January 23, 2008

ICEBERG LETTUCE:

The lettuce market is steady to slightly lower with prices leveling out. Over the next couple of weeks California has a couple of different weather systems headed in, rain is expected thru the weekend, and picking back up again mid week, next week. Also cooler temperatures are expected, so we expect supplies to fall off, demand to suffer and pricing to fluctuate. We should still expect to see defects including epidermal peel, cap discoloration, misshapen heads, and ribbiness. Weights are running 44 – 50 lbs per case. Florida is experiencing fair to good supplies with demand being steady. Consistent good weather expected much of next week. This market is also expected to rise in connection with the weather on the west coast market next week. Mexican supplies of iceberg are steady.

ROMAINE & LEAF:

The leaf markets continue to have wide price ranges from all shippers. Supplies vary on each of the different leaf packs. Romaine, green leaf, and butter are in better supplies. Red leaf continues to be in short supply. Romaine demand has leveled out and is struggling to keep up with supplies. The quality on Romaine out of Yuma is okay with blister peel and weights in the 35 to 38 pound range. The quality on the other leaf packs is acceptable. The defects are twist, ribby appearance, Yellow fringe burn, epidermal peel, and big vein. The defects are twist, ribby appearance, Yellow fringe burn, epidermal peel, and big vein. Florida romaine is seeing improving quality with the cooler weather. Weights are in the 38 – 42 lbs range, and that market is expected to increase next week, due to weather in the west.

BROCCOLI:

The broccoli market appears to have picked up steam. Most shippers have lighter volume this week. This is giving the shippers a chance to firm up pricing and possibly take their prices up through the week. The market continues to have a very wide range in prices depending upon supplies for each shipper. Demand for processed broccoli also continues to be strong. The supply of broccoli has leveled off for many of our shippers in Yuma and Santa Maria. Demand has increased on bunched and broccoli crowns, which is helping to stabilize the market. The few lots with quality issues are showing some purple cast. Mexico and Florida continue to have product available and are good alternative sources.

CAULIFLOWER:

The cauliflower market is heating up. Mainly due to cold weather and that most shippers offered deals to clean up their inventories last week. Demand has increased over previous weeks helping to support current prices. The overall supply of cauliflower has dipped slightly lower and it appears to be lighter as the week progresses. The quality of cauliflower is good with some yellow cast and rough curds showing up. Weights range between 28 to 32 pounds. The quality of cauliflower is still good with some yellow cast and rough curds showing up. Weights range between 28 to 32 pounds. Mexico still has good supplies of cauliflower available as well.

CARROTS:

Carrots supplies have tightened up with the cold weather in California. Demand continues to be strong, spurring the market on. Quality and color of carrots are excellent. Georgia is still going strong. Quality and supplies are good and the market remains steady. Canada continues to go strong. Supply has lightened up some. Quality is good and the Canadian market is steady.

CELERY:

The celery market is steady this week so far. The cool weather is responsible for the abundant supplies of smaller sized celery available. The supplies do vary form shipper to shipper. Demand looks to remain good through the week. Celery is shipping out of Oxnard, Yuma and Coachella. Texas and Florida are harvesting celery but they have not adversely affected the market in California and Arizona. The California market continues to have a wide price range. The quality of celery is nice with color ranging from medium to dark green, while weights on celery are lighter ranging between 50 and 60 pounds out of California.

BERRIES

Strawberries: Florida received some heavy rain in the strawberry growing areas last Thursday and again last Saturday. This along with cool weather is limiting supplies and quality. Expect this to cause a demand exceeds supplies situation, and harvest is going to be very light out of Florida for the next 10 days. California Strawberry shippers have light supplies of new crop strawberries coming on. Rain is possible from Tuesday through Friday of this week, and cool weather with lows near 31 degrees in Oxnard is keeping supplies coming on slow. Demand exceeds supplies. Market is firm out of all areas. Quality is good out of California.

Raspberries/Blackberries: Demand is very good with light supplies. Market is very firm. Quality is good. Supplies of Blackberries are coming from Mexico and are loading out of L.A. and Oxnard. The market is slightly firmer. Quality is good with a few fair lots.

Blueberries: Market is steady. We could see the market start to firm up as the week moves on due to rising demand. Quality is great out of both L.A. and Miami.

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POTATOES:

Cold temperatures continue to have an impact on supplies and prices in Idaho. With several days of below zero temperatures last week some sheds in Idaho were forced to run half days or shut down entirely. Supplies of Norkotahs have dwindled to very small numbers and becoming less unavailable at this time. For the balance of the year some shippers will have to rely on Burbanks only, for all shipments. Large sized cartons are scarce in the Burbank crop so we should not expect to see any substantial drop in the price of the big stuff in the near future; however, there may be some deals being made on 90ct, 100ct, & 6oz #2’s. New crop California colored potatoes are going now with excellent quality and good supplies. WA product is still available with very good quality. Red potatoes in Wisconsin and North Dakota are set to finish earlier then expected, watch that market.

