The Source - December 17, 2015

Washington - the red delicious market is steady and most shippers are still peaking on 72/80/88s. 113s and smaller red supplies are still short. Washingtons red delicious volume is down by 30% from last year so expect a season-long strong market. Golden delicious are steady and are still producing mostly Wash-Extra 100/113s. Large Golden supplies remain limited! Washington's golden delicious volume is down by 25% from last year so expect them to also stay strong all season as well. The Granny-smith market is steady on all sizes and they are peaking on 88/100/113s. Most Granny shippers don't have much larger than an 88 and they have limited supplies of 125's and smaller. Galas are steady on all sizes. Most Gala shippers are still peaking on 100/113s and don't have much available on 88's or larger. Fujis are steady and are peaking on extra-fancy 80/88/100's. Honeycrisp are steady to higher and the market is strong due to light supplies. Honeycrisp are peaking on 64/72s. Lower grade Honeycrisp are still relatively cheaper but supplies are short. Jonagolds and Braeburns are both steady and continue to peak on 72/80/88's. The quality for all varieties has been good.
Michigan - Red delicious are steady on all sizes and are peaking on 80/88s. Most Michigan packers are limited on 125/138 reds. Empires supplies are limited and most shippers are finished. 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. Fujis are steady and they are peaking on 125/138s. Red Romes and Ida-reds, and are all still available.
New York - Red delicious, Macs, Galas, Macouns, Romes, Cortlands, and Golden delicious are all steady. Macoun and red delicious volume is good and some shippers will flex on certain sizes and grades, all other varieties are limited. The quality has been good on all varieties.

The Asparagus market is extremely active on both the West Coast and East Coast. Limited supplies of Peruvian and Mexican Asparagus have caused the market to drastically increase. Jumbo and Extra Large asparagus supplies are non existent, with Large sized following right behind. Look for this market to remain active with limited supplies for the next couple of weeks.

Alerts:
The Asparagus market is extremely active on both the West Coast and East Coast.

Mexican shipments to the U.S. looks consistent and steady for the next few weeks. Good promotions are set for December. Supply and demand should hold fairly steady until Super Bowl ramp up begins in early January. We are seeing heavier volumes coming on the peak sizes of 36s/ 40s/48s, and the availability on 60s/70s lighting even more and continues to be an issue for most shippers. This new crop fruit is lower in maturity and will take longer to ripen and not darken as much when ripen. 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.

The CA blackberry crop continues to decline in volume and should end major production in the next week or so. Mexico has been ramping up production but we are now seeing availability tighten some over recent weeks and markets are coming up as well. MX is sending less fruit to the US than in previous weeks since their demand and national market has improved. With the majority of production coming through Mexico, all loading areas are shorter in supply than in previous weeks. Some quality issues with soft fruit, red cell and juicing have been reported in both CA and MX fruit. We are expecting a 2-3 week period of inconsistent availability and quality out of all loading areas.

Alerts:
Supply has tightened up over recent weeks and we are expecting a 2-3 week period of inconsistent availability and quality out of all loading areas.

Good availability with increased volume arriving on both the East and West coasts. Chile and Peru are shipping more blueberries as other areas of South America are declining toward the end of their seasonal production. Mexico is still shipping good volumes as well. Demand has been moderate and supply has been adequate to cover.

The CA raspberry crop continues to decline in production volume out of all growing districts as central Mexico is ramping up production. Between all production areas, we have adequate supply to cover this week. CA quality has suffered some with wet, leaky fruit being reported but current reports do show improvements over recent weeks. MX quality has improved and reported with good remarks.

Demand exceeds supply on the west coast as Santa Maria has now ended major production for the current crop and Oxnard continues to be challenged with colder than normal temperatures. Production is falling well below harvest estimates and Oxnard cannot keep up with the current demand for CA fruit. The evening low temperatures are dropping into the low 30s this week which will continue to lower the harvest estimates due to growth being slowed down. Growers will be skipping harvest days to let fruit color up as well. Sizing remains small and quality reports show light color, white shoulder, bruising and some insect damage. FL strawberries remain small which is keeping the pack outs below estimate. Fruit is elongated, "torpedo" shaped and may not work for all end users. Weather has been hot, well above normal for this time of year. Very warm nights are keeping the fruit from sizing up and also increasing quality issues of soft and mushy berries. MX strawberries began to ramp up in volume last week. However, they are still small in size and experiencing some quality issues after rain in Central MX. Growers are keeping more of the fruit in MX rather than shipping to the US. Overall, market is firming up as demand has picked up and supply has decreased.

