June 8, 2017
OVERVIEW
CeleryandlemonsarestillinaveryEXTREMEMARKETandweareseeingashortageinsupply.Weareseeing
improvementincelery.GarlicisstilltightandweneedtosubstituteMexicanproduct.
MARKET ALERTS
AVOCADO-EXTREME
GARLIC-EXTREME
PARSLEY–EXTREME
CELERY-ESCALTED
LEMONS-SIZING
TOMATOES-EXTREME
WATERMELON-EXTREME
GOOD BUYS
STONEFRUIT
PeachesandNectarines.Peachesandnectarinesaredeliciousandsweetbythemselves.Theyarealsogreatin
tropicaldrinks,smoothies,anddeliciouswhenaddedtoasalad.
TRANSPORTATION & WEATHER
TrucksareingoodsupplyinCalifornia,Arizona,WashingtonandTexas.Freightratesarefirm.Availabilityhas
tightenedinFlorida;alsoEasternOregon.
SOUTHEAST:Expectscatteredshowersthroughnextweek.
COACHELLA:PlentyofsunshinewithaveragedaytimehighsthroughTuesday.
CENTRALCOAST:Extendedforecastcallsformilddaysandnormaleveninglowtemperatures.Expect
scatteredshowersthroughnextweek.
FRUITS & VEGETABLES
AVOCADOSEXTREMEOntheimmediatehorizon,weexpecttoseeactivemarketscontinue.Longterm
marketforecastsstillexpecttheWinterMexicancroptoslowdownfasterthanexpected,whilePeruand
Californiaareslowtorampupmakingaveryactiveavocadomarketfortheforeseeablefuture.
BANANASDemandandqualityaregoodandinventoriesarelighterthisweek.
GRAPESOffshoreisdone.SuppliesareimprovingoutofNogales,howeverwe’restillseeinglowbrixlevelson
redandgreen.BlackGrapeslookthebest,largersizedandfullcolor.Thereispotentialtoseepromotional
volumeoverthenextweek.Forredandgreen,sizinghasimprovedsome;10-12’sismostcommon.Falmes
haveverylightsupplystillandareseeingapoorcastinmostpacks.Largersizedredsandgreensarepricedin
themid20’stolow30’s.
KIWISuppliesaregood.Wearestillseeingslightlyhigherpriceswithqualitybeingaverage.
BLUEBERRIESProductionisincreasinginBajaCaliforniaandOxnard;priceshavecomedown.Pricesarevaried
throughouttheregion,qualityisgood.
BLACKBERRIESBlackberriesaregoodinsupplythroughthemonth.Qualityisgood.
RASPBERRIESGoodqualityandsupply.CentralCaliforniagrowersarenowharvestingaswell.
STRAWBERRIESAvailabilitywillbeplentifulthroughthismonth.Qualityhasimproved.
CALIFORNIA-ARIZONA CITRUS
GRAPEFRUITCaliforniaStarRubyandWhitegrapefruitareavailable;organicsareaswell.
LEMONSEXTREMELemonsremainextremelytightonallsizesandgrades.OrdersatWonderfulwillcontinue
tobeheavilyproratedandqualityisextremelypoor.Importlemonsandnavelswillbeavailableinthenext
twotothreeweeks.DomesticnavelsandMinneolasarejustaboutdone.
LIMES(PERSIAN)Limesareavailable.Greatqualityandcolor.
ORANGES
Navels/Valencias:
Lateseasonvarietydomesticnavels,fewremaining.Qualityisgoodexpectcreasingandpuff.Valenciasand
rd
organicsareavailable.Importnavelswillarrivearoundthe3 weekinJune.
PINEAPPLESupplywillbeimprovingoverthenextfewweeksasvesselsarriveandarebeingunloaded.
CALIFORNIA LETTUCE
GREEN&REDLEAFQualityisimproving.Pricesaredownandsupplyisgood.
BUTTERPricesaredownandsupplyisgood.
ICEBERGLETTUCESuppliesaregood.Qualityisgood,pricesarenormal.
