Lettuce

Lettuce market continues to be active. Fueled by quality issues affecting yields and Processors continuing to acquire acres to offset low yields.  Overall acreage has increased but continued insect and disease pressure along with mild evening temperatures has resulted in less than optimal quality and yields. Deals on 30 size lettuce will continue as the Salinas Valley season winds down over the next couple weeks.

 

Brussels Sprout

Production has begun to peak with significant acres dedicated to processors.  By default the fresh market receives a substantial increase in volume from the residual overflow.  The volume should be heavy through the fall as long as weather and insect pressure doesn’t interrupt the normal growth pattern.  Promotional pricing will be available for the next 3 or 4 weeks before firming up for the Holidays  

 

Mix Leaf 

Steady markets along California Central Coast.  Quality conditions continue to dominate market tone.  Pressure from  Insect , seeder, tip burn, mildew and Soil Born disease has limited quality supplies keeping pressure on the market to remain relatively active especially Romaine and  Romaine  hearts.  Green leaf and Red leaf supplies have been slightly more abundant. East Coast and Canadian supplies will likely continue for another couple weeks or until significant weather approaches. 

 

Broccoli

This market remains steady, plenty of product coming out of California. More supplies are also coming out of Mexico and quality is good industry wide.  Some slight hollow stem but not enough to cause arrival problems.  There will be more emphasis on west coast product once eastern product finishes up within the next two weeks.

 

Cauliflower

Plenty of supply available and pricing is weaker industry wide. Although there is more product than in weeks past, there are still supply gaps.  This is market is close to bottoming out. There is a large range in quality, and reports of yellowing and spotting are quite common. 

 

Celery
Sluggish markets continue and plenty of product available in Salinas and Santa Maria areas. There has been some reports of pith in both growing regions.   To combat quality problems, growers have been forced to shed outer stalks, leaving us with a few more small sizes than normal. Michigan growing regions are winding down, which will put more emphasis on west coast product. We could see stronger markets as early as 2 weeks from now.   

Artichokes

Thorn-less, Seeded artichokes continue to be the predominate variety available.  Most Shippers have been peaking on large sizes with light volume matching light demand on medium and small sizes.  Green Globe, Heirloom variety will begin to increase when the normal cooler normal evening temperatures return. 

Cabbage
The cabbage market has tightened up in the past week with supplies dwindling down in the upper Midwest. Look for cabbage availability to start up in the north east and upper Midwest. Texas will look to start mid- October.   California supplies are limited but they expect to see an increase in volume by mid-October.

 

Strawberries

We now are working 3 areas as Watsonville winds down, Santa Maria has steady to slightly declining numbers and Oxnard is under way and commanding premium pricing. The quality is best out of the Oxnard area, but expect a $4-$6 range in pricing when compared to the Watsonville area.

 

Blackberries

Supplies are available out of Santa Maria, California, Texas and Mexico. Retailers are aggressively looking for Ad pricing over the next few weeks.

 

Blueberries

Winding down and will continue to be scarce as the domestic crop is dwindling and atmosphere controlled Blueberries are finished.  Argentine blues will be next.

 

Raspberries: 

Supplies will improve over the next few weeks as numbers are improving and we will have fruit available out of Mexico.

 

Melons

The cantaloupe market is very active with supplies winding down on the Westside.  There is a small gap in production, but the desert will get started next week.  Cantaloupe quality is fair to good.  The fruit will not travel very far. The honeydew market is steady with good supplies. Nogales has just begun to receive product and the desert should start next week. The honeydew quality is good to excellent.

 

Watermelons  

The watermelon market is very active and supplies are very limited domestically.  Baja is starting and Nogales will begin crossing soon. 

 

Grapes

The grape movement is very good. Most shippers have little to no inventory on red seedless grapes. The predominant variety on green seedless is Autumn King and they are moving very well at this time. The market is very firm on all varieties. Seems we still have a good amount of grapes to pick, but we are still waiting for color and sugars. We have good supplies of Red Globes and fair supplies of Autumn Royals.

 

Citrus 

Valencias – There are good supplies of 56-72-88’s, the 113-138’s are very limited on both grades. Fruit quality is fair. Navels – Are offshore and in good supplies on 36-40-48-56. Limited supplies of 72-88 and a few 105-113 are available. Lemons – We are starting to see more new crop lemons. District III and Mexican supplies are in better volume. Offshore lemons are still coming in. Mostly 165-200-235 here, district III is packing out 70% fancy and 20% choice. We are going to see adjustments in the market. Grapefruit – New crop will start the end of October.

 

Mangos 
There are a very limited supply of Brazilian mangos entering the U.S. in the Northeast. The variety is Tommy Atkins and peak sizes are 7s and 8s. Brazil’s volume is not expected to improve much in the next two weeks and demand is expected to continue to exceed supply. Going into October we anticipate the volume will improve and the sizing is also expected to shift to peak sizes of 9s and 10’s

 

Tree Fruit

Nectarines are finished.  Peaches are available for a couple weeks.  Sizing tends to be larger. Red Plums and Black plums are available and the market is strong. Pomegranates have started in CA.

 

Vegetables

Zucchini and Yellow squash are both very active with demand exceeding supply.  Nogales has started so supplies should increase.  Green Bell Peppers are moving very well and supply is good.  Red and Gold Bell Peppers are moving well and supplies are tightening next week.  Cucumbers are available and the market is steady this week.  Nogales has started and demand is expected to increase next week.