The Source - December 21, 2015

Washington - red delicious are steady and most shippers are still peaking on 72/80/88s. 113 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 very short! Washington's golden delicious volume is down by 25% from last year so expect them to astay strong for the entire season. 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.

Extremely limited supplies of Mexican and Peruvian asparagus on both the East and West Coasts. Quality is fair at best with spreading and some slimy decay upon arrival. Look for the market to keep the same high prices for the next 4 weeks. Colder weather in Mexico is holding off the new crop out of Caborca. And there are limited supplies coming from Peru.

Alerts:
Extremely limited supplies and active markets

Transitions:
We are still about 2 to 3 weeks away from transitioning to Caborca Mexico.

Mexican shipments dipping some this week as they shut down for the holiday. 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 followed by 48s, and the availability on the smaller sizes 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 have 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 about a 2 week period of inconsistent availability and quality out of all loading areas.

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 still ramping up production. Quality has improved in both growing regions. Demand is good and supply is tightening over recent weeks.

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 have been dropping into the low 30s over the previous week which lowered the harvest estimates due to growth being slowed down. Growers will be skipping harvest days to let fruit color up and schedules will be intermittently changed to allow fruit to grow. 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 over the last weeks, however, they are still small in size and experiencing some quality issues after recent 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:
Supplies are tight out of all areas this week as demand has picked up for the retail holiday pull and availability of raw product has decreased.

The broccoli market remains strong as all growing regions struggle with supply. Light yields due to weather related issues and continued cold weather in all regions promise to make this an ongoing issue. We see a demand exceeds market well into the new year.

Alerts:
Continuing light broccoli supplies.

The Brussel Sprout market is still strong with variable supplies. Baja Mexico has started harvesting but in Limited numbers. As we get past the holidays there should be better supplies. Quality is still fair with some black spotting. Sizing is also small to medium due to the cold weather in the growing regions.

Alerts:
Supplies still limited and Sizing is small to medium

Transitions:
Baja Mexico has started production in a light way. Sizing is small to start out.

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.

The cauliflower market is demand exceeds very light supply. Light plantings coupled with slow growth due to cold weather are insuring this shortage of supply will be an ongoing issue. We see no relief well into the month of January.

Alerts:
Cauliflower market is demand exceeds.

The celery market is about steady. Supplies have not improved but we are seeing less pressure on the demand side as the holiday pulls come to an end. Most shippers are quoting light supplies through the middle of next month.

The Chilean deal is steady with adequate supplies for only moderate demand. Sizing continues to run heavily to the 9.5 to 10 row cherries. Quality is generally reported as good. Supplies should run about steady through the month of December with slightly erratic supplies projected for January. This is due to the rains that hit some regions during the early bloom.

Alerts:
Cherry supply for January erratic.

Cilantro Supplies are very limited from both Oxnard and Mexico. Cold temperatures and lack of labor to harvest for the holidays are attributing to this problem. Quality is marginal with yellowing and black slimy leaves mixed in from lot to lot. The long-term out look is for the next 2 to 4 weeks in order to get back to normal supplies.

Alerts:
Limited Supplies and Active Markets

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 green grape market is about steady with limited supplies of Peruvian and Chilean fruit but only light demand. This market should continue with the same tone into the middle of January when the Chilean deal should improve for supply.

The red grape market is strong as supplies of imports remain light with good demand. We are still seeing Peruvian grapes as the main supply available with limited quantities of the Chilean fruit arriving stateside. Quality is generally reported as good on all. The Chilean deal is running light to start due to weather related issues encountered earlier in the season. Most suppliers are projecting volume to improve around the last week of January.

Alerts:
Peruvian supplies adequate with light supplies of Chilean red seedless grapes.

The market is active and limited supplies as we approach the holidays. Also the cold weather in Mexico hasn't helped growing conditions putting a strain on supplies as well. Quality is fair with arrivals showing some slimy decay to yellowing of the tops. we will see supplies and the market to remain like this for the next 2 weeks.

Alerts:
Extremely limited supplies and Active Market

Kale is in good supplies out of Yuma and Oxnard. The market is steady with aggressive prices with some shippers. Good green color and healthy looking product. We will see this trend through the weekend.

Frost delays are expected throughout the week in the Yuma region. Yields and quality will suffer because of this. Cool nighttime temperatures are expected for the rest of the year. Blister and epidermal peel will be seen on all leaf items. Supplies on romaine are steady, overall. Other defects include seeder, light weights, small and irregular head size, puffiness, and insect damage. These defects are industry wide. Green and red leaf and butter are steady. These commodities are having issues very similar to romaine. This is industry wide. There will continue to be gaps in pricing among the different shippers on all leaf items throughout the week.

