The Source - December 6, 2017

Washington – Red Delicious are steady on all sizes with good availability. They continue to peak on medium sized extra fancy fruit. Golden Delicious are steady with good availability and they are peaking on premium 100/113s. Lower grade goldens remain limited. Granny Smith are steady on all sizes with mostly small fruit. 88 and larger Granny-smith remain limited. Galas are steady on all sizes and are peaking on 100/113s. Fuji's are steady with good availability and they are peaking on the 88/100s. Honeycrisp are steady on all sizes with good availability but they are peaking on larger fruit. Jonagolds are steady and are heavier to 72/80s. Braeburns are steady and are now peaking on 80/88s. The quality of all has been good.

Idaho – Jonagolds, Golden Delicious, Red Romes, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji's, and Pink Ladies are all steady. Granny's and Jonagolds are still peaking on 80/88/100s while the others are peaking on 88/100/113s. The quality has been good.

Michigan – Michigan continues to pack Galas, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Jonathans, Jonamacs, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Cortlands, Empires, Fujis, red Romes, Ida Reds, and Jonagolds. All markets remain steady. They continue to have great quality and color. Most suppliers have substantially less fruit than last year due to a spring freeze during their blossom so we could see an early finish. The quality has been good.

Pennsylvania – Fujis, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Cameos, and Pink Ladies are all steady. Galas are available in small quantities but they are winding down. Red Delicious and Pink Ladies are peaking on 88/100s, while the Goldens, Galas, Fujis, Cameos, and Grannys are heavier to 100/113s. The demand has been light. The quality has been good.

New York – they are packing Cortlands, Galas, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Fujis, Snap Dragons, Golden Delicious, Jonagolds, Red Romes, Macouns, Pink Ladies, Staymen Winesaps, and Empires. They have mostly large fruit so they haven't been much of a factor in foodservice this year. There have been a few small Macs. The quality has been good.

Alerts:
Washington is still short on 88 and larger Granny-smith apples.

Peak Seasons:
Washington, Idaho, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania are all in the peak of their respective seasons.

Central Mexico (Ciudad Obregon) is still in good production this week with the weather cooperating. We will see fields starting to close in the next 2 weeks due to seasonality from this region. Southern Peru (ICA), and Northern Peru (Trujillo) still have decent production with good weather in these two regions. We will also see some fields close in Peru due to seasonality in the next 3 weeks. At the beginning of the week markets were still sluggish, but that should change at the end of this week into next week with less volume from all regions, and Christmas Ad's starting up.

Most of the municipalities in Mexico that shut down harvest last week did begin harvesting again on Monday, but it is still not settled fully. There is talk of only packing trough Thursday and then not harvesting Friday through the weekend, other talk is the some municipalities may shut down at anytime. Negotiations are ongoing to resume a normal and steady rate of harvest. In the short term, supplies in the states are low and supplies look to remain tight into next week. Markets are higher and very unstable.

Alerts:
Some of Mexico's disputing municipalities did begin harvesting on Monday. Dispute is not fully resolved, and some further shut down by some still could occur. Current supplies are tight and looking light supplies into next week.

Bell pepper supplies are getting better with growers in southeast Florida gearing up after being delayed by hurricane Irma. Shippers in central and southwest Florida are in good supplies but the larger growers are on the east side of Florida. Quality should get better as we get in fields that were planted after the storm and the plants have not been stressed. Supplies from the west, both imports from Mexico and southern California, are putting pressure on eastern markets.

Alerts:
More supplies of bell pepper are showing up.

Transitions:
Bell Pepper is switching from central Florida to Southeast Florida.

Peak Seasons:
Bell pepper is not in Peak season but it is coming soon.

There are now more green bell peppers loading out of Nogales, from Sinaloa, Mexico. Supplies are beginning to increase from Mexico. However, high temperatures are affecting the sizing of the bell peppers. Peppers are maturing at a smaller size than normal. Volume is slightly down due to size ( more peppers to fill the carton )Market on green bells remains strong, specifically larger sizes

Red and Yellow Bell Pepper supplies remain very light. Coachella production has increased with some growers expecting higher volume in the coming days. Very light supplies on hothouse variety colored bell peppers available from Mexico, in Nogales. Market should remain very strong until Coachella reaches peak volume in early December

No changes on blackberries this week. Supplies continue to be steady with good production coming from Central Mexico and limited volume from Oxnard. Market prices have been fairly steady with more aggressive prices in Texas. Quality has improved this week with firmer berries, but we may still see occasional red cell.

