Weather Update High pressure builds out west this week pushing the storm track into Northern California through the week. Above average temperatures are forecast throughout the west into Northern Mexico. Gusty winds are expected from Southern California and the desert locals into Northern Baja and Mexico. Tropical moisture will bring scattered showers to Central and Northern Mexico with generally above average temperatures. A developing storm front in the Gulf of Mexico will bring rain into Northern Florida and Georgia mid-week, with near average temperatures through the week. Market Alerts Apples: Small apples are very limited in Washington esp. in golden delicious and Granny-smith. Berries (Strawberries): Supply is limited and demand is exceeding. Current supply gaps look to remain until the week ending November 26th. By the last week of November, we should have increased volume out of Mexico, the winter crop in Oxnard should have started and we will be getting initial volumes from Florida as well. Cherries: Chilean cherries available to load now. Grapes (Green): Domestic green grapes will continue to become more limited as we move forward. Market prices are on the rise. Onions: Onion Trucks are starting to be limited and harder to come by due to Christmas Tree season Pears: Supplies of smaller pears in all varieties are limited. Stone Fruit: Only red plums are left from the domestic stone fruit season. The Source - Page 1
The Source Truckin Along California trucks remain steady again this week and should stay that way for the near future. Washington apple and Idaho potato trucks remain adequate as well. The National Average for diesel remained steady and is currently at 2.470 per gallon. A difference of.032 from this time last year. California prices also remained steady and are currently at 2.840 per gallon. Crude oil remained steady and is currently at 44.81 per barrel. A Peek at Peak Seasons Berries (Blueberries): Production from South America is peaking and with larger volumes, transportation will switch from limited volume air shipments to higher volume container shipments to US ports. The next several weeks will be a great time to promote blueberries. Berries (Raspberries): Production is peaking. Berries (Strawberries): Santa Maria and Oxnard fall crops have already passed peak production. Transitions & Temperatures Berries (Strawberries): Mexico is slowly increasing production and limited crossing of fruit are coming to the US. Florida production is still 3-4 weeks away although some growers will begin to pick their initial mud crop over the coming weeks. Broccoli: Broccoli is being transferred from Mexico to Yuma this week. They will start harvesting in Yuma the week of November 21st Cauliflower: They have started to harvest cauliflower in Yuma AZ this week as we transition from Salinas CA Grapes (Green): Peruvian green grapes are now available on the east coast. Grapes (Red): Peruvian red seedless grapes are now available on the east coast. Kale: We will be transferring from the Salinas Valley to Yuma AZ in 2 weeks. Stone Fruit: Chilean stone fruit is expected to start by January. The Source - Page 2
Apples Washington - Red delicious are steady to lower on 88 s and larger with good availability. Red 125s and smaller are steady and supplies remain limited. Most red packers continue to peak on extra-fancy 88s and larger. Golden delicious are also peaking on 88s and larger and are steady but strong due to lighter volume in Washington. Small Golden delicious supplies remain very short, with very few if any 125s and smaller. Granny-smith are steady and continue to produce mostly 88 s and larger as well. 100 size and smaller Grannys are available but limited and most shippers have fruit in the wash extra-fancy grades. 125-size and smaller Granny s are extremely short! The Gala market is steady on larger fruit with good availability and steady but firm on the smaller fruit with only light supplies. Galas are peaking on 80/88/100/72s. Honeycrisp are higher on all sizes with lighter supplies available. Honeycrisp are peaking on 80/88/100s now. Fuji s are steady on the small fruit with only light supplies and they are steady on 88s and larger with good supplies. The quality for red delicious, golden delicious, granny-smith, Galas, Fujis, and Honey Crisp has been good. Idaho - Red delicious, Golden delicious, Granny-smith, Fujis, and Red Romes are now peaking on extra-fancy 80/88/100 s. The