Market News
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Market News: Week of August 24th
August 24, 2009
AVOCADO:
We are seeing the shift to imported fruit from Chile and Mexico. California is winding down their season quickly, and Chilean and Mexican supplies are improving.
MEXICAN FRUIT:
New Crop crossings continue to improve, with supplies of 60’s and smaller in good volume. Please note that early new crop oil content will be low and require additional time for ripening.
CALIFORNIA FRUIT:
California growers continue to pack light numbers, and growers have finished with this years crop. There should be limited amounts available through the balance of the month.
CHILEAN FRUIT:
Supplies of Chilean fruit are good, mostly smaller sizes now, with larger sizes by the end of month. Fruit has early season characteristics, but will steadily improve in eating quality as we get further into the season.
STRAWBERRIES:
Production has picked up a bit as we enter into mid week. Most shippers have a good flush of fruit through this week, and then will probably snug up again coming into next week. We are still experiencing moderate bruising at shipping point. The days are now getting shorter and we can expect quality to be fair and production to be moderate.
RASPBERRIES:
Raspberry production remains steady. There are no major happenings with production. Local production quality has been good.
BLACKBERRIES:
we are continuing to see irregular local California production in the Salinas and Watsonville areas but are expecting a bit of a decline, possibly until Mexico begins shipping again. All growing areas have slowed and shippers are cutting back orders. There are some off shore (Guatemalan) being flown in, but supplies are short.
BLUEBERRIES:
Production in the Northwest has been disrupted as Oregon and Washington are done harvesting a bit early due to excessive heat. British Columbia continues to produce at a lower than normal rate due to some recent rain slowing things down. There are still good quality and supplies in Michigan. Things may become a bit tight until we start to see the offshore fruit arrive around mid September. We can expect to see higher fobs.
LEAF LETTUCE:
Supplies are light on romaine. Expect this commodity to be light in supplies throughout the week. Romaine hearts will also be on the light side, especially forty-eight counts. Expect light numbers in production throughout the week. There continues to be reports of browning inside the internal parts of the leaf.
LEMONS:
Supplies of large sizes continue to tighten. Availability continues to look good on 140’s and smaller. Summer demand continues to keep prices firm.
LIMES:
sizing on pack outs are running to smaller sizes. Demand is good. Quality remains good, with lighter color which is a characteristic of the summer crop.
ORANGES:
Demand is increasing on small choice fruit as schools begin. Supplies of these small sizes will continue to tighten. Quality remains good.
POTATOES:
New Crop Norkotahs are just starting in Idaho there will be several more sheds starting to pack this week so it will be a slow go. Burbanks are finishing up this week with several shippers transitioning to only Norkotahs. Norkotahs have a much larger size profile then the old crop Burbanks so there will be much better availability on the larger cartons and small sizes will hold steady prices. New crop product is very nice looking and the 2’s will be limited. All new crop will be Norkotahs. Washington new crop Norkotahs are going strong with good quality and good availabitly. Colorado has limited supplies of old crop and quality is still good. California colored potatoes still available with very good quality.
Market News: Week of August 10th
August 11, 2009
Weather:
The roller coaster weather pattern continues in California as hot temperatures have returned following last weeks cooler moist conditions. High pressure out west will once again bring hot temperatures to Central California the first half of the week. Temperatures along the coastal growing regions are expected to reach the mid 70s with inland temperatures in the mid 90s and triple digit temperatures expected in the San Joaquin Valley. Temperatures are forecast to moderate beginning near the coast around mid week with seasonal temperatures expected late in the week.
In the eastern growing regions warm to hot temperatures will continue in the various areas with a chance of showers and thunderstorms (heavy at times) also possible throughout the region this week. Temperatures in the high 80s and 90s with possible triple digit temperatures and overnight temperatures in the low 70s look to be the norm this week.
AVOCADO:
August is a transition month for avocados. We will see a major shift to imported fruit from Chile and Mexico. California is winding down their season and Chilean supplies are improving. Demand exceeds supplies are improving. Demand exceeds supplies at this time, but we should see this start to change over the next two weeks as the Chilean volume picks up.
MEXICAN FRUIT:
We are seeing some new crop crossing, but supplies are light. Better volume should hit around the 3rd week of August. Please note that early new crop oil content will be low and require additional time for ripening.
CALIFORNIA FRUIT:
California growers continue to pack fair volume, and many growers look to be finishing with their crop as soon as this week.
CHILEAN FRUIT:
Supplies of Chilean fruit continue to increase, mostly smaller sizes now, with larger sizes by the end of the month. Fruit has early season characteristics, but will steadily improve in eating quality as we get further into the season.
STRAWBERRIES:
Production continues with lower than normal supplies. Most to all shippers continue to be very snug on supplies, walking in sold out or only taking regular biz. The plants in the Salinas/Watsonville growing area are now past their “peak” production window. We are starting to see a lot more overripe and bruised berries with many shippers quoting such defects at shipping point. Heavy volume looks to be not as abundant as the weeks previous. Santa Maria continues to produce moderate to low volume with good to fair quality. The weather has been favorably warm and should give the plants a little push, but I feel we will still be seeing tired fruit.
LEMONS:
Supplies of large sizes continue on the tight side. Availability continues to look good on 140’s and smaller. Summer demand is keeping prices firm.
LIMES:
Suppliers are somewhat tight due to weather and strong demand from all export markets. Quality remains good, with lighter color which is a characteristic of the summer crop.
ORANGES:
Valencia crop estimates now look lower than first projected. Demand is strong and shippers are pacing their harvest to ensure steady supplies though October. Quality remains very good.
GRAPES:
Supplies remain good for Flame red seedless grapes this week, but they continue to wind down now as Crimson gets ready to break. Green seedless varieties (princess and Thompson) continue to produce very good supplies and quality is excellent! There are also beautiful Black Seedless and Red Globe Seeded grapes available! They are all available from the Fresno, Delano, Arvin and Bakersfield districts with excellent quality. Temperatures remain mild in the major growing areas, and fruit is still thriving. Demand has strengthened, but there is plenty of fruit to supply that. The markets are off the floor and expect it to gain strength into next week.
POTATOES:
Large size Russet potatoes remain extremely limited in Idaho with 40 through 80ct count very limited on both old and new crop. New crop Norkotahs have started in a light way. All new crop will be Norkotahs. Washington new crop Norkotahs have started in a light way with good quality and product running small. Colorado has limited supplies and quality is still good. California new crop colored potatoes available with very good quality.
EASTERN SQUASH:
The squash market is slowly gaining strength as a result of some fairly heavy rains that moved through the Mid West growing regions recently. Anticipate a continued gradual market increase through the week accompanied by rain-related quality issues.
Market News: Week of August 3rd
August 5, 2009
Potatoes
We are starting to transition out of the old crop and into the new – Market Demand for larger size – 80/70/60 & up- is causing prices to rise. New crop of NORKOTAHS are even higher. The pressure on demand will cause the market to remain tight for the next couple of weeks.
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