The Source - January 18, 2016

Washington - red delicious are mostly steady but some of the smaller sizes are higher. Most suppliers continue to peak on 72/80/88s. 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 to higher and continue to peak on extra-fancy 80/88/100's. Honeycrisp are steady but the market is high and strong due to light supplies. Honeycrisp are still peaking on 64/72s. Lower grade Honeycrisp remain cheaper but supplies are limited. Jonagolds and Braeburns are both steady. The quality for all varieties has been good.
Michigan - Red delicious are steady to higher on all sizes and are still peaking on 80/88s. Most Michigan shippers are short 125s and smaller. 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, Empires, 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 showing some signs of relief. Better supplies from Caborca and demand falling off have started the market to decrease. Good Quality out of Mexico with good green color and little to no spreading of the tips. Asparagus from Peru is still commanding steady/higher prices as supplies continue to be limited. Quality from Peru is fair with some dehydration and spreading.

Rain in growing areas of Mexico from last week and a size curve coming from the groves that is a mismatch to the demand has shippers upside down. The size curve which is running heavy to the 32s/36s/40s is causing supplies issues on 48s/60s/70s which. There are very limited availability on the smaller sizes of 60s/70s and as customers move up to 48s, we are see 48s becoming very tight and a real issue for shippers.

Very limited supply as recent cool weather and rain slowed production in Central Mexico. The rain also affected quality of the blackberries that are not being grown under plastic hoops. As a result, much fruit has been rejected for packing and discarded. Several loads of blackberries on order for the US have been delayed or cancelled. Quality has been a concern with wet, leaky fruit and red cell. Availability will be light for the next several weeks.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds supply. Recent weather in Central MX, quality issues and logistical challenges with transfers have resulted in cancellations and delays of arrivals.

Steady arrivals from South America should continue over the coming weeks. Mexican production has been steady. Baja production is slowly increasing. Delays with transfers coming into coolers have been the biggest concern with both the offshore product coming on vessels and the Mexican product crossing at the border.

Recent cool weather and rain in Central Mexico have limited availability of raspberries for the upcoming weeks. Production has slowed down and availability will be light for the next three to five weeks. Delayed transfers from Mexico have left us very short for the front half of this week.

Alerts:
Limited availability as production has decreased and transfers from Mexico have slowed down.

Strawberries are extremely limited and demand is exceeding supply in all growing/loading regions. Cool weather and rain in both CA and FL have limited production and decreased supply. Temperatures remain cool in both areas again this week. The cooler weather has helped to increase sizing and fruit has firmed up. MX is warming up this week after cool weather and significant rainfall last week. This is a concern and could affect quality as the plants and berries are still holding onto much moisture with warmer temperatures coming on. We are anticipating very limited availability all the way through the Valentine's Day berry pull period.

Alerts:
Strawberries are extremely limited and demand is exceeding supply in all growing/loading regions.

There is finally better supplies of broccoli which is creating lower markets. This is also helping processors fill much needed floret orders. Good quality from all growing regions with nice green color and tight beads. The market will still try to find a level to stabilize. The value deals are in the Santa Maria and Mexican growing regions.

The Brussel Sprout market remains active with high prices. Supplies are still extremely limited from Mexico. The sizing profile remains small to medium. The weather is still holding back supplies for this week and market will remain high.

Alerts:
Extremely Limited Supplies and High Markets mainly due to weather conditions in Mexico

Cold weather continues to hamper size growth in the carrot crop. Jumbo size carrots coming out of fields remain at a very low percent, and demand is very good on them.

The Cauliflower market remains flat with good supplies. Aggressive deals are available from various shippers. Good quality with nice white color are in most packs. Look for this market to remain aggressive all week.

The celery is firm overall. Slight pith continues to be reported sporadically upon arrivals. Rain is expected off an on throughout the week in the Southern California region. Demand continue to exceed supplies, especially on the large sizing. Yuma and Florida has light production. Temperatures this week in the Southern California region is expected to be in the mid 60s to lows in the high 40's for the week. Overall, the quality has been good. Small sizing has the best availability. Supplies will be light throughout the week.

Transitions:
Yuma and Florida have light production of celery.

Cilantro Supplies still remain an issue thus causing the markets to remain strong. Quality issues with yellowing and black slimy leaves due to weather related issues are still in all packs. Supplies look to remain short all week.

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 steady right now. Demand is decent and supplies are steady right now. The peak sizes are 110's and 150's currently with fewer small sized limes being harvested. Quality is good overvall.

California Navel growing area has received good rains on Friday and today, with more in the forecast. Shippers will be picking whenever possible, once the trees have dried between storms. Demand is stronger on the 113s/138s and would expect markets to firm on these sizes.

We are currently in an extreme demand exceeds supply market on the green seedless grapes out of Chile. Supplies of green seedless are light in conjunction with late vessels on both coasts. The West Coast is especially short as we have a gap of at least 10 days between vessels. This market will continue to be light supplied and demand exceeds supply for the next two weeks. Quality is generally reported as good.

Alerts:
Scarcity of Chilean green grapes.

The red seedless grape market is demand exceeds supply. We have some limited availability on the East Coast with no fruit on the West Coast. Supplies will continue to be light for the next several weeks with limited volume and inconsistent vessel arrivals. We should see some relief by the first to second week of February. Quality is generally good with sizing running heavily to the smaller 300 and 500 code fruit.

