The Source - February 18, 2016

Washington - red delicious are steady on all sizes but the 88 and smaller market remains strong. All sizes of the lower grade reds are short and most shippers are subbing up to higher grades to cover orders. Most suppliers continue to peak on 72-88s. Golden delicious are steady on all sizes and grades but the lower grade remains firm. Golden delicious are still peaking on Wash-Extra 100/113s and most shippers don't have much larger than an 88-size. Granny-smith are steady on all sizes and are still peaking on 88-113s. Most Granny shippers still don't have much larger than an 88 or smaller than a 125. Galas are steady on all sizes and grades but the market is strong due to increased demand. Most Gala shippers don't have much fruit larger than an 88. Fujis are also steady but strong on all sizes. Washington Fujis continue to peak on extra-fancy 80-100's. Honeycrisp are mostly steady and the market remains high and strong due to light supplies. Jonagolds and Braeburns are still available but supplies are limited. The quality for all varieties has been good.
Michigan - Red delicious are steady on all sizes and continue to peak on 80/88s. Most Michigan shippers have less small fruit than large. McIntosh are steady and are still heavier to 125/138s but supplies are light. Galas are steady on all sizes but supplies are light. Golden delicious are steady but strong due to light supplies and they continue to peak on 125/138s. Jonathans are steady on all sizes and they are still peaking on 150/138/125s. Jonathans are still the low-price leader for small fruit in Michigan. Fujis are steady and they are peaking on 125/138s. Red Romes are steady but most shippers will deal on volume orders. Braeburn supplies are getting light.
New York - Red delicious, Macs, Cameos, Romes, Crispins, and Empires are all steady. Gala and Golden delicious supplies are light and both markets are steady but firm. Red Rome volume is good and some shippers will flex for volume on the smaller sizes. Empire volume is hit and miss but thee are deals when they are available. The quality has been good on all varieties.

Plenty of supplies here from Mexico. Also California has started harvesting as well. Quality is excellent from both growing areas. Jumbo size asparagus is still limited in volume and commanding a higher price. Time to Promote!

Transitions:
Not necessarily a transition out of Mexico, but Salinas Valley has started harvesting.

Peak Seasons:
We are currently in Peak Season for Caborca Mexico

Good supplies are crossing into the US even with the cut back most shippers have done for the post Super Bowl demand. The size curve continues to be a real mismatch for the demand and has shippers upside down. The size curve which is running heavy to the 32s/36s/40s is still causing supplies issues on 48s/60s/70s, but there are signs of some normality returning.

Green bells - Very limited supply on all grades, demand exceed supply.

Red Pepper – Very limited supply on all grades demand exceed supply,

Orange and Yellow - Very limited supply market very strong with limited offerings.

Alerts:
Market Much Higher on all Bells.

Increased availability this week with more shipments arriving from Central Mexico. Demand is moderate and quality has been good overall. Minor reports of red cell and juicing in some of the older lots of berries.

Demand is moderate and supply is very good. Southern Chile is coming off of peak production but still shipping ample amounts of fruit to the US to cover demand. Some higher pricing for blueberries sent via air shipments versus ocean vessel. Volume deals are available with promotable pricing, especially on the east coast. Central Mexico is also coming off of peak production but Baja Mexico is increasing and will peak around April. We have good supplies of blueberries with good quality overall.

Transitions:
Oxnard, CA is beginning production of organic blueberries for the season.

Peak Seasons:
Southern Chile is beginning to come off of peak production. Central Mexico is coming off of peak production. Baja is increasing production and should peak in April.

Demand is good and supply is very limited due to disrupted production, the crop gapping and delays with transfers coming from Mexico. Overall, quality has improved over recent weeks.

Alerts:
Supplies are expected to remain limited through the next 2-3 weeks as the crop is gapping in Central Mexico, the main growing region for this season.

Demand for fresh strawberries has fallen off since Valentine's Day and warm weather has brought on more fruit between all three growing regions; CA, FL and Central Mexico. Best availability is loading FL and McAllen. Oxnard, CA is still getting lighter volumes from harvests and staggering harvest schedules as they catch up from the crop gapping. However, Santa Maria is beginning to pack new crop strawberries. There's split pricing in Santa Maria for summer planted (old crop) strawberries vs. the new crop strawberries that are coming available, varying degrees of quality/sizing as well.

Transitions:
Santa Maria, CA growing region is beginning to pack new crop strawberries.

Strawberry inspection from Oxnard, CA

Steady supplies for the front side of the week have continued to keep this market at reasonable levels. Many different growing regions are currently harvesting broccoli. Thus keeping the market flat. Quality is good from all growing regions with nice crown size to dark green color.

Supplies from Mexico are much better and the market is declining to reasonable levels. Also Jumbo sized Brussel Sprouts are becoming more available as well. Quality has improved as well.

Cooler weather in growing area has really slowed growth on the new crop coming out of the Coachella and Imperial Valleys of California. Carrots are very small and yields are extremely light on Jumbo size carrots. Weather is warming, but it will take 2 to 3 weeks for size to come. Supplies of medium size and baby peeled carrots are is good.

The Cauliflower market is slowly declining. Lack of demand and the hot weather in Yuma has brought on more supplies. Look for this market to continue to settle. On another note Salinas will start next week. With that being said we should see a volatile market as we transition out of Yuma.

The celery market in all growing regions remain steady, overall. Pricing is very similar in all sizing. There are not a lot of offers by shippers for any particular sizing. The quality continues to be good. Production in Florida, Oxnard and Yuma is moderate. Demand across the nation continues to be good. Some lighter weight have been reported, but nothing to be alarmed about. This commodity is clean, but occasionally 3-4 pounds lighter per box. Expect moderate supplies next week with good demand in the forecast.

Jalapeño - Market stronger with good quality.

Anaheim - Very strong market quality and size vary from lot to lot.

Poblano - Steady market with good quality size and condition.

Tomatillo – Market is stronger with good quality and supply

Good supplies of cilantro from all growing regions. The market remains aggressive at promotable prices. Quality is also good with occasional yellowing and black leaves.

The central valley and the Ventura crops are going and both are peaking on 140s and smaller size fruit. Larger sized fruit is tight now that the Desert crop has finished their season. Demand remains very strong.

The lime market is holding at these higher levels now on all sizes. Demand is good on all sizes across the board. The peak sizes are 110's and 150's currently with fewer small sized limes being harvested. This is the time of year where supplies are low and will remain at lower levels until the first or second week of May. The upward market trend will likely continue with the lower supplies through to first part of May. Quality is excellent overall.

Clear and warm weather last week has all houses packing. Eating excellent and look beautiful, with peak sizing on 72s/56s/88s. We are seeing fruit size up, and a dropping in percentage of small size fruit 113s/138s. Demand is stronger on the 113s/138s and markets are firming and beginning to be very active on these sizes.

All sizes available in very good supply, market has settled to very low levels.

Market stays strong due to light supply, many number two product being offered.

There is a two tiered supply situation here. Iced green onions are more readily available and iceless green onions supplies have remained difficult as a result of limited crossing from Mexico. The market has remained at steady levels but supplies will still be erratic for the rest of the week. Quality is hit and miss with some arrivals showing browning of the tops.

Kale supplies remain steady in all growing regions. The market on the other hand varies from shipper to shipper. Quality is excellent with nice dark green color.

The market has fallen off. Warm temperatures in the growing regions and lack of demand has created a surplus for multiple shippers. The desert region will have high temperatures with no rain in the forecast for the next few weeks. There are a few defects worth noting. These defects include light color, misshapen and ribby heads, peeling epidermis, blister and growth crack. The weights are averaging 37-44 pounds. There will be a five to seven dollar gap in the industry for this commodity.

Overall, this market is steady. Supplies are expected to be strong throughout the week. Shippers are hoping to keep inventories clean as warm temps are in the forecast for the next few weeks. Sharp offers are available. Blister and peel will continue on romaine, but to a much lesser degree compared to past weeks. The quality issues continue on all other leafy green items, like romaine. Blister and peel are light, but seen sporadically on green and red leaf. The weights on romaine have been averaging 26-32 pounds , while green leaf has been approximately 20-23 pounds.

Overall cantaloupe supplies are lightening up and look to do so for the next two weeks due to the transitioning of growing regions. The quality is good overall with some lots being exceptionally nice and some not looking very good. The peak size is currently 9ct with 6ct sized lopes being packed. We are experiencing low demand on the cantaloupes which is causing the market to come down a little. The current market is lower on 9ct and 12ct and steady on the 15ct. There are very few 15ct lopes being packed and zero 18ct being packed.

Demand is low on honeydews right now. The peak size for the offshore is 5ct and the small amount of Mexican dews are peaking on 6ct. The small sizes aren't as available as the larger ones. Honduran grown honeydews have been arriving for several weeks in Florida and the west coast and their quality is really good. Mexican dews continue to ship out of Nogales AZ and the volume is light. The Mexican dews are very nice also. The market is slightly lower across the board.

Seedless watermelon are now available in all sizes peaking on 4s and 5s

Product being offered in both bins and cartons.

Alerts:
Seedless watermelon supplies continue to be very short with higher pricing and demand exceed supply.

