The Source - August 29, 2016

Washington - Red delicious are steady to higher on all sizes and grades with only light availability of the Wash-Extra-fancy #2 and Wash fancy grades. Most shippers continue to peak on extra-fancy 72-88s but supplies are very light due to strong demand. Expect the market to remain strong through the balance of the storage season. Earli Golds & Ginger Golds are steady to higher and supplies are very light. The remaining fruit is still peaking on Wash-Extra 88/100/113s. Supplies of lower-grade fruit remain very short. Golden delicious but supplies are very light as well. Granny Smith are higher on most sizes and continue to peak on 88-113s. The Granny market has turned up quickly. Gala supplies remain fairly short due to strong demand but supplies are improving as more shippers get started and the market is slightly lower. The Galas are peaking on higher grade 100/88/113s.. Honey Crisp are steady but the fruit remains big and they are peaking on 48-64s. The quality for C.A. reds, goldens, granny-smith, Galas, and Honey Crisp has been good.
California - Galas are steady but supplies are light as most shippers are finished packing and selling from final floor-counts. Fuji's are steady on all sizes and peaking on higher-color 100/113s. Granny-Smith are also steady on all sizes with very light availability. The quality has been good.
Idaho---they packed a few early Galas on Tuesday.
Michigan-- Zestars, Paula Reds, and Ginger Golds are all peaking on larger fruit and all are steady. Supplies remain fairly light for all three varieties.
New York---they have started packing a few Paula reds and they are small. The quality has been good.
Chile - Chilean Pinks Ladys are steady but only 70s are available. Chilean Fujis are also steady and peaking on 80-size. The import quality has been good.

Asparagus market is lower in all regions. Quality is good in Northern Baja Mexico and Peru, and fair quality in Central Mexico.

California harvest is declining rapidly, many shippers report that they will be done with any useable volume by the end of next week. This early end was brought on by the heavy harvest in June to make up for Mexico's lack of supply during that period. California is still peaking on 60's.

Rain continues to delay harvest and is beginning to affect supplies shipping to the States. Mexico's summer crop harvest is declining and the next crop is still very low in maturity and it looks like October before it will be ready to begin. September will be a very short supply month for avocado's and hopefully getting better by October.

Alerts:
Supplies are very short and very little small fruit 60s/70s available.

Green bells out of Fresno and Otay are showing good quality and condition. Red bells out of Fresno, Bakersfield, and Otay are showing good overall quality and condition. Red bells are starting to show better availability. More availability on yellow bells. Yellow bells showing good quality and condition.

Production is trending down and supply is tightening, demand is exceeding supply. Quality is good overall, a few reports of overripe and red cell. There are still a few blackberries available in North Carolina but those are becoming increasingly limited as well.

Alerts:
Supplies are decreasing and demand is exceeding supply.

Transitions:
Mexico is beginning to cross very limited volumes of blackberries through McAllen, TX.

Domestic production is slowing down sharply out of the Pacific Northwest and the Upper Midwest. Rain events and warm weather over the past few weeks have affected production in both regions - quality and availability. Availability is less than previous weeks and markets continue to strengthen. Overall, quality has been fair to good. Small volume of import blueberries from Peru and Argentina are available in Miami and on the east coast.

Alerts:
Domestic production is falling off sharply and supplies are continuing to tighten up. We expect a dramatic decrease this week as supplies continue to fall off.

Transitions:
Peru, Argentina and Uruguay blueberries are beginning to hit the east coast ports with light volume, increasing volume by mid-September.

Production continues to fall sharply and volume will continue to decline until the Central Mexican deal picks up at the end of September. Supplies will become more limited than in recent weeks and demand is very good, currently exceeding supply. Quality has been good overall.

Alerts:
Production is falling off sharply and demand is exceeding current supply!

Transitions:
Central Mexican raspberry production should begin around mid-September with small volume, increasing by end of September.

Supply is steady. Salinas, Watsonville and Santa Maria growing regions are all experiencing higher daytime temperatures than the previous weeks which will continue to bring on good fruit with good volumes as well. Production has been exceeding estimate volumes. Overall, quality remains good. A few reports of white shoulders, salmon and dry bruising. Sizing remains smaller with berries in the 20-30 count range, Santa Maria new crop on the larger end.

Transitions:
Santa Maria's fall crop is coming on with better volume this week.

The broccoli market is unchanged with plenty of supplies. Quality has been really good with average crown size and minimal yellowing from all growing regions.

As we move into peak season, supplies are increasing. The market is trending lower. Quality is excellent with all sizes available and nice green color.

The Bakersfield crop is in full production. Growth is good and producing good percentage of Jumbo size and supplies are good. Supply of baby peeled carrots are good.

The cauliflower market remains steady at current price levels. Supplies are also steady but with any type of demand the market will take off. Quality has been really nice with minimal bruising upon arrivals.

