The Source - April 21, 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 large and extra large. 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.

Mexican production will continue to increase and will then peak in the coming weeks. We are seeing less issues with red cell and soft, broken berries.

Transitions:
CA production should begin in May.

Central Mexico and Baja are still in steady production as FL and CA are beginning to produce more steadily. 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 remain limited for now.

Central Mexico continues to be the largest production area. CA will be increasing production as we move into May. Quality has been fairly consistent, availability remains somewhat limited.

Demand is exceeding supply. Rain over the previous week disrupted harvesting and production. Quality issues have followed and led to large reductions in harvest estimates for fresh market. Bronzing, pin rot, white shoulders, water damage and bruising have been reported in all areas. Sizing is in the mid-upper teens to low twenties.

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 at higher levels and supplies are extremely limited.

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 firm. Seeder is the biggest issue and is most prevalent in large sizes. The weights are good. Moderate supplies continue out of the Florida region. Expect pricing to be steady for the rest 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.

A few Brooks, and Tulares varieties will be picked this week ahead of Friday's possible weather. We could see some loss on varieties that have some color and begun to soften. I expect to see some Corals beginning next week- this will lead us into a promotable two week loading period. Beginning April 27th, loading through May 14th, shippers will be pushing early varieties. Advance pricing is available.

Transitions:
Californian cherries are getting started this weekend. Limited volume to start, but will increase next week.

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: excellent production quality and size. Peak supply

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.

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

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 crop has started in southern California.

Chilean green grapes remain very limited in supply. Market prices have remained escalated, but fairly consistent this week. Quality is still a concern, soft wet berries continue to be reported. Supplies and quality will remain unchanged until we start Mexican production in the beginning of May.

Alerts:
Limited supplies of green grapes and quality issues are being reported.

Chilean red grapes continue to be in consistent supply. Storage crop is expected to meet demand as we transition into the Mexican harvest toward the beginning of May. Quality has been strong. I expect market prices to gradually increase as we get closer to the end of storage crop. The latest reports from Mexico and Coachella still indicate light numbers of red seedless grapes to start beginning of May and ramping up quickly with promotable volume for Memorial day.

Transitions:
Mexican red grapes are expected to start in the beginning of 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 good. There have been minimal complaints of dehydration and yellowing. Also there have been arrivals with insects due to the current weather.

The lettuce market is firm. Huron production will end this week. Santa Maria production has picked up. Insects are seen along with some irregular shaped heads in Huron. Decay has also been an issue. The weights are averaging 39-42 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.

Salinas and Santa Maria has overall, good quality on all leaf items. Insects are appearing out of different lots with suppliers, however there is no damage to the product. All leaf items have good length and weights. This market is firm. Demand has fallen off, so pricing has settled. Pricing will be competitive for the rest of the week.

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 also has a range.
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.

We are now see some shippers back off on supplies increases until later in May. Supplies from these shipper are beginning to tighten back up. Others will see some increased supplies in May.

The Idaho 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, Wisconsin and Colorado are both steady on markets and quality.
I don't see many changes in the potato market or supplies into the end of May.

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.

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. Early varieties of apricots, peaches and nectarines are available to load. Sizing has started off on the smaller side with most of the fruit being packed in 2 layer trays. Volume and size is expected to increase as we move forward. Quality has been reported and excellent and shippers are anticipating a very strong season. Promotable volume is available.

Transitions:
Californian stone fruit is in production with early variety apricots, peaches and nectarines.

Rounds - The market is steady. Supplies continue to pick up in Florida. Mexico numbers have slowed a bit, however, market continues to remain the same. Look for numbers to continue to be good out of the East. Quality is Good.
Roma - The market is steady / lower. Plenty of supplies continue in Florida and Mexico. Look for both areas to continue with good numbers. Demand off a bit. Range in quality from Good to Fair.
Cherry - The market is steady. Supplies looking better out of Florida. Production has picked up a bit in the East. Mexico has plenty of supplies, and crossing is consistent. Range in quality on cherry's as well, from Good to Fair.
Grape - The market is Steady / lower. Supplies continue to be good in all areas, with good quality is Florida and Mexico. Ramge in quality from Good to Fair.

Rounds - The market is steady. Mexico looks to be a bit lighter at the moment. Volume continues to pick up in the east, with several areas in production. Market remains about the same. Quality is Good.
Roma - The market is steady / lower. Good supplies continue in Mexico and Florida, with several areas in both locations in production. Look for good numbers to continue. Range in quality from Good to Fair.
Cherry - The market is Steady. Supplies in Mexico and Florida are looking better. Supplies should continue to be better. Although there is a range of quality from Good to Fair.
Grape - The market is steady / lower. Supplies continue to look better in all areas. Florida and Mexico have good supplies. Quality is Good / Fair.