Weather Update
California – With moderate onshore flow and coastal marine layer conditions appearing nightly, temps will run close to normal through Saturday. The forecast next week shows much warmer than normal conditions across the Salinas Valley.
Mexico – Shower activity should remain isolated through the weekend. Temps should be near to slightly below normal over the next 5 days.
Florida – Florida will see the upper 80s to mid-90s for the week, climbing to 97 and 98 for parts of northcentral Florida for Thursday and Friday. No precipitation in sight for the week.
Arizona – Little change in temps over the next 5 days due to westerly flow. Temps will range from the mid-90s to 102 degrees warming a couple of degrees going into the weekend.
Freight Update
Trucks remain tight and expensive in the Northwest, Idaho, California, Texas, and Florida. Look for this to continue thru the summer months. The national average remained steady and is currently at 3.253 per gallon.
Things You Should Know
Apples: Quality is good on all varietals, however as the end of the primary season approaches, market pricing is expected to increase.
Asparagus: Supplies are very good out of Peru and Mexico. Quality and pricing are good.
Avocados: Quality is improving out of Mexico, and pricing has stabilized. 48 CT and larger sizes, organic and #2-grade fruit all remain more scarce than usual. California and Peru are expected to ramp up production in the next few weeks.
Bell Peppers: Quality is good and pricing is steady. Green Bells are almost entirely domestically grown now, with the Nogales import season coming to an end.
Berries (Blackberries): Supplies continue to be plentiful, particularly out of the Southeastern U.S. Quality has improved to good.
Berries (Blueberries): Very good production out of California, Florida, Georgia and Mexico, as the season peaks. Quality and pricing are good.
Berries (Raspberries): Supplies will remain light for the next 2-3 weeks, as Baja and California harvest slowly increase. Quality is fair.
Berries (Strawberries): Supplies are plentiful. Pricing is lower and quality is good.
Broccoli: Excellent supplies with very nice quality out of Salinas and Santa Maria. Pricing is good.
Brussels Sprouts: Market is higher with lower yields coming out of Mexico. Look for this market to stay strong until Oxnard product gets up and going.
Carrots: Quality is good on all bulk and value-added product. Jumbo carrots are less available from California. We do have options out of Arizona & Texas.
Cauliflower: Excellent supplies with very nice quality out of Salinas and Santa Maria. Pricing is good.
Celery: Supplies are plentiful. Quality is good, with some seeder issues reported. Distributors loading in Salinas, please be aware of a delivery surcharge.
Citrus (Lemons): Quality is good in all sizes. Markets on fancy and choice grade continue to trend upward as the Central Valley is winding down for the season. Ventura County supplies are improving peaking on choice grade. We can see some relief domestic supplies around mid-June when imports start.
Citrus (Limes): Supplies remain snug on 110’s-175’s. 200’s and smaller are the best value. Pricing is slightly backing off as we are seeing more inbounds cross the border and quality is good.
Citrus (Oranges): Quality is fair, we’re in the tail end of the season on late navels. Supplies are steady on 72CT and larger. 88s and smaller are tight with firm markets.
Cucumbers: The Nogales season is almost finished, and Baja has started up. Pricing is steady and quality is good.
Eggplant: Field transition from Mexico to Coachella is largely complete. Quality is good and pricing is steady.
Garlic: The market is tightening up as California supplies are very tight. Look for Mexican and Argentina supplies to supplement for the next few months.
Grapes (Green): Quality and production continue to improve on Mexican products, and pricing is finally easing. Coachella will begin harvesting next week.
Grapes (Red): Quality is good out of Coachella and Mexico, and the import season is finished. Pricing is lower.
Green Onions: Good supplies coming out of Mexico. Look for this market to stay steady.
Kale: Steady supplies are keeping this market level. Look for this market to continue to stay steady.
Lettuce (Iceberg): Production in Northern and Southern California continues to yield very good supplies. Quality is good, with very few defects reported. Pricing is steady and competitive.
Lettuce Leaf: Production in Northern and Southern California continues to yield very good supplies. Quality is good, with very few defects reported. Pricing is steady and competitive.
Lettuce Tender Leaf: Very good supplies coming out of the Salinas Valley. Pricing will remain steady, with good quality reported.
Melons (Cantaloupe): The desert harvest continues to increase weekly. Quality is good, with nice sugar levels reported. 12 CT and larger sizes are most plentiful.
Melons (Honeydew): The desert harvest continues to increase weekly. Quality is fair. 8 CT and larger sizes are most plentiful.
Melons (Watermelon): Freight cost and logistics for this product in particular continue to be a challenge. Quality is fair.
Onions: New Mexico and California’s harvests are in full swing. Pricing is steady and quality is good.
Pears: Pear prices remain mostly steady with some upward pressure as shippers start to see the end of the storage crop. Demand is moderate.
Pineapples: Quality has been very consistent and looking good. Supplies are steady on crowned fruit. Crownless supplies are stable.
Potatoes: The Burbank crop continues to run to smaller sizes, with 80 CT and smaller the best values. 70 CT and larger will continue to be expensive until the new crop begins in August. Quality is good.
Squash: Nogales will have good supplies yet on squash – both yellow and Italian. Santa Maria has started with Italian squash with yellow to follow in next 10 days. Nogales crop decent condition, better out of Santa Maria on Zucchini. Yellow squash out of Nogales good quality but some issues starting to arise..
Stone Fruit: Good quality and volume on peaches. The market is adjusting down as more shippers come online. Nectarines are still tight and plums won’t start in real volume for another two weeks.
Tomatoes: Production continues to be light overall, with Mexico and Florida continuing with seasonal field transition. South Carolina will begin harvesting next week. Quality is good, and pricing is expected to remain higher than normal throughout June. 5×6 and smaller Rounds are the best value, and Cherries may be a better buy than Grapes.
