Primo

 Lettuce: 

Lettuce markets are coming off. Expect to see pink discoloration and brown butts on all lettuce packs. The shelf life of value-added products will be shorter. Weights are averaging around 38-43 pounds. There is an AOG increase on all lettuce Value-added products. Quality is fair. 

Leaf: 

Romaine markets are slowly coming off. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. There is an AOG increase on all Romaine Value-added products. Quality is fair. 

Romaine Heart markets are slowly coming off. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. Quality is fair. 

Green and Red Leaf markets are coming off. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. There is an AOG increase on all Green Leaf Value-added products. Quality is fair. 

Lettuce Tender Leaf: 

Arcadian, Arugula, Parsley, Spinach and Spring Mix quality has improved. Quality should keep improving each week with ideal growing weather. Cilantro yields this week were lower due to quality issues and a shortage of supplies. This week’s weather should help cilantro supplies improve for next week. Quality is fair to good. 

Broccoli: 

Markets are up. Supplies are short in Yuma, but with Salinas starting next week, we should see better supplies. Quality is good. 

Cauliflower: 

Markets are up. Supplies are short in Yuma, but with Salinas starting next week, we should see better supplies. Quality is good. 

Carrots: 

Cello markets are steady out West and in Canada. Quality is good. 

Loose market is steady on Mexican crossings and steady on Canadian product as well. Quality is good. 

Value-add Snack Carrots are steady. Quality is good. 

Primo Weekly Market Update 3/21/24 

Celery: 

Markets are up. Product is coming out of Oxnard and Mexico. Yuma is winding down. Quality is good. 

Strawberries & Bush Berries: 

Strawberry The Florida strawberry season is coming to a close. Heavy rain forecasted for the weekend 3/22-3/23 will likely mean the end for quality berries with the remainder going to freezer for processing. We will transition back to the west coast where quality reports are favorable. Look for costs on quality fruit to move up. 

Raspberry markets are coming off. CMEX and Baja production is on the rise going into the end of March. Fruit from CMEX is being transferred to California DC’s. Quality is good. 

Blueberries markets are up slightly again with lighter supplies out of Chile/ Peru. Look for costs to continue to rise until the start of the Florida blueberry crop in late March/early April. Quality has been sharp! 

Blackberries markets are steady. There is still a limited amount of product coming out of CMEX. Central Coast of California is just beginning to scratch the surface. Georgia season will start after Easter. Quality is fair to good. 

Potatoes: 

The Potato market is at the bottom. A lot of deals are being offered, because sheds have to many potatoes on their floor. 40ct through 60cts are tight with pricing firming up. Quality has been good. 

Onions: 

The onion market is very strong. Pricing is up and expected to stay up. Overall quality has been fair, we are seeing some Internal issues in the yellow onions. Red Jumbo onions are very tight. White Jumbo onions are tight. We will be moving into new crop onions out of Mexico starting next week. Primo Weekly Market Update 3/21/24 

Cucumbers: 

Cucumber The market is easing with Mexico crossing better supplies. Florida supplies are lighter, but improving. Honduran arrivals are spotty and winding down for the season. Quality has been fair to good on inbound. 

Euro Cucumbers markets are trading near the bottom with some reports of only fair quality. Great quality cucumbers are bringing a few dollars more. 

Squash: 

The Green squash market is up just slightly from last week, but still a good value. We are seeing good supplies and quality in both Florida and Mexico. Yellow supplies are also in good shape with good quality. 

Eggplant: Quality Eggplant remains in short supply in both Florida and Mexico. Markets remain steady at higher levels. Availability is light. Quality is fair to good, with minor external defects. 

Peppers: 

Green bells market has declined with supplies in Florida in much better shape. Supplies on larger pepper are still showing a higher cost. Quality on inbound has been good overall. 

Red Pepper markets remain very active and are in very short supply. Quality is fair to good. 

Herbs: 

Basil: quality is fair to good. 

Citrus: 

Orange markets are very active. There is a peak in fruit production for 72ct and larger; 88/113/138ct are extremely scarce and will remain so until the end of the navel season. Due to low fruit set and rain events, fruit will continue to grow in size as the season progresses. Brix is between 12 and 14. Currently, there is no gassing. Quality is good. 

Lemon markets are steady on sizes 140ct and larger. Markets on sizes 165ct and smaller are up and extremely tight. Quality is good. 

Primo Weekly Market Update 3/21/24 

Lime Overall volumes of inbound fruit remain lower this week, and we are starting to see an uptick in demand across the industry. This is causing the market to trend upwards on all sizes. Supplies will tighten up even more next two weeks as we head into Holy Week. Most growers in Mexico will shut down the back half of Holy Week, and not begin harvesting again until the Monday or Tuesday after Easter. Any additional lead time on orders will help next week. 

Grapes: 

The demand for imported grapes remains higher than the supply. This week’s incoming volumes will be better than last week’s. A lack of consistency in vessel arrivals prevents a smooth flow of incoming product and keeps the market active. Despite brief periods of shortages, the empty pipeline and pre-committed program volume will keep the market price high. Expectations are this will continue until the Mexican grape deal starts in mid-May. 

Tomatoes: 

Volumes continue improving in Florida with new areas coming on. Bigger fruit is more abundant than the smaller fruit. The warm weather in MX is helping to increase round supply. The prices are pretty much steady from last week. Romas are active and in shorter supply with spotty crossings out of Mexico due to a holiday this week. Look for that trend to continue through the Easter holiday minimally. Good quality out of both Florida and Mexico. Grape tomatoes are steady and Cherry tomatoes remain firm/ elevated. 

Cabbage: 

Green Cartons: Markets are steady. Quality has been sharp on product out of Texas. 

Red Cartons: Markets are steady with elevated costs. Quality is good. 

Bagged Cabbage: Markets are tightening. Quality is good. 

Primo Weekly Market Update 3/21/24 

Market Alerts: 

The items listed below are either being prorated or are in short supply. 

1.) White Jumbo Onions 

2.) Red Jumbo Onions 

3.) Idaho Potatoes 40ct through 60ct 

4.) Red Potatoes A’s and B’s 

5.) Eggplant 

6.) Red & Green Grapes 

7.) Broccolini 18ct & 3/2lb 

8.) All Red Peppers 

9.) Peeled Garlic 

10.) Scallions 4/2lb 

11.) Asparagus