Broccoli, Green cabbage, Tomatoes, Asparagus, Honeydews, Chilean grapes

MARKET REPORT 3/08/10
Desert veggies: It looks like we will be leaving Yuma and heading back up north to Salinas in the 2nd week of April which is about 1 to 2 weeks later than normal. Some of the crops have been delayed by all the cool wet weather, which will keep us in the desert a little longer. February last year was about 20 degrees warmer for the month than this year and we are seeing the result in lack of volume. Broccoli and cauliflower have already become very short and prices are rising. Broccoli has begun in Salinas and Santa Maria and is showing cheaper prices but reports ares howing pin worm and other issues due to excessive rains seen in early stages of growth. All the leaf is slowly starting to creep up as supplies get lighter. We have started to load iceberg in Holtville to avoid premium prices being demanded in Yuma as very few shippers are producing quality product. Look for green cabbage to climb as we near St. Patricks Day. Rapini and brussels sprouts have finished in the desert.
Veggies: Green bells have become darn near extinct. Extremely light crossings are driving this market higher every day. Yellow and red bells will both be a cheaper alternative. Asparagus is looking good as the thriftiest veggie again this week. Supplies look good for another week or two. Italian and yellow squash are both up this week as cold weather stunts production. Eggplant remains fairly short as the Mexican crop is tapering off. We are already starting to see darker calix and softer bodies. Cucumbers seem to be getting easier this week as crossings increase.
Tomatoes: Round tomatoes have backed off a little from last week as the market could not sustain the incredibly high F.O.B.’s shippers were asking. This market should remain very active until early to mid April when Florida recovers. Roma tomatoes have backed off quite a bit from last week as volume has increased. Quality looks very good. Cherry and grape tomatoes remain very active with high prices.
Melons: Cantaloupes look to remain stable this week as Central American supplies continue on the light side. Honeydews have become fairly scarce as arrivals from Costa Rica and Guatemala have dropped off over the last week. Quality on both has been good. No change in the watermelon market this week. Very light supplies, high prices, and just average quality seem to be the norm these days.
Chilean product: It seems as though the Chilean government has gotten at least one port open and operational. Hopefully this means we can avoid a break in the supply of grapes and stonefruit. However, Chilean grapes were on the backside of a very average season when the quake hit and with them trying to squeeze all exports out of one port, this market probably won’t
recover before it ends.
Nuts and bolts: Limes continue to hold very high prices. Peruvian mangos are finishing up as we move into new crop Mexican product. Prices will be up slightly. Yellow onions continue to climbas demand far exceeds supply.

Tags: Produce Reports