The Source - October 1, 2015

California - they have a few Granny-smiths, Braeburns, and Fujis left but supplies are light and the shippers are looking to clean-up for the season. The quality has been good.
Washington - C.A. Red Delicious are almost finished for the season. New-crop Red Delicious inventories are growing but are still generally light and the fruit remains large. Most packers are peaking on 72/80/88s and have very few 125s and smaller. Golden delicious are steady and still peaking on premium grade 100/113/88s. New crop Granny smiths are steady and peaking on 88/100/113s. Most Granny packers don't have much size larger than an 88. Galas are steady and the fruit remains relatively small. Most suppliers are still peaking on 100/113/125s and some will deal for volume. Fujis are heavier to larger fruit but supplies are still relatively light. Honeycrisp are steady to lower and are peaking on 64/72s. The volume Honeycrisp deals remain in the lower grades. Jonagolds and Braeburns are available but supplies are light. The quality for all varieties has been good.
Michigan - McIntosh are steady and they are still peaking on larger fruit but the smaller sizes aren't short. Galas are steady on all sizes due to steady demand. Golden delicious are peaking on 113-138s and the market is steady. Honeycrisp are steady to lower and the availability is better. Jonathans, Cortlands, Jonamacs, and Empires are all steady and the sizing is heavier to the smaller fruit but the volume isn't coming on as quickly as we anticipated.
New York - Macs, Galas, Honeycrisp and Gingergolds are all being quoted steady. McIntosh volume is still good and some shippers will flex on certain sizes and grades. The Macs are peaking on 100s, the galas are heavier to 100/113s and the Gingergolds are peaking on 56-88s. The quality has been good on all varieties.

Transitions:
Washington Pink Ladys are approximately one moth away.

Michigan will start packing Romes, Ida-Reds, and Fujis at the end of next week.

This market is steady. Southern Baja has picked up in production numbers. The best availability is with the standard size packs. Jumbo continue to be light in availability. Peruvian product is available in Miami if desired. The quality continues to be reported as good in all the growing regions. Expect little change in the marketplace on this commodity for the rest of the week.

Mexico is beginning to harvest this years new crop. Production remains primarily Flor Loca. Supplies crossing look to remain steady with good volumes. Stating to see improvement in the range of sizes, but still heavier to 48's and larger fruit. Limited volume on #2 fruit as quality is very good. The fruit is still low in its maturity, but is coming in with better oil content and breaking better. Ripe fruit could still be green in color as the skin isn't mature enough for it to darken. Color is not an indication of ripeness, pressure is.

Demand exceeds supply of fresh blackberries in all California growing regions. Production has slowed down considerably and quality continues to be more of a concern. The current crops have past peak for this season and the recent heat accelerated quality issues with soft fruit, red cell and juicing. Labor is also an issue as more pickers are focusing on culling fruit and controlling quality for the limited harvests. Projections show a shortage of blackberries all the way through October until the Mexican blackberries come on with more volume and begin crossing the border into the United States. Some shippers will struggle with volume and availability until the end of October / beginning of November when Mexican fruit will be in full swing. Shippers are becoming increasingly particular about where they will ship their limited quantities of fruit. Quality expectations should be adjusted to what is currently available. A few Mexican blackberries have crossed into Los Angeles, CA and McAllen, TX with limited quantity and availability daily. Fruit is being held up in inspections and is slow to cross.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds supply. Supply is gapping between the decline of the California season and the beginning of Mexican season. Projections show limited fruit throughout October.

Demand exceeds supply. Pacific Northwest (OR, WA, BC) blueberry shippers have ended major commercial production for the season. Quality continues to suffer on the remaining PNW storage fruit with shriveled, aging, soft berries and some mold. Southwest Michigan has slowed down in production and looks like the season could wrap up this coming weekend. These blueberries have some splitting, shrivel, soft and occasional mold as well. Pricing is continuing to climb upward as we move into October. As the domestic fruit ends, demand will increase for the short supply of offshore fruit arriving into US ports from Uruguay, Argentina, Peru then Mexico and Chile. Early reporting that Argentina experienced extreme weather with hail that damaged up to 30% of some grower's crops. The volume of offshore fruit is very low to start but we expect it to steadily increase throughout October and into November. This new product is also demanding a premium price. Some light color being reported along with damage from rain in the early growing season. Shippers are anticipating weekly shortages into October until more import fruit arrives into the US.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds supply. Product is gapping as the domestic crops end for the season and import fruit is very slow to hit US ports.

