The Source - April 18, 2016

Washington - red delicious are steady and they continue to peak on 72/80/88s. Most suppliers are still subbing up to higher grades to cover volume orders of the fancy grade. Golden delicious are steady on all sizes and grades. Goldens continue to peak on Wash-Extra 100/113s and most suppliers don't have much larger than an 88-size. Granny-smith are steady on all sizes and they are continue to peak on 88-113s. Most suppliers still don't have much larger than an 88 or smaller than a 125. Galas are steady on all sizes and grades and but the market remains firm. Most Gala suppliers still don't have much fruit larger than an 88. Fujis are steady on all sizes but the market is firm due to light supplies. Washington Fujis continue to peak on extra-fancy 80-100's. The quality for all varieties has been good.
Michigan - Red delicious are steady on all sizes but the price flex for 113s and larger is still available. Reds continue to peak on 80/88s. McIntosh are steady but supplies remain very short. Galas are steady to higher on all sizes due to light supplies. Golden delicious are steady but the market remains firm due to light supplies. Jonathans are steady to on all sizes but supplies remain limited. Jonathans are still peaking on 150/138/125s. Fujis are steady but firm due to light supplies. Red Romes are steady on all sizes but supplies are limited.
New York - Red delicious, Red Romes, and Empires are all steady. Gala supplies are light and the market is firm. Empire volume is hit and miss but there are occasional deals. Small fruit availability is light for all varieties. The fruit quality has been good for all.

The Asparagus market is two tiered with product of Mexico being more competitive than domestic. Washington is harvesting asparagus as well. Most asparagus is sizing in the standard and large, with limited supplies on extra large and jumbo. Quality is fair out of Mexico with seeding in the tips. Domestic asparagus quality is excellent.

California harvest has picked up and are now seeing good volume coming in to he packing houses. Volume looks to continue to build through April. We still continue to see more smaller fruit than we would typically would see this time of year.

Volume from Mexico is still very good. Fruit is coming from higher elevations with good quality and oil content. The size curve is peaking on 40s/48s/60s.

Green bell pepper continue to improve with supply. Product is mostly small to medium with less production on large or jumbo.Most growers in Mexico are finishing in the south and are starting production in the north with California shipping as well.

Red pepper is becoming less available this week. Quality with mostly number one product being offered in both the blocky and elongated variety. Many shippers winding down on volume offered in 25,15 and 11lb units.

Yellow pepper volume is lightening with some growers finishing. Quality and condition are good on both number one and number two product.

New fields have started in Florida, producing Mostly jumbo and extra-large pepper. Quality is good, and the market is weaker and shippers are looking for business. Supply is concentrated in south east and southwest Florida. New fields in the Plant City area are starting this weekend with light volume. Production should pick up next week. A few weekend showers may slow harvest but should not cause any problems.

Supply has improved some to start this week. Some grower-shippers are still struggling with availability and transfers from MX but others have better supplies. We are seeing less issues with red cell and soft, broken berries.

South America has ended major blueberry production for the season. There is still some storage product in the pipeline but it is drying up very quickly. Central Mexico and Baja are still in steady production and FL and CA are beginning to produce on a small scale. Supplies will continue to be short over the next week or so then we should begin to see both FL and CA production picking up swiftly. Supplies are limited, demand is exceeding.

Alerts:
Blueberry supplies are still limited, demand exceeding.

Production is beginning to pickup and supplies are improving. Central Mexico is peaking and CA is beginning to increase as well. Supply is being restored in the pipeline and we should see increased availability over the next week. Quality is good.

Demand is exceeding supply. Rain over the previous week disrupted harvesting and production. Quality issues have followed and led to large reductions in harvest for fresh market.

Alerts:
Demand is exceeding supply, limited availability out of all growing regions.

Broccoli supplies remain steady for the front side of the week. The market varies from supplier to supplier. Mexico is quoting hallow heart due to the heat. Quality is really nice out of California with good green color and good crown size.

The supply situation with Brussel Sprouts remain extremely limited out of Mexico. The market is still extremely active. The outlook for relief isn't until we get domestic supplies in Mid June. Quality is fair with light color and some black decay of the leaves upon arrival.

Alerts:
The market is still active with extremely limited supplies.

We still are not seeing size is coming back as we had hoped in the Coachella and Imperial Valley crop. Carrots are still small, and still not getting much supply on Jumbo size carrots. Jumbo size still very tight, and still looks like it will be awhile before any real improvement of size is seen. Supplies of medium size and baby peeled carrots are is good.

The cauliflower market continues to try to find a price level. Supplies are good in both Santa Maria and Salinas. Quality is improved with better color and less bruising upon arrival.

This market is steady, overall. Good quality continues although there has been some reports of slight seeder. The weights are very good. Moderate supplies continue out of the Florida region. Expect pricing to be steady for at least the middle of the week. Loading in Salinas is an option but shippers are charging a delivery fee for contract or open market business so please be aware.

