DLJ Marketing Report
Week of November 11 through November 19, 2009
A Solid Partnership Makes A World of Difference
13260 Daum Drive
City of Industry, CA 91746
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GRAPES - CENTRAL VALLEY, CA
RED SEEDLESS
Growers continue to harvest the remainder of the crimson crop this
week. October rains have continued to keep the price high due to the fear of
quality issues on the fruit that is still being harvested in the field. Expect to see
a split market between pre-rain Crimson and wet fruit that is still being
harvested. Overall, quality looks to remain steady even on post-rain picks.
Color on current pack dates has started to become a little light but not any
major concern yet. Volume should continue along strong through the month of
November going into December, but we look to wrap up sooner than usual due
to quality of the fruit left on the vine. Shippers are expecting a slight gap
between the end of the CA red grape market and the beginning of the Chilean
season. With Chile being behind on arrivals, CA fruit may be in play longer
than the quality will hold.
GREEN SEEDLESS
The CA green grape season continues to be a “demand exceeds”
market. The 16 lb. storage Thompson market looks to be finished shipping by
the end of this week. Supplies of storage grapes have been tighter than usual
this season and should finish up much sooner than expected. This is due to a
one – two punch of a light set this season, as well as growers digging out
Thompson acreage in favor of Autumn King and Luisco varieties that are not
old enough to come into production yet. Autumn Kings have begun to become
very limited as well, with minimal supplies available and price continuing to
remain at record high levels. This seasons’s Luisco crop looks to be nonexistent due to problems at bloom time. Currently, demand exceeds supply
and this has pushed prices into the atmosphere on what remains for CA green
grapes. Expect the CA green grape season to tail off very quickly. Prices will
continue to remain high on the last of the fruit leading up to the Chilean
season.
BLACK SEEDLESS
We are beginning to see the end of the black seedless crop for the
season. Quality issues are starting to arise since most fruit has been harvested
and is already in the box. The Autumn Royal crop will continue to move along
steadily but in very limited supplies. Most shippers expect to see clean
inventories by the last week of November. The mid – October rains will hamper
black grape availability and quality but a lot of the acreage has already been
harvested for the season.
RED GLOBE
The CA red globe season is continuing on steadily as we reach the
final month or so of shipping. Pacific Rim markets have helped to increase
demand, even on bagged fruit. Red globe volume still remains off from season
prior but good supplies still remain on the industry’s storage reports. Expect
to see normal demand but decreased supply due to a very light set. Expect the
red globes to begin to finish by the last week of November, carrying only
minimal volume into December. This season will be one of the smallest crops
in recent history due to a combination of light sets in the field, as well as
growers digging out large acreages of the crop. Volume should carry us up to
December, but supplies look to tighten up relatively quickly. Some shippers
have already started to experience quality issues in their late season Red
Globes so many are looking to move volume while quality is still there.
BRAZILIAN FESTIVAL GRAPES
The Brazilian Festival season is going strong. Containers continue to
arrive on the East Coast with decent volume. Quality looks to be good, but
volume is expected to be very minimal due to recent weather. Most retailers
have already begun to make the transition from CA green grapes. Volume will
still be limited and with the combination of the light volume available in
California, prices have remained high. We are expecting to see a demand –
exceeds market until we reach Chilean green grapes late in December. Price
will remain high for the remainder of the season and looks to steadily increase
over the next few weeks as CA greens reach the end of their rope. Hold on for
the ride, things are going to get pricey!
CHILEAN GRAPES & STONE FRUIT
The first vessels of Chilean grapes destined for the East Coast are
not expected to be loaded until the end of November. Arrivals look to be a
couple weeks behind schedule due to late ripening fruit in Chile. Also, recent
weather in most of the main growing regions will limit availability all season.
Little details are available, but this season looks to be starting off on the wrong
foot. The first west coast vessel has not been scheduled yet but expect it to
arrive no sooner than Christmas. This will put a lot of pressure on the fruit that
remains, as well as Brazilian Festival grapes. Cherries and stone fruit also look
to be touched by the weather which will lead to decreased supplies as well as
very limited air shots to begin the season.
SPECIALTY CROPS
POMEGRANATES
Recent rains have created some cracking that has started to show in
the field but a lot of good fruit still remains to be harvested. We have reached
full swing on the Wonderful variety, the bread and butter of the pomegranate
season. This is the variety that is known for having the darkest skin seeds and
the best for overall eating experience. Smaller sizes have become more limited
but expect good supplies in larger size fruit. Most growers are in a mad dash to
finish harvesting any fruit that still remains on the tree. Expect to see good
availability through the end of the month. All large size (24 & larger) and
smaller fruit (40 & smaller) will clean up by the end of the month and will only
leave the peak sizes (30 – 36) available going into December.
Pomegranates are not only tasty and sweet but they help to lower the
“bad’ cholesterol are loaded with antioxidants.
PERSIMMONS
Right now is the primetime persimmon season. Shippers continue to
pick both Haychia and Fuyu varieties here in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Volume has begun to pick up. The crop looks to be very consistent this season
with good volume to come in the next couple weeks. Most shippers are
expected to pick Fuyu variety for 2 more weeks and Haychia through the end
of the month. Warmer weather over the last few days may help to prolong the
persimmon season as long as growers don’t start experiencing to much black
“shoe polish” on their Haychia crops. Expect to see persimmon availability on
both varieties leading into December.
Persimmons are best ripened at room temperature and then stored in the
refrigerator and at best eaten at the ripe stage. This interesting fruit has no
cholesterol, no fat and no sodium.
QUINCE
The CA quince season continues along steadily. Most growers have
harvested their crop for the year and the fruit is already in the box. Smaller
sizes have begun to disappear with plenty of larger sized fruit remaining.
Quince are a great exotic item to display and have remained a big hit with
Hispanic and Middle – Eastern shoppers. Volume looks to remain consistent,
quince can store for more than a year in controlled atmosphere.
California is one of the few states that harvest this quince. Quinces are bet
stored in the refrigerator and are a good source of Vitamin A and low on
calories.