The Source - February 29, 2016

Washington - red delicious are steady on all sizes but the market remains strong. All sizes of the lower grade reds are short and most shippers will sub up to the 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 suppliers 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 remains strong due. Most Gala shippers don't have much fruit larger than an 88. Fujis are steady 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 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 are peaking on 125/138s. Jonathans are steady on all sizes and they are still peaking on 150/138/125s. Fujis are steady and they are peaking on 125/138s but supplies are limited. Red Romes are steady but most shippers will deal on volume orders. Braeburns have .
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.

Excellent supplies from Mexico and California for this week. The market is aggressive with opportunities for ads. All sizes are available. Quality is excellent with full green color and little spreading of the tips.

California growers are harvesting some light, but useable volume. Volume will build through March. The overall crop estimated has been reduced based on the fruit not sizing due to the lack of water. It now looks like California may have a higher than normal percentage of smaller fruit.

Volume from Mexico has declined slightly, but supplies remain good crossing into the US. The size curve continues to be an issue with larger fruit being plentiful, and smaller fruit at a relative premium.

Good growing weather in Culiacan continues to improve supply on bell peppers, More product is being offered with better quality. Reds and golds are being offered in all grades and sizes. More number one grade is being offered in 25 and 15 lb. units.

Green pepper has been short but supply is improving as well.

Production from Central Mexico has been steady. Overall, we have good availability with Mexican fruit being transferred into the US. Some delays with transfer trucks have caused hang-ups at the coolers. Demand has been moderate. Quality has been good overall with a few issues reported on older lots of blackberries. Production should begin to increase moderately through April.

Demand is moderate and supply is good. Southern Chile is coming off of peak production but still shipping ample amounts of fruit to the US to cover demand. 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.

Raspberries are still in limited supplies. Central Mexico is seeing some of the affects from freezes that occurred in January. Fruit is smaller with some miss-shaped and splits in the berries. Oxnard is producing some smaller volumes as well as Baja but Central Mexico is the main production region for the majority of our suppliers in this season. With more limited production and more quality issues present, availability will continue to be a challenge throughout this week.

We have good supplies of strawberries in all growing regions. CA weather has been favorable for the past 7-10 days which has brought the crops along and increased production in both Oxnard and Santa Maria. Salinas and Watsonville have also begun in a light way. Forecasts do show a cool down by mid-week and significant rainfall possible through the weekend into next week for all CA growing regions (Oxnard, Santa Maria and Salinas/Watsonville.) We'll keep you updated as this develops. FL had cooled down over the weekend but high temperatures reach back up into the low to mid 80s throughout this week. FL is expected to continue production throughout March. Quality varies largely by shipper. There have been some cheap deals for older lots of fruit but be careful to ensure quality. Mexican transfers have decreased significantly as many ranches have stopped shipping strawberries to the US do to the drop in demand and lower markets. With favorable weather in all growing regions, quality has been good overall.

Transitions:
Santa Maria is producing more each week and Salinas/Watsonville will continue to increase as well over the next 3-4 weeks as production gets underway in the northern districts.

Oxnard straws inspection

Broccoli supplies are plentiful. Five different growing areas are currently harvesting broccoli. Thus keeping this market flat. Quality is excellent from all growing regions. Although there have been arrival issues with dehydration.

The market on Brussel sprouts is unchanged from last week. Plenty of supplies and favorable pricing. All sizes available as well. Quality is excellent with little to no black leaves.

Weather in growing area is warming and size is coming back slowly on the crop coming out of the Coachella and Imperial Valleys of California. Carrots are still small, but growing and yields are showing some improvement on Jumbo size carrots. Jumbo size still very tight, and still looks like a few weeks for a good percentage size to come. Supplies of medium size and baby peeled carrots are is good.

Supplies vary from shipper to shipper this week. With 9 count cauliflower being the shortest in supplies. This market has firmed up with some shippers and others still have offers to give out. Quality is fair to good depending on the growing region. Occasional bruising in some lots that shows brow to black discoloration upon arrival.

Transitions:
Cauliflower isn't exactly transitioning to a new growing region but rather there is overlap with Salinas Valley starting.

A few suppliers are flexing on pricing to start the week. This flexing is occurring on large sizing, mainly. The market is steady, overall. Small sizing has better availability compared to last week. Pricing gaps have been ranging from two- three dollars depending on the supplier. Moderate availability is expected throughout the week with this commodity out of Yuma and Oxnard. Production in Florida is moderate, overall. Overall pricing is competitive. The quality has been reported as good in all the growing regions.

Jalapeno; Very strong demand with limited supply. Quality and sizing is very good ,mostly large and extra Large.

Serrano ; Demand exceed on limited supply with good condition and quality, sizing is mostly medium.

Anaheim ; good supply with market softer. Quality and size are good and getting better.

Pasilla ; Continued good supply with quality and condition improving.

Tomatillo ; Increased supply and excellent quality continue, very good sizing and condition.

The cilantro market remains flat with plenty of supplies from Mexico and the Oxnard growing regions. Quality has been hit and miss with some arrivals showing yellow leaves in the bunches.

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 coming down on all sizes. Demand is good on all sizes across the board but supplies have bumped up over previous levels. The peak sizes are 110's and 150's currently with fewer small sized limes being harvested. 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.

Clear and warm weather has all houses packing. Some rains is projected for the end of the week. 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 very good on the 113s/138s and markets are firm but steady on them.

Better weather in Culiacan is improving volume. demand has improved and market is stronger . excellent
color, quality and condition. Peaking on Selects and Supers, Very good quality plains. all size cartons are being offered 24,36,42s.

Better weather is increasing production. Condition and quality are improved. More number one product being offered and less scaring and misshapen. Sizing is improving with better color and finish.

The green grape market is steady. Supplies are light but adequate to meet current demand. Sizing is running heavily to the large and extra large fruit with quality reported as generally good. We see no indication of any change in this market for the coming week.

The red seedless grape market has bottomed out and is about steady. We have some late vessel arrivals on the West Coast helping to firm that market up. Also, we are seeing the late season Flame Seedless supplies beginning to wind down. As these numbers decline over the next 7 to 14 days we should see a firming up on this market. The Crimson seedless will supplant the Flame's during this time frame as the primary red grape. This should also help firm the market up as the supply of Crimson Seedless will be light.

Alerts:
The red grape market is poised to strengthen.

Sporadic supplies from Mexico on iceless green onions continues to be the story here. Supplies of iced green onions also vary from supplier to supplier. The market also has a wide range depending on availability. Quality is still hit and miss with some arrivals showing brow to yellow tops.

Supplies are steady for this week in all growing regions. We have product in Santa Maria, Oxnard, and Yuma. The market varies also with the growing region. Quality is excellent with dark green color and little dehydration.

This market is steady. Shippers have begun this week much like last week. In other words, heavy supplies exists. Deals are out there for large, quantity type orders so don't be shy. Warm temperatures will continue in the Yuma region all week with temperatures ranging from 85-90 degrees. Common issues on quality include mechanical damage, puffiness, slight mildew and misshapen heads. The weights on this commodity has been ranging from 38-44 pounds on wrap. Supplies are expected to be good until the middle of the week, minimum. Early updates has Huron production beginning the third week in March.

Good supplies on all leaf items are available to start the week. Shippers are expected to have good availability and eager to promote. Mechanical damage and twisting have been minimal with romaine. Warm temps will exists all week in all growing regions. Green and red leaf, as well as butter also shows strong quality. The weights are averaging 32-36 pounds on romaine while red and green leaf are averaging 21-23 pounds. Competitive pricing will be a norm for the rest of the week with most shippers. Huron is expected to harvest leaf items the third to fourth week of March.

Cantaloupe supplies are more than adequate for the current demand. We have increasing supplies and lighter demand right now. The quality is good overall with some lots being exceptionally nice. The peak size is currently 9ct with 6ct sized lopes being packed. The current market is lower on all sizes. There are more 15ct lopes being packed now and a few18ct too.

Demand is still 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 are available now. Honduran grown honeydews are really good. Mexican dews continue to ship out of Nogales AZ and the volume is light. The Mexican dews are very nice. The market is slightly lower across the board.

Weather has improved volume shipping from Colima and Jalisco, availability is improving every week with better weather in the growing region. Quality and condition are much improved. many more growers offering supply. Sugar and pleasure are testing well with good fruit for cutting.

Most product available is being offered in cartons with some bins, There is now load volume to offer. peak sizes are 5s followed by 6s with a few 4s.

Some personal seedless are available with a run of sizes from 8s-11s. Peaking on larger sizes. Condition and quality are very good.

Idaho - Demand is moderate to light with a slightly weaker market on Jumbo Yellows and larger. Mediums are still short on supplies with a firm market. Quality is fair with some light transparency showing up in the outer layers of the yellow onions. White onions are very limited with only a few growers still packing them. Quality is fair at best. Red onions market is slightly weaker due to light demand.
Washington - Demand is moderate with a steady market on both yellow and reds. Quality is still being reported as good with a few fair lots being packed. White onions are also very limited.
Mexico - Demand is moderate with steady supplies of Yellows coming across the boarder. Red and white onions have limited supplies with a firm market. Quality is being reported as very good.

