Weekly Produce Trend Report for Week Ending February 20, 2015

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Weekly Produce Trend Report for Week Ending February 20, 2015 COMMODITY PRICE QUALITY PRICE TREND Avocados Mexican & Californian Moderate Good Blackberries Moderate Good Blueberries Moderate Good

1 Weekly Produce Trend Report for Week Ending February 20, 2015 COMMODITY PRICE QUALITY PRICE TREND Avocados Mexican & Californian Moderate Good Blackberries Moderate Good Blueberries Moderate Good Raspberries Moderate Good Strawberries Moderate Fair Grapefruit Moderate Good Lemons, Pineapples Moderate Good Oranges, Navels Moderate Good Limes High Excellent Green & Red Leaf Lettuces High Fair Iceberg Lettuce Low Good Romaine Lettuce High Good Romaine Hearts High Excellent Cucumbers Moderate Fair to Good Green Beans, Red Bell Peppers Low Good Green Bell Peppers Moderate Good Yellow Squash Moderate Good Zucchini Low Good Green & Red Seedless Grapes, Bok Choy, Napa, Spring Mix High Good Plums Moderate Good Asparagus High Good Cantaloupes High Good Honeydews Moderate Good Artichokes Moderate to High Good Carrots Moderate Good Green Cabbage Moderate Excellent Red Cabbage High Excellent Broccoli Low to Moderate Excellent Cauliflower Low to Moderate Good Celery Moderate Excellent Arugula, Frisee, Fennel/Anise, Mache, Baby Spinach Moderate Good Bunched Spinach Low Excellent Green Onions Moderate Good Cilantro, Parsley (Curly & Italian), Kale (Green) Moderate Excellent Peeled Garlic Extreme Good Snow & Sugar Snap Peas High to Extreme Poor to Fair Red, Yellow, White Onions, Potatoes Moderate Good Round, Roma, Plum, Grape Tomatoes Low Good Red & Golden Delicious, Granny Smiths, Galas, Fujis, Braeburns, Cameos, Bartlett Pears, Red Anjous Moderate Good D Anjous High Good

Weekly Produce Trend Report for Week Ending February 20, 2015 MARKET OVERVIEW Supplies are becoming more available as the warm weather pattern continues.

2 Weekly Produce Trend Report for Week Ending February 20, 2015 MARKET OVERVIEW Supplies are becoming more available as the warm weather pattern continues. Supplies are average and much of the blister and peel issues have subsided on leaf items. Lime prices are once again on the rise. APPLES & PEARS Steady demand and movement. Supplies on small red delicious are easier to come by but continue to be short on other varieties. There are still great promotional opportunities on 88s and larger red delicious, 72 larger on, goldens, cameos, pink ladys and braeburns. Quality remains excellent. Pear demand is exceeding supply, especially for 110s and smaller. Supplies continue to be tight on these sizes, mostly on fancy grade. Crop is running heavy to U.S. #1, peaking 90s and larger. ARTICHOKES Slightly higher supplies are forecasted this week and next week. The chokes are expected to be frost free. ARUGULA Supplies of regular Arugula are good. Expect some yellowing and frost damage. Supplies of wild arugula are also stabilizing with some and frost damage. ASPARAGUS Asparagus production has increased as supplies from Mexico have greatly increased. Market is off due to the increased supplies. Quality is very good. AVOCADOS Although volume is increasing in California, a slowdown in Mexican production should keep prices steady. BANANAS In Central America, last December brought cooler than normal weather patterns, rain and less solar radiation negatively impacted the growing conditions and yield of bananas in Costa Rica. In addition, in the month of January, the Atlantic region has been suffering extreme high winds in the growing region. Our growers lost thousands of banana plants. Guatemala suffered two extreme cold fronts, causing a significant loss in product. Problems are also being experienced with government of Ecuador, they are enforcing a policy where growers cannot sell more than a certain percentage of their bananas on the open market, which is an auction market for the industry. This combined with the strong demand from Russian companies has led to extremely high prices for spot market bananas. This is estimated to continue through March. Please be aware that of an increase and shortage in the banana market. BLACKBERRIES The market is steady; Mexican supplies have increased. Quality has improved: fruit is deeply colored, plump, and sweet. Sugar levels range from 12 to 13 Brix. BLUEBERRIES High prices persist; stocks are sporadic due to port delays and transfer challenges. Despite supply scarcity, fruit is plump, sweet, and juicy; reports of shriveling have decreased. Sugar levels range from 14 to 18 Brix. BOK CHOY Tight supplies, high prices. BROCCOLI Supplies are more plentiful as weather continues to be ideal for growth. Expect good broccoli supplies to remain strong through next week. Only the best quality fields are being chosen to harvest to ensure customers receive the finest quality possible. There is a slight lull in demand with industry experiencing downward pressure on the market prices. Most likely, Yuma and Salinas growing seasons will end and begin early respectively.