ROMAINEGoodsupply.Qualityhasimproved.
ROMAINEHEARTSSuppliesaregood,pricesaredown.Qualityisgood,withoccasionalmildew.
EASTERN & WESTERN VEGETABLES
PEPPERS
GreenBellPeppers:PeppersuppliesaregoodoutofGeorgiaandmarketsaredownslightly.Coachellais
almostfinished,Bakersfield,SomisandOxnardarestartingupthisweek.WeareseeinghigherpepperFOB
pricesinthewestthisweek.
RedBellPepper:Coachellaisnowwindingdown,SominsandOxnardarerampingup.FOBpricesaremostly
unchangedfromlastweek.
YellowPepper:SteadysupplyoutofCoachella.
MiniSweetPepper:LightsuppliesloadinginSanDiegoandNogales
CUCUMBERSThecropisbeingproducedinGeorgiabutduetotherecentrains,wecouldseesomequality
issuesaswellasadipinproduction.WeareseeingnewcropinNorthCarolinarampupthisweekaswell.
Nogalesarestillcrossingafewaswell.BajaCaliforniaisnowinfullproduction.FOBpricesaredownfrom
lastweek.Qualityinthewestisoutstanding.
ENGLISHCUCUMBERS(EURO)SuppliesfromEasternCanadaareplentiful.Nogalesshippersshouldhave
EnglishCucumbersthroughnextweek.
GREENBEANSSuppliesarestableoutofGeorgiahoweverFOBpricesaretickingupwardsduetoquality
pressure.Lightsuppliesoutofthedesert,stillsomedecentvolumeloadinginNogales.Thereshouldbe
additionalvolumeoutwestlaterthisweek.
ZUCCHINI&YELLOWSQUASHDomesticsuppliesaregoodintheSoutheast.Productqualityisgoodinthe
eastaswellasthewest.FresnoGreenSquashproductionisrampingupwhileyellowisexpectedtobeginin
goodnumberslatenextweek.OverallFOBpricesaredownthisweek.
ACORN,BUTTERNUT&SPAGHETTISQUASHNotinseason
MANGOESGoodsupplyandgoodavailability
MELONS
Cantaloupeproductionispeakingcurrentlyoutofthedesertregion.Sizingisheavilyweightedtolarger
sizedmelons(9sandlarger)withevenregularsized9ctbeinglimited.Noimmediatereliefinsizingis
anticipatedoverthenextsevendays.Demandexceedssupplywith12/15s.Qualityremainsstrongwith
solidbrixlevelsinthe11-14%rangewithverygoodflavorprofiles.
Honeydewsarealsoinademandexceedssupplyscenariowithnotenoughdomesticproductionandlow
numberscrossingthroughNogalesfromMexico.Outlookremainssteadyoverthenext7-10
days.Productioncomingfromthedesertregionisprimarily5/6swith8sbeingverylimited.
Arizonaproductionwillcontinueforanotherfourweeks.ThenextregionwewillmovetoistheFirebaugh
districtintheSanJoaquinValley.Thisarea,asofrightnow,isapproximately7-10daysbehindscheduledue
totheheavyrainsthathitCaliforniainApril.Someearlyfieldshadtobereplantedwhichpushesback
production.Iftheregionishitbyextremeheatoverthenextfewweeksitmayassistinpushingsomeofthe
fruituptothefirstweekofJulyallowingforasmoothtransition.
WATERMELONSEXTREMEVERYLIGHTSupply,thecompoundingoftherainintheeastandthelightvolume
inthewesthascausedasevereshortage.Wemightnotseebettervolumeforthenext2to3weeks.
HERBS
Freshherbsareverysteady.SuppliesarelookinggoodonallherbsexceptSAVORYisstillslightlylimitedasit
reboundsfromthecoldandheatwehadoverthepastseveralweeks.
