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• Mar 25

  Market Report
  

• Mar 15

  URGENT MARKET UPDATE
  

• Mar 12

  Seattle Tofu Company, Chu Minh Corp., Loses Food Processing License, Fined
  

• Mar 11

  Heavy Rain, High Temps Trigger Very Active Lettuce and Romaine Markets
  

• Mar 08

  Extreme Spike in California Hass Avocado Market from Inadequate Rain
  

Last Update: May 22, 2013

APPLES/PEARS
Washington Red Delicious is steady to higher and the market is starting to slowly climb as the varietals come to an end.  Reds are still peaking on extra-fancy 88/100’s.  Golden Delicious are also peaking on 88/100’s and the market is also rising due to the lack of varietals.  Granny-Smith is steady on the large sizes and higher and limited on anything smaller than an 88.  Grannies are still peaking on 64’s-80 and the extra-fancy grade.  Galas are steady on most sizes and grades but limited as we approach the end of the season.  Fuji’s are available but the demand for them has been tremendous and they are cleaning up fast.  Fuji’s are peaking on 88’s and larger and the market is higher.  Most other varietals have finished for the season.  D’Anjou’s pears are available in Washington but mostly 100’s and larger and the US#1 grade.  Several shippers are finished with D’Anjou’s already.  Red pears are available but supplies are limited and they are mostly 40-50 size half cartons.

ASPARAGUS

The Asparagus market is firm. Washington Asparagus supplies remain steady. Peruvian product from the east coast remains steady at cheaper prices. Demand for domestic asparagus is keeping this market firm. Supplies for domestic product are moderate at best.

AVOCADO
Mexico still has fair supplies, but limited on 48’s and 40’s.They will still be the main supplier to the eastern markets. California is still increasing in volume and starting to gain size on their fruit. Strong demand is firming markets on 40’s/48’s/60’s.

BELL PEPPERS
Western Bells:  Green bell market is very unsettled.  Supplies are mostly on choice and smaller fruit.  New spring crops are currently shipping from Southern California has started with mostly large fruit available. Open field colored Red bell market is strong and generally steady. We’re at demand exceeds out of Nogales as fields are sizing down and approaching lighter supplies the next couple weeks. Southern California has started with light supplies also. Gold bells market continues unsettled as production is sporadic. Demand exceeds.
Eastern Bells: There are just a few shippers starting with pepper this weekend.  The demand remains strong so we should not see too much movement in this market.

BERRIES
Strawberries: The strawberry market is steady with moderate to good demand the middle of this week. Supplies are still being harvested out of Santa Maria and Salinas/Watsonville areas. Supplies out of Santa Maria hit their peak production a week and half ago and supplies are starting slow down out of this area. Growers out of Santa Maria will start to switch their production out of the fresh market and divert it to the freezer next week. Quality is starting to slip with some over ripe and soft fruit showing up in the packs. Salinas/Watsonville growing is a few weeks away from hitting peak production. Quality is being reported as good. Fruit size is running large with occasional white shoulder and green tip showing up in the packs. Forecast is calling for unseasonable cold weather and high winds across the Central Coast of California into the weekend. Weather will gradually warm up Monday and Tuesday followed by slight chance of rain Wednesday.
Raspberries:  The raspberry market is slightly weaker as supplies build. Quality is being reported as good.
Blackberries: The blackberry market is still in a demand exceeds supply situation. Supplies are winding down quickly out of Mexico and California supplies have started in a very light way but it will be a couple weeks before they have volume. Market is firm. Quality is fair to good depending on the lot.
Blueberries: Supplies are good out West with lighter supplies out East. Demand is moderate. East Coast growers have been having a hard time with supplies and quality due to weather. California growers have good supplies and quality currently. The main pack size is 6oz with larger packs also available.

BROCCOLI
This market has become stronger, mainly with broccoli crowns. Shippers have begun the week on the lighter side of crowns. Excellent weather in the Salinas valley the past five days may change things in the middle of the week, but for now, supplies are moderate. Santa Maria has decent supplies.