April 25th is the expected start date for domestic cherries. Growers are expecting a strong season with excellent fruit sets. Volume will ramp up as we begin May with promotional opportunities available. Sizing will start small and bump up as we move forward.

Transitions:
Domestic Cherries expected to start April 25th.

Serrano; Some growers are finishing and others are starting new fields. Quality remains good with better demand.

Anaheim; Sizing and quality remain good, more product being offered.

Pablano; Slightly lighter supply, good quality and condition expected to continue.

Tomatillo; Very good supply and quality ,extra large sizes available.

Jalapeno; Good Quality and good supply continue.

Steady supplies on cilantro this week with several growing areas going. There have been some quality issues such as yellowing and dehydration upon arrival. The market also remains steady.

The central valley and the Ventura crops are going and both are peaking on 140s and smaller size fruit. Larger sized fruit is tight and strong demand for 140s/165s has them cleaning up daily. Demand remains very strong.

The lime market is higher on the 110ct and 150ct, steady on the 175ct and 200ct and lower on the 230ct and 250ct sizes. Demand is good on all sizes across the board. The peak size has shifted back towards smaller sizes. This is the time of year where overall supplies are low and will remain at lower levels until the first or second week of May. The overall long term upward market trend will likely continue with the lower supplies through to first part of May. Quality is excellent overall. Supplies continue to remain extremely short. The overall supplies are increasing slightly.

Some rain over the weekend will slow picking for a day or two for shippers. Bin inventory of small fruit was low going into the weekend, so pickers need to get back out to the groves. Eating excellent and look beautiful, with peak sizing on 72s/56s/88s. Demand is very good on 113s/138s, leaving these sizes somewhat tight in supply.

Domestic cucumber production is underway in South Florida. Volume is picking up and quality is generally good. Most production is concentrated in the Pompano and Immokalee regions with light volume starting in the Plant City area. the Market is steady, demand has picked up with a lower market.

Supply on cucumber has improved. More supply from the northern district. Quality is better on all sizes and pack styles. Peaking on Super Select and Select.
Color is good with very few quality issues. Euro cucumbers are available with limited supply in number one and number two pack styles.

New fields are starting in the Pompano and Plant City, FL. regions, producing much better quality fruit. Quality is a mixed bag due to growers still harvesting older fields. The market is slightly lower with the increased supply but demand is good. Weather has been generally good in Florida, warm temperatures with a few passing storms. Expect Eggplant production to pick up as we get into next week.

Eggplant will continue with lighter supply from both central and northern Mexico. Excellent color and condition will continue
with many number two product being offered. Many growers in the south are finishing and supply will lighten.
New district will start soon.

Supplies continue to be limited on Chilean Green Grapes and will remain so until we start Mexican harvest in the beginning of May. Market prices jumped up last week and have remained firm for strong storage fruit. Some non-storage fruit is being offered for less money, but quality is an issue. Amber color, soft and wet berries are being reported.

Alerts:
Limited supplies and quality concerns being reported.

Transitions:
Mexican green grapes expected to start first week of May.

We continue to have steady supplies of Chilean red grapes. Volumes are expected to meet demand for the next couple weeks. The late season Chilean red grape varieties have been much more resilient to the rains and quality has been reported as strong. Markets have been consistent with a couple shippers going up slightly on larger fruit. Not much change is expected as we move toward transition in early May.

The green onion market is steady with good supplies from Mexico. There looks to be steady crossings from Mexico this week as well. Quality issue have been minimal with some yellowing and brown discoloration of the tops.

The Kale market is steady with lots of supplies. Quality has been excellent. There have been minimal complaints of dehydration and yellowing.

The lettuce market is steady. Huron production will end by the end of this week. Santa Maria is in production, as supplies have increased. Insects are seen along with some irregular shaped heads in Huron. Decay has also been an issue. The weights are averaging 39-44 pounds on palletized. Production in Salinas is moderate. Defects in Santa Maria are similar to Huron with some suppliers. lettuce defects also include puffiness and irregular shaped heads.

Production in Huron is finished. Salinas and Santa Maria has overall, good quality. Aside from a little mechanical damage. and insects, all leaf items have good length and weights. This market is getting stronger, especially on green and red leaf. This market is expected to get stronger throughout the week. Pricing has become very competitive for these commodities.

The quality is good overall with some lots being exceptionally nice. The peak size is currently 9ct. The current market has turned slightly higher on all sizes. Demand has increased and supplies are lighter than last week causing it to rise up. 15ct lopes are being packed now and virtually zero 18ct are coming over.

Demand has picked up on honeydews and supplies have decreased causing the market to come up a bit. The peak size for the offshore is 6ct and the Mexican dews are peaking on 6ct, very few 8ct are available. Honduran and Guatemalan grown honeydews are really good. Mexican dews ship out of Nogales AZ and the volume is picking up but not enough to effect the market yet. The Mexican dews are also very nice. The market is higher across the board.

