Vegetables
Asparagus
Stronger market as the volume has declined due to shippers closing fields early. Seeing daily pricing increases with possible supply issues as Easter demand peaks.
Bell Peppers – Alert
East – Green Bell Pepper market is down. Quality issues in the southeast due to weather. Colored bells are harder to come by and the markets remain high.
West – Alert – Red pepper coloring issues continue to persist with outlook for better supplies in ten days.
Broccoli
Rain has impacted harvesting and yields remain down on all varieties, demand continues to exceeds supplies.
Broccolini
Market a little active as transition North continues with fair to good supplies to cover from both regions reported.
Cabbage – Green & Red
Supplies and quality good on both red and green. Market mostly softer on both.
Cauliflower
Market settled but still elevated. Supplies are snug as the crop schedule is still off for a couple more weeks.
Celery
Market mainly steady with good supplies and moderate demand.
Cilantro/Parsley
Cilantro is snug this week and into next. Parsley supplies and overall quality look good. Market mainly steady for on Parsley and cilantro.
Corn
East – supplies and quality good, with moderate demand; expect demand to increase for easter.
West – Demand for white good, moderate supplies of bi and yellow. Market is slightly lower.
Cucumbers
East – cucumber supply limited, quality is hit and miss, market very strong and will continue to be strong until mid-April when production in Florida is expected to increase.
West – Fairly good demand, supply is improving as Baja harvest increases. Medium and large market higher, others about steady.
Hot House – Alert
Campari and medley tomatoes are extremely tight, and demand
exceeds supplies. Red and Yellow pepper suppliers are short with demand exceeding supplies. Some lots are showing heavier green cast and not full colour, this should start to improve in another week or two.
Lettuce & Romaine
Yields continue to be impacted at the field level and markets remain firm on both romaine and hearts. Growers are managing demand to make the transition North as soon as the last week of March.
Onions – White – Alert
Onion supplies in the Northwest are going to wrap up quickly in the next 7 to 14 days, and we do not expect enough volume in Texas / Mexico to fill the voids that will be created. Growers have implemented 10–week purchase averages. One of the largest growers in Texas got hailed out over the weekend. The availability of onions through the month of March is going to be very spotted.
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 for now. Quality is good.
Squash
East – Squash markets have leveled off and supply is good in the southeast. Domestic quality has been good.
West – Steady volume, quality and market.
Tomatoes – Alert
Tomato market is rapidly escalating on all varieties (Round, Roma, Grape, & Cherry) both east and west due to continued rainfall out of Florida, combined with an earlier than expected season wrap up in Mexico.
