March 7th, 2024 Market Report
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 fair at best.
Leaf: Alert
Romaine markets are very active. 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 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 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 slightly up. 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 3/7/24
Celery:
Markets are steady. Product is coming out of Oxnard, Yuma, and Mexico. Quality is good.
Strawberries & Bush Berries:
Strawberry markets are 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. A few West Coast offerings are coming out of Baja and Central Coast. Production in Central Mexico remains light. Quality is good.
Blueberries markets are steady with good supplies. Fruit is coming from mainly Chile and Peru. Quality is good.
Blackberries markets are steady. West Coast offerings from the Baja area, as well as CMEX products, are light. There are still few fruit crossings into Florida and California from Mexico. 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 to good. Red Jumbo onions are very tight. White Jumbo onions are still very tight.
Cucumbers:
Cucumber The market remains 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 and minor decay 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 is good.
Squash:
The Green squash market is steady with good supplies and quality in both Florida and Mexico. Yellow supplies are also improving. Quality has good on recent inbounds. Primo Weekly Market Update 3/7/24
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 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 Overall demand continues to be lighter and growers are trying to get rid of older fruit which has pushed the market down some this week. The decline in pricing we are seeing is temporary and we should see it start to go back up again in another 7-10 days. Quality for the most part has been good. With weather in the US warming up, we should start to see an uptick in demand in the coming weeks
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. Primo Weekly Market Update 3/7/24
Tomatoes:
Volumes remain low in Florida. After spring crops come online, FL will be less of a factor for another 3 weeks. The warm weather in MX is helping to increase round supply. The prices are slightly lower. Romas are holding steady at lighter levels. Grape & Cherry tomatoes are steady.
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 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.) Yellow & White Corn
6.) All Cucumbers
7.) Broccolini 18ct & 3/2lb
8.) All Red Peppers
9.) All Lettuce
10.) All Romaine
