MARKET UPDATE 08.28.25

Good afternoon,

It's the rainy season down in Florida but ironically, production in the Sunshine state this time of year is dry. Without any fresh fruits or vegetables coming out of Florida, TRUCKS have little to no incentive to deliver here. The lack of supply of carriers willing to make the trip down to Florida has raised FREIGHT costs considerably this week. Increased checkpoints for a DOT break check plus ICE crackdowns make Florida deliveries a tough haul this week.

The LIME market is showing some signs of relief. Demand has let up after several weeks of higher pricing. We are at the end of a production cycle out of Mexico and small staining and discoloration marks have been an issue. Between quality issues out of Mexico, lack of demand at higher price levels, and supporting supply out of Colombia, we are seeing a softening of lime prices.

The BELL PEPPER market is finally easing on RED, YELLOW, and ORANGE PEPPER! Supplies are on the rise out of CANADA and transition to new crops in Mexico is nearly completed. We should see this trend continue moving forward.

ORANGE pricing out of California is on the rise as we move through an abbreviated VALENCIA season. Sizing is peaking around 88 size fruit as back to school demand forces a tightening around 113 size fruit. NAVELS won't begin until late October but there is some import fruit around to help keep markets in check. Import fruit won't be a true pound for pound comparison as the boxes are 13-15KG (29-33lbs) vs a 40LB box of California ORANGES.

Although quality is improving on PINEAPPLES, markets are snug. Volumes remain extremely limited next week, especially on the spot market where we are seeing record pricing. Prebooks and containers are exposed to the push and pull of the spot market but offer more stability. Our shippers expect another 4 weeks of turbulent market conditions followed by gradual improvement.

The HEATWAVE rolls on in California. As we grow nearer to the end of the Salinas season, heat continues to be the main issue. Bruising, discoloration and longevity issues are going to be present through the month of September as we battle through these challenges. LETTUCE, ROMAINE, CAULIFLOWER, SALADS, SPINACH, BROCCOLI, STRAWBERRIES, and more are all going to continue to see difficulties for the next several weeks.

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill