The Source - September 22, 2016

Washington - red delicious are steady on the smaller sizes and steady to lower on 88's and larger. Most shippers continue to peak on extra-fancy 72-88s. Most suppliers still have only light availability of the Wash-Extra-fancy #2 and Washington fancy grades. 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--McIntosh, Golden delicious, Jonamacs, Jonathans, Galas, Cortlands, Empires, Honey Crisp, and red delicious are available now and all are steady to slightly lower. Most varietys are heavier to larger fruit although is some smaller fruit too. The quality has been good.
New York-- McIntosh, Jonamacs, Galas, Ginger Golds, and Honeycrisp are the main varieties now and the markets are steady. 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.

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 expected to continue to decline out of CA in the coming weeks.

Transitions:
Central Mexico saw some increased production this week with more fruit crossing to the US.

Supply is extremely limited and demand is exceeding. The industry is gapping as the domestic regions in Michigan and the Pacific Northwest end production 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. Recent high temperatures have decreased overall supply as raspberry plants will hold onto their fruit as a protection mechanism when temperatures increase. This also makes harvesting more challenging as removing the berry from the plant becomes more difficult and soft fruit is more likely to create quality concerns as well. Along with this, harvest hours are more limited on the hot days as high temperatures under the growing hoops can be 10-20 degrees hotter than the outside temperature. Production forecasts do show an uptrend as we move toward October 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:
Mexico and Baja are producing limited volumes of raspberries as their season gets underway but very limited volumes of fruit have been crossing into the US at this point. The volumes should begin to increase by mid-October.

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.
There is some indication that we will see a change in supply in the near future. Some growers began mowing down fields in Salinas and Watsonville this week due to quality concerns after recent high temperatures and losing labor as their pickers move on to new crops and production areas. We are also reaching the time where the northern region berry growers will start pulling their crops out to turn the fields over to rotation crop farmers or to begin prepping the fields for next berry season.

The broccoli market is trending lower as the lack of demand has forced the market to lower. Quality on domestic broccoli is good with minimal yellowing. Broccoli quality out of Mexico has suffered due to heat and previous rains.

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.

This market is unchanged, and this will continue for the rest of the week. Steady supplies and pricing is associated with this commodity. Production continues to be strong out of Michigan, southern California as well as Salinas. Large sizing continues to be the most abundant packs. Supplies continue to exceed demand. Good quality is the norm out of all growing regions. Oxnard will begin production in a few 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 is still demand exceeds supplies with very limited volumes in the smaller sizes. Quality in the old fruit (Oxnard / Ventura) is only fair as the season is winding down rapidly. The D3 fruit (Coachella to Yuma) is somewhat better but extremely limited in volume. We see no relief for the lemon markets through the month of October.

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. New crop limes are being harvested and all sizes are coming in so quality is 100% better. The market is lower on the small limes and steady on the larger sizes with a hint of weakness in it.

The market on Valencia oranges is about steady with good supplies on the larger profiles and much more limited quantities of the 113 to 138's. Although sizing is an issue overall supplies are adequate to cover orders. This will change as we move through the month of October and imported navels disappear and domestic Valencia supply dwindles. The domestic navel oranges are on track to start 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 seedless grape supplies are abundant. Harvest has been consistent out of the valley and quality has been excellent. Autumn King variety is the majority of the volume being sold. Sizes are peaking in the XL range with good color, brix and texture. Market prices have been very level with very little movement across all size profiles. Supply and quality are expected to remain steady over the next week.

San Joaquin Valley harvest continues to be steady on red seedless grapes. A consistent stream of product is available in all size ranges. We will have the choice between several different varieties with sizing being the biggest difference. Market prices have been flat over the last month. Occasional spot buy opportunities become available on small grapes, but all shippers are maintaining continuity on the larger sized fruit. Quality has been excellent with little issues to report. We can expect all conditions to remain steady for the next 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.

