Weather Update A series of low pressure storm systems will bring significant precipitation to California into early next week. The first of these systems arriving Thursday will bring heavy rain to the Salinas and Santa Maria Valley s with lesser amounts to the south as this system taps into tropical moisture from the Southwest. a brief respite on Saturday before the next system moves in with another round of rain followed by a third less powerful system on Monday. Forecasts keep the storm track open next week however most of the energy looks to remain North of the Salinas Valley. The Southwestern desert regions will see above average temperatures with a slight chance of light showers as the storm system moves by on Friday. High pressure over Central Mexico keeps the region warm and humid into early next week with some light scattered showers late this week warming into next week. The Southeast will see mostly dry conditions and average temperatures into next week as a weak cold front moves through the southeastern states on Friday. Market Alerts Apples: Remember that 125 and smaller Washington Golden delicious are virtually not available. Most suppliers will have to sub up to a larger size. Avocado (Mexican): Inventories are still low, but getting better on smaller sizes. The 48s/40s still remains a real issue. We are still at least a couple of weeks of harvest away from catching up to with the demand. Berries (Strawberries): Demand exceeds supply, availability is extremely limited in all producing regions. Grapes (Green): Market prices are on the rise and supplies are getting shorter. Stone Fruit: Red and black plums expected to last 2 more weeks. The Source - Page 1
The Source A Peek at Peak Seasons Berries (Raspberries): Production will peak over the coming weeks. This is a great time to promote raspberries! 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 2.478 per gallon. A difference of.02 from this time last year. California prices didn t change and are currently at 2.828 per gallon. Crude oil remained steady and is currently at 50.55 per barrel. Transitions & Temperatures Berries (Strawberries): Mexican strawberry production has begun in a small way but only limited volumes are crossing into the US.Florida strawberry production is still 2-3 weeks out. Broccoli: Broccoli supplies winding down in California with Yuma scheduled to start about mid-november. Grapes (Green): Peruvian green grapes expected to arrive on the east coast mid November. 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 but supplies are limited. Most packers continue to peak on extra-fancy 64-88s. Golden delicious remain steady but strong due to lighter volume in Washington. Small Golden delicious supplies remain very short, in fact most shippers don t have any availability of 125 s or smaller. New-crop Granny-smith are steady and continue to produce mostly 88 s and larger. The Gala market is steady on larger fruit with good availability and steady but firm on the smaller fruit. Galas are peaking on 80/88/100/72s. Honey Crisp are mostly steady on all sizes and still peaking on 48/56/64s. Fuji s are steady on the small fruit with only light supplies and they are steady to lower on 88s and larger with good supplies. The quality for red delicious, golden delicious, granny-smith, Galas, Fujis, and Honey Crisp has been good. California - Granny-Smith are steady on all sizes but the availability is very low. Pink Lady s are steady but supplies are also limited. The quality has been good. Idaho - Gala s, red delicious, Golden delicious, Grannysmith, and Jonathans and are all peaking on Washington extra-fancy 88/100/113 s. The markets are all steady and the quality has been good. Michigan -McIntosh, Golden delicious, Jonamacs, Jonathans, Galas, Cortlands, Empires, Honey Crisp, red Romes, and red delicious are available and all are steady although some suppliers are lower. 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, 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 lower grade fruit and some bitter pit. Asparagus Weather is a bit cooler in Northern Baja, volume is down, market is up, sizing is good. Weather in both Peruvian growing regions (ICA/Trujillo) is still good, volume is lighter at the end of the week due to some seeding issues in the field. Market is slightly higher. Avocado (Mexican) Mexico has been harvesting steadily now for a week and half, and fruit is getting to forward shipping points across the country almost daily, but the industry is still short of the needed supplies to fill the demand. Fruit size coming out of Mexico is skewed heavier the smaller sizes of 70s/84s/ 60s and starting to see the market easy off on these sizes. The 48s/40s size remains an real issue, and still very tight with strong pricing and may be a couple of weeks still before we start catching up on them. Preconditioned and ripe fruit orders will continue to be slow coming back in rotation in the ripe rooms until the supply pipeline fully right itself over the next 2 weeks. Bell Peppers (Eastern) The green bell pepper market continues to weaken as supplies pick up in the southeast and some local deals in the mid-atlantic and northern growing regions hang on. Quality on bell pepper in the southeast is good and healthy, product from the northern growing regions is on the tired side but sound enough to keep some buyers from moving south. Demand is slow moving towards the end of October and shippers are making deals to keep product moving. South Carolina and Georgia has most of the volume now and Central Florida will start later this week. The Source - Page 3
Bell Peppers (Western) Green bells -Product out of the California Central Valley are winding down in volume and will soon transition to Southern California. Supply is lightening and the market is softening, Product is now crossing through Nogales. Red bells - Central California now showing lighter supply and good overall quality and condition. These will also transition to southern California. Light supply crossing through Nogales. Yellow bells - Showing quality and condition issues with limited supply on field grown California. Berries (Blackberries) Supply is steady and production will continue to uptrend over the coming weeks. 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. Berries (Blueberries) Supply is steady as shipments continue to increase 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. We will see production peak over the coming weeks. Quality has been good with only a few reports of wet, leaky fruit. Berries (Strawberries) Demand is exceeding supply. Seasonal transition and decreased production volume coupled with weather continues to challenge overall availability. Rain is forecasted through the weekend and will only deteriorate the situation further. We will be in limited supplies for the next several weeks until volume increases out of Southern CA and Mexico. Florida production is still several weeks away. Broccoli The broccoli market is strengthening as supplies out of the Salinas region drop. Quality overall is good but we expect the market to continue to be strong as Salinas winds down and the Yuma region is still several weeks away from starting. Brussels Sprouts Supplies of Brussels Sprouts are excellent with just steady demand. This has caused a weakening of the market especially out of the Salinas area which is currently the principal growing region. Quality overall is very good. 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. The Source - Page 4
Cauliflower The cauliflower market is steady with good supplies of 12 s and16 s and more limited supplies of 9 s. This trend towards the smaller size profiles is expected to continue with the advent of cooler weather predicted for the coming week. Quality is good with some light bruising and discoloration being reported. Celery Supplies have tightened up with all shippers. This market is stronger on all sizing. Michigan production has ended. Good quality aside from some slight seeder is the story currently with this commodity. Oxnard is scheduled to begin production at the end of October. Production in Salinas is scheduled to continue until approximately the third week in November. Santa Maria will continue to have production, if desired. Chili Peppers Pablano - Good quality and condition expecting in Nogales Tomatillo - Current conditions have improved on Tomatillo, sizing is somewhat small, supply is improving. Jalapeño - Good quality on new crop pepper, mostly large sizing with good color. Anaheim - Good quality,condition and size are expected to continue as Mexico improves production. Cilantro The cilantro market is steady as supplies have greatly improved in recent weeks. Quality is generally reported as good with only an occasional yellowing. We expect supplies and quality to remain unchanged for the coming week. The one caveat to this would be the potential for heavy now being predicted in some areas of California. Citrus (Lemons) The Ventura crop is winding down and dropping in volume with the last 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 continue on a path towards similar pricing on all sizes. Demand is good on all sizes across the board. Limes are still peaking on the 230ct. Quality is improving overall with less and less leaf shading (yellow color) showing up and fewer stylar end breakdown showing up from weather. New crop limes are being harvested and all sizes are coming in so quality is 100% better. The market is lower on the larger sizes and steady on the smaller ones. Citrus (Oranges) This season s Valencia crop is nearing it s end. There are only a few houses still packing, and will be finishing this week and next. Supplies of small size Valencia oranges, 113s and 138s both grades are very tight and getting tighter as shippers finish with their crop. New crop Navels are starting this week for may shippers and more coming on line next week. 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 steady with a weaker undertone. The weather over the past week has been excellent in the east, cooler temperatures have slowed production in Georgia and South Carolina. Florida has started some good supplies. Quality varies from shipper to shipper, the pole cucumbers are good, the ground cucumbers are getting tired looking. Florida quality is good. Mexican cucumbers are putting some pressure on eastern markets. The Source - Page 5