HERBS
HERB
SUPPLIES
QUALITY
COUNTRYOFORIGIN
Arugula
Good
Good
USA
Basil
Good
Good
USA/MEXICO
OpalBasil
Good
Good
USA/MEXICO
ThaiBasil
Good
Good
USA/MEXICO
BayLeaves
Good
Good
COLUMBIA
Chervil
Good
Good
USA
Chives
Good
Good
USA/MEXICO
Cilantro
Good
Good
USA
Dill
Good
Good
USA/MEXICO
Episode
Good
Good
MEXICO
Lemongrass
Good
Good
USA
Marjoram
Steady
Good
USA
Mint
Good
Good
USA
Oregano
Good
Good
USA
ItalianParsley
Good
Good
USA
Rosemary
Limited
Good
USA
Sage
Good
Good
USA/MEXICO
Savory
Good
Good
USA
Sorrel
Good
Good
USA
Tarragon
Good
Good
MEXICO
Thyme
Good
Good
USA
LemonThyme
Good
Good
USA
Lavender
Good
Good
USA
LimeLeaves
Good
Good
USA
HoraSanta
Good
Good
USA
ARTICHOKESWeareseeingveryhighpricesandveryshortsupply.Qualityisgood.
ARUGULASuppliesofbothbabyandwildarugulaarelightbutincreasing.
ASPARAGUS–Themarketisimprovingandwewillcontinueinthisdirectiongoingforward.
BOKCHOYQualityisgoodandweareseeingsomehigherquotesonWGAcartons.
BROCCOLIPricesandavailabilityarebacktonormal.Qualityisgood.
BRUSSELSPROUTSHigherpricesandtightersuppliesremainbutarelevelingout.Qualityisimproving.
CARROTSThereisagoodsupplywithsolidquality.
CAULIFLOWERMarkethasimproved,qualityisgoodandpricesaredown.
CELERYESCALTEDMarketisimproving;weexpectthistogobacktonormalwithinaweekorso.Qualityhas
alsoimproved.
CORNGeorgiaSweetCornisplentifulwithpromotionalpricingavailable.SuppliesarelightoutofImperial
Valleyandqualityisstillverygood.
FENNELSuppliesfortheweekwillbelight.
GARLIC:EXTREMETheoverallsupplyofgarlicisvery,verytight.Wenowfeelwewillneedtotransitionalllbs.
toMexican.The2017cropisstilllaggingbehind.Itisdryingdown,justnotasquicklyaswehadhoped.This
transitionwillneedtobeginwithordersshippingnextweek,6/5.AllwillbeMexicanGarlic.
GINGERChinesegingerisingoodsupply.Itisbeingofferedatasubstantialdiscountcomparedtoginger
fromBrazil.
GREENCABBAGEGreencabbagehasimproved,suppliesaregoodandqualityisgoodintheeastaswellas
thewest.VolumeincentivesareavailableoutofGeorgia.
GREENONIONS
Iced:Pricesaregoodandthereisplentyofproduct.
Iceless:Thismarketissteadywithgoodvolume.
JICAMANormalpricesandqualityisgood.
KALE(GREEN)Demandissteadyandqualityisbetter.
MACHEAvailabilityisadequate.
NAPASuppliesarenormal.Qualityisgood.
PARSLEY(CURLY,ITALIAN)EXTREMEWeareseeingpricesthatareveryhighandinescalation.Qualityis
average.
RADISHESQualityisgoodandsupplyisslowingdown.
REDCABBAGEQualityandsizinghavebeengreat,withgoodcolor.Overall,themarketisstrong.
SNOW&SUGARSNAPPEASSnowandsugarsnappeasareinhighdemandwithgoodquality.
BABYSPINACHBabyandclippedspinachsuppliesaregood.Qualityisgood,withgoodprices.Thereare
somereportsofmildew.
BUNCHEDSPINACHSupplyisgood,qualityhasimproved.
SPRINGMIXThereisplentyofproductwithgoodquality.
ONIONSPricinghasdroppedonallsizesandcolorsofonionsasTexas,NewMexico,andCaliforniaareall
shippingnow.TheImperialValleygrowingareainCaliforniaiswindingdownandtheSanJoaquingrowing
regionisstarting.Sizeprofilesareagoodmixacrosstheboardwithmostoftheproductionoccurringon
JumboYellows.WeanticipateplentifulsuppliesforthemonthofJune,whichshouldhelpcontrolpricing.
