March 1st, 2024 Market Report
Lettuce:
Lettuce markets are slightly coming off, but there are still light supplies. Throughout the Yuma region, hail and rain caused damage to this crop. Expect to see epidermal peel, bottom rot, mildew, and discolored outer leaves on all lettuce packs. The shelf life of value-added products will be shorter. Weights are averaging around 35-42 pounds. There is an AOG increase on all lettuce Value-added products. Quality is fair.
Leaf:
Romaine markets are steady, but there are light supplies. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration due to freezing temperatures and rain. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. Quality is fair.
Romaine Heart markets are up. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration due to freezing temperatures and rain. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. Quality is fair.
Green and Red Leaf markets are up. Defects include blisters, peels, and discoloration due to freezing temperatures and rain. Shippers are also reporting lighter weights. 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.
Broccoli:
Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Cauliflower:
Markets are coming off. 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 2/29/24
Celery:
Markets are steady. Product is coming out of Oxnard, Yuma, and Mexico. Quality is good.
Strawberries & Bush Berries:
Strawberry markets are easing as supplies in Florida increase with better weather conditions. Driscoll strawberries are extremely short. Overall, quality is good.
Raspberry markets are up and very limited. 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 mainly Chile and Peru. Quality is good.
Blackberries markets are slightly up and limited. 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 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 a little 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 to good. White Jumbo onions are very tight.
Cucumbers:
Cucumber The market remains very high with quality product in short supply. Florida and Mexico reporting 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 up off the bottom as folks look for alternatives to conventional cucumbers. Pretty good supplies available. Quality has been mostly good.
Primo Weekly Market Update 2/29/24
Squash:
The Green squash market is steady with good supplies and quality in both Florida and Mexico. Yellow supplies are also improving, but cost remain on the higher side. 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 adjusting down with supplies in Florida increasing slowly. with Supplies on larger peppers remain tight. 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: 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 While growers have been pushing pricing up on limes as the volumes have decreased due to the crop cycle we are in, there has been some push back from consumers and demand has eased some. This has caused shippers to have more inventory this week than last, and pricing has eased off some. Large fruit (110/150ct) is still available and cheaper than the smaller sizes due to being old crop. There has been some stylar that is starting to pop up in the inbound fruit. Shippers will continue to keep an eye on that and grade out what they see, but stylar can develop during transit to the customer.
Primo Weekly Market Update 2/29/24
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 steady at higher levels 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 up slightly with pretty good volume crossing from Mexico.
Cabbage:
Green Cartons: Markets are steady to slightly higher. Quality has been sharp on product out of Texas.
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 & Round 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 Red Peppers
11.) Driscoll Strawberries
12.) Raspberries & Blackberries