markets are all steady and the quality has been good. Michigan - Macintosh, Golden delicious, Jonamacs, Jonathans, Galas, Cortlands, Empires, Honey Crisp, red Romes, and red delicious are available and are all fairly steady. Some varieties are medium in size while some are heavier to small fruit. The quality has been mostly good in all varieties. New York - McIntosh, Cortlands, Empires, Jonamacs, Galas, Ginger Golds, Macouns, and Honeycrisp are all fairly steady. The sizing has been smaller than other areas with more 100/125/138 size fruit. The quality has been fair with more US#1 grade fruit showing stem-bowl russeting and more bitter pit than usual. Asparagus Weather is still good in the growing areas in Mexico, volume is declining due to fields closing, market is slightly up on the larger sizes, and sizing is still good. Weather is good in Peru. Volume is good, market is slightly higher. Avocado (Mexican) Mexico continues harvesting steadily. Last week they did slow down harvest volume, but shippers do have good supplies on hand of 60s/70s/84s, and decent supplies of 48s. Demand is slow as markets continue to move downward. This is new crop fruit and takes longer for them to ripen and fruit is remaining green when ripe. Bell Peppers (Eastern) The green bell pepper market is still very weak. South Carolina and Georgia are still shipping good supplies and Florida is picking up with more shippers starting for the season. South Carolina and Georgia can continue as long as the weather holds up. The long range forecast is not showing any cold temperatures or appreciable amounts of rain in the near future. Florida is just coming into their season and will continue steady supplies the end of the month. Bell Peppers (Western) Green Bells Have started this week in Nogales, Arizona from Sonora, Mexico. Showing excellent quality and condition. Strong supply has stated from multiple shipper s keeping the market steady on all sizes. Red, Yellow,and Orange have also started with pallet volume and also showing good quality and condition on all three colors. Berries (Blackberries) Supply is steady with production volume. Quality has been good overall with some reports of broken fruit, red cell. Blackberry sizing out of Mexico is large and has resulted in some damaged berries as they are packed into the clamshells. The Source - Page 3
Berries (Blueberries) Supply is steady with continued shipments from South America and Mexico. Quality has been good on all imported product thus far. Berries (Raspberries) Raspberry supplies are steady with good production volumes out of Southern CA and Mexico. Production is peaking over the coming weeks. Quality has been good with only a few reports of wet, leaky fruit. Berries (Strawberries) Demand is exceeding supply. California production volume remains limited as crops transition for the winter and supply is gapping between regions. Mexico is producing in a light way but volume making it to the US is still limited. Berry sizing is very small from Mexico, mid 30s per 1 pound clamshell. Florida is still 3-4 weeks away from steady production but some ranches will begin to walk fields and pick the initial mud crop in the weeks ahead. Weather has been clear in all regions however days are getting shorter and temperatures are beginning to cool down. This is the time of year where weather is always a factor and can change production abruptly throughout the growing regions. Broccoli There continues to be plenty of supplies from all growing regions. This has kept the markets competitive. Quality is really good with dark green color and minimal yellowing. Brussels Sprouts Carrots The Bakersfield crop is in full production. Growth is good and producing good percentage of Jumbo size and supplies are good. Supply of baby peeled carrots are good. Cauliflower The demand for cauliflower has remained steady. And with Yuma starting production today, it adds another growing region. Thus we have a flat market. Quality has been relatively good despite a few arrivals with black spotting. Celery This market continues to be strong as we head into the holidays. A few shippers walked in sold out to begin the week. Small sizing continues to have the least availability, but all sizing is tight. Oxnard production is better but demand exceeds supplies. Production in Salinas is scheduled to continue until approximately the third week in November. Santa Maria will continue to have production. Shippers are transferring product to Yuma for a fee if this is desired. Cherries Chilean cherries are now available to load on the east and west coasts. Quality is being reported as good, but volume is limited due to early rain damage on the crops. Sizes range between Large to Jumbo. Market prices are escalated and are expected to remain firm this week. The market as we start the week is steady from last week. Supplies are excellent. Quality on the other hand has been fair at best from Mexico with black spotting of the leaves. There have also been some of the same quality issues as Mexico from the California product but on a sporadic basis. The Source - Page 4
