Primo

 Lettuce: 

Lettuce markets are extremely active. Throughout the Yuma region, hail and rain caused damage to this crop. Expect to see epidermal peel, bottom rot, and discolored outer leaves on all lettuce packs. The shelf life of value-added products will be shorter. Weights are averaging around 35-40 pounds. There is an AOG increase on all lettuce Value-added products. Quality is fair. 

Leaf: 

Romaine markets are up. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration due to freezing temperatures and rain. Quality is fair. 

Romaine Heart markets are up. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration due to freezing temperatures and rain. Quality is fair. 

Green and Red Leaf markets are up. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration due to freezing temperatures and rain. Quality is fair. 

Lettuce Tender Leaf: 

Arcadian, Arugula, Cilantro, Parsley, Spinach and Spring Mix are still experiencing some quality issues due to recent weather conditions. Expect to see small amounts of yellowing and discoloration. Quality is fair to good. 

Broccoli: 

Markets are steady. Quality is good. 

Cauliflower: 

Markets are extremely active. Growth has slowed down due to the colder weather. Look for this market to tighten up going into next week. Quality is fair to 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 2/23/24 

Celery: 

Markets are steady. Product is coming out of Oxnard, Yuma, and Mexico. Quality is good. 

Strawberries & Bush Berries: 

Strawberry markets remain strong as demand far exceeds supply. We are hoping to see some relief in coming weeks. Driscoll strawberries are extremely short. Overall, quality is good. 

Raspberry markets are up and active. The West Coast has yet to begin production. California relies on light amounts of product transferred from Central Mexico and Baja. CMEX production has been reduced due to cooler weather in the growing regions. Supplies are spotty particularly on product being transferred to California and Florida. Quality is good. 

Blueberries markets are steady with good supplies. Fruit is coming from Central Mexico, Chile and Baja. Quality is good. 

Blackberries markets are steady. Transfers in Central Mexico are light with some arrival delays reported. From CMEX, steady but lighter supplies are crossing in. Production is being held back by cooler weather in the growing areas. Quality is fair. 

Potatoes: 

The Potato market is at the bottom. A lot of deals are being offered, because sheds have to many potatoes on their floor. In a normal year they would just stop running potatoes for a few days. This year sheds can’t really do that because they need to keep running in order to run out by the end of crop. Quality has been good. 

Onions: 

The onion market is very strong. Pricing is up and expected to stay up. Overall quality is good. White Jumbo onions are very tight. 

Cucumbers: 

Cucumber market is critically short, and costs are very high. Florida has very light volume and Honduran arrivals are also spotty. Quality has been fair to good on inbound. We are seeing some minor scarring on both select and super select. 

Euro cucumbers markets are steady at the lower end. Ample supplies available. Quality is good. 

Primo Weekly Market Update 2/23/24 

Squash: 

The Green squash market is steady with better supplies in both Florida and Mexico. Yellow supplies are also improving, but at a much slower rate. Quality has been fair to good on recent inbounds. 

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 is up slightly with supplies on the light side especially on larger peppers. Quality on inbound has been good overall. 

Red Pepper markets remain very active with good quality in very short supply. Quality has been running fair to good. 

Herbs: 

Basil: We are still seeing quality issues as weather in the growing regions continues to create poor growing conditions. Overall, 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. The main growing region is District 1, with an overall peak size of 140/165ct. Sizes smaller than 165ct are extremely tight. Quality is good. 

Lime, overall inbound loads last week were down 32% (approx. 195 truckloads less) from two weeks prior, and will most likely be down again this week. Demand continues to stay strong on the mid-sized limes, which is pushing the 175-230ct sizes up more in prices. Short term, we look for the market to continue to creep up over the next couple of weeks as long as demand continues to remain strong. Longer term, look for markets to remain escalated until we get relief in terms of additional volume out of Mexico in May. Historically, the Feb, March, April time frame is when we see some of the highest pricing of the year due to the limited supply of the winter crop during that time frame. 

Primo Weekly Market Update 2/23/24 

Grapes: 

There is an extreme “demand exceeds supply” situation for red seedless grapes. As a result of continued delays in ship arrivals and a late start to the Chilean season, imported grapes are in short supply. 85% of inbound grapes are reported to be green. Color substitutions will be necessary to ensure the pipeline doesn’t go dry. 

Tomatoes: 

The round tomato market is much higher with light availability in Florida and very little crossing from Mexico. Quality is mostly good on all tomatoes. Grape tomatoes along with cherries are also steady. Roma quality has really improved and markets are steady with good volume crossing from Mexico. 

Cabbage: 

Green Cartons: Markets are steady to slightly higher. Quality is fair to good. 

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

Bagged Cabbage: Markets are mostly steady. Quality is good. 

Market Alerts: 

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

1.) White Jumbo Onions 

2.) Cherry Tomatoes 

3.) Eggplant 

4.) B&W Arugula 

5.) Red & Green Grapes 

6.) Escarole 

7.) Yellow & White Corn 

8.) All Cucumbers 

9.) Broccolini 18ct & 3/2lb 

10.) All Green Peppers 

11.) All Red Peppers 

12.) Driscoll Strawberries 

13.) Raspberries & Blackberries