Primo

 Lettuce: Alert 

Lettuce markets are very active. Expect to see discoloration, brown butts, and decay on all lettuce packs. The shelf life of value-added products will be shorter. Weights are averaging around 34-38 pounds. There is an AOG increase on all lettuce Value-added products. Quality is poor to fair. 

Leaf: Alert 

Romaine markets are up. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. There is an AOG increase on all Romaine Value-added products. Quality is fair at best. 

Romaine Heart markets are very active. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. Quality is fair at best. 

Green and Red Leaf markets are up. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. There is an AOG increase on all Green Leaf Value-added products. Quality is fair at best. 

Lettuce Tender Leaf: 

Arcadian, Arugula, Cilantro, Parsley, Spinach and Spring Mix quality has improved. Quality should keep improving each week with ideal growing weather. Quality is fair to good. 

Broccoli: 

Markets are slightly up. Supplies remain consistent. Quality is good. 

Cauliflower: 

Markets are up off the bottom. Supplies remain consistent. Quality is 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 3/14/24 

Celery: 

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

Strawberries & Bush Berries: 

Strawberry markets are trading at the bottom. Currently, there is an overabundance of fruit due to warmer weather driving plant production. Quality is fair to good. 

Raspberry markets are coming off. The number of fruits transferred from Baja and Central Mexico is expected to increase over the next few weeks. CMEX numbers are beginning to gain traction. By the end of March and into April, there will be more fruit available for transfer out of McAllen, TX. Quality is good. 

Blueberries markets are up slightly with lighter supplies out of Chile/ Peru. Look for costs to continue to rise until the start of the Florida blueberry crop in late March/early April. Quality has been sharp! 

Blackberries markets are coming off. As the weather warms up in March, better production numbers are expected. Quality is fair to good. 

Potatoes: 

The Potato market is at the bottom. A lot of deals are being offered, because sheds have to many potatoes on their floor. 40ct through 60cts are tight with pricing firming up. Quality has been good. 

Onions: 

The onion market is very strong. Pricing is up and expected to stay up. Overall quality has been fair, we are seeing some Internal issues in the yellow onions. Red Jumbo onions are very tight. White Jumbo onions are tight. 

Cucumbers: 

Cucumber The market is easing with Mexico crossing better supplies. Florida supplies are lighter, but improving. Honduran arrivals are spotty and winding down for the season. Quality has been fair to good on inbound. We are seeing some minor scarring and minor decay on both select and super select. 

Euro cucumbers markets are trading near the bottom with some reports of only fair quality. Great quality cucumbers are bringing a few dollars more. 

Primo Weekly Market Update 3/14/24 

Squash: 

The Green squash market is lower with good supplies and quality in both Florida and Mexico. Yellow supplies are also improving and that market is dropping as well, but easing slower than the green. Quality has 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 mostly steady with supplies in Florida increasing slowly. Supplies on larger peppers remain light. Quality on inbound has been good overall. 

Red Pepper markets remain very active and are in very short supply. Quality is fair to good. 

Herbs: 

Basil: 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 on sizes 140ct and larger. Markets on sizes 165ct and smaller are up and extremely tight. Quality is good. 

Lime Mexico has fully transitioned into the new crop, and we are seeing fewer overall supplies crossing. Demand has still been a little on the weak side, keeping the markets more stable as supplies continue to tighten up. Holy Week (Semana Santa) is coming up 3/24-3/30. Typically, we see an increase in demand during this time as well as growers completely shutting down the back half of that week. Overall quality of the fruit coming in has been pretty good. There is some stylar and skin breakdown present, and as much of that is getting graded out as possible before shipping. Pricing historically increases the last half of March and into April. Currently, all signs are pointing towards starting to 

Primo Weekly Market Update 3/14/24 

. Overall inbounds from Mexico are down about 40% from just two weeks ago, and do not look to increase for at least the next 3-4 weeks. 

Grapes: 

Imported grapes remain very tight. Inconsistent vessel arrivals are preventing a smooth flow of incoming product and keeping the market active. While there will be brief periods adequate supplies, the empty pipeline and pre-committed program volume will keep the market price high. Expectations are this will continue until the Mexican grape deal starts in mid-May. 

Tomatoes: 

Volumes are improving in Florida with new areas coming on. Bigger fruit is more abundant than the smaller fruit. The warm weather in MX is helping to increase round supply. The prices are lower. Romas are holding steady with good quality out of both Florida and Mexico. Grape tomatoes are lower and Cherry tomatoes remain firm/ elevated. 

Cabbage: 

Green Cartons: Markets are steady. Quality has been sharp on product out of Texas. 

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

Bagged Cabbage: Markets are tightening. Quality is good. 

Market Alerts: 

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

1.) White Jumbo Onions 

2.) Red Jumbo Onions 

3.) Eggplant 

4.) Red & Green Grapes 

5.) Broccolini 18ct & 3/2lb 

6.) All Red Peppers 

7.) All Lettuce 

8.) Peeled Garlic