Market Watch January 19, 2024

Vegetables

Asparagus – Alert

Both Mexican and Peruvian asparagus continue in a demand exceeds pattern, as cold weather in Mexico and quality and sizing issues in Peru translate into very little availability.

Bell Peppers – Alert

East – Green bell supplies are tight, but product is available and market is steady. Red, Yellow and Orange are in short supply.

West – Some frost damage but nothing significant. Red and yellow will remain high. Greens supply slightly better

Broccoli

Market higher as cold weather slows down growth and in particular crowns, expect and active market for 2 weeks.

Cabbage – Green & Red

Supplies and quality good on both red and green. Market steady on green and a bit up on red.

Cauliflower

Market higher. Cooler weather has begun to slow growth and impact harvest time. Expect lighter supplies for the remainder of the month.

Celery

Good supplies and market has begun to flatten out, expect good supplies for next few weeks.

Cilantro/Parsley

Cilantro and Parsley supplies and overall quality look good. Market mainly steady for both.

Cucumbers

East – Supplies light, imports are very light, quality is good, and demand very good at higher pricing. The market will remain strong.

West – Sizing is small, quality is weak, demand exceeds, market is higher.

Green Beans

East – Bean supplies are very short. Rain and low temps have severely damaged crops. Demand exceeds supply.

West – Very limited supplies, moderate quality, demand is good.

Green Onion

Continues to be snug but volumes are becoming more available with more labor in the fields, however the cold weather has caused lower yields keeping the market high. We expect it will be tight for a few more weeks.

Lettuce & Romaine

Market mostly steady. Overall, plenty of volume available with good quality. Only concern is that some shippers reporting ice in Imperial Valley fields, which could delay harvesting. Romaine and heart market holding steady.

Onions – White – Alert

Northwest supplies on whites are finishing up. Domestic growers will be out until Mexico crosses products anywhere from three to five weeks away. Good movement is keeping the red and yellow onion markets elevated.

Potatoes – Russets

Supplies are good for all sizes with moderate demand. The market remains steady. Quality is good.

Squash – Alert

East – Zucchini and yellow squash supplies are very limited. Quality is good. Markets are very strong. Demand exceeds supply.

West – Demand exceeds supply. Very limited due to frost and cold.

Tomatoes – Alert

Markets continue to escalate due to declining availability both east and west on all varieties due to cold & wet weather in MX and FL. Availability will not improve until early/mid–February. All varieties remain on alert status.

Fruit

Avocado

All sizes are available, and markets are stabilizing. Expect markets to mostly remain flat.

Citrus – Alert

Lemons – Expect pricing to stabilize for the winter months as the demand decreases as the nation cools for the winter. Crop is peaking on 140/165/115 – small choice are very tight, in particular 200 ct.

Oranges – Alert Demand exceeds supply on 113’s and 138’s sizes placing more pressure on the on 88’s. Volume will remain tight through the remainder of the Navel season.

Limes – Pricing continues to rise rapidly as demand outpaces supply; expect these trends to remain consistent for the foreseeable future. Peak sizing consists of medium and large–sized fruit as the current production cycle ends.

Grapes – Alert

Continued limited supplies on both costs with MLK holiday affecting unloading. Weather on the east coast has slowed demand somewhat but product is moving out as quickly as it is received.

Honeydew – Alert

Extremely limited from all sources with no relief expected for 3–4 weeks. Sizing is mostly 5s and larger with few 6s and no 8s. Flexibility of sizing may be required to meet demand.