Produce Market Report for July 29, 2022
The potato market continues to be extremely tight. The heat and drought during the 2021 growing season led to farmers finishing up several weeks early. Additionally, cool and wet temps during the beginning of planting the 2022 crop has led to delays with harvesting the 2022-23 crop.Prices are elevated and quality is a concern.
Supplies continue to be tight on the larger sizes of asparagus due to various weather conditions in growing regions. Be open to subbing sizes during this time.
| Problems and Issues: Asparagus: Steady, challenges with larger sizes Green Bell Peppers: Up significantly Lemons: Up $2 Lettuce: Up $4 Oranges: Up significantly Potatoes: Still up significantly! Strawberries: Up $5 |
| Caution: Blueberries: Limited supply and higher prices, relief coming soon Corn: Starting to steady Red, Yellow, and Orange Peppers: Starting steady Romaine & Romaine Hearts: Starting to steady |
| Steady Items: Bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Grapes, Limes, Melons, Onions, Peaches, Shallots, Squash, Tomatoes |
| Prices coming down: Avocados: Prices continue trending downward Brussels Sprouts: Harvest numbers increasing and prices trending downward Celery: Down $2 |
More Market News
The conditions in the east coast growing region continue to be a mixed market. Produce is coming from several different farms spanning across several states. Due to weather conditions and the ever-changing growing areas – it makes it challenging to firmly report prices and quality on eastern grown produce at this time.
As mentioned above; Idaho potatoes, as well as other potato varieties, are one of the biggest produce concerns at this time due to the gap in growing seasons. This is impacting all sizes and grades. While demand exceeds supply and quality is a concern – we will all need to be flexible and open to alternatives.
There are national struggles with corn, cabbages, and colored peppers as well. We are able to source some product but prices are extremely elevated.
Romaine and Romaine Heart supplies are improving but due to weather there are still some concerns with quality.
Overall, tomatoes are higher that usual but round tomatoes should be trending down soon. Roma’s are tight due to a gap in the growing season in the East.
Production and quality continues to improve for all of our local (east of the Mississippi) fruits and veggies – squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peaches. Same goes for grapes and melons coming out of California.
