Weekly Produce Update NORTHWEST Apples We are adding new crop varieties to the manifests almost weekly now that harvest is in full swing. We now have Jonagolds, Gala, Golden's, Honey crisp, Granny Smith and a small amount of new crop Red Delicious. We may begin Fuji next week, with some of the early Fuji still being packed & shipped. Movement is still good on the last of the storage red delicious, with the remaining few that have them. Pricing is very strong on most varieties on larger sizes, but the best pricing & value is in 100's & smaller. Pears New crop NW pears are in good supply. Size is down on most varieties. Condition is good on all varieties. Bartlett, D'Anjou, Bosc, Seckel & various red pears are available. Pricing continues to be on the stronger side, but have seen a small downward trend on all packers. Onions Onion prices remain strong and stable in every state currently harvesting onions. The unique strength of this market during harvest cannot be understated. It is unusual that prices remain so strong at a time when normally oversupply and excessive competition drive harvest time prices down. Size profiles are smaller and yields are down overall. The exception this season may be Utah and southern NV. It seems that Utah will have relatively more Colossal and Super-Colossal than other districts this season. Meanwhile, back in the Northwest, Medium yellows are showing weakness with sustained strength on larger sizes.
Good demand combined with shorter supplies this season will most likely create a market that is fairly firm with higher FOBs that this industry has seen for several seasons. Yellow sweets are available. ORGANIC are now available-all colors. Colored Potatoes Mt. Vernon District colored potato supplies remain steady. Harvest is nearing completion. Most growers are reporting sizes peaking on the large side. Quality and color is excellent. Prices remain strong and steady with few overall price adjustments so far this season. All four colors are available along with Fingerlings. Eastern WA colored potatoes-reds and Yellows only-are still available. Prices are steady and supply is good. Color and quality is good as well. Potatoes Although the overall market remains lower with flat pricing it may not be wise to become complacent just yet. As Fall weather closes in; freezing temps already being reported in many areas and harvest nears the end. Sheds are running shorter schedules while growers push to get everything undercover. It is becoming apparent now that size profile and overall yield will be smaller this season. Due in large to late plantings in the spring along with excessive bouts of heat. Prices are starting to sneak up as the marketers see that supplies may be short for the season WA/OR harvest in nearly complete. Idaho is not so lucky as damage has already been done from frost on unharvested fields. Harvest should wrap up within the next few weeks. Burbanks are starting to become more available with prices slightly higher than Norkotahs. Large potatoes remain tight in Idaho with similar forecast for the entire season. Organic Russets are available. CALIFORNIA FRESNO Oranges Valencias are done for the year. Growers are now starting to pick NAVELS. This fruit is expected to be gassed for at least 96 hours. If all goes well we should have some VERY LIGHT numbers of fruit for shipping middle of the week. Market is coming out strong. It will take shippers a few weeks to get completely up to speed. Look for this early fruit to be a little on the weak side having been gassed.
Sugar levels are 9-11% at this time but the sugar to acid ratio will still make you pucker... especially after the levels coming off the Valencia. Stone Fruit Plums are winding up over the next 10 day to 2 weeks; mostly larger fruit (55+ size). Market is stronger as we finish up. Calif Granny Smith crop is winding down moving to WA new crop. Calif Bartlett Pears are eating well with mostly 100 & larger left to clean up fast as supplies move to OR. Pomegranates are now available and the Wonderful variety just stared harvesting. Give us a ring we can do single layer, volume filled or Arils for your eating pleasure. Domestic Arils will start packing again this week. Persimmons have finally seen some cool nights to bring on the color. We should have good supplies until Christmas. Lemons District 3 Lemons are under way with sizing peaking 140/165/115. Larger fruit will remain on the tight side for the next 3-4 weeks. Quality looks very nice. Market has adjusted down slightly as this area increases volume. Meyer Lemons are now harvesting New Crop out of the Desert. Look for supplies to be good. Grapes Growers continue picking fresh supplies of Red, Green, & Black seedless grapes. Look to see the market go up a notch with current varieties more to the large and extra-large size. Don t forget we have supplies going now of Red and Green Institutional grapes for you. Globe crop was effected by the heat and as such supplies going into fall will be lighter. Specialty Citrus Ruby Grapefruit are back out of Calif desert with excellent interior color but struggling on exterior color... We are seeing nice brix levels. TX is going as well and as normal have some really nice color. Both areas will have light supplies for the next week or so before then kick into decent supplies. Market is up and looks to stay this way due lack of product from FL.
