Weekly Produce Trend Report for Week Ending May 13, 2016 COMMODITY PRICE QUALITY PRICE TREND California Avocados Mexican Avocados Good Good VARIES BY SIZE Blackberries Good Good Blueberries Extreme Good Raspberries Good Good Strawberries Extreme Fair Grapefruit Moderate Good Lemons Moderate Good Limes High Excellent Pineapples Moderate Good Oranges, Navels Navels Good Green & Red Leaf Lettuces Moderate Fair Iceberg Lettuce Moderate Fair Romaine Lettuce Moderate Good Romaine Hearts Moderate Good Cucumbers Low to Moderate Excellent Green Beans Across the Board Excellent Green Bell Peppers, Yellow Squash & Cantaloupes Moderate Good Red Bell Peppers Moderate Good Zucchini & Broccoli Low Good Green & Red Seedless Grapes Very High Good Plums Finished Honeydew High Good Artichokes & Red Cabbage Moderate Excellent Arugula, Bok Choy, Frisee & Mache Moderate Good Asparagus Moderate Good Carrots & Peeled Garlic High Good Cauliflower Low Good Celery Very High Good Fennel/Anise Moderate Very Good Green Cabbage High Excellent Green Onions & Napa Moderate Fair Kale (Green) Low Very Good Parsley (Curly/Italian) Moderate Very Good Snow & Sugar Snap Peas Steady Poor to Fair Spinach (Baby & Bunched) & Spring Mix Low Good Yellow, White Onions Moderate Good Red Onions Moderate Good Round, Grape, Roma Tomatoes Moderate Fair to Good Idaho Russet Potatoes Variable Good Red & Golden Delicious, Granny Smiths, Pinks, Golden Delicious/Fuji - New Crop Moderate Good Galas, Honeycrisp - New Crop, D anjous, Bosc Pears High Good Bartlett Pears Moderate Good West
Weekly Produce Trend Report for Week Ending May 13, 2016 MARKET OVERVIEW Rainfall occurred in the Salinas Valley late last week, followed by breezy afternoon conditions, with wind gusts to 40 mph on numerous days. The result has been varying degrees of fringe burn and mildew now appearing on iceberg, romaine and leaf. The lettuce and leaf markets are very active and have escalated significantly over the past two weeks. There is a 20% to 30% chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in Salinas tonight through Saturday. Blueberries and are showing quality issues and high prices. Garlic is also in short supply with very high prices. Please read below on Garlic. Jumbo carrots and plugs from CA continue to have sizing issues and we are seeing relatively no product in this region. We anticipate this market to be up and down until July. Limes will be very tight until after this week. APPLES & PEARS Overall demand is steady, supplies are very tight on small sizes, all varieties & lower grades, especially 125/138 size. Expect this scenario to continue through August. Volumes continue to be in Premium grade & smaller sizes are more readily available. Red delicious, grannies and golds will remain until new crop. Demand on pears exceeds available supplies on 110 s and smaller. This will also continue through the summer. Transportation is not an issue and freight rates are favorable. For the most part the growers out of NY, PA, and MI are winding down, if not done. ARTICHOKES Volume is steady. Most of the volume this week is expected to be 12 s, 18 s and 24s. Quality is excellent and most sizes are higher in price. ARUGULA Supplies of both baby and wild arugula are light. Quality is fair. ASPARAGUS Peru is in full swing. Quality is good. Bigger sizes are tighter than smaller. AVOCADOS The market is steady to slightly higher than last week; demand is strong. Quality is very good: oil content is high, creating creamy texture and nutty flavor. BANANAS Supplies are good. Quality is good. BLACKBERRIES Prices have eased. While the California season is just getting started, Mexican supplies are plentiful. Quality is very good: sugar levels range from 12 to 13 Brix. BLUEBERRIES The market has started easing; stocks are increasing in all regions. Quality has improved to very good: fruit is plump and sweet, yet tangy. RASPBERRIES Prices are up; demand is strong. Mexican supplies are adequate; California stocks will increase through this month. Quality is very good: sugar levels range from 13 to 14 Brix. STRAWBERRIES The market remains elevated. Strawberry yields are lower than anticipated due to cold temperatures, strong winds, and rain showers that continue to challenge growers. Quality issues include bleeding, bronzing, bruising, soft texture, water damage, and white shoulders. BOK CHOY Availability is good. BROCCOLI Prices are inching up; demand is strong. Supplies from Salinas and Santa Maria, California are abundant, but Mexican stocks are tightening. Quality is good, yet branchiness and discoloration are slight problems.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS Supplies are light and prices are high. Demand exceeds supply. Quality is fair. CANTALOUPE Market is strong as the offshore fruit is light in supply and we have not really started any major volume out of the California desert. The offshore fruit should finish up in the next 10 days and then dependent upon the California and Arizona deserts. The overall quality of the first fruit harvested in the California desert is absolutely beautiful with brix ranging from 11-13 and excellent internal color, sugar and a nice clean net with full slip. We expect to have very good volume out of the desert by the middle of next week and prices should start to ease. We expect quality to stay excellent as the weather has been ideal, let us know if you would like to promote melons in the coming weeks. CARROTS EXTREME MARKET ON JUMBO, PLUGS and STICKS CONTINUES IN THE CA GROWING REGION. Availability is below average for jumbos and plugs carrots. We are seeing very low yields due to the amount of mud the rain brought to these crops. We are not getting the size up to spec. Prices are high and we are seeing extreme shortages in CA region. We expect this to last well into June. GA jumbos are now done for the year. Carrots are plentiful coming out of Texas. CAULIFLOWER Market is good; supplies are good. Quality is good. CELERY Plentiful supplies, quality is fair to good. CORN Supplies are limited for late-season corn (yellow, white) from California. CUCUMBERS EAST: Supplies are not as plentiful this week causing FOB prices to rise substantially over last week s prices for both selects and supers. Quality remains generally good. WEST: Product continues to cross at Nogales at good levels. FOB prices remain at near floor levels. Baja has begun to harvest. We expect FOB prices to remain low through April. The east has begun to come west to meet demand. ENGLISH CUCUMBER Steady availability in Nogales. EGGPLANT EAST: More supplies are coming online which is causing FOB prices to drop again this week. Quality of eggplant remains good. FENNEL Supplies for the week will be good. GARLIC As the 2015 domestic crop is aging/getting older, the inventory that remains is performing more poorly through our peeling process. This past month, the peeled #1 recovery decreased another 8.1% compared to our already lower than normal forecasts. And accordingly, the domestic pile is diminishing even more quickly than anticipated. As we go forward, beginning the week of 5/9, we will be forced to fill the peeled orders with 100% non-domestic product. The next few weeks, the orders will continue to be supplied with product of Argentina. Later this month, we will need to transition to product of Mexico. No matter the origin, the garlic will be good, sound quality peeled garlic. GINGER Chinese ginger is in good supply and offered at a substantial discount when compared to ginger from Brazil. GRAPES Market has strengthened in the past week as Chile experienced some rains that caused some issues and supplies will not be as heavy as expected through the end of the deal, which will end around in the next two weeks. The greens and reds have jumped substantially in price and will probably continue to climb until around the second week of May when we get descent supplies from Mexico and the Coachella valley. The overall quality on the crimsons is good with some lots showing some lighter color but overall the fruit is much stronger than the flames were. Expect the market to strengthen on reds and continue to climb on greens as all the greens that remain here are storage quality. We have started out of Mexico on very few Perlettes and flames, and also have started in the California Coachella valley on few flames and will start some greens by the weekend. Production will continue to increase out of both areas and by the middle of next week we will see markets ease and get down to normal levels, but greens will probably be stronger than normal as estimates point to less volume than last year out of both districts. We will move up to the Central Valley around the first of July and then be packing here through December. GREEN BEANS Green beans are in oversupply in Florida. The harvest in the Coachella Valley of California is winding down; prices have firmed.
GREEN CABBAGE Green cabbage supplies remain average. We are seeing some quality issues such as seeders. Prices are still high. RED CABBAGE Quality and sizing has been great, with good color. Overall, the market is strong. GREEN ONIONS Plentiful supplies and quality is poor as we are seeing mildew or yellowing in some product. HONEYDEW Market very strong with demand exceeds supply right now as the offshore and Mexico volumes are very light, and the California and Arizona deserts are starting over the next few days. We will see volumes start to increase out of Mexico and The California Arizona deserts by the middle of next week and will see very good supplies out of Mexico as well. The first of the California and Arizona desert fruit will be mostly 4 s and 5 s which will keep the smaller fruit very tight and stronger on prices. Quality of the fruit has been excellent with clean external condition and brix levels ranging in the 10-13% range. We will have very good supplies out of the deserts by latter part of next week and will see good volumes out of those regions through June and then Transition to the Westside around the first of July. KALE (GREEN) Demand is steady and quality is good, with occasional yellowing present. KIWI Plentiful availability for new crop kiwi from Chile, however the small sizes (36 s, 39 s) will be very limited. The size profile will be heavy to 33 s & larger. LEMONS Market is very strong with good demand across the board creating a demand exceeding supply issue primarily on 140 s and smaller we are going to be finishing earlier than normal in dist. 1 probably go through mid- May and possibly a little beyond as the crop is lighter and demand has been excellent. We are packing dist. 2 fruit now mainly size picking the larger fruit and leaving the smaller fruit on the tree to size up, which is causing the short supply on the 140 s and smaller. The overall quality is good with some lots showing clear rot due to the rains and the warmer weather which helps promote mold spores in the field. The market will strengthen up each week going forward and into the summer months. We will get through it but there will be some bumps in the road until we see the Chilean and Mexican productions hit the market place around mid-june. GREEN AND RED LEAF LETTUCE Supplies on red and green leaf are well below average. We are getting pro rates, prices are in escalation and quality is poor. ICEBERG LETTUCE Supplies are low. Quality will be an issue, tipburn is showing up from wind and rain. Prices are escalated and we are seeing short product. ROMAINE Supplies are very low. Quality will be an issue, tipburn is showing up from wind and rain. Prices are in escalation. ROMAINE HEARTS Supplies are average and quality is a little above average. Prices are high. LIMES (PERSIAN) Prices are expected to remain high for another week or two. Growers in the primary harvesting region of Veracruz, Mexico are in the lowest production period of the year. Quality is average: scarring is a slight problem. MANGOS Supply is abundant and prices are low. Quality is good. NAPA Market is still very active. Demand is good, prices are moderate to high. ONIONS Increased supply in California and Texas on yellow onions is now exceeding demand. We expect this trend to continue for the next couple of weeks. Red onions have remained firm, however, California is expected to have an increase in supply next week. White onions are still in short supply and FOBs remain strong. ORANGES Market is steady to firming up with good demand of all sizes and some late variety navels demanding higher prices. The overall fruit quality is good to fair some blocks showing some clear rot and brown rot due to the previous rains and then warmer than normal temps which promote spore growth. The internal juice and sugar content is excellent, We will be going with navels through May and possibly longer depending on weather and fruit strength. We have started some Valencia s and the fruit looks good and has good sugar and juice content, if any interest please let us know. The upcoming Valencia crop looks very good and supplies should be a bit better than last year as our crop is estimated to be about 15% larger than last year. Overall quality is good: sugar levels range between 12 and 13 Brix.