CARROTS
Supplies are good, but still waiting on size to come to bring more JBO carrots to market. Weather is good, so looks like more size in a few weeks.

CAULIFLOWER
The cauliflower market is stronger to begin the week, and is expected to gradually rise in pricing throughout the week. There is a slight gap in production. The weather has been ideal for all the growing regions so this may be short lived. Prices will vary from shipper to shipper as some are better off than others on availability.

CELERY
The celery market is softening. Production is occurring in Oxnard and Santa Maria. Suppliers are still reporting seeders in Santa Maria with seeders at 2-6 inches in length. Oxnard has reported very little seeder, but it is still out there.  The Salinas Valley celery is not due to start until the second week in June. Michigan celery is not due to start until the second week of July. Demand has lightened up going into the holiday.

CITRUS
Lemons: Supplies are good on the smaller sizes and less abundant on the larger ones. Seasonal demand is good, keeping market firm. Quality is good.
Oranges: Navel’s are finishing for the season. There will be some available through the month, but Valencia oranges are starting to take over the market. Valencia sizing is currently peaking on113’s/88’s/138’s.
Limes:  Supplies good on the smaller sizes, but still very limited on the larger 110’s/150’s. Size should start to come over the next few weeks.

CUCUMBERS
Western Cucumber: Market is steady. Demand has increased as some domestic supplies have lightened up. Demand slightly exceeds for Nogales cucumbers. There is a wide range of quality and pricing.

Eastern Cucumbers: Georgia now has light volume on cucumbers and Plant City still has decent supplies.  Quality has been good in both regions and the market should remain stable.

EGGPLANT
Western Eggplant: Market is steady and strong some growers have begun to wrap up their season. Demand slightly exceeds current supplies.
Eastern Eggplant: This market finally appears to be softening a bit.  This trend should continue through the weekend.

GRAPES:
Good availability and quality on offshore Crimson grapes still.  Shippers are doing deals on large order to clean up.  Offshore greens are done for the season. Mexico is going with red flames and green Perlettes, loading in Nogales.  The price continues to come off as more fruit becomes available.  Domestic flames and Sugarones are available for loading in Coachella with excellent quality and good sugars. 

GREEN ONIONS
The green onion market is firm. Supplies are light to moderate out of Mexico. Prices are expected to be firm to possibly raising by the end of the week. Domestic green onions are due to start approximately in the month of June.

LEAF LETTUCE
The leaf market is flat as suppliers continue to offer deals on all romaine and mixed leaf.  In general, the quality has been good, with only occasional tip burn being reported. This market is expected to be very competitive throughout the week with deals being offered on volume type orders with many suppliers.

LETTUCE
Supplies overall are abundant for this commodity. There are a few suppliers that are not as strong possibly due to heavy ads being run. There have been a few quality issues with mechanical damage to some slight decay in some lots. The market may get a little active later in the week if supplies get cleaned up, but for now things are steady. 

MELONS:
Cantaloupe:  Offshore product is cleaning up today on the east coast.  The west coast is all but done for the season.  Cantaloupe from Mexico is crossing into Nogales with volumes steadily increasing.  The Mexican melons are peaking on larger sizes especially 9’s.  Domestic production has begun in the desert with volumes also increasing and peaking on larger melons.  Demand is weak so there are deals to be made.
Honeydew:  The off shore honeydews are cleaned up for the season.  Mexican dews are crossing in good volume through Nogales while domestic dews are just beginning to be harvested in the desert.  Demand is not keeping up with the supply and prices continue to adjust down. 

ONIONS
Yellows out of Texas continue to be available with light supplies. The market has softened slightly due to light demand and good volumes in the California region. California supplies continue to be good with volume heavy to jumbos. The Huron deal begins in approximately one week.  California has had good availability and we expect that to continue.  The market on reds in California has adjusted down slightly due to light demand and good volume available in both California and Texas.  Huron, California is expecting to have red onions in approximately one week.  Whites are steady in both areas with supplies lightening up in Texas.  The onion quality has been good to excellent in all areas and on all colors.

