Market Outlook

Lettuce:

The Iceberg market has adjusted down significantly. Warmer weather is bringing supplies forward, and could make for a short supply situation as we move towards the end of the Salinas deal. Quality has been fair to good on inbound, and case weights are on the lighter side.

Leaf:

Romaine and leaf are a few dollars higher. We have seen occasional tip and fringe burn on inbound.

Broccoli:

The broccoli market has adjusted down, but supplies are still short overall. Quality has been fair to good on inbound.

Cauliflower:

The cauliflower market is much higher. Quality has been good to very good.

Carrots:

The Eastern loose carrot market has remained steady for next week with good availability from Canada. Quality has remained very nice with good sizing.

Celery:

The celery market is steady with very good quality out of California and the market is higher out of Canada. The Canada season is winding down and the quality has gone from very good to just fair.

Strawberries:

The berry market will be steady to a few dollars higher for next week. Quality has improved somewhat, but customers should be advised to expect to see some minor quality defects.

Potatoes:

Idaho potato market has pretty much stayed steady with the bigger sizes still the deal to purchase. Smaller size and the #2 market remains stronger.

Onions:

The yellow onion market has increased slightly for next week with small deals for volume loads out there. The red market has moved up, and is expected to remain high at least for the near term.

Citrus:

The California lemon market is strong, with poor availability on anything other than standard grade small lemons. We have Chilean / Mexican product in stock and the quality is very good. The Valencia orange market is very strong with small oranges just about nonexistent. New crop navel oranges will begin harvest over the next week with very light availability. Quality has been fair only on choice product and good on Fancy grade. Lime market is steady. Quality has been very good.

Cucumbers:

The market has remained steady on both supers and selects for next week with New Jersey and other northern growing areas slowing and Georgia just starting. Quality has only been fair to start the new Georgia crop.

Peppers:

The green pepper market has come up a bit with New Jersey winding down. We will see Georgia come into play by the end of next week.

Tomatoes:

The round tomato market is higher with only fair availability on both the East and West coasts. Cherry tomatoes are in very short supply. Grapes are much higher with a lot of the local/regional deals finishing. Romas are steady to a few dollars higher out of California. Quality has been good on inbound.

 

 

Recipe of the Week

Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers:

3-6 bell peppers,

1 lb lean ground beef

half onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 cups cooked rice

1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

2 tbsp parsley

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cook your rice with your preferred method. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to a large pan. Add ground beef, break up and begin to brown.  Add onion, and cook until meat is browned and onions are soft. Add the minced garlic, cook a minute longer.  Turn off the heat and mix in tomato sauce, cooked rice, parsley, salt and pepper.  Prepare the bell peppers.  Cut off the tops and remove the seeds and clear out the insides of the peppers.Carve out your faces at this point. Stuff the peppers with the beef and rice mixture, return the tops if making jack o lanterns.  Place the peppers in a shallow baking dish and add 1/4 cup of water to the bottom of the dish.  Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.  Remove the foil and continue to bake for 10 more minutes.