TherearegapsexpectedinbothNewMexicoandCaliforniaforJuly,soitisexpectedwewillseeaspikein
priceduringthistime.
POTATOES(IDAHO)Itappearsthereisabrokenrecordgoingonhere.Thedemandinthestateonlarger
counts,40'sthrough70'sexceedsdemand.Pricescontinuetoincreaseatareasonablepace,buttheproduct
ishardtocomebyfortheshippingcommunity.The80countsareshowingsomeincreaseindemandand
priceduetothespreadinthelargercounts.Theremainingsizecounts,90'sthrough120's,arereadily
availableanddealscanbemadeonthesesizes.Theconsumerpacksinthestateremainunchangedand
demandisfairatbest.Wehavenotexperiencedweatherissuesatthispointthataffectsthecropinany
negativefashion.Itappearsallisgoingwell.Notransportationproblemstoreportatthistime.
TOMATOES
TOMATOES:EXTREME(roundsonly)
East:
• Rounds–EXTREMESuppliesintheeastwillcontinuetoimproveanddemandismostlyunchangedfrom
lastweek.WeareseeinglightervolumeinSouthGeorgiaandQuincy.Volumeisbeginningtoshiftto
theCarolinas.Pricingwillremaintriggeredthisweekandmostlikelyhitlidsonseveralpacksizes
throughnextweek.
• Roma-Supplieshaveimprovedanddemandisrelativelyflat.
• Grapes-SuppliesareimprovingdailywithnewcropproductionavailableintheCarolinas.Demandis
flatdrivingFOBpricesdown.
• Cherries-EXTREME–Demandisupasqualityproductisdifficulttofindinthewest.FOBpricesare
mostlyunchanged,butqualityisoutstanding.
West/Mexico:EXTREME(roundsonly)
• Rounds-EXTREME–Vine-ripeproductionisstillverylightthisweek.CrossingthroughOtayandMcAllen
arecomingonslowerthananticipatedlastweek.Weshouldseesomecleanuppickslaterthisweekon
CentralValleyProductaswell.Wewillkeepacloseeyeonthisascoolerthanexpectedtempscould
delayharvesting.FOBpriceswillremainelevatedandexpectedtoremainthiswaythroughnextweek.
• Romas-SuppliesandqualityaregoodthroughOtayandareexpectedtoremainunchangedoverthe
nextseveralweeks.Nogalesisdonefortheseasonthisweek.McAllencrossingarealsoup.FOBprices
aredownfromlastweek.
• Grapes-CrossingsareimprovingfromBaja.Qualityhasalsoimprovedsignificantly.Pricesareslightly
downthisweek.
• Cherries-EXTREME–Suppliesareverytightandqualityisgood.FOBPricesareslightlydownfromlast
week.
WASHINGTON APPLES, PEARS & TREE FRUIT
Apples:Demandandmovementissteadyonthelargersizedfruitacrossallgrades.GoldsandGrannys
remainextremelyshortwiththeindustrystillseeingbetteryieldson100sandsmallerforallothervarieties.
Weexpecttoseethiscontinuethroughtherestoftheseason.Offshoredealsremainsteady;Galasare
plentifulandtheGrannyvolumeisrampingup.
Pears:BoscandAnjouarereadilyavailabledomesticallyoutofWashington.WeexpecttoseeCalifornia
begininJuly.OffshoreBoscandPackhamsuppliesaresteady.
StoneFruit:DomesticLoadingReedley,CA
•
•
•
•
•
Cherries:9-12rownowavailable.FOBpricesareupon9.5through12row,Spurs/Doublesarestillaggressively
priced
Nectarines:YellowandWhiteavailableTP48-64’s
Peaches:YellowandWhiteavailableTP56-64’s
Plums:40’sand50’snowavailable
Apricots:TP64-80’savailable