MARKET UPDATE AUGUST 11, 2023

Good afternoon,

New crop NORKOTAH POTATOES are finally starting to ship this week! Storage crops have held us over for the last few months but as the heat picks up and the dry storage facilities begin to warm, quality starts to decline. We have switched over to new crop POTATOES and will see improved quality moving forward.

Michigan and New York are steadily producing SQUASH, PEPPERS, CORN, CUKES, CABBAGE and more! Quality has improved from the Carolina supplies and aside from the higher transportation costs, pricing is much more reasonable.

APPLES remain in a tight spot as we are still about a week away from early varieties like Paula Reds and Ginger Golds. PEARS are also in a jam, as D'ANJOU PEARS are mostly non-existent around the entire country. California BARTLETT PEARS are fresh crop and work well to fill the gap while we wait for new crop D'ANJOU PEARS. BOSC PEARS are also just getting going out of California, but supplies are off to a healthy start so there is reasonable availability there.

TOMATO markets are firm as eastern US crops have experienced some recent rains, shortening supplies. Both ROUND and ROMA/PLUM tomatoes are hovering slightly above average market pricing.

CANTALOUPE and HONEYDEW supplies are in great shape! Sugar levels, quality, and availability are all lining up for a great summer deal. Dew check out our WEEKLY FRESH AD for some hot deals on HONEY DEWS!

LETTUCE markets remain elevated, but it seems that shippers still have good volumes of product they are looking to sell. List prices are much higher than what can be negotiated, exposing the reality that this market is seemingly propped up by the back-to-school demand and not much else. There have been cautions of INSV and other field diseases causing issues, but nothing compared to last summer. As the season progresses, we will see those issues get worse but for now, it seems like this market should soften in the next few weeks.

PEACHES and NECTARINES are getting gobbled up by the kids going back to school! We are seeing a demand exceeds market sending pricing higher. Hopefully after the initial rush of the first few weeks of class, demand will cool and prices soften.

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill