Weather Update The last in a series of wet storm systems will move into Northern California today with only a slight chance of rain as the majority of the energy remains to the north of the Salinas Valley. The weekend produced extensive rain throughout California with over an inch registered in the Salinas Valley and 1/2 inch in Southern California region. High pressure builds behind this system with gradual warming through the week. The Southwestern desert regions will see strong winds (25-40mph) as seasonal temperatures as this system passes to the north. Light scattered showers are possible in Central and Northern Mexico under a weak high pressure ridge with near average temperatures. High pressure in the Southeast will keep the region dry and warm through the week. Market Alerts Apples: Small apples are generally short in Washington but small Golden delicious are really tight! Volume orders of 125 size and smaller will need to be subbed up to a 100 or 113 size. Berries (Strawberries): Strawberry supply is extremely limited and demand is exceeding. Grapes (Green): Domestic green grape prices are climbing and supplies will continue to drop as we move forward. Pears: 120 size and smaller Bartlett and D anjou pears are extremely short. Like the apples, the ideal growing conditions in Washington this year has produced more larger fruit. Stone Fruit: Black plums are now done. Red plums are expected to last another 1-2 weeks. The Source - Page 1
The Source A Peek at Peak Seasons Berries (Raspberries): Production is peaking 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 2.479 per gallon. A difference of.02 from this time last year. California prices rose slightly and are currently at 2.855 per gallon. Crude oil remained steady and is currently at 45.68 per barrel. Transitions & Temperatures Berries (Strawberries): Central Mexico production should ramp up in the next 2-3 weeks. Florida production is estimated to begin around the end of November. Broccoli: Broccoli will transition to Yuma AZ the week of November 21st Cauliflower: Cauliflower will transition to Yuma AZ the week of November 21st Grapes (Green): Peruvian green grapes now available to load on the east coast. Chilean fruit expected by late December on the west coast. Grapes (Red): Peruvian red seedless grapes arrived in New Jersey this week. Volumes are expected to increase moving forward. Stone Fruit: Chilean stone fruit season is expected to start mid January with normal volumes of peaches, nectarines and plums. The Source - Page 2
Apples Washington - Red delicious are steady on 88 s and larger with good availability. Red 125s and smaller are steady but supplies remain limited. Most packers continue to peak on extra-fancy 88 and larger reds. Golden delicious are 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 125 size and smaller. New-crop Granny-smith are steady and continue to produce mostly 88 s and larger. 100 size and smaller Grannys are available but limited and most shippers have fruit in the wash extra-fancy grades. 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. 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 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 - Apples are cleaning up for the season. The quality 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 all are steady although some suppliers are slightly higher or 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 still good in the growing areas in Mexico, steady market and volume, sizing is good. Weather in northern Peru is good. Southern Peru (Ica) is a little cooler than usual resulting in lighter volume. The market is slightly higher. Avocado (Mexican) Mexico has been harvesting steadily now for over 2 weeks, and fruit is getting to forward shipping points across the country almost daily. Inventories are good on 60s/70s/84s, but the industry is still limited on 48s and larger sizes. Mexico s harvest is skewed heavier the smaller sizes and see the market easy off on these sizes. The 48s/40s size remains an issue, and pricing is still firm and may be a couple of weeks still before we start catching up on them. 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. There are some pepper left in Tennessee and the North Carolina Mountains. Most of the supply is coming from South Carolina and Georgia with Florida getting started. Demand has been weak for most of the month with good weather in the east and no real damage from two hurricanes, many regions that would have ended there season hung on and crowed the playing field. There doesn t seem to be any relief this week, with Georgia still producing at a steady rate and Florida picking up momentum. 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. The Source - Page 3
