Shorter Days, Longer Nights

Even though weather across the country is still in the “Summer mode”, you can start to feel a bit of Fall in the air. If for no other reason, the days continue to get shorter, and the nights longer. There contnues to be a lot of local product on the markets and in the stores, and that should continue another 3 weeks or so, or until the first frost hits. Also, stores are ALREADY displaying Halloween merchandise! Christmas must not be far away.
Long range weather in the growing areas of California show continue mild, warm days, but cooler nights. No rain in sight.
Plenty of trucks and rates are steady. But, now with climbing fuel costs because of hurricane Ike, we might see rates climb a bit.

LETTUCE–still light supplies and strong market. Retails have changed to reflect the $25 price tag for a box of lettuce on the East coast, so we should see business slow down. We don’t anticipate shippers trying to raise their prices much this week, figuring they are happy with the current market. Then again, high prices haven’t stopped them before from trying to raise even higher.

BROCCOLI–still a lot of East coast product that is supplying much of the East, so demand for California broccoli is only fair, at best.

CAULIFLOWER–plenty of local product keeping the market out here flat. Quality is mostly good, although some of the fields are starting to show age, so we are sticking with shippers that are staying on top of their fields.

LEAF ITEMS–still a demand exceeds supply on romaine and green leaf, fair demand for red and boston. Both romaine and green are active because of the salad plants desperate for supplies. This certainly effects the carton market, which takes a back seat to salads. Not sure how much longer this will last, but certainly this week. Prices seem to have peaked out for romaine and green leaf, for the time being.

CELERY–no change here. Better supplies and deals on the larger sizes, while 36s, 48s, and hearts are still less abundant, and higher in price.

STRAWBERRIES–still strong demand and firm pricing for Driscoll label, and they continue to pro rate orders. Quality is the main culprit of this because they are throwing away 25-50% of what is out in the fields. Quality will continue to be WEAK, so move them in and out QUICKLY.

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