Primo

 Lettuce: 

Lettuce markets are getting active. Yuma is experiencing freezing temperatures followed by heavy rains. 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. Expect lighter supplies over the next few days. Quality is fair at best. 

Leaf: 

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

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

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

Lettuce Tender Leaf: 

There is a shortage of tender leaf items due to the recent weather, especially arugula and spinach. The recent weather is also causing Arcadian, Cilantro, Parsley, and Spring Mix to yellow. Look for supplies to continue to be tight going into next week. Quality is fair at best. 

Broccoli: 

Markets are steady. Quality is good. 

Cauliflower: 

Markets are getting 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 2/15/24 

Celery: 

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

Strawberries & Bush Berries: 

Strawberry markets remain high as demand far exceeds supply. We are hoping to see some relief this coming week as demand should drop off after the Valentines holiday pull. Quality has been good to very good. 

Raspberry markets are up. Shippers have been experiencing some issues with late transfer trucks from Baja and Central Mexico. Over the next few weeks, numbers are expected to increase. 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 up. Shippers have been experiencing some issues with late transfer trucks from Baja and Central Mexico. Over the next few weeks, numbers are expected to increase. Quality is fair to good. 

Potatoes: 

The Potato market is Stable. 40cts and 50cts are tight. 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 remains strong overall with generally light availability. We should see some relief as more offshore cucumbers arrive. Quality has been mostly 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. 

Squash: 

The Green squash market is easing 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. Primo Weekly Market Update 2/15/24 

Eggplant: 

Quality Eggplant remains in short supply in both Florida and Mexico. Markets remain high and we are told to expect some wind scarring. Availability is light. 

Peppers: 

Green bells market remains elevated with supplies on the light side especially on larger peppers. Quality on inbound has been good overall. 

Red Pepper markets are very active with good quality in short supply. We are told to expect higher costs for 2-3 weeks. 

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. Currently, all three districts are shipping, with an overall peak size of 140/165ct. Mexico product is steady with good quality. Quality is good. 

Lime Large fruit (110ct/150ct) will be tightening up the most over the next 7-10 days as the new crop is mainly only producing 200-275ct sizes. Overall inbounds have declined the last two weeks. With the lighter supplies and demand on the rise, we have seen significant increases in pricing. Unless there is a big drop in demand, lighter supplies will keep the markets elevated until we start seeing larger volumes out of Mexico closer to May when the next crop is up and running. 

Grapes: 

The import of grapes remains very tight because Peru is finishing early and Chile is starting late. A bottleneck at the Panama Canal and heavy seas in the Pacific have delayed ship arrivals on both coasts. In February and March, the market is expected to remain tight and high. Primo Weekly Market Update 2/15/24 

Tomatoes: 

The round tomato market is steady. 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 mostly steady. 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.) Cucumbers 

9.) Broccolini 18ct & 3/2lb 

10.) All Green Peppers 

11.) All Red Peppers 

12.) Driscoll Strawberries 

13.) Raspberries 

14.) Blackberries