May 18, 2017
OVERVIEW
Lettuceisstableandweareseeinggreatprices.Duetoagapinsupply,broccoliisnowinanEXTREMEMARKET.
Althoughwesawanotherspikeincauliflower,itisbackdown.Celery,lemonsandorangesarestillinaveryEXTREME
MARKETandweareseeingashortageinsupply.
MARKET ALERTS
AVOCADO-EXTREME
BROCCOLI-EXTREME
CILANTRO-ESCALATED
LEMONS-SIZING
ASPARAGUS–LARGESIZES
PARSLEY–EXTREME
CELERY-EXTREME
GARLIC-EXTREME
ORANGES-EXTREME
TOMATOES-EXTREME
GOOD BUYS
CONECABBAGE
Conecabbageisavariationofcabbagethatisfairlynewtothemarket.ConecabbageoriginatedinGermany
whereitisverypopularasitsusedoftenforsauerkraut.Theflavorofconecabbageismoremildandsweeter
thanothercabbagevarieties.It’salsoanexcellentsourceofantioxidantsandvitaminClikeothervarieties.
Conecabbageistypicallyharvestedearlierthatothervarietieswhichmakesnowtheperfecttimetobuy!
Conecabbagecanbeeatenraw,grilledorroasted.
Jicamaisanundertheradarvegetablebuthasmanynutritionalbenefitsandcanbeusedinawidevarietyof
ways.JicamaisarootvegetablethatisnativetoCentralandSouthAmericaandhasalargeamountofvitamin
C(roughly40%ofyourdailyrequirement).Duetohighlevelofdietaryfiberinjicamaitisgreatfordigestion
anddigestiveconditions.Jicamaisuniquewithitsjuicybutsweetandnuttyflavor,withanaddedcrunch.
Checkouttherecipebelowforjicamachipsforaneasy,delicioussnack.
JicamaChips:
Ingredients:
• 1lbofJicama
• OliveOil
• Salt&Pepperasdesired
1. Peela1-poundjicamainhalflengthwise
2. Slicethejicamaonamandolinorwithaknife
3. Spreadtheslicesoutovertwotothreeparchment-lined,rimmedbakingsheetstofitthejicamain
singlelayers
4. Brushthejicamaonbothsideswithathincoatingofoliveoilandsprinklewithsaltandfreshly
groundblackpepper
5. Bakeat200°F,turningthejicamaevery20minutesorso,untilcrisp,90to100minutes.
TRANSPORTATION & WEATHER
TrucksareingoodsupplyinCalifornia,Arizona,WashingtonandTexas.Freightratesarefirm.Availabilityhas
tightenedinFlorida;alsoEasternOregon.
SOUTHEAST:IncreaseincloudcoverwiththunderstormsintheforecastforSundaythroughWednesday.
COACHELLA:Plentyofsunshinewithoptimalgrowingconditionsthisweek.Heatiscomingon!
CENTRALCOAST:ExtendedforecastcallsforplentyofSunshine,milddaysandnormaleveninglow
temperatures.
FRUITS & VEGETABLES
AVOCADOSEXTREMEOntheimmediatehorizon,weexpecttoseeanactivemarketscontinue.Longterm
marketforecastsarestillfortheWinterMexicancroptoslowdownfasterthanexpectedwhilePeruand
Californiaareslowtorampupmakingaveryactiveavocadomarketfortheforeseeablefuture.
BANANASDemandandqualityaregoodandinventoriesarelighterthisweek.
GRAPESSuppliesareunchangedanddemandislight.SugraoneandFlamepricingaredownthisweekwith
largersizesgettingapremium.ExpecttoseethefirstcrossingthroughNogalesearlynextweek.
KIWISuppliesaregood.Wearestillseeingslightlyhigherpriceswithqualitybeingaverage.
BLUEBERRIESMarketisimproving.-ProductionisincreasinginBajaCaliforniaandOxnard;priceshavecome
down.HighpricesandtightsupplycontinuefornewblueberrycropinGeorgiaandNorthCarolina.Theseason
iswindingdowninCentralMexico.
