Weather Update
California: Near to below normal temps expected. Winds to keep overnight lows above frost levels. Long range models look for temps to warm up the first week of December.
Mexico: Near seasonal day time highs through the weekend. Expect temps to be in the low 70s to low 80s with morning lows in the low to upper 40s.
Florida: Mostly dry conditions with warmer than normal temps through Saturday. Expect moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms late Sunday.
Arizona: Near seasonal temps this week with strong gusty winds Thursday into Friday. Gradual warming Saturday and Sunday with temps in the upper 70s.
Freight Update
Trucks remain tight in California, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest. The national average remained steady at 2.462 per gallon.
Things You Should Know
Apples: Smaller size lower grade apples very tight. Larger nicer apples prices steady.
Asparagus: Steady supplies continue out of Peru and Mexico to keep this market steady.
Avocados: Strong harvest out of Mexico, plenty of fruit in the pipeline. Markets are steady and demand is just okay. 60’s continue to dominate the pack out. Plenty of opportunities to move volume.
Bell Peppers: Good supplies of green bells coming through Nogales but peaking small. Red and Yellow bells should be starting in Nogales in next two weeks.
Berries (Blackberries): Good availability and lackluster demand this week should provoke lower pricing and good availability.
Berries (Blueberries): Blueberries are coming from several locations including CMEX Peru & Argentina. Look for volume deals being offered to keep coolers clean.
Berries (Raspberries): Good availability and lackluster demand this week should provoke lower pricing and good availability.
Berries (Strawberries): Strawberries are become more available as we see the COVID shut downs erode some of the demand. Look for this week to be slow on the berry front compared to recent weeks. Pricing should ease off accordingly.
Broccoli: Market is coming off as demand has slowed during this holiday week.
Brussels Sprouts: Market continues to go higher as supplies are tight.
Carrots: The carrot market remains steady with the snack pak SKU remaining tight. We will be transitioning into the Bakersfield area at the end of November.
Cauliflower: Market gradually coming off as demand has slowed during the holiday week.
Celery: There will be steady supplies of this commodity in Oxnard/Santa Maria for the week. Salinas production is finished and Yuma has not yet begun. If loading this item in Yuma, shippers are charging a transfer fee whether it is a contract item or not, so please be aware. The quality continue to be good in terms of quality and texture.
Citrus (Lemons): Supplies and quality is looking steady on small sizes. 115’s and larger are holding firm due to retail pull. Please reach out for any advance prices.
Citrus (Limes): Supplies are still snug, as we transition to new growing regions. Markets are slightly backing off. Please place orders with lead time.
Citrus (Oranges): Navel supplies are looking good on 88’s and smaller. 72’s and larger is holding firm on markets due to retail pull. Quality is still looking really nice. Please reach out for any advance prices.
Cucumbers: Excellent supplies and lower demand is softening markets.
Eggplant: Great supplies and quality across the board on eggplant – 18ct 24ct and 32ct.
Garlic: Steady supplies keeping this market level.
Grapes (Green): Green grape inventory in seasonal decline. Wide range in quality and price.
Grapes (Red): Imports will start on the east coast in small volume the week after Thanksgiving. Plenty of domestics in California still.
Green Onions: Plenty of supplies continue and is keeping the Green Onion market steady.
Kale: Steady supplies continue to keep this market steady.
Lettuce (Iceberg): Demand is beginning to fall off as we enter the holiday week. Expect shippers to be flexing the next few days with this commodity. Weights are better in Yuma ranging from 37 -41 pounds depending on the supplier. Expect to see steady supplies for the rest of the week with most shippers.
Lettuce Leaf: Romaine and romaine hearts continue to be in a demand exceeds supply situation. Green leaf is moderate to light as well. Based on less demand that is occurring, most orders should be filled in its entirety. The quality has picked up out of Yuma as well. Labor issues in terms of lack there of will hinder multiple shippers for the rest of the year. Harvesting crews will be less.
Lettuce Tender Leaf: Market and supplies continue to stay steady on Spinach and Arugula. Curly Parsley market continues to have strength.
Melons (Cantalope): Growers in the desert looking to wrap up production by this weekend to conclude their 2020 season. Mexican cantaloupes will be available into mid-December. Offshore arrivals into the US are light and market fruit is going at a premium. Central America continues to receive rainfall. The challenge growers are facing now is transportation to and from the ports. When the first storm (Eta) hit, the government set up temporary bridges. Just before the second hurricane (Iota) hit, they then had to take temporary bridges back down. Within the last few days those bridges have been put back up but still struggling to clear roadways. It is inevitable industry will see lower yields, quality issues and an overall shortage of fruit mid-December into the front part of February.
Melons (Honeydew): Growers in the desert region have concluded their 2020 season. Good availability out of Mexico on all sizes and quality has improved. Offshore arrivals are light and tight due to storms that hit Central America. We anticipate an active honeydew market post Thanksgiving.
Melons (Watermelon): Market is steady on mini seedless and slightly higher on regular watermelons. Demand is light, quality is hit and miss.
Onions: The Northwest is exclusively shipping out of storage. Quality is excellent. Deals available on large sized yellow onions in Idaho.
Pears: Good quality peaking on the larger sizes. Small lower grade pears in tight supply.
Pineapples: Supplies are steady out of both coasts. Current markets are stable and quality is looking nice. Reach out for any opportunities.
Potatoes: Idaho has started shipping storage. Burbanks, which have undergone the sweat process, are available but limited and at an upcharge. Quality is excellent, peaking on 70 CT cartons.
Squash: Good supplies and quality on zucchini, but yellow squash is still very limited in supplies until new fields start in the next week.
Stone Fruit: Domestic season over on stone fruit. Imports should start late December.
Tomatoes: Prices are adjusting to weakening demand, however tomato volumes will remain light for the next couple of weeks until new operations begin harvesting in mid-December. Rounds are down several dollars in both East and West after Florida resumed picking last week following storm Eta. Roma Tomatoes have also adjusted downward this week Favorable weather in Mexico is helping crops rebound but quality varies with price. Grape and Cherry tomatoes have firmed up in the east as cooler overnight temps slow production. Mexico is quoting a few dollars less than Florida and quality is good from both areas.
