Farmer's Report

Produce Trends - november 20, 2020

All produce pricing trends are based on USDA data as of November 17, 2020.

VEGETABLES

POTATOES

Russets  

The russet market is steady to down this week. 70 count, 90 count, and 6 oz. minimum size Norkotahs and Burbanks are steady. There is moderate supply and good demand reported out of Idaho. 70 count Norkotahs are steady while 90 count Norkotahs are down out of Washington/Oregon, with moderate supply and good 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 good demand reported.

Yellows  

The yellow potato market is steady this week, including product out of Wisconsin, with moderate supply and good demand reported.

CABBAGE

Round Green  

The cabbage market is down this week. Demand, quality, and supply are all reported as good.

LEAF LETTUCE

Green Leaf  

The green leaf market is down this week, with overall supply reported as light. Quality is fair; however, there are occurrences of sun scald, dehydration, and wind/fringe burn. Demand is good.

Romaine  

The romaine market is down this week, with romaine and romaine heart supplies remaining below normal budgeted volumes, according to analysts. Fringe/tip burn, sun scald, light weights, and occasional dehydration are reported. Transition to the Southern growing region is projected for this week, and projected supplies should be available soon. Demand is reported as good.

ICEBERG LETTUCE  

The iceberg market is down. Suppliers are reporting lower than normal supplies due to colder ground temperatures, rain, and shorter days. Quality and demand are reported as good.

GARLIC  

No issues to report on domestic peeled garlic. Supply and quality are reported as good.

ONIONS  

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

MUSHROOMS  

No issues to report for mushrooms coming from the East Coast, but analysts expect supplies to tighten going into the holidays. Quality issues continue to be a problem for product coming from the West Coast.

CILANTRO  

The cilantro market is mixed this week. Product out of Oxnard, California is steady on 30's and 60's with moderate supply and demand reported. Product out of Central Coast California is up on 30's and 60's with moderate supply and demand reported. There is a wide range in quality reported out of California. Product out of Mexico is down on 60's with light supply and moderate demand reported.

CUCUMBERS  

Cucumbers are up this week. Western cucumbers out of Nogales and Baja are up with light supply and good demand reported. Product out of McAllen is up with moderate supply and good demand reported. There is a wide range in quality reported out of the West. Product out of southern Georgia is up with light supply and moderate demand reported.

CELERY  

The celery market is down this week. Supplies are reported as good in Salinas, with the Thanksgiving pull in full swing. Quality and demand are reported as good.

Yellow Squash & ZUCCHINI 

Squash and zucchini are up this week. Squash and zucchini out of southern Georgia are up with light supply and moderate demand reported. Squash and zucchini out of Florida are up with light supply and good demand reported. In the Mexico crossing through Nogales location, squash is up with light supply and good demand reported, while zucchini is up with moderate supply, good demand, and a wide range in quality reported.

GREEN BEANS  

The green bean market is up this week. Product out of Florida is up with light supply and good demand reported. Machine-picked product out of southern Georgia is up with light supply and moderate demand reported. Weather-related events on the East Coast have negatively impacted harvesting and quality, according to suppliers. Product out of California is up with moderate supply and good demand reported. Imported Haricot Verts are up with light supply and moderate demand and a wide range in quality reported.

BELL PEPPERS

Green  

Green bell peppers are steady to up this week. Product out of California is up with moderate supply and good demand reported. Product out of southern Georgia is steady with moderate supply and demand reported. Product out of central and southern Florida is up with light supply and moderate demand reported.

Red  

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

TOMATOES 

Rounds  

Rounds are up this week. Product out of Florida is up with moderate supply and good demand reported. Western Rounds out of Baja and McAllen are up with light supply and good demand reported. There is a wide range in quality coming out of the West.

Romas  

Romas are up this week. Product out of Florida is up with moderate supply and good demand reported. Western product out of Baja is up with light supply and good demand reported, while product out of McAllen is up with moderate supply and good demand reported. There is a wide range in quality reported out of all growing regions.

Grape & Cherry 

Grape tomatoes are up this week. Product out of Florida is up with moderate supply and demand reported. Western Grapes out of Baja are up with light supply and good demand reported, while product out of McAllen is up with moderate supply, good demand, and a wide range in quality reported. Cherry tomatoes are down this week out of Florida with light supply, moderate 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, good demand, and a wide range in quality reported.

GREEN ONIONS  

The green onion market is steady to up this week. Large 48’s, medium 48’s and small 48’s out of Mexico are up with moderate supply and good demand reported. Product out of South Carolina is steady with light supply and demand reported.

CAULIFLOWER  

The cauliflower market is up this week. Analysts expect supplies to be limited due to cooler temperatures and higher demand for the holiday pull. Quality is good.

ASPARAGUS  

The asparagus market is steady to down this week. Product out of Peru is down with moderate supply and demand reported. Product out of Mexico is steady with moderate supply and light demand reported.

BROCCOLI  

The broccoli market is up this week. California is still experiencing product shortages as the season winds down, but demand remains high, according to analysts. Light supplies have resulted in higher prices in the Salinas market. Yuma has started reporting this week. Demand and quality are both reported as good.

HANGING FRUIT

Apples and Pears

Apples  

Galas are up while all other varieties are steady out of Washington, with 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. District 1 (Central Region) and District 3 (Desert Region) have started. Lemons are now also available in Arizona and Southern California. Supplies are light to start, but will continue to improve in the weeks to come, according to analysts. Crop size looks to be peaking on 115/140/165’s to start, and quality is reported as good.

LIMES  

The lime market is up this week. Quality is reported as good, while analysts expect tight supplies due to the rains. In the Gulf of Mexico, the weather forecasts call for heavy rains and showers due to Hurricane Iota. As a consequence, suppliers expect a medium to high presence of blanching, scarring, skin breakdown, light green color and decay, primarily in big sizes. In the Pacific Region, a high presence of skin breakdown and good green color is reported.

ORANGES  

The Navel orange market is down this week. Light color is reported. Peak sizes are 88’s/113’s/72’s.

BERRIES

STRAWBERRIES  

The strawberry market is up this week. Quality is reported as good in Oxnard and Santa Maria, where temperatures fell below 40 degrees last week. In Mexico, price hikes are causing border stalls, which suppliers expect to last through November. Mexico has also been dealing with some weather-related issues, resulting in fluctuating supply estimates. In Florida, crops were damaged by tropical storms. Suppliers expect the damage to last until December.

GRAPES  

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

TROPICAL

PINEAPPLES  

Volumes on pineapples have improved, with very nice quality reported. Analysts think there should be good quality and supply for the remainder of the year.

BANANAS  

Analysts expect banana supply to be affected by Tropical Storm Eta. Good quality of conventional bananas is reported.

AVOCADOS  

Avocados are mixed this week depending on the size. Mexican avocados are down on 36’s, steady on 40’s and 48’s, up on 60s and 70s, with moderate supply and demand.

MELONS

CANTALOUPES  

The cantaloupe market is flat this week. Cantaloupe demand remained fairly light this week. Supply continues to be heavy on 12 cts.

HONEYDEWS  

The honeydew market is flat this week with demand reported as moderate. The size profile has been more inclined to 6 ct. this week.