Blueberry supplies have been light. We have multiple areas in production, but availability remains fairly limited. Peruvian harvest is down trending more and more each week, and the fruit size is small. We will see this area improve again late December for early January arrivals. Argentina is expected to have 2 more weeks of arrivals with most of that fruit landing in Miami. Then that season will come to an end. Chilean production is increasing slowly. We expect to see better supplies and more arrivals by boat come late December. Central Mexico continues to have consistent production which is helping fill the pipeline on the west coast. Demand has been strong. Quality is good. Markets have remained steady.

Alerts:
Steady but limited supplies with good demand and firm markets.

Raspberry supplies continue to be limited. We expect overall production to dip in December as Salinas, Watsonville and Santa Maria harvest has ended. Central Mexico and light production in Oxnard will be the main sources of supply. We expect to see markets firm up and availability become increasingly limited over the next 3-4 weeks. Although we do not expect to see any immediate disruptions in order fulfillment, substitutions into organics may be necessary as well as some flexibility on load dates. Quality has been good, and demand has started to increase.

Alerts:
We expect to see markets firm up and availability become increasingly limited over the next 3-4 weeks.

Strawberries are being harvested in three main location currently and supplies have been consistent. California continues harvest in Santa Maria and Oxnard areas. Santa Maria has had the majority of the harvest, but supplies will start to taper off as Oxnard picks up production. Quality has been fair at best in California. We continue to see arrivals issues including soft fruit, wet berries, mold and decay. As the weather cools and we start new winter crop harvest in Oxnard, we expect to see improved quality (picture below). Oxnard's winter crop volume will gradually increase moving forward (barring any major disruptions with the fires in the area). Market prices have been split between the two areas. Santa Maria has had more fruit and more aggressive prices.
Florida is increasing production volume and the quality is being reported as good. Sizing is small, but the berries are firm. Demand has been gradually increasing in this area and market prices are still firm. We expect supplies to continue to improve and market prices to drop gradually as we move forward.
Mexico harvest has been consistent, but supplies are still light. Most of this fruit is being sold and shipped out of McAllen, TX. Demand has been steady. Market prices have remained firm and quality is good. Look for better supplies as we continue into December.

Alerts:
Quality in California continue to be a struggle due to weather. Soft and wet berries are being reported. This will continue until new winter crop harvest starts in Oxnard.

Transitions:
Oxnard will start new winter crop harvest this week and gradually increase production moving forward. Fires and high winds in this area may cause some delays in production. Florida production continues to improve.

We have plenty of supplies from all growing regions. Quality is exceptional with full crown size, green beads with minimal browning, little dehydration, and minimal yellowing. The market is competitive and you can load out of any growing region to get the same competitiveness.

We have experienced an increase in the supply of brussel sprouts. The market is also trending lower as a result. Quality is really nice with a full line of sizes, vibrant green color, and minimal mechanical damage of the individual sprout.

No changes for the foreseeable future with carrots. Organics are the only ones with any supply shortages and those are sporadic. When the organics are short if can impact organic juice production also. Weather forecast is good. We should see normal supplies and good quality for the next several weeks.

The cauliflower market is reacting to a small supply gap that looks to last for the next two weeks. Suppliers have been ahead of harvesting schedules the past few weeks that have led to depressed markets. Now that is changing with markets reacting higher due to this supply gap. Quality is still very nice with good weights, white cast in color, and minimal bruising / brown spotting.

Alerts:
Supplies are decreasing as we head into a small supply gap that looks to last two weeks. This is causing the market to trend higher.

This market is steady, overall. There are a few fluctuations amongst all shippers, but overall this market is competitive. Supplies are expected to be moderate to good throughout this week. Salinas and Santa Maria/Oxnard are the current growing regions for this commodity. All sizing is available. The quality is good with most suppliers. Expect demand to be average at best for the rest of the week. Loading in Yuma is an option but will come with a transfer fee added to the FOB price.

