LOCAL ITEMS VEGETABLES. March 21, 2018

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Louisa Cole
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March 21, 2018 LOCAL ITEMS Everything is pretty much done for the season for storage crops. We have some stragglers around. But we will have local potatoes for a few more months!

Harmony Valley - Viroqua, WI: Organic shallots IGL Farms - Antigo, WI: Organic red potato, yellow potato and russet potato Driftless Organics - Soldiers Grove, WI: Organic turnips Hugh s Garden -

Michigan grass expecting a mid-may harvest start and go through June. Central Mexico will be going Mid June through August.

Salinas started broccoli production a few week earlier than normal this year, and Santa Maria supply is good overall.

1 March 21, 2018 LOCAL ITEMS Everything is pretty much done for the season for storage crops. We have some stragglers around. But we will have local potatoes for a few more months! Look forward to local ramps, parsnips and spinach in April! Spring isn t too far away! Harmony Valley - Viroqua, WI: Organic shallots IGL Farms - Antigo, WI: Organic red potato, yellow potato and russet potato Driftless Organics - Soldiers Grove, WI: Organic turnips Hugh s Garden - Moorhead, MN: Organic red potato, yellow potato, russet potatoes, purple potatoes and variety pack potatoes weather conditions. Expect the market to still stay tight with the upcoming holiday. Michigan grass expecting a mid-may harvest start and go through June. Central Mexico will be going Mid June through August. Broccoli: Broccoli 14 s and crowns will see a slight decrease in price for next week. Salinas started broccoli production a few week earlier than normal this year, and Santa Maria supply is good overall. Heavy rainfall forecasted in CA growing regions could negatively impact overall supply later this week. Cabbage: Texas is shipping with excellent quality. Market prices are stable. Cauliflower: Cauliflower will decrease in market price for next week. Supply has rebounded considerably from last week as Salinas and Santa Maria growing regions ramp up production. However, heavy rainfall forecasted in CA growing regions could have a negative impact on overall supply later this week. Celery: Sleeved celery and celery hearts will see a slight increase in market price for next week. Overall supply remains good at the moment, but heavy rainfall forecasted in CA growing regions could have a negative impact on overall supply. VEGETABLES Corn: Quality is very nice. Market price is stable. The Florida Spring Sweet Corn crop is projected to be excellent quality and Asparagus: Supplies fairly steady with the more favorable russdaviswholesale.com crazyfreshproduce.com