Alerts:
Demand exceeds supply in California as Santa Maria has ended production abruptly and Oxnard cannot solely supply the current demand.

Broccoli remains demand exceeds limited supplies. The continuing cool weather has slowed growth and reduced yields in all growing regions. We see no change in available supply for the next several weeks.

Alerts:
Weather continues to impact broccoli supplies

Brussel Sprout supplies continue to be limited which is keeping this market at higher price levels. Sizes are mostly in the small to medium range. Supplies will remain limited until we transition to Mexico, which will not be until Mid January. We have seen some black discoloration in some packs upon arrival.

Alerts:
Limited Availability and Sizing mostly Small to Medium. Market Active

Cooler weather in Bakersfield is still slowing growth and the sizing and tonnage is off. The percentage of jumbo size carrots is lower than normal and market is firm.

Cauliflower continues it's run as a demand exceeds market. Lighter plantings have combined with extremely poor growing conditions (irregular weather patterns) and strong demand to create a market of unprecedented strength. We see no reason for relief of this situation well into the coming
year.

Alerts:
Historic cauliflower market continues.

The celery market keeps moving ever higher as supplies remain light and demand is extremely strong for the holiday season. Weather, lighter plantings and a soil borne pathogen have worked together to create an extreme supply shortage. Low yields per acre and continued cold weather lead us to expect a strong market for the foreseeable future.

Alerts:
Celery surging higher.

The Chilean cherry deal is about steady with limited supplies and fair demand. Quality is good with most fruit running to the 9.5 to 10 row in an 11lb pack.

The Cilantro market has moved up with supplies decreasing as the week progresses. Limited supplies out of Mexico due to colder than normal growing conditions have increase this market. Supplies out of Oxnard are struggling as well with these cooler temperatures. Quality issues still exist with the yellow leaves and black slimy decay.

Demand remains very good. The Desert crop is 50% harvested. We have started the small Central Valley crop. Both areas are producing a larger proportion of fancy grade and is peaking on 140s and larger fruit, which is in good availability, but still leaving us in a in tight supplies on 165s and smaller fruit. Expect tight supplies on smaller fruit to continue through January.

Alerts:
We remain very tight supply on the smaller sized fruit 165s/200s/235s. Expect tight supplies on these sizes to go through January.

Good availability across the range of sizes and quality is very good on new crop.

Shippers are going into holiday mode, trying to adjust picking and packing to match the anticipated holiday business. Cold weather in the growing areas is helping toughening up the skin and bring on more natural color to the Navels and we are seeing very short gas times and in many cases no gas at all on the fruit. Navel crop is peaking on 88s/113s/72s. Cara Cara Navels and Blood oranges have also started, another great seasonal varietal for the winter.

The domestic green grape deal has all but finished. The import deal consists primarily of Peruvian's but we are beginning to see the early Chilean's arrive. The early finish to the domestic deal and the light supplies currently landing from the imports indicate a continued strong market well into the middle of January.

Transitions:
Domestic greens finishing.

The domestic red grape deal is finishing rapidly due to the poor quality of the end of season fruit. This fruit is not holding and shippers are moving it out as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, the import fruit is not available in large enough quantities to meet current demand. This has created a strong upward spike in the market that won't seen any relief until the Chilean fruit comes in with volume. We expect this to happen around the middle/end of January.

Alerts:
Quality issues causing a rapid finish to the domestic red grape deal.

Transitions:
Peruvian grapes now and Chilean grapes coming soon.

Adequate supplies of Medium and small/pencil green onions have this market at relatively lower levels. Jumbo and iceless green onions are still struggling with supplies and commanding higher prices. Quality is better with nice green tops and minimal browning.

Supplies continue to remain steady and the market is at aggressive levels. Oxnard and Yuma have supplies from all shippers. Good green color is all packs with excellent quality.

As last week finished we though this market was going to level out at lower levels, well all suppliers walked in sold out today. And the market looks to take a turn right back to higher levels. Cold temperatures in Yuma and Lettuce ice this morning look to make this market hold at higher levels. All suppliers are quoting Epidermal Peel and Blister in all packs.

Alerts:
Limited Supplies and Active Markets
Also Epidermal Peel & Blister in all Packs

The Romaine market is steady but the market varies from shipper to shipper. Quality reports of light weight, blister, and epidermal peel exist in most packs. This also true for all Romaine Hearts as well when it comes to quality. But supplies of Romaine Hearts have been limited creating a higher market. The Green Leaf and Red Leaf markets also vary in supply and price from shipper to shipper. Quality has been decent as well. The Boston market remains strong due to limited supplies.