Carrots Processed supplies are steady and moving well. Continue with issues on Rainbow supplies which are very light and will remain this way until early Nov. Conventional shippers are struggling to get those Jumbo sizes. As such the market has been increasing. Potatoes California New Potatoes are starting back and shipping and packing out of Bakersfield area. Whites are demand exceeds supplies at this time and as such that market is very strong. Reds and Yellow supplies are improving and the market is steady. Melons Cantaloupe/Honeydew Cantaloupe market is steady with the west side finishing up supplies. The desert fall season is now as well with good run of sizes packing. Look for this to tight up over the next week as we move completely to the desert with the market will increase. Fruit is showing good decent color; and sizing heavier to 9/12's. Quality is good. Watermelon Seedless Watermelons supplies continue to tighten. MX is the main supplier and are struggling to fill all the demand. The next few weeks will be tight. Mini seedless continue to have some supplies. Quality is hit and miss. Avocado Mexican Avocado are finally catching up with demand harvesting daily. Good supplies 40/48/60/70 s with large fruit 36/32/28's still on the short side. The Mexican crop is still looks to be well ahead of last years volume. Steady volume will continue though the holidays and shippers are entertaining those ads now. Look for larger sizes to become more available as we get closer to December. Kiwi Calif Kiwi are now filling the supply chain as such the market has come off. Look for this to continue for the next 4 weeks before it settles out for the winter. This fruit is rock hard so be prepared. All sizes and packs are now available.
SALINAS Cauliflower Quality and condition has been good. Demand is steady. Lighter supplies reported from all shippers. Look for markets to be higher through the week. Berries Strawberries - Production is fast in the Salinas area with Santa Maria and Oxnard increasing the next couple of weeks. Central Mexico has started in a very light way with supplies being shipped into McAllen. Best size and quality is Santa Maria. Raspberries - Supplies are coming from Salinas and Central Mexico. Quality in both areas is good. Blackberries - Salinas area production is still in the area, Central Mexico starting slower then expected. Blueberries - Cooler weather has slowed production down in Mexico and imports' logistics are behind. Mostly Argentina fruit. Iceberg Lettuce Demand exceeds supply as far as Iceberg Lettuce is concerned. Common defects include insect damage, growth crack, fringe burn, cap discoloration and misshapen heads. Weights are ranging in the mid 30 to low 40 s depending on field location. Huron is set to start this week. Leaf Lettuces Leaf lettuces/romaine is in the same situation as iceberg lettuce. Warm weather earlier in the growing season has brought forward the crop, harvesting 2-4 weeks ahead of schedule. Warmer than normal temps has affected the quality in a negative way. We are coming to the end of the N.Cal growing season, about 6 or so weeks left. No new fields are being planted-next district will be Huron/Yuma with a bit out of Oxnard. Romaine being the bigger volume leaf item than the others, expect to see much tighter supplies and stronger demand therefore higher prices on it. Processors are running short on this item as well, helping keep the demand strong. We are looking at some issues on these commodities for the next 6/8 weeks.
Broccoli While most shippers continue to claim supplies are on the light side, demand remains off. This has helped the market adjust downward, continuing the trend of last week. We think that supplies will be getting a little easier this week, prices should continue to correct. Crowns will be tighter than bunched, and quality will still be an issue. Hollow core, brown bead and pin rot are still showing up in some lots in both Salinas and Santa Maria. Celery Supplies are getting tighter with less production forecasted. Seeders continue to be an issue. Some other common defects include bow, flagging, and insect damage. MCALLEN Mexican Lime Rain in growing regions has affected the inbound supply of limes. Shipper will need to grade harder to avoid quality issues due to rain. Higher prices are expected, product will eventually size up to larger sizes. Mango Some Keitt Mexican Mango are still available and will remain with variable quality and condition. The end of the Mexico season is around the corner. Brazilian mango supplies are good this week in the North East Ports of Entry. Pineapple Mexican continue coming in with good volume in all sizes. Prices and demand are lower. Good supplies coming from Costa Rica as well. Mexican Avocado More supply available. Market is lower overall. Good volume on 48, 60 and 70. Less volume of 32's, 36's and 40's. Mexican Tomatoes We are expecting limited supplies of Mexican Roma tomatoes. Prices are expected to be higher due to lower supply with good quality overall. We can expect good supplies of Round Tomatoes and lower prices. Mexican Chili Peppers Market is higher overall; rain in growing regions has affected inbound supply.
Melons No Melons are expected to be available through South Texas. Arizona's harvest is beginning. Quality is good overall. Mexican Onions We're expecting good supplies of yellows from Oregon and California. Watermelons Mexico season has started, good supplies of Organic and Conventional mini watermelons from Mexico. Good quality overall. Rain has affected supplies in Oklahoma. Market is tight with prices going up. NOGALES Roma Tomatoes Roma prices are steady this week. Product is available in San Diego and McAllen. Round tomatoes are down this week, supplies are steady. Product is available in California. We should start seeing some tomato products cross through Nogales around late November. Peppers Green Peppers are steady this week, not much has changed. There are supplies available in California. Red and Yellow peppers are also available; supplies are steady. Nogales should start crossing green peppers towards the beginning of November. Grape Tomatoes The grape tomato market has not changed much. Supplies are steady, and product is available in San Diego. Nogales production will start in December. Cucumbers Cucumbers are down this week, supplies have improved. Product is crossing through Nogales and San Diego. English cucumbers and mini cucumbers should start in a couple of weeks. Beef Steak Tomatoes We should start seeing some product cross through Nogales in November. visit us: www.superiorfoods.co