BLACKBERRIESBlackberrieswillbeintightsupplythroughthismonthaslate-seasonproductionisonthe
declineinCentralMexico.TheblackberryharvestinSalinas-WatsonvillewillbegininJune.
RASPBERRIESRaspberriesareinpeakseasonproductioninCentralMexicoandSouthernCalifornia,with
plentifulavailabilitythroughmid-May.CentralCaliforniagrowersarenowharvestingaswell.
STRAWBERRIESStrawberriesfromCentralandSouthernCaliforniawillbeingoodsupplyallmonth.Thesize
profilehasincreasedwithfieldsnowyieldinglarger-sizedberries.Stemstrawberrieshavebecomeavailable
althoughsuppliesremaintight.Availabilitywillbeplentifulthroughthismonth.
CALIFORNIA-ARIZONA CITRUS
**Valenciasarerampingupandlateseasonnavelvarietiesareavailable.
GRAPEFRUITCaliforniagrapefruitmarketisincreasing.Texasgrapefruitisfinishingup.CaliforniaStarRuby
andwhitegrapefruitisavailable.
LEMONSEXTREMESuppliesof140S,165Sand200Scontinuetobeverytight.Andwillcontinuetogettighter
andmoreexpensive.Meyerlemonsareavailable.Mostlylargefruitavailable,75/95/115.SouthAmerican
lemonsareexpectedtostartarrivinglateJuneandwewillnotseemuchimprovementwithlemonsuntilJune.
LIMES(PERSIAN)Limesareavailable,packinginTexas.Greatqualityandcolor.
ORANGES
Navels:Navels,88SandsmallerwillbeverylimitedandverylightinsupplyuntillateMAY.Lateseasonvariety,
72/56/88Qualityisokay,expectsomecreasingandpuff.
Specialties:Minneolaseasoniswindingdownwithafewsmallsizesavailable.BloodOrangesareingood
supplyandgreatcolor.CaraCaraswillbefinishingupfirstweekofMay.OjaiPixietangerinesandGolden
Nuggetsareavailable.HaloswillbeavailablethroughMay.
PINEAPPLESupplycontinuestobetight.Vesseldelayshavecausedorderstobepushedback.
CALIFORNIA LETTUCE
GREEN&REDLEAFQualityisimproving.Pricesaredownandsupplyismuchbetter.
BUTTERPricesaredownandsupplyisgood.
ICEBERGLETTUCESuppliesaregood.Qualityismuchbetterandpriceshavecomedownalot.
ROMAINEGoodsupply.Qualityhasimproved.
ROMAINEHEARTSSuppliesaregood,pricearedown.Qualityisgood.
EASTERN & WESTERN VEGETABLES
GREEN&REDBELLPEPPERS
GreenBellPeppers:PeppersuppliesaredowninFloridaandGeorgiaasresultofthecoolweatherslowing
overallcropgrowth.Coachellaproductionisrampingupandmarketshavebeenactive.Nogalesisdonefor
theseason.OccasionalbruisingispresentintheFlorida/Georgiaproduct.Demandisstrongforlate-season
redbellsinNogalesandCoachella;tightavailabilitywillcontinuethroughmid-May.
RedBellPepper:Nogalesaredonefortheseason.Coachellarampingup--expecttoseeBakersfield
productionmid-June.
CUCUMBERSRecenthotweatherhasresultedinoccasionalqualityissuesforlate-seasoncucumbersin
Florida.ThenewcropharvestiswellunderwayinGeorgia.Nogaleswillcontinuethroughthethirdweekof
May.BajaCaliforniaisexpectedtobeinfullproductionbytheendofnextweek.Pricesareslightlyincreased
acrossallgrowingregions.
ENGLISHCUCUMBERS(EURO)SuppliesfromEasternCanadaareplentiful.NogalesshipperswillhaveEnglish
Cucumbersthroughmid-May.
GREENBEANSSuppliesarerampingupoutofGeorgiaandarebeginningtopressureFOBquotesdown
slightlycomparedtolastweek.Unfortunately,nomajorreliefisexpecteduntilthemiddleofthemonth
whenproductionisexpectedtobeginoutofCoachellaandtheCentralValley.