Falling demand from constant high prices and better volume of iced green onions has created a falling market. Iceless Green Onion supplies still seem to be a problem and as a result the much higher prices remain. Quality is still a problem from the recent rains with brow to yellow tops. We will see better price advantages on the iced green onions for the week.

Kale supplies remains steady from all growing regions. Prices vary from supplier to supplier. Quality is excellent with dark green color and minimal yellowing.

Temperatures in the Yuma region is expected to be in the Mid 70s with lows in the 50s for the entire week. No rain is in the forecast. With this being said, supplies have picked up with many suppliers. Volumes are expected to be moderate throughout the week. Defects will continue to be seen . These defects include light color, some frost damage on the outer leaves and pinking. The weights look to average 39-43 pounds.

A few suppliers are holding to their pricing from the previous week while others have eased up. Temperatures will be stronger for the week in all the growing regions. Blister and peel will not go away however. These defects will continue throughout the month of January. This continues to be an industry wide issue. Quality is suffering with all leafy greens, not just romaine. Butter will be light in availability throughout the month. The weights on romaine have been averaging 26-30 pounds with a length of 11-12 inches , while green leaf has been approximately 21-23 pounds.

Alerts:
Blister and peel continue on all leaf items.

Cantaloupe supplies continue to increase. West coast supplies continue to build slowly and with the increase in supplies we are seeing better availability. 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 steady on all sizes.

Demand is good on all sizes. The peak size for the offshore is 6ct and the small amount of Mexican dews are peaking on 6ct . Honduran grown honeydews are arriving 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 very light. The Mexican dews are very nice also. The market is steady on all dews.

Idaho - Demand is good with moderate supplies on all colors and size. Demand exceeds supplies on White onions which has this market firming quickly. Extra demand from Mexico is driving the white market. Yellow onions continue to firm up as each week moves on. The next growing area to come into play will be Mexico, which will start some time the front part of February. Quality is good to fair depending on lot. Transparence layers in the onions is the main issue with the occasional decay showing up in the packs. Transparency is common for this time of the year.
Washington- Demand is good. Market is firm all colors and sizes. Sizing is peaking on Jumbo's and smaller with only a handful of Colossal Yellows being packed. Quality is good on the yellow and white onions with some mold and decay showing up in the Red.

Alerts:
White onions are in a demand exceeds supply situation

Washington - Bartletts 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 still short. Washington will finish packing Bartlett pears on approximately February 15. 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 slightly lower on 90's and larger and steady to higher on 110's and smaller. D'anjous are peaking on US#1 70/80/90s now but all sizes of the fancy grade are limited. US#1 Danjou 100s and smaller 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 - Market and demand is steady on all packs and sizes. Quality is good. I don't see this market changing much in the next couple of weeks untill Norkotahs finish for the season which will be in March.
Washington - Demand is moderate, with a slightly firmer market on most sizes and packs. Quality is good.
Colorado/Wisconsin - Light demand on the retail packs(non-A) is causing the carton market to firm with very limited supplies. Quality is still being reported as good. I don't see the market condition changing in these two growing areas for the next couple of weeks.

Bakersfield, California - all colors are steady and they are all peaking on A-size. Premium and baker reds and golds remain short. 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 steady as well. The quality has been good on all sizes and colors.
Idaho - reds are steady to higher and golds are steady. All colors continue to peak on A-size and the quality has been good.
Wisconsin - reds are slightly higher and golds are steady, both colors are peaking on A-size. Reds are strong because of poor quality in some storage lots. Premium and baker reds, premium and baker golds, and gold Cs remain limited. The quality has been good.
North Dakota - Reds and golds and reds are steady on all sizes. Both colors continue to peak on size A. Premium and baker size potatoes remain limited in both colors. The quality has been good.

The stone fruit market is about steady with limited supplies and light demand. We have availability on yellow and white peaches and nectarines as well as red and black plums. Sizing is running heavily to the 50 and 60 series with some 70's. Quality is generally good although the fruit is typically hard and low on sugar.

Rounds - The market is steady/higher. Supplies continue to be on the ligher side, due to weather conditions. Production and yields hampered by rains and colder temps. Mexico also dealing with weather conditions slowing things up, with forecast calling for additional rains. Demand continues to be strong on the rounds. Quality is Good / Fair.
Roma - The market is steady. Supplies still a bit lighter in the east, however, Mexico is crossing more supplies. Demand a little lighter, with more supplies available. Quality is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is steady. The east still a bit lighter due to weather, however, Mexico is crossing more supplies. Demand on the cherry's steady. Quality is Good fair.
Grape - The market is steady. Product in the east still a bit lighter. Production and yield still on the lighter side. Mexico also dealing with rains and colder temps, with additional rains forecasted over the next few days. Demand is consistent. Quality is Good / Fair.

Rounds - The market is steady/higher. Weather conditions still hampering product and yields. Mexico dealing with rains and colder temps, with additional rains forecasted over the next several days. In the east, rains also hampering production and yields. Demand continues to be strong. Quality is Good / Fair.
Roma - The market is steady. Supplies still look to be a bit lighter, however, mexico continues to cross a bit more product. Demand a bit lighter, however, this may change with rains and colder temps forecasted over the next several days. Quality is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is steady. Weather continues to be a struggle in all areas. Demand continues to be consistent. Quality is Good / Fair.
Grape - The market is steady. Supplies still a struggle out west, due to weather conditions. Back east still dealing with weather conditions, with rains forecasted over the next several days. Demand consistent. Quality is Good / Fair.