Most chili varieties are available to load in Nogales, from Mexico. Supplies have increased. Higher volume stabilizing markets

Jalapeno - the market has dropped, supplies have increase as more growers are harvesting.

Poblano - fair supply, high demand driving market. Supply increasing

Anaheim - Anaheim peppers are now available in higher volume from Mexico.

Serrano - light supplies, market is very strong. Supply increasing steadily

Tomatillo - good supplies. Market steady. Tomatillo is currently producing higher volume than other chili varieties

Cilantro supplies look to be steady as we finish the week. Although the fires in Oxnard could prevent harvesting crews from working. This will cause pressure to the existing supplies in Santa Maria, Yuma, And Baja Mexico. This could cause a spike in the market temporarily. but once harvesting schedules resume, the markets will head back to a normal level. The quality of cilantro has been really good, with minimal yellowing or spotting, full bunches, and little decay.

The lemon market is very active. Demand continues at a strong pace and is exceeding supplies. With this year's Desert crop much lighter in volume, shippers production starting to fall off. The Central Valley crop has just begun to harvest and pack limited volume, mostly fancy grade. Ventura crop will not start until February. Expected demand to exceeding supplies into January/February.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds supplies.

Not much change in limes this week. Supplies and demand have been steady. Shippers are expecting a push through the holidays. Quality is being reported as strong and sizes are consistent. Market prices have been fairly consistent, but we may see a slight increase as demand strengthens through December.

We are seeing a size shift to the larger sizes of 75s/56s in the Navel crop, the percentage of 113s/138s is falling off quickly. Pack outs remain clean with good color resulting in grade ratio of 85% to 90% of Fancy fruit, leaving much less choice fruit than there is demand for of the choice grade. Choice market remains active and short. We are looking at peaking 72s/56/88s for the balance of the navel season. Small fruit will be in short supply all season long.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds on 88s/113s/138s

There are excellent supplies of cucumbers with Florida going strong and more volume coming from Honduras. Shippers from central Florida to south Florida are in good volume of cucumbers, with temperatures running above normal production has picked up. There is more volume coming in from Honduras even though most shippers will not start until later this month. The forecast for later this week has the temperatures dropping considerably in the south, not enough to hurt crops but it will slow production.

Alerts:
good supplies

Transitions:
Florida is going strong and Honduras is starting.

Peak Seasons:
Cucumbers are moving into peak season.

Cucumbers are available to load in Nogales from Sonora, Mexico and also from Sinaloa, Mexico. The volume will continue to increase in Nogales as cucumbers are now being harvested in multiple regions. Quality ranges, but is mostly good. Demand is low, volume deals available. Cucumber production should remain consistent into the new year.

Eggplant is in good supply with product coming from South Georgia, Central and South Florida. Georgia will finish this week and quality of product is not the best. Central Florida is shipping good supplies of good quality product but acreage is limited. The bigger shippers in Immokalee and on the east coast are getting started and supplies should pick up next week. Demand has been slow on eggplant since the week before Thanksgiving.

Alerts:
Georgia eggplant are not the best quality. Shippers should finish this week.

Transitions:
Eggplant is transitioning to south Florida

Peak Seasons:
Eggplant is not in peak season.

Eggplant supply in Coachella remains light. Eggplant from Sinaloa, Mexico increasing volume. High heat in Mexico is affecting size, more 24 ct and 32 ct available, fewer 18 count available. However, more growers are beginning to harvest. Quality on fancy grade is good in both districts, plenty of choice grade eggplant being produced in the growing areas. Market remains strong

Domestic green grapes continue on with not much change. Some shippers have completed harvests and have their grapes in storage for December. Quality is good with markets remaining steady. Shippers are telling us they should have domestic supplies for most of December. Offshore green grapes are still a few weeks away from arriving.

Domestic red grapes also continue on with not much change. Most shippers have completed harvests and have their grapes in storage for December. Quality is good with markets remaining steady. Shippers are telling us they should have domestic supplies for most of December. Offshore red grapes are still a few weeks away from arriving but very limited amounts of red globes have started to arrive..

We have ample supplies of both iced and iceless green onions coming from Mexico. Quality is exceptional with vibrant green tops as well as clean white tips. The market is aggressive on both iced and iceless packs from most suppliers.

Kale supplies remain abundant as they are a major source for processors and their salad blends. So this has kept the carton supplies steady. And as a result it has also kept the market very competitive. Quality is really nice with dark green color, full bunches, and minimal yellowing.

This market is steady. Heavy supplies will continue throughout this week with most shippers. Supplies continue to exceed demand. Yuma production is abundant. Aside from some mechanical and puffiness being reported, the overall quality is good. Weights on wrap lettuce have been averaging 37-42 pounds. Santa Maria has moderate production. Quality has been reported good overall as well. Expect production gaps at the end of December to early January in all growing regions.

The market is steady on romaine as well as all leaf items. Romaine hearts are plentiful and shippers are flexing with volume type orders. Supplies continue to exceed demand. Yuma production, as well as Santa Maria and Oxnard, are all growing areas that will have heavy availability throughout this week. Aside from some slight ribbing and insects, the quality overall is good. Gaps in production are expected in late December to early January.

Supplies remain abundant for the spring mix, baby spinach, arugula, and the other components of tender leaves. The market among supplies is steady as well with little fluctuation as we have transition to Yuma. Quality is really nice with healthy product upon arrival. Although we have seen minimal arrivals with bruising or that black crease in spinach and some tender leaf varieties.

Domestic cantaloupes will still be going for the next few weeks out of the Arizona desert. Quality is good and markets are lower to steady. Import melons are starting to hit most ports now with the most readily available sizes out of South Florida. Supplies out of other ports will start to pick up this week. Quality is good and markets are steady.

Honeydews are the same story as cantaloupes. Domestic honeydews will also still be going for the next month out of the Arizona desert. Quality is good and markets are lower to steady. Import melons are starting to hit most ports now with the most readily available sizes out of South Florida. Supplies out of other ports will start to pick up this week. Quality is good and markets are steady.

Seedless watermelon production from Mexico is down, with cooler overnight low temperatures affecting the fall crop. Quality is still mostly good, and supplies are winding down quickly. The market is very strong on bigger sizes ( 4's and 5's ). Winter crop is expected to start around mid - December from Jalisco and Colima, Mexico.

The market continues to stay unchanged on all sizes and packs. Great quality is being shipped. Colossal and Super Colossal onions will be limited this storage season. All shipping points are reporting their size profiles are peaking on Jumbo's and smaller. Pricing will stay fairly steady at current levels through the holiday season. The New Year we should see pricing on Onions firm up which will all be dependent on supplies out of Mexico which typically start crossing in late January to early February, so stay tuned. Transportation has tighten back up with no light at the end of the tunnel. Stay ahead on inventories. Christmas and New Years hitting on Monday's this year, look for shippers to take Friday before the holidays off.

Alerts:
Transportation very limited

Washington – Bartlett pears are steady on all sizes and are peaking on US#1 80/90/100s. Supplies of small fruit and the fancy grade remain limited. D'anjous are peaking on US#1 80/90s and the market is steady on all sizes. Small fruit and all sizes of the fancy grade remain very short. Bosc are steady on all sizes and are still peaking on US#1 80/90s Bosc are also short on 110s and smaller as well as all sizes in the fancy grade. Red Bartletts/Red Sensations remain steady on all sizes and peaking on 45/50 half cartons. The quality for all has been good.

New York – they are still packing a few Bosc bins and the market is steady but supplies are limited. They expect to finish within the next couple weeks. The quality is good.

Alerts:
Bosc, Bartletts, and D'anjous are all peaking on large fruit so the availability of 110 size and smaller is light.

Peak Seasons:
Washington continues in the peak of its Bosc, Bartlett, D'anjou, and red pear seasons.

We continue to see good supplies from the tropics. Expect good supplies through December. Supplies will lighten the first 2 weeks of January, which is planned to allow farm workers the time off during the Christmas holiday.

Potato markets are slowly creeping upward on all sizes and packs. This is mainly being driven by Idaho with all other states following with this upward trend. Retail adds for Christmas are being run as Jumbo's which means the shippers are putting 40-80 count in these bags which has helped tightening up the carton market. Quality is being reported as good. Transportation is very limited and is asking a premium and I mean a premium. This looks to be the trend into the New Year. Stay tuned. Holidays this year fall on Monday's so look for shippers to either run half days or take the Friday off before the holidays. Stay ahead of your inventories.

