The Source - January 11, 2016

Washington - red delicious are steady and most suppliers continue to peak on 72/80/88s. 113 and smaller reds are limited. Golden delicious are steady and continue to peak on Wash-Extra 100/113s. Most suppliers don't have much larger than an 88-size Golden. The Granny-smith market is steady on all sizes and they are peaking on 88/100/113s but the market remains very strong. Most Granny shippers still don't have much larger than an 88 and are also short on 125's and smaller. Galas are steady on all sizes and continue to peak on 100/113s. Most Gala shippers don't have much fruit larger than an 88. Fujis are steady and continue to peak on extra-fancy 80/88/100's. Honeycrisp are steady to higher and the market is strong due to light supplies. Honeycrisp are still peaking on 64/72s. Lower grade Honeycrisp remain relatively cheap but supplies are limited. Jonagolds and Braeburns are both steady and continue to peak on 72/80/88's. The quality for all varieties has been good.
Michigan - Red delicious are steady on all sizes and are still peaking on 80/88s. Most Michigan packers have limited supplies of 125 and 138s. McIntosh are steady and they are heavier to 125/138s. Galas are steady on all sizes and are peaking on 125/138s. Golden delicious are steady and they are still peaking 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 in Michigan. Fujis are steady and they are peaking on 125/138s. Jonagolds and Red Romes are all still available.
New York - Red delicious, Macs, Galas, Cameos, Romes, Crispins, Empire, and Golden delicious are all steady. Empire and Red Rome volume is good and some shippers will flex for volume on the smaller sizes. The quality has been good on all varieties.

The asparagus market is still extremely active with limited supplies from Peru and Mexico. Jumbo and Extra Large asparagus are virtually nonexistent. There are better supplies of small, standard, and large. Look for better supplies next week and the market to see some relief. Quality from Mexico is far superior to the product from Peru.

Alerts:
Supplies still extremely limited and the market is active.

Mexican shipments to the US this week remain good. Size curve running heavy to the 32s/36s/40s followed by 48s. Availability on the smaller sizes of 60s/70s remain very limited and a real issue for shippers.

Cooler weather has slowed production in Central Mexico. Availability will be sporadic as slower production means fewer transfers of fruit from Mexico to the US. Quality has also been a concern with wet, leaky fruit and red cell.

Availability is limited this week as several vessels from South America have been delayed coming into ports on both coasts and quality issues have taken some of the fruit that came in last week. Increased arrivals from South America and additional volume should continue over the next few weeks. Mexican production has been steady. Baja production is slowly increasing. Delays with transfers coming into coolers has been the biggest concern with the Mexican product. Quality has been a mixed bag. Mexican fruit has been strong overall. The containers from South America that arrived last week had varying degrees of quality from both Chile and Peru. Some containers of fruit were very nice while others had shriveled and soft, overripe fruit.

Cooler weather in Central Mexico has helped to improve quality of the raspberries. However, it has also caused production to slow down some over recent weeks and we are seeing more delays in transfers of fruit from Mexico to the US. Availability could be sporadic as transfers are delayed.

Demand exceeds supply. California's Southern growing district received significant rainfall over the past week with total precipitation exceeding 3.00" in some areas. Production was disrupted as harvests were delayed and/or cancelled due to weather and lack of ripe fruit. After the rain stopped, many plants were stripped of fruit that had color to salvage the younger berries on the plant and avoid water damage. Quality expectations should include light color, white shoulders, wetness and wet bruising on the berries. Counts are still small, ranging in the mid to upper 20s. It remains cooler in Oxnard this week keeping production on a slower scale. Florida has struggled with sizing and quality as temperatures have remained warmer than average over recent weeks. Berries have been small, soft, showing bruise. However, a cold front has arrived in the region and should help to improve size and firmness of the berries this week. It is also slowing down the ripening process so harvests and production volume will be lighter. Mexico forecasted a ramp up in production volume this week and next but cooler weather is keeping production from increasing and shipments to the US are limited for at least the front side of this week. All in all, we are in short supply across all growing/loading regions this week.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds supply. Availability is light as recent weather and cooler temperatures have slowed production in all growing/loading regions.

Broccoli supplies are two tiered. Bunch Broccoli is more available than Broccoli Crowns. This is creating a split market. The more value price shoppers can choose bunched broccoli as the broccoli crown market is still commanding a premium. Cold weather is preventing crown size and keeping this market active. Also processors are still buying acreage to keep up with the demand on florets. Overall quality is good with firm beads and green color.

Salinas is all but finished with the limited acreage left. Supplies from Mexico are still extremely limited. Sizes remain small to medium. The market remain active with no signs of relief for a few weeks. The current cold temperatures in the growing region of Mexico continue to plague supplies.

Alerts:
Extremely limited supplies and high markets.

Cold weather continues to hamper size growth in the carrot crop. Jumbo size carrots coming out of fields are at a very low percent.

We are finally seeing relief in supplies as well as the market. Demand has fallen off tremendously creating a sliding market. Quality is improving in both growing regions with nice white color. Look for the market to stabilize to some sense of normalcy this week.

The celery market continues to gain strength in the marketplace. Heavy rains in the Southern California region this past week has created a lot of mud outside the boxes as well as within the box . Demand exceeds supplies. Yuma and Florida has begun production but the volume has been minimal. Temperatures this week in the Southern California region is expected to be in the mid 60s to low 40's for the week. Pith has been reported lightly but this may increase over the next few weeks. Overall, the quality has been good. Small sizing has the best availability. Supplies will be light throughout the week.

Alerts:
Heavy rains this past week causing a lot of mud issues in the Southern California region.

The Chilean cherry deal is winding down. Supplies are lighter but quality continues to be good. We should see sporadic supplies of cherries for the next few weeks but only in light numbers. The whole deal is projected to finish by the end of January.

Peak Seasons:
Chilean cherries winding down.

The current cold weather in Mexico and rains in both the Oxnard and Mexico growing regions have created serious supply issues. Quality is a problem with yellowing and black slimy leaves upon some arrivals. Supplies are projected to be the same for the next 2 weeks. This will continue to create expensive markets and sourcing problems.

Alerts:
Extremely Limited Supplies and High Markets

All 3 growing areas are being harvested. The desert is 71% harvested and the central valley crop is 29% harvested and both areas are heavy to 140s and larger fruit. The harvest of the Ventura crop has just begun, and it too is looking to be peaking on 140s and larger fruit. Lemon demand is strong and with size peaking on 140s and larger fruit from all areas; 165s and smaller fruit remaining very tight.

Alerts:
Small size fruit 165s/200s/235s remain very tight. Expect tight supplies on these sizes to continue.

The lime market is up due to previous adverse weather and transportation delays into the U.S. from the growing areas in Mexico. Demand is good while supplies are lower right now. The peak sizes are 110's and 150's right now with fewer small sized limes being harvested. Quality is improving overvall.

California Navel growing area has received good rains all of last week and more rain predicted for this week. We did have a clearing this weekend growers where able to get into some areas to harvest, but harvest will be an in and out thing this week as growers work around the wet orchards and predicted rains of this week. It will take a while to build bin inventory of picked fruit back up, so supplies could an issue for many shippers through the week.

The green seedless grape market is strengthening as buyers push unfulfilled orders for red grapes into the green market. Supplies are light and inconsistent but projected to improve in the coming week. Quality is generally reported as good. Supplies of green grapes should show a slight improvement in the coming week; but we are still several weeks away from a consistent, adequate supply to meet current demand.

Alerts:
Market strengthening

The red grape market continues to climb as supplies out of Chile remain light and inconsistent. The current vessels on the West Coast are sold out with no more fruit arriving until the 20'th of January. The East Coast is marginally better with all shippers sold out but more fruit coming off the vessels by the 14'th to 15'th of January. We see no improvement in supplies until the end of the month. Quality is generally reported as good.

Alerts:
Supplies "drying p"

Supplies remain extremely limited with all crossings out of Mexico. Rains and cold temperatures have created major supply issues. This situation will remain the same for the next 2 weeks. The historically high markets continue this week. Sourcing remains the same with trying to find supplies from all shippers. Quality is still fair with Brown to yellow tops upon arrivals.

Alerts:
Extremely Limited Supplies and Historically High Markets

Kale supplies remain steady with most shippers. Quality is very nice with good green color. Prices may vary depending on loading areas. Supplies and the market look to take this route for the week.

Poor weather and low yields has created an active market. Demand exceeds supplies. The frigid weather the Yuma region has had these past weeks has made product availability very light. Expect pricing to be stronger throughout the week. Some shippers began the week sold out, as contracts have become a priority to fill. Low yields and lightweights are forecasted for this commodity for the rest of the month, at a minimum. The frost and freeze has damaged much of the young plants as well as the product ready to harvest. Blister and epidermal peel will continue to be seen.

Alerts:
Frigid past temperatures is causing havoc to the lettuce market.

Blister will continue to be seen on all leaf items through the month of January in all the growing regions. Frigid temps over the past weeks has lowered yields and quality with all suppliers. Expect active markets throughout the week. Quality is suffering with all leafy greens showing epidermal peel both on the outer ribs and down into the heart. Romaine, red and green leaf will all show some discoloration and "breakdown" where the blister is occurring. Suppliers are struggling to meet demand. Expect active markets throughout the week.

Alerts:
Frigid temperatures causing quality issues on all leaf items.

Cantaloupe supplies are increasing. West coast supplies continue to build slowly and with the increase in supplies we should see better availability in the near future. The quality is very good overall. The peak size is shifting smaller and is currently 12ct. We are experiencing good demand on the cantaloupes that are arriving. The current market is lower on all sizes.

