Production continues steady with moderate demand . Quality is overall fair as growers are battling mildew, Rib blight and high core which puts pressure on production to harvest earlier than normal leaving wide variations in Weights and Color. The market continues with softer tones. Although mostly ideal conditions, Increased humidity ( relatively speaking) has caused mildew pressure to increase. Less humidity and cooler weather is forecast for the balance of the week should help slow issues affecting quality.
Mix Leaf
Romaine demand continues strong with steady pricing and Heart demand has eased while pricing has turned sporadically tiered due to inconsistent supplies. Quality remains good with some tipburn, mildew and high core being trimmed in the field. Green leaf, Red leaf and Boston remain steady with a sense of pending improved demand in coming weeks. Markets should advance as Homegrown quality diminishes.
Brussels Sprouts
Production is mainly from Central California The market has settled with strong demand but additional volume has begun to hit the open market as growers ramp up production for processors. Quality has improved with some continued insect pressure.
Strawberries
Supplies continue to be on the short side coming out of Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Maria, and the Lompoc area. Quality is just fair out of both areas with some fruit coming out of the south slightly better than in recent weeks. We are still seeing some excessive bruising with limited shelf life in both areas. Look for the market to remain firm as shippers are experiencing strong demand with schools back in attendance and retail business is brisk. On the labor side, we could see a shortage as workers begin to move south for the winter season.
Raspberries
Volume is still coming from the Central Coast with supplies starting to show up out of Mexico in a more significant way. Quality has been good with some occasional leakers being found in older lots. Look for the market to remain steady with higher undertones moving into the weekend
Blueberries
Supplies are winding down out of the Pacific Northwest, with Oregon and Washington virtually finished. British Columbia continues to produce although they are well past peak season. Michigan will continue to produce their later varieties well into October. Mexico is beginning to cross greater numbers through the McAllen TX area. Offshore imports from Argentina and Peru are beginning to arrive in Philly and Miami area and will increase in the following weeks. Look for the market to vary from growing region to growing region according to quality and crop age. Michigan, Mexico and the Imports are commanding a premium due to superior quality.
Blackberries
Better numbers are expected out of Mexico as shippers are transferring fruit in to increase the current lighter supplies of Central Coast product. Quality has been generally good with the occasional red cell being reported. The market should remain steady with lower undertones as we see more availability start coming out of Mexico.
Cauliflower
Supplies will be light as we finish up the short holiday week. Prices have not escalated like it seemed they were going to do but stay attentive to this market as it feels like it could make a quick jump upwards. Overall quality has been fair, there is some yellow cast on most of the product and we are seeing some mildew stains on the wrapper leaves due to the warm, humid weather in the California growing regions. Sizing is predominately 12’s with a small percentage of 9’s and 16’s.
Celery
Plenty of product available this week and shippers are looking to move product, especially on larger sizes. Demand is light out west as multiple areas of the country are in full production. We expect steady markets through next week. Run offers by us on all sizes.
Broccoli
Limited availability is in the forecast through the middle of the month out of California. Contracts and processors are taking up most of the product right now leaving very little for the open market. Overall quality is fair with some brown bead and branchy product being found during the inspection process. Dome size on the crowns is slightly larger due to the warmer weather over the last few days, average size is 5-6″. Central Mexico has had good availability but now it seems like there is more buying interest out of there so we are seeing prices increase. We will start our “Shui Ling” crown program out of there in October.
Artichokes
Production continues steady for the Summer months while demand has been tepid. Seeded or thornless are the predominant varieties available with the limited Heirloom variety returning later this Fall.
Onions
California…Done for season
Washington…Market is weaker and show signs of settling into a late summer lull…most shippers are still shipping fresh and will not start going to storage until late September. They will simultaneously be shipping fresh, and putting product in storage until the harvest is over. The onions that end up in storage will have more skin than the fresh onions being shipped. Size wise the overall Colossal category is not showing up. This is a function due to late plantings and cooler weather in the early planting season.
Overall acreage is up a tad in Washington and more in Idaho Oregon. The market is $6.50 to $7.00 in Washington and a solid $7.00 in Ida Oregon…much of this due to better processing deals in the Ida- Ore district.
Sweet Onions…Pretty much all of the storage Vidalia’s are cleaned up and the only game for a true flat Sweet onion is the Peruvian…which some shipping being curtailed a bit by Dorian. We’ll see if that will be a long-range problem in the next week or so. $20.00 fob GA seems to be the shouting price.
The Washington Oregon Sweet onion (round Grano) is holding at the $10.00 level with demand starting to pick up a bit by the fact that some distributors want to have a two-tier price range.
Red Onions are in the $6.00 range with a few being quoted lower in all areas.
Squash
Plenty of product coming out of the west coast, as well as Baja growing regions. Steady markets industry wide on Italian and yellow squash. Steady markets are expected for the next two weeks. Quality has been strong out west.
Stone Fruit
We are nearing the end of the season on California stone fruit. Nectarine supplies are expected to be the first to tighten up. There is currently product available, but markets will strengthen and product will eventually be limited mostly to larger fruit and tray packs. Peaches and plums will be the next to tighten up towards the middle of this month. Quality has been holding up nicely and should finish out the season on a strong note.
