Weather Update
California – Cooling conditions near the coast will gradually spread inland through the late week along with an increase in night/morning low clouds. Near to slightly below normal daytime temps will then persist into the upcoming weekend.
Mexico – Temps will remain warm through the weekend. No rain in the forecast through May 16th. Winds will occasionally gust near 20 mph in the afternoon hours through Friday.
Florida – High pressure over Florida allows for local sea breeze effects to dominate the weather pattern. Look for intense rainfall and afternoon thunderstorms for the inland and southern coast for Thursday with close to an inch of rain expected for Belle Glade and Boynton Beach.
Arizona – Unseasonably warm today through Friday as high-pressure ridge strengthens. Afternoon highs reach will reach triple digits this week.
Freight Update
Trucks remain extremely tight in the Northwest, Idaho, and California and look to remain that way for the foreseeable future. The national average is up slightly and is currently at 3.186 per gallon.
Things You Should Know
Apples: Quality is good on all varietals, however smaller-sized fruit is less available and may have higher pricing in certain markets through the spring season.
Asparagus: Supplies are very good out of Florida, Michigan, Washington, and central California. Quality and pricing are good.
Avocados: Pricing is steady on all sizes. Availability of #2-grade fruit has improved. Quality is fair, with a late-season product having a higher oil content and ripening more quickly.
Bell Peppers: Supplies of Green and Red Bells are improved, with the Coachella crop beginning to harvest. Yellows will follow in the next 1-2 weeks. Pricing is steady and quality is good.
Berries (Blackberries): Supplies have increased and market pricing is lower, as Central Mexico, Baja, and Central California production continue to increase production. Quality is fair.
Berries (Blueberries): California’s production continues to ramp up. Quality and pricing are good.
Berries (Raspberries): Supplies remain tight and are expected to continue through May, as Baja continues to ramp up, and California begins production in June. Quality is good.
Berries (Strawberries): With the Mother’s Day spike in demand past us, supplies are in better shape. 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: Good supplies and quality is keeping this market steady.
Carrots: Quality is good on all bulk and value-added product. Jumbos out west are limited due to the crop running small, supplies look to improve by the end of the month.
Cauliflower: Supplies have mostly recovered from the past few weeks. Pricing is lower and quality is good.
Celery: Supplies are plentiful. Quality is good, with some seeder issues reported. Promotable pricing may be available.
Citrus (Lemons): Quality is good in all sizes. Fancy grade on the larger sizes is active on 115’s and larger. Choice grade market is starting to firm up on 140’s and larger, supplies looking better on 200’s and smaller.
Citrus (Limes): Supplies remain very limited, particularly on 175 CT and larger sizes. 230 CT and smaller are the best value. Pricing is higher and quality is good.
Citrus (Oranges): Quality is good in all sizes. Supplies are plentiful on 72CT and larger. 88s and smaller are tight with firm markets.
Cucumbers: Mexico’s harvest, in particular, continues to improve, and San Diego’s is expected to start at the end of May. Pricing is lower and quality is good.
Eggplant: Good quality, availability, and steady pricing on all sizes and grades for at least one more week, as the Sinaloa crop finishes and Coachella begins.
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 remains poor and pricing high as the import season closes out. Avoid use where possible. The Mexican and domestic harvests start in a small way this week.
Grapes (Red): Quality is fair, but remain a more reliable option than Greens. Pricing is steady. Mexico and California will begin harvesting next week.
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 continues to yield very good supplies. Quality is good, with some field-level reports of misshapen heads, pinking, and discoloration, most of which are being cleaned up during packing. Pricing is steady.
Lettuce Leaf: Whole head Romaine, Romaine Hearts Green, and Red Leaf production remain strong and steady. Occasional fringe and tip burn is the only reported quality issue.
Lettuce Tender Leaf: Very good supplies coming out of the Salinas Valley. Pricing will remain steady, with good quality reported.
Melons (Cantaloupe): The import season ends this week. Mexico is harvesting, and the domestic desert season will begin in the next few weeks. Quality is good and pricing is steady.
Melons (Honeydew): The import season has ended. Mexico is harvesting, and the domestic desert season will begin in the next few weeks. Quality is good and pricing is steady.
Melons (Watermelon): Seedless melons are available out of Florida. Freight cost and logistics for this product in particular continue to be a challenge. Quality is good.
Onions: California’s harvest is in full swing, Texas production will wrap up in the next few weeks, and the Northwest/Idaho season is almost finished. Quality is good.
Pears: All varietals are running to larger sizes, with supplies tight across the board as the season winds down very quickly. New crop Bartletts out of California will be available in July. Quality is good, pricing may be higher.
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. #2 product is plentiful, and quality is good. 70 CT and larger will continue to be expensive until the new crop begins in August.
Squash: Supplies are good out of Fresno, and finishing up in Nogales. Quality is good and pricing is steady.
Stone Fruit: Stone Fruit has started in a small way this week. The volume will ramp up quickly over the next two weeks as more shippers come online.
Tomatoes: Production has lightened up overall, with Nogales finishing up in the West and Florida also having some field transition to Palmetto. Quality is good, pricing may be higher in certain markets.
