Farmer's Report

Produce Trends - October 11, 2019

All produce pricing trends are based on USDA data as of Oct. 8, 2019.

VEGETABLES

POTATOES

Russets  

The market on russets is mixed this week. Norkotahs out of Idaho are up on 70 ct., steady on 90 ct. and up on 6 oz. Norkotahs out of Washington/Oregon are down. There is moderate supply and demand reported.

Reds  

The red potato market is steady this week out of both Minnesota and Wisconsin. There is moderate supply and lighter demand reported.

Yellows  

The yellow potato market out of Florida is steady, with moderate supply, good quality, and good demand reported.

CABBAGE

Round Green  

The cabbage market is down this week. Availability remains good, while quality has increased. Prices remain low.

LEAF LETTUCE

Green Leaf  

The green leaf market is up this week. Reports indicate that green leaf production volumes are currently on budget. There is occasional irregular sizing and fringe/wind burn. Demand is slowly gaining with other leaf items. Market pricing is reporting as steadily advancing.

Romaine  

The romaine market is up this week, with supplies reporting as light. There is still occasional fringe/wind burn, insect pressure, twist and seeders in the romaine products. With some recent changes in temperatures, combined with reduced yields, there are less industry supplies available. Analysts report that market prices are advancing from strong demand.

ICEBERG LETTUCE  

The iceberg market is up, with supplies reporting as light. Reports indicate that many fields are still ahead of schedule by up to two weeks, creating gaps in harvest. Overall quality continues to be steady, with occasional small defects. Seeders are bigger than normal.

GARLIC  

Domestic product is steady this week, with better supplies and quality than in past weeks. Suppliers can fill all orders.

ONIONS  

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

MUSHROOMS  

No issues to report for mushrooms coming from the East Coast, with moderate supply, good demand and quality reported. Supplies could get tight as we approach the holidays, especially on Criminis. Quality and supply continue to be an issue for mushrooms coming off the West Coast.

CILANTRO  

The cilantro market is mixed this week. Product out of Oxnard, California is up on 30’s and on 60’s with moderate supply and good demand reported. Product out of Central Coast, California is up 30’s and on 60’s, with moderate supply and demand reported. Product out of Mexico is down on 60’s, with moderate supply and demand reported. Quality will vary out of the domestic growing regions.

CUCUMBERS  

Cucumber prices are steady to up for the week. Supplies continue to be good out of all growing regions, with demand being light. Quality continues to be strong.

CELERY  

The celery market is up this week, with supply reporting as good. There continues to be steady movement around the country. The market and quality are reporting as good.

Yellow Squash  

Yellow squash prices are mixed for the week. The East is reporting a steady to higher price, while Mexico is steady to down. Supply is fair, with light demand. Quality is split, with reports of good product out of the West and fair product in the East.

ZUCCHINI  

Zucchini prices are mixed for the week. The East is seeing steady to up pricing, while Mexico is steady to down. Zucchini harvest is following a similar trend to yellow squash. Quality is good on zucchini.

GREEN BEANS  

The green bean market is up this week. Machine-picked product out of Eastern Shore Virginia and imported haricot verts are up. There is lighter supply and good demand reported. Quality will vary by growing region.

BELL PEPPERS

Green  

Green bell peppers are mixed this week. The West looks to be steady to down in pricing for the week, while the East is steady to up. Michigan is the one area reporting a price increase in the East, per the USDA. Quality continues to be good out of all growing regions.

Red  

Red bell peppers are steady to up for the week. California looks to be flat week-over-week, while Mexico is seeing a price increase on certain pack sizes. Quality continues to be strong out of both field and hothouse harvests.

TOMATOES

Rounds  

Round tomatoes are up for the week. Supplies continue to be light out of both the East and the West Coast. In the East, the Carolinas are winding down, which has led to a tighter supply. Quality reports are good in the East and fair in the West.

Romas  

Roma tomatoes are steady to up for the week. Supplies have tightened up in both the East and the West coast. The Carolinas have finished their harvest, as farms transition further south. Quality is good in the East and in Mexico, while California is fair.

Cherry  

Cherry tomatoes are steady to up for the week, due to supplies tightening up. The only price posting for the week is out of Mexico, crossing at Otay Mesa. Quality looks to be strong out of both the East and West.

