Good afternoon,
CHERRY clamshells are available this week! Pricing may be higher per case but at 16 lbs per box, the price per pound is significantly cheaper than the 5 kilo boxes. Markets will remain steady until mid-december when container fruit begins to arrive. Cherries mark the start of the Chilean import season, so look for some PEACHES in a few weeks and NECTARINES soon after that!
We are in the middle of transition as California veg finishes up in Salinas and harvesting crews move down to Yuma Arizona. LETTUCE and LEAF supplies are improving as Huron, Oxnard, and Yuma are all producing. BROCCOLI and CAULIFLOWER markets are on the rise as production slows up north. Dramatic price increases should be avoided as there looks to be some overlap between North and South crops. YUMA broccoli and flower will start up over the next two weeks.
We are currently experiencing an extreme shortage of SNAP and SNOW PEAS from Guatemala due to severe weather conditions. An extended drought destroyed much of the existing crop, followed by heavy rains and high winds that further devastated production. As a result, supplies will remain extremely limited, with inconsistent quality expected through November. We anticipate some relief by late November or early December.
SQUASH production is steady here on the east coast and markets have benefited from increased availability out of Mexico. Despite all of the rain in the southeastern United States, availability and quality look to be in good shape!
GREEN BELL peppers are not so lucky as western supplies are limited and rain here on the east coast has slowed production. Barring any significant rain events, markets should improve later this month.
More as it happens,
Parker Tannehill