3 CANTALOUPE Market has eased on both coasts as supplies have increased, overall quality is very good with good sugar and most lots are very clean with a green to straw cast and excellent internal color. We will have good supplies through May and then transition to California desert fruit. Expect the market to stay steady until around the middle of March then start to strengthen. Sugar levels range from 10 to 12 Brix. CARROTS Availability has tightened for jumbo carrots in California as size and yield have declined, the result of a slower growth cycle during the late season fall harvest at higher elevation (2,150 ft.) in the Cuyama Valley of Southern California. Prices will trend higher until the harvest returns to the Southern San Joaquin Valley (Bakersfield). CAULIFLOWER Supplies will be slightly below average this week as Yuma season comes to an end. Numbers are expected to improve next week as Salinas begins. Quality remains strong overall with a majority of 12 ct. packed each day. CELERY Above average temperatures have resulted in higher per acre yields in both growing regions. Demand is very slow and celery is very large and heavy due to perfect growing conditions. Weights are up to lbs. with very strong green color and meaty shanks. Very light pith is starting to show due to the warmer weather. CILANTRO Supplies are very good this week. Quality and appearance continue to be excellent with 9-11 in length and good green color. CUCUMBERS EAST: Vast majority of supplies still coming from Honduras but volume is down. This is putting upward pressure on FOB prices. Prices are up several dollars on supers and selects. Quality is good. WEST: Nogales crossings continue. Supplies are more plentiful but quality is falling. FOB prices are down from last week. EGGPLANT EAST: Supply and demand remain in balance causing FOB prices to remain stable. Quality is very good. WEST: Supplies down, FOB prices up again due to cooler weather and we expect prices to continue to increase. Quality is good. FENNEL/ANISE Fennel supplies this week are projected to be slightly above demand for the week. GARLIC In the past few weeks, some Chinese pounds have become available in the market. Although pricing still remains high, it is anyone s guess whether more pounds will continue to become available or if the pipeline will run dry again. GINGER There is a supply and demand situation that happens from time to time with ginger. The crop in storage remains tight. This is causing a lack of supply and very high prices. GRAPES Market is steady as we are finishing up on Chilean flames and will transition into other red varieties in the coming weeks and we will see the market strengthen up when we finish flames. There are good supplies of green grapes on both coasts with a very wide range in price due to color and condition. The overall quality is good and fruit is eating very good for Chilean product that has been on the water for 2 weeks, condition is good with a few splits showing and some amber color in the greens on isolated lots. We will have Chilean fruit through the first of May and transition to Mexican and California desert fruit. GREEN BEANS Plentiful availability in Nogales, generally steady in Florida. GREEN CABBAGE Warm evenings with high day time temperatures have contributed to great supply, quality and condition. Counts and sizing are larger than previous weeks. Expect market to increase later this week and remain strong throughout the month. GREEN ONIONS Green onions are plentiful industry wide. Anticipate steady supplies in the coming weeks. Warmer weather in the desert is bringing on many crops, including onions, forward. HONEYDEW Market has also eased as supplies have increased on

