MARKET OUTLOOK

Lettuce: 

The Iceberg lettuce market remains a good value as supplies exceed demand. Quality has been very nice on inbound.

Leaf: 

The romaine market remains at lower levels with pressure from regional growing areas.  Romaine hearts are lower. Green leaf markets are steady to lower. Red leaf remains a good value. Quality has been very nice on all leaf items.

Broccoli:

The commodity broccoli market is steady to slightly lower. Broccoli has started in Canada and Maine as well. Overall, quality has been looking very good.

Cauliflower:

The cauliflower market is back down for next week. Quality has been good on inbound.

Carrots:

The carrot market is coming off with Canada getting into better volume. Quality has been sharp.

Celery:

The Celery costs are steady to lower for next week. We are seeing Michigan and Canada product as well. We are seeing good quality on inbound.

Strawberries: 

The market is steady to slightly lower with better supplies on quality fruit in California. Quality has been good on recent arrivals.

Potatoes:

The market on Idaho potatoes remains active and is strengthening across all sizes with the larger potatoes and #2’s especially strong. We expect this trend to continue for the near term. Quality has been fair to very good on inbound.

Onions:

The Western onion market is starting to decline on yellows and reds. Quality on onions has been good to very good overall.

Citrus

The California lemon market is strong across all sizes, but especially on small sizes. Quality has been good overall. We are seeing good quality over all on Valencia oranges and that market is steady. The Lime market is steady to stronger for next week with lighter crossings from Mexico.  We are seeing fair to good quality on inbound.

Cucumbers:

The market is steady at the lower end for next week with cucumbers available in many areas. We are seeing product from New Jersey and Michigan and New York and Canada are underway as well. Quality has been fair to good on recent arrivals.

Peppers:

The green pepper market is steady to slightly higher. New Jersey has fair volume with other areas very light.  Quality has been fair to good.

Tomatoes:

The round tomato market is much stronger with supplies in California tightening. Supplies are very light on the East coast out of VA/MD.  Quality has been fair to good overall. Grape tomatoes are steady with product availability light overall. Cherries are stronger heading into next week. Both are showing good quality. The Roma market is steady to slightly higher with light supplies crossing from Mexico and fair supplies in California.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Chocolate-Cherry Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs (about 15 cookies)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 4 cups cherry ice cream, softened if necessary
• 8 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup (6 ounces) miniature semisweet chocolate chips, divided
• 4 cups fudge ripple ice cream (or similar)
• Sweetened whipped cream, optional
• 12 fresh sweet cherries

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom and 1 in. up sides of a greased 9-in. pan. Bake 8-10 minutes or until firm. Cool on a wire rack.
• Spread cherry ice cream into crust; freeze, covered, until firm. Layer with chopped cookies and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Spread fudge ripple ice cream over chocolate chips. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips. Freeze, covered, 8 hours or until firm.
• Remove cake from freezer 10 minutes before serving; carefully loosen sides from pan with a knife. Top with cherries. If desired, serve with whipped cream.