Week of 7/3/08 to 7/11/08

PRIMO'S PICK OF THE WEEK !!!


RECIPE OF THE WEEK


FUN FACTS OF THE WEEK


MARKET OVERVIEW


ICEBERG LETTUCE
Lettuce remains steady and looks to continue through the week. Recent high heat levels have caused some puffiness in the product. There have been some reports of brown butts and internal burn in some instances. The weights continue to average 43 -45 pounds upon arrival. Mexico continues to have an abundance of product available. Colorado and New York have availability of local crops.

ROMAINE AND LEAF LETTUCE
Green leaf is in extremely tight supplies due to the low yields that have been produced in the fields. Excessive heat has caused heavy damage to this commodity with internal burn and tip burn being common complaints for this product. Some suppliers have been left with no availability and needing to buy on the outside to cover contract business. Romaine has weathered the heat a little better then the green leaf, however this market could be active towards the end of the week. Green leaf continues to average in weights of 20 to 24 pounds. Romaine will be approximately 38 to 44 pounds. Local supplies may be available in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Colorado, and Washington.

BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER
The broccoli market continues to be steady this week. Supplies are moderate, with a surplus available in Santa Maria, which could translate into opportunities. Large bead size continues to be a minor complaint for this commodity. With the upcoming holiday, there looks to be plenty of supplies to go around. Cooler weather will help to slow the growth down for broccoli and increase the quality of the product.

Most shippers look to have ample supplies available for the rest of the week. The quality has been only fair with discoloration and browning still being reported sporadically upon arrivals. The market started this week a little softer at the beginning of this week but could likely firm up towards the end of the week. Expect the quality to be fair over the next weeks as this commodity recovers from the extreme past heat.

CARROTS
The Carrot market continues to remain steady. West Coast supply and quality are adequate on all sizes of Carrots, but starting to tighten up just a bit. Texas carrots are now available. Georgia is still going strong. Quality and supplies are good and the market remains steady. Plenty of product available from Mexico. Michigan should have some supplies available around the third week in July.

CELERY
Small size celery, mainly 36 counts continues to be extremely tight. With Oxnard finishing production, that leaves Salinas and Santa Maria to supply all needs. Availability numbers continue to run heavier on 24s and 30s and this should continue through the week. Pricing still varies widely as some suppliers availability is better then others. Seeders are still an issue for some growers. Michigan should begin in the next 7 – 10 days.

BERRIES
Strawberries: Supplies are currently a little tight due to irregular weather patterns which have thrown off production cycles. Typically growers would be looking at three stages of growth on the plant at the same time (blossoms, green fruit and ripe fruit). Currently we are only seeing one or the other, ripe fruit ready to come off or blossoms, nothing in between. This trend very well could continue for weeks to come. Berry quality is good to fair with current sizing a little smaller than usual due to the past days of heat.

Raspberries: Production is still a bit light coming out of the past days of heat but will stable by mid to the end of the week. With the extra day off from picking due to the 4th holiday, it will let the plants catch up giving us better supply for the following week.

Blackberries: Production continues to rebound from the passing heat in Watsonville. Production should regain strength by next week. The Pacific North West has started harvesting this week and we should start to see some relief. Quality is good.

Blueberries: Production is strong in all areas (Georgia, New Jersey, and Pacific North
West). We should start to see a slight dip in the markets in the near future. Quality remains good in all areas.


POTATOES
The Burbanks from Idaho continue to pack out small out of all areas and remain heavy to #2’s. Market is continuing at high levels. The storage season is winding down quickly and new crop Idaho’s are behind schedule (they may start mid August or as late as September). Overall acreage is down as far as 20% this year on new crop product. Washington storage product has a poor pack out as well, with some shippers running limited days to stretch out supplies Washington and Colorado new crop should start around August 1. Nevada is still in very small Burbanks and they are now in lots with less #1 product as well. Central California colored potatoes will be winding down over the next couple of weeks with Northern California product started with good supplies and availability. North Dakota has finished for the season. Arizona is going with limited availability on reds and golds and should finish up in the next couple of weeks.

ONIONS
Huron, California and New Mexico are going strong with good quality and availability. Shippers need to move product, and are dealing on load volumes. It looks like the market will stay unsettled for the next week or so and then level out. Vidalia Onions are still going with good quality and volume.

APPLES & PEARS
Markets continue to trend up as supplies out of WA dry up. There is approximately 20% of the crop left to ship on both Red and Golden Delicious and 10% left on Granny Smith. Gala and Fuji are about done.

The June hailstorm damage to the NY crop is not as bad as initially thought (The Produce News 6/26/08).

Pear supplies should be totally dried up within the next 2-3 weeks.


BANANAS
Demand is lacking causing generally softer markets and better availability on market fruit. Due to fuel surcharges, pricing has been fairly stable but may very well ease if demand remains as sluggish as it has been. There are no reports of quality issues on either conventional or organic fruit and quality is very good.