ZUCCHINI&YELLOWSQUASHTherehavebeensomeunexpectedpressureonthesquashmarketasMexican
Productionhasdippeddramaticallyduetoheatrelatedimpacts.Domesticsuppliesaredownslightlyinthe
SoutheastduetocoolerweatherandhavedrivenFOBpricesup.Productqualityisgoodintheeastwhilein
thewesttherearenoticeableheatrelatedissues.Fresnohasbeguncleaningupfieldsthisweekandexpect
fullproductionbylatenextweek.
ACORN,BUTTERNUT&SPAGHETTISQUASHSquashesarereadilyavailableandmarkettrendspointto
supplyexceedingdemand.ThereisamplevolumeofdarkgreenzucchinisinFloridaandGeorgia,andareally
niceyellowsquashcropforthistimeofyearaswell.Withthepressurefromthewhitefliesthatplagued
Georgia’searlyfallcropwaydown,theyellowsquashvolumeisincreasingandthequalityismuchmore
consistent.Georgiaisstartingonitslastnewfieldsthisweek,withFloridarampingupbytheendofthe
month.
MANGOESSupplyandqualityareexpectedtobeinshortsupply.PeruhasfinishedandNicaraguaisstarting
nextweekwithverylowvolume.Mexicoisbeingdelayedaswell.
MELONS
Importvolumehasstartedtodeclineandtherehasbeenanoticeableshiftinsizingtowardsbiggerfruit.
Finalarrivalsareexpectedtheweekof5/22.Qualityremainsatoptimallevelswithgoodcolorandnetting.
Brixlevelsareinthe11-14%range.Offeringwillbeavailablenextweekoutofthedesert.Loadvolume
anticipatedbytheweekofMemorialDay
Honeydewproductionstillleansmoretothe5sandlargerbutenough6/8sarefindingtheirwayintotake
careofregularbusiness.Heaviervolumeswillalsobegintotaperoffbeginningnextweek.Finalarrivalsare
expectedtheweekof5/22.Offeringwillbeavailablenextweekoutofthedesert.Loadvolumeanticipated
bytheweekofMemorialDay
WATERMELONSSeedlessvarietiesremainsteadywithregardstosupplyandpricing.Wewillbegintoseea
declineinsupplynextweekastheoffshoremelonseasonbeginstowinddown.Weanticipateaboutthree
moreweeksofarrivals.
HERBS
Freshherbsareverysteady.SuppliesarelookinggoodonallherbsexceptSAVORYisstilllimitedasit
reboundsfromthecoldandheatwehadoverthepastseveralweeks.
CILANTROQualityisvariableasthereisstillyellowingwithsomedecay.Pricearehighandweareseeing
shortages.
BASILcontinuesformourfieldsinMexicoandourlocalfieldsinCalifornia.Weshouldbeinfulllocal
productionbytheendofthemonth.Theheavyrainthispastwinterdiddelayourplanting.
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.
ASPARAGUSPeruiscurrentlyexperiencingrainandunusuallyhightemperatureswhichhavecombinedto
slowtheproductionoflargecaliberspears.ThevastmajorityofproductbeingharvestedisintheSTANDARD
calibermeasurementsandproductionofLARGE,XL,ANDJUMBOhasdeclineddramatically.Itisexpectedthat
th
thisconditionwillpersistatleastuntilMay15 .Duetothisunforeseenproductionproblem,wewillbeforced
toREDUCEprogramshipmentsofLARGEasparagusby10%inhopesthatthiswillenableustocoverthe
majorityofprogramrequirements.
BOKCHOYQualityisgoodandweareseeingsomehigherquotesonWGAcartons.
BROCCOLIDuetoagapinsupplyweareseeingescalatedpricesandashortageinsupply.
BRUSSELSPROUTSHigherpricesandtightersuppliesremainbutarelevelingout.Qualityisimproving.
CARROTSThereisagoodsupplywithsolidquality.
CAULIFLOWERMarkethasimproved,qualityisgoodandpricesaredown.