Quality and availability of California fruit has improved over recent weeks. Promotional opportunities available this week and next week with pre-bookings. The first arrivals of Mexican raspberries should be hitting McAllen by end of this week, barring any complications with inspection at the border.

Transitions:
Mexican raspberries will begin arriving into McAllen, TX with limited availability by the end of this week.

Quality is still the biggest concern with fresh strawberries out of the Salinas/Watsonville growing region. After the extreme heat that was experienced over recent weeks, quality continues to suffer. Fruit size is small (20-25 per 1 pound clam), berries are full-red color with bruising and some overripe, soft spots and bleeding. Some mildew also reported. The fruit will not last as long as you are used to. A significant volume of the fruit is being diverted to processor for freezer/juicing markets. Order for quick turns and do not carryover. Maintaining the cold chain is of utmost importance when dealing with lower quality fruit. Fruit should be kept 32-34 degrees at all times. We are seeing both daytime and overnight temperatures cooling down, this will help some with sizing and the current quality if it remains cooler for several days. Santa Maria fruit is still limited volume. The fruit size is larger (14-22 per 1 pound clam), berries are firmer. While this area is an improvement over Salinas/Watsonville, the volume is not significant enough to replace the fruit out of the north. Some soft shoulders, overripe fruit and bruising is being reported out of the south as well. This area experienced the same extreme heat. Varying markets based on quality and availability. Santa Maria and Oxnard fall crop fruit is demanding a premium price over the fruit out of Salinas/Watsonville. A small amount of fruit is now being packed in Oxnard, a few pallets available per day. Fruit is smaller to begin the season, similar to sizing out of Santa Maria but on the smaller end of the spectrum. Some mis-shapen berries but firmer. Availability is becoming more limited for best available quality, fresh product.

This market is softer on bunched product as well as crowns. The quality of this commodity continues to be average at best. California production is moderate. Demand has cooled off. There is a gap in in the marketplace as far as pricing. There has been defects including brown and yellow beading, as well as a rubbery texture. Theses defects are a direct result of past warm temperatures. The main production continues to be out of the Salinas Valley. The Southern California production is moderate at best. There is availability out of Mexico as well as McAllen.

Bakersfield crop is in full production. Size in the fields has improved and the percentage of jumbo size carrots is much better. Quality is good.

This market is steady, overall. Demand is off. The overall quality is good. Some suppliers have been offering aggressive pricing, so promoting this item is a good idea. Warm temperatures has kicked in again in all the growing regions. The best availability is coming in twelve count sizing. The sixteen count packs are the least available.

This market has remained unchanged. Production in Michigan is expected to run approximately two more weeks. After that there will be a higher demand for California product. All sizing is available. Santa Maria's production is moderate at best. Production in Salinas is ample to fill all orders for now. The following two weeks will see a higher demand and an upward spike in the market. The quality continues to be reported as strong in all the growing regions.

This market is softer. The best pricing is in the Southern California region. The Baja region of Mexico as well as Southern California has increased production. Warm temperatures in these growing regions has been speeding up the growth of this commodity. Expect good supplies throughout the week. Production in Salinas is ample for all orders.

Demand remains very high and we are seeing extreme demand exceeding supplies on all sizes and all grades of fruit. We are really feeling the extent of the drought conditions of the last couple of years, with fruit not sizing and seeing high percentage of undersized fruit that goes straight to juice and leaving an extreme shortage on California lemons. The new crop in the desert is just beginning in a very light way. Expect this shortage to go until we see the desert crop hit better volume later in October.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds supply has reached an extreme shortage of supplies. Expect shortages to go into October until the crop Desert fruit hits some volume.

