The Source - April 18, 2018

Washington - Markets are steady on most sizes and grades with moderate demand on Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Galas, and Fuji. Supplies of Honeycrisp are seasonally lighter with a slightly firmer market. Rising star varietals are steady with a few deals being made on 125s and smaller. There is good availability of small(125/138) varietals reds. Good demand on Red Del 113 and smaller has firmed this market up slightly. Quality is very nice this storage season.

New York - Galas, Red Delicious, and Empires are still available. Sizing has been peaking on large sizes. The market is steady with good quality fruit being packed. Mclntosh is almost done for the season.

Ciudad Obregon, Mexico has heavy volume due to warm weather in the region, this trend will continue for at least the next ten days. Gonzales, CA has good volume with better weather this week. Washington State should start harvesting at the end of this week. Volume has increased in both Ica, and Trujillo, Peru with the weather remaining unchanged from last week. Markets are still overall lower to steady with all regions experiencing great growing weather.

Transitions:
Washing state should start harvesting at the end of this week.

California harvest is increasing weekly. Export demand is strong. The crop is currently peaking on 48s & 60s. Fruit is ripening well and has good flavor.

Mexico's harvest volumes are back up to the expected volumes. Shippers are working to filling the coolers in anticipation of Cinco de Mayo demand. Demand is still strong, and we are still seeing tight supply situations on 48s & 60s #1 fruit.

The bell pepper market is steady even though supplies are getting tighter. Demand is off in most of the northern tier of the country due to snow storms and bad weather. South Florida is winding down early and there is not much acreage planted in central Florida. If the weather clears in the north look for the market to change in a hurry. Georgia will start in late May and until then the volume of pepper will be light.

Alerts:
Supplies will start to get shorter in Florida

Transitions:
Light supplies are starting in the central part of Florida

Peak Seasons:
Bell Pepper is not in peak season.

Blackberry production has really slowed down. Mexico is now past the spring peak production period, and the volume did not meet expectations. Supplies will begin slowly down trending until we start domestic harvest. We do not expect to see any major disruption in coverage through mid-May, but we may see some shortages late may as we wait for the transition between Mexico and California to take place. Depending on the weather, shippers are expecting Salinas, Watsonville and Santa Maria areas to ramp up mid to late May. Supplies are not expected to fully rebound until June. Market prices will be higher.

Alerts:
We expect to see limited supplies of blackberries for the next 3-5 weeks as we wait for domestic harvest to begin and Mexico harvest to wind down.

Transitions:
Weather cooperating, we expect to see Salinas, Watsonville and Santa Maria to ramp up mid to late May.

Peak Seasons:
Mexico is past its spring peak and will start trending down moving forward.

Domestic blueberry production continues to improve gradually. This week, we are seeing better supplies from California, Florida, and Georgia. Quality is being reported as very good. Demand has been consistent, and market prices have stayed on the higher side. We expect to see supplies continue to improve in all areas as we move forward. California will also start with multiple growing regions, as Salinas, Watsonville and the Central Valley increase over the next 3-5 weeks. Mexico production has remained consistent. Quality is good, and prices are lower. We will see Mexico start to trend down moving forward. There is still some import fruit in the market, prices are lower, but quality is fair.

Raspberry supplies continue to be very limited this week. With recent weather conditions in California, domestic harvest has yet to really ramp up. Mexico remains the primary source of production, and they have passed their peak. Demand continues to exceed supply. Market prices are higher. This shortage will continue until Santa Maria, Salinas and Watsonville areas start up. We expect production to start with light volume late next week and gradually improve as we move into May.

Alerts:
Supplies remain very limited and markets are higher.

Transitions:
We are waiting on Salinas, Watsonville, and Santa Maria to start. We expect light production late next week then gradually improve as we begin May.

Supplies have been steady this week. We saw a flush of product come on late last week then thin out as this week started. Salinas and Watsonville did experience some rain in the front part of the week, which will continue to delay harvest in these areas and we may see some residual quality issues into next week. Shippers are expecting better harvest and quality over the next two weeks as we prepare for transition by the end of the month. Oxnard has been the primary production area in California, but we will begin to see volumes start to decrease as we have past peak production. Santa Maria will continue to increase production over the next two weeks and will be the primary production region in Southern California. Overall quality has been good. As long as the weather continues to cooperate, we can expect to see improvements moving forward. Market prices changed quickly last week as a wave of product became available, then leveled off this week and has been consistent but lower than the last couple months. I expect prices to remain fairly consistent moving forward as more fruit becomes available in Santa Maria, Salinas and Watsonville.

Transitions:
Oxnard is phasing out slowly. Santa Maria will increase production moving forward. Salinas and Watsonville transition will take place over the next two weeks.

Peak Seasons:
Oxnard has passed its peak production period.

We are experiencing an influx of decreased supplies in the Salinas Valley. This has caused the market to trend higher not only in the Salinas growing region but Santa Maria and Mexico as well. The overall quality is really nice with vibrant green color, minimal dehydration or yellowing, and decent crown size. We will definitely see the market increase into next week.

