WEEK OF DECEMBER 8, 2023

As harvests roll on in the Southwestern Desert regions supplies and quality remain in generally good shape, warm days and cool nights have created excellent growing conditions and current stands are strong overall. There have been some temperature swings recently with some heat and then cooling down significantly. This has created longer cores in some current leafy green fields, especially romaine along with red and green leaf.

Broccoli and cauliflower production will slowly increase as more growers begin harvesting in the Desert regions and production quickly winds down in the Salinas Valley. Growers indicate that the various upcoming crops are on schedule and aside from some occasional bottom rot/soil disease (Fusarium) there are no major issues at the moment. The remaining crops in the Salinas Valley (brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery) will be impacted by light rain and cooler temperatures as the season quickly winds down.

To the south strawberry supplies in the Santa Maria and Oxnard regions are on the decline as Mexico and Florida begin to gradually increase production.

Tomato and dry veg production (pepper, squash, eggplant, cucumber, beans etc) has shifted to Florida and Northern Mexico for the winter months. Both regions were hit with tropical storms during plantings which has impacted supplies from these regions. Recent rains in Florida have impacted current production in the near term. Roma tomatoes remain light to moderate in supply with pricing trending upwards. As far as round tomatoes, the availability is currently limited to small sizes only with variable quality due to some skin check caused by the recent weather. In Mexico, labor will become scarce as we approach the Holiday season resulting in less production from these growing regions to start the New Year.

SHORT/LIMITED

Tomatoes

Carrots

Mushrooms

Fall Squash

QUALITY ISSUES

Row Crops & Tender Greens

Tomatoes

Blackberries

Strawberries

Fall Squash

COMING IN

Holiday Decor

Winter Citrus

Yuma Crops

SATSUMA, REGIER - 10LB, #19580

BLOOMSDALE SPINACH, FINLEY - 5LB, #9014

PINK LADY APPLES, SEE CANYON - 5LB, #20764

FUYU PERSIMMON, HER PRODUCE - 5LB, #18553

ORANGE KABOCHA SQUASH, THE GARDEN OF - 40LB, #18566

NARDELLO PEPPERS, HER PRODUCE - 5LB, #19578

SUNGOLD TOMATO, MUNAK RANCH - FLAT, #18333

LITTLE GREEN GEM, THE GARDEN OF - 24CT, #18250

LITTLE RED GEM, THE GARDEN OF - 24CT, #18901

SALANOVA MIX, THE GARDEN OF - 24CT, #13209