Spring crop is bringing big volume. Product is now being shipped from southern and northern Sonora Mexico.
The supply has increased and the availability will be increasing everyday. Shippers are promoting to increase the movement.
Quality condition and brix are all very good. All sizes being offered in both bins and cartons peaking on larger fruit,36s, 45s some 60s.
Personal watermelons are being offered in all sizes, good quality and condition.

Idaho/Oregon - supplies are light for all colors as the season is coming to an end. The quality has ranged from good to poor.
Washington - they are also coming to an end and have light supplies. Their quality has also ranged.
Texas - they have rain forecast all week but did harvest a bunch last week. They are playing the market until California and Vidalia get into full production, so expect higher prices as the week goes on.
California - they are set to start yellows the end of this week and whites and reds next week or the week after.
Vidalia - They have only light supplies this week and will have more volume next.

Washington - D'anjou pears are steady and continue to peak on 80/90/100's. US#1 110-count and smaller supplies remain limited along with all sizes of the fancy grade. Most packers are finished packing D'anjous only have whats in their respective CA rooms. Many suppliers are out of fancy grade D'anjous for the season. Bosc pears are steady and continue to peak on US#1 90/100/110s. Fancy grade Bosc remain short in all sizes. Most shippers ship CA Bosc pears into next week and possibly beyond. Red pears are steady on all sizes and they are still peaking on half carton 45/50s and full carton 90/100s, but supplies are very light. Red pears should finish in the next week or two. The quality on domestic D'anjous, Bosc, and red pears have been good.
Chile - Chilean Bartlett pears are finished coming in and supplies are limited to small fruit on the west coast. Argentinian Bartletts are steady and continue to peak on US#1 70-100s. Packhams are steady and continue to produce mostly US#1 80/90/100s. The quality on all of the imported varieties have been good.

We are back to a more normal supplies that will increase as we move into May. May will bring very good volume.

The market is slightly stronger on 70s and larger and the larger counts are limited as most suppliers are now packing mostly burbanks. The availability on the smaller counts is good. The quality has been mostly good.
Washington and Colorado are both steady.

Bakersfield, California - new crop white, red, and gold potatoes are all steady and all three colors are still peaking on A-size. The availability for all colors has improved. The new-crop quality has been good.
Idaho - reds and golds are steady but supplies remain limited. Both colors continue to peak on A-size. One Idaho supplier will finish this week and the other two will pack through April. The quality for all colors has has been good.
North Dakota - Reds and gold supplies are light and are in fewer and fewer hands every passing day. They still have a few red and gold As and B's.
S. Florida - all colors are steady to slightly lower but the market remains strong. Reds, Whites, and golds are peaking on A-size. Whites are steady on all sizes and they are still very short. The quality has ranged from good to fair.

New fields of yellow squash have started, supply and quality are better. Market is a little lower. Green and Yellow squash markets are lower with ample supply coming from Homestead to Plant City and Immokalee. Production continues to increase in Plant City and we expect to see light volume of squash this weekend or next week in south Georgia.

Hard Squash will continue to lighten in supply. Acorn and butternut are becoming more scarce. Spaghetti is abundant and Kabocha is becoming less available.

Yellow and Italian squash are being harvested with large volume and deals being offered, great quality on most volume from all growers. Many lots of yellow showing scarring on arrival.

Domestic stone fruit is now in production. Supplies will be limited and sizing will be small to start. Variety and size is expected to ramp up as we move forward. Fruit sets are strong and quality is expected to be excellent. Promotional opportunities are available with advance pricing.

Transitions:
Domestic stone fruit is starting this week.

Rounds - The market is steady. Volume continues to pick up, with South Florida and Palmetto / Ruskin into spring production. Mexico also has good numbers, however, look for larger sizes to be a bit lighter until all areas are into production. Demand is consistent. Quality is Good.
Roma - The market is steady. Volume, like rounds, is looking good with mulitple areas into production. Crops are sizing. Look for supplies to continue to be better. Mexico also looks to be in good supplies, with multiple areas into production. Quality is Good.
Cherry - The market is steady. Supplies continue to be a bit lighter, with transition in Florida, although product is available. Mexico also a bit lighter, with crossings. Quality is Good.
Grape - The market is Steady. Supplies continue to be good in all areas, with good quality is Florida and Mexico. Quality is Good.

Rounds - The market is steady. Mexico looks to be in supplies, to meet current demand. Although sizing is dropping off a bit, with larger sizes looking lighter until all areas are in production. Florida has good supplies, with multiple areas in production in the East. Quality is Good.
Roma - The market is steady. With multiple areas in production in Mexico, supplies are looking good. New crops in areas are beginning to come on-line. Florida also looking good with supplies, with several areas into production. Quality is Good.
Cherry - The market is Steady. Mexico looks to be lighten, as the transition takes place. In Florida, product continue to be lighter as well. Demand is consistent in all areas. Quality is Good.
Grape - The market is steady. Supplies continue to look better in all areas. Florida and Mexico have good supplies, with good quality. Quality is Good.