Cucumbers (Western) Fair quality and condition on cucumbers coming out of Northern Baja coast. Fresh crop from Northern Mexico crossing through Nogales is now available, Quality will be improved as we move forward, supply is also improving. Eggplant (Eastern) The eggplant market is steady with a stronger undertone. Cooler weather has moved in and eggplant production has slowed down. Most of the northern areas have all but finished for the season. Georgia and South Carolina s production has slowed due to cool temperatures, Florida has started in very light volume. Demand has not changed but look for eggplant to get a little stronger by weeks end. This is not uncommon for this time of year. Eggplant (Western) Quality and condition on eggplant has remained good coming out of Fresno. Minimal cosmetic issues. Production will continue to be limited, soon to start in the Coachella Valley with fresh crop. Product to start in Nogales this week. Grapes (Green) Green grape prices are on the rise. Production of California greens has started to slow down for a lot of shippers and availability will start to decrease quickly. We will see storage crop protected for contract and retail commitments. Open market fruit will continue to climb in price as we get closer to the holidays and transition. Quality has been holding strong for the most part, but we have had some reports of amber color and soft berries. I expect markets to be very active and supplies to change quickly as we move forward. Peruvian green grapes are expected to arrive on the east coast mid November and market prices will be in line with California. Chilean crop is expected to arrive on the west coast by Christmas. Grapes (Red) No major changes in red grape supplies or market prices this week. Supplies are steady and quality is holding very strong. I do expect to see a gradual incline in price as we move forward, perhaps a dollar or two next week. Supplies are expected to remain steady as we approach the holiday season. Peruvian grapes will become available on the east coast mid November. Chilean grapes are expected to start by Christmas. Green Onions The green onion market is steady with good supplies available. The upcoming forecast for rain in Northern California is not expected to greatly affect this market as Mexico continues to be our principal supplier. Quality is generally good with little yellowing or browning of the top reported. Kale The kale market is steady. Quality is excellent with dark green leaves and full bunches reported from all. Supplies are expected to maintain at current levels for the near future. Lettuce Iceberg Salinas lettuce is tired. Be prepared to load in Huron, the quality is much better. Aside from some slight misshapen heads, and slight insects the overall quality has been clean. Weights are averaging 41-43 pounds. Some defects that have been reported for Salinas/ Santa Maria lettuce include lightweights, sclerotinia, slight mildew, pinking and some puffiness. Weights are averaging 37-42 pounds on palletized. Shippers industry wide are reporting these defects. Yuma is expected to begin production at the end of October. The Source - Page 6
Lettuce Leaf This market is steady. Quality issue on romaine, romaine hearts, as well as all leaf items will continue for the rest of the Salinas season. The issues involved include sclerotinia, mildew, twisting, some insect damage, fringe and tip burn. These defects are industry wide. The weights on romaine average 28-33 pounds. Red, green and butter leaf have had lighter weights reported. Yuma will begin production the first week in November. Value added items are expected to have shorter shelf lives so order closer to the numbers for the next two-three weeks, minimum. Melon (Cantaloupe) Demand is steady right now. Supplies on 9ct are extremely short and 12 s are getting increased demand due to substitution for 9ct. The 15ct are also feeling added buying pressure which is causing an increase in their price also. The West side is basically finished now for the season. The desert started a little over three weeks ago. The market is higher on all sizes. The quality is excellent in the desert. Melon (Honeydew) Supplies of honeydews are steady and we can 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 three weeks ago and supplies are beginning to taper