Primo

 Lettuce: 

Lettuce markets are still coming down. Better supplies of this commodity are available in Salinas and Southern California. Value-added pricing is still escalated, but coming down. Product weights have ranged from 41 to 45 pounds. As compared to previous weeks, discoloration of the outer leaves and misshapen heads have been reported much less frequently. Quality is fair to good. 

Leaf: 

– Romaine markets are still coming down. Some common defects being reported include tip & fringe burn. Quality is fair to good. 

– Romaine Heart markets are still coming down. Some common defects being reported include tip & fringe burn. Quality is fair to good. 

– Green and Red Leaf markets are still coming down. Some common defects being reported include tip & fringe burn. Quality is fair to good. 

Lettuce Tender Leaf: 

– Curly & Italian Parsley are still very tight due to the heavy rains they had a couple months ago. The product in Salinas is still behind schedule. Over the next week, shippers hope the weather in the Salinas Valley warms up and growth improves. Quality is fair. 

– Cilantro is in good supply. Quality is fair to good. 

– Arugula is in good supply. Quality is fair to good. 

– Spring Mix is in good supply. Quality is fair to good. 

– Spinach is in good supply. Quality is fair to good. 

Broccoli: 

Broccoli markets are steady, but expected to rise next week. Quality is fair to good. 

Cauliflower: 

Markets are steady, but expected to rise next week. Shippers are starting to see a gap in their supplies in Salinas due to all the rain they had during planting. Quality is fair to good. 

Carrots: 

– Cello and Loose markets are steady. Quality is good. 

– Value-add Snack Carrots are steady. Quality is good. 

Celery: 

Celery markets are very active and sold out. In the next two-three weeks, light supplies are expected. It is expected that Salinas will begin production at the end of June. Oxnard should have better supplies at the beginning of next month. The most common defects upon arrival are seeders and pith. This is an industry-wide issue. Value-added items with this commodity continue to be escalated. Quality is fair to good. 

Strawberries & Bush Berries: 

– Strawberry markets are steady. Oxnard has passed its peak and is winding down rapidly. Salinas and Watsonville areas are just starting to produce decent numbers. Over the next few weeks, this trend should continue to increase steadily. Quality is good. 

– Raspberry markets are still active. This item remains tight coming out of Mexico. Central California production is not expected to begin until June. Quality is fair to good. 

– Blueberries markets are steady. Quality is good. 

– Blackberries markets are still steady, but still tight. Shippers are seeing better availability on this item. The quality of Mexican fruit being transferred is just fair. We are waiting for new crop California to increase its numbers, which should take a couple of weeks. Quality is fair. 

Potatoes: 

The potato market is strong and very tight. 40ct -80ct have been hit the hardest. Quality is fair to good. 

Onions: 

The onion market is very unstable. Heavy rains in most growing areas are causing pricing to fluctuate day by day. Overall quality is good. 

Cucumbers: 

– Cucumber market is steady. Quality is good. 

– Euro cucumbers markets are steady at the bottom. Quality is good. 

Peppers: 

– Green bells markets are steady. Quality should improve even more next week with harvest moving north. Quality is good. 

– Red Pepper markets are up. Quality is good. 

Herbs: 

– Basil: We are still seeing minor quality issues. Overall, quality is fair to good. 

Citrus 

– Orange markets are continuing to go up and are tight on small fruit with significantly less volume. Val’s have started, but volume is very light. Quality is good. 

– Lemon markets continue to go up. Small fruit is tight due to the past rain increasing fruit size. Markets continue to climb higher each week. Quality is good. 

– Limes overall market continues to come off. Look for the smaller sizes to begin to level out, and the larger sizes will continue to come off as the fruit continues to size up more in the coming weeks. 110cts are still very tight, but we are seeing more 175ct and a few more 150cts each week. We are seeing 250cts tighten up some as the fruit continues to size up, but still plenty available. Quality and color continue to be good with minor signs of skin breakdown and stylar. This is one of the two largest volume crops of the year, so supplies should be good. We will be keeping an eye on the El Nino weather patterns this year, as they are the ones that typically bring on hurricane season in Mexico earlier than normal years. If it is a sever El Nino year, we could see mid-summer hurricanes, but so far, no severity predictions have been made. 

Grapes 

Grapes are extremely limited, and will be for the balance of import season. We are bringing in some pink Muscatel Grapes to help cover gaps in the traditional red grapes. Mexican grapes are late and will start end of May, ramping up in June. 

Tomatoes: 

Low volumes in Florida and Mexico are causing quality issues as the Sinaloa season winds down. It is expected that Eastern supply will be light until early July once the mountain region in North Carolina and Tennessee gets going. The Sinaloa crop is rapidly winding down, as most shippers have begun using Sonora for the new crop. Baja crop has also started, but quality is fair. 

Cabbage: 

– Green Cartons: Markets are stabilizing as more domestic product is available. Quality has been good. 

– Red Cartons: Markets are stabilizing as more domestic product is available. Quality has been good. 

– Bagged Cabbage: Markets are stabilizing as more domestic product is available. Quality is good. 

Market Alerts: 

The items listed below are being prorated by Shippers. 

1.) Red & Green grapes 

2.) Chipperbec potatoes 

3.) Radishes 

4.) Brussel Sprouts 

5.) Brussel Sprouts Halved 2/5lb & 4/5lb 

6.) Brussel Sprouts Shaved 5/2lb