This commodity remains steady in the marketplace and this will continue for the rest of the week. Warm temperatures in all the growing regions has begun to affect the quality of product upon arrivals. Sporadic reports continue to come in upon arrivals of this commodity. 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 is unchanged on all leaf items. Flexing continues with most shippers. The growing regions have been experiencing warm temperatures these past few weeks. Quality issues have arisen. These issues includes light mildew, as well as fringe and tip burn. Demand continues to be minimal. Heavy supplies continue on romaine.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 come down and demand has picked up slightly. The market is higher than it was earlier in the week. Many growers continue packing 9ct through 15ct with a few of them packing light numbers of 18ct. The 9ct supplies have lightened up more than the smaller sizes causing them to jump up in price more than the smaller sizes have increased. Quality in a majority of the volume is excellent.

Demand continues to be steady. Supplies have lightened up since the beginning of the week. Weather has been good for growth and quality is excellent. We can expect good supplies and quality to be the pattern for a while with a moderate range of up and down movement. The market is higher on all sizes.

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 are still flexing 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 only light supplies of medium yellows. 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 very light but a couple shippers are still going. The quality has been good. Crimson pear supplies are light as well but a couple suppliers still have them. 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. D'anjou pears are also steady on all sizes 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 and are still heavier to 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 get later into September.

Washington - The market is steady on all sizes and they are peaking on 70/80 counts now. The quality has been good.
Idaho - The market is steady on the small counts and steady to lower with volume flex on 70 count and 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 evening out. 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 this week.
Bakersfield California - they continue to bring all colors down from western Washington and they are steady on all sizes.
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 supplies continue to lighten as we approach the end of the domestic season. We did see a small jump in prices on the Nectarines and Peaches. Nectarines are expected to be very limited and finish by the end of the month. Peaches have better availability and will last through the front part of October. Plums supplies have been limited and market prices are staying firm. Although availability is expected to last through the month of October, I do not expect market prices to drop.

Alerts:
Peaches and Nectarines are coming to an end and market prices are starting to climb.

Rounds - The market is steady. Supplies continue to be lighter, due to weather conditions in all areas. Production and yields effected by weather in all growing regions. Out west, supplies also continue to be lighter due to weather, with a possibilty of a hurricane passing through Baja in the next couple days. Range in quality from fair to good.
Roma - The market is steady / lower. Supplies looking to be lighter this week in the East. Heavy rains have effected production and yields. In the west, Baja also was hit with rains from a tropical storm. Demand a bit off this week, however, with the lighter supplies, market may begin to rise again. Range in quality from fair to good.
Cherry - The market is steady. Supplies in the east have seen lighter supplies, with the heavy rains. Virginia/Maryland area is mostly rained out and Michigan is just about done for the season. Out west, supplies continue to be light, with higher FOB's. Shippers look to be day-to-day with supplies. Range in quality from fair to good.
Grape - The market is higher. Virginia/Maryland area is receiving a lot of rain. Production is extremely low. In the west, Baja has also seen rains, which has slowed production. Demand a bit lighter, however, look for the market to continue to be stronger. Range in quality.

Rounds - The market is steady. In the west, supplies continue to be lighter out of Mexico and California. Rains continue to hamper production and yields, with the possibility of a hurricane passing through Baja.
Back east, production and yields continue to be effected by weather conditions. Demand continues to be consistent in all areas. Range in quality from fair to good.
Roma - The market is steady / lower. Out west supplies continue to be lighter, with rains from a tropical storm effecting production and yields in Baja. California also looks to be lighter this week. Back east, supplies
also lighter due to heavy rains. Demand a bit off, however, look for the market to turn due to the lighter supplies. Range in quality.
Cherry - The market is steady. In the west, cherries continue to be very tight, with Baja area sold out. In the east, Virginia/Maryland area is mostly rained out and Michigan just about done for the season. Range in quality from good to fair.
Grape - The market is steady / higher. In the west, supplies continue to be very tight. Baja area has seen a lot of rain, which has slowed production. Back east, production has been hampered by rains in Virginia/Maryland area. Look for supplies to continue to be tight, with higher FOB. Range in quality.