April 6th, 2023 Market Report
Lettuce:
Lettuce markets are active and sold out. The season is ending in Yuma for this commodity. Production in Huron has started and will continue for three to four weeks. Salinas will start out on the lighter side of production due to past heavy rains that caused some acreage to be lost. The warm temperatures in Yuma will likely cut shippers production by a few weeks at a minimum. Some common defects being reported include misshapen heads, pinking, and discoloration. Quality is fair to good.
Leaf:
– Romaine markets are active. Yuma’s warm temperatures will likely end production ahead of schedule by two weeks. Huron has begun harvesting and some production will be in Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Salinas. Common defects include fringe burn, blistering, and peeling. Quality is fair to good.
– Romaine Heart markets are active. Yuma’s warm temperatures will likely end production ahead of schedule by two weeks. Huron has begun harvesting and some production will be in Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Salinas. Common defects include fringe burn, blistering, and peeling. Quality is fair to good.
– Green and Red Leaf markets are active. Yuma’s warm temperatures will likely end production ahead of schedule by two weeks. Huron has begun harvesting and some production will be in Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Salinas. Common defects include fringe burn, blistering, and peeling. Quality is fair to good.
Lettuce Tender Leaf:
Supplies continue to be available for parsley, cilantro, spinach, spring mix and arugula due to the current and recent warm weather in Yuma. The weather in the growing region will continue to be good into the weekend. Overall, quality is expected to be fair.
Broccoli:
Markets are active and sold out. Supplies are extremely limited in Yuma as we approach transition. Quality is fair.
Cauliflower:
Markets are active and sold out. Demand exceeds supply as we approach the end of the Yuma season. Salinas has just begun this week. Quality is fair.
Carrots:
– Cello and Loose markets are elevated but steady. Quality is good.
– Value-add Snack Carrots are steady. Quality is good.
Celery:
Celery markets are steady. Santa Maria and Oxnard will have plenty of supplies throughout the week. Although there has been plenty of rain in this growing region, this commodity continues to be available to meet all demands. The quality continues to be good, with only slight seeder being reported. Florida’s production is light but available.
Strawberries & Bush Berries:
– Strawberries are in very limited supply. Florida and Mexico are finished. Santa Maria and Oxnard are slowly picking up the pace, but they are not able to meet the increased demand coming from the finished areas. This is causing a demand-exceeds-supply situation out west. It appears that California’s weather is warming up, which should help bring in some additional numbers.
– Raspberries markets are up. Shippers continue to see light production out of Central Mexico. Production in California will begin approximately 4 weeks. Quality is fair.
– Blueberries markets are elevated but steady with some fruit shipping out of Florida. We should see even more domestic fruit coming on over the next 2 weeks. Quality is good.
– Blackberries markets are up and availability is tight. Production out of Central Mexico continues to be light. There is currently a gap as we wait for warmer weather to bring in product out of California. Start dates are expected to be delayed for two to three more weeks out of Santa Maria and Oxnard. Quality is fair.
Potatoes:
The potato market is strong and starting to tighten up. 40ct through 80ct are becoming tighter. We will be in old crop for another 4 months, Quality is good
Onions:
The onion market is getting very tight with heavy rain in Texas and Mexican crop winding down. Overall quality is good.
Cucumbers:
– Cucumber market is steady. Quality is good.
– Euro cucumbers are elevated but steady. Quality is good.
Peppers:
– Green bells markets are steady. Quality is good.
– Red Pepper markets are down. Quality is fair to good.
Herbs:
– Basil: We are still seeing quality issues and some availability issues as well. Overall, quality is fair to good.
Citrus
– Orange markets are steady, but will tighten up with the rain/cold weather in the forecast. Quality is good.
– Lemon markets are up. Small fruit is tight due to rain increasing fruit size. The market continues to climb. Quality is good.
– Limes Pricing has started out steady but is expected to strengthen by the end of the week. Lime volume will decrease due to growers working partial days because of Holy Week. Inbounds from Mexico will be limited until the middle of next week. Currently Veracruz is calling for 70%+ chance of rain every day from Thursday until Wednesday next week. Quality will stay consistent with what it has been recently. There is some scarring and a little bit of skin breakdown on fruit that is crossing. Skin breakdown and any stylar is being graded out the best it can be. Overall quality is good.
Tomatoes:
The tomato market is low on all items with heavy volumes packed in Florida and crossing from Mexico. Quality is good.
Cabbage:
– Green Cartons: markets are steady. Quality has been good.
– Red Cartons: Markets are steady. Quality has been good.
– Bagged Cabbage: Markets are steady. Quality is fair to good.
Market Alerts:
The items listed below are being prorated by Shippers.
1.) Broccolini 18ct & 3/2lb
2.) Blueberries
3.) Strawberries
4.) Raspberries
5.) Lettuce Liner & Cello
6.) Leeks
7.) Cauliflower