The Fresh Report
The Latest on Our Greatest
April 22nd, 2024
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Vegetables
Asparagus
The market has become active as Mexico winds down for its season. Peru will be up next, but significant volume isn’t expected until later in the month, resulting in a minor supply gap. Market prices are currently elevated.
Vegetables
Avocados
The market is holding steady at elevated levels, particularly with smaller-sized fruit being the most limited. As Cinco de Mayo approaches, anticipate further upward movement until after the holiday period. In late March, Peru will get going, which should help boost volume and ease the market.
Vegetables
Green Beans
Demand currently meets supply and prices are steady. Quality remains high.
Berries
Blackberries, Blue, And Raspberries
Blackberries: Volume is expected to increase out of Central Mexico and California over the next few weeks. Georgia has also started in a light way. The market is steady. Blueberries: Florida and Georgia are starting to ramp up for their seasons and are expected to peak within the next week or so. There is still some volume coming out of California and Central Mexico as well. Raspberries: Yields are lower out West due to cold weather and excess rain experienced over the past week. The warm and dry weather on the forecast this week should help to boost numbers.
Berries
Strawberries
All growing regions out west are expecting a warm and dry week ahead, which should contribute to increased volume. As a result, anticipate this market to soften over the next week or so as more fruit becomes available.
Vegetables
Broccoli, Cauliflower
Supplies have picked back up in the Salinas and Santa Maria area. The market is lower, and quality is excellent.
Vegetables
Celery
This market has remained steady during the transition from Yuma to Santa Maria and Oxnard. Quality is excellent.
Herbs
Cilantro, Parsley, Green Onion
Green Onions: Due to recent rain events, growers are observing mildew and other quality issues in the fields, reducing yields. Supplies have consequently tightened, however conditions should improve as we move through the week as the fields have a chance to dry out. Cilantro & Parsley: Cilantro has tightened up due to cold weather, rain and quality issues, leading to lower yields. The warm, dry weather expected this week should help facilitate a boost production.
Vegetables
Corn
Supplies are abundant out of Florida; the market is low and steady, and quality remains excellent.
Vegetables
Cucumbers
Supply is meeting demand, and the market is steady as volume out of all growing regions has increased. Georgia is expected to start their season in the first week of May. Quality is excellent.
Fruit
Melons
Cantaloupe: Demand is strong, but supplies are light due to offshore vessel delays, keeping the markets high. Quality is fair. Honeydew: Supplies are tight due to vessel delays and low yields in Mexico, resulting in an elevated market. Quality is fair. Watermelons: The market is starting to come off as more product has started shipping out of Mexico. The domestic season has also started in a light way, however supplies are expected to remain tight until Florida production can ramp up fully within the next few weeks.
Fruit
Pineapple
The weather in the tropics has caused early maturation of the fruit, which is reducing yields. Supplies are more limited and are expected to stay as such until after Mother’s day.
Citrus
Lemons, Limes, Oranges
Lemons: While supplies of large-sized fruit remain steady, smaller sizes are extremely tight due to heavy rains in the growing regions, causing the fruit to size up. Currently, 140/165ct fruit is peaking. Limes: Demand is lower and the market continues to come off. Larger sizes are more limited, but currently, supply still meets demand. Oranges: Small sizes still remain extremely limited, while large sizes are in good supply. Expect these conditions to remain until the end of the navel orange season.
Vegetables
Peppers
Green bell pepper prices remain steady as Florida’s spring crop has begun. Colored peppers are starting to come off as supplies improve out of multiple regions. Hot peppers have become tight and prices are escalated as poor weather earlier in the season in Mexico has caused a gap in supply.
Vegetables
Lettuce
Iceberg: In the Salinas Valley, the main growing region for iceberg lettuce, heavy rains in recent weeks have increased disease pressure in the fields. This has led to significantly lower yields and a tight market. However, the forecast for the next 10 days predicts warm, dry weather, which should improve lettuce quality. Leaf: Similar to iceberg, leaf lettuce growers are currently facing soil borne disease in the fields as well. The warm, dry temperatures in the upcoming weeks should help to battle these disease pressures. The market is steady at high levels. Tender Leaf: Spinach and arugula supplies are limited due to excess rain in the past week, causing delays in harvesting. However, production is expected to increase over the next week.
Fruit
Grapes
Due to inconsistent vessel arrivals, this market remains highly active. Expect sporadic supplies, elevated pricing, and color substitutions until Mexico can fully ramp up around mid-May. Green grapes are slightly more available than red varieties which remain extremely scarce.
Vegetables
Onions
This market is highly active. Northwest storages are dwindling rapidly, while simultaneously multiple regions such as Texas, Mexico, and starting this week, California, are starting to ramp up. Red onions remain scarce, causing prices to escalate considerably.
Vegetables
Potatoes
Smaller sizes in the 90-100 count range are plentiful, though the larger sizes are tightening up. The market remains steady.
Vegetables
Eggplant
Production is beginning to ramp up in Florida, easing pressure off of previously elevated markets. The quality is fair.
Vegetables
Squash, Zucchini
Florida is starting to wind down its season with Georgia coming up next in late April to early May. Zucchini has remained steady, however yellow squash has become limited as less acreage is planted on that commodity, causing growers to struggle to bridge the gap between the transitioning growing regions.
Fruit
Stonefruit
Domestic stone fruit is just around the corner, with cherries and apricots starting at the end of the month. Peaches, nectarines, and plums will be right behind them in mid to late May.
Fruit
Tomatoes
Round and Roma tomato varieties have tightened up again due to transitions in growing regions, heavy rains, and labor shortages. Meanwhile, grape and cherry tomatoes are more abundant.