Alerts:
Cool nighttime temperatures will cause harvest delays as well as hurt quality of all leaf items.

There are better supplies of cantaloupes with the new vessel arriving. The only problem is that sizing is still heavy to 9 count. There are very limited supplies of 15ct and 18ct. Quality is good with decent sugar levels. There are still signs of green cast which is typical of off shore fruit. The market is settling on the bigger sizes.

There are better supplies of 4ct, 5ct, and 6ct honeydews off the East Coast. But still limited supplies of 8ct. Honeydews from Nogales are still available but heavier to 6 count. Quality is still good from Mexico and Off Shore. The market should remain steady this week.

Idaho/Oregon - Moderate demand on all colors and sizes is keeping the markets steady this short holiday week. Shippers are packing to order and most will run till Wednesday of this week and then take a long weekend. There are some quality issues showing up in both reds and yellow onions depending on the shipper you are using. The main issue is internal which is hard for the shipper to see as they are packing. Be careful on what you are buying as discounted onions could have issues. The main shippers have good quality on all colors and sizes. The next area to come into play is Mexico which should happen sometime in February. Weather has been nice in this growing area so far this growing season.

Washington - Moderate demand is keeping this market steady. Over all quality is good. Sizing is peaking on Jumbo's and smaller on both yellow and reds. There is some talk of export demand picking up which could affect the markets.

Washington - Bartletts are steady on all sizes but and the market remains strong. Bartletts continue to peak on 110/120s and the large sizes are 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 through December, but look to see a seasonal drop as we move into the new year. Look to see larger sizes tighten up some and smaller sizes steady in supplies.

Idaho - Demand is moderate which is keeping the markets steady on all sizes of Norkotahs and Burbanks . Few shippers will finish their storage Norkotah crop by the first of the year. Norkotah are still running large, peaking on 70 count and larger with Burbanks peaking on 80 count and smaller. The quality has been good on both varieties. All shippers are running short days this week with the holiday. Trucks with be limited as this week moves on.

Washington/Wisconsin - Demand has been light with moderate supplies which is keeping the market steady. Both growing areas have a good mix of sizes being packed currently. Quality is being reported as good.

Colorado - Demand is moderate with a steady market. Sizing is peaking on 70 count and larger. Quality is being reported as good.

Bakersfield, California - reds and whites are up slightly and golds are steady. All colors continue to peak on size A. Premium/Baker size reds and golds are still limited. The California whites are new-crop now. The quality on reds and golds has been good.
Western Washington - reds and golds are steady to lower 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. There is still some 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.

Early Chilean peaches, plums and nectarines have arrived in the U.S. Sizing on all is running to the smaller volume fill's and quality is generally reported as good. Quantities available are limited on the early fruit.

Alerts:
Limited quantities of Chilean stone fruit available.

Rounds - The market is higher. Weather continues to slow up production in Florida and out west. Production and yields continue to come up very short. Demand coninues to be very high. Quality is Good / fair.
Roma - The market is higher. Supplies also very tight in the east and west. Production and yields coming up short. Demand very high. Quality is Good / Fair.
Cherry - The market is higher. Current weather conditions continue to slow up production and yields in Florida. Mexico also continues to see rain and colder temps. Demand high in all regions. Quality is Good / Fair.
Grape - The market is higher. Florida continues to struggle due to weather conditions. Supplies coming across Mexico very limited as well. Quality is Good/Fair

Alerts:
The market is higher. Weather continues to slow up production.

Rounds - The market is higher. Weather conditions continue to slow things up. Back east, weather also continues to slow production and yields. Supplies very limited in all regions. Demand very high. Quality is Good / Fair.
Roma - The market is higher. Supplies continue to be short in the west and east. Production and yields much lower due to weather conditions. Demand higher, with the shorter supplies available. Quality is Good/Fair.
Cherry - The market is higher. Wet weather and colder temps creating havoc with production and yields. Florida also dealing with rains, creating shorter supplies back east. Demand higher, with limited supplies in all regions. Quality is Good / Fair.
Grape - The market is higher. Current weather conditions slowing up production. Back east, weather also continues to slow things up. Demand very high, with limited supplies in all regions. Quality is Good / Fair.

Alerts:
The market is higher. Wet weather and colder temps creating havoc with production and yields.