect them to climb too much. There are still ample supplies coming out of Central Mexico crossing in Texas and although lighter in volume there is still availability in the Desert along with Santa Maria, Salinas and now the Mendota area. We could start to see some purpling of the domes out of the Santa Maria and Salinas areas. The quality out of Central Mexico remains very nice. Good green domes and tight beads. We continue to ship some of the best quality product in our Shui Ling label out of Pharr, TX. Don’t forget to run your orders by us!
Cauliflower
Market has taken a jump due to the cooler weather in the growing regions. As is the norm with cauliflower it is usually the first commodity to make a jump. Supplies will be limited for the remainder of the week and for the first part of next week. Get with your Produce West salesperson and pre-book so that we can get your orders covered.
Asparagus
Production continues mostly from Mexico with limited production from Northern California. While unseasonably warm weather pushed sizing profiles, current cooler weather trend will reduce overall volume and shift sizing profile towards standards. Asparagus generally are one of the first crops in the vegetable category to react to changing temperatures. After hitting historically low pricing the past couple weeks , expect markets to surge higher with any increase in demand. Quality has been excellent. Take advantage of these values while volumes are available.
Artichokes
Production continues to be moderate and demand will likely improve by the end of the month. Light to moderate frost in the desert won’t have a significant impact on quality of the seeded varieties but growers of the Heirloom artichoke are watching weather reports closely where forecast are calling for significant frost in Northern California. The Heirloom season has started with light volume and is expected to peak by early April.
Green Onions
Production from Mexico is expected to be steady. The market for iced has been depressed while the ice less demand has been slightly better. Quality has been mostly good with occasional heat related defects.
Oranges
Steady markets this week. demand has been good and supply has been keeping up. Small sizes continue to be lighter in volume, a trend that expected to continue through the next few weeks. With colder weather in forecast we could see a drop in volume next week, especially on the smaller sizes. Current production ins coming out of the central valley of California and Mexico.
Cantaloupes
And the beat goes on…There looks to be little change again in the cantaloupe market for next week. Supplies are coming from various points in the Caribbean to various Ports of Entry in the US. Quality has remained consistently good and size distribution relatively even, with peak sizes running on 9 count, the most popular retail size. Next week ample supplies will continue. The winter season will keep demand relatively steady, so little change is expected.
Honeydews
Supplies of Caribbean fruit increased a bit this week with good quality and size distribution peaking on 5 and 6 count. Mexico production was down a bit due to cold snap which seems to have settled in for the balance of this week. Demand, as with cantaloupes, has been moderate as winter continues and melons are not favored during the cold months. Next week little looks to change and the market should be steady with little fluctuation day to day, but discounting off quotes during slower shipping days.
Grapes
Good supplies industry wide on red grapes on both coasts of the US. Some quality issues have been reported on the reds. Greens are looking nice off the boat with good color and sugar. We expect good supplies through the rest of this month. California and Mexico are expected to start the first week of May.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli & Cauliflower
Cauliflower: Unseasonably warm weather has given way to below normal temperatures and production is likely to slow by the end of the week. On the bright side Cooler weather this week will further improve quality.
Broccoli production has been steady with good supplies on both bunch and crowns with Northern California and the desert producing good volume. Cooler weather will likely slow production mainly in the North and will lessen current overlapping supplies.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Greens have maintained good production. The market is expected to strengthen with improved demand as weather improves in the East.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg as well as Romaine from Arizona continue strong with variable quality and demand. Cooler weather in the desert will lead to lighter supplies and likely higher pricing. Quality after weeks of unseasonably warm temps has to deal with high winds and frost this week.
OG Citrus
Lemons: The market continues strong with good demand. Production from Southern California had been increasing but isolated heavy frost may impact production in some of the cooler locations . Although it may impact supplies much needed rain is in the forecast for early next week . The crop has been good quality with mostly moderate sizing profile.The market is expected to remain strong through the month.
Navels : Navel Crop is winding down fast for many growers with still good sizing and quality. Demand continues strong . Mostly larger profile although much cooler weather pattern with possible rain next week could slow production for a few growers with supplies helping prolong the season with the crop significantly ahead of schedule. Valencias are still at least a couple weeks away for most growers.
Limes: Quality was showing signs of improvement from Mexico and the market continues strong.
Grapefruit: Supplies have been steady with good quality and demand keeping prices elevated.
Mandarins: Clementine production has improved with good quality and strong demand. Tangos are currently running heavy with Golden Nuggets and Pixies ready to start with very limited availability expected.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production continues to improve but advance notice is still required.
with current heavy demand.
Potato supplies continue to be steady from the Northwest Rocky Mountain region. Onion demand has been very good with strong and steady pricing expected through February.
OG Avocados
Mexico: Production from Mexico has been steady with strong pricing. Supplies from Chile have been steady but light. Demand is good.
California: New Crop Hass have started with good demand and elevated pricing compared to imports and other varieties.
OG Melons
OG Watermelons: Supplies on seedless are steady. Quality has been good from Southern Mexico. Availability has improved and the market is good from Nogales and Texas. Mini seedless supplies have slowed temporarily.
OG Cantaloupes and Honeydews production from East coast offshore fruit now available with improving sizing profile.
OG Grapes
Green & Red : Offshore fruit from Peru is available on the East and West coast.
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