Weather Update
California: Steady cooling and a deepening marine layer along the coast will bring seasonal temperatures into early next week.
Mexico: Seasonal temperatures look to continue with a slight chance of scattered showers possible into next week.
Florida: High pressure over the southeast will bring dry conditions with gradual warming into next week.
Freight Update
Trucks remain tight in California, Washington, and the Northwest. The National Average remained steady at 2.388 per gallon.
Things You Should Know
Apples: Market steady on good supplies. Some smaller fruit a little harder to find in quantity.
Asparagus: Supplies gradually getting better from Peru and Mexico. Look for this market to continue to adjust downward.
Avocados: Mexican avocado market is steady with good demand. Availability has improved on all sizes but, 60’s & smaller continue to dominate the pack out. The industry will see ample supplies for the balance of the month. California season has concluded but there is domestic fruit in the pipeline. Keep in mind, late-season fruit has a shorter shelf life and a creamier flavor profile.
Bell Peppers: Green bells with a small gap have a stronger market; red and yellow bells are holding their own. Coachella starts in 7-10 days.
Berries (Blackberries): Plenty of availability moving forward this week out of central Mexico and transfers out west. The market will remain flat on this item.
Berries (Blueberries): Good numbers of imported fruit will be available towards the end of the week, look for pricing to get somewhat lower as Mexico begins to produce promotable volumes through the month of November.
Berries (Raspberries): Raspberries are in very good supply right now out of Texas and the West. Numbers are expected to increase and markets will remain steady with lower undertones.
Berries (Strawberries): The northern districts are cleaning up & shippers are moving south to the Santa Maria & Oxnard areas with Mexico also coming into play out of Texas. Look for the market to stabilize with lower undertones.
Broccoli: Plenty of supplies in the Santa Maria and Salinas Valley as the quality has improved.
Brussels Sprouts: The market continues to stay steady on the higher side..
Carrots: Snack pack and baby whole peeled production is reaching limits for coverage. Jumbo carrot supplies still are short out West.
Cauliflower: Like Broccoli, there are plenty of supplier in the Salinas Valley and Santa Maria to promote Cauliflower.
Celery: Steady supplies and good quality continues to be the story with this commodity. Southern California has the best production, pricing, and quality so shop in this region as much as possible. All sizing is available and this will continue throughout the week.
Citrus (Lemons): D3 (Desert Crop) is starting, supplies are improving weekly. Markets are steady. The fancy grade is holding firm and the choice market is holding steady. Reach out if you have any interest on imports.
Citrus (Limes): Supplies are looking steady across the board. The markets are starting to soften up and quality is looking nice. Please place orders with lead time.
Citrus (Oranges): We’re almost to transition time from Valencia’s to Navels. The majority of shippers to start Navels in the next few weeks. Current markets are still holding strong. Quality is still looking tired. Please keep sending orders in advance.
Cucumbers: Lots of opportunity buys on many sizes with multiple growing areas producing. Quality and condition have been great.
Eggplant: Light supplies right now, however, Sonora will start producing and putting more in the system in the next 7-14 days. Condition and quality have been great.
Garlic: Steady supplies on this commodity for the week. The overall quality is good. The market has remained unchanged.
Grapes (Green): Pricing is actually mixed. The price is steady to up on best. Lower quality fruit being discounted.
Grapes (Red): Pricing is actually mixed. The price is steady to up on best. Lower quality fruit being discounted.
Green Onions: Plenty of supplies coming out of Mexico. The market continues to be flat.
Kale: Good supplies continue on this commodity. The market will be steady throughout the week.
Lettuce (Iceberg): This market has softened as production in Huron has begun. Escalated pricing is in effect on value-added lettuce items. Supplies in Salinas continue to be scarred with soil disease, misshapen heads, lightweights, and decay being seen upon arrivals. Huron production is cleaner with weight averaging 38-41 pounds. Production in Yuma is expected to begin the first week in November.
Lettuce Leaf: We continue to be in a demand exceeds supply situation on Romaine as well as all leaf items. Escalated pricing on value-added items is in effect. Tip and fringe burn, discoloration of leaves, and decay have been reported upon arrivals. Expect strong markets throughout the month of October. Yuma will begin production approximately the second week of November.
Lettuce Tender Leaf: Supplies continue to be light on Spinach, Parley, and Cilantro due to the recent heatwaves.
Melons (Cantalope): Cantaloupe market has come off and availability has improved. Currently peaking on 9’s/J9’s. Quality on new crop fruit has been good and continues to improve. Growers on the website have concluded their 2020 season and working off of inventory. Production out of the desert is improving as well as Mexico. With November quickly approaching, offshore arrivals from Central America (Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica) are expected to hit the US in week 45.
Melons (Honeydew): Strong demand keeping the honeydew market elevated. Production in the desert improving weekly. Current size structure peaking on larger sized fruit (4’s/5’s/J5’s). As for quality, Mexico is packing a cleaner honeydew right now. Due to high winds in the desert, we are seeing some scarring and bruising externally on domestic fruit.
Melons (Watermelon): The market is steady and demand is fair. Good availability on Mexican seedless as well as mini seedless. The quality of Mexican watermelon is good.
Onions: The Northwest has finished harvest and will exclusively ship out of storage. Demand is higher on red and white onions with export to Mexico. Quality is excellent.
Pears: The market is steady on good supplies. Some smaller fruit a little harder to find in quantity.
Pineapples: The strike in Costa Rica is in negotiations we’re hearing containers have been able to leave the ports and we should be okay on supplies. Current markets are stable and quality is looking nice.
Potatoes: Idaho has started shipping storage norkotahs, which have undergone the sweat process. Harvest is complete 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Limited field run Burbanks are available at an upcharge. They will become more available in early November.
Squash: Abundance of product and opportunity buys on soft squashes as multiple regions overlap in production. The quality has been very good.
Stone Fruit: Mostly just Plums available.
Tomatoes: Eastern transition has begun in Florida and South Georgia but the quality is mixed as operations work through crops exposed to hurricane systems from months ago. California is winding down quickly also due to extreme temps throughout the summer. Mexico has begun crossing new fruit but color has been very light this week with much being sent into warming rooms to color up the usable products. Low round supply has raised the demand for Romas which are also in transition. Grape and Cherry tomato production is also light due to transition. Supply will begin to build over the next 7-10 days with markets easing as supply picks up in the first week of November.