The brussel sprout market has decreased over the past several days. Supplies have increased, and demand has fallen off since the Easter holiday. The quality remains really nice with a full array of sizes, no decay or yellowing, as well as vibrant green color.

California carrot supplies are good on value-added packs and medium-size carrot. We are still seeing a lower than normal percentage of jumbo sizes coming out of the fields.

We continue to see good supplies of cauliflower out of Salinas and Santa Maria. The market is steady at competitive levels. Quality has been really nice with weights in the 26 to 30-pound range, minimal brown spotting, or yellow to cream color.

This market continues on a steady path. Production in Yuma is finished. Oxnard and Santa Maria expect to have solid amounts of product throughout the week. All sizing is available. This market is expected to remain steady all week and keep in mind some shippers are flexing on large, volume type orders so don't be bashful. Promote celery. Good quality should be the norm with all suppliers. Aside from some slight bowing, there is nothing new to report.

Cilantro supplies from all growing regions are back to a normal pace. The markets are also reflecting this supply base. The overall quality has been nice despite a few arrival issues such as yellow to brown leaves and some dehydration. But for the most part, we have seen full bunches and vibrant green color.

Good availability in both the Central Valley and the Ventura/Oxnard areas. Central Valley is peaking on 140s and larger sizes; heavier to fancy grade. Ventura/Oxnard is peaking 140s/165s/200s: heavy to the choice grade.

Lime supplies have started to recover from the rain delays late last week. We expect supplies to improve moving forward. Sizes are still running in the smaller range as we wait for new blossoms to mature. Quality has been good with occasional reports of discoloration. However, as the weather warms up, we will quality improve as well. Prices have been fairly consistent with gradual declines on the smaller sizes.

We are now in the late varieties of navels and eating quality is some of the best of the season. Size structure is mostly large sizes 72s/56s/48s and very few of the small size fruit 113s/138s. These small sizes are extremely tight and will remain so for the balance on the Navel season. California Valencia harvest looks the begin toward the end of April the first part of May.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds supplies of small size fruit 113s/138s.

Supplies are tight on cucumbers, market is higher by a lot on supers and steady on selects. Growers are seeing pack outs heavy to selects, with all the wind and temperature fluctuations there is a lot of misshapen fruit being harvested. With cooler temperatures the past weekend and early this week, we look for this trend to continue for awhile. The central part of Florida is starting and quality should be better but the cooler weather is keeping supplies light.

Alerts:
A lot of misshapen product

Transitions:
Central Florida is starting light volume.

Peak Seasons:
Cucumbers are not in peak season.

There are newer fields of eggplant in south Florida that have started in the past two weeks producing good quality product. The cooler weather and rain in Florida have not affected fruit so far. We expect good supplies for the next two weeks with the market being steady.

Alerts:
Good Supplies

Peak Seasons:
Eggplants are in peak season.

The Green Grape market continues to rise, as supply diminishes as the Chilean season comes to a close. Prices have reached the high 30's to mid 40's range while the quality remains good on storage greens. We should see some alleviation when the Mexican grape season starts in roughly three weeks.

The red market continues to be steady as the Chilean season winds down. There will be a slight overlap between Chile and the Mexico season which should start in approximately three weeks. Be sure to check arrivals for splits and decay. Pricing should remain level for the remainder of the Chilean season.

There continues to be a steady supply of green onions crossing from Mexico. This has kept the market relatively competitive. The quality has been really nice with green tops that have minimal yellow to brown discoloration. Also, we have seen a steady supply of all size profiles from small to jumbo.

The kale market is steady with plentiful supplies in all growing regions. The quality has been exceptional with dark green color, minimal yellowing, and little dehydration.

Yuma is finished for the season. Production will continue to be out of Santa Maria, Huron, and Salinas. The overall quality is good with some occasional puffiness, insect damage, and ribbing. Salinas is in production, and better numbers are expected next week. Huron should have good production the entire week. Santa Maria continues to have availability with good quality. Weights are to averaging e 41-45 pounds. Flexing on pricing is occurring with a few shippers as well.

Transitions:
Yuma is finished in production.

Romaine is firm and green and red leaf is active. Green leaf, in particular, will be light in availability all week as shippers have hit a gap for seven to ten days. Production is finished in Yuma for all leaf items. Salinas as well as Huron and Santa Maria are moderate to light in production. Romaine hearts continue to be on escalated pricing. Light availability is expected with this commodity all week. Overall leaf quality is good in all the regions. Slight defects include some twisting, ribbing and mechanical.

Transitions:
Yuma production is finished.

The transition back to Salinas has faired well. We are experiencing good supplies of both organic and conventional tender leaf items. The markets are also steady with all suppliers. The quality of new crop here in Salinas is really nice with minimal bruising, wetness, or decay that we have seen at the tail end of the Yuma season.

We have seen better supplies of 9 count and 12 count cantaloupes coming in off the east coast. The market has adjusted to lower levels as the supplies have increased. Although the overall market is steady on the other sizes. Quality has been really nice with decent sugar levels, no soft spotting or decay.

