September 23, 2022

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Market Headlines

Beef

PRIME,  CAB  PRIME,  CAB graded products continue to be very difficult to find; this is driving a “mixed” price tone. As Select and No Roll grade percentages are experiencing downward pricing pressure.

Eggs

Current impact of the fall outbreak of Avian Influenza continues to keep markets on edge. Egg supply remains tight. We continue to see significant increases in markets resulting in higher costs for shell eggs.

Dairy

Both block and barrel cheese markets were higher with capacity concerns to meet demand. Strong exports and weak production have caused another record high for butter. Bird flu and strong demand have dropped egg inventories significantly, pushing eggs higher.

Grains / Oil

Soybean oil traded in both directions last week but ended on a high note. USDA reports were the largest reason for the higher market. Corn and wheat also moved higher as a result. Canola moved higher with a reduction in that crops’ yield expectations. Palm was flat with slow demand and building stocks.

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

Produce Market Updates

Vegetables

Asparagus

Market mostly steady to lower. Supplies from Mexico are beginning to improve out West, and Peru is meeting demand in the East.

Avocados

Market remains steady with good supplies on #1 fruit peaking on 48 – 60 count. #2 fruit is a little tighter but expected to improve.

Cabbage – Green & Red

US supplies steady on both red and green; however, the market dropped slightly on red, but then came right back up. Expecting the market to be unsettled.

Cauliflower

Market is higher. The rain and warm temps continue to bring on product ahead of production harvest schedules which could also lead to gaps in the coming weeks.

Cilantro Alert

Market is higher, supplies are now showing effects of the weather. Very light volumes for this week into next.

Cucumbers Alert

Market firmer, as we are seeing the results from the winds and rain from the severe storms in the Baja Peninsula, creating very sporadic supplies, and extremely high prices.

Eggplant Alert

East – Eggplant demand and supply steady, West eggplant supplies continue to be limited in an already very tight situation, the heat and rain in California are taking their toll on product.

Green Beans Alert

Market is active and weather continues to create production gaps limiting supplies in current growing regions, especially on the West Coast.

Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Markets remain high on iceberg, romaine, romaine hearts, and green leaf. All are in an extreme demand exceeds supply situation. Continued warmer than normal temps in the growing regions along lower yields continue to drive down supply and quality. All commodity and value-added packs are impacted.

Mushrooms

Previous weather conditions continues to put pressure on farms as some are struggling to keep up with demand and filling orders.

Onions Alert

Suppliers are seeing average yields with average size. They don’t anticipate seeing many large sizes (super colossal and colossal) this season. This is due to the cool and wet spring and hot July and August. Overall market has softened.

Peppers – Red & Yellow – Alert

Green bell production is limited until new regions start the front part of October, in addition out West Red and Yellow remain short waiting for Mexican production to come on.

Potatoes

The market on smaller sizes has come down, we anticipate as we get further into harvest the market will settle but slower on 40 – 50 ct.

Squash

East–Zucchini and Yellow squash supply strong in certain areas, quality good, and market lower. West– supplies out of the Santa Maria area will be shorter this week due to rain. Prices are starting to trend upwards again, especially yellow squash.

Tomatoes –  Alert

Round supplies continue to remain limited due to high temps and previous rainfall; markets expected to come down as availability looks to improve in the coming weeks. Grape, Cherry, and roma markets remain stable both east and west.

Fruit

CitrusAlert

Lemons: Market unsettled, supplies will be tight as growers transition domestically from Central California into the desert crop in the next 2 weeks.

Oranges: The market is strong with limited supplies of 88-138 ct. California Valencia continues to wind down. New crop Navels are roughly a month away leaving a potential for a gap in availability.

Lime: Weather issues remain with rain almost daily; majority of volume is in small 230/250’s sizes. Still very limited volume on large sizes 110-175’s. It will be several more weeks before we could see improvement.

Strawberries Alert

Demand Exceeds supply. Rain over the weekend and Monday has caused growers to cancel harvest. Supplies will be low and limited for several days. Market higher.

Pineapple

Supplies are starting to improve; however, demand remains high, keeping market higher than normal.