The Source - September 19, 2016

Washington - red delicious are steady on all sizes and grades with only light availability of the Wash-Extra-fancy #2s and lower and very light availability on anything below a 113 size. Most shippers continue to peak on extra-fancy 72-88s but supplies remain light. Golden delicious supplies remain light and the market remains strong because of it. C.A. Granny Smith are higher on most sizes and continue to peak on 88-113s. New-crop Granny-smith are steady but limited. The Gala market is steady to lower on larger fruit with good availability and steady to higher and firm on the smaller fruit. Galas are peaking on 80/88/100/72s so expect the smaller sizes to remain limited. Honey Crisp are steady to slightly lower on most sizes and grades but the fruit remains large and is still peaking on 48/56/64s. The quality for red delicious, golden delicious, granny-smith, Galas, and Honey Crisp has been good.
California - Granny-Smith are steady on all sizes with good availability on smaller fruit. The quality has been good.
Idaho---they are steady on Gala's and Jonathans and are peaking on Washington extra-fancy 88/100/113's for both.
Michigan--more varietys are coming on as they are now packing McIntosh, Golden delicious, Jonamacs, Jonathans, Galas, Cortlands, Empires, Honey Crisp, and a few red delicious. Most varietys are heavier to larger fruit. The quality has been good.
New York-- McIntosh, Jonamacs, Galas, Ginger Golds, and a few honeycrisp are available now. The New York sizing has been smaller with more 100/125/138 size fruit than other areas. The quality has been good.

The west coast market is up. The east coast market is steady. Quality is good in Northern Baja Mexico and Peru.

Avocados from Mexico continue to be extremely limited. The market remains firm at higher levels. Suppliers have been subbing #1 fruit for #2 fruit orders because there hasn't been any number 2 fruit being harvested.

Alerts:
Extremely limited supplies and higher markets due to availability.

Green bells out of the California Central Valley are winding down in volume and will soon transition to Southern California. Supply is lightening and showing stronger pricing.

Red bells out of Fresno are now in better supply and are showing good overall quality and condition. These will also transition to southern California.

Yellow bells showing better availability with quality and condition still showing some trouble.

Volume is limited and demand is very good. Supply is expected to be tight through the balance of the month and into October. Central Mexico has started in a light way but volume is not coming on fast enough to compensate for the decline in California production. Minimal occurrences of wet and leaky fruit have been reported.

Alerts:
Supplies are limited and availability will continue to be limited for the next several weeks.

Transitions:
Mexico is producing small volumes with minimal crossings through McAllen, TX.

Supply is extremely limited and demand is exceeding. The industry is gapping as the domestic regions in Michigan and the Pacific Northwest wind down for the season and the import deals from Mexico and South America are not yet bringing in enough fruit to compensate for demand. We're expecting another 2-4 weeks of very limited availability until the import blueberries pick up with better volumes out of Mexico, Uruguay, Peru and Argentina.

Alerts:
Demand is exceeding supply.

Supply is limited, demand is currently exceeding. Production forecasts do show an uptrend as we move toward the end of September but we will be limited with availability day to day until then. Quality has been good overall with a few reports of wet, leaky fruit.

Alerts:
Demand is exceeding supply.

Transitions:
Central Mexico is beginning to produce limited volumes of fruit with limited crossings into McAllen, TX.

Supply is steady with good production volume from all California growing areas. Demand has remained fairly steady as well. Overall quality is good. Some reports of bruising, light color, white shoulders, dry calyx and overripe. Size range is anywhere from 18 to 28 per 1 pound clamshell from Salinas to Santa Maria.

The broccoli market is stronger for domestic product. Mexico volume and prices are steady as we start the week. Quality from Mexico remains fair due to previous rain and current heat in the growing region. Supplies in Salinas and Santa Maria are limited and the market is trending higher.

Alerts:
Market is trending higher with limited supplies form Salinas and Santa Maria

The demand for brussel sprouts continues to be strong. Thus keeping this market at higher levels. The quality has been excellent with all sizes available.

As we continue carrot harvesting in the Central Valley, there have been plenty of supplies. Quality is excellent with all sizes available. The market is steady at current price levels.

The cauliflower market is trending higher. This week's supplies will decrease as the week progresses. Quality has been good with nice white color and minimal bruising. Sizes are limited on 9 count.

Steady supplies and pricing is associated with this commodity. Production continues to be good out of Michigan, southern California as well as Salinas. Large sizing continues to be the most abundant packs. Supplies continue to exceed demand. Some shippers are flexing while some are beginning to firm up. Good quality is the norm out of all growing regions. Oxnard will begin production in about two weeks.

Pablano - Good quality and condition expected to continue.

Tomatillo- Rainy weather has affected quality of Tomatillo most recently but current conditions are improving.

Jalapeno- good quality on new crop pepper, mostly large sizing with good color.

Anaheim- good quality,condition and size are expected to continue.

Demand has fallen off while supplies have increased out of Salinas, Santa Maria, and Oxnard. Quality is hit and miss with arrivals still showing yellow to black discoloration and some dehydration. The market is trending lower.

The lemon market continues to be demand exceeds with extremely limited supplies on the smaller 140 to 235's. This shortage will continue, by all reports, through the month of October. We are beginning to see very limited supplies coming in from Coachella and Yuma but not enough to impact the market. Quality is fair at best.

The larger 110ct through 200ct are now more expensive than the 230ct and 250ct sizes. Demand is good on all sizes across the board. Limes are peaking on the 230ct. Quality is fair overall with some leaf shading (yellow color) showing up and occasional stylar end breakdown showing up from previous rains. The larger limes are old crop and are very tired. Shippers are sorting through them before they load the trucks which is helping on arrivals. Large sized new crop will show up between the middle to the end of September. Smaller sized new crop limes are filtering into the supplies and are very nice too. The market is lower on the small limes and steady on the larger sizes.

The Valencia orange market is steady with demand exceeds supplies on the 113's and 138's. The Valencia season is winding down with sizing running heavily to the 56 - 88's. This market will continue to struggle until the domestic Navel orange crop comes in around the end of October.

Fair quality and condition on cucumbers coming out of Northern Baja coast. Short supply due to rain and heat have made for fair quality only. Conditions will improve as we move into the fall.

Quality and condition on eggplant has remained good coming out of Fresno. Minimal cosmetic issues. Production will continue to be limited.

Green grapes remain steady. We continue to have excellent quality and supply. Demand has been very consistent and market prices have been level. We have multiple varieties and sizes to choose from. We do not expect to see much change in the supply or market conditions on the green grapes this week.

Red grapes remain steady in both supply and market prices. Demand has been consistent and we have plenty of availability, so market prices have been relatively flat. We continue to have multiple varieties and sizes to choose from. Quality has been very strong on all varieties. No major changes expected this week.

Supplies of iceless green onions are limited but there has been an influx of supplies of iced green onions. Quality is still a problem with yellow to brown discoloration of the tops with arrivals. The market varies from shipper to shipper depending on the individual shipper's supplies.

Kale supplies remain plentiful. The market continues to be aggressive and looks to be steady for this week. Quality has been excellent with minimal dehydration and yellowing.

The market continue to be steady on this commodity with most suppliers. Warm temperatures in all the growing regions has begun to affect the quality of product upon arrivals. Although the product looks good when packed, issues that have been reported has been puffiness, pink ribbing and some insect infestation that has been seen a day or two after arrivals. . This is industry wide. Supplies continue to exceed demand. This market will likely continue to be steady until the end of the week, minimum.

This market is steady, overall. A few shippers are lighter than others on green leaf, but it is minimal. Warm temperatures are starting to effect quality. Issues includes light mildew, fringe and tip burn as well as some mildew on romaine as well as all leaf items. Demand continues to be minimal. Heavy supplies continue on romaine and there is flexing with suppliers.The weights on romaine are averaging have been averaging 34-38 pounds. Red, green and butter leaf have good weights being reported.

Cantaloupe supplies have leveled out and demand has picked up ever so slightly. The market is holding steady for now after it had adjusted down last week. Many growers continue packing 9ct through 15ct with a few of them packing light numbers of 18ct. Quality is good and some lots are excellent.

Demand continues to be steady. Supplies were lighter last week which caused the market to rise up out of the ashes and it's holding steady right now at current levels. Weather has been good for growth and quality is excellent now. We can expect good supplies and quality to be the pattern for a while.