AVOCADOS
CA fruit is peaking on 48’s. Smaller sizes remain on the tight side and these markets are strong. Crop estimates are being adjusted down partially due to water restrictions. Quality and shelf life remain very good. Mexican volume crossing the border continues to dwindle and shelf life remains an issue. Chilean charter vessels are currently expected to arrive around mid September.

ASPARAGUS
Markets are a little stronger and supplies are tight on Jumbo’s and XL’s. The MI deal is about done, CA production is dissipating, and Mexico remains the main source area with fair quality.

CITRUS
EAST
Valencia storage volume may remain available the week of July 20th. The best availability is on 80’s and 100’s and FOB’s are slightly higher on larger fruit. Quality remains good.

WEST
Valencia markets remain mostly steady as fruit continues to peak on 113’s and 138’s. Some fruit has re-greened due to heat but overall quality continues to be good. Volume remains plentiful. Mexican-sourced fruit is crossing into TX. South African Navels arrived in Philadelphia late last week; Australian Navels may become available out of Oxnard next week with initial reports of very good quality.

Lemon markets remain fairly steady as well in the midst of continued strong demand that is maintaining firm pricing on 140’s and larger. Improved Chilean volume is expected by the end of next week; initial quality has been very good. CA quality is fair to good.

Lime markets are fairly steady with firmer undertones, especially on smaller-sized fruit that is tightening due to the rainy season. Expect FOB’s to firm within the month. Juice content and color are both good.


GRAPES
Markets remain stable but have softer undertones. Production out of Mexico and Coachella continues to decline but Arvin / Bakersfield is getting off the ground, overall supplies are plentiful, and demand is slightly weaker. Overall quality is very good.

MELONS
Cantaloupe markets are firm as heat has caused quality issues on remaining fruit out of Phoenix, Yuma, and the Desert and Bakersfield does not have any significant volume yet. AZ should wrap up harvesting in the next 10 days. Expect pricing to remain firm at least until the end of next week.

Honeydew markets are steady and supplies on the tight side. Expect better volume out of the Central Valley within the next ten days.

Watermelon markets are steady but firm due to the holiday. Expect market conditions to remain on the strong side for the remainder of the month. Overall quality is very good.


CUCUMBERS
Eastern
Beginning-week FOB’s decreased compared to last week but have since stabilized. MI volume flourished more quickly than anticipated. GA has some lingering supplies, NC & NJ have moderate volume, and markets should remain steady for the next 7-10 days. The NC deal should wrap up within the next two weeks. NC & NJ quality remains good.

Western
Markets are softer due to increased volume out of WA & OR. Baja supplies are improving as well but Fresno production remains limited. Quality remains fair to very good.


PEPPERS
Eastern
Beginning-week markets shot up but have since stabilized and are expected to remain this way for the next week. NJ, NY, and MI are about two weeks away from volume. NC has moderate supplies while GA has some lingering supplies. With the exception of only fair quality out of GA, quality form all other source areas is good.

Western
Markets have strengthened. Bakersfield supplies are light, Stockton will start up next week, and Gilroy/Hollister within the next two weeks. Quality is ranging from fair to very good.

RED BELL PEPPERS:
Western
Markets will remain strong into next week but should begin to ease within the next 2-3 weeks when Bakersfield production gets off the ground. The desert deal will wrap up this week. Quality is poor to fair at best.


SQUASH
Eastern
Production is now out of multiple source areas. Quality remains generally very good.

Western
Production out west is widespread as well from Baja to WA. Baja has good supplies, Salinas/Watsonville volume is on the increase, Fresno has limited volume, and Santa Maria production has been slightly affected by past heat. Quality is ranging from fair to excellent.


TOMATOES
Round markets are softer now than they have been for the previous five weeks due to still-recovering demand from the Salmonella issue and increased regional production. Roma FOB’s are steady, Grape pricing has slipped, and Cherry pricing is steady to slightly stronger. Within the next week, we expect all types to have softer FOB’s with the possible exception of Cherries that are limited. FL and GA production is wrapping up while CA continues to increase. Quality is generally good everywhere.

Below is a regional update:
• AR: Pricing has gotten aggressive as grower/shippers try to move product. Production is solid as this deal has another 2-3 weeks remaining. Quality is good.
• AL: Production continues to ramp up with new fields breaking and crown pick harvesting. Quality is very good.
• SC: This deal is winding down and will end soon. Quality is generally good with some marginal quality being reported on some Cherry and Grape.
• TN: Increased production on Round and Grape is around the corner.
• NC: There has been some limited start-up volume that will be increasing over the next 1-2 weeks.
• Eastern Shore VA/MD: Some harvesting is expected to begin next week with volume expected by month’s end.
• OH/MI: Should start up around early August.


SPECIALTY PRODUCE
Pineapple demand remains healthy and larger-sized fruit (especially 5’s) is tight—expect stronger FOB’s on 5’s and 6’s for the month. 8’s remain plentiful and quality continues to be good.

Overall CA Stone Fruit volume and quality remain strong. WA Apricot volume is increasing while Cherries are very tight.