The Source - May 2, 2016

Washington - red delicious remain steady and continue to peak on 72/80/88s. Most suppliers are still subbing up to the extra-fancy grades to cover volume orders of the fancy grade especially on small fruit. Golden delicious are steady on all sizes and grades and continue to peak on Wash-Extra 100/113s. Most suppliers don't have much larger than an 88-size Golden. Granny-smith are also steady on all sizes and continue to peak 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 firm. Most Gala suppliers still don't have much fruit larger than an 88. Fujis are steady to higher on all sizes but the market remains firm due to light supplies. The Fuji market continues to slowly rise as the end of the season approaches. Washington Fujis continue to peak on extra-fancy 80-100's. Pink Lady's are steady but firm due to strong demand. The quality for all varieties has been good.
Michigan - Red delicious are steady on all sizes due to lighter supplies. There are still volume deals available in 113s and larger. Reds continue to peak on 80/88s. McIntosh are steady to higher and supplies remain very short, most shippers will finish soon. Galas are steady to higher on all sizes due to light supplies, most suppliers are close to finishing. Golden delicious have finished for the season. Jonathan supplies are light but the market is steady. Red Romes are very light and they are almost finished. The quality for all variety's has been good.
New York - Red delicious, Empires, and McIntosh are steady but small fruit is very short. The remaining Macs are large. Empires are nearly finished for the season. The fruit quality has been good for all.
Chile - there are a few Chilean Galas on both coasts and the markets are both steady. Both coasts have 100-size and larger.

The weather in the California growing region is holding back supplies. Washington asparagus has decent volume this week with more aggressive prices. Peruvian asparagus has started to come in on the east coast but mostly standard and large sizes with limited availability of jumbo and extra large. California does have availability on jumbo and extra large. Quality from all areas is excellent with little dehydration and spreading of the tips. The market is firm in California mainly due to the colder temperatures.

California has ramped up harvest and we are in peak harvesting season. We are now seeing good volume coming in to the packing houses. We still continue to see more smaller fruit than we would typically would see this time of year.

Mexico production is continuing strong as we head into the last couple of months of the old crop. Even with volume decreasing, we are still see better than normal supplies arriving into the states. Fruit is coming from higher elevations with good quality and oil content.

Green bell pepper continue to improve with heavy supply. Product is mostly large and extra large. Most growers in Mexico are finishing in the south and are starting production in the north with California shipping as well.

Red pepper is becoming less and less available every week. Quality with mostly number one product being offered in both the blocky and elongated variety. Many shippers winding down on volume offered in 25,15 and 11lb units.

Yellow pepper volume is lightening with some growers finishing. Quality and condition are good on both number one and number two product.

Mexican production has already reached peak for this season for several growers and will begin to decrease over the next several weeks. CA production will begin later May or early June. We are seeing less issues with red cell and soft, broken berries.

Domestic production regions are finally seeing an increase in the harvests and availability out of CA, FL, GA and the Carolinas. Good volumes reported this week. Central Mexico and Baja also continue to produce steadily. Availability has improved overall and quality has remained good in all areas.

Central Mexico continues to be the largest production area. CA is increasing production as we move into May. Quality has been good and fairly consistent, availability remains somewhat limited.

Production is beginning to recover from recent rains in CA. Projections actually show some increase this week. Quality has improved and should continue to improve with orders loading this week. Weather forecast is favorable early week with another chance of rain possible this coming Friday/Saturday. Demand will slow down by mid-week as Mother's Day pull winds down for this season.

The market today has an upward trend with some suppliers. Lighter supplies in the Salinas Valley are approaching. The recent cold weather has hampered growth. Santa Maria still has decent supplies but that could change as well. Mexico is still showing hallow core from the heat in their growing region. Look for the market to increase as the week progresses.

Supplies are in better shape but not enough to cause the market to decrease by significant levels. Quality is still fair at best with insect and worm problems. Processors are having trouble with getting clean product. The market still varies from shipper to shipper.

