MARKET UPDATE SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

Good afternoon,

New crop APPLES and PEARS are available in nearly all varieties. Washington D'ANJOU PEARS are finally starting to gain some traction as we are in the first few weeks of availability. GOLD, GRANNY SMITH, GALA, HONEY CRISP, PINK LADY, RED, and MORE apple varieties are all fresh and ready to eat!

BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, and BLACKBERRIES are in short supply this week. Import supplies have lightened up and domestic fruit is behind schedule with some quality issues present due to warmer conditions. We expect to see some difficulties on berries for the next few weeks.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS remain in a demand exceeds supply situation. Weather patterns in Mexico have not been kind to certain crops and BRUSSELS SPROUTS is one of them.

ASPARAGUS, LIMES, and GREEN ONIONS are also in the basket of goods out of Mexico that have seen rough growing conditions. All three commodities are facing short supplies and tight markets. These challenges should remain in place for another few weeks and hopefully improve from there.

ORANGES remain tight, especially in sizes 113 ct and smaller. As long as the back to school demand push continues, we expect to see pricing remain above average on this commodity for the next few weeks. CLEMENTINES and MANDARINS are now available and work great as supplemental citrus items.

Chilean KIWI season is winding down and with that, we are seeing lighter volumes available. Markets will rise over the next few weeks as this market gaps between import seasons and the beginning of the California crop.

LETTUCE markets are active this week. Quality issues at the field level are reducing yields and this issue may linger for the remainder of the season. We are nearing the end of the Salinas crop, transition typically begins in the first or second week in October, and as we approach this transition things will surely get complicated. As shippers look to avoid mature product in hopes of better quality, expect better volume on 30ct lettuce and lower weights across the board.

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill