THE SOURCE.
Stay informed on how weather and other conditions across the country and the globe affect the quality, availability, and price of you fresh fruits and vegetables.
Asparagus: Volume from Peru is lower. Central Mexico is almost done while Northern Baja, Mexico has just started.
ALERT! Avocados:
Mexico continues to struggle at its current pace when it comes to harvesting their acreage. Inventories are steadily growing at a slow pace however. Unstable market pricing continues this week as supplies are dictating the price levels.
Broccoli:
The broccoli market remains flat at current price levels. Supplies are plentiful from all growing regions. There have been minimal quality reports of yellowing out of California.
Brussels Sprouts:
Mexico has finished their season, so the pressure is on California. The market is strong but steady at the current price level. Quality is excellent with no arrival issue to report.
Cauliflower: The cauliflower market is flat with little demand. Supplies are plentiful. Quality is excellent with nice white color and little to no arrival issues.
ALERT! Cilantro:
Supplies from Mexico are extremely limited to a few suppliers. So the pressure is on the California growing regions of Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Salinas. Black spotting, yellowing, burn, and seeders are the current quality issues we are experiencing.
Iceberg Lettuce:
The overall quality on this commodity has been good. Pricing is competitive. Weights have been averaging 42-48 pounds on palletized.
Leaf Lettuce:
This market is flat overall. Slight mildew and mechanical damage has been reported in a light way. The quality on all leaf items is considered good. The weights average 34-38 pounds. All other leaf items are also having strong reports and good weights as well. Take advantage of low pricing on all leaf items. Expect this market to be stronger next week.
ALERT! Strawberries:
Summer production has passed peak in the Watsonville and Salinas growing regions. Fruit sizing has continued to come off with a large range of smaller fruit counting 18-28 berries per 1-pound clamshell. Labor is becoming more of an issue each week. Pickers are moving slower this time of year. It is taking more berries to fill each clam, as pickers must cover more ground to do so. Also, some strawberry pickers are moving to easier harvesting options this late in the season or laying off more days per week or for the season completely. Late summer always increases the probability for occurrences of quality issues. The plants are tired at this point, the fruit is not as strong as it has been throughout the previous months. With the late summer fruit, bruising is more obvious on the smaller berries. Expectations must be adjusted to what is available for this time of the season and shelf life expectations must be realized as well. Order for quicker turns, order more often. It is also imperative during this time that fruit is loaded at correct temperature, transported at correct temperature and maintained at correct temperature throughout storage until use, 32-34°. The Santa Maria new crop (summer-planted) strawberries should begin to come on with volume in the next couple weeks.
>> CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SOURCE IN ITS ENTIRETY <<
|