We are in the final weeks of the Coachella and Imperial Valley crop production. We expect to start the Bakersfield crop by mid May and be in full production by early June. Jumbo size still very tight, but expect this to start to change as we get into June. Supplies baby peeled carrots are is good.

The Salinas and Santa Maria growing regions have decent supplies to start the week. The market does vary with suppliers in Salinas. Santa Maria suppliers still have more aggressive quotes today. Quality has been nice with clean white color and weights in the 25 to 30 pound range. There have been some talk from suppliers for the end of this week moving into next week.

This market is steady, overall. Small sizing continues to command a higher price in the marketplace. Supplies continue to be good on large sizes, twenty-four count sizing in particular. Seeder continues to be the biggest issue with this commodity coming out of the Southern California region. Production in Florida is steady, as well as pricing. Demand is moderate. Oxnard and Santa Maria are the main growing areas for this commodity. Expect this market to be steady for most of this week.

Cherry supplies have been up and down. The warm weather over the weekend helped push harvest along today, increasing supplies for the front part of the week. However, cooler temps and a chance of rain are being reported for later this week. If this happens, production and quality could be affected again for the weekend. Market prices have remained firm as the weather proves to be a major factor in consistent supplies. Sizing has been primarily in the 11 row or smaller range with occasional 9.5 row available.

Alerts:
Good supplies in the front part of the week, but weather could slow down production for the weekend.

Serrano; Some growers are finishing and others are starting new fields. Quality remains good with better demand.

Anaheim; Sizing and quality remain good, more product being offered. Excellent size and color.

Pablano; Slightly lighter supply with some growers finishing, good quality and condition expected to continue.

Tomatillo; Very good supply and quality ,extra large sizes available.

Jalapeno : New fields and good supply have started in northern México.

Plenty of supplies from all growing regions for this week. The market varies from growing region though. There are more deals out of the Oxnard area. Quality on cilantro is nice with the occasional dehydration and yellowing of the leaves.

The central valley crop is winding down their season, and the Ventura crop is our main supplier. Demand is very strong and continues to build. We are seeing 140s/165s/200s supplies clean up daily and many shippers sold out for the week by mid week.

The lime market is higher on all sizes. Demand is good on all sizes across the board. The peak size has shifted back towards smaller sizes. 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 middle of May. Quality is good overall. The overall supplies are decreasing a lot.

California Navel demand has pick up as Texas and Florida winds down on their crop. Shippers have good supplies of large sizes as crop is peaking on 72s/56s/88s, but are getting very tight on the smaller sizes of 113s/138s navels. Some shippers have been packing new crop Valencia oranges for export, and will begin packing some small size Valencia oranges for domestic use to help fill in the short fall of Navels.

Supply on cucumber has increased. More supply from the northern district. Quality is better on all sizes and pack styles. Peaking on Super Select and Select.
Color is good with very few quality issues. Euro cucumbers are available with limited supply in number one and number two pack styles.

The eggplant market is steady. The volume is spread out between south and central Florida. Quality in south Florida varies from shipper to shipper, most fruit is only fair. Quality in central Florida is good but the production is slow with more volume to start this weekend. The weather is beautiful but the eggs are taking their time producing. The Plant City crop is running a week to 10 days behind schedule.

Eggplant will continue with lighter supply from both central and northern Mexico. Excellent color and condition will continue
with many number two product being offered. Many growers in the south are finishing and supply will lighten.
New crop has started in southern California with good quality and limited availability.

The Mexican green grape season started with light production numbers over the weekend. Limited availability of Early Sweet and Perlette varieties were available to load today in Nogales. Harvest and volume is expected to increase as we move forward. Quality is being reported as very good. Market prices are firm as we begin the new region and availability remains limited. Shippers are expecting better numbers by the week of 5/9.

Transitions:
Mexico started over the weekend with light numbers, volume is expected to increase as we move forward.

Chilean red grapes (Crimsons) are still available in lighter numbers on the East and West coasts. Quality is being reported as strong and market prices have been steady. Domestic red grapes (Flames) are now being harvested and shipped out of the Coachella area. Quality is being reported as good, but sizing in on the smaller size. Currently, the domestic grapes are priced slightly higher than Chilean grapes, but that will change as volume ramps up. Shippers are expecting better numbers by next week. Mexico is expected to get started next week as well.