Grape  

Grape tomato prices are up for the week. Supply has tightened up as the Carolinas are shutting down in the East. Quality is good in both regions.

CARROTS  

The jumbo carrot market is up this week. Product out of California and Mexico is up. There is moderate supply and demand out of both regions reported. There continues to be a wide range in quality out of Mexico.

GREEN ONIONS  

The green onion market is mixed this week. Product out of Mexico is up on medium and down on small, with moderate supply and demand reported. Product out of South Carolina is up, with lighter supply and good demand reported. Quality will vary by growing region.

CAULIFLOWER  

The cauliflower market is up this week, with supplies reported as light. Reports indicate that weather conditions continue to affect plant growth, resulting in limited availability. Supplies are reported to be short for the next two to three weeks.

ASPARAGUS  

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

BROCCOLI  

The broccoli market is up this week. Supplies are light and the market is on the rise, according to analysts. Broccoli quality is improving, but there is still some yellow bead and light pin rot being reported. Availability is limited, due to weather-related issues.

HANGING FRUIT

Apples and Pears

Apples  

With the exception of Red Delicious, all varieties are steady this week, with moderate supply and demand. Red Delicious is down, with lighter supply and demand reported.

Pears  

The pear market out of Washington remains stable, with moderate supply, good quality and lighter demand reported.

CITRUS

LEMONS  

Lemon prices are steady to down for the week out of California. D-2 is winding down, as D-3 is increasing volume week-to-week. 165 counts and larger sizes remain in tight supply out of both growing regions. Chile continues to provide supply as well, with their price reporting an increase for the week. Mexico is also reporting an increase in price on lemons.

LIMES  

Lime prices continue to be steady to down, with more imported fruit hitting the market. Large-size limes continue to be in tight supply, so the price remains steady on these sizes. The USDA currently isn’t reporting on 110’s or 150’s. Quality is trending up as the weather improves.

ORANGES  

Valencia oranges are steady to down on prices out of California. Supplies on 113’s and 138’s continue to be tight. California Valencias are expected to go through mid-November, with California Navels ramping up at the end of October. There continue to be imports available if there is a need for navels, with prices going up for the week. Quality is fair to good for now.

BERRIES

STRAWBERRIES  

The strawberry market is flat this week. California strawberry availability has fluctuated. Analysts report that the industry experienced a late-season flush that created a temporary surplus in the market. Although analysts report a supply-exceeding-demand situation last week, growers continue to cull a significant amount of fruit, as overall quality and condition declines. Overall weather conditions continue to fluctuate as well, with Santa Maria receiving elevated temperatures in the 80’s for the past several days.

BLUEBERRIES  

The blueberry market is up this week. This is the final week packing in Oregon, and quality is good overall. Small volumes out of Mexico are being received, and quality has been good, with volume expected to increase as November approaches. Small volumes out of South America are being delivered this week on both the East and West Coasts, with good quality. Berries are firm, with good bloom and size. Small volumes will be received from South America through October and November. Larger production from Chile will begin in December.

GRAPES  

The grape market is steady this week, including Red Seedless, Scarlett Royal and Autumn King out of both Kern District and San Joaquin Valley, California. There is moderate supply and demand being reported.

TROPICAL

PINEAPPLES  

Pineapple prices are steady to up for the week. Sizes continue to trend toward the larger size range. Quality continues to be good.

BANANAS  

Banana prices continue to be steady in price for another week. Supply continues to be good, with no quality issues being reported.

AVOCADOS  

Avocado prices are mixed this week. Sizing continues to trend toward smaller sizes, 60 to 84 counts. This has allowed prices to drop on those sizes. However, due to the small size trend, larger-sized fruit is tight, and is seeing a price increase. #2 supply continues to be less than 5% of the current harvest.

MELONS

CANTALOUPES 

The cantaloupe market is up this week. Cantaloupe quality continues to improve, and prices are predicted to be higher next week.

HONEYDEWS 

The honeydew market is up this week. Honeydew quality, just like cantaloupe, is expected to continue to improve, and market price is much higher than in the last three previous weeks. The size profile is being reported as heavier on the 5 jumbo and 5 count with some size 6 count.