2 availability. This year prices will fluctuate more than in past years due to variable freight availability and rates. Cucumbers: Mexico continues to ship the best quality and consistency. The markets are starting to decrease, Southern Mexico has started harvesting new fields bringing more volume to the market. Florida is expected to start harvesting more volume in the weeks to come which should take markets even lower. Eggplant: We are loading in Nogales with good quality, markets are slightly declining as more volume is available. Green Beans: Florida quality and supply are excellent. Market price is stable but anticipated to increase slightly as demand is strong for Easter. Green Bell Peppers: NNogales and Florida are shipping with good availability. Markets have increased slightly. Southern California is starting to harvest in a light way, cooler than normal weather lately in California has slowed growth but most growers a looking at being in full production by mid-april. Green Onions: Green onions will see a slight decrease in market price for next week. Overall supply is good with promotable volume available. Green/Red Leaf Lettuce: Both green leaf and red leaf lettuce will see slight increases in market price for next week. Supply on green remains tight due to Yuma finishing earlier than expected. Red leaf lettuce supply remains good overall. Additionally, heavy rainfall forecasted in CA growing regions could negatively impact overall supply later this week. We are now sourcing our leaf needs out of the Huron growing region. Hard Squash: We are loading in Mexico with excellent quality. Markets have increased on most varieties. Spaghetti remains low. Iceberg Lettuce: Iceberg will see a slight decrease in market price for next week. Supply remains light due to Yuma winding down earlier than anticipated. Huron is expected to start harvesting toward the end of this week. Expect active markets through the upcoming south-to-north transition. Onions: Demand in the onion market remains light, but it is expected to pick up within the next few weeks for Easter. Supplies are available out of most storage areas as well as Mexico. Pricing adjustments are not likely in the next month, as demand figures to trail off following Easter. POTATOES: Russets: Russet potato pricing and demand remains steady throughout the country. Supplies of russet potatoes appear to be adequate in most growing areas to last until 2018 harvest. Currently the size profile in Idaho is treading toward smaller sizes which should be good for consumer bags but will keep pressure on cartons. Local Reds: The red potato market has softened as supplies from Florida hit the market Florida has a large crop this year. Red River Valley quality is good with very promotable pricing. RDW is now bringing in New Crop Florida B Reds. Local Golds: Major shipping regions are beginning to wrap up their supplies of storage crop yellow potatoes. New crop yellow potatoes are becoming available from growers in Florida but at a considerably higher cost. Red, Yellow, Orange Peppers: Mexico continues production with good availability. Markets are slightly declining. Canadian Hot House harvest is project to start in 3 to 4 weeks. Rhubarb: Washington Hot House product is currently available and the market is high. Washington field grown product is projected to be available in 4 to 5 weeks which will bring the market down. Romaine Lettuce: Romaine hearts will steady whereas carton romaine will decrease in market price for next week. Romaine supply remains very tight industry-wide due to the desert winding down earlier than anticipated. Additionally, heavy rainfall forecasted in CA growing regions could negatively impact overall supply later this week. We are now sourcing our romaine needs out of the Huron growing region. Snap/Snow Peas: Currently production is fairly steady and decent on snow peas and sugar snaps out of Guatemala however traditionally around end of March through May Guatemala starts to wind down and the switch to CA and Peru can experience gaps and supplies usually dwindle and prices spike, especially sugar snaps, russdaviswholesale.com crazyfreshproduce.com 2

Peru and CA do not have enough volume to pick up the slack. At this time though we don t have any serious weather events in Guatemala which will affect us in the extreme short term.

Nogales supply and markets are starting to decrease as southern Mexico growing regions are starting to produce more volume. VALUE ADDED DOLE: Iceberg: Tighter supply and good quality.

3 Peru and CA do not have enough volume to pick up the slack. At this time though we don t have any serious weather events in Guatemala which will affect us in the extreme short term. Sweet Mini Peppers: Western supply is very strong with excellent quality and markets are low. Time to promote! Zucchini and Yellow Squash: Mexico continues to ship the best quality. Nogales supply and markets are starting to decrease as southern Mexico growing regions are starting to produce more volume. VALUE ADDED DOLE: Iceberg: Tighter supply and good quality. We re seeing epidermal peel and insect pressure. Romaine Lettuce: Tighter supply for the next 3-5 weeks. Quality is okay. There is fringe burn, greener material, epidermal peel and blistering. Red & Green Leaf Lettuce: Good supply and quality on both. Conventional Spinach: Good supply and good quality. Conventional Spring Mix: Good supplies (mustard is getting tight) and good quality. MANNS: We re expected to be in good supplies on all items. EARTHBOUND FARM: Romaine: Currently, we are seeing some quality defects in our Romaine, due to the time of the year and growing region transition. A good portion of our supply did not meet our quality spec. We anticipate improved fill rates moving forward. Romaine Hearts 12/3ct: The trigger clause is in effect, prices continue to go up. Quality issues due to insect pressure, blistering and epidermal peel has tightened supply. FRUIT Apples: Washington Braeburns will be finishing up in the next 3-4 weeks and then we will move into imports. Opal, and Pacific Rose apples are now available. Avocados: CA fruit is growing slower than expected because of rain, and even further it is solely being consumed in CA so it s not really effecting the market that much. There are still some shortages that the market as a whole is experiencing. There needs to be great weather improvements for CA volumes to go up. This is expected sometime in April, but not sure if it will improve. Real market change won t happen until the fruit naturally comes in early summer. Blackberries: Mexico is still producing high quality fruit. Blueberries: We will be making the transition into 6oz blueberries for next week. Import fruit should start to clean up, and early signs are Florida should start shipping in a very light way next week. Cantaloupe/Honeydew: Production has been good, with excellent quality. Look for the market to firm up as we start to get closer to the end of the imports. Cherries: The crop is coming along great so far. We should see the first product available during the third week of April. Mother nature permitting. CITRUS: Sky Valleys- We will have Sky Valleys available for approx. the next 10 days. russdaviswholesale.com crazyfreshproduce.com 3