POTATOES

The Idaho market continues to rise because of low pack-out percentages.  The Burbank storage quality isn’t what the most shippers would like and they have to run more potatoes over the line to get the same amount of #1’s in the box.   Expect the market to remain strong until the Idaho suppliers can catch up with demand and begin to get some inventories on their floors.  Washington is also higher and they continue to peak on the larger counts.  The Colorado market is up as well and they are peaking on 60-count and larger.  Colorado has taken much of the demand that Idaho hasn’t been able to cover so their market is rising very quickly.  Bakersfield, California is packing reds, gold’s, and whites from the San Joaquin valley now.  This will help with volume but the potatoes are smaller right now so expect more B’s than A’s in all colors.  Florida is nearly done with Red and Gold potatoes.  Arizona has started packing a few Reds and Gold’s but the availability is low due to strong demand.  The quality in all three areas has been good.

SQUASH
Western Squash: Market continues unsettled on both Italian and Yellow S/N. Lighter supplies of both Italian and yellow s/n as some growers is starting to wrap up for the season.
Eastern Squash: With Georgia now into good volume on squash the market is dropping.  Shippers out of Central Florida are looking to move their supplies this week. Market should continue to trend downward.

STONE FRUIT
The California stone fruit season is going with fruit still small, mostly running 50 series and smaller.  Apricot volume is increasing with good supplies and good eating quality.  Brix will continue to increase over the coming weeks as will volume.  June will have good promotable volume. Cherries are going with better availability and very good quality.

TOMATOES
Western: The market remains elevated on rounds showing increased demand due to cold weather which has caused delays to transition. Romas are steady and range quality. Expect to see prices to come back down when California begins picking in 3 – 4 weeks.

Eastern: Light volumes last week continue and supplies remain light coming to market this week. Ruskin is expected to finish next week and delays are expected in Quincy and South Carolina for up to two weeks into June that may cause a gap in rounds coming to market. The combination of weak yields, delays, and potential weather may continue elevated prices into June. Grape volumes have increased and Romas remain tight.

WATERMELON
Market continues unsettled but availability is improving.  Larger fruit is light due to cool evenings. Demand exceeds on s/less watermelon. Northern area is scheduled to start within a week. Supplies however continue light.  Availability on seeded watermelon is sporadic.

 

Commodities At-A-Glance

Commodity	Quality	Market
Apples	Good	Steady
Asparagus	Fair	Steady
Avocado (Mexican)	Good	Higher
Avocado (California)	Good	Higher
Bell Peppers (Western)	Good	Steady
Bell Pepper (Eastern)	Good	Steady
Berries: Strawberries	Good	Steady
Berries: Raspberries	Good	Lower
Berries: Blackberries	Fair	Steady
Berries: Blueberries	Good	Steady
Broccoli	Good	Higher
Carrots	Good	Steady
Cauliflower	Good	Higher
Celery	Fair	Lower
Citrus: Lemons	Good	Higher
Citrus: Oranges	Good	Steady
Cucumbers (Western)	Good	Steady
Cucumbers (Eastern)	Good	Steady
Eggplant	Fair	Lower
Grapes, Green	Good	Lower
Grapes, Red	Good	Lower
Green Onions	Fair	Steady
Lettuce: Leaf	Good	Steady
Lettuce: Iceberg	Good	Steady
Melons: Cantaloupe	Good	Lower
Melons: Honeydew	Good	Steady
Onions	Good	Steady
Pears	Good	Steady
Potatoes	Good	Higher
Squash (Western)	Good	Steady
Squash (Eastern)	Good	Lower
Stone Fruit	Good	Lower
Tomatoes (Western)	Good	Steady
Tomatoes (Eastern)	Good	Higher
Watermelon	Excellent	Steady