4 both coasts, the overall quality is very good with green to cream cast, and excellent internal color and sugar. They are peaking on 6 s so there is a little wiggle room on that size and other sizes have good volume as well just nit as abundant as the 6 s. We will have offshore through the first of May and then transition to Mexico and California, Arizona desert regions. Quality is very good: sugar levels range from 11 to 13 Brix. KALE (GREEN) Plentiful supplies continue. Overall quality and appearance continues to be superb. Bunches are averaging in length with dark green color. KIWI Chile is the main supply area. California is starting. Italian is available off East Coast and will be available on the West Coast in a week. LEMONS Market is steady on 140 s and smaller with flexibility on the 115 s and larger as we are finishing up dist. 3 which fruit is on the larger side, and also with our rain in dist. 1 we are seeing fruit size up. The overall quality is good with some weaker blocks out of dist. 3 showing some issues with holding up. We will be going with good volume out Dist. 1 through May barring any major weather issues. LETTUCE (GREEN AND RED LEAF) Supplies are about average on both green and red leaf with good demand. Green leaf and red leaf will be clean and lbs. per case. ICEBERG LETTUCE Good supplies are forecasted for this week. The weather is warm and will keep supplies forthcoming. Colder weather in the east however has slowed demand. Quality is good. Solidity is firm and product appears clean and crisp. Weights are lbs. which is above average. ROMAINE AND ROMAINE HEARTS Supplies have increased and overall quality has improved significantly leading to a decline in the market. Blister and peel issues have subsided. The hearts are solid with a good ratio of bleach to green coloring. LIMES The market is climbing, especially for small sizes. Expect high prices through April. Quality is good, but past rain has caused some yellowing. NAPA Limited supplies, high prices. ONIONS Prices are low; Northwestern supplies are ample. Limited quantities of new crop stocks from Mexico and Texas have entered the market. ORANGES Market steady with the 88 s and smaller a little tighter as we are starting to peak on 56 s and 72 s after the rains the fruit has started to size up. The overall quality is very good with excellent sugar and juice content, we are starting to see some puff due to our warmer than normal weather but nothing to be alarmed about. Expect a very good eating piece of fruit through at least through May on the navels, this is a great time to promote. We are having some trouble getting export containers loaded due to a dispute on all west coast ports which has put lots of pressure on the domestic market to move large fruit so we will see some deals on the large fruit until the dispute is settled. Flavor is sweet: sugar levels range from 12 to 13 Brix. PARSLEY (CURLY) Supplies are plentiful this week. Quality is very nice with bunches of 8-10 in length with dark green color. PARSLEY (ITALIAN) Supplies continue to improve; availability for this week is very good. Overall quality is very nice with bunches averaging in length. PEPPER (GREEN BELL) EAST: Cool weather has slowed harvesting and is causing an active market. Growers are beginning to skip days that they are harvesting. FOB prices are up several dollars on all sizes and grades. Quality continues to be good and we are not seeing the rapid breakdown that was occurring last week due to the rains. WEST: Nogales is the major sourcing crossing point. Quality is very good. Volume down somewhat this week causing FOB prices to be stronger again this week. PEPPER (JALAPEÑOS) EAST: Supplies are down and FOB prices are up several dollars compared to last week. Quality is very good. PEPPER (RED AND YELLOW)