The lime market is slightly weaker. The old crop is finishing up and the new crop volume is picking up nicely and is filling the volume decreases from the old crop finishing. The overall quality is good on the new crop that is being harvested which is currently the small sized limes. The old crop limes are average to below average in quality and they are tired now. Stylar breakdown is the main defect some lots of old crop and yellowing also may be found. We continue to have good demand on limes. The old crop looks to be finished by mid October.

California Valencia oranges supplies are very short on all sizes and are in a extreme demand exceeds supply situation. Most shippers have finished or will be finishing by next week on the Valencia crop, this is much sooner than many expected. California Navels look to start in limited volume by the 3rd week of October for some shippers.

Alerts:
California Valencia oranges on all sizes reached an extreme demand exceed supplies as this season comes to an early end.

The green seedless market is steady with pricing still split based on variety (size). Demand is good and quality overall is good although we are seeing some amber showing up in the late season Thompsons and Princess.

The red seedless grape market is about steady with good supply and fair demand. The Vintage Red and Royal Scarlet varieties are being supplanted by the Crimsons. Sizing on these tends to run smaller but quality has been excellent.

This market is steady with most suppliers. Production out of Mexico is moderate at best. Past heats followed by heavy rainfalls has hindered the production of this crop. Supplies look to be light for the rest of the week. Demand is up. Production in Salinas will be very light. The main sizing is predominantly small and medium packs.

There are no changes with this commodity. The availability will be good throughout this week. There are no production shortages in the forecast. Pricing continues to be competitive. The Baja region as well as California continue to be the main growing regions at this time. The overall quality is good with most shippers.

This market is softer. Escalated pricing continues to be in effect, however. Defects continue to be reported. The defects being consistently include small and irregular head size, large seeder, puffiness, insect damage and internal burn. The defects are directly related to past and current high temperatures. These defects are industry wide. Yields as down and labor is short. The weights on palletized are averaging 38-46 pounds. Salinas and Santa Maria continue to be the two main growing areas at this time.

This market is softer. There continues to be gaps in pricing pending which shipper is used. Past high temperatures has hit some suppliers worse than others, so the availability is all over the place. The quality continues to be fair. Issues on quality will include fringe burn, small and irregular sizing, insects, dehydration, seeder and internal burn on romaine. Most shippers are claiming this up front. The weights on romaine cartons are averaging 27-33 pounds. Chopped romaine as well as romaine hearts continue to show pinking upon arrival. Green and red leaf markets are lower as well. Fringe burn, mildew damage, internal burn and insect pressure continue to be defects associated with these commodities.

The West Side is producing less volumes of all sizes. The peak size at the moment is 12ct. The 9ct and 12ct have started to become more available again. The West Side has good quality but green cast is prevalent and some melons are cutting with more green in them than normal, this will continue until the West Side is finished in October. The current market on all sizes is moving higher right now. We are experiencing decent demand for cantaloupes at this time. The desert has started this week in a small way in Maricopa with 9ct and 12ct.

Transitions:
The desert has started in a light way and will be building volume shortly.

Peak Seasons:
The West Side is past it's peak production.

The peak size is currently 6ct. The quality and sugar contents continue to be good and this looks to continue. Our honeydew market is moving up on all sizes now. Honeydews are also past their peak production now and Mexico will begin towards the end of October. The desert has started packing very light volumes of dews in Maricopa today with Jumbo 4 and 5ct being the sizes available. We continue to experience good demand across the board. I have added Maricopa and Mexico to the growing regions in order to allow you access to their weather.

Transitions:
The desert is packing honeydews now in a small way.

Peak Seasons:
The West Side has past it's peak production.

Idaho onion growers are two weeks away from having everything put into storage. Demand Is moderate on most sizes of yellow onions with a steady but firm market. Good demand on Red onions with light supplies has this market firming. Most red onions are going into storage with few being run for the fresh market. Quality is being reported as good on all colors and sizes. There could be a shortage of good quality, large red onions as this season moves on. We will have a better idea on supplies once everything is into storage.
Washington onion growers are about two weeks away from having everything in storage. Sizing across the board on all colors are peaking on Medium/Jumbo's. Demand is moderate with good quality onions being shipped currently.