Chili Peppers Jalapeño - Good size and strong color on peppers coming into Nogales, Arizona. Mostly large and Extra Large size available with few medium size. Good quality and condition with steady supply. Pasilla - Good quality and condition with a steady supply and market. Mostly large size. Husk Tomatillo - Supply of Husk Tomatillo has started in Nogales, Arizona this week. First shipments showing fresh green husks with consistent sizing. Supplies are light. Cilantro Supplies are abundant in all growing regions. Thus keeping this market steady at last week s price levels. Sporadic arrivals of yellowing of the leaves have been reported but overall quality is really nice. Citrus (Lemons) The Ventura crop is 99% harvested of their old crop. The Desert crop is picking up in volume and will continue to increase through the month, but will not reach good volume until mid November. The Central Valley crop is now beginning some limited picking and packing of their new season crop. Mexican fruit is available and supplies are good. Citrus (Limes) Limes are now priced within a few dollars of each other across the board. Demand is good on all sizes of limes. Quality is improving overall with less and less leaf shading (yellow color) showing up and some skin breakdown is showing up from packing limes while they have moisture on the skins. New crop limes are being harvested and all sizes are coming in so quality is 100% better. The market is steady on the larger sizes and higher on the smaller ones. An increasing market has formed and is in force on the smaller limes due to a shift in the size profile and the previously low markets which growers curtailed harvests. Citrus (Oranges) New crop Navels have started for most shippers and production is nearing full swing with packing houses. There are a good range in sizes and initial sizing looks to be small with 113s/138s/88s peak and heavy to fancy grade. Quality is good. Cucumbers (Eastern) The cucumber market is weaker. Demand has dropped considerably in the past 10 days and production has not slowed in either Georgia or Florida. Florida is picking up in volume with more shippers starting. Georgia with the excellent weather is continuing quality production. Georgia should start to finish up by the end of this week and Florida s production should remain steady for the rest of the month. Cucumbers (Western) Good condition and quality in Nogales, Arizona. Demand has remained steady and supply has reached a small drop. Market has started to creep up on cucumbers Eggplant (Eastern) The eggplant market is steady with a little weaker undertone. The weather in the Southeast has cooled just a little but still warmer than average. Sunny and dry with no humidity, excellent for growing produce. There are good supplies of eggplant in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Quality is holding up well in all areas, with Florida picking up in volume, South Carolina and Georgia are staying steady with the excellent weather. Eggplant (Western) Eggplant has now started to cross from Sonora, Mexico in through Nogales, Arizona. Showing good quality and condition. Great dark color and bright green cylix. Good demand and steady supply. The Source - Page 5