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 with continued shipments from South America and Mexico although some areas have begun to reduce their air shipments as prices have fallen. 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. The industry is increasingly limited as recent weather in CA coupled with the annual crop transition is leaving us severely short of strawberries for fresh market. After another round of rain this past weekend, Watsonville and Salinas are all but finished for the season. Santa Maria harvests will be limited this week as plants are being cleaned-up and stripped of water damaged fruit. Oxnard has begun in a light way but production is not ramping up as expected due to the cool and wet weather in that region. With the current challenges in all California growing regions, we are expecting a significant shortage for at least 2-3 weeks and will not see much relief until Mexican production has ramped up and with the start of Florida production at the end of November. Broccoli The market remains steady with plenty of supplies from all growing regions. Quality is really good with minimal yellowing and dehydration. Brussels Sprouts Supplies are plentiful from the Salinas Valley. Mexico is producing some volume but the quality is fair. The market is still aggressive but will trend higher next week when the Thanksgiving pull starts. Quality from the Salinas Valley is excellent with all sizes available and dark green color. 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 cauliflower market is trending lower as we finish the week. Demand has fallen with an increase of supplies. But next week the market will react when the Thanksgiving Day ads start pulling. Quality is really good with minimal bruising and white color. Celery This market is active and this will likely continue as we head into the holidays. Small sizing is the tightest in terms of availability. Oxnard has begun production and more suppliers are expected to begin next week and the week after. Production in Salinas is scheduled to continue until approximately the third week in November. Santa Maria will continue to have production. 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 The cilantro market is steady as we finish the week. Supplies are still plentiful from all growing regions. Quality reports have been nice with minimal yellowing and dehydration. 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 a touch lower on the larger sizes and steady on the smaller ones with a tone of stability in it. An increasing market is beginning to form on the smaller limes due to a shift in the size profile and the previously low markets which growers curtailed harvests. 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. New crop Navels have started for most 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 weaker. Cucumber production in the southeast is steady and Florida is picking up in volume. Demand has been slow for the past week and Mexican supplies crossing through Texas and Nogales are putting pressure on eastern markets. The excellent weather in the southeast has increased yields and short days has made the color very dark. Cucumbers (Western) Good supply and quality in Nogales, Arizona. Demand has remained steady along with supply. Market has also remained steady. Eggplant (Eastern) The eggplant market is steady. The East in general and particularly the southeast is experiencing excellent weather. Highs in the mid 80- s and lows in the upper 50 s, dry with no humidity. This weather is keeping most of these crops producing very good supplies. South Carolina, Georgia and Florida all have good supplies. Demand has been good although Mexican product is starting to put some pressure on eastern markets. Quality is good with most shippers. We do not expect any change for the rest of the week but there is cooler weather coming this weekend that may slow production by next week. The Source - Page 5
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. Grapes (Green) Domestic green grape supplies will continue to get more limited as we move forward. Most shippers have transitioned to storage crop, which is holding strong on quality. However, as we get later into the season not only will supplies drop, but quality may become an issue as some of the late harvest endured some light rain. Prices are climbing and expected to keep increasing as we move along. Peruvian green grapes are available now on the east coast. Prices a slightly higher than domestic, but with the California storage crop prices on the rise, it may be a better option if you can load in New Jersey. Chilean fruit is expected to arrive on the west coast late December. Grapes (Red) Domestic red grape supplies remain consistent. We did not see any change in market price this week. Quality continue to be good. Harvest is expected to last a couple more weeks before all shippers transition to storage crop for the remainder of the season. Prices will gradually increase as we move forward. Peruvian red seedless grapes arrived this week in New Jersey in limited amounts. Market prices for the Peruvian grapes are much higher than the domestic crop, but as more volume arrives over the next 2 weeks, we can expect prices to be more in line with