Produce Market Report for August 26, 2022
The issues from the previous report continue. Right now California is experiencing humidity and fog combined with high heat during the day. This paired with the concerning soil conditions is leading to very low lettuce harvest numbers. This is affecting iceberg, romaine, romaine hearts, and green leaf. The spotty quality is making it hard to harvest and hard to pack. Prices are elevated and quality is a concern. We anticipate this will impact the processed (chopped/shredded) lettuces first, then the whole heads.
These conditions are also impacting the strawberry market. Harvest and availability are down. Quality concerns and elevated prices here too.
Problems and Issues:
| Asparagus: Remains very high Broccoli: Up $5 Cucumber: Up $2 Lemons: Up $2 Lettuce: Extremely elevated, possible quality issues Limes: Up $4 Potatoes: Remain very high Romaine: Extremely elevated Romaine Hearts: Up $10 Squash: Up $2 Strawberries: Up significantly, some quality issues Tomatoes: Up $5 |
Caution:
| Apples (Gala & Golden Delicious): Prices increasing Green Onions: Prices up Herbs (Cilantro & Parsley): Prices up Oranges: Prices up Red Bell Peppers: Prices remain high |
Steady Items:
| Avocados, Bananas, Brussel’s Sprouts, Cauliflower, Corn, Eggplant, Grapes, Green Bell Peppers, Kale, Melons, Onions, Peaches, Shallots |
Prices coming down:
| Celery: Down $3 |
More Market News
Idaho potatoes, as well as other potato varieties, have been one of the biggest produce concerns lately. All sizes and grades were impacted by the gap in the growing season. Thankfully, some growers are producing and the market is starting to steady. Supplies are still limited though and prices elevated. The market will continue improve in the upcoming weeks.
The colored pepper market continues to be tight. Hoping for a better yield in September.
We are heading into a gap in the domestic orange growing season. Supplies are getting tight and prices are trending upward. Lemons continue to be a mixed market, not all sizes are in abundance.
Cilantro and Parsley numbers are down as well – supplies are limited and prices are elevated. Cilantro continue to trend upward. Green Onions are elevated as well.
Corn numbers are starting to improve and prices are trending downward.
Peak season for stone fruit, grapes, and melons coming from the west coast. Harvest numbers are great, prices are good, quality is a good as it gets!