PARSLEY (CURLY, ITALIAN) This week s averages are normal for curly parsley. Prices are normal. GREEN BELL PEPPER EAST: Good supplies from Florida and Mexico continue. FOB prices are steady to down on all sizes and grades. Quality is very good. WEST: Demand is soft. Supplies are plentiful from Nogales and from the desert and FOB prices are down again this week. The desert product continues to bring higher FOB prices due to its better quality. JALAPEÑOS EAST: FOB prices are generally higher this week. Quality is good. RED & YELLOW PEPPERS Expect an elevated market and tight stocks until the Coachella, California season hits volume levels in several weeks. The Mexican harvest is nearly over. Quality is very good. PINEAPPLE Prices are relatively steady. Expect Costa Rican supplies to tighten through May. Mexican stocks are increasing. Quality is good: sugar levels range from 13 to 16 Brix. IDAHO POTATOES Demand has exceeded supply on large size cartons this past week. Growers are now exclusively shipping Burbanks, and the size profile is heavier to smaller sizes. As a result, we are seeing stronger FOBs on larger sized cartons and we expect this trend to continue. No. 2 grade potatoes and small size consumer bag potatoes are in good supply and are currently exceeding demand. RADISHES Market is steady in CA. Quality is average due to the rain. Florida is in production as well. Good quality out of this region. SALADS & BLENDS Prices are rising. Raw product supplies are ample. Mildew and tip burn are occasional quality issues, but overall quality is on target and meeting shelf-life expectations. SNOW AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS Snow and sugar snap peas are still in high demand; quality is good. SPINACH (BABY) Baby Spinach and Clipped Spinach supplies are very tight. Quality is fair and prices are in escalation. SPINACH (BUNCHED) Supply is very low, demand is strong. Quality is poor. Prices are in escalation. SPRING MIX Quality is fair, product is showing mildew and breaking down easily. GREEN SQUASH EAST: Like the yellow, FOB prices remain at low levels this week but there is upward pressure for quality product. Quantity is variable but good quality can be found. GA fields have begun to produce. WEST: Crossings continue at Nogales. FOB prices remain at or close to floor levels. Quality remains good. Demand is generally weak YELLOW SQUASH EAST: FOB prices remain at low levels but there is upward pressure on FOB prices for quality product. Supplies are plentiful and product is being harvested from Homestead, FL to south GA. Quality is variable but good quality can be found. WEST: FOB prices are steady to down slightly this week. Quality is generally good. Crossings continue at Nogales. TOMATOES EAST Rounds Vine-ripes continue to cross at McAllen and Nogales and volume continues to increase in Baja. Quality is better out of Baja than Nogales. Mature greens began to be harvested in the desert this past Saturday and volume will increase out of those fields in the weeks to come. The growing region has experienced rain this week and the forecast calls for more rain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. FOB prices remain low. Romas Good supplies from several growing regions continues to keep FOB prices at or near Suspension Agreement minimums. Quality is very good. Grapes Good supplies out of Nogales and Baja are keeping the FOB prices of grapes at low levels. The quantity and quality of the fruit crossing at Nogales is not as good as that crossing from Baja. Cherries The supply of cherries in the west is the one tomato commodity that has tightened up this week causing FOB prices to rise off the minimums. Quality is generally less than good.
TREE FRUIT The California nectarine and peach seasons have begun. Volume is low, but quality is very good. Plums will hit the market in late May. Sugar levels are average, ranging from 10 to 12 Brix. WATERMELON The market is unchanged. Domestic harvesting will begin next week, increasing overall stocks. Supplies from Guatemala and Mexico are adequate. Quality is very good, but hollow heart is a slight issue. Sugar levels range from 11 to 13 Brix.