MARKET UPDATE 01.30.26

Good afternoon,

IT'S COLD! Freezing temperatures on the East Coast are disrupting several markets this week.

Florida STRAWBERRY growing areas are going to see below freezing temperatures for three out of the next four days. These days we will see nearly zero production so needless to say, STRAWBERRIES will be scarce next week! If we are looking for a bit of positive news, the cold temperatures will produce beautiful berries with great shelf life.

SQUASH, TOMATOES, and PEPPER on the east coast are also going to see slower growth due to the recent weather patterns. GRAPE, CHERRY, ROMA and ROUND TOMATO markets are up for next week as supplies slow in the cold. BELL PEPPER, YELLOW SQUASH, and ZUCCHINI are in the same boat; however, these markets are only increasing slightly.

GOLD KIWI in the ZESPRI label is going to gap until early April. We may be able to source alternative packs in the meantime but the ITALIAN product is hard to come by and sometimes does not live up to the quality standard in this product we are used to.

CELERY production has increased out West just as Florida supplies are stuck out in the cold! Pricing will increase due to higher freight costs but luckily the western supplies are filling in just in time.

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill