Weather Update

Cool weather early in the week in Central California has been followed by a warming trend.  Early-week, overnight lows dropped to near freezing in the Salinas Valley.  Daytime highs have returned to the low 80s, with lows in the 40s to low 50s.  A cooling trend will return for the weekend in California.  A warming trend is in the forecast for Central Arizona, where highs have returned to the 90s; this will support an improving supply outlook for cantaloupes and honeydews.

Transportation

Trucks are in good supply.

California Lettuce & Mixed Vegetables

Iceberg & Leaf:  The end of the season in Salinas, accompanied by cool overnight temperatures, has caused a drop in production and has created a tight market for iceberg.  Prices are on the rise.  The late season harvest has moved to the southern region of the Salinas Valley.  The transition to the Huron district is underway, located on the west side of the Central San Joaquin Valley.  The early harvest in Huron indicates that iceberg head size will be small with lightweight cartons.  This reduction in the fall crop will continue to lend strong support to current high prices.

Romaine and leaf are in plentiful supply, particularly for green leaf and romaine hearts.  The current wide price premium for iceberg is causing some price strength for carton packed romaine.  Quality is generally good, and carton weights are fair. 

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Celery, Carrots:  Cool weather has caused supplies to further tighten for bunched broccoli and broccoli crowns.  Prices will continue to push higher, with no relief to the current shortfall until the harvest begins in the San Joaquin Valley in early November.  Cold weather has also affected the cauliflower harvest.  Prices have more than doubled during the past seven days.  The celery market has also firmed, with lighter production on all sizes.  Carrots are in good supply, with carrot shipments continuing from regional growing areas…including California, Michigan, Washington, Mexico and Eastern Canada. 

Mixed Vegetables:  Peru is currently the primary source for asparagus, with light supplies coming in from Baja California.  Prices are steady.  The harvest in Central Mexico will begin in early November. 

Heavy rainfall caused by the recent Pacific hurricane in Mexico has resulted in a drop in green onion production.  Prices are sharply higher.  Prices are steady for cilantro, bok choy, kale, leek, parsley, endive and escarole.  Cold weather and issues with mildew have caused spinach production to drop.  Availability is extremely tight, and prices have spiked to the upside.  Markets have strengthened also for green & red cabbage, snow peas and napa.    Baby spinach and organic romaine are in extremely tight supply.  

Strawberries    

Late season strawberry production in Central California coastal districts has dropped sharply, due primarily to a reduction in yield at the field level…“the plants are tired.”  Prices continue to push higher.  Berry size has also declined causing stem strawberries to be in limited supply.  Limited harvesting of strawberries has begun in Mexico, and Driscoll expects to be in full production by early November.  Early shipments of Mexican berries will be from McAllen, Texas, with Yuma opening later in the month.  Raspberry production is also on the decline.  Quality continues to be strong.  Blackberries will be in tight supply until the harvest begins in Mexico.  Blueberries are in transition to Argentina; product is available in the growing area, however air transportation has become a significant issue.

California-Arizona Citrus

Valencia oranges will continue to be available until the beginning of full scale Navel production in late October or early November.  Quality is average for the late season Valencias.  Lemons are in plentiful supply with new crop lemons from the Desert Southwest and Mexico.  Chilean imports are also available for shipment from the East coast.  Production on California-Arizona new crop lemons is heavy to the larger sizes (95, 115 & 140). 

California local summer ruby grapefruit is available.  Navel & juice oranges are available in Florida along with new crop grapefruit.   The recent hurricane activity and heavy rainfall in Mexico has caused some disruption in the lime harvest.  Prices have lifted from recent bottom levels.  Pineapples from Central America are in good supply.

Melons 

Prices remain high for moderate production in Central Arizona on cantaloupes and honeydews.  Harvesting will begin in Western Arizona (Yuma) next week.  Prices should gradually ease as we move into late October.  Cantaloupe quality is average; please order for fast turnover.  Seedless watermelons are in good supply in Nogales. Demand is strong and prices are firm.  Quality is excellent for new crop watermelons from Mexico.  Late season honeydews are still available in the northern San Joaquin Valley.

Avocados 

Recent price weakness has stabilized as growers in Mexico have brought production in line with demand.  Mexico is the primary supply source of Hass avocados, followed by Chile.  The California season is essentially finished.  Mexico is currently supplying at least 50 percent of the market; the Chilean crop size has been reduced due to the major freeze that occurred in 2007.

Grapes & Soft Fruit   

Thompson and Princess seedless grapes are in plentiful supply for the medium sizes.  Favorable prices continue.  Prices remain firm for the premium quality grapes featuring large berry size.  Crimson, Red, and Ruby seedless grapes are available.  Market is steady. 

California kiwi is now available, and prices are at a premium compared to the remainder of the Chilean crop.  Chilean kiwi currently offers excellent value. Peaches will be available through October, with a range in price according to quality.  Nectarines are finishing for the season along with red plums.  Black plums will continue to be available; harvest is heavy to the larger sizes.  Bartlett & Bosc pears are available, also pomegranates, quince and Fuyu persimmons.

Eastern & Western Vegetables

Availability has tightened for green bell peppers.  Prices are trending higher in California and Georgia.  Production is slowing for red and gold bell peppers in Central California and Oxnard.  The next area for harvest will be in Coachella during November.  Production continues to gradually increase for cucumbers in Nogales, and quality is also improving.  Zucchini and yellow squash are in plentiful supply in the East and West.  Eggplant is in good supply.  Green beans are available in South Georgia, and prices are moving lower in California.

Tomatoes

Round tomatoes continue with good supplies in California.  We are ending the end of the season in Michigan.  The season will begin in South Carolina in early November.  Supplies have tightened for cherry and grape tomatoes.  Romas are in good supply.

Potatoes

New crop Burbanks are available at a moderate price premium compared to Norkotah.  Supplies and prices are steady. 

Onions

New crop yellow onions are in good supply, with improved availability on the large sizes (colossal, super colossal).  Steady supplies on red onions.  Prices remain high for white onions.