Current production in the growing regions of Michigan as well as California has proven to be plentiful to meet all demand needs. In other words, this market continues to be flat. Quality continues to be above average. Michigan production is meeting demand although smaller sizing is less available compared to large sizing, twenty-four counts in particular. Larger sizing is coming out of California predominantly as well. Good quality is expected throughout the week.

Pablano - Good quality and condition expected to continue.

Tomatillo- Rainy weather has affected quality of Tomatillo. Many grower's showing water blister's turning into decay.

Jalapeno- good quality on new crop pepper, mostly large sizing with good color.

Quality and Condition are good overall. , California supply has remained steady.

Cilantro supplies are still extremely limited. Quality issues in Mexico and Oxnard such as seeder, yellowing, and dehydration are the major causes. The market remains active.

Alerts:
Extremely limited supplies and active markets.

The Ventura crop is our main supplier of domestic fruit, and their season is winding down. Demand is strong and steady. We are seeing 140s/165s/200s/235s supplies are very tight. The Desert crop looks to start some light packing by mid September, but will not full volume until November. Chilean fruit is available in good supplies and Mexico is going with fair supplies.

Alerts:
Supplies of 140s/165s/200s/235 are very tight on both choice and fancy fruit.

The larger 110ct, 150ct and 175ct are less expensive than the 200ct and smaller sizes. Demand is good on all sizes across the board. Limes are peaking on the 150ct now. Quality is fair overall with some leaf shading (yellow color) showing up and occasional stylar end breakdown showing up from previous rains. The larger limes are old crop and are tired. Shippers are sorting through them before they load the trucks which is helping on arrivals. Large sized new crop won't show up until the first week of September. Smaller sized new limes are filtering into the supplies already. The market is steady on the limes.

Supplies are getting tight on small size Valencia oranges with the "Back to School" demand. 138s and 113s have reached demand exceed situation and will be until Navels start at the end of October/first of November. Fruit is showing some weakness of quality, which is typical for this time of year after a long hot summer.

Alerts:
138 and 113 size oranges have reached demand exceeds supply situation with the increase school demand.

Good quality and condition on cucumbers coming out of Northern Baja coast. All sizes are being packed in 1 1/9 bushel boxes. Also 24's-36's-42's being packed.

Quality and condition on eggplant has remained good coming out of Fresno. Minimal cosmetic issue's like scaring being shown. Still showing green calyx on all size's. Volume has also remained steady on all sizes.

Green grapes supplies continue to remain strong. We have several varieties to choose from, but the Thompsons and Princess varieties are starting to show some signs of over ripeness. As these have been on the vine the longest, the warm weather has caused some heavy amber color and occasional soft berry. The new varieties such as Autumn Kings are packing out exceptionally well with berry sizes in the XL range and excellent quality, but are priced at a premium. We have several option in terms of variety and price point.

Red grape supplies and market conditions have been consistent. Depending on the variety and size, prices can fluctuate by several dollars. Some of the older varieties such as Flames and Crimsons are being offered at a value, but sizing has been small (ring size 9 - 10) with some inconsistency and occasional soft berry. The larger varieties like Scarlet Royals and Vintage Reds are slightly more expensive, but are packing out with larger sized berries and excellent quality. Overall, we have several options to choose from and a red grape to meet all your needs.

Supplies of green onions are limited with higher markets. Both iced and iceless green onion supplies have been affected by the heat in Mexico. Also there isn't enough domestic acreage to handle demand. We are seeing brown to yellow discoloration of the tops upon arrivals.

Alerts:
Iced and iceless green onions are in limited supplies due to the current and past weather patterns in Mexico.

Kale supplies will be plentiful for this week. The market continues to be competitive at current levels. Quality has been excellent with minimal yellowing and dehydration.

Although this market was gaining strength with the emergence of school business towards the end of last week, this commodity is steady to start the week. Ribbing , insect, mechanical and puffiness exists but these defects have been minimal, overall. Most shippers have above average product that is being harvested. The weights are averaging 42-46 pounds. Expected stronger markets are in the forecast by the middle of the week.

Steady markets continues to be the story on all leaf items. There are a few suppliers that have lighter inventories and this is why there is a bit of a pricing gap seen in the industry. Romaine as well as all leaf items simply continue to struggle as supplies exceed demand. Mechanical, fringe and tip burn as well as well as minimal insect damage is being reported sporadically, but overall quality has been above average. The weights on average has been running between 30-35 pounds. Green, red and butter leaf have had steady weights being reported.

The supplies have decreased and demand has picked up a little. The market is higher across the board. Many of the growers are packing 9ct through 15ct with a few packing 18ct. 9ct supplies are not as plentiful as the 12ct or 15ct. Quality out of the West Side has been good although lately we have been having some soft melons arrival issues due to the heat and shippers being behind schedule. We should see better arrivals now that demand has picked up and supplies have dropped a bit.