Grapes (Green) Domestic green grapes are now being shipped out of storage crops. Supplies are getting snug and will continue to get more and more limited as we move forward. Quality seems to be holding strong for the time being. Market prices are on the rise as supplies get lighter and are expected to continue to climb moving forward. Peruvian fruit is now available loading on the east coast. Peruvian greens grapes are being reported as good quality and volumes are increasing. Market prices are currently higher than domestic fruit, but will level out as California fruit becomes more limited. Chilean green grapes are expected to arrive on the west coast by Christmas. Grapes (Red) Domestic red grape supplies continue to be in good shape. Most of the harvest will be finished by the end of this week and we will be into all storage crop by next week. However, the inventories of M/L and L storage red grapes look to be adequate to fill demand until we transition into storage crop by late December. Market prices stay relatively flat this week on the M/L and Large sizes, but slightly higher on XL. Quality on the remaining domestic fruit is expected to hold strong. Peruvian red seedless grapes are now available to load on the east coast, but prices are much higher than California. Prices are expected to remain elevated until more vessels arrive. Chilean red grapes are expected to arrive on the west coast by Christmas. Green Onions Abundant supplies from Mexico continue to arrive weekly. The market is competitive with both iced and iceless available. Quality has been good with minimal arrival issues of yellowing of the tops. Kale The kale market is steady from all growing regions. As supplies continue to meet demands expectations, we will transferring to the Yuma growing region in 2 weeks. Quality is excellent with full cartons, minimal yellowing, and little dehydration. Lettuce Iceberg Salinas production is finished. Huron and Yuma lettuce has been good overall. A few misshapen heads and sporadic weights have been reported, but nothing drastic. This commodity is clean, overall with most suppliers. Weights are being reported averaging 41-44 pounds in Huron, while Yuma has been 39-44 pounds, and clean. Production in Santa Maria is moderate at best. Lettuce Leaf This market has remained steady, overall to begin the week. Production is in Salinas, Huron, southern California as well as Yuma. Quality issues in northern and southern California on romaine, romaine hearts, as well as all leaf items continue. The continued issues include sclerotinia, mildew, twisting, some insect damage, fringe and tip burn. These defects are reported from multiple shippers. The weights on romaine average 27-34 pounds. Red, green and butter leaf have decent weights reported. Huron and Yuma quality is slightly better. Melon (Cantaloupe) Demand is has picked up a little since last week. Supplies on 9ct are very short and 12 s continue to get increased demand due to substitution for 9ct. The 15ct are also experiencing some added buying pressure. The Westside is finished now for the season. The desert started a little over five weeks ago with a few lopes crossing over from Mexico. Offshore supplies are scheduled to arrive this weekend in small volumes. The market is steady to higher on all sizes. The quality is excellent in the desert and from Mexico. The Source - Page 6
Melon (Honeydew) Supplies of honeydews are steady and we can continue to expect adequate supplies and good quality to be the pattern for a while longer with a moderate range of up and down movement. The desert started over five weeks ago and supplies are beginning to taper off. The Westside is done packing for the season. Mexico is exporting honeydews up to us now and their volume is quickly taking over the dwindling domestic supply. The market is currently steady on all sizes. Quality is excellent in the desert. Melon (Watermelon) Good supply of watermelon has started from Sonora, Mexico. Supply has exceeded demand driving the market lower. Good quality and condition. Onions Demand is moderate with good supplies out of all growing areas(idaho, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Wisconsin). Import onions from Peru are also in good supplies being shipped off the east coast ports. Quality is good out of all areas. Trucks are the biggest issue currently due to Christmas Tree season getting close to being in full swing. Market is weaker on Jumbo Yellow s and up. Super Colossal and Colossal yellow onions being sold at close to or at the same price as Jumbo yellows. Small Yellow, Red and White onions will have limited supplies throughout the balance of the Northwest season. Retail ads are in full swing for the Thanksgiving holiday. Pears California - There are still a few Bartlett and Bosc pears left but supplies are limited. The quality has ranged from fair to good. Washington - Bartletts are steady but they are coming from C.A. storage and are now peaking a size higher on US#1 70/80/90s. Volume flex on