California. Chilean red grapes will arrive by Christmas on the west coast. Green Onions Supplies remain plentiful to finish the week. The market is aggressive for both iced and iceless. Quality is nice with minimal yellowing of the tops. Kale The kale market remains unchanged at current price levels. Supplies are abundant with minimal quality complaints. Quality has been excellent with full cartons and dark green color. Lettuce Iceberg Salinas production is all but finished. The quality is average, but some customers still want to load in Salinas to close the week out. The better lettuce is in Huron. Aside from some slight misshapen heads, and slight insects the overall quality has been clean. Weights are averaging 41-43 pounds. Yuma production is getting better and more suppliers will be loading next week out of this region. Weights are averaging 39-42 pounds on palletized in Santa Maria. Lettuce Leaf This market has stabilized. Shippers are looking for business. Quality issues in northern and southern California on romaine, romaine hearts, as well as all leaf items have been reported. The continued issues include sclerotinia, mildew, twisting, some insect damage, fringe and tip burn. These defects are industry wide. The shelf life is shorter so please be aware. The weights on romaine average 28-33 pounds. Red, green and butter leaf have had lighter weights reported. Yuma production has begun and more suppliers will have product by the end of next week. Early reports indicate seeder of 3-4 inches on romaine in Yuma. Melon (Cantaloupe) Demand is has picked up a little since the beginning of the 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 four weeks ago with a few lopes crossing over from Mexico. The market is higher on all sizes. The quality is excellent in the desert. 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 four 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 to lower 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 light with moderate supplies out of all growing areas. Quality is being reported as good. Market is slightly weaker on Jumbo Yellows and larger with deal being made on Super Colossal and Colossal on load volume. Red and White onions are steady with limited supplies of mediums. Trucks are starting to tighten due to the Christmas Tree growers paying good money. Pears California - There are still a few Bartlett and Bosc left but red pears have finished for the season. The quality has ranged from fair to good. Washington - Bartletts are steady and they continue to peak on US#1 80/90/100s. There is still some volume flex on the larger sizes. D anjou pears are steady and are also peaking on US#1 90/100s. Most shippers will flex on volume orders of 100s and larger. Bosc pears are also steady and are peaking on US#1 80/90s. 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 Demand is light to moderate on all sizes cartons which keeping the market steady at low levels. I don t see this changing before the first of the year. Retail demand on non size A bags is good for the Thanksgiving holiday. Quality is good. All growing areas Idaho, Washington, Colorado and Wisconsin are in the same boat with good supplies and great quality potatoes. The main issue will be transportation tightening up as the holidays and Christmas tree season comes upon us. Potatoes (colored) Bakersfield, California - White, red, and gold potatoes are steady and all are still peaking on A-size. The quality has been good. Idaho - Reds and gold potatoes are steady and both are peaking on size A. The quality is good. Western Washington - Reds & gold potatoes are steady on all sizes and remain heavier to size A. Whites are steady but limited with only the larger sizes available. The quality has been good. North Dakota - Both 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 they only pack bags, no cartons. The quality has been good. The Source - Page 7
Squash (Eastern) The squash market is weak. South Carolina, Georgia and Florida are going strong. Florida is producing from Immokalee and Homestead north to the Georgia state line. Squash fields are producing well with great weather and Mexican product crossing in Texas and Nogales is putting a lot of pressure on eastern markets. 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 Black plums are now finished for the season and we are left with just limited availability on the remaining red plum inventory. Quality on the red plums seems to be holding strong with no arrival problems to mention. Supplies are expected to last another 1-2 weeks. Price will be firm. The Chilean stone fruit season is expected to start with normal volumes by mid January. Tomatoes (Eastern) Rounds - The market is steady. Supplies are looking a bit bitter, although larger fruit continues to be a struggle. Florida areas, such as Palmetto and Ruskin are beginning. Quincy area also is shipping product. Out west, Northern California growers are still producing. Southern California and Mexico are all shipping vine ripes. Although