December 1st, 2023 Market Report
Lettuce:
Lettuce markets are steady. The Yuma production has been clean with weights averaging 37 to 41 pounds. Quality is good.
Leaf:
Romaine markets are steady. Quality is good.
Romaine Heart markets are steady. Quality is good.
Green and Red Leaf markets are steady. Quality is good.
Lettuce Tender Leaf:
Parsley, Cilantro, Arugula, Spring Mix, Arcadian, and Spinach are steady with good quality coming out Yuma.
Broccoli:
Markets are still coming down. The supply of broccoli continues to improve. Yuma supplies have begun. Quality is fair to good.
Cauliflower:
Markets are steady. Quality is fair to good.
Carrots:
Cello markets are slightly up out West. Canadian carrots remain strong and appear to be getting stronger. Quality is good.
Loose market is steady. Quality is good.
Value-add Snack Carrots are steady. Quality is good.
Celery:
Markets are still coming down. The production in Salinas has ended, and the production is currently concentrated in Santa Maria/Oxnard. Harvesting will not begin in Yuma until late December. Quality is good.
Strawberries & Bush Berries:
Strawberry markets are still firm. After a difficult and late start to the season due to inclement weather, Mexican production is ramping up slowly. Despite cooler weather in the forecast, Santa Maria is down trending in late season and Oxnard is producing lower yields. Florida’s season began last week and will gradually ramp up over the next few weeks. Quality is fair to good.
Raspberry markets are slightly up. There is a good amount of product crossing in from CMEX and Baja. Quality is good.
Blueberries markets are continuing to soften. Quality is fair to good.
Blackberries markets are steady. Quality is improving, but is still fair to good.
Potatoes:
The Potato market is stable, with 40cts, 50cts, 60cts, and 70cts becoming a little tight. Quality has been good.
Onions:
The onion market is stable. There is a slight increase in price due to freight. Overall quality is good.
Cucumbers:
Cucumber market is steady. Quality is good.
Euro cucumbers markets are steady. Quality is good.
Peppers:
Green bells market is steady. Quality is good.
Red Pepper markets are active due to recent weather conditions. Quality is fair to good.
Herbs:
Basil: We are still seeing minor quality issues. Overall, quality is fair to good.
Citrus:
Orange markets remain strong. Industry wide supplies for all sizes are still tight but will improve over the next week. The colder nighttime temperatures have helped reduce gassing times and increase Brix. Gas times are currently 2-3 days, and brix levels are currently 11-12. Quality is fair to good.
Lemon markets remain strong, but steady. District 3 (California desert/Arizona) is the main growing region. District 1 (Central Valley) has started in a very light way. We should see some relief when District 1 ramps up, bringing more fruit to the market. Mexico product has been steady with good quality. Quality is good.
Lime The current crop of limes in on the decline volume wise, as we head into what is historically one of the two smallest crop cycles of the year in Mexico. New crop limes should start in the next couple of weeks in a small way. Early indications from growers are we could see an active 2nd half of December as supply volume declines for the winter months. Overall quality has been pretty good on all sizes.
Grapes:
The grape market is steady. Domestic grapes are near the end of the season. Supplies will last for 2-3 more weeks, but the crop is showing its age. On both coasts, imports are priced much higher than domestic. Quality is fair to good.
Tomatoes:
A cooler climate/transition is slowing down the production of all varieties, especially grapes. Florida and Mexico both have light production, so expect elevated markets through January.
Cabbage:
Green Cartons: Markets are tightening up. Quality is good.
Red Cartons: Markets are tightening up. Quality is good.
Bagged Cabbage: Markets are tightening up. Quality is good.
Market Alerts:
The items listed below are being prorated by Shippers.
1.) Grape Tomatoes