CELERYEXTREMEUnfortunately,wehavenotseenmuchimprovementinthismarket.Prorateshavebeen
rangingbetween35%-50%thisweek.WearedoneinYumaandtheOxnardcropisbehindschedule.Quality
isjustfair.
CORNFloridaSweetCornisplentifulwithpromotionalpricingavailable.SuppliesarelightoutofCoachellaon
yellow,biandwhile.QualityisoutstandingandnomajorchangesareexpectedthroughMemorialDay.
FENNELSuppliesfortheweekwillbelight.
GARLIC:EXTREMEMARKETTheoverallsupplyofgarlicisvery,verytight.
ConcerningChineseimports,inFebruaryUSCustomsplacedaheftyimportduty($4.71/Kg)ononeofthe
fewChineseshipperswhohistoricallyhadlittletonoduty.The2016Chinesecropwasalreadylessthan
normal.ThisadditionalfactorhasfurtherlessenedtheamountofChineseproductavailableintheUS
market.
Thenew2017ChinesesupplyshouldbeavailableintheUSaroundlateJune.Inregardstoourdomestic
supply,wearecertainlytighterthanwewouldliketobe.Asexpected,thepeelingrecoveriesarea
percentageortwolowerasthecropisgettingalittleolder.Wearestillafewmonthsofffromthenew2017
Californiacrop.Twoweeksago,wedidstarttoseesomeinitialclovesformingintheheads,whichisnormal.
However,ingeneralthecroplookstobealittlebehindschedule.Yesterdayandtodaytheweatherinour
area(Bakersfield,CA)isaround100°F.Ifitcontinuestostaythishotitwillhelpspeedupthedevelopmentof
thegarlic.
GINGERChinesegingerisingoodsupply.Itisbeingofferedatasubstantialdiscountcomparedtoginger
fromBrazil.
GREENCABBAGEGreencabbagehasimproved,suppliesaregoodandqualityisgoodintheeastaswellas
thewest.VolumeincentivesareavailableoutofGeorgia.
GREENONIONS
Iced:Thismarkethasleveledoffwithsteadycrossingslastweek.Thecrossingsshouldremainatcurrent
levelswithgoodsupplies.
Iceless:Thismarkethasleveledoffandshouldremainsteady.Contractsandpre-commitmentsareholding
themarketfirm.
JICAMANormalpricesandqualityisgood.
KALE(GREEN)Demandissteadyandqualityisbetter.
MACHEAdequateavailability.
NAPASuppliesarelightbutmuchbetterthanlastweek.Wewillcontinuetoseeimprovement.
PARSLEY(CURLY,ITALIAN)EXTREMEWeareseeingpricesthatareveryhighandinescalation.Qualityis
average.
RADISHESQualityisgoodandsupplyisplentiful.
REDCABBAGEQualityandsizinghavebeengreat,withgoodcolor.Overall,themarketisstrong.
SNOW&SUGARSNAPPEASSnowandsugarsnappeasareinhighdemandwithgoodquality.
BABYSPINACHBabyandclippedspinachsuppliesarelight.Qualityisfairtogood,withgoodprices.There
aresomereportsofmildew.
BUNCHEDSPINACHSupplyisgood,qualityhasimproved.
SPRINGMIXThereisplentyofproductwithgoodquality.
ONIONSPricinghasstartedtodroponyellowandredonionsoutofallgrowingregions.TheImperialValley
growingareainCaliforniahascontinuedtoincreasevolumethisweekandmoregrowerswillcontinueto
startnextweek.OnionsremaininIdaho,Washington,andTexas.Texascontinuestoyieldasmallsizeprofile
heavytomediumsandsmalljumbosduetodiseasedfields.Whiteonionshavebecomemoreavailablewhich
weanticipatewilldecreasepricesaswell.
POTATOES(IDAHO)ThedemandonlargeIdahocartonscontinuesfortheforeseeablefuture.Youcan
expectpricingtocontinueontheupside,hopefullyinanorderlyfashion.Thedemandonsmallercartons
80'sthru100'sisfair.Priceshaveremainedsteadywithdealsonthesesizeswithdifferentoperators.The
demandonconsumerpacksarepoor,withsomeoperationsunabletorunfullshifts.Thisalsofactorsinto
largercartonsbeinghardtofind.