Alerts:
Transportation is very limited

Western Washington – all colors are all steady with good availability but plan ahead a swe get closer to the holidays. All colors are peaking on A-size and the quality is good.

Eastern Washington– red and gold potatoes are both steady and they are both peaking on As. The quality is good.

Bakersfield, California – reds, whites, and golds are all steady. The availability is good but plan ahead as we get closer to holidays to avoid shortages. The quality is good.

Idaho – red and gold potatoes are steady on all sizes. The availability is good this week but plan ahead as we get closer to holidays due to lighter packing schedules. Both colors are peaking on A size and have had good quality.

Wisconsin – reds and golds are both steady. Both are still peaking on to A size. Trucks are slightly easier here than North Dakota. The quality has been good.

North Dakota – red and gold potatoes are steady with good availability. The quality has been good.

Peak Seasons:
Washington continues in the peak of its red, white, and gold potato seasons.

Idaho, Wisconsin, and North Dakota are in the peak of their respective potato seasons.

With above average temperatures the southeast has experienced the past few weeks, squash production has been very high. Growers from central and south Florida have more product than they can handle at the moment, struggling to clean up. With much cooler temperatures forecast for later this week the situation could change quickly

Alerts:
Cooler Temperatures could slow production

Peak Seasons:
Squash is in peak availability.

Good Volume on Italian Squash on all four sizes crossing through Nogales from Sinaloa, Mexico. Good quality and condition on Italian squash from Sinaloa. Lighter volume on Yellow straight neck crossing through Nogales . Also showing good quality and condition on yellow squash.

We are getting into the last two weeks of plums being available. By the end of next week plums should be finished. Pomegranates, persimmons, kiwi and apple pears will be available going forward for Christmas and beyond. Chilean cherries are available off of both coasts also.

There is a significant shortage of tomatoes in the United states as transition begins with a gap forecasted the next few weeks through Christmas. Immokalee has been delayed 2-3 weeks from hurricane Irma storm damage that required replanting early in the growing cycle leaving Florida with little to offer. With Palmetto and Ruskin districts finishing up there is very diminutive supply to be source in Florida. Markets have more than doubled this week with fobs exceeding the $40 mark and climbing daily still. As a rising tide raises all ships, roma tomatoes have tripled in price from what was offered during November. Also this week, grape tomatoes are contracting after the last couple weeks of reasonable pricing, now going north of $30 today already. Likewise, cherry tomatoes are following suit and the demand of the Nation is now focused on Mexico where yields have been steady while battling cooler temperatures the past few weeks slowing production. At this time, extreme shortages across north America are forecasted through the Christmas holiday.

Alerts:
There is a shortage of Tomatoes across North America with expectation for relief to occur the week of Christmas

Transitions:
Palmetto and Ruskin growing regions in Florida are transitioning further south to Immokalee where the start of the season has been delayed 2-3 weeks as a result of Hurricane Irma that destroyed plantings early in the growing phase of Production. Harvests are forecasted for the week of December 18th but significant reprieve in the market will not be realized until after Christmas as product comes out of gas rooms and is realized into the pipeline.

With Florida transitioning, the rounds out of Mexico are firming up on price to meet demand doubling in price from what was offered just a few days ago. Quality has been very good and looks to remain favorable for coming weeks with prices forecasted to loosen up after Christmas when Florida completes transition and school programs go to winter break helping to slow demand however incremental. As roma availability slows to a halt in the east, fobs have rocketed off the price floor approaching the $30 mark out of both Baja and Mexico. Quality and condition is mixed with older fruit mixed into the supply channel. Grape tomatoes production has improved from eastern Mexico and Baja however like all other categories driven by exceeding demand prices are being pushed upward. Cherry tomatoes remain mirroring their Florida grown counterpart with volume building as winter crops get underway and more product becomes available out of Nogales in the next 2 weeks but remains oversold at this time.

Alerts:
There is a shortage of Tomatoes across North America with expectation for relief to occur the week of Christmas