off. The West side is basically 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) The current availability is improving with better sizing and offering fresh Product from Northern Mexico crossing in Nogales AZ. All sizes being offered in load volume both bins and cartons, peaking on larger fruit 36/45 with brix exceeding 10%.Volume will continue to improve. Onions Jumbo Yellow and larger have good supplies with a slightly weaker market out of all growing areas. Jumbo Red onion market is slightly weaker with good supplies. White onions are steady with moderate supplies. Quality is good on all sizes and colors. Look for the Onion market to be steady at lower levels into the first of the new year. Pears California - There are still a few Bartlett, Bosc, and red pears but supplies are light. The quality has ranged from fair to good. Washington - Bartlett pears are steady and continue to peak on US#1 80/90/100s. There is some flex for volume of the larger sizes. D anjou pears are also steady and are also peaking on US#1 90/100s. Most shippers will flex on volume orders of the peak sizes. Bosc pears are also steady and are peaking on US#1 80/90s. Red pears are steady as well and are peaking on US#1 40/45/50 half cartons. The quality for all varieties pears has been good. Pineapples Supplies are good, and are still improving through the month. Potatoes Potato market is steady at lower levels out of all growing areas on all sizes cartons. Quality is being reported as good. Potatoes are now coming out of storage. The main variety being shipped out of Idaho currently is the Russet Norkotah with a few shippers packing Burbanks. Look for the markets to be steady at these levels into the first of the new year. The Source - Page 7
Potatoes (colored) Bakersfield, California - The market is steady for all colors and they are still peaking on A-size. The quality has been good. Idaho - Reds and golds are steady on all sizes and both are heavier to A size. Both colors have good quality. Western Washington - reds & gold potatoes are steady on all sizes and remain heavier to size A. Whites remain short due to the cold weather. The quality has been good. North Dakota - Golds and reds are steady on all sizes and are still peaking on A size. The quality is been good. Wisconsin - Reds and golds are steady on all sizes and both colors are peaking on A-size as well. The quality has been good. Canada - they are steady on all colors but they only pack bags, no cartons are available. The quality has been good. Squash (Eastern) The squash marker is steady at cheap prices on both colors. There are steady supplies of squash in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Even with cooler weather there seems to be plenty of squash to fill orders plus some. Some eastern buyers have switched to Mexican squash putting more pressure on eastern shippers to make deals to keep squash moving. Squash (Western) Supply on Italian squash and Yellow S/N out of the Santa Maria is finishing. Quality and condition have gone from good to fair, Italian and Yellow S/N have now started in Nogales, Arizona with increased supply every week. Stone Fruit No changes this week on the last of the stone fruit. Red and black plums will continue to be available. Quality has been good on the late season varieties and prices have been firm. We are limited on sizes and loading locations, but weather permitting, fruit is expected to be available until mid November. Tomatoes (Eastern) Rounds - The market is steady. Supplies continue to be on the lighter side. Florida crop has begun, but, in a light way. Market continues to be steady. Out west, California supplies are almost finished, and Mexico is forecasted for rains. Palmetto - Ruskin crews due to begin. Quality is Fair. Roma - The market is steady. Supplies in the east are a bit lighter, due to Florida getting underway. Production and yields starting slower, but should pick up in the coming weeks. Out west, Mexico is crossing better numbers, however, they are forecasted for rains over the next few days. Market continues to be steady. Quality is Fair. Cherry - The market is steady. Supplies in all areas have lightened, with the market firming up again. Yields are looking lighter than predicted. Out west, Volume continues to see lighter numbers, and selling out daily. With rains forecasted in Mexico, look for the market to continue to be steady/strong. Grape - The market is steady. Supplies are looking a little better. Demand continues to be steady, but, supplies are available on the grapes. Market may tick up a bit, with rains forecasted over the next couple days. Quality is Fair. Tomatoes (Western) Rounds - The market is steady. In the west, California supplies are almost finished. Mexico is forecasted for rains over the next couple days, so, production may be effected with weather conditions. Florida crop has begun, but, in a light way. Market continues