December 20, 2017 LOCAL ITEMS Harmony Valley - Viroqua, WI: Organic shallots, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, celery root, soup mix and sunchokes Hill and Valley - Hillsboro, WI: Organic green cabbage, red cabbage, acorn squash, buttercup squash, yellow onion, red onions and pie pumpkin squash IGL Farms - Antigo, WI: Organic red potato, yellow potato and russet potato Driftless Organics - Soldiers Grove, WI: Organic green cabbage, red beets, gold beets and red cabbage Open Hands Farm - Northfield, MN: Organic cello carrots St. Croix Valley - Woodville, WI: Organic acorn squash, buttercup squash, sweet onions, yellow onions and red onions Hugh s Garden - Moorhead, MN: Org red potato, yellow potato, russet potato and purple potatoes VEGETABLES Asparagus: Peru is now into their seasonal decline (with both north and south fields shutting down) due to warmer weather and seasonality. Central Mexico is now virtually done for the season, look for supplies to start from new fields in Mexico around midjanuary. Broccoli: Broccoli crowns and 14 s will increase in market price for next week due to high Holiday demand. Cabbage: Georgia, Texas and North Carolina are shipping with the best quality coming from Georgia and Texas where we are loading. Market prices are stable. Carrots: We are seeing an improvement on conventional carrots. Organics will still be short until mid-december at this point. Local carrots will be done for the season in the next 10 days. Cauliflower: Cauliflower will increase in market price for next russdaviswholesale.com 800.332.7104 crazyfreshproduce.com
week. Markets are very active and holding firm. Cooler weather in the Yuma growing region decreased overall yields about the same time that Holiday demand hit the market. The need for non-standard labels and sizes will be necessary to cover sales. Celery: Sleeved celery will hold steady whereas hearts will slightly decrease in market price for next week. Overall supply is average. Corn: Florida corn availability continues to improve. Quality is very nice. Market price is slightly declining. Florida is expecting steady supply in the coming weeks. Cucumbers: Mexico continues to ship the best quality. Markets are slightly increasing due to the heavy holiday pull and decreased volume from cooler than normal growing conditions. Eggplant: We are loading in Nogales with stable market prices. Availability and quality are very good. Green Beans: Supply is tight and market prices are increasing due to the Christmas pull and cooler weather in growing regions have slowed plant production. This is projected to improve just after the Holiday season. Green Bell Peppers: Nogales is shipping with good availability and quality. Markets are slightly decreasing as Nogales harvest continues to increase. Green / Red Leaf Lettuce: Both green and red leaf lettuce will see slight increases in market price for next week. Overall supply remains good. Green Onions: Green onions will see a slight increase in market price for next week. Supply is expected to be lighter than average due to wind damage experienced in Mexican growing regions. Hard Squash: We are loading in Mexico. Market prices are stable however there is a shortage on acorn due to less acreage being planted this year. HOT HOUSE PRODUCTS: Tomatoes on the Vine: Tomato markets remain very strong across the board. We expect this will continue through the end of the year and into the middle of January before they start to come back to reality. Colored Peppers: Hot House colored bell supplies are now mainly coming from Mexico. Supplies will stay light over this next 2 weeks due to prior colder temps in the growing regions and cloudy days (cutting into the available sunlight hours in Mexico). Beefsteak Tomato: Tomato markets remain very strong across the board. We expect this will continue through the end of the year and into the middle of January before they start to come back to reality. Cucumbers: Majority of production is coming from Mexico. Quality has been great. Iceberg Lettuce: Iceberg will decrease slightly in market price for next week. Forecasted yields indicate very good supply for the coming week. ONIONS: Overall, there have been very few changes in price. After January 1, substantial onion market price increases are probable due to the significantly smaller yields harvested in most growing regions. By February, onion prices (especially colored and jumbo yellow onions) typically start to climb. This is expected to occur again this year, but occur even more so in late winter and early spring due to supply shortages. Sweet: Steady supply, steady pricing, solid quality on both NW Sweets and Peruvian Sweets. Both remain promotable. POTATOES: Idaho Russets: Growers are still bullish but once