Transitions:
We are about 3 to 4 weeks away from the spring season out of Arizona.

Honeydew supplies remain limited on both the east and west coasts. This has kept the market at higher levels. This is mainly due to a whitefly issue in the growing regions as the suppliers sort through their current acreage. Even with the insect pressure, quality has been really good with decent sugar levels and little soft spotting or brown spotting as well.

Transitions:
We will be transitioning to Arizona on 3 to 4 weeks as we enter the spring season.

Onion market continues to be steady at low trading levels with supplies coming out of multiple areas. Northwest Storage supplies out of Idaho and Oregon are winding down quickly and will only be in a few hands by next week. Quality is still being reported as good. New Crop Texas and Mexico Onions are available shipping out of South Texas. Quality out of Texas is being reported as good. Mexican onions have been showing a few quality issues so be careful not to chance price. New Crop Southern California Onions have started with Yellow with volumes to build quickly. Red and White Onions will start next week. Quality is being reported as good. Look for the markets to stay steady at low levels until Mother nature jumps in rain, hail and or high temperatures. It is a good time to watch the weather.

Transitions:
California just started breaking ground.

Washington - D'anjou pears are peaking on 90's and larger. Moderate supplies of 100/110s market steady. 120s and smaller are limited with a fairly steady market. Quality is still be reported as good. Bosc pears are done for the season. Red pears supplies have been limited mainly due to limited packing. Supplies should last into the start of May. Quality has been good on all flavors.

Offshore - Supplies of Bartlett and Bosc pears are shifting from Chilean to Argentinian on both coasts. Sizing is peaking on 90/100s. Quality is very nice.

Pineapple volume coming from the tropics remains good and looks to be so into May. Size continues to peak on 5s/6s.

Demand out of Idaho is good with moderate supplies on most sizes of cartons (60-100). 40 and 50 are limited but available with a little notice. Norkotah variety is slowly winding down with Burbank now being the main variety shipping out of Idaho. Quality is still being reported as good with very few problems being reported. Washington, Colorado, and Wisconsin shippers have slowed down pack times to extend supplies so they can make it until new crop potatoes. Look for the market to stay fairly steady with a slight upward trend moving forward on the larger cartons.

Western/Eastern Washington - Red and gold potatoes supplies are winding down quickly. Markets are steady with sizing peaking on A-Size on both. Quality is still being reported as good. Most shippers will finish packing next week.

Bakersfield, California - Reds, golds, and white are steady on all sizes and are still peaking on A's. Quality is good.

Idaho - Supplies are steady on reds and gold, Both colors are peaking on A-size. Quality is good. Supplies will go into May. There are volume deals being made on Red A's and #2 reds.

Wisconsin/Colorado - Supplies are winding down for the season. The market is steady. Quality is still being reported as good.

North Dakota - Market steady on both reds and golds, Quality is good. Supplies will go into June maybe longer.

South Florida - Market steady with good supplies. Gold A and Premium potatoes are limited Quality is very nice.

Cooler weather has slowed squash production, and the market has reacted more on yellow squash than green, but both markets are stronger. Production is still coming from Homestead and Immokalee for the rest of the month, but the transition has started up the state and into south Georgia. With warmer temperatures in the forecast, production should increase for the weekend.

Alerts:
Cooler weather is slowing production.

Transitions:
Supplies are starting to move north into Southern Georgia.

Some tray packs are still available as the Chilean season comes to an end. California stone fruit will begin in the next two weeks, with tray packs available, but more sizes and varieties during the second week in May. Quality will remain good for the next few weeks until Chile is officially done.

Eastern tomatoes remain abundant and priced aggressively to keep product moving. FOBs from the Homestead, Immokalee, and Naples districts have dipped dollars below the mandated minimums of their Mexico grown counterparts with more farms breaking ground this week in Palmetto/Ruskin further extending the supply exceeds demand marketplace. Round tomatoes are still trending large in size where XL gas greens continue to be the cheapest/best value on the size spectrum at a dollar savings against large and medium fruit. Similarly, Roma tomatoes are widely available and being offered below Mexico minimums to entice buyers. No different than the larger fruit, the grape and cherry tomatoes in the bite-size category are selling for the lowest prices of the year. Favorable weather over Florida growing regions continue to foster growth in the fields and forecasts for the rest of the month are for a flat market as farms continue to crank out excellent supply.

Tomatoes from Mexico are back to minimums where prices are forecasted to remain for the month of April. Both gas green and vine-ripe round varieties are nearing peak production and expected to harvest through Mid April together. From then on, ripe vine tomatoes will lead the category through the end of May. Similarly, Roma tomatoes are expected to harvest all the way through May with no supply interruption pending a significant weather event. Grape and cherry tomatoes are also widely available and offered at minimums where they are forecasted to remain for the immediate future. As production tapers from mainland Mexico in mid-May, Baja will begin operations to offset any interruption in supply helping to keep western offerings even through much of the 2nd quarter.