This a national report that I found to be very accurate. It is broad based and intended to show trends and reasons why certain item prices are moving. It is not     intended to be a price sheet, just a source of weekly information....

 

Weekly Market Review

July 22, 2010

 Weather UpdateHot weather conditions inland will result in continued below-average temperatures in coastal growing areas, with “marine layer” coastal fog causing daytime highs to rise to only the high 60s from Central California to Southern California.  Above average temperatures will continue in the San Joaquin Valley, with clear skies and highs in the low 100s.         TransportationTight availability continues for transportation equipment in the West, due to a shortage of direct back-haul loads from the East.  Many carriers are forced to return to California in a more circuitous fashion.  For example, a load from New Jersey to Ohio, then Ohio to Texas, Texas to Arizona, finally ending up in Southern California.  This scenario also exists for shipments from the Northwest.  High freight rates and tight availability will continue through July and August. California Lettuce & Mixed VegetablesIceberg & Leaf:  California growers are at normal seasonal production levels for iceberg, romaine and leaf.  The recent availability shortfall situation for iceberg has improved, with increasing production expected to continue through next week.  Prices have eased.  Romaine and green leaf are in good supply at competitive prices.  Occasional quality issues are present in various grower lots of iceberg and romaine, including mildew and tip burn.  Head size and carton weights are average. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Celery, Carrots:  Broccoli and broccoli crowns are in plentiful supply.  Availability has improved on cauliflower; however we can expect to see variable production levels throughout the summer on broccoli and cauliflower, as growers have reduced planted acreage on both.  The market is steady for California celery, with best availability on the larger sizes (24s & 30s).  The celery harvest in Michigan is now underway.  Jumbo sized carrots are in plentiful supply in California, with tight availability on the cello carrot packs.    Mixed Vegetables:  A cold snap in Peru has resulted in a sharp drop in asparagus production, and weather conditions have also caused a drop in yield for Mexican growers.  Availability is limited, and prices are at the extreme.  Green onion production in Mexico has also declined significantly; with quality issues causing a drop in yield following the harvest transition to Baja California.  Prices have advanced and will remain strong for the intermediate term.  Production is on the increase for California snow peas due to favorable growing conditions.  Prices have declined to competitive levels. Bok choy, napa, kale, green cabbage, red cabbage, leek and bunched spinach are in good supply.  Seeders and burn have caused a shortfall in availability on parsley, curly parsley and cilantro.  Prices have advanced.  We have excellent quality and plentiful supplies of spring mix, arugula and baby spinach, along with numerous organically grown row crop vegetable items.     Strawberries    A wide range in quality characterizes the current strawberry market, with the premium labels commanding higher prices.  Continued cool, overcast, marine layer weather conditions have contributed to various quality issues, with strawberries exhibiting a greater susceptibility to mold due to the moist growing conditions.  Berry size is generally medium, with 18-20 strawberries per 1 lb. clamshell container.  California raspberries are in good supply, with fine appearance and excellent taste!  California blackberries are in good supply, along with blueberries from the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, British Columbia).  We are in peak season production for Northwestern blueberries.  The berries are large and full-flavored. California-Arizona Citrus Imported Navel oranges from Chile have arrived, while priced at a premium compared to California Valencia oranges, have contained an upward price movement in the market.   Valencia oranges are in good supply, with heavy production to the larger sizes (56s, 72s & 88s).  Lemons are in good supply for the smaller sizes (140s, 165s & 200s); the Chilean season is in full swing and will effectively limit any upward price pressure in the California lemon market.  Quality is excellent for all lemons currently available.  California Summer and Star Ruby grapefruit are in plentiful supply, with production heavy to sizes 32, 36 & 40.  Mexican limes are in plentiful supply for all sizes.  Large sized pineapples from Cost Rica (5s & 6s) continue to be in seasonally tight supply during the remainder of July and August; however there will be no interruption in the availability of smaller sized fruit (7s & 8s). Melons  Cantaloupes have been in extremely tight supply recently, due to a sharp drop in early season production for the new crop harvest in the San Joaquin Valley.  Rain that occurred during spring planting, accompanied by wide swings in temperatures, resulted in growers losing early-planted acreage - forcing them to re-plant.  This has caused a delay in the harvest coming into full production.  The availability and price situation is expected to improve next week, with the harvest in full swing by early August.  Honeydews are available at favorable prices.   Watermelon prices have firmed as we move into peak summer sales.  Numerous regional areas are in production, including Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois.  In addition to the outstanding quality, watermelons are currently being harvested in Arizona and California.  Apples and PearsPrices remain firm for the remaining apple varieties in Eastern Washington, which include Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Red Delicious.  The harvest is now underway for new crop California Bartlett Pears. Grapes & Soft Fruit           Due to a late start in the San Joaquin Valley harvest caused by spring weather conditions, we have experienced a moderate gap in supply for red and green seedless grapes.  Prices remain firm for Flame seedless, with limited availability on Thompson seedless.  Mexican Sugarone variety green seedless are available for loading in the San Joaquin Valley along with the new crop Flames.  California peaches are in plentiful supply, with moderate production on red and black plums; limited availability on nectarines.  Chilean kiwi is in good supply.  New crop California kiwi will be available in September. Avocados  Mexican Hass import volume has begun to increase, causing prices to ease slightly.  California Hass are now priced at a moderate premium.  The size profile for California Hass has changed, with fewer of the smaller sized 60s and increasing production on 48s.  As we progress through increasingly warm summer weather, California growers will find it necessary to increase harvest activity in order to minimize any heat related quality issues.  Chilean Hass will be available from most of the major avocado shippers by early August. Eastern & Western Vegetables Prices are coming down for California red bell peppers, as growers in the San Joaquin Valley come into full production.  The harvest transition for green bells is going smoothly, with the season finishing this week in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, moving to the Gilroy-Hollister district.  Prices are trending moderately lower, with the harvest in full swing in Eastern growing areas, including Michigan, New Jersey and North Carolina.  We are seeing moderate price strength for cucumbers in Southern California, with good supplies and competitive prices for Michigan cucumbers, also good supplies and favorable prices for zucchini and yellow squash in Michigan and North Carolina.   Tomatoes Round slicing and Roma tomatoes are in good supply in regional growing areas of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, with good supplies in Southern California on large sized (5x5s) round slicing tomatoes.  Demand is strong for the smaller 5x6s in Southern California districts; also Romas, cherry and grape tomatoes.  High freight rates have contained any potential strength in prices for California growers. Potatoes Everything “Idaho” has increased in price, including freight rates.  Demand exceeds supply on every item as the other Russet growing areas have finished, leaving late season Idaho storage crop potatoes to fill the void.  New crop potatoes are available for shipment from Washington and California at higher prices compared to the Idaho storage potatoes.  In addition, freight rates to Midwestern and Eastern destinations are considerably higher from the new growing areas.  F.O.B. prices are expected to continue to advance until new crop Norkotah Russets become available in Idaho by the third week in August. OnionsPrices have begun to ease for yellow and red onions, due to increased production volume in California and New Mexico.  High temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley of California have resulted in a renewed urgency for growers to get the product out of the field and on the way to the marketplace.  New Mexico and California growers are also beginning to experience competition from early season onions from Washington, with new crop onions becoming available in Washington and Colorado by mid August.  This new crop production will cause an overlap in growing areas…California, New Mexico, Washington, and Colorado will soon have good availability in all areas.  There will be plenty of onions to be harvested, and markets are expected to decline by early August.