Alerts:
All Packs showing Epidermal Peel and Blister

Cantaloupe supplies remain extremely limited and most of the off shore supplies are coming in heavy to 9ct. Limited supplies of 12ct, 15ct, and 18ct. The market remains strong and will be so for the month of December.

Supplies are better from Guatemala which is helping for better pricing this week for off shore fruit. Supplies still heavy to the 5ct and 6ct for this week. Supplies out of Mexico are more limited and the market is stronger. Quality is decent put of both growing regions.

Washington - the market is steady on all sizes and all colors and the demand has been light. Some suppliers will flex for volume of jumbos reds and yellows. The quality is good on all colors.
Idaho/Oregon - the markets are also steady on all sizes and colors. Some suppliers will still deal slightly for jumbo and colossal yellow volume. The quality has been good on all colors.

Washington - Bartletts are steady on all sizes and the market remains strong due to light supplies. The fruit continues to peak on 110/120s and the large sizes remain short. Bosc are steady and continue to peak on US#1 90/100/110s. Fancy bosc are limited on all sizes. D'anjou pears are steady and continue to peak on US#1 90/100s while all sizes of the fancy grade are short. Red pears are steady on all sizes and are still producing mostly half carton 45/50s and full carton 90/100s. The quality has ranged on the bartletts as some suppliers are between regular storage and C.A. The D'anjou, Bosc, and red pear quality is good.

Supplies look good for December. Exports to Europe has backed off and this is helping our supply issues we have seen over the last month.

Washington - the market is steady on all sizes and the demand has been fair. The norkotah quality has been good.
Idaho - the market is steady on norkotahs and burbanks but the demand has been light so there is some price-flex. The quality for both varieties has been good.
Colorado - the carton market is steady on all sizes. Most suppliers continue to have good size and are cheaper on 60s and larger. The norkotah quality has been good.
Wisconsin - the carton market is steady on all sizes. The norkotah quality has been good.

Bakersfield, California - reds and golds are steady and they continue to peak on size A. Premium/Baker size reds and golds are still short. Whites are high and strong do to light supplies but Bakersfield will start packing its own whites next week. The quality on reds and golds has been good.
Western Washington - reds and golds are steady and they continue to peak on A size. The quality has been good on all sizes and colors.
Idaho - Reds and golds are mostly steady. All colors continue to peak on A-size and the quality has been good.
Wisconsin - Reds and golds are steady on all sizes and both are still peaking on A-size. Some suppliers will flex for volume of red Bs. Premium and baker reds, premium and baker golds, and gold Cs are limited. The quality has been good.
North Dakota - Golds and reds are steady on all sizes and both colors are peaking on size A. Premium and baker size potatoes remain limited in both colors. The quality has been good.

Rounds - The market is higher. Weather continues to hamper production in Florida, as well as out west. Rains in Florida have created havoc with production and yields. Rain and colder weather out west also lowering supplies and yields. Demand very high throughout all regions. Quality is Good/fair.
Roma - The market is higher. Supplies also very limited in the east and west. Weather also continues to slow up production and lower yields. Demand very high throughout, with very little supplies. Quality is Good/Fair
Cherry - The market is higher. Production and yields continue to be slowed up due to the current weather pattern. Mexico also dealing with the rains, along with colder weather, limiting their supplies coming across. Suppplies tight in all regions. Quality is Good/Fair.
Grape - The market is higher. Florida continues to struggle due to rains. Supplies coming across Mexico very limited as well. Quality is Good/Fair

Alerts:
Market Higher. Inclement weather and very strong demand.

Rounds - The market is higher. Rains continue to slow things up. Florida also slowing up production and yields due to weather. Supplies very limited in all regions across the board. Demand very high and looking to continue to climb. Quality is Good/Fair.
Roma - The market is higher. Supplies continue to be very short. Weather west and east slowing up production and lowering yields. Demand very high, with limited supplies. Quality is Good/Fair.
Cherry - The market is higher. Supplies also continue to tighten up. Weather is wet and colder than normal. Florida market also higher due to weather conditions. Quality is Good/Fair.
Grape - The market is higher. Mexico opening areas, but, current weather conditions slowing up everything. Supplies very limited coming across. demand very high throughout all regions. Florida also limited with supplies, and market on the increase. Quality is Good/Fair.

Alerts:
The market is higher. Supplies continue to be very short with increasing demand and pressure from higher market in East.