Farmer's Report

Produce Trends - September 25, 2020

All produce pricing trends are based on USDA data as of September 22, 2020

VEGETABLES

POTATOES

Russets  

The Russet market is steady to down this week. 70 count Norkotahs out of Idaho are down while 90 count and 6 oz. minimum size Norkotahs are steady. There is moderate supply and demand reported out of Idaho. 70 count and 90 count Norkotahs are down out of Washington/Oregon with moderate supply and demand reported. Quality is fair out of both growing regions.

Reds  

The red potato market is steady to down this week. Product out of Minnesota is down with moderate supply and demand reported. Product out of Wisconsin is steady with moderate supply and light demand reported.

Yellows  

The yellow potato market is steady this week. Product out of Wisconsin is steady with moderate supply and light demand reported.

CABBAGE

Round Green  

The cabbage market is up this week. Demand and quality are reported as good while supply is fair.

LEAF LETTUCE

Green Leaf  

The green leaf market is up this week with overall quality, supply, and demand reported to be fair. There are increased occurrences of sun scald, dehydration, and wind/fringe burn being reported.

Romaine  

The romaine market is up this week with both romaine and romaine heart supplies reported as light. There has been increased fringe/tip burn, sun scald, light weights, and occasional dehydration due to the heat wave in California. Demand is reported as good.

ICEBERG LETTUCE  

The iceberg market is up this week, with supplies reported to be light due to crop damage caused by the heat wave that California has been experiencing. Quality is reported as fair while demand is good.

GARLIC  

Suppliers continue working through new domestic product and can supply increased order sizes and new divisions. Above average quality is reported.

ONIONS  

The jumbo yellow onion market is steady to down this week. Product out of Idaho is down with moderate supply and demand reported. Product out of Washington/Oregon is steady with moderate supply and demand reported.

MUSHROOMS  

The availability of mushrooms is starting to tighten from both coasts. Several East Coast farms are dealing with the negative effects of the severe storms, and West Coast farms are dealing with the negative effects of extreme heat a few weeks ago. Suppliers estimate there could be a tight mushroom market for the 4th quarter.

CILANTRO  

The cilantro market is up this week. Product out of Oxnard, California and Central Coast, California is up on 30's and up on 60's with light supply and good demand reported. Product out of Mexico is up on 60's with light supply and good demand reported. Quality will vary by growing region.

CUCUMBERS  

Cucumbers are mixed this week. Western cucumbers are down out of Baja and steady out of McAllen with lighter supply, moderate demand, and a wide range in quality reported. Eastern cucumbers are down out of Michigan and out of Western North Carolina with lighter supply, good demand, and fair quality reported.

CELERY  

The celery market is up this week. Supply is fair while demand and quality are reported as good.

Yellow Squash & ZUCCHINI 

Yellow squash out of the East is up out of Michigan and Western North Carolina with lighter supply and good demand reported. Zucchini prices are up this week. Product out of Western North Carolina and Michigan is up, while product out of South Carolina is down, with light supply and good demand reported.

GREEN BEANS  

The green bean market is steady this week. Machine picked greens beans out of New York are steady with moderate supply and good demand reported. Imported Haricot Verts are steady with moderate supply and demand reported. Quality will vary out of both growing regions.

BELL PEPPERS

Green  

Green peppers are up this week. Green bell peppers out of California and Western North Carolina are up with light supply and good demand reported. Eastern product out of Michigan is up with moderate supply and good demand reported.

Red  

Red bell peppers are steady to up this week. Product out of California is steady with light supply and good demand reported. Product out of Mexico crossing through Texas is up with moderate supply and demand reported with a wide range in quality.

TOMATOES 

Rounds  

Red Round Tomatoes are up this week. Rounds out of Eastern Tennessee/Virginia and Michigan are up, with light supply and good demand reported out of both Eastern growing regions. Western rounds are up out of Baja with light supply and good demand reported, and up out of McAllen with moderate supply and good demand reported. There is a wide range in quality coming out of the West.