Transitions:
Honduras is the new area supplying us of the majority of our volume.

Demand is good on all sizes. The peak size for the offshore is 5ct while the small amount of Mexican dews are peaking on 6ct . Offshore dews once again continue to arrive on the west coast in low volume and quality is being reported as good. Honduran grown honeydews are arriving in Florida. Mexican dews continue to ship out of Nogales AZ and the volume is very light. The Mexican dews are very nice. The market is steady on all dews.

Transitions:
Honduras is our new region.

Idaho - Demand is very good with a firm market on all colors and sizes. White onions are the most active with light supplies out of all growing areas and great demand from Mexico. This will continue till supplies start up in Mexico sometime in February. Quality on red onions are hit and miss with some light decay and internal translucency showing up depending on lot. Quality on Yellow onions is good. The only issues I have had with Yellow Onions, is some light translucency showing up in the outer layers. Market looks to be active through the balance of this week.
Washington - Demand is very good with a firming market on all colors and sizes. The quality on Red onions out of this growing is fair at best. Most if not all lots of reds are being reported with mold on arrival. White supplies are very limited with a firm market. Yellow market is active. Quality is being reported as good.

Washington - Bartlett pears are steady on all sizes and the market remains strong due to light supplies. Bartletts continue to peak on 110/120s and the larger sizes are especially short. Bosc pears are steady and continue to peak on US#1 90/100/110s. Fancy bosc are short on all sizes. D'anjou pears are steady on all sizes. D'anjous are still peaking on US#1 90/100s while all sizes of the fancy grade are limited. Red pears are steady on all sizes and are still producing mostly half carton 45/50s and full carton 90/100s. The quality on Bartlett pears has varied. The D'anjou, Bosc, and red D'anjou pear quality has been good.

Supplies are dropping and volume will be lighter, but steady through Easter.

Idaho - Demand is good with a firming market on all sizes and packs. Quality is being reported as good. Burbank are starting to be the main variety with most grower/shippers which are getting a premium. A few grower/shippers will have supplies of Norkotahs till the start of March. Look for the market to stabilize as demand and supply catch up to each other over the next week or so. Cool weather does not look to be a factor in Idaho this week.
Washington - Demand is moderate with a steady market. Most shippers have a good mix of sizes. Quality is good.
Colorado and Wisconsin- light demand is causing most sheds to run half days. Very cold temperatures is also making it hard for the growers to transfer supplies from their storages to the packing sheds. Temperatures are in the single digits and this looks to last through the balance of this week.

Bakersfield, California - reds, whites, and golds are steady. All colors continue to peaking on A-size. Premium and baker size reds and golds remain limited. The quality on all colors has been good.
Western Washington - reds and golds are steady and they are peaking on A size. There are a few storage whites and they are also steady. The quality has been good on all sizes and colors.
Idaho - reds and golds are steady on all sizes. All colors continue to peak on A-size and the quality has been good.
Wisconsin - golds are steady, and continue to peak on A-size. Reds are slightly higher to quality issues with some lots. Premium and baker reds, premium and baker golds, and gold Cs remain limited. The quality has been good.
North Dakota - Golds and reds are steady on all sizes and both colors continue to peak on size A. Premium and baker size potatoes remain limited in both colors. The quality has been good.

Transitions:
Florida will start packing red potatoes the week of January 27th.

Peaches, plums and nectarines are available in all colors with sizing still running heavily to the 50, 60 and 70 counts. Volumes available are not heavy but they are improving. Quality is generally reported as good.

Rounds - The market is steady. Production and yields continue to be slower. Florida continues to see lighter supplies due to weather conditions. Mexico also struggling with weather, limited supplies out west. Demand still strong. Qulaity is Good / Fair.
Roma - The market is steady. Supplies continue to look a little better. Weather still an issue in Florida, however, production continues to be a little higher. Demand still consistent. Weather out west still raining and colder. Quality is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is steady. Florida seeing a little better supplies. Mexico also seeing better supplies, with additional product crossing. Demand still consistant. Quality is Good / fair.
Grape - The market is steady. Florida seeing a little better numbers. Mexico also crossing a little better number, but, colder weather could slow that up. Demand continues to be consistent. Quality is Good / Fair.

Rounds - The market is steady. Weather conditions continue to be an issue with production and yields. Rains and colder temps slowing things up. Weather also an issue back east, with supplies still on the tighter side. Demand consistent in all regions. Quality is Good / Fair.
Roma - The market is steady. Supplies out of Mexico looking better. Back east, supplies out of Florida also better. Demand still consistant. Quality is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is steady. Supplies in the west looking better, with Mexico crossing product. Back east, supplies also looking little better supply-wise. Deman continues to be consistent. Quality is Good / fair.
Grape - The market is steady. Supplies also looking to be better in the west and back east. Mexico crossing more supplies, as new region(s) looking to come on. Demand is still consistent in all regions. Quality is Good / Fair.