Produce Market Report for October 14, 2022
Market Alert: Lettuce & Tomatoes
The issues in California persist. The high temperatures in addition to the soil disease is leading to an extreme market on all lettuces – romaine, romaine hearts, iceberg, green leaf, red leaf.
Hurricane Ian impacted the start of the fall growing season in the southern region. Tomatoes have been hit the hardest – supplies are tight and prices are elevated.
See below for more information.
Problems and Issues:
Broccoli: Up $4 Cauliflower: Remains higher Celery: Up $3 Corn: Up slightly Green Onions: Prices up, supplies tight Lettuce: Market remains EXTREME Potatoes: Larger sizes remain high Romaine: Remains EXTREME Romaine Hearts: EXTREME Squash: Up $4 Tomatoes: Up $10 Watermelons: Up $3 |
Caution:
Herbs (Cilantro & Parsley): Elevated Oranges: Prices up, supplies getting tight |
Steady Items:
| Apples, Avocados, Bananas, Cucumbers, Celery, Grapes, Lemons, Limes, Melons, Onions, Shallots |
Prices coming down:
Asparagus : Steady, good value! Potatoes: Smaller sizes down Strawberries: Down $4 |
More Market News
| The heatwave California experienced, in addition to the existing soil disease, is leading to very low lettuce harvest numbers – growers are harvesting about 30-40% their average quantity. This is affecting iceberg, romaine, romaine hearts, red leaf, 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 issue to persist until the growing region transitions later this year. Hurricane Ian has impacted fall produce that had already taken off in FL, GA, and the southern growing regions. We are seeing the tomato market hit the hardest. We are anticipating a gap in the growing season that could last several weeks. Right supplies are tight and prices are elevated. No improvement in the green onion market – supplies are tight and prices are extremely elevated. The high heat during the planting and growing season resulted in more field loss. Additionally, there are fewer growers this time of year. As of right now, we are not able to predict when this market will improve. Idaho is starting to catch up, but larger potato prices are still elevated. Prices and supplies are looking good on the smaller sizes. The market will continue improve each week. If you are in need of some green produce right now – brussels, cabbage, and kale are looking good! Also, asparagus market has leveled out. Supplies and prices are looking good on all sizes. 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! It is officially squash season! Be on the look out for winter squash varieties like acorn, butternut, and spaghetti. Pumpkins and other gourds too! |