Romas  

Roma tomatoes are up this week. Product out of Eastern Tennessee/Virginia, Michigan, and Western North Carolina, is up with light supply and good demand reported out of all Eastern regions. Western product out of Baja, McAllen and Central California is up with light supply, good demand, and a wide range in quality reported out of all Western regions.

Grape & Cherry 

Grape tomatoes are mixed this week. Product out of Eastern Tennessee/Virginia is steady with light supply and good demand reported, while Western North Carolina is down with light supply and good demand reported. Western grapes are up out of Baja with light supply and moderate demand reported, while product out of McAllen is up with moderate supply and good demand reported with a wide range in quality. Cherry tomatoes are up this week. Eastern Tennessee/Virginia and Baja are up with lighter supply, good demand, and fair quality reported.

CARROTS  

The jumbo carrot market is steady to up this week. Product out of Kern, California is steady with moderate supply and good demand reported. Product out of Mexico is up with moderate supply and demand reported with a wide range in quality.

GREEN ONIONS  

The green onion market is mixed this week. Large 48’s and small 48’s are up, while medium 48’s are steady out of Mexico with moderate supply and demand reported.

CAULIFLOWER  

The cauliflower market is up this week with good demand and quality reported. Supplies are light due to crop damage caused by the heat wave that California has been experiencing.

ASPARAGUS  

The asparagus market is up this week. Product out of Peru and Mexico is up with moderate supply and light demand reported. Quality will vary by growing region.

BROCCOLI  

The broccoli market is up this week. Supplies are light this week due to crop damage caused by the heat wave that California has been experiencing. Quality is fair while demand is good.

HANGING FRUIT

Apples and Pears

Apples  

Fujis are down while all other varieties out of Washington are steady. There is moderate supply, good demand, and good quality reported.

Pears  

The pear market out of Washington is steady with moderate supply, moderate demand, and good quality reported.

CITRUS

LEMONS  

The lemon market is flat this week. Supply, demand, and quality are reported as good.

LIMES  

The lime market is down this week. Defects such as blanching, skin breakdown, scarring and stylar ends should continue to be high as a consequence of the rains from the last few weeks.

ORANGES  

The Valencia orange market is up this week. The crop size structure has changed, now peaking on 72’s and larger. Due to the extreme heat wave throughout the West, there will be more re-greening in the Valencia crop. Despite their green color, they are still fully ripe, sweet and juicy.

BERRIES

STRAWBERRIES  

The strawberry market is up this week, and supplies are very limited. Quality remains good as crews continue to be very selective on the fruit they pick.

GRAPES  

The grape market is steady to down this week. Red Seedless and White Seedless are down while Scarlet Royal, Red Globe, and Autumn King are steady out of Kern, California. Red Seedless, White Seedless, and Scarlet Royal are down while Red Globe and Autumn King are steady out of San Joaquin Valley, California. There is moderate supply and demand reported with good quality out of both growing regions.

TROPICAL

PINEAPPLES  

Volumes continue to be low but improving. Quality is extremely high. Analysts think there should be good quality and supply for the remainder of the year.

BANANAS  

Overall, good supply and quality of conventional bananas is reported.

AVOCADOS  

Avocado markets are mixed this week depending on size and growing region. Largesize Mexican avocados are down on 36’s, 40’s, and 48’s with heavy supply and moderate demand reported. Smallsize fruit is up on 60’s and 70’s with light supply and moderate demand reported. California avocados are down on 36s's, 40’s, and 60’s and steady on 48’s and 70’s, with light supply and moderate demand reported and a wide range in quality.

MELONS

CANTALOUPES  

The cantaloupe market is up this week with demand reported to be good. Supply is tight right now. The size profile continues to trend toward regular 9 ct and Jumbo 9 ct. It’s reported that 12 cts will be limited next week.

HONEYDEWS  

The honeydew market is up this week. Demand is reported to be steady, however, supply is limited. The size profile continues to be mainly 5 ct and 6 ct, while the 8ct has increased.