Produce Market Report for September 30, 2022
Market Alert: Cauliflower & Strawberries
Cauliflower has been greatly impacted by the extreme heat, high moisture, soil disease and labor issues in California. Strawberries are being impacted by this as well cooler temps in the northern growing regions. We anticipate these to be ongoing issues. See below for more information.
Problems and Issues:
Asparagus (Jumbo): Remains high Broccoli: Up $2 Cauliflower: Up $10 Corn: Up slightly Green Onions: Prices up, supplies tight Lettuce: Extremely elevated, possible quality issues Potatoes: Larger sizes remain high Red Bell Peppers: Remain high Romaine: Remain high Romaine Hearts: Remain high Strawberries: Up $8 |
Caution:
Herbs (Cilantro & Parsley): Elevated Oranges: Prices up, supplies getting tight |
Steady Items:
| Apples, Avocados, Bananas, Cucumbers, Celery, Eggplant, Grapes, Green Bell Peppers, Kale, Lemons, Melons, Onions, Shallots, Tomatoes |
Prices coming down:
Asparagus (Standard & Large): Coming down Limes: Down $5 Squash: Down $2 |
More Market News
| Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries remain challenging. The soil and weather conditions in California have greatly impacted the harvest numbers and quality. Prices have increased significantly this week. Cauliflower harvest numbers are down significantly, nearly 50% compared to last week. As with other California crops, it is being greatly impacted by the soil disease. Growers will be looking to harvest while the crop is less mature so there is less risk of the crop being impacted by the soil disease. Green onion supplies are getting increasingly tight and prices are extremely elevated. The green onion supply typically gets tighter during the late summer but it is significantly worse this year. The high heat during the planting and growing season resulted in more field loss. Additionally, there are fewer growers planting during the summer months. As of right now, we are not able to predict when this market will improve. The heatwave California experienced, in addition to the existing soil disease, is leading to very low lettuce harvest numbers on several varieties of lettuce. 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. We anticipate this issue to persist until the growing region transitions later this year. Idaho is starting to catch up, but potatoes are still limited and prices are still elevated. We are seeing the smaller sizes available, but supplies are still tight on the larger sizes as growers are letting the crop mature. The market will continue improve each week. Larger sizes of asparagus continue to be limited. 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. Peak season for grapes coming from the west coast. Harvest numbers are great, prices are good, quality is a good as it gets! Pears are in good supply and very tasty as well. Squash season is upon us! Be on the look out for winter squash varieties like acorn, butternut, and spaghetti. Pumpkins and other gourds too! Eastern veggie growing season is coming to a close and we are transitioning back down south. Over the next few weeks yellow squash, zucchini, and more should be coming out of Georgia. Right now Georgia is projected to have a strong growing season. |
