Weather Update
California: A strong high pressure system builds out west with dramatic warming over the weekend into early next week. Another round of record high temperatures are forecast into Tuesday. These growing conditions will one exacerbate the already rampant mold, mildew, disease, and insect pressure affecting most crops as the season winds down. Yields and overall quality will once again be impacted as another haet wave arrives.
Mexico: Seasonal temperatures with scattered showers and thunderstorms continue across Central Mexico into next week.
Florida: Scattered showers look to continue into early next week followed by cooler temperatures and dry conditions next week.
Freight Update
Trucks remain tight in California, Idaho, and the Northwest. The National Average remained steady this week and is currently at 2,404 per gallon.
Things You Should Know
Apples: High volume movement as retail and the USDA Farm to Families program continues to scoop up supplies. New crop heavy to larger sizes.
Asparagus: Good steady supplies out of Peru and Mexico.
Avocados: Markets have come off on Mexican 48s and larger. The size structure has also started to shift. Harvest crews are seeing an increase in 48s in the pack-outs. Mexican growers are slowly transitioning into the “Aventejada” crop. Peru has concluded their season and arrivals are quickly diminishing. California is on the decline and will have fruit available in early October.
Bell Peppers: Good condition and quality at this time- there is lighter production due to previous heat in growing areas.
Berries (Blackberries): The market is still fairly firm with numbers just beginning to pick up out of Mexico look for availability and price to get easier later this week.
Berries (Blueberries): The pacific northwest is finished and we are waiting on Peruvian arrivals to pick up in volume. Look for this market to stay firm and higher until Mexico begins in 2 to 3 weeks.
Berries (Raspberries): Raspberries supplies are light, look for the market to remain firm with better availability later in this week.
Berries (Strawberries): Markets are extremely tight due to the adverse weather we had severely weeks ago. Look for the market to continue to be elevated and light through the end of the week.
Broccoli: The recent heatwaves have caused lower yields due to bad quality. Watch this market continue to be tight.
Brussels Sprouts: Steady supplies of quality product.
Carrots: Carrots are a very steady go on all pack styles save for the jumbos and cell carrots out of the West Coast. Look for this market to remain flat.
Cauliflower: Steady supplies continue out of the Salinas Valley and Santa Maria.
Celery: Of all the row crops, this commodity has the best availability. Better supplies are in Santa Maria/Oxnard and shippers are offering better deals on volume type orders. Large sizing as the best availability. Expect good supplies for the week – promote as much as possible.
Citrus (Lemons): The coastal district is winding down for the season, quality is fair out of that area. D3 (Desert Crop) will be starting soon. 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): Markets on 200’s are slightly coming off. 175’s and larger are still holding firm with light supplies. Quality is fair. Please place orders with lead time.
Citrus (Oranges): Valencia supplies on 88/113/138’s are getting tighter each week. Better supplies on 72’s and larger. Markets are active on both grades and quality is fair. Please put orders in advance for better coverage.
Cucumbers: Cucumbers are producing well and overall good supplies continuing.
Eggplant: More production coming, anticipate lower markets.
Garlic: Steady supplies with California production continues. This market is steady.
Grapes (Green): Autumn King greens in good production. Older varieties show some amber.
Grapes (Red): Good supplies on red seedless.
Green Onions: Plenty of supplies coming out of Mexico and keeping the market steady.
Kale: The recent round of heat has caused some sun damage and lower shelf life.
Lettuce (Iceberg): Demand exceeds supplies on this commodity. Common defects include light weights, discoloration, and ribby. Sclerotinia is an issue that multiple suppliers are dealing with. This disease is breaking down the plants and shorter shelf life is the result. Expect light supplies for two weeks minimum.
Lettuce Leaf: Romaine as well as hearts continue to be very light in availability. Green and red leaf have tightened up as well. Growers continue to deal with soil disease that has cut down yields and caused shortages in products. Light supplies will continue for two weeks minimum. Demand will continue to exceed supplies.
Lettuce Tender Leaf: Supplies are light on spinach and cilantro. This will continue for seven to ten days.
Melons (Cantalope): The cantaloupe market remains active. Demand is strong and supplies are limited out of the San Joaquin Valley. Current size structure peaking on 9’s. Arizona is set to start production mid-October and Mexico will ramp up around the same time period. The overall quality has been great with good sugars. Production out of the desert (Arizona) is set to start the first week of October. Import fruit out of Mexico is forecasted to start the second week of October.
Melons (Honeydew): Melons continue to be in high demand and supplies out of the San Joaquin Valley have tightened up. Size structure is peaking in 5’s. The melon market will remain active for the balance of the month. There will be some relief and overlap as we transition into the desert growing region (Nogales/Yuma/Maricopa) mid-October. Imports from Mexico are expected to hit the US in the first week of October in a light way.
Melons (Watermelon): The market is steady on the west coast. Good availability on seedless watermelon. Mini melons however are very limited and in high demand.
Onions: Ample supplies of high-quality storage onions are available from the northwest. USDA box program demand for 3 lb. bags is affecting production time at the sheds.
Pears: Bartletts, Anjous, and Bosc all in a new crop. Peaking on larger sizes.
Pineapples: Crown fruit is improving out of both coasts, with steady markets. Crown-less fruit supplies are steady on the west, but snug on the east. Organics supplies are steady. Need orders in advance. Quality overall is looking nice.
Potatoes: Harvest of new crop Norkotahs is underway. Large bakers remain elevated but the market is softening. Ample supplies of cartons. USDA box program limiting 5 lb bags.
Squash: Production coming through Nogales has started in a small way, and production out of Central CA continuing- good condition as demand has been steady and no old product
Stone Fruit: Most shippers are done for the season on nectarines and peaches, plenty of plums available.
Tomatoes: Round and grape tomatoes have triggered escalators. Supplies are winding down and will continue to decline in October. Eastern regions are recovering from hurricane systems that have reduced yields. Western regions are ahead of schedule following weeks of triple-digit weather. New crops in Mexico are starting to supplement the Fall season. Florida crops set for October are on track but supplies will be light. The market is up across the board. Quality is fair to good overall varying by region. Expect active markets through mid-October.