holiday volume peaks, we may see an adjustment. With Christmas Day and New Years Day both on Monday, there will be reduced shipping days the next two weeks so stay ahead on inventories. Local Russets: Demand is strong. At this time, all shipping regions appear to have fewer supplies than previous years with no growing areas experiencing record yields. Growers that what to avoid a gap before new crop 2018 are keeping prices higher than 2017 as they try to manage inventory. Local Reds: The red potato market remains steady. Growers from all regions are shipping with ample supplies and are ready for the holiday rush. Red River Valley quality is good. Local Golds: All shipping areas are in good supply of yellow russdaviswholesale.com 800.332.7104 crazyfreshproduce.com 2
potatoes. Quality looks nice, and, unlike the russet potato market, there seems to be more yellow potatoes available than last year keeping the pressure on pricing. Romaine Lettuce: Romaine hearts will see a slight increase whereas cartons will hold steady in market price for next week. Overall supply remains good. Sugar Snap Peas: Guatemala is shipping good quality. Markets have stabilized this week after last week s increase due to cool weather in the growing regions. Sweet Mini Peppers: Western supply is inconsistent. Relief is projected for late December/ early January with better Mexican availability out of Nogales. Market prices continue to increase. Sweet Potatoes: Promote with confidence. Zucchini and Yellow Squash: Market prices are increasing as cooler than normal weather has taken a hold of growing regions. VALUE ADDED DOLE: Iceberg: Good supply and quality. Still seeing a little pinking. Romaine Lettuce: Good supply and quality is okay. Conventional Spinach: Tight supplies. Conventional Spring Mix: Tight supplies and quality is better. MANNS: Organic Green Beans: Supplies will be hit and miss this week. Organic Snap Peas: Organic Snap Peas will continue to be hit & miss for the next 1-2 weeks due to insect pressure. Conventional Snap Peas: Supplies are expected to below normal for the next 2-3 weeks as the crop transitions growing regions in Mexico. EARTHBOUND FARM: 12x3 Romaine Hearts: In good supply this week. Romaine Leaves: Washed Romaine Leaves may be tight again this week but we will do our best to cover all promotions. FRUIT Apples: Local honeycrisp is winding down for the season. We will have product from Wood Orchards through December. Local cider will be available up to Christmas. Avocados: We are still seeing a lot of instability in Mexico. Many shippers think this will last through the Super Bowl, but they feel the prices we are seeing now will continue to appease the avocado growers to keep the volume and ads coming. Blackberries: Short term, cold weather in Mexico has slowed down some volume but overall supply and markets to remain stable for the few weeks. Volumes are steady to promote, but no overwhelming inbounds forecast. Blueberries: Peru/Arg has passed peak arrivals, but basically stable supplies through Dec. We re not seeing any forecast of large volume, just steady. The second week in Jan does look to be the go as boat shipments hit with promotable volume on pints. Current forecast is peak arrivals in early Feb, then the transition back to 6oz the first week of March. Cantaloupe/Honeydew: Look for the market to tighten up some in the coming weeks as cold weather has hit the growing regions. We will see a shift in fruit sizing as well due to this. Product has been excellent. CITRUS: Florida citrus will be very hit and miss this winter due to all the recent rains as well as the effects from the Hurricanes. Sunburst tangerines are out and done for the season. russdaviswholesale.com 800.332.7104 crazyfreshproduce.com 3
Cara Caras: Here! Sky Valleys: Here! Sumos: Starting to mid-january. Will update with better dates as we get them from the shipper. Blood Oranges: Here! Minneolas: Starting December 23rd. Pummelos: Now loading. Halos: Now loading. Navels: Now loading. GRAPES: The late season California grape deal is still going strong with very good demand and a steady market. Our supply here at Dulcich is holding well and should take us through the first two weeks of January. We have a good mix of green, red and black seedless in Christmas Lady, Pretty Lady. Our Quality Control Team is carefully examining each variety to help maintain the integrity of our shipments. We are pleased to report the QC staff is giving the Thumbs-Up for condition and quality across the board. Needless to say, you can depend on Dulcich/Sunlight for steady supplies of California Grown Grapes to promote for the next month or more. Green Grapes: We are currently shipping Autumn King and will be for the next week to ten days. We have plenty of