Reports Jim Walker's Market Report - 9/3/10

Weather Update:

Seasonally hot weather conditions have returned this week to Central California coastal districts, with the high in Salinas Wednesday reaching 92 degrees. Above-average highs in the 100s are in the late week forecast for the San Joaquin Valley. Mild temperatures will continue in Southern and Baja California coastal regions, with highs in the 70s. Clear skies will prevail throughout California growing areas.

Iceberg & Leaf:

Current warm weather conditions have not yet had a significant effect on quality and availability for iceberg, leaf or romaine. Prices have eased for all lettuce varieties, with romaine currently offering the best availability and value. 30-count iceberg also is value-priced for palletized liner and cello packs, while 24-count iceberg is in adequate supply. Romaine production is expected to see a gradual decrease by mid September.

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Celery, Carrots:

Prices remain firm for bunched broccoli, broccoli crowns and cauliflower. Production levels are average. Quality and appearance are good. Celery is in good supply, and prices are steady. Quality for California celery is excellent with long green stalks and substantial carton weight. Carrots are in plentiful supply from numerous regions, including California, Michigan, Washington, Mexico and Canada.

Mixed Vegetables:

Demand is lackluster for late season asparagus from Central Mexico, where the harvest has been extended through mid September; four weeks past the normal finish to the season. Imports from Peru are at full capacity giving us plentiful asparagus availability in the U.S. Looking ahead, the Mexican asparagus harvest will resume in early October in Baja California. Unseasonably hot weather that occurred in the Mexicali region of Mexico during late August has caused a substantial drop in yield for green onion growers. In addition, fields in the coastal district of Ensenada, Baja California, have been hit with hail, causing further disruption to green onion availability. Prices have advanced strongly and will remain at current levels through next week.

Leeks, curly parsley, Italian parsley, green cabbage, red cabbage, cilantro and bunched spinach are in plentiful supply. Bok choy and napa availability is moderate. Snow peas are in tight supply, and prices are on the rise as growers in the Santa Maria district of California deal with a reduction in yield that has been the result of mildew-caused spotting. Spring mix, baby spinach and arugula are in good supply.

Berries:

Strawberry availability has increased, and quality has improved for the late summer harvest in Central California coastal districts. Raspberry availability has returned to normal, following the recent period of tight supply. Blackberries are in tight supply, and production volume will continue to decline until the new crop blackberries from Southern California and Mexico become available in October. Blueberry production is on the decline in the Pacific Northwest and in Michigan. This trend will continue until new crop blueberries from Chile and Argentina become available in October.

California-Arizona Citrus:

Availability has improved for small sized Valencia oranges (113s & 138s), with continued good availability for the larger sized Valencias (56s, 72s & 88s). Current moderate demand is likely to insure that California Valencia oranges will be available through late October and will give us a smooth transition to the Navel orange season that will be in full swing by early November. Harvesting for new crop juice oranges will soon be underway in Florida. Orange prices will remain steady. Navel oranges from Chile and New Zealand will continue to be available.

We are in the initial stage of the new crop lemon harvest in the inland desert growing areas of Southern California and Western Arizona. Limited availability of new crop lemons will be available for shipment next week with gradually increasing supply going forward. The upcoming desert lemon crop will be large and will be heavy to choice grade with limited availability on fancy grade lemons. The Chilean lemons season is winding down, while we are beginning to see imports of new crop lemons from Mexico…with most sizes available, depending on the shipper.

California local summer variety red grapefruit is available. Appearance is acceptable with light exterior blush. Florida grapefruit, along with early season Florida juice oranges, will be available in early September. New crop grapefruit and juice oranges will become available in Texas in October. Mexican limes are in tight supply on the small sizes which are old crop fruit. Prices have advanced strongly for new crop Mexican limes due to a reduction in yield caused by weather / growing conditions. The size profile on new crop Mexican limes is heavy to large sizes. Pineapples will be in seasonally tight supply until early October. Clementines from Chile are available for shipment from the East and West coast along with Minneolas from Peru.

Melons:

Demand is moderate for California cantaloupes and honeydews during this holiday shipping week. Yields at the field level have shifted toward smaller sized cantaloupe 12s, 15s & 18s, with tight availability on the large sized 9s. Honeydews are in plentiful supply for the large sized 4s & 5s, with tight availability on the smaller 6s & 8s…an unusual situation on a seasonal basis. The market is lackluster for cantaloupes and honeydews. Prices for watermelons are gradually strengthening as production declines in the various regional growing areas.

Apples and Pears:

New crop Gala apples are available in Eastern Washington, with Golden Delicious and early variety Red Delicious available by next week. Grannysmith apples will become available in early October. The Red Delicious harvest will be well underway by mid September. Storage crop Red Delicious apples continue with good availability. The transition to new crop will be smooth. Currently, storage Ginger Gold variety is available along with storage crop Grannysmith. New crop Bartlett pears are now available in Eastern Washington. Early production volume is lighter than anticipated. The size of the apple and pear crop will be comparable to the 2009 season. Size profile is expected to be moderately smaller for apples and pears by approximately one size. The cool, wet weather that occurred during the spring have been followed by normal summer growing conditions. Bartlett and Bosc pears are available from California growers.

Grapes & Soft Fruit:

California Thompson seedless grapes continue with plentiful supplies, along with Crimson variety red seedless grapes. Black seedless are in plentiful supply, while production volume is increasing for Red Globes. Good availability on peaches, nectarines, and red & black plums. The season is winding down for Chilean kiwi, and with the new crop California kiwi not available until early October, prices will continue to advance strongly. This has the potential for a supply gap to develop.

Avocados:

Prices are firm for late season California Hass with approximately 20 percent of the crop remaining. Oil content is at peak season, and taste is outstanding along with quality and condition. Production is heavy to the popular 48-size. New crop Hass is available in limited volume from both Mexico and Chile, with increasing supply expected by late September. This new crop imported Hass will be characterized by lower oil content and light green color, compared to the premium California Hass currently available.

Eastern & Western Vegetables:

We have good supplies of green bell peppers in California, Michigan, New Jersey and North Carolina. Prices are competitive. Availability of red and gold bells is moderate in California and prices are firm. Cucumbers are in plentiful supply in Southern & Baja California, Michigan and North Carolina. Prices have declined to very attractive levels. Eggplant is in plentiful supply in Michigan. Availability is steady on zucchini and yellow squash in the East and West.

Tomatoes:

Round and Roma tomatoes are in plentiful supply in all growing areas, including California, Baja California, Michigan, along with various districts in the East; although availability in the near term for Eastern growers will be determined by the effects of the oncoming Hurricane Earl. Markets are generally firm for cherry and grape tomatoes in the various growing regions.

Potatoes:

Availability is tight for Idaho potatoes, as we are in transition from storage crop Burbank Russets to new crop Norkotahs. Only a few sheds are currently packing new crop potatoes, and supplies are limited for storage crop. Availability on the carton-packed and sized potatoes will be extremely tight this week and next. A Labor Day shortened workweek will further contribute to the shortage. The shortage of transportation equipment in the Northwest compounds the availability issue.

Onions:

The summer harvest is essentially finished in California and New Mexico, with the harvest transition to Washington, Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon going smoothly. Availability in Washington has tightened moderately due to weather, however prices remain steady for yellow, red and white onions…at levels that are very competitive compared to the highs that were reached during spring and early summer. The large sized yellow onions are in limited supply (super colossal, colossal); however this shortfall situation on these sizes is expected to improve as we move further into the harvest. Jumbo and medium sized yellow onions are in good supply.