5 Prices have stabilized due to increased Mexican stocks. Quality is excellent: shape is blocky, skins are smooth, and flavor is sweet, yet zesty. PINEAPPLE The market has inched down to average levels, especially for small sizes. Quality is good: fruit is sweet: sugar levels range from 13 to 14 Brix. POTATOES Market softer on all count cartons. Supply exceeds demand. Most likely due to weather. Deals being offered for large volumes. Excellent truck availability. RASPBERRIES Prices are level. Supplies will increase incrementally until the winter season hits its peak in mid-march. Quality is very good, however there have been some reports of overripe, soft berries. RED CABBAGE Supplies are steady even with above average temperatures in the Yuma growing area. Quality is outstanding both in condition and color. SALADS & BLENDS Iceberg stocks have increased; romaine volume is rising. Quality is improving: epidermal blistering and peeling is minimal. SNOW AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS Snow peas and sugar snaps are in tight supply (Peru, Mexico, and California). Prices remain in the highs for both. Quality is poor, and limited availability will continue through next week. SPINACH (BABY) There are good supplies of baby spinach. Quality is fair due to frost damage. SPINACH (BUNCHED) Warmer weather has brought on strong supplies. Demand is light and production is heavy in all growing regions. Quality is excellent; dark green color, lbs. in weight and very large bunches. Light mildew is starting to appear in some bunches. SPRING MIX The market is unchanged. Although higher temperatures are aiding growth and increasing supplies, the heat may also cause quality problems, especially in organic arugula and spinach. Maintaining the cold chain is especially important to shelf-life. SQUASH (GREEN) EAST: FOB prices are generally stable. Demand continues to be weak. Quality is good. The cool weather will likely also affect green squash volume in the near future. WEST: Crossings have increased slightly which is putting downward pressure on FOB prices. Quality is good. SQUASH (YELLOW) EAST: FOB prices generally steady. Light supplies are able to meet the light demand. Quality continues to be variable but good quality can be found. We expect the cooler weather to greatly slow harvesting this weekend and early next week. WEST: Supplies continue to cross at Nogales this week. FOB prices are down. Quality is variable but continues to improve. STRAWBERRIES The market is unchanged. Valentine s Day strawberry demand is very strong, but will ease as the week progresses. Stocks remain tight in Florida and Mexico (into Texas). TOMATOES EAST Rounds No damaging cold weather has yet hit the growing regions of South Florida but these regions have had seven straight nights with lows below 50 with even colder weather forecasted for this weekend with lows in the 30s. Volume is a little lighter out of Florida again this week. We are currently not expecting any damaging temperatures this weekend but the cold nights will stunt growth. However, the volume out of Florida and Mexico together continues to satisfy demand. FOB prices are generally steady with upward pressure on all sizes. Quality continues to be very good. Romas FOB prices of large and medium sizes are stable with downward pressure on the smaller sizes. Quality continues to be excellent.

6 Grapes The volume of grape tomatoes has decreased again this week which is putting upward pressure of FOB prices. Quality is still good. Cherries Cherry FOB prices are up and some shortages are being reported. Quality is good. WEST/MEXICO Rounds Cool weather has slowed harvesting causing crossings to be down. In fact, many growers sold out today. We are expecting FOB prices to be up by the end of the week but do not expect any higher prices to be long-lived. Quality is very good. Romas Supplies are tighter but prices are still at or near suspension agreement minimums. Nogales and McAllen are the major crossing points. Quality is generally good to very good. Grapes Supplies and demand good. Mexican supplies mostly crossing at Nogales. FOB prices are down from last week. Quality is not as good as it has been the last couple of weeks but is still good. Cherries Good supplies. Quality is variable. Product can continue to be purchased at suspension minimums but better quality demands higher prices. TREE FRUIT Although markets for nectarines, peaches, and plums are steady, stocks are tight due to West Coast port delays. Quality is good: sugar levels are increasing to sweeter levels. WATERMELON Expect high prices through the winter. Limited quantities are available from Honduras (into the East Coast). Mexican supplies are starting to increase. Quality is good: melons are firm, juicy, and sweet. Sugar levels range from 10 to 12 Brix.

Due to the holidays, Fresh Directions will not be posted next week. Happy holidays!

Weekly Produce Trend Report for Week Ending December 26, 2014 Due to the holidays, Fresh Directions will not be posted next week. Happy holidays! MARKET OVERVIEW California has had more rain this week.