quality in the west may have a range from good to fair, depending on the rains. Roma - The market is steady. Supplies continue to be a bit lighter. Florida has started, but with light numbers and still about a week or so out from better production. Out west, supplies are coming across from Mexico, but with lighter numbers due to recent rains. Demand for roma s continue to be stronger in all areas. Quality looks to be good. Cherry - The market is steady. Supplies in the east continue to be very light. Not much has changed from last week. In the west, supplies look be improving, but not enough to effect the market much. Quality is good. Grape - The market is steady. Supplies continue to improve with the grapes, in all areas. All shipping areas have supplies and quality looks good across the board. Tomatoes (Western) Rounds - The market is steady. Northern California growers are still producing. Southern California and Mexico are all shipping vine ripes. Although quality in the west may have a range from good to fair, depending on the rains. Florida areas, such as Palmetto and Ruskin are beginning. Quincy area also is shipping product. Roma - The market is steady. Supplies are coming across from Mexico, but with lighter numbers due to recent rains. Demand for roma s continue to be stronger in all areas. Quality looks to be good. Florida has started, but with light numbers and still about a week or so out from better production. Cherry - The market is steady. Supplies look to be improving, but not enough to effect the market much. Supplies in the east continue to be very light. Not much has changed from last week. Quality is good. Grape - The market is steady. Supplies continue to improve with the grapes, in all areas. All shipping areas have supplies and quality looks good across the board. The Source - Page 8
Commodities at a Glance Commodity / Region Market Quality Apples Wenatchee/Yakima, WA and Hood River, OR Steady Good Stockton, CA Steady Good Hudson/Pleasant Valley/Red Hook, NY Steady Good Coopersville/Belding/Sparta, MI Steady Good Asparagus Northern Baja California Norte, Mexico Steady Good Ica, Peru to Trujillo Higher Good Avocado (Mexican) Michoacan, Mexico Lower/Steady 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 Steady Good Berries (Blackberries) Central Mexico Steady Good Oxnard, CA Steady Good Santa Maria, CA Steady Good Watsonville, CA Steady Good Berries (Blueberries) Tucuman, Argentina Lower/Steady Good Salto, Uruguay Lower/Steady Good Trujillo, Peru Lower/Steady Good Central Mexico Steady Good Southern Chile 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 Mexico 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 Excellent Northern Baja California Norte, Mexico Steady Fair Carrots Bakersfield/Santa Maria, CA Steady Excellent Cauliflower Salinas Valley, CA Lower/Steady Good Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Lower/Steady Good Celery Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Higher Good Salinas Valley, CA 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 Lower/Steady Good Citrus (Oranges) Merced to Bakersfield, CA Steady Good Riverside, CA 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 Good Eggplant (Eastern) Lee / Grady County, GA Steady Good Hillsborough / Western Collier County, FL Steady Good Eggplant (Western) Northern Sonora, Mexico Steady Good The Source - Page 9
Commodities at a Glance Commodity / Region Market Quality 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 Salinas, CA Steady Excellent Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Excellent Baja, MX Steady Excellent Lettuce Iceberg Huron, CA Steady Good Yuma, AZ Steady Fair Salinas Valley, CA Steady Fair Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Fair Lettuce Leaf Oxnard/Santa Maria, CA Steady Fair Salinas Valley, CA Steady Fair Yuma, AZ Steady Fair Melon (Cantaloupe) Maricopa, AZ Higher Excellent Guaymas, Mexico Higher Excellent Melon (Honeydew) Maricopa, AZ Lower/Steady Excellent Caborca, Mexico Lower/Steady Excellent Melon (Watermelon) Central Sonora, Mexico Lower Good Onions Ontario, OR to Nampa, ID Lower/Steady Excellent Quincy/Hermiston, WA Lower/Steady Good Commodity / Region Market Quality Pears Stockton, CA Steady Fair Wenatchee/Yakima, WA and Hood River, OR Steady Good Pineapples Alajuela, Costa Rica Lower/Steady Good Heredia, Costa Rica Lower/Steady Good Limon, Costa Rica Lower/Steady Good La Ceiba, Honduras Lower/Steady Good Retalhuleu, Guatemala Lower/Steady Good Peten, Guatemala Lower/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 Plover, WI Steady Good Red River Valley, ND 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) Northern Sonora, Mexico Lower/Steady Excellent Stone Fruit Madera south to Arvin, CA Steady/Higher Fair Tomatoes (Eastern) Northern Florida Steady Good Southern Florida Steady Good Tomatoes (Western) Coachella Valley, CA Steady Good Northern Sinaloa, Mexico Steady Good Northern Baja California Sur, Mexico Steady Good The Source - Page 10