4 Navels- Sizing is still peaking on larger fruit and will remain that way through the season. Navels will wrap up around June 15th. Cara Caras- Sizing is still peaking on larger fruit, they will be available through the end of April. Moro Oranges- Sizing is still peaking on larger fruit, they will be available through Mid-May. Minneolas- Sizing is peaking smaller, great opportunities on bagged fruit. They will be available through April. Grapefruit- Texas will be wrapping up in the next few weeks. After that we will transition to California. Florida White Grapefruit- Done for the season. Halos- Volumes are strong with availability through May. Pummelos- Are winding down for the season, we will have them available for the next two weeks. Organic Navels- are winding down for the season, they will be available through April. Grapes: Look for reds to go through April with good quality. The last greens have been put on the water and will be hitting the ports this week. Look for a tight market on them as we go into April. Mexico is expected to start mid April on greens. Kiwi: Italian winding down, markets tightening up. You will see Chilean kiwi begin to trickle into the market in the next few weeks. Domestic Kiwi through the end of May. Limes: Limes are loading out of Vera Cruz and Jalisco, Mexico. We are still seeing a crazy market on limes for the next few weeks due to fungus affecting the lime blooms several weeks ago. We will start to see better supplies of limes in the next 2 to 3 weeks. Mangoes: Lots of mangos coming in for the next couple weeks. Peruvian Kents finishing up. Nicaraguan / Mexican Tommy Atkins and Ataulfo / Honey Mangoes available. Pears: Import Bartlett supply is getting better and market is coming down. Good supply of Anjou Pears out of Washington and market is steady. Raspberries: Production has stayed steady with good quality. STONE FRUIT: Yellow Peaches: Our 3 early season peach varieties SU Peach 15, 17, 20 got hit hard by the freeze as this fruit was in flower when freeze hit. This fruit usually comes off around May 3rd to May 15th. Our first variety of peaches this year will be Spring Flame 20.5 which we hope to start around May 15th both conventional & organic. By the 3rd & 4th week of May we will begin having better supply of yellow peaches with Spring Flame 22 s & June Time. June will offer better supplies of YP as we begin harvest on Earli Rich, Rich Lady, Sierra Rich and Summer Flame 26. Yellow Nectarines: Our 2 early season nectarine varieties Honey May & Super Star were the hardest hit. Zee Fire will be our first variety of YN this year and we should start these by May 15th. This will probably be the first variety of the year that we could promote. Further updates to come on Zee Fire. By the end of May we will be in good supply of YN with Rose Bright, Spring Flare & Honey Lite. THE MONTH OF JUNE WILL BE THE TIME TO PROMOTE YELLOW NECTARINES WITH.. Honey Lite, Honey Fire, Honey Blaze, Prince Jim, Grand Bright & Summer Flare. White Peaches: The season starter for White Peaches historically has been Snow Angel. They got hit hard with the freeze as well. Our first White Peaches for this season will be Rich Snow & Spring Snow. We will begin harvest around May 15th. Better supplies on white peaches in June with Ivory Queen, Sierra Snow & Ice Princess. White Nectarines: The entire month of May will be extremely light on White Nectarines as Polar Lights were hit hard. Early June will begin harvest with Spring Pearl followed by Candy Pearl & Grand Pearl. The best months to promote white nectarines will be July with Majestic Pearl & August with Snow Pearl & Artic Pride. Black Plums: Our field team is evaluating and watching the black plum crop on a daily basis. The week of April 2nd we will have a better idea on black plum sets and what the season forecast will be. Stay tuned as I will update as I receive. Red Plums: Our field team is evaluating and watching the red plum crop on a daily basis. The week of April 2nd we will have a better idea on red plum sets and what the season forecast will be. Stay tuned as I will update as I receive. Pluots: Our field team is evaluating and watching the Pluot crop on a daily basis. The week of April 2nd we will have a better idea on the Pluot sets and what the season forecast will be. Stay tuned as I will update as I receive. Apricots: Honey Cot harvest begins May 15th followed by Juicy russdaviswholesale.com crazyfreshproduce.com 4

