October 17th, 2024 Market Report
Lettuce:
Lettuce markets have slightly come down. Weights are being reported around 39 to 42 pounds. Expect to see slight discoloration, misshapen heads, and pinking. Quality is fair to good.
Leaf:
- Romaine markets are steady. Expect to see slight tip and fringe burn. Quality is fair to good.
- Romaine Heart markets are coming off. Expect to see slight pinked ribs. Quality is fair to good.
- Green Leaf markets are slightly up. Expect to see slight tip and fringe burn. Quality is fair to good.
- Red Leaf markets are slightly up. Quality is good.
Lettuce Tender Leaf:
- Arcadian, Spring Mix, & Spinach. These items have faced elevated temperatures over the past week, impacting quality. Quality is fair to good.
- Cilantro, Arugula, and Italian Parsley. Expect to see slightly lower supplies due to recent heat, which is causing issues such as leaf damage and a weak thinner texture. Quality is fair to good.
Broccoli:
Markets are coming off, but still tight due to recent heat. Insect pressure, along with brown bead and premature breakdown, are limiting available acres. There is an AOG increase on all value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Cauliflower:
Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Carrots:
- Cello markets are up and limited out West. Canada crop is in great shape with great quality. Costs are steady on Canadian product for this coming week.
- Loose market remains high on Mexican crossings with good quality. Canada market is steady. Quality has been very nice.
- Value-add Snack Carrots are steady. Quality is good.
Celery:
California markets are coming off and Canada markets are steady. Quality is good.
Strawberries & Bush Berries:
- Strawberry markets are coming down. Volumes from Salinas and Watsonville are steadily declining, while production is peaking in Santa Maria and Oxnard. Quality is fair to good.
- Raspberry markets are slightly up. Spotty supplies from Central Mexico are expected over the next two to three weeks. Product is arriving at the border with increasing regularity, and volumes will gradually rise in the coming weeks. Quality is good.
- Blueberries markets remain strong on Peruvian imports; however, we are seeing better supplies arriving over the next few weeks. Costs are a little softer for next week. Quality is fair too good.
- Blackberries markets are still active, but expect to become more readily available as increased volumes from Central Mexico. Quality is fair to good.
Pineapples:
Market is steady to lower on product from Costa Rica. Quality has been good on recent arrivals from Costa Rica.
Potatoes:
The Potato market is steady. 40s through 70s are plentiful, while 80s through #2s are tighter sizes. Quality has been good.
Onions:
The onion market is steady. Quality has been good.
Cucumbers:
- Cucumber The market is stronger with much lighter volume on both selects and supers. NY, NJ, and Michigan are winding down on supply for the season. Very light volume in the Carolinas and Georgia. Quality has been good on inbound.
- Euro Cucumbers markets declined and leveled off. Product is still short. Quality is good.
Squash:
The green squash market is higher with fair supplies in NJ. NY and Canada are done for the season. Shippers are just starting in the Carolinas and Georgia. Yellow squash is also higher with limited supplies of good quality squash.
Eggplant:
Quality on New Jersey Eggplant has been sharp on recent arrivals. Market is higher with very light volume.
Peppers:
- Green bell market is higher on quality green pepper. Quality on inbound has been good. New Jersey is experiencing a drop in production due to the cooler weather. New York is just about done.
- Red Pepper markets are steady with adequate supplies. Quality has been good on recent inbounds.
- Chile Pepper Jalapeno pepper market is a little higher with product in shorter supply. Quality has been sharp on recent arrivals.
Herbs:
- Basil: quality is fair.
Citrus:
- Orange Alert Markets out of California are very active and sold out. Navels expected to start shipping the week of 10/21. The peak sizes will initially be on the smaller side. Currently, gassing times for the Navels are around 96 hours. Quality is fair to good.
- Import Orange market remains high with vessels delayed. Product is very short. There are some Mexican imports starting, but are very limited. Quality is good.
- Lemon Markets out of California are steady. In District 2 (Oxnard/Ventura County), supplies are dwindling, with quality ranging from fair to good, despite year-round shipping. Meanwhile, District 3 (California Desert/AZ) is ramping up, and shippers can expect improved quality as they move into the new crop fruit. Quality is good.
- Imports are steady with good quality.
- Limes The majority of supplies coming into the US continue to be 200-230ct sizes, however we are starting to see an increase in the amount of 175cts that are showing up as the fruit has had more time to size up. With the prices falling over the last several weeks, growers have also been leaving the fruit on the trees longer allowing it to size up more. We are seeing the market starting to stabilize this week on the smaller sizes, while the larger sizes continue to be higher priced due to limited supply and quality fruit. We are seeing some additional scarring showing up on the inbounds from high winds over the last 3 weeks due to the recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Green Cartons: Markets are steady on green cabbage. Cooler weather is slowing volume. Canada, New York, Pa, and NJ all in production. Quality has been sharp on inbound.
- Red Cartons: Markets are lower with good supplies. Quality is good.
- Bagged Cabbage: We have bag cabbage in stock from Canada. Market is steady with fair to good supplies.
Grapes:
Markets are steady for both red and green grapes. Quality is fair to good.
Tomatoes:
Markets on rounds are stronger. Supply is light overall. Florida is expected to begin its season in late October, weather permitting. In the West, supplies are moderate, as California has about 4- weeks left in the season, while supplies from Baja and Central Mexico have seen some improvement. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes along with plum tomatoes are in short supply.
Cabbage:
Market Alerts:
The items listed below are either being prorated or are in short supply.
1.) Yukon unclassified potatoes
2.) Avocados
3.) All Oranges
4.) Blueberries & Blackberries
5.) Asparagus
6.) Mangoes
7.) Corn
8.) Cherry and grape tomatoes
9.) Plum tomatoes
10.) Green Pepper
11.) Green and Yellow squash
12.) Artisan Romaine
13.) Leeks
14.) Sweet Baby Cauliflower