Market Outlook

Lettuce: 

The lettuce market is about steady from last week. We continue to see good quality on inbound.

Leaf: 

Romaine and romaine hearts are up slightly for next week. Green leaf and red leaf markets are steady to up slightly depending on shipper. We are seeing mostly good quality on inbound.

Broccoli:

The broccoli market is much higher for next week as product is a little short in California and some of the regional deals are slowing down.  Quality has been good on inbound.

Cauliflower:

The cauliflower market is moving up a few dollars. Quality has been very good.

Carrots:

The carrot market is steady for next week. Good supply of product coming in from Canada.

Celery:

The celery market is about steady. We are seeing good quality on inbound.

Strawberries: 

Markets are about steady from last week. Quality has been good.

Potatoes:

The Idaho potato market has softened some but for the most part pretty steady with freight cost up a bit.

Onions:

The yellow onion market has finally settled, and will be steady going into next week.

 Citrus:

The California lemon market remains very strong, with supplies very short. Sunkist is very short on fancy and choice fruit. Quality on the fruit has been good to very good. We have good quality Mexican fruit available. California oranges are in pretty good supply on large sizes, but small fruit is tight and costs have moved up with schools starting. We are seeing good quality on inbound. The Lime market is moving higher with heavy rains in Mexico. We are seeing fair to good quality on inbound.

Cucumbers:

The cucumber market has continued to climb with supers being very short in supplies at this time, quality overall on both selects and supers has only been fair.

Peppers;

The green pepper market is up in the south and pretty steady to slightly up in New Jersey. Quality has been pretty good for the most part.

 Tomatoes:

The round tomato market is up a few dollars for next week. Very few quality tomatoes available in the East. Grapes and cherries are higher as well, with product coming up short. Virginia and Maryland are slowing up fast. The Roma market is up by a few dollars with product very short.

 

Feature of the Week

This week Primo is featuring jalapenos. Good-quality Jalapeno peppers should be firm, smooth-skinned and have solid green coloring. Dry lines are not a blemish. They are signs of a mature pepper and indicate hotness.  Avoid product that is soft, bruised, has wrinkled skin or spots of mold.

Recipe of the Week

Jalapeño  Corn Muffins

Ingredients

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for tin, melted

3/4 cup nonfat buttermilk

2 large eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon coarse salt

2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh or frozen (thawed) corn kernels

Unsalted butter, for serving

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush the cups of a standard 12-cup muffin tin with melted butter, and set aside. Whisk together buttermilk, eggs, and sour cream in a medium bowl until combined, and set aside. Whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, jalapenos, and corn in a large bowl until combined.

Step 2

With a rubber spatula, fold buttermilk mixture into cornmeal mixture until well combined. Fold in melted butter. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let muffins cool in tin 5 minutes. Turn out into a basket or bowl lined with a clean kitchen towel; cover to keep warm. Serve with butter.

Fun Facts of the Week

• Jalapeños were the first peppers that travelled into space on a NASA shuttle.
• Ancient Aztecs were reportedly the first to use jalapeños, but they dried and smoked the peppers rather than eating them.
• Jalapeños are ranked 5000 on the Scoville heat rating. jalapeños are fruits.
• Jalapeños got their name from the town they originated from, Jalapa, Mexico.