The Fresh Report
The Latest on Our Greatest
December 16th, 2024
Loading...
East Coast
The Georgia growing region will have a much warmer start to the week with partly cloudy skies and highs nearing 75 degrees and lows in the mid 50s. Rains on Thursday however, will cool things down again bringing highs to the mid to high 50s and lows at 40 and then going below freezing into the weekend.
West Coast
Yuma should be marginally warmer than last week and mostly sunny, with highs in a close range from 72 to 75 degrees and lows in the high 40s throughout the week.
Mexico
Mexico will be mostly sunny with a windy Wednesday. High temperatures will stick tight around 72 throughout the whole week and lows will move around slightly in the high 50s, reaching 60 once.
Vegetables
Loading...
Tomatoes
The market remains tight from the lasting devastation of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Pricing is extreme. On the east coast, Roma, grape, and round tomatoes are in low supply, with recovery expected by January. The market will remain active through the holiday season.
Eggplant
Supplies from Florida and the West are improving, along with quality. Volumes are good and full from these regions.
Asparagus
Movement in Mexico remains low due to seasonal factors, but Peru is chugging along with occasional quality issues. The market remains tight on larger sizes, and both coasts will have elevated markets for the next couple weeks.
Green Beans
Beans may prove to be a challenge this holiday season, with light supplies and storms causing gaps.
Avocados
Market is steady. Small fruit are plentiful while larger ones are limited, pricing has followed accordingly. The size distribution should even out as the fruit matures and harvests move to higher elevations. Mexico is expected to offer solid supply through the end of the year. Promotional activity for the smaller sizes are encouraged.
Lettuce
Iceberg: Following Thanksgiving, decreased demand and warm weather have restored supplies and prices are stable and stabilizing for value-added products. Quality and weight are strong, lending itself to being a good time for promotion.
Leaf: We are seeing plentiful supply for romaine, green, and red leaf. Romaine hearts are experiencing increased production and quality is now above-average on both leafs and hearts. Price is easing across the board.
Tender Leaf: As the season in Yuma progresses, there may be some quality defects in the coming weeks such as discoloration, weak texture, and blistering. Supplies will likely tighten over the next couple weeks.
Leaf: We are seeing plentiful supply for romaine, green, and red leaf. Romaine hearts are experiencing increased production and quality is now above-average on both leafs and hearts. Price is easing across the board.
Tender Leaf: As the season in Yuma progresses, there may be some quality defects in the coming weeks such as discoloration, weak texture, and blistering. Supplies will likely tighten over the next couple weeks.
Broccoli
Crop conditions have improved greatly. The quality of broccoli is coming in excellent condition and the market is steady.
Onions
While storage quality remains excellent, solid export demand is driving upward pressure on market prices, particularly for white onions. In addition, sizing is trending toward jumbos. Markets are firm and expected to stay that way until Christmas.
Cauliflower
Production in Yuma is slow, but quality is fair, with some reports of mildew discoloration. Supplies are extremely limited this week.
Peppers
The Georgia season has ended, and Florida is now the primary growing region, despite ongoing hurricane recovery. On the west coast, the focus is shifting from California to Mexico where smaller sizes are dominating the early season. Availability and quality are expected to improve in mid-December.
Celery
The market is softening here due to decreased demand. Supplies of larger sizes have further tightened, but quality is good overall.
Potatoes
The market is steady out of Idaho, with excellent storage quality. Sheds are now operating at full capacity to meet the increased holiday demand, but lead time is recommended for orders around the holidays due to inclement weather in the PNW. Small sizes are more limited than the bigger ones.
Corn
Due to lasting impacts from the recent hurricanes, the corn market is escalated but looks to come off in coming weeks; there is a lot of pressure on quality and it is hit or miss due to gaps through transition. Georgia has finished and Florida is starting light but ramping up.
Squash, Zucchini
The market for squash has softened greatly and green and yellow varieties are in good supply.
Cucumber
As East Coast production still recovers from recent hurricanes, market prices are higher and there is limited supply with some quality issues. Imports from Honduras have started coming in with light volumes and Nogales is seeing moderate supply. Prices are expected to rise as we approach the holiday.
Fruits
Loading...
STRAWBERRIES
Market continues to be extremely tight and elevated. Demand far outweighs supply, and quality is hit or miss. There is hope on the horizon though, as Florida is beginning and production may increase by the end of December.
MELONS
Cantaloupe: With the domestic cantaloupe season over and holiday delays impacting offshore melons, there is triggered pricing on some items throughout December. Relief from Honduras and Costa Rica is expected closer to the New Year. Mexican fruit is limited and running smaller, but the quality for offshore melons is still optimal.
Honeydew: Tropical Storm Sara impacted production in key growing regions. Prices are elevated due to limited supply. Production out of Mexico is down and the market will be up until Guatemalan fruit becomes available.
Watermelon: Since GA suppliers are still recovering from Hurricane Milton and production from Mexico remains low, watermelon supplies are extremely limited from both coasts. Offshore watermelons will be available in January.
Honeydew: Tropical Storm Sara impacted production in key growing regions. Prices are elevated due to limited supply. Production out of Mexico is down and the market will be up until Guatemalan fruit becomes available.
Watermelon: Since GA suppliers are still recovering from Hurricane Milton and production from Mexico remains low, watermelon supplies are extremely limited from both coasts. Offshore watermelons will be available in January.
BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, AND RASPBERRIES
Blackberries: Increased volumes out of Mexico will be a consistent pattern into the holiday season. Market will remain firm.
Blueberries: The market is stable and availability is high as peak volumes come in from Mexico and Peru, and things are expected to continue that way.
Raspberries: The market is steady and availability is where it needs to be.
Blueberries: The market is stable and availability is high as peak volumes come in from Mexico and Peru, and things are expected to continue that way.
Raspberries: The market is steady and availability is where it needs to be.
PINEAPPLE
There is limited market availability with focus on contract business. Both Costa Rican and Mexican supply and quality are improving due to recent favorable weather, but large fruit remains harder to find.
LEMONS, LIMES, ORANGES
Lemons: The market is steady in every way with consistency well into February.
Limes: Prices are stable as supply and quality are strong. Fruit is peaking in medium sizes, and smaller sizes are more limited.
Oranges: Sizing is strong in the middle of the bell curve, but sizes on the far ends of the spectrum are limited. Metrics on gas times and Brix levels indicate a strong year for foodservice.
Limes: Prices are stable as supply and quality are strong. Fruit is peaking in medium sizes, and smaller sizes are more limited.
Oranges: Sizing is strong in the middle of the bell curve, but sizes on the far ends of the spectrum are limited. Metrics on gas times and Brix levels indicate a strong year for foodservice.
STONEFRUIT
Light supplies of imported peaches and nectarines are arriving on both coasts this week. Asian pears will do well into January. And the market is steady for domestic kiwi, which are plentiful.
GRAPES
Some red grape supplies are still coming from California, but domestic green grape production has ended leaving us with higher than average prices on the imported variety.