April 26, 2024

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Market Headlines

Beef

The Price declines during last month have been broad based, with all the major primals losing ground. Since March 21, the round primal has declined 6.6%, chucks down 5.5%, loins down 5.9% and ribs down 8.2%.

Dairy

Shell egg markets are all down and demand has softened. Cage-free supplies have surged by 22.2% over the past four weeks, despite significant production disruptions caused by the bird flu. The Block & Barrel are increasing and steady. Butter is down and Butter makers indicate both salted and unsalted production is taking place.

Grains / Oil

Soybean oil futures moved almost 5% lower last week with good harvest data coming from South America, good planting conditions in the US, and soybean oil stocks building. Canola futures in CA moved lower, keeping step with soybean oil, and exports are low. Palm is finally giving back ground due to soy prices.

To learn more contact your local Sales Consultant. Market Corner Produce information reflects both U.S. and Canadian markets. All other commodity information is based on U.S. market data only.

Produce Market Updates

Vegetables

Asparagus

Peru volume has increased, Mexico is slightly lower, and local production underway. West market slightly higher but should steady out. East market slightly lower.

Bell Peppers – Alert

East – Green supply strong, quality is good, demand good and Market steady. Red and yellow bells easy to get, quality good, and markets lower.

West – Growing region shift taking place this week. Quality is excellent with dark green color and thick walls. Red peppers are lighter supplies with some reported quality issues, market slightly higher.

Broccoli

Weather and cooler night temps are still low and slowing production and keeping supplies on the lighter side, growers just keeping up with demand. Market steady.

Cabbage

Supplies and quality good on both red and green. Market mostly steady on both.

Cauliflower

Market higher as cooler weather continues to limit growth, lowering yields, and demand is beginning to exceed supplies.

Cilantro/Parsley

Cilantro market steady on decent supplies. Market steady on curly but flat is active as supplies are tight, expect demand to exceed supplies for the next couple of weeks.

Corn

East – Corn supply lighter, demand good, market stronger, and quality good.

West – Moderate supplies out of Imperial Valley, good demand, market steady.

Lettuce & Romaine

Both Lettuce and Romaine are seeing an industry–wide quality issues that have push markets back up. Expecting tight supplies to the end of the month.

Onions Red Alert

Availability continues to improve on jumbo and medium yellows, but larger sizes are limited. Rain in Texas has slowed down the harvest. Reds are limited in supply from all areas and will remain so for another few weeks. Whites are in good supply.

Peppers Chillies

East – Chili pepper is a tight item – South Florida has finished up and Georgia has not started yet; limited availability resulting in higher markets.

West – Demand exceeds with no relief for 2–3 weeks, most affected are Serrano and Jalapeno.

Potatoes – Russets

Supplies are very light on 40–50 ct from most suppliers. 90–120 ct are plentiful. This now looks to be the case through the summer months. Demand is following supply accordingly. Prices are steady on large and lower on smaller sizes.

Tomatoes Round Alert

Rounds remain on alert status both east and west due to lack of availability. Roma markets are escalating due to a lack of availability both east and west. Grape & cherry markets are stable with normal demand.

Squash

East – Yellow squash and Zucchini has started in South Georgia. Most shippers are finished in Florida. Volume is very heavy on Zucchini and on the lighter side on Yellow Squash.

West – Moderate supply and demand. Market is slightly higher for zucchini, yellow lower others steady.

 

Fruit

Avocado

Pricing on large fruit continues to climb as growers are pushing for higher prices ahead of the Cinco holiday.

Citrus – Alert

Lemons –Alert– There’s a significant shortage of small-sized lemons, with crops mainly in sizes 75’s, thru 115’s. San Joaquin Valley lemon crops are ending, and all supply mainly comes from Coastal California.

Oranges –Alert– Navel Oranges: Supply remains low, especially for small and medium sizes, as the season nears its end with (2-3 weeks left) for most shippers. The transition to Valencia oranges brings more large-sized fruits in San Joaquin Valley but Riverside will have medium and small sizes.

Limes – The stage of the new crop, 70–80 % of volume is in small sizes: 230’s/250’s.

Besides it being a new crop, during this time of the year we have very high temperatures and minimal to no rain in harvesting regions, which is slowing growth.

Grapes Alert

Slight relief in the market due to supply volumes that arrived as expected and planned. Situation remains fluid as strategic inventory based on quality of fruit and volume to hold through till mid May Mexican supplies arrive.

Pineapple

Volume will remain tight for another 2–3 weeks on large sizes. Climate was not allowing for fruit to mature as soon as expected. The market will remain tight for another 2–3 weeks. No logistics delays expected.