Idaho - Demand is light with a slightly weaker market on Yellow onions. Reds and White Onion market is steady with lighter supplies. Overall quality is still good with an occasional lot showing some light transparency in the outer layers. This will become more prevalent as we get farther into these late storage onions. Most supplies will finish their storage season right around the start or middle of April.
Washington - Demand is light on all color and sizes. Market is steady to slightly weaker on Yellow onions. Red and Whites are steady with limited supplies. Quality is being reported as good.
Mexico - Demand is light with building supplies yellow onions which is causing this market to come off slightly. Quality is being reported as very good. Red and white onions have also started to cross with limited supplies but this will improve as we get into next week.
Texas - New crop is about two to three weeks away. Crop is being reported as very nice.

Washington - D'anjous pears are still peaking on US#1 70/80s. Limited pack-time and larger fruit-size isn't helping satisfy the strong demand for 110s and smaller. The Washington D'anjous are clean so the fancy grade is higher and short on all sizes. Bosc pears are steady and continue to peak on US#1 90/100/110s but they have better availability on small fruit. Fancy grade bosc are also short. Bartletts supplies are very light and most shippers are already finished. Those that still have Bartlett pears will finish this week or next. Red pears are steady on all sizes and are still producing mostly half carton 45/50s and full carton 90/100s, but supplies are light. The quality on D'anjous, Bosc, and red pears has been good.
Chile - Bartlett pears are available on both coasts now and are still peaking on 100/110s. The market is steady to higher and the demand is strong.

Pineapple supplies are in a light, but steady supply period that is expected to go through Easter.

Demand and market pricing has seen very minimal changes the last couple of weeks out of all growing areas. (Idaho, Washington, Colorado and Wisconsin). Supplies are good with average to good quality of storage potatoes being packed currently. I don't see much changing the balance of this month.

Bakersfield, California - all colors are steady and continue to peak on A-size. White potatoes remain high due to strong demand and light supplies. The quality has ranged from good to fair. Some red lots have darker color and some are light.
Western Washington - reds and golds are steady and both continue to peak on A size. Supplies are getting into fewer hands. The quality has been good on all sizes and both colors.
Idaho - reds and golds are both steady but supplies are in fewer hands and there are manifest holes depending on the supplier. Both colors are speaking on A-size and the quality has been good.
Wisconsin - reds and golds are both steady but the market remains firm as the shippers battle storage quality. Reds and golds are peaking on A-size. Premiums and bakers are still not available in either color nor are, gold Cs. The quality has been good.
North Dakota - Reds and golds are steady on all sizes but the volume red volume deals are still available in both the #1s and #2s. Both colors are peaking on size A and have only limited availability in the premiums and bakers. The quality has been good.
S. Florida - all colors are steady but remain relatively high due to generally light supplies. The reds and golds are peaking on A-size while the whites are heavier to B's. Many suppliers are sold-out of White As this week.

Hard Squash has good supply with all varieties being offered, Spagehetti, Butternut, Acorn, Kabocha.

Italian Squash- very good supply with good quality and availability, market is settled to lowers pricing.

Yellow Squash- still limited availability with higher market, quality is mostly good.

Rounds - The market is steady. Weather in the east continues to hamper production and yields. Florida area is experiencing rains and high winds. Product out west continues to get better, however, product sizing is still more abundant on the large, rather than smalls. Looks for supplies in the east to continue to be a struggle. Quality is Good.
Roma - The market is steady / lower. Weather continues to effect yields in Florida. Supplies out of Mexico continue to see better numbers. Look for the east to continue to be light. Quality is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is higher. Supplies continue to be very tight in all areas, with demand very high. Look for supplies to continue this pattern through the week, at a minimum. Quality is Good / Fair.
Grape - The market is high. Supplies continue to be a struggle, however, they have improved slightly. Demand still strong in all areas. Additional supplies may begin to come to the market, however, this will depend on weather. Quality is Good / Fair.

Rounds - The market is steady. Supplies out of Mexico continues to get a little better. However, sizing is still turned around, with more larger sizes available. Back east, supplies continue to be hampered by rains and winds in Florida. Weather in the west forecasted to look better, so, supplies could start to improve. Quality is Good.
Roma - The market is steady / lower. Like rounds, supplies continue to improve out of Mexico. Florida continues to struggle, due to weather conditions. Look for supplies to continue to see better number this week. Quality is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is higher. Supplies are still very short. Back east, supplies also very tight. Market remains strong in all areas, and should continue through the week. Quality is Good / Fair.
Grape - The market is high. Supplies continue to be light out of Mexico. Back east, weather conditions continue to hamper yields. Demand continues to be strong in all areas. Quality is Good / fair.