Grapes
Good supplies on green grapes this week and quality is very nice out of California. Multiple varieties are available and demand has been steady over the past few weeks. We expect similar condition next week, followed by stronger markets as California growing areas finish up.
Red grapes are also plentiful this week and markets remain steady. Like greens, reds are available in multiple varieties. Quality is very nice. Good supplies are anticipated throughout the month of September.
Green Onions
Production continues exclusively from Mexico with moderate supplies. Reduced Summer plantings have led to lighter volume but demand remains light and the market remains uninspired although we should see prices improve as demand slowly pushes back towards the West Coast in coming weeks. Overall quality is good with some insect pressure and mechanical damage.
Citrus
Oranges
High demand and light supplies on Valencia oranges. Markets have strengthened significantly over the past week and are expected to remain strong for the majority of the this month. Be sure to get orders in preemptively in order to secure product. Quality has been very nice on Valencias. Some slight re-greening has been reported but that is normal for this season.
Lemons
Steady supplies, mostly on the larger sizes. The southern California season will soon be winding down and the desert season will begin. Import lemons are arriving in small numbers. Markets are strengthening as production regions shift. Quality has been nice overall.
Limes
Tight supplies and very little product is crossing from Mexico. Drought conditions in Mexico have devastated this season’s crop and there is little relief expected until early to mid October at the earliest. Expect high markets and tight supplies through the entire month of September.
Asparagus
The market on Mexican asparagus crossing from Baja will be building due to a smallish, by comparison, hurricane that came through last week. The outer edges have caused unseasonal rain on the Baja crop and will probably cause a gush of product in the later part of this month. Some shippers who are anticipating this extra supply are giving out feature pricing in the mid 20’s…Here again the Hurricane will have an effect on the shipping into Miami.
Cantaloupes
The market improved this week. Demand improved as local melons in the Midwest and East coast pretty much ended their deals driving buyers back to Western product. Several retailers featured them this week as well. Supplies waned a tad as another mini gap cropped up with several shippers not harvesting for a couple of days. That being said enough harvested so they were no shortages, but the glut effect disappeared allowing prices to rise. Sizes have skewing quite large peaking on jbo 9s then regular 9s as is usually the case when new fields are broken after the aforementioned mini gaps. Next week, varietal changes and cooler weather look to keep supplies in check. Early in the week, sizes should continue to run large, but that could change later in the period. Quality looks as if it will remain quite good, but brix could diminish somewhat as temps cool into the upper 80s to lower 90s on the Westside. We look for a steady market most of next week with discounting on some sizes from some suppliers who get more volume than they have pre committed.
Honeydews
The market was steady this week. Dews have avoided the mini gaps followed by gluts patter that lopes have followed. Demand was steady. Sizes were peaking on 5s with fewer 6s and more jbo 5s. Next week little looks to change except sizing should return to peaking on regular 5s and 6s. Quality looks to hold up. Nothing seems to be in the offing to appreciably change demand.
Organic Items
OG Broccoli and Cauliflower
Cauliflower Production has begun to level of and prices appear to be rising. Quality should improve as we get into cooler Fall season.
Broccoli Production remains steady while demand has improved pushing the market slightly higher. We anticipate a steady increase in prices as we get further into September.
OG Herbs & Bunch Greens
Most Herbs and Bunching Green production remain steady. Expect supplies and pricing to remain steady through most of the month until local Homegrown supplies decrease.
OG Leaf and Iceberg Lettuce
Leaf, Iceberg & Romaine Production has been steady and quality remains good. Demand continues to lean towards local production although the market continues steady. Expect insect pressure to remain steady keeping supplies limited.
OG Citrus
Lemons: Steady, Light production with sizing profile continuing to lean towards larger fruit. The market continues to be strong especially the smaller, foodservice sizes.
Oranges Valencia’s offerings continue strong as with most citrus larger sizes continue to be prevalent. We expect prices to remain competitive on Larger fruit although smaller sizes will remain limited at elevated pricing. Quality has been mostly Fancy. Offshore offerings will eventually lead to sharper pricing.
Limes: Production remains limited especially on larger sizes due to dry weather in production areas
Quality continues to be fair. The market appears to have settled with larger sizes still much higher.
Grapefruit: Predominantly Large sized fruit continues to be available with limited smaller fruit.
OG Avocados
Mexico: Improved supplies have help ease markets slightly although demand is expected to continue to be strong when supplies will eventually level off.
California: Season continues with limited production. Expect supplies to continue to fade.
OG Root Vegetables
Carrot Production has been steady with improving supplies . Demand has been very strong. Continue to plan ahead to get full coverage. Some damage to the tops is expected from recent high temperatures.
Potato Production has transitioned with strong demand on Gold , Red and Russets.
Onion demand has leveled as most growers have transitioned to their NW production areas while increasing storage supplies. Quality has been very nice to start.
OG Grapes
California: Supplies from Central Valley of California have peaked with most shippers starting to get into their specialty varieties with exceptional color and favor. We anticipate pricing to settle near current levels especially for best size, quality.
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