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MARKET REPORTS: Northwest Salinas Fresno Georgia-Florida Texas/Nogales Imports All

NORTHWEST 
February 5, 2010

APPLES

As a State we have 10 million less boxes today than we did same time last year.  A lot of fruit didn’t have the ‘legs’ to make long term storage so it needed to be shipped prior to the end of the year.  That and poor pack outs have reduced the crop - supplies and market is firming up on most varieties. 

 

Items shipped or nearly finished for season are: Pears – Seckels, Concorde, Asian, Bartlett

Apples – Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Rome, Organic Ambrosia

 

Promotable items: Braeburns, Cameo, Fuji, Gold, Granny Smith (supplies tightening), Gala (supplies tightening), Pink Lady (small fruit) Reds, Anjou’s, Red Pears and Bosc.  Few deals on Jonagold and Cameos this next week.

 

ONIONS -Northwest – The current Onion market in general is fairly steady.  However, RAIN in Mexico may drive this market again. Domestic business has been somewhat slow for the last couple of weeks in anticipation of new crop from Mexico, which caused nervous growers to drop the prices but we believe this is temporary. Not much is crossing which has caused the pipeline to empty out a bit. The Rained out Mexican crop coupled with short supplies in the Northwest will most likely cause this market to move up-Again as buyers scramble for supplies. It will be advisable to stay ahead of inventories for the next few weeks.  Overall Quality and appearance is GREAT skin set is good. 

 

POTATOES-Northwest

NORKOTAH- russets The Potato market remains flat.  Idaho has flooded most markets with cheap potatoes. Other Potato growing districts are merely following suit.  With no relief in sight other than a potential Government bail out in the form of subsidies or food bank give-a-ways. But even Government intervention will probably not put a dent in this overproduced crop. The market will remain low for the foreseeable future.   Quality remains good overall in WA and OR.   Some ID potato lots are suspect for quality. Use your QC people.

   

Colored Potatoes: East Washington Yukons are readily available.  B and C’s are tight in most districts on all colors. There is a slight strength to the Red  A prices and continues strong on the smaller sizes due to lack of supplies. The Mt. Vernon district continues with a steady market and outstanding color and quality. White potatoes are unavailable in this district. California has some white potato supplies but are rather tight in supply. 

    

Salinas News
February 5,  2010

Celery supplies are very good, quality is excellent and demand is fair. Market is very weak. Do not see this situation changing for a while.

 

Strawberry demand exceeds supply. We are starting to see the pull for the Valentine’s Day ads. Supplies are real short due to heavy rains in growing districts a couple weeks ago. Expect to see prorating and shortages on orders. Overall quality is just fair. It is going to be a scramble this ad period.

 

Shippers are reporting lots of BROCCOLI around. Demand is still relatively flat so prices will remain reasonable. We don’t expect anything to change this week…lots of low cost, excellent quality BROCCOLI around to promote.

 

Lettuce markets all over are down. There is almost no demand for anything; that includes Lettuce. Expect harvesting to be curtailed due to market conditions. Most Shippers would rather disk than sell below cost. This week, hopefully things will turn around or it will be a long one. Quality is good.  Leaf market remains slow and supplies are plenty. Look for the same to continue through next week. Quality is pretty good.

 

Cauliflower demand has been moderate with good quality.  The market will be steady through the week.

FRESNO NEWS
February 5, 2010

 

Chilean Grapes: Perlette, Sugarone, Thompsons and Flames are here.   Grapes supplies are starting to pick up in volume.  The berry size of these grapes is leaning more towards 9-11/ 16 (med berry size) there are larger berries available with a big spread in price.  Chile harvest has been running late.   This decrease in berry size requires more bunches packed into a box to get the weight and ends up using more bunches and getting less boxes than expected.  “Lunch Bunch/ Snak Pak” are available the market is finally starting to become more realistic.  

 

Calif & Italian Kiwi are available in all sizes with very light volume.  Sizes were good this year; the fruit is firm with very nice sugar.  Available in single layer flats, volume filled & tri-layer.  Market it up and will continue to rise as we start to wind down.  New crop Chilean is not expected till mid-late March.

 

Melons are all imports at this time.  Supplies are light on little fruit which is keeping the market up on all sizes.

-- Cantaloupes peaking on 9/12’s with fair supplies.  Small sizes 15/18 are starting to show up but still very tight.  Color is on the green side with nice net.  Fruit is firm & hard.  Market is strong. 

-- Honeydews are peaking on 5/6’s; color is cream to light green.  Market remains steady.   

 

Carrot market on Cello/ Cliptop/ Baby (processed) is steady with good supplies.  Jumbo market is higher.

 

Chilean Avocados have their final push arriving this week for Super Bowl.  Supplies are limited & maturity has been good and shippers continue to be priced to move.  Mexico which has been the major supplier hit a snag with weather this last week – rain & heavy hail in growing areas curtailing harvest. This fruit has been nice with good oil content and flavor.  Market on Mexican is up slightly.  Sizing on 48’s & larger.   California crop is showing some volume but still remains light.  The fruit is rock hard at this time w/o gas it is taking 10-14 days to turn.  Calif also has Bacon’s & Fuertes available with great taste.

 

Lemon market is relatively stable at this time.   Supplies are light on small fruit (165/200’s), with strong demand.  Packouts continue to peaking 115/ 140’s, quality is good.  Product is loading in all areas.