Washington - D'anjous pears are steady on all sizes and continue to peak on US#1 70/80s. The larger fruit-size isn't yielding much fruit smaller than a 110 so 120s and smaller remain limited. The Washington D'anjous are clean so the fancy grade is also limited on all sizes. Bosc pears are steady and continue to peak on US#1 90/100/110s but they have better availability of the smaller fruit. Fancy grade bosc are also short. Red pears remain steady on all sizes and they are peaking on 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 being quoted as steady on all sizes and they are still peaking on 100/110s on both coasts. Some suppliers will flex for volume on 120s and 135s. A few Packhams are available. The market is steady to lower on the small fruit and is steady but firm on 90s and larger.

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

Idaho -Demand is moderate with a steady to slightly weaker market depending on size. Quality is being reported as good. Few shippers are running half days due to light retail demand. Look for the markets to stay steady at these lower levels into the middle of March.
Washington, Colorado and Wisconsin - Very light demand on both cartons and retail bags has the market steady. Supplies are hit and miss depending on Shipper due to this light demand. Quality is being reported as good with an occasional fair lot being packed.

Bakersfield, California - reds and golds are steady and continue to peak on A-size. Whites are somewhere between sold and out and super tight due to strong demand and light supplies. The quality has ranged from good to fair on the reds with some lots having darker color and some lighter, while the golds and whites have been good.
Western Washington - reds and golds are steady and both continue to peak on A size. Their season will finish between the middle and the end of March. The quality has ranged from fair to good on both colors.
Idaho - reds and golds are steady but supplies are in fewer hands as we approach the end of the season. Both colors are speaking on A-size and some suppliers will flex for volume on the red As. The quality has been good. Idaho will also pack until somewhere between the middle and the end of March.
Wisconsin - reds and golds are both steady but firm and they continue to peak on A-size, Most shippers are still battling storage quality. Premiums and bakers in both colors and gold Cs are still not available. The quality has been fair to good.
North Dakota - Reds and golds are steady on all sizes. Some 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 with exception of Red B's which are up slightly. Both reds and golds are peaking on A-size while the whites are heavier to B's. The white market remains firm and many suppliers are sold-out of White As still.

Better weather has improved production and quality on both yellow and Italian squash. All sizes and grades are available. Excellent color on Italian. Yellow is showing scaring on some lots.

Hard Squash is steady supply with good demand. Mostly medium sizes with some large.

The Chilean stone fruit deal is about steady with adequate supplies of peaches, plums and nectarines. We are currently seeing a slight disruption is supply on the West Coast due to late vessel arrivals. However, these late arrivals do not appear to be enough of an issue to affect the markets. Quality overall is good with a wide range of sizing available.

Rounds - The market is steady. Weather conditions continue to hamper production and yields in Florida. Look for supplies to continue to be lighter until end of March/early April. Mexico's weather continues to see warmer weather conditions out west. Smaller sizes continue to be much lighter in supplies. Quality is Good / Fair.
Roma - The market is steady. As with the rounds, roma's supplies also on the lighter side. Past and current weather conditions effecting yields in Florida. Look for the east to continue to see light supplies. And with rounds, roma's in Mexico may start to see lighter supplies, as we move into March. Quaity is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is Steady. Supplies continue to be tight in all areas, with demand still active. Production and yields are lower due to weather conditions. Look for demand to continue to be consistent. Quality is Good / Fair.
Grape - The market is steady / lower. Supplies continues to look better in areas. Demand on the lighter side, with more and more availability. Quality is Good / Fair.

Rounds - The market is steady. Supplies continue to be a bit tighter on smaller sized fruit. Larger sizes more readily availability due to the warmer temps in Mexico. Look for crossings to somewhat decrease in the month of March. Florida continue to be on the lighter side, due to weather patterns back east. Quality is Good / Fair.
Roma - The market is steady. Supplies continue to be good out of Mexico, however, like the rounds, look for crossings to decrease a bit as we head into March. Back east, supplies continue to be light, due to weather conditions. Quality is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is Steady. Supplies continue to be short in the west and east. Weather conditions still shortening supplies. Back east, supplies also look to be light, due to weather. Quality is Good / Fair.
Grape - The market is Steady / lower. Availability continues to increase in all areas, with Mexico increasing volume and California hothouse growers beginning. Quality is Good / Fair.