December 13th, 2024 Market Report
Lettuce:
Lettuce markets are near the bottom. Weights are ranging from 40-44 pounds. Quality is good.
Leaf:
- Romaine markets are still coming off. Quality is good.
- Romaine Heart markets are still coming off. Quality is good.
- Green Leaf markets are near the bottom. Quality is good.
- Red Leaf markets are near the bottom. Quality is good.
Lettuce Tender Leaf:
Arcadian, Spring Mix, Spinach, Cilantro, Arugula, and Italian Parsley. With colder weather in the Yuma growing region, quality defects are expected in the coming weeks. Discoloration, weak texture, and blistering may affect tender leaf items. Supplies are likely to tighten over the next couple of weeks. Quality is fair to good.
Broccoli:
Markets are coming off. There is an AOG increase on all value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Cauliflower: Alert
Markets are up and active. Expect to see some instances of brown spotting. There is an AOG increase on all value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Carrots:
- Cello markets are steady out West. Canada crop is starting to wind down. Still great quality. Costs are moving up slightly on Canadian product for this coming week.
- Loose Mexican crossings are steady with good quality. Canada market is trying to move up as storage supplies begin to wind down. Quality has been very nice.
- Value-add Snack Carrots are steady. Quality is good.
Celery:
Markets are going up. There is an AOG increase on all value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Strawberries & Bush Berries:
- Strawberry markets remain elevated with very limited availability in all growing regions. Cold weather continues to limit production in California. Mexico is beginning to show improved volumes. Florida has started, but volume is very low. Quality is fair to good.
- Raspberry markets are steady. Availability remains limited, with markets showing elevated pricing out of Central Mexico and Baja. Fruit is being transferred to forward distribution centers in Texas, California, and Florida. Quality is good.
- Blueberries markets are steady at the lower end on Peruvian imports with good supplies arriving. Quality has been very good.
- Blackberries markets are steady. Quality is good.
Pineapples:
Market is steady at the lower end for next week on product from Costa Rica. Quality has been good on recent arrivals from Costa Rica.
Potatoes:
The Potato market is steady. Quality has been good.
Onions:
The onion market is steady. Quality has been good.
Cucumbers:
- Cucumber The market is much stronger on both selects and supers. Georgia and Florida are harvesting, however much cooler temperatures have really slowed things down. Quality has been good on inbound.
- Euro Cucumbers this market is steady. Quality has been good.
Squash:
The squash market is softening on both green and yellow squash. Quality has been good.
Eggplant:
Market is steady on new crop Georgia eggplant and the quality has been sharp.
Peppers: Alert
- Green bell market remains elevated on good quality green pepper and supplies are scarce. Quality on inbound has been fair to good.
- Red Pepper markets remain high with only fair supplies. Quality has been good on recent inbounds.
- Chile Pepper Jalapeno pepper market is about steady. Quality has been sharp on recent arrivals. Long hot peppers are near impossible to find. Very spotty availability on most other specialty pepper.
Herbs:
- Basil: quality is fair.
Citrus:
- Orange Markets out of California are steady. The Navel season is underway, with peak sizes in the 138ct, 113ct, and 88ct ranges. 72ct and larger will remain limited for the foreseeable future. Gas times are around 72-96 hours, and Brix levels are in the 12 range. Quality is good.
- Lemon Markets out of California are steady. District 3 (CA Desert/AZ) is performing well and will continue through February. District 1 (San Joaquin Valley) has started slowly but is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks. Quality is good.
- The market is steady to slightly lower on Mexican crossings.
- Limes
The current crop continues to be very heavy to the 110/150ct sizes with limited small fruit left. The new crop that will start shipping in the next week or two will initially be heavier to the smaller 230/250ct sizes with no large fruit available. Out of the 4 main crops in Mexico each year, the one we are heading into is one of the two smallest in terms of volume. Demand has also picked back up with the holidays causing pricing to gradually increase each week. Overall quality of the available fruit continues to be nice.
Grapes:
Domestic green grape production came to an abrupt halt over the weekend. While they were expected to finish this week, weather conditions cut the season short. Imported green grapes have already arrived on the East Coast. Domestic red seedless grapes remain plentiful in California. Quality is good.
Tomatoes: Alert
Markets on rounds remain very strong. Supply is light overall. Florida has started harvesting only a few days per week with very limited supply on quality tomatoes. Mexico crossings are light. Cherry tomatoes & grape tomatoes are in better supply and costs remain coming down. Plum tomatoes are steady.
- Green Cartons: Markets are steady on green cabbage from Canada and New York. Cabbage from the South remains light in volume with higher costs. Quality has been sharp on inbound.
- Red Cartons: Markets are up slightly with good supplies. Quality is good.
- Bagged Cabbage: Market is steady with fair to good supplies out of NY and Canada.
Cabbage:
Market Alerts:
The items listed below are either being prorated or are in short supply.
1.) Yukon Unclassified Potatoes
2.) Avocados
3.) Corn
4.) Round tomatoes
5.) Plum Tomatoes
6.) Green and Red Peppers
7.) Cucumbers
8.) Specialty Pepper
9.) Mushrooms sliced in brine 20lb
10.) Mushrooms sliced in brine 5/5lb
11.) Medium #1 Mushrooms
12.) Food Service Mushrooms
13.) White Jumbo Mushrooms
14.) White Large Mushrooms
15.) Silver Dollar Mushrooms
16.) Sliced ¼” Mushrooms
17.) Strawberries
18.) Broccolini
19.) Cantaloupe/honeydew
20.) Cauliflower