 

Navel oranges color & sugar levels are looking great. Fruit is peaking 72/88’s with supplies improving on 113/138.  Fruit is still packing out heavy fancy and the market is fairly steady.  There are some deals to be had on large fruit.   SNOBOY oranges are available loading in both a choice & fancy box….. contact your sales representative for details on loading.

 

Seasonal Specialty:  There are still a few Blood Oranges available.  Cara Cara are all coming from Fresno area; Fairchild Tangerines are out of Coachella as are Minneola Tangelo & Clementine Tangerines are harvesting from Bakersfield to Fresno area.  We have various pack styles available and consolidation is available, contact Fresno.

Georgia-Florida Report 
February 5, 2010

 

Due to the extreme cold and hard freeze conditions we experienced in late December, almost all fresh products out of Georgia have been damaged and most likely finished for the winter season.  Product will not be available again until spring.  There are some growers whose CABBAGE and GREENS are starting to come back.  Yields will be down but product is available.

 

Florida suffered from the same cold weather issues as Georgia and the rest of the south.  Freezing conditions stretched as far south as Immokalee and Boca Raton and even on the outskirts of Homestead in the low lying areas.  It has caused numerous problems for most growing areas in Florida.  Those who had plants make it through are seeing plant growth start back with the warm weather that is currently blanketing the state.  PEPPER production has fallen back off this week and is expected to be up and down for several more weeks.  Look for supply to be fairly tight until spring product becomes available.  Expect the markets to remain strong with little fluctuation.  SQUASH is still nonexistent while there are a few growers with some ZUCCHINI showing up.  The YELLOW SQUASH situation may not change until the replanting has been completed and the new plants are bearing fruit.  That could take another 20 to 30 days.  BEANS have received severe freeze damage around Lake Okeechobee and the Belle Glade growers are looking at a total loss for the winter crop.  Homestead had some fields that were not damaged too badly but they do not have enough volume to support the demand.  Volume has been light and the markets are out of sight as a result.  CUCMBER volume has died due to the weather related issues.  Imports from Honduras are starting to show up but in very low quantities.  Markets are holding middle to high prices as a result.  CORN production has all but come to a halt.  Some of the CORN around Belle Glade survived the cold but not without some frost burn on the husks.  Most of the developing CORN was killed and will not make an ear.  Look for Florida CORN to be extremely tight and expensive until at least the end of February or early March.  Anything that is harvested over that time period will most likely show husk burn, small barrel size and will count between 55 and 60ears per crate.    

 

Transportation:  Truck rates are normal and trucks are available.  

 

TEXAS/ NOGLES NEWS
February 5, 2010

RED PEPPERS- Current production has peaked.  Now we should see supplies tighten and fob prices climb. Promotions will be available mid February as volumes kick back in.

 

HOT HOUSE COLORED PEPPERS- Good steady promotional supplies of red and yellow pepper for the next 21-28 days. Orange bell supply is steady but much lighter in supply than the red & yellow.

 

GREEN PEPPERS – Supplies have tightened due to growers moving from old fields to new. We will see some relief in about 7-14 days.  The freeze damage in the East Coast crop will keep the FOB’s at current levels but there will be promotional volumes.

 

GREEN SQUASH- Good steady supply available for the next 3 weeks but volume on a daily basis has slowed due to cooler weather. Watch for the FOB’s to strengthen.

 

YELLOW SQUASH- Yellow will be very short for the next 14 days. Things will be better by mid/late-Feb.

 

ACORN, BUTTERNUT, SPAGHETTI & KABOCHA SQUASH- Nogales has great supplies of acorn, butternut, banana & spaghetti…..good promo items.

 

EGGPLANT-Nogales market has firmed up because the growers picked and dropped product and then cooler weather hit. Supplies are steady and pricing should remain steady for the next 2 weeks.

 

CUCUMBERS- Nogales continues to cross product and volumes are increasing for the next 7-14 days. This is another promo item.

 

GREEN BEANS- Nogales bean production is on again off again.  Cool weather and rain showers have supplies very inconsistent.

 

ROMA TOMATOES- There are great supplies out of Nogales currently & through the end of the month. This is another good promo item.

 

“GAS GREEN” 25# TOMATO- Nogales is in full swing with steady supplies through the month and into March. Promotions will be possible with strong FOB pricing.

 

VINE RIPES, GRAPE TOM--- Nogales is in good supply and should remain this way for the next 14-21 days. Demand will be good due to the freeze in Florida. Promotions will be available. Grape tomatoes are very active due to the freeze in Florida & weather on the west coast. Demand is very good out of Nogales and looks to remain that way for the next 14-21 days.

 

HH BEEF, TOMATOES ON THE VINE--- Oxnard remains steady winter time production with just fair supplies. Nogales production is on the rise through the end of the month and into the front part of March. TOV’s—Oxnard has light production currently along with Texas & Arizona. These areas will increase supplies by mid next month. Nogales has only fair supplies currently crossing and they to will see an increase as we move deeper into February.

 

Watermelon/Mini Melons: Supplies are light due to cool weather. This will change soon as the growing areas heat up.

 

Cantaloupe/Honeydew … Offshore cantaloupe from Guatemala and Honduras have reached a consistent volume on the west coast.  Honeydews are in tight supply you must be careful on cheap quoted product most of this fruit is older and will have external issues.

Imports Report 

 

 
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