Demand is steady versus last week. We have lighter supplies right now which are causing a slight jump in the overall market. Weather has been on the hot side lately making the quality of honeydews suffer a little. All in all honeydews are good and previous arrival issues should be cleaned up now.

The current availability is limited and offering medium to smaller sizes. Mostly 60 size fruit being offered. Movement out of the San Joaquin Valley has been moving steady. Steady production with steady demand. Quality is generally good overall.

California - they have finished with all colors.
Washington - the market is steady on yellows, reds, and whites and the sizing is still mostly in the medium to jumbo range very little larger product. The quality is good.
Idaho/Oregon - They are also steady on all colors and are peaking on jumbo and medium size for all. A couple shippers have more colossal and super-colossal yellows. The quality has been good.

California - Bartlett pears are steady and they continue to peak on 100/110/90s but the wrap supplies are low. Some shippers are done packing and are shipping from inventory. Most suppliers don't have any fruit smaller than a 120-size. The quality has been good. Crimson pears are steady and continue to peak on half carton 45/40s but supplies remain short. Bosc are steady to lower and are peaking on smaller fruit. The quality has been good.
Washington - Bartlett pears are steady to lower and continue to peak on 90/100/110s. Inventories are growing as more shippers get started. D'anjou pears are steady to lower and are peaking on 90/100/110s. D'anjou inventories are also growing as the season is getting under way. Stark Crimson pears are steady and continue to peak on 40/45 half cartons. The quality for all pears has been good.

Supplies remain very tight from the tropics and now looks to stay so through September. October it looks to start coming back with better availability.

Washington - The market is steady on most sizes and they continue to peak on the smaller carton counts. Most packers have good quality.
Idaho - The Idaho market is steady for the moment as the season is just getting started but we could see some adjustments as the week goes on. Most packers have good quality and are peaking on the smaller counts like Washington.
Wisconsin/Colorado - both areas are packing but supplies are relatively light and the pricing remains fairly high compared to Idaho and Washington. The quality has been good.

Stockton California - reds, whites, and golds remain steady and all colors continue to peak on A size. Baker and premium whites and golds are still short. The quality has been good for all colors.
Idaho - the market is steady on reds and golds although some suppliers are lower on Red A size. Both colors are peaking on A size and the quality is good with only light skinning.
Minnesota - reds and are steady lower on A size and higher on B size reds. Golds are mostly steady with good availability on most sizes. The quality has been good.
Wisconsin - reds and golds are both steady and the availability is good on most sizes. The quality is good.
Washington - eastern red potatoes are steady to higher and they are still peaking on A-size. Some suppliers have finished with golds. The quality is good.
Delaware - all colors are lower on most sizes including premiums and bakers. C size are higher for all colors. The quality has been good.

Supply on Italian squash and Yellow S/N out of the San Joaquin Valley has lightened. Supply still remain light pending transition into new fields. Quality and condition are fair to good. Mostly medium and Large size available on Yellow S/N

Stone fruit supplies are very sporadic and availability varies depending on size and variety. The warm weather has pushed all stone fruit ahead of schedule. This has led to an increase in fruit size and a decrease in supplies. If you are looking for small sized fruit (VF 60/64) the only product available is nectarines. Peaches are all big (50's and larger). Plums are available in sizes VF 50 and larger. Pluots are done for the season. The last of the pluots are being packed today and this product will be gone by the end of the week. Market prices have been high and firm.

Alerts:
Nectarines are the only small sized fruit available. Pluots are finishing this week. Plums and Peaches are available, but sizes are all in the large range, VF 50's and larger.

Previous warm weather has pushed crops ahead of schedule in past weeks, and recently rains have slowed picking schedules resulting in a shortage of available tomatoes over all. Poor weather is calling into question plant health and resulting in fewer packouts and promotability at a time when demand currently is tracking upward. Roma tomatoes continue to be short with a majority of availability coming out of the west. Grape and Cherry tomatoes have began their seasonal slowdown and are finding better demand firming up prices. As summer months wind down, supply will tighten further shifting much of the national demand to California until Florida begins production at the end of September.

Western tomato production has tightened up moving prices higher into coming weeks. With rounds hampered by a flush of fruit weeks back, the gap in production has shifted more emphasis to the oblong roma variety which are also struggling to meet demand. Eastern Mexico growers have been hurt by rain, slowing round and roma tomatoes from crossing McAllen as they usually do. California is the only region in production and prices have firmed up with quality varying from shipper to shipper. Smaller yields of Cherry and grape tomatoes are realizing a stronger market with only moderate demand keeping the market from skyrocketing. Typical of this time of year, seasonal slowdown will dictate the market until new fields begin in October.