Weather Update
A cold front moves through Central and Southern California mid-week with light rain and drizzle across the region. A cold air mass behind this system will bring near-freezing morning temperatures into the weekend. This system will bring strong winds (25-40mph) and unseasonably cool temperatures with widespread lettuce ice to the Southwestern Desert regions into next week. Seasonal temperatures continue across Central Mexico into next week with slightly below normal temperatures and light morning frost likely across Northern Mexico. A couple of weak cold fronts will bring isolated light showers across Florida over the weekend followed by warm and humid conditions with scattered afternoon showers next week.
Freight Update
California and Arizona trucks have improved this week and will be back to normal by Monday. Washington apple trucks look to be steady. Idaho onion and potato trucks both remain extremely tight. The national average remained steady this week at 3.079 per gallon. California prices remained steady and are currently at $3.895 per gallon. Crude oil remained steady and is currently at $61.38 per barrel.
What You Should Know
Berries (Blueberries): Good Volume for the entire Month of January.
Broccoli: The cold and wet weather in Yuma has caused lower yields on Broccoli. Growers are seeing slow growth in the fields caused by the cold weather.
Cauliflower: The cold and wet weather in Yuma has caused lower yields on Cauliflower and inconsistent sizing. Growers are also seeing slow growth in the fields caused by the cold weather.
Grapes (Green): We have transitioned into all import fruit. Supplies remain limited, especially on the west coast. We expect better supplies by the end of the month.
Grapes (Red): We have transitioned into all import fruit. Supplies remain limited, especially on the west coast. Markets are firm. We expect to see improvements in availability by the end of the month.
Green Onions: The wet weather and continuous cold temperature is causing slow growth and quality issues. Growers are struggling to keep up with demand.
Lettuce Iceberg: Light weights will continue for the entire week with this commodity. Ice delays will be daily all week with harvesting.
Lettuce Leaf: Cool weather will hurt production for romaine as well as all leaf items. Ice delays are daily.
Lettuce Tender Leaf: Arugula quality has been damaged by the recent and continuous cold and wet weather. This has caused extremely lower yields as crews are walking by the damaged product.
Onions: Markets rising on yellow and white onions; demand active.
Mexico will start mid February.
Pears: Bartlett pears are done for the season. Bosc and D’Anjou are the preferred varieties going forward.
Potatoes: Demand very active in all regions. Markets climbing. Larger size 40 count through 80ct limited in supplies.
Potatoes (Colored): Markets rising on red potatoes. #2 grade loading in California very limited.
Stone Fruit: We are seeing more fruit slowly trickle in this week. Some white varieties as well as plums have been introduced. Better supplies are expected by the end of the month.
Tomatoes (Western): Demand Exceeds Supply. Availability is limited. Elevated Markets expected through most of January.
Transitions and Temperatures
Celery: Production in Yuma is picking up with multiple shippers.
Potatoes (Colored): Florida color potatoes will start early-to-mid February.
Grapes (Green): Chilean production will improve over the next 2 weeks with better availability on both coasts by the end of the month.
Grapes (Red): Chilean production is slowly ramping up. We expect the first arrival next week and look for better volume by the end of the month.