the larger sizes remains. D anjou pears are steady and are also peaking on US#1 80/90/100s. Most shippers will flex on volume orders of 100s and larger. Bosc pears are also steady and are peaking on US#1 80/90/100s. Red pears are steady as well and are peaking on US#1 45/50 half cartons. The quality for all varieties pears has been good. Pineapples Supplies are good, and are still improving through the month. Potatoes Demand is good for consumer retail bags (5/10 and 10/5 poly) for the Thanksgiving Holiday that is right around the corner. These ads suck up most of the small potatoes (80 count and smaller) which are already limited out of most shipping areas. Norkotahs and burbanks sizing out of Idaho are large, peaking on 70 count and larger. The sizing out of the other states(washington, Colorado and Wisconsin) peaked on 70 count with a good mix of larger and smaller sizing. There has been an occasional lot, packed and shipped, that had maturity issues with the skins not be set. These lots should be behind us and you should expect good quality potatoes moving forward. Market are steady on 70 counts and larger with the smaller counts being limited with firm pricing. Burbanks are getting a slight premium. Holiday season is just around the corner, so watch for trucks to tighten and be more expensive. The Source - Page 7
Potatoes (colored) Bakersfield, California - White, red, and gold potatoes are all steady and all are peaking on As. The quality has been good. Idaho - Red and gold potatoes are steady and both are peaking on size A. Some shippers will flex on volume orders of A size reds. The quality is good. Western Washington - Reds, whites, and gold potatoes are steady on all sizes and remain heavier to size A. Whites are limited to B size and larger due to the recent wet weather. The quality has been good. North Dakota - Gold and red potatoes are steady on all sizes and continue to peak on A size. The quality has been good. Wisconsin - Reds and golds are steady on all sizes and both colors are peaking on A-size. The quality has been good. Canada - They are steady on all colors but have mostly bags, cartons are limited. The quality has been good. Squash (Eastern) The squash market remains weak. Georgia and South Carolina are still producing good supplies of squash on both colors. Florida has good supplies in all districts and more shippers are starting later this week. Demand has been week and Mexican product crossing through Texas and Nogales is putting pressure on eastern supplies. Georgia and South Carolina will start to wind down later this week with the cheap markets, farmers will start to quit for the season. Stone Fruit Red plums are all that is left from the domestic stone fruit season. Sizes are limited and prices are high. Quality is holding strong. Supplies are expected to last through this week. Chilean plums, peaches and nectarines are expected to start by January. Tomatoes (Eastern) Tomatoes from North Florida have been spotty in production and will remain light for another 7-10 days while Central Florida continues to increase production with better volume than anticipated a month ago out of the Palmetto/ Ruskin area this week. Like rounds, roma tomatoes are also steady and increasing in numbers. Grape tomato volumes are picking up and should continue to do so in coming weeks. Prices are anticipated to continue their steady decline as more fruit comes to market. Cherry tomatoes on the other hand have not been planted in as many numbers as growers evaluate their economic return. As a result, cherry tomatoes will be tight for the remainder of the year. Tomatoes (Western) As California wraps up their operations for the season, Florida is now the main source of tomatoes until the Winter season begins in Mexico. The round tomato market is steady with imports coming from baja. Growers are seeing good quality and condition on all sizes. The roma market is flourishing with increasing numbers from Baja and eastern mainland Mexico and quality is reported to be good. The supply of grape tomatoes also continues to increase at this time and the market is sliding. Mexico has not yet hit their stride and the market is expected to trend lower until demand firms up for the Thanksgiving holiday. Squash (Western) Good supply of Italian, Yellow S/N, And Grey Squash available in Nogales, AZ. Quality is Mostly Good. Market has remained steady. The Source - Page 8