to be steady. Quality is Fair. Roma - The market is steady. Out west, Mexico is crossing better numbers, however, they are forecasted for rains over the next few days. Market continues to be steady. Supplies in the east are a bit lighter, due to Florida getting underway. Production and yields starting slower, but should pick up in the coming weeks. Quality is Fair. Cherry - The market is steady. Out west, Volume continues to see lighter numbers, and selling out daily. With rains forecasted in Mexico, look for the market to continue to be steady/strong. Supplies in east have lightened, with the market firming up again. Yields are looking lighter than predicted. Quality is fair. Grape - The market is steady. Supplies are looking a little better. Demand continues to be steady, but, supplies are available on the grapes. Market may tick up a bit, with rains forecasted over the next couple days. Quality is Fair. The Source - Page 8
Commodities at a Glance Commodity / Region Market Quality Apples Coopersville/Belding/Sparta, MI Steady Good Hudson/Pleasant Valley/Red Hook, NY Steady Fair Wenatchee/Yakima, WA and Hood River, OR Steady Good Stockton, CA Lower/Steady Fair Asparagus Northern Baja California Norte, Mexico Higher Good Ica, Peru to Trujillo Steady Good Avocado (Mexican) Michoacan, Mexico Lower/Steady Good Bell Peppers (Eastern) Henderson / Buncomb County, NC Lower/Steady Fair Lee / Grady County, GA Lower/Steady Good Hillsborough / Western Collier County, FL Lower/Steady Good Bell Peppers (Western) Coachella Valley, CA Steady Fair Berries (Blackberries) Oxnard, CA Steady Good Central Mexico Steady Good Berries (Blueberries) Tucuman, Argentina Steady Good Trujillo, Peru Steady Good Salto, Uruguay Steady Good Southern Chile Steady Good Central Mexico Steady Good Berries (Raspberries) Oxnard, CA Steady Good Central Mexico Steady Good Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Berries (Strawberries) Salinas Valley, CA Higher Fair Watsonville, CA Higher Fair Santa Maria, CA Higher Good Oxnard, CA Higher Good Central Mexico Higher Good Commodity / Region Market Quality Broccoli Celaya Guanjuato Mexico Steady/Higher Good Salinas Valley, CA Steady/Higher Good Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady/Higher Good Brussels Sprouts Salinas Valley, CA Lower/Steady Good Oxnard, CA Steady Good Carrots Bakersfield/Santa Maria, CA Steady Excellent Cauliflower Salinas Valley, CA Steady Good Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Celery Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Higher Good Salinas Valley, CA Higher Good Chili Peppers Southern Sonora, Mexico Steady/Higher Good Cilantro Baja, MX Steady Good Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Salinas, CA Steady Good Citrus (Lemons) Coachella, CA / Yuma, AZ Steady Good Merced/Bakersfield, CA Steady Good Citrus (Limes) Veracruz, Mexico Lower/Steady Good Citrus (Oranges) Merced to Bakersfield, CA Steady Good Riverside, CA Steady Good Cucumbers (Eastern) Lee / Grady County, GA Steady Good Hillsborough / Western Collier County, FL Steady Good Cucumbers (Western) Northern Sonora, Mexico Steady Good The Source - Page 9
Commodities at a Glance Commodity / Region Market Quality Eggplant (Eastern) Lee / Grady County, GA Steady/Higher Good Hillsborough / Western Collier County, FL Steady/Higher Good Eggplant (Western) Fresno, CA Steady Good Grapes (Green) Delano, CA Higher Good Fresno, CA Higher Good Grapes (Red) Delano, CA Steady Good Fresno, CA Steady Good Green Onions Mexicali, Baja Steady Good Salinas Valley, CA Steady Good Kale Baja, MX Steady Excellent Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Excellent Salinas, CA Steady Excellent Lettuce Iceberg Salinas Valley, CA Steady Fair Huron, CA Steady Good Lettuce Leaf Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Fair Salinas Valley, CA Steady Fair Melon (Cantaloupe) Maricopa, AZ Higher Excellent Brawley, CA Higher Excellent Melon (Honeydew) Maricopa, AZ Steady Excellent Hermosillo, Mexico Steady Excellent Melon (Watermelon) Northern Sonora, Mexico Lower/Steady Good Onions Ontario, OR to Nampa, ID Lower/Steady Excellent Quincy/Hermiston, WA Steady Excellent Commodity / Region Market Quality Pears Stockton, CA 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 Excellent Plover/Bancroft, WI Steady Excellent Potatoes (colored) Bakersfield, CA Steady Good Rupert to Rexburg, ID Steady Good Mount Vernon, WA Steady Good Red River Valley, ND Steady Good Plover, WI Steady Good Squash (Eastern) Hillsborough / Sarasota County, FL Lower/Steady Good Lee/Grady/Echols County, GA Lower/Steady Good Squash (Western) Northern Sonora, Mexico Lower/Steady Excellent Stone Fruit Madera south to Arvin, CA Steady Good Tomatoes (Eastern) Northern Florida Steady Fair Southern Florida Steady Fair Tomatoes (Western) Southern California Coast Steady Fair Northern Baja California Norte, Mexico Steady Fair The Source - Page 10