Farmer's Report

Produce Trends - September 10, 2021

All produce pricing trends are based on USDA data as of September 7, 2021.

VEGETABLES

POTATOES

Russets  

The russet market is steady this week. Out of Idaho, 70 count Norkotahs, 90 count Norkotahs, and 6 oz. minimum size are steady, with moderate supply and good demand reported. 70 count and 90 count Norkotahs are also steady out of Washington/Oregon, with moderate supply and good demand reported. There is fair quality reported out of both growing regions.

Reds  

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

Yellows  

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

CABBAGE

Round Green  

The cabbage market is up this week. Suppliers expect supplies to be good. Quality remains consistent with sizing and overall appearance. Demand is reported as fair.

LEAF LETTUCE

green Leaf  

The green leaf market is up this week. Suppliers are reporting overall quality as nice, with good green color, full heads and good texture. Supply and demand are reported as good.

Romaine  

The romaine market is up this week. Suppliers are reporting good supplies for the next few weeks. Quality reports are showing occasional fringe burn and internal burn from the heat, but it's becoming less visible compared to previous weeks. Demand is fair.

ICEBERG LETTUCE  

The Iceberg market is up this week. Suppliers are reporting that supplies are slightly lower than normal. Yields and pounds per acre are the main reasons. There are occasional quality issues such as mildew and internal burn, but overall quality is nice. Demand is fair. The market is active due to lighter supplies and better overall demand, according to analysts.

GARLIC  

There are no issues to report on peeled garlic, with good supply and quality reported on the new crop.

ONIONS  

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

MUSHROOMS  

There is moderate supply and fair quality reported on mushrooms coming from the East Coast. There are reports of quality and supply issues coming from the West Coast, due to the heat.

CILANTRO  

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

CUCUMBERS  

Cucumbers are steady to up this week. Cucumbers out of Mexico crossing through Texas are steady, with light supply and good demand reported. Product out of Mexico crossing through California is up, with light supply and demand exceeding supply reported. There is a wide range in quality coming out of the West.

CELERY  

The celery market is up this week. Suppliers expect good supplies for the next few weeks. Celery quality has been good. Demand is also reported as good.

Yellow Squash & ZUCCHINI 

Squash and zucchini out of Michigan are down, with moderate supply and demand reported. Squash and zucchini out of North Carolina are also down, with light supply and moderate demand reported.

GREEN BEANS  

The green bean market is steady to down this week. Machine-picked product out of Western and Central New York is steady, with lighter supply, good demand and fair quality reported. Imported Haricot Verts are down, with light supply, good demand and a wide range in quality reported.

BELL PEPPERS

Green  

Green bells are up this week. Product out of San Joaquin Valley, California is up, with moderate supply and demand reported. Product out of Western North Carolina is also up, with light supply and moderate demand reported.

Red  

Red bells are up this week out of San Joaquin Valley, California, with moderate supply, moderate demand and fair quality reported.

TOMATOES 

Rounds  

Rounds are steady to up this week. Product out of Mexico crossing through Texas is up, with moderate supply and good demand reported. Product out of Mexico crossing through California is steady, with moderate supply and light demand reported.

Romas  

Roma tomatoes 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. Product out of Mexico crossing through California is also up, with light supply and good demand reported.

Grape & Cherry  

Grape tomatoes are steady to down this week. Product out of Eastern Tennessee/Virginia is steady, with moderate supply and good demand reported. Product out of Mexico crossing through Texas is down, with light supply and moderate demand reported. Cherry tomatoes are steady to down this week. Product out of Mexico crossing through California is steady, with light supply and demand exceeding supply reported. Product out of Eastern Tennessee/Virginia is down, with lighter supply and good demand reported.

CARROTS  

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

GREEN ONIONS  

The green onion market is steady to up this week. Medium 48's are up out of Mexico, with light supply, good demand and a wide range in quality reported. Product out of South Carolina is steady, with light supply and good demand reported.

CAULIFLOWER  

The cauliflower market is up this week. Suppliers are expecting good supplies. Overall quality is nice, with occasional brown spotting due to warmer temperatures. Demand is fair.

ASPARAGUS  

The asparagus market is up this week. Product out of Peru is up, with light supply, moderate demand and a wide range in quality reported.

BROCCOLI  

The broccoli market is up this week. Supply is reported as good. Minor quality concerns have been reported out of Salinas, such as yellowing, brown beading and hollow core, which is normal due to warmer temperatures during this time of year. Demand is reported to be fair, while the market is increasing.

HANGING FRUIT

Apples and Pears

Apples  

All varieties out of Washington are steady, with moderate supply, moderate demand and good quality reported.

Pears  

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

CITRUS

LEMONS  

The lemon market is flat this week. According to suppliers, the District 2 (Oxnard/Riverside Area) lemon crop is in its final harvest. This crop has a shorter shelf life and sizes are small (140 ct. and smaller). The industry is preparing for the transition to D3 (Coachella, CA and Yuma, AZ) in approximately 2 weeks, according to suppliers.

LIMES  

The lime market is down this week. Rain is forecast for the Gulf of Mexico Region, and limes will have a high incidence of skin breakdown, medium blanching, scarring, general decay and smooth skin, which will primarily affect big sizes, according to suppliers. The risks for this week are short harvest days and delays with inbound and outbound trucks, according to suppliers. In the Pacific Region, due to rain, there will be a medium presence of skin breakdown, scarring and decay. The risks for this week, due to rains, are short harvest days and delays with inbound and outbound trucks, according to suppliers.

ORANGES  

The orange market is up this week. Suppliers are reporting that Valencia oranges are now available. Suppliers are also reporting that the heat in the San Joaquin Valley will increase the hours of gas required, so fruit may not be ready on time. There may also be a faint green cast in the color of the fruit caused by the heat in the Valley, but this is not expected to affect the flavor. Size structure is mostly 72’s, 88’s and 56’s, and smaller sizes are tight, according to suppliers.

BERRIES

STRAWBERRIES  

The strawberry market is down this week. Suppliers are reporting that the weather has been ideal in Salinas/Watsonville. Growers will continue harvesting until the supply exceeds demand. Santa Maria is producing more volume every day. Quality of the Portola variety is good.

GRAPES  

The grape market is steady to down this week. Scarlet Royal and Red Seedless are down, while Black Seedless and White Seedless are steady out of Kern, California, with moderate supply and good demand reported. Red Seedless, Black Seedless, White Seedless and Scarlet Royal are steady out of San Joaquin Valley, California, with moderate supply and good demand reported.

TROPICAL

PINEAPPLES  

Pineapple volumes are increasing, and suppliers expect to see improvement over the next few months.

BANANAS  

Banana quality and availability are reported as good. Suppliers are not reporting any problems with supply.

AVOCADOS  

Mexican avocados are steady this week. 40's, 48's, 60's and 70's are all steady, with light supply and good demand reported on 40's and 48's, and moderate supply and demand reported on smaller sizes.

MELONS

CANTALOUPES  

The cantaloupe market is down this week. Suppliers are reporting good supply, specifically for 9 count jumbos and 9 counts. The volume on 12 counts is steady. Demand is reported to be increasing. The size profile on cantaloupes will be larger, according to suppliers.

HONEYDEWS  

The honeydew market is up this week. Suppliers are reporting good demand, but supply is tight this week. The size profile on honeydews remains inclined to 5 counts.