Iceberg Lettuce Alert
Iceberg lettuce is going to be in extreme market conditions over the next few weeks. This will affect whole iceberg heads as well as all processed iceberg including shredded, chopped, and tossed salad mixes.
Our orders are currently being cut to 15-20% of what has been ordered.
Extreme weather patterns recently including extreme heat followed by a cold snap, winds, and heavy rain are causing lower crop yields.
We expect this shortage to continue for about 4 weeks.
We strongly encourage substituting spinach or spring mix for iceberg lettuce products.
Thank you for your patience and continued business,
What Chefs Want team
Produce Market Report for October 22, 2021
Peeled Garlic Alert! Supply issues domestically and import issues are causing an extreme market for peeled garlic. Expect to see high prices (around $150/case) in the week ahead. Shorts and prorates are likely.
Mushrooms: Extreme market for all mushrooms, esp. cremini and oyster. Expect shortages through the end of the year.
- Apples: Steady
- Asparagus: Coming down
- Avocados: Steady
- Bananas: Steady
- Broccoli: Remains very high, shorts and lower quality continues
- Cauliflower: Up $6
- Celery: Steady
- Corn: Remains tight and higher price
- Cucumbers: Steady
- Grapes: Steady
- Lemons: Steady
- Lettuce: All lettuce products are way up in price!
- Limes: Steady
- Melons: Honeydew remain higher
- Onions: Steady. We are NOT affected by the current onion recall.
- Peppers: Red peppers remain stronger
- Potatoes: Stabilizing
- Shallots: Very high
- Squash: Steady
- Strawberries: Steady
- Tomatoes: Remain higher
What Chefs Want is NOT affected by the current onion recall. Our onions are sourced in the USA.
The current recall affects onions sourced in Chihuahua, Mexico.
More about the recall can be found here: FDA Onion Recall
We are beginning to see shortages in mushrooms. Our suppliers are currently cutting our orders by 10 – 100%.
The top reasons for the shortages from our vendors are:
- Continued labor shortages, particularly for harvesting
- Production reduced to match labor on hand
- Shortage of raw materials to grow mushrooms
- Weather changes
Unfortunately, our vendors do not expect this situation to improve before January, 2022.
Currently the hardest hit mushrooms are crimini and oyster, but all mushrooms are affected by the shortages and the shortages will continue.
There have been cuts on sliced mushrooms as well as different sizes of white mushrooms.
Your mushroom orders may be subbed, shorted, or allocated. If you have the option of subbing a different type of mushroom that may be in stock, please do so. Our WOW Center can help you determine which mushrooms are in stock. Text them at 502-587-9012.
We are doing all we can to procure as many mushrooms and varieties as we can. We appreciate your patience and continued business.
What Chefs Want Team
Quality of broccoli out of California has been poor for a few weeks now. This is due to wet mornings followed by hot sun causing pin rot (browning of the stems) to progress rapidly.
Mexico has had a lot of rain in their growing region, which has caused delays in harvesting. Both factors have caused heavy allocations from the shippers and the product that is coming in is marginal in quality.
Expect high prices, shorts, and lower quality for the next month.
Buttermilk Bleu Affine Cheese
Origin: Roth (Wisconsin)
Made from raw cow’s milk, Blue Affine defines the experience of rich and creamy. Discover a deliciously piquant and earthy flavor profile. Aged 6+ months.
Item 98971 – 3 lb. wheel
Jalapeno Jack Cheese from Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese
Origin: Kenny’s (Austin, Kentucky)
Product Details: This monterey jack is speckled with medium-spiced red and green jalapeno peppers, giving just enough spice to the creamy original.
Producer Bio: Kenny’s Farmhouse cheeses are made by hand from raw cows milk – using purebred cows raised with no artificial hormones in Austin, Kentucky.
Item 91898 – 5 lb. block
Colorado Lamb Ravioli
Roasted Colorado Spring Lamb, Yukon gold potatoes, and fresh rosemary wrapped in tender sheets of Montana durum wheat and fresh egg pasta.
Try it in a rich cream sauce or hearty marinara.
Now available to all customers.
Item 90916
Pack Size: 120 ct. case
This product is frozen