Transitions:
Domestic grapes are available in Coachella. Chilean grapes are coming to an end with limited volumes available this week. Mexico is expected to start next week.

There are plenty of supplies of iced and iceless green onions this week. Mexico has great production right now. We have had minimal quality issues upon arrival. Some reports have been brown to yellowing of the tops. The market is steady with offers for volume orders.

The kale market is steady. Supplies remain plentiful from all growing regions. There have been little quality reports to mention with minimal yellowing and dehydration.

This market is on fire. Supplies will be light all week. Demand exceeds supplies. Most shippers were sold out at the beginning of the week as contracts become a priority. The Mother's day pull is in effect. Defects continue with this commodity. Defects on this commodity include pale color, misshapen heads, lightweights, and insect damage. These defects are occurring in Santa Maria and Salinas. The weights are averaging 38- 42 pounds on palletized. Production in Salinas and Santa Maria is going to be light all week.

Demand exceeds supplies. Many shippers were sold out to begin the week. Fringe burn, tip burn, insect damage, mildew, and lightweights are common defects associated with all leaf items. Salinas and Santa Maria have very similar issues with one another . Expect pricing to be active all week. Rain , winds and high heats are weather factors that have been a direct cause to these crops having multiple issues. On romaine, the outer leaves are not holding up well. There has been complaints on chopped romaine. The green and red leaf has had the fringe and tip burn issues. All leaf items including romaine hearts will be tight in all growing regions for the entire week.

The quality is good overall with some lots being overripe. The peak size is currently 9ct. The current market has turned higher on all sizes. Demand has increased and supplies are lighter than last week causing it to rise up. Very few 15ct lopes are being packed now and virtually zero 18ct are coming over. Mexico has started shipping light supplies of Cantaloupes. The offshore supplies will be finished by the middle of next month and the desert will be shipping good volume.

Transitions:
Offshore has another 2-3 weeks left and the desert is starting in a small way this week.

Demand has picked up on honeydews and supplies have decreased causing the market to come up. The peak size for the offshore is 5ct and very few 8ct are available. The Mexican dews are peaking on 6ct. Honduran and Guatemalan grown honeydews are good. Mexican dews shipping out of Nogales AZ continue to slowly pick up in volume but still not enough to effect the market. The Mexican dews are also very nice. The market is higher across the board. The offshore dews are going to finish by the middle of this month and supplies are drying up, especially on the west coast.

Alerts:
Supplies are short and will be short for the next few weeks until the desert starts.

Transitions:
Offshore dews are nearly finished and will be done in the next 2-3 weeks. the desert will start in a small way next week.

Spring crop is bringing big volume. Product is now being shipped from southern and northern Sonora Mexico.
The supply has increased along with the demand. Cool weather has slowed production Shippers are promoting to increase the movement.
Quality condition and brix are all very good. All sizes being offered in both bins and cartons peaking on larger fruit,36s, 45s some 60s.
Personal watermelons are being offered in all sizes, good quality and condition.

Northwest Storage onions (Idaho and Washington) are winding down quickly and for the most part will be finished for the season by next week. Southern California supplies have just started and will be building supplies as each week moves on. Red onions are light in volume the start of this week but will get better as we get into the weekend out of California. Market is steady across all sizes and colors.
Quality is being reported as good. Texas supplies have peaked and will slowly wind down. Market on yellow onions is steady. Supplies of red onions are very light with an active market the start of this week. Quality is being reported as good.