ONIONS:

The Idaho yellow onion market continues to be a disaster. Supplies are very good and look to remain so through the entire storage season. Market prices have dipped slightly, and deals are widely available. This is with no question, a “buyers market “.Quality is exceptional as well. White onions are seeing some activity with light supplies but light demand as well. Red volume is more limited and market prices could increase. Washington has good supplies of all colors. Mexican white onions have started with light supplies loading out of Texas. New crop yellow are set to start in about 2-3 weeks with red to follow about 1-2 weeks after that. Supplies will initially be very limited on new crop onions.

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APPLES & PEARS:

Demand and movement both remain strong and no change to either is anticipated anytime soon. Both have dwindled supplies about a month ahead of schedule. FOB’s on Red Delicious and Granny Smith may increase (slightly) shortly. Small sizes will remain tight for the remainder of the WA state storage season.

With Pears, the Bartlett deal is totally done. The Bosc market is just about as strong as it has ever been at this time of year. Anjou condition is good and fruit should remain available until mid summer (typically into early August). The import Packham deal should start up around early March.

BANANAS:

There are indicators that markets are slightly strengthening. Demand is good. Availability is tightening as vessel deliveries in the east are behind schedule and supplies on the ground are constantly evaporating once they arrive. Last week, there were some additional organic availability but this has since dried up. Quality is good with no reported issues.

SPECIALTIES:

Pineapple supplies remain tight on larger fruit and this will not change at least until month’s end. 7’s continue to have the best availability. Demand remains brisk and quality remains good.

AVOCADOS:

Super Bowl supplies will remain plentiful. With the anticipated dip in post-bowl demand, markets should soften but are steady now. CA fruit is beginning to ripen more evenly, Mexican volume is plentiful, and Chilean supplies could last through next month.

-CA harvests are not yet at full speed; there are some deals to be had on 60’s.

-Mexican fruit quality is good but shelf life is not optimal. Crossings will begin to decrease once CA volume really gets off the ground.

-Chilean boat arrivals should last well into February but with continuously less volume.

ASPARAGUS:

Markets may very well fluctuate over the next 7-10 day period after which pricing is expected to trend down due to increased new-crop Mexican volume. Current volume has been impacted by recent cooler weather. Demand appears a little off. Mexican quality is very good.

CITRUS

EAST

Grapefruit markets are softer on 32’s and smaller due to plentiful supplies. 23’s and 27’s are tight. Quality remains good.

The Juice market is easing. As the transition to the Pineapple variety continues, fruit is peaking on 100’s; brix level and juice content are excellent and color is very good.

Honey Tangerine production is in full swing. Sunbursts are totally gone. Quality is generally good but there are some color issues that are not atypical for this early part of the deal; brix levels are very good.

WEST

CA Navel FOB’s are steady. The best availability is on 72’s and 88’s. Quality is generally good but there is some softer fruit out there.

Lemon markets have yet to ease down. Overall quality is good.

Lime markets are firm but should ease within the next two weeks as new fields break open.

GRAPES:

FOB’s have finally reacted to supply increases and dropped dramatically compared to last week. Larger-sized fruit remains scarce. Quality is ranging from fair to good.

MELONS:

Cantaloupe supplies are tight and will most likely remain this way until mid February when Guatemala’s spring production begins to kick in. Quality is variable.

Unlike Lopes, east coast Honeydew supplies are in good shape. Quality is good to very good and the better availability is on larger fruit—8’s are very tight.

Seeded Watermelon supplies are limited as growers/shippers are directing product towards the Mexican domestic market; Seedless volume is in much better shape. Quality is good.

CUCUMBERS:

Eastern

Markets are lower on decreased demand and much-improved off-shore supplies; volume should remain stable for awhile. Quality is very good.

Western

Supplies are expected to be in a slight flush over the next two weeks but markets are expected to remain steady heading into next week. Quality is ranging from good to excellent.

GREEN BELL PEPPERS:

Eastern

FOB’s are a little stronger driven by older fields playing out, weather issues, and lower yields. Quality is fairly good overall with thick walls and good color being reported. However, there are some reports of sun tanning and minimal wind scarring.

Western

Recent cooler weather has impacted production numbers and there is the chance of rain in the short term forecast. Volatility has strengthened markets. Once we get past uncooperative weather, new fields should be ready to break with good volume. Quality is ranging from fair to very good.

RED BELL PEPPERS:

Western

Although cooler temps have impacted overall volume, supplies should remain decent over the next 5-7 day period and are then expected to tighten back up. Quality is ranging from good to excellent.

SQUASH:

Eastern

Both Yellow and Zuke markets are somewhat softer due to improved supplies out of Homestead. There is still some production volume out of the Immokalee area. Depending on the specific growing area, wind scarring is generally minimal.

Western

Even taking recent cool weather into consideration, production volume has at least slightly improved. However, forecasted rain could also impact supplies. The markets may now be at their lowest points. Quality on both is wide ranging from fair to very good.

TOMATOES:

Overall demand is lacking causing Round markets to be mostly stable. Cherry and Grape FOB’s have eased on both coasts. However, in general, markets are probably at their lowest point before trending back up shortly. Quality is generally good.

In the east, Puerto Rican Mature Greens should begin to land this week.

In the west, Nogales volume has begun to kick in. Culiacan has good supplies of Mature Greens. Vine Ripe markets are a little stronger due to growing area transition in Baja. And, Roma markets are a little stronger as well due to cooler weather that has impacted production volume.