APPLES/ TREE FRUIT
- Early Gold varieties running now in WA State, Ginger Gold’s available with few sheds already finishing, Gold Supremes being packed. New crop Gold Delicious now running
- New crop Gala’s running in most sheds in Yakima and Wenatchee valleys, early pricing very strong.
- Braeburns – 2008 new crop estimated harvest to start around the first week of October.
- Fuji’s. Harvest on 2008 crop starting somewhere around the second week of September.
- Granny Smith – Some sheds to start packing early next week.
- Red Delicious - Apples are in fair supplies in all sizes of WAXF grade. . Expect market to stay strong all season, finishing out in next few weeks. Growers looking at the last week in September to begin the 2008 crop harvest.
- Jonagolds - New crop harvest estimates for the third week of September.
- Pink Lady –New crop on Pinks will not start until around the 1st of November.
New Crop Bartlett’s available now, as well as good supplies of Peaches and Nectarines in Yakima district. Prunes limited, plan your purchases ahead.
ONIONS:
The transition from CA and NM to WA, OR, CO and UT is nearly complete in spite of delayed startup. These will be the primary origins now through March 2009. Ontario, OR acreage is down 8%, and in some areas yields will be down by as much as 20%. There are speculations that only three quarters of the storage capacity will be filled. Harvest will continue into early October. Expecting sizes to be
Average with fewer Colossal and Super-Colossal.
New Mexico - Nearly finished
Colorado – Has started with good quality, brisk movement. Prices are strengthening. Have all three varieties.
California – Quality continues excellent. Movement has been steady. Many sheds finished.
Washington - Sweet Yellows, Spanish, Reds, and Whites available. Whites are still in light supply. Whites had a rush early this week and business died off at the end. Yellow price strengthened a little, with more warehouses starting; the prices may not jump again next week. We have very active movement on all varieties.
Oregon – All three varieties available with next week finding more shed starting. Movement is good.
Idaho - Packing is just getting underway at a much faster rate this coming week which will provide volume needed to keep up with orders. As everywhere else, not many large sizes, with Jumbo Yellows being only 40% this week, and expect 60% next. Be approximately three weeks before we will have any volume on 85%, which we are normally accustomed to buying there.
Utah – Product is being run slowly as they are getting cranked up. Movement and quality are good.
POTATOES-Northwest
Washington: The size profile in this season’s crop is yet to be fully realized however so far the indications are that the small cartons and consumer sizes may become more plentiful as the later fields being harvested may have smaller spuds. The effect of the extreme heat is starting to be realized as a few fields are producing smaller sizes and fewer yields. Demand is still running high and so are the prices on consumers but this will most likely change as the supplies become available. Overall yield is projected to be down from recent years and proves to be another short crop. New Crop russets are in excellent condition.
Idaho: New crop Norkotahs available but still it tight supplies. As is normal for the start of the season #2 10oz and 6oz are in very short supply. So far the Norkotahs are yielding relatively larger sizes however the Burbanks are rumored to be on the small side again this season. The projection would then be similar to last year’s market profile: high priced large cartons and an abundance of consumer packs at cheaper prices. These remains to be seen however, as demand exceed supply in the current market for bales.
Red, White & Yukon; Large Reds and small Yellow potatoes in the East district of Washington remain tight. Small Yukon’s are especially difficult to obtain as they are peaking on the large side. REDs are smaller this year with good supply on the B and C sizes. Nice color and great quality. The Mt Vernon district has begun harvesting and so far has good results. All colors are available with better supplies becoming available in the 2nd and 3rd week of September. There is slight skinning on what few potatoes have been harvested. Mt Vernon district experienced poor growing conditions this season and thus yield will be down. Opening prices are strong and will most likely stay that way for the season.
MISCELLANEOUS: Yellow Squash, Green Bell Peppers, Chile Peppers as well as Watermelon and Personal Watermelon.
FALL SEASONAL: Red Bell Peppers - Ornamental products/ Pumpkins/ Mini’s - Large / Pumpkins, Fall Squash & Gourds, Indian corn, Dill.
CHRISTMAS TREES: Plan now for November deliveries.