8/23/10

WARMER WEATHER

After one of the coolest summer months in history, the end of August is showing a warming trend in Monterey County.  The next few days are expected to reach into the 90s and some 100s inland.  This is a dramatic temperature change; for too long now, cool, misty days in and around the Salinas Valley have stunted plant development, resulting in strengthening markets and having adverse quality defects not normal for this time of year. Although the warmer temperatures are needed to develop product, there is a possibility of heat damage if the warm weather continues.

Long range weather shows hot temperatures into Wednesday and cooling off towards the end of the week.  Trucks remain steadily tight and rates continue to hold on to the high 6000s and low 7000.

LETTUCE — Market is proving to be quite active as we start off the week, it slowly creeped up last week partly because of the cold weather.  More 30 sizes are available as a result of the slow growth.  Expect light weights to continue into the weekend, but our recent warming trend should size up heads and bring on more product.  The market will most likely slip downward towards the end of the week but shippers will do all they can to keep prices as high as they can until they are loaded with product.

BROCCOLI — market remains flat and plenty of product out there. There have been quality issues affecting broccoli though we don’t know it but because of the fact that there is so much product coming out of the fields, packers are able to pick through product and avoid most of the problems. Expect the broccoli market to remain flat at least into next week, weather permitting.

CAULIFLOWER — plenty of product, come and get it. Warmer weather will bring on more product so expect the market to come off slightly towards the end of the week. Quality issues include brown spots and some mold and decay caused by mildew.  Product is mostly clean.

LEAF — Excellent quality all around, pricing has remained steady after an up trend last week.  Like the other items, our warmer weather will bring on more product.  Romaine has been the most active but we don’t expect prices to rise much more, in fact, we could see a closing in on the price gap between red green and romaine of the next few days , as there has been talk about light green leaf harvests. Shippers will try and hold prices high as long as they can so be sure to shop around.

CELERY — Volume is still consistently good and product is shaping up nicely.  Shippers have been trying to bend the market up toward the 10 – 12 dollar range, but the demand has just not been there to sustain any spike in price as people look to stone fruit and melons as an alternative. The recent heat may bring about seed stem issues over the next few weeks, but other than that, expect good quality and a variety of sizing into next week.

STRAWBERRIES– We are now nearing the top of the volume scale for this time period, and although slightly wet, the weather has been accommodating to the berries and coolers are packed full of them.  The market is quite varied depending, a 5 dollar spread in some cases, and quality is fine.  This heat will hopefully be short lived, and plants are large enough now that they are able to shade the berries from direct sunlight.  Warmer weather could still soften up the fruit and cause bruising, but plants seem to be healthy for now.

Ed Brem

www.producewest.com