Alerts:
Large Red Onion supplies could be limited most of the Idaho/Washington storage season due to low yields

California - there are a few pears left but most shippers looking to clean-up their Bartletts, Bosc, and red pears. The quality has ranged from fair to poor for all varieties.
Washington - Bartletts continue to peak on 110/120s and the market is steady along with demand. Some suppliers will flex for volume orders of the smaller sizes. Larger Bartletts are limited. Washington Bosc are steady and they are peaking on 90/100s. D'anjou pears are also steady and are still peaking on 100s. Most shippers have limited supplies of 80's and larger. Red pears are steady on all sizes and are peaking on half carton 45/50s and full carton 90/100s. The quality has been good on all Washington pears.

Potato market has hit bottom out of growing areas. Demand is light with good quality potatoes being harvested. Idaho has just started to harvest Burbanks potatoes this week which most grower putting them right into storage. A few shippers are field running burbanks for the fresh market, which you are always rolling the dice with quality on arrival. A few Norkotah storages have gone through the sweat process and will start to be run for the fresh market next week. Potatoes are coming out of Idaho, Washington, Colorado and Wisconsin. Look for the market firm slightly over the next couple of weeks.

Stockton, California - All colors are steady and continue to peak on A-size. The availability of premium and baker reds and golds is still limited. The quality has been good on all colors. Stockton will pack through next week.
Western Washington - Reds, golds, and whites are all steady and all are peaking on A-size. The quality for all colors is good.
Central/Eastern Idaho - Reds and golds are steady and both colors are heavy to A-size. Gold inventories are still limited but the availability is getting better. The quality has ranged from fair to good.
Wisconsin - Reds and golds are steady on all sizes. Both colors are peaking on A-size. Premium and baker reds, premium and baker golds, and gold Cs remain limited. The quality is good.
Minnesota - Red and golds are steady but supplies are light as the end of the season approaches. The quality on both colors has been good.
North Dakota - Both reds and golds are steady and both are heavy to A-size. The availability is better this week than last as more shippers get started. Premium and baker size remain limited in both colors. The quality has been good.

The markets on all stone fruit have firmed up as we clean up the last of this years fruit. We are still seeing a few select sizes of peaches and plums but the stone fruit season is finishing rapidly. Quality continues to be good; as it has for the whole season.

Rounds - The market remains steady. Virginia and the local seasons are coming to an end. South Carolina will be coming into some light volumes starting next week. The delay in the Northern Florida region will keep the market steady. We should expect some volume from the this area in a bout 2 weeks. Market should really begin to lighten up when the Palmetto region gets up and running in Mid-October.
Roma - The market is steady/rise. Still relying on the west coast product to fill in the gaps as local programs and the Virginia region are coming to a close. The Mexican national demand is on the rise and is limiting the amount of product coming across. Should see a slight increase price wise in the east. Quality is good.
Cherry/Grape - Cherry market remains strong. Until the Northern Florida crop begins to harvest this market will stay elevated. Grape market is strong with Virginia/Maryland area starting to finish up. The west coast is providing good volumes so look for east buyers to pull from there as well. Quality is fair

Rounds - The market remains steady. Central California is finishing up their season. Mexico continues to provide decent volumes. There is just enough volume to keep the market steady this week. When the east coast Florida season starts we should see pricing start to drop around Mid-October. Quality is good.
Romas - The market is steady. The situation remains the same as last week. Mexico and California continue with decent volumes. East Coast programs are finishing up and transitioning. This is keeping the price steady on the west. Quality is good.
Cherry/Grapes - Cherry market remains strong. Product will remain elevated until the Florida season starts harvesting. Quality is fair. Grape market remains steady. As with the cherry market, the grape market will remain steady until Florida begins harvesting. We are starting to see some quality issues in the Baja region due to weather (rains). Quality is fair.