August 18, 2023

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Market Headlines

Seafood

Newfoundland and Labrador Crab Season extended again to end of August. Catch has hit 91% of TAC (Total Allowable Catch) as of August 11.

Chicken

High temperatures across the south is keeping bird weight down and limiting production on Jumbo Chicken products. Expect an already tight wing and tender market to continue to experience constraints.

Beef

The continued light harvest levels have helped lower inventory levels. Trade activity has caused some accelerated purchasing. This current operating environment should hold at least thru the middle of Sept.

Dairy

Shell Egg markets mostly steady, however some softness continues in California markets. Cheese markets rally this week but could stay firm for next week. Butter markets are steady/Cream and Culture pricing will be flat to slightly up depending on categories listed below.

Grains / Oil

The U.S. growing region got some decent rains and a bit cooler weather which moved the market slightly lower. Soybeans and meal moved lower. Canola seed moved lower with lower European seed. Canola oil was lower with lower soybean oil and lower palm oil. Palm was lower with balanced demand and supply.

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 Alert

Larger sizing, especially Jumbo and Extra–large, extremely limited. Historical transitions are in progress, but not enough volume is forthcoming to ease shortage.

Broccoli

The market is steady to higher on decent supplies. If demand increases from the East, we could see this market get active.

Brussels Sprouts

Market remains high as supplies continue to be tight due to quality issues at the field level. Expectations are we should start to see this improve is a couple of weeks.

Cabbage – Green & Red

Market steady on both red and green cabbage.

Cauliflower

Good supplies. Sizing has improved and quality is good. Markets are steady and demand is light.

Cilantro/Parsley

Good supplies on Cilantro, however stronger demand could tighten up the market. Parsley – good supplies expected the next couple of weeks, market steady.

Eggplant Alert

West – Very limited supplies, quality only fair, pricing expected to increase as steady demand continues. East – Supplies good.

Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Market remains active on lettuce but coming off a bit supplies look better this week and into next. Still some lighter weights reported but overall quality is good. Romaine supplies are good, and quality fair to good, market mostly steady.

Onions

Great supplies coming from all four growing areas. The overall market on yellows primarily came off a touch this week.

Peppers – Chillies

West – Baja storm and short California supplies coupled with strong demand have high markets holding steady. East – Supplies are light, demand very good and all markets are stronger.

Peppers – Red & Yellow – Alert

West – Several growing regions in production are meeting demand. The color market is high and expected to hold. Quality is good. East – Green pepper supply good, quality good, and the market is steady. Red and Yellow bells are nonexistent in the east and supplies are extremely short.

Potatoes

All suppliers will be in new crop next week. The market is forecasted to decline over the next few weeks as volume increases. The quality and size look to be good.

Squash

West – Supplies expected to tighten as coastal production is lighter. Good quality is a struggle, market trending higher. East – Zucchini and Yellow squash supplies are good, and the market is stable.

Tomatoes

Round and roma markets continue to improve both east and west with respect to availability and quality. Grape and cherry markets are rapidly escalating due to low availability both east and west.

Fruit

Avocado – Alert

There is a higher percentage of 48s available which will help get pricing in line. The XL (32s/36s) sizes will remain tight until mid to late September. Expect prices to start coming off slowly as we near the end of August.

Citrus – Alert

Lemons –  Demand is high. Fancy grade and small sizes are extremely tight. Argentina and Chile are expected to finish early this season.

Oranges – Valencia’s are peaking on 88/113/72. As we approach August, we may see some re–greening, which occurs naturally and does not impact the eating quality. Small fruit is expected to remain tight through the Valencia season which is late October.

Limes – Yields from the fields continue to be poor in particular anything larger than 200 ct. Expecting tighter supplies as current crop winds down, and that coupled with the quality issues supplies will be extremely short in a couple of weeks.

Grapes

Great quality coming from the San Juaquin Valley, this market remains steady.

Pineapple

Supplies remain very tight especially on the large sizes and expected to remain that way until early September; this condition is industry wide.