5 Jack. Early June will begin harvest on Coral Cots and followed with Orange Burst! Strawberries: With rain projected to hit California this entire week look for the strawberry market to be extremely tight. Florida is pretty well done producing as well after some weather. Mexico is on the tail end of production and will not have enough to pickup the demand ahead of the holiday. TOMATOES: Roma: Quality remains very good from most shipping points. Markets are declining as Mexico is seeing an abundance of fruit currently. Markets are projected to stay low for the next few weeks, time to promote! Grape/Cherry: Quality is excellent. Markets are stable. On the Vine: Markets are stable. Production is less than projected from Canadian Green Houses now. Tomatoes will be a mix of Canadian and Mexican for a couple more weeks. Beefsteak: Markets have slightly increased as less volume on larger size is available. Mexico is shipping and Canadian Green House Tomatoes will not be avaiable until April. WATERMELON: Market is increasing and will continue to rise as demand exceeds volume. This will last at least for the next 2-3 weeks as Eastern Mexico finishes up and Western and Northern Mexico gets going. Mini Seedless: Market is steady, quality is good from Mexico. Promote Mini s for the next 2-3 weeks. ORGANIC New Items: Organic Easter Egg Radish 24ct Up Next - Org ataulfo mangos in a couple weeks. Org cantaloupe, mini seedless and honeydew in 3-4 weeks. And clamshell LOCAL organic salad mixes from Urban Organics soon! Organic Asparagus: Asparagus has tightened up due to holiday demand and cold weather slowing production. Organic Blueberries: We have Chilean blueberries at promotable volumes right now. Organic Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts are from Mexico and California. Organic Grapes: Organic red and green grapes are done for the season. There may be some very limited import red grapes next month, otherwise next season isn t until May. Organic Grape Tomatoes: DelCabo is having shortages due to labor scarcity and slow start in producing zones since the frost/ cold. We should be out of the other labels this week and back solely to DelCabo as their production ramps up. Organic Jalapeños: Should have solid availability on organic jalapeños for a couple of months now. Organic Mandarins: Both bagged and bulk murcotts mandarins are here! Season should go through April with promotions available all season. Organic Mangoes: Kent mangoes are done until the undipped start in august. we just have tommy atkins mangoes now. Organic Parsnips: Done for the season with bulk and wrapped parsnips. May have some local over wintered parsnips in April, but otherwise out until fall. Organic Pomegranates: Pomegranate arils will be gapping for a few weeks while we wait for imports to start. Organic Strawberries: We have very nice strawberries from EBF now and coming in for a while now. Should stay pretty consistent with the EBF label. Organic Sweet Onions: Organic Vidalia onions will start in April. Organic Turmeric: We are back into Hawaiian turmeric. Organic Blood Oranges: Blood oranges are done for the season. russdaviswholesale.com crazyfreshproduce.com 5

LOCAL ITEMS VEGETABLES. March 28, supply remains average.

LOCAL ITEMS VEGETABLES. March 28, supply remains average. March 28, 2018 LOCAL ITEMS supply remains average. Urban Organics - St. Paul, MN: Organic clamshell salad mixes Cabbage: Texas is shipping with excellent quality. Market prices are declining. IGL Farms