Luisco to follow and they will be the last green seedless variety as we finish the season in January. This grape has incredible shelf life, remains super crunchy and flavorful for extended periods. Red Seedless: Our Vintage Seedless is still in plentiful supply, has great color, flavor and firm crunchy texture. We also have Scarlotta seedless packed in Totes to custom pack for all orders as needed. Black Seedless: We have supplies to last through Christmas based on current inventory. We are shipping Adora and Autumn Royal at this time. Both have good color, size and flavor. Mangoes: We are now into new crop Brazilian mangoes. Pomegranates: Pomegranates will hold steady in market price for next week. Markets remain firm due to Holiday demand. Raspberries: Expect market to be stable through the next few weeks, though colder weather in Mexico has slowed down volume. After that volumes drop with the typical seasonal decline through December in conjunction to increase demand with Holiday pull. Stone Fruit: Peaches, Nectarines and Apricots are all available. Please reach out to your representative. STRAWBERRIES: Santa Maria: weather has turned cold and the fruit is slowing down. Size is still good and the colder temps are helping firm up the fruit. Oxnard: Conventional straws volume is starting to slow down. Production will be steady for the next few weeks at lighter numbers. Fruit sizing ranges from 21-29 counts on conventional and organic. Mexico: Is crossing more fruit this week. The pack is very nice and the fruit is Good. The weather is ideal in Mexico. You can expect nice fruit for weeks to come. Florida: Weather is returning to its norm (if there is such a thing), for this time of year. Mornings will be noticeably milder than the past several days, with lows bottoming out in the 50 s and 60 s. This will help to increase production from last week as the fruit that was sitting on the vine waiting to mature will begin to color for harvest. Highs will be mostly in the low 80 s so expect good quality and improved size on the fruit. Currently there is no rain in the forecast through Christmas. TOMATOES: Stem: Markets will remain extremely high through the middle of January. By that point more production out of Florida should come on and supply should start to get a lot stronger. Also, Mexican product will be able to fully support any downfalls in the Florida production. Hydro: We will continue to see a strong market through the end of the year. We will then start to see it taper down due to lower post-holiday pulls. WATERMELON: Mexican watermelon supply will be very tight until the first part of the new year. Florida is starting to ship product and we will start to see the market go down. russdaviswholesale.com 800.332.7104 crazyfreshproduce.com 4
Mini Seedless: We are loading Mexican fruit until Import melons start in mid-december. Market price is increasing. Size and price point are advantages for extra sales during the colder months. ORGANIC New Items: Up Next - Organic Minneolas in a couple weeks. Organic Murcotts at the end of January. Organic Apple Cider: Hoch never was able to get their machine running again and has called it for the local organic cider season. We will have it again next year. Organic Mangoes: Tommy atkins mangoes are here, and we also have a limited amount of ataulfo mangoes, too. Organic Persimmons: Done for the season. Organic Roma Tomatoes: Roma tomatoes will be very tight for a couple weeks. Organic Strawberries: We have organic berries from Central West. Organic Turmeric: We have turmeric from Jamaica. Organic Bell Peppers: Red bell peppers are finally here! Organic Blueberries: Plenty of organic berries from Argentina. Organic Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts are from Mexico. Organic Cauliflower: Cauliflower was very plentiful, but with cold weather and holiday pull the market has gone up. Organic Clementines: What we have is it for clementines for the season. The end of January we will bring in bulk and bag murcott mandarins. Organic Cranberries: Cranberries aren t just for Thanksgiving! We will have beautiful cranberries from Ruesch Century Farm in Vesper WI through the month. Organic Grapes: Green grapes are done for the season. We have received our last shots of red grapes and will be out by this weekend. There may be some very limited import red grapes next month, otherwise next season isn t until May. Organic Grape Tomatoes: With cold morning temps, high day temps and strong winds, grape tomato volume will be very limited until mid-january. We may have to fill in with other labels besides DelCAbo. Organic Jalapeños: Should have solid availability on organic jalapenos for a couple of months now. russdaviswholesale.com 800.332.7104 crazyfreshproduce.com 5