MARKET OUTLOOK

Lettuce: 

The Iceberg lettuce market is very active and product is coming up short. Supplies have really tightened and we will see much higher costs for next week. Shippers holding to averages and pro-rating orders. Value added items will also be higher. Overall quality has been very nice on inbound this past week.

Leaf: 

The romaine market is also much higher for next week. Romaine hearts are higher. Green and Red leaf markets are up as well. Quality has been good on all leaf items.

Broccoli:

The commodity broccoli market is steady with good availability. Overall, Quality has been looking very good.

Cauliflower:

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

Carrots:

The carrot market is steady for next week. Supplies are generally light. We have good quality Mexican carrots in house.

Celery:

The Celery market remains very strong in California. Costs remain high, but are beginning to decline. We are seeing good quality, but availability remains light.

Processed celery will run short.

Strawberries: 

The market is a little higher with only fair supplies on quality fruit in California. Quality has been good on recent arrivals, but we are being cautioned the quality will likely slip in the coming weeks due to excessive heat in the growing region.

Potatoes:

The market on Idaho potatoes continues to strengthen across all sizes with the larger potatoes especially strong. #2 potatoes are also now coming up short. Quality has been good to very good on inbound.

Onions:

The Western onion market is strong on yellows and reds for next week. Quality on onions has been good to very good overall. We are seeing some skin issues which is common on new crop onions due to lack of skin set.

Citrus

The California lemon market is stronger 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 and strong especially on small fruit. The Lime market is steady for next week with good crossings from Mexico.  We are seeing fair to good quality on inbound.

Cucumbers:

The market is a little stronger for next week. We are seeing product from Georgia and the Carolinas. New Jersey just getting underway. Quality has ranged from fair to very good.

Peppers:

The green pepper market remains on the strong side. Quality has been fair to good.

Tomatoes:

The round tomato market is steady with supplies on the light side in South Carolina. Quality has been good overall. Grape tomatoes and cherries are steady heading into next week. Both are showing good quality. The Roma market is steady to lower with light supplies crossing from Mexico.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Peach Blueberry Pie

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 3 cups sliced peeled fresh peaches
• 1 cup fresh unsweetened blueberries
• Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon 2% milk
• Cinnamon sugar

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and allspice. Add peaches and blueberries; toss to coat.
• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll one half of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate. Add filling; dot with butter.
• Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; cut into 1/2-in.-wide strips. Arrange over filling in a lattice pattern. Trim and seal strips to edge of bottom pastry; flute edge. Brush lattice strips with milk; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Bake 40-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.