Commodities at a Glance Commodity / Region Market Quality Apples Wenatchee/Yakima, WA and Hood River, OR Steady Good Coopersville/Belding/Sparta, MI Steady Good Hudson/Pleasant Valley/Red Hook, NY Steady Fair Asparagus Northern Baja California Norte, Mexico Steady/Higher Good Ica, Peru to Trujillo Higher Good Avocado (Mexican) Michoacan, Mexico Lower Good Bell Peppers (Eastern) Lee / Grady County, GA Lower/Steady Good Hillsborough / Western Collier County, FL Lower/Steady Good Bell Peppers (Western) Northern Sonora, Mexico Lower/Steady Good Berries (Blackberries) Central Mexico Steady Good Oxnard, CA Steady Good Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Berries (Blueberries) Tucuman, Argentina Steady Good Salto, Uruguay Steady Good Trujillo, Peru Steady Good Southern Chile Steady Good Central Mexico Steady Good Berries (Raspberries) Central Mexico Steady Good Oxnard, CA Steady Good Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Berries (Strawberries) Santa Maria, CA Higher Fair Oxnard, CA Higher Fair Central Florida Higher Fair Broccoli Salinas Valley, CA Steady Good Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Celaya Guanjuato Mexico Steady Good Commodity / Region Market Quality Brussels Sprouts Salinas Valley, CA Steady Good Northern Baja California Norte, Mexico Steady Fair Carrots Bakersfield/Santa Maria, CA Steady Excellent Cauliflower Salinas Valley, CA Steady Good Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Yuma, AZ Steady Good Celery Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Higher Good Salinas Valley, CA Higher Good Cherries Coquimbo/Valaparaiso/Santiago/Rancagua, Chile Higher Good Chili Peppers Central Sonora, Mexico Steady/Higher Good Cilantro Salinas, CA Steady Good Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Baja, MX Steady Good Citrus (Lemons) Coachella, CA / Yuma, AZ Lower/Steady Good Merced/Bakersfield, CA Lower/Steady Good Citrus (Limes) Veracruz, Mexico Steady/Higher Good Citrus (Oranges) Merced to Bakersfield, CA Lower/Steady Good Riverside, CA Lower/Steady Good Cucumbers (Eastern) Lee / Grady County, GA Lower/Steady Good Hillsborough / Western Collier County, FL Lower/Steady Good Cucumbers (Western) Central Sonora, Mexico Steady/Higher Good Eggplant (Eastern) Lee / Grady County, GA Steady Good Hillsborough / Western Collier County, FL Steady Good The Source - Page 9
Commodities at a Glance Commodity / Region Market Quality Eggplant (Western) Central Sonora, Mexico Steady Good Grapes (Green) Delano, CA Higher Good Fresno, CA Higher Good Grapes (Red) Fresno, CA Steady Good Delano, CA Steady Good Green Onions Mexicali, Baja Steady Good Salinas Valley, CA Steady Good Kale Salinas, CA Steady Excellent Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Excellent Baja, MX Steady Excellent Lettuce Iceberg Huron, CA Steady Good Yuma, AZ Steady Good Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Fair Lettuce Leaf Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Fair Huron, CA Steady Fair Salinas Valley, CA Steady Fair Yuma, AZ Steady Fair Melon (Cantaloupe) Maricopa, AZ Higher Excellent Guaymas, Mexico Steady Excellent Melon (Honeydew) Maricopa, AZ Steady Excellent Guaymas, Mexico Steady Excellent Melon (Watermelon) Central Sonora, Mexico Lower/Steady Good Onions Ontario, OR to Nampa, ID Lower/Steady Excellent Quincy/Hermiston, WA Lower/Steady Excellent Commodity / Region Market Quality Pears Stockton, CA Lower/Steady Fair Wenatchee/Yakima, WA and Hood River, OR Steady Good Pineapples Alajuela, Costa Rica Steady Good Heredia, Costa Rica Steady Good Limon, Costa Rica Steady Good La Ceiba, Honduras Steady Good Retalhuleu, Guatemala Steady Good Peten, Guatemala Steady Good Potatoes Hamer/Rupert, ID Steady Excellent Quincy/Hermiston, WA Steady Excellent Eastern Colorado Steady Good Plover/Bancroft, WI Steady Good Potatoes (colored) Bakersfield, CA Steady Good Mount Vernon, WA Steady Good Rupert to Rexburg, ID Steady Good Red River Valley, ND Steady Good Plover, WI Steady Good Squash (Eastern) Lee/Grady/Echols County, GA Lower/Steady Good Dade / Eastern Collier County, FL Lower/Steady Good Hillsborough / Sarasota County, FL Lower/Steady Good Squash (Western) Central Sonora, Mexico Steady Good Stone Fruit Madera south to Arvin, CA Steady/Higher Fair Tomatoes (Eastern) Northern Florida Steady Good Southern Florida Lower/Steady Good Tomatoes (Western) Northern Sinaloa, Mexico Lower/Steady Good Northern Baja California Norte, Mexico Steady Good The Source - Page 10