Washington - D'anjou pears are steady for now but are slightly larger peaking on US#1 70/80/90's. US#1 grade 110-count and smaller remain limited along with all sizes of the fancy grade, in fact many shippers are completely out of fancy's. C.A. rooms have what they have in them so expect small pears to get tighter and tighter. Bosc pears are steady and continue to peak on US#1 90/100/110s. All sizes of the Fancy grade Bosc remain short. Most packers will ship C.A. Bosc pears for the next week approximately and then they will be finished for the season. The quality on domestic D'anjous and Bosc have been good.
Chile - Argentinian Bartletts are steady and continue to peak on US#1 70-100s. Chilean Packhams are steady and continue to peak on US#1 80/90/100s but there is some smaller fruit on the west coast. Chilean Bosc are also steady and they are peaking on 100-size and larger. The quality on all of the imported varieties has been good.

We are now see some shippers back off on supplies increases until later in May. Supplies from these shipper are beginning to tighten back up. Others will see some increased supplies in May.

Large cartons (40 -70 count) out of Idaho, Wisconsin and Colorado are limited with a firm market. Washington is the only area that has good to moderate supplies of large cartons with a steady to slightly weaker market. 80 count and smaller have good supplies out of all areas with a steady to slightly weaker market. Quality is still being reported as good.

Bakersfield, California - new crop red are steady while golds and whites are steady to lower lower. Golds and whites are peaking on A-size while the reds are heavier to Bs. Many suppliers still have limited supplies of red As, red Premiums, and Bakers but we have a few larger golds. The new-crop quality has been good.
Phoenix, Arizona - red potatoes are steady and are still peaking on A-size, while golds are getting started. The quality is good.
Idaho - reds and golds are steady to slightly higher and supplies remain short. Both colors continue to peak on A-size. The quality has ranged from fair to good.
North Dakota - Reds and gold supplies are very light and getting into fewer and fewer hands.
S. Florida - reds are steady on all sizes but the availability is light as the transition to the north continues. Some shippers are finished and the rest are close and most suppliers have finished shipping golds and whites. All colors are still peaking on A-size. The quality has ranged from good to fair.
N. Florida - Supplies of new-crop reds remain limited and most shippers are peaking evenly between A and B-size. A couple shippers have started packing whites and golds and the rest will start at the end of this week. The quality is reported as good.
Pearsall, Texas - they should start packing later this week.

Hard Squash will continue to lighten in supply. Acorn and butternut are becoming more scarce. Spaghetti and Kabocha is becoming less available.

Yellow and Italian squash are being harvested with large volume and deals being offered, great quality on most volume from all growers. Many lots of yellow showing scarring on arrival.

Peaches, Nectarines and Apricots are in good supply as we continue to increase production. Quality is being reported an excellent. Sizes remain on the smaller side, peaking between a 72 to 64. The chance of rain later this week may slow down production, but growers are not expecting any adverse effects on quality. Sizing and volume will increase as new varieties are being harvested daily. Market prices have remained steady with some opportunities on smaller sized fruit. Plums are expected to start the week of 5/16.

Rounds - The market is steady. Supplies continue to be strong in Florida with Palmetto / Ruskin in spring season. Mexico is also good with supplies, with product crossing. Look for Supplies to continue to be good. Demand up a bit due to pull. Quality is Good.
Roma - The market is steady. Supplies in Florida also continue to be good, with all sizes available. Mexico continues to be good with supplies as well, with all sizes crossing. Demand up a bit this week. Quality is Good.
Cherry - The market is steady. Florida supplies continue to look better and better. Mexico is also looking good with supplies, with plenty crossing. Demand looks to be consistent in all areas. Quality is Good.
Grape - The market is steady. Supplies continue to be good in the East. Mexico also has good numbers, with plenty of supplies crossing. Quality is Good.

Rounds - The market is steady. Supplies out of Mexico continue to look good, with product crossing. Florida also looks to be good with supplies, with their spring season in production. Look for demand to be a bit stronger this week. Quality is Good.
Roma - The market is steady. Mexico supplies are plenty, with all sizes crossing. Back east, supplies continue to look good as well. Look for demand to be up a bit this week, with a pull early in the week. Quality is Good.
Cherry - The market is Steady. Supplies in Mexico continues to look better.
Back east, supplies are increasing with Florida in spring production. Quality is Good.
Grape - The market is steady. Supplies continue to look strong in all areas. Florida and Mexico have good supplies. Quality is Good.