ThegrowersareworkingveryhardtogetthenewIdahocropinthegroundfortheupcominggrowing
season.Westillseeasmalldelayinplantings,butexpectthegrowerwillclosethisgapwithgoodweather.
TherewasnewslastweekofamajorFrenchfryprocessormakinga200milliondollarexpansionintotheir
Burleyplant.Itisexpectedthattheywillneedanadditional15,000acresofpotatoesperseason.Nomajor
transportationissuestoreport.
TOMATOES
East:
• Rounds–EXTREMESuppliesintheeastcontinuetodropduetoextremelylowproduction.With
thetransitionfromSouthernFloridatotheRuskin/Palmettonowcomplete,weexpectaverytight
marketnowthroughthefirstweekofJuneonceQuincyandCarolinatomatoproductionbegins.
Pricingwillbetriggeredthisweekandmostlikelyhitlidsonseveralpacksizes
• Roma-EXTREME–Suppliesareverytightonromasduetothesameissuesweareseeingonthe
rounds.Inadditiontotheloweryieldswithlighterproductionontheroundsweexpecttosee
higherromademand.
• Grapes-EXTREME–Suppliesareextremelytightanddemandwillcontinuetoincreasedueto
lightervolumeonothervarietiesofsnackingtomatoescontinues.
• Cherries-EXTREME–Demandisupasqualityproductisdifficulttofindinthewest.FOBpricesare
mostlyunchanged,butqualityisoutstanding.
West/Mexico:EXTREME
• Rounds-EXTREME–Vine-ripeproductionislighterthisweekthroughNogalesandqualityispoor.
McAllenandOtaywillcontinuetoseeimprovementinvolume.FOBpricesareupsignificantlyfrom
lastweek.Notonlywillwecontinuetoseenormalregionaldemandbutnowwewillseeadditional
demandpullfortheeast.
• Romas-EXTREME–SuppliesandqualityaregoodthroughOtayandareexpectedtoremain
unchangedoverthenextseveralweeks.Nogalesisdonefortheseasonthisweek.McAllencrossing
aredownandexpectedtobelightthroughJune1.FOBpricesaresignificantlyhigherthisweek.
• Grapes-EXTREME–CrossingsarelighterthisweekfromBajaandqualityisveryinconsistent
dependingonthegrowingregion.FOBPricesarehigherthisweek.
• Cherries-EXTREME–Suppliesareverytightandqualityisgood.WearestillseeingFOBpricesraise
weekly.
WASHINGTON APPLES, PEARS & TREE FRUIT
Apples:Demandandmovementissteadyonthelargersizedfruitacrossallgrades.GoldsandGrannys
remainextremelyshortwiththeindustrystillseeingbetteryieldson100sandsmallerforallothervarieties.
Weexpecttoseethiscontinuethroughtherestoftheseason.Offshoredealsremainsteady;Galasare
plentifulandtheGrannyvolumeisrampingup.
Pears:BoscandAnjouarereadilyavailabledomesticallyoutofWashington.WeexpecttoseeCalifornia
begininJuly.OffshoreBoscandPackhamsuppliesaresteady.
StoneFruit:Offshore
•
•
•
Peaches:Done
Nectarines:Done
Plums:Done
StoneFruit:DomesticLoadingReedley,CA
•
•
•
•
•
Cherries:9-12rownowavailable.AggressiveFOB
priceson12’sandSpurs/Doubles
Nectarines:YellowandWhiteavailableTP48-64’s
Peaches:YellowandWhiteavailableTP56-64’s
Plums:Availablenextweek.
Apricots:TP64-80’savailable
Atlanta
5400 Laurel Springs Pkwy Suite 1002
Suwanee, GA 30024
Phone: 678.947.3000
Nashville
One Vantage Way Suite B-440
Nashville, TN 37228
Phone: 615.259.0290
Buffalo Grove
100 Lexington Drive Suite 201
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Phone: 847.808.3030
Chicago
230 W. Huron Street Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312.573.7610
Salinas
60 West Market Suite 130
Salinas, CA 93901
Phone: 831.455.7800