The current availability is improving with better sizing and offering fresh Product from Northern Mexico crossing in Nogales Az. All sizes being offered in load volume both bins and cartons, peaking on larger fruit 36/45 with brix exceeding 10%.Volume will continue to improve.

Washington - the yellow, red, and white markets are steady to on all colors and they are still heavier to jumbos with only a few colossal and larger yellows. Some suppliers will flex for volume on jumbo yellows and reds. The quality is good.
Idaho/Oregon - They are also steady on all colors and continue to peak on jumbo and larger yellows with lighter supplies of mediums. Reds and whites are also peaking on jumbos. Some suppliers will flex for volume on jumbo and larger yellows. The quality has been good for all colors.

California - Bartlett pear supplies are light and there are very few left. The quality has been good. Crimson pear supplies are light but there are a few left. Bosc are steady to lower and are peaking on smaller fruit but supplies are light. The quality has been good.
Washington - Bartlett pears are steady on all sizes and are peaking on 80/90/100s now. D'anjou pears are steady on all sizes as well and they continue to peak on 90/100/110s. Stark Crimson pears are steady and continue to peak on 40/45 half cartons. Bosc are steady to slightly lower. Bosc are peaking on larger fruit in the Wenatchee valley and smaller fruit in the Yakima valley. The quality for all pears has been good.

Supplies are still limited but should improve as we move through September.

Washington - The market is steady on the small counts and slightly lower on the big counts. They are peaking on medium size 70/80 counts now. The quality has been good.
Idaho - The market is steady on the small counts and down slightly on the larger. The central and southern shippers have larger size while the northern packers have more of the smaller counts. Number-twos remain limited as most shippers are still subbing number ones. The quality is good.
Wisconsin- the market is steady on all sizes with an even distribution of sizing. The quality has been good.
Colorado - the market is mostly steady on all sizes. Most shippers are peaking on 70-count and smaller but the size distribution is getting better. The quality has been good.

Stockton California - all colors are steady and are still peaking on A size. The quality has been good. They will finish at the end of next week and transition back south to Bakersfield.
Idaho - the market is steady on reds and golds. We still have flex on volume Red A business. Both colors are peaking on A size with good quality.
Minnesota - reds are steady but limited and B-size are especially short as many shippers are finishing this week or next. Golds are mostly steady but the availability is limited. The quality has been good.
North Dakota - they are only packing a few reds and golds this week and will have more volume next week.
Wisconsin - golds are steady and have better availability while reds are steady and limited on B size. The quality is good.
Western Washington - the market for reds, golds, and whites are steady on all sizes and colors with good availability. The quality has been good.
Delaware - the availability has varied and the market is steady to slightly higher on golds and reds. The quality has been good.
Canada - they have a steady market and good availability for all colors but they can only pack bags, no cartons up there. The quality has been good.

Supply on Italian squash and Yellow S/N out of the Santa Maria have remained steady. New fields have started in the Santa Maria. Quality and condition have improved from fair to Good. Italian and Yellow S/N have now started in Nogales Arizona.

Stone fruit availability continues to get lighter as we get closer to the end of the domestic season. Nectarines are expected to be very limited from now until the end of the month when they will be done for the season. Peaches have slightly better availability, but are expected to be done the first week of October. Plums will continue to remain steady through October with sizes peaking in the 50's and larger. Markets prices have remained level and I do not expect to see much change as we finish the season.

Alerts:
Peaches and Nectarines are expected to finish by the end of the month. Plums will last through October.

Little to no change in eastern tomato supply this week. Prices are steady and quality is variable. Local programs have ended and supply is gapping while North Florida and South Carolina are off to a delayed start due to previous storm systems that have reduced yields. Markets are forecasted to be tight until major programs in Palmetto/Ruskin begin in late October early November.

Western availability continues to improve helping the supply out west however buyers in the east are helping markets remain elevated. California is past peak production and sizes are trending downward causing XL sizes to sell at a premium. Baja and Eastern Mexico are transitioning to fall crops and have more tomatoes coming into the pipeline however another storm system , Hurricane Paine, is targeting the northern Baja coast and is expecting to make landfall Wednesday morning threatening excessive winds and rainfall. Markets are forecasted to remain elevated through the rest of the month and well into October.