MARKET UPDATE 04.21.24

Good afternoon,

ICEBERG LETTUCE markets settled for a brief moment only to jump back up again. As Huron production wraps up, the Salinas Valley crop is seeing issues with production and quality. Colder weather set sizing back, forcing growers to hold onto the crop another week or so to let sizing catch up. As production slows, we have seen a price increase heading into next week. ROMAINE markets have settled but similar to iceberg, growers are playing catch up in the early phases of the northern crop.

AVOCADO prices are up with Cinco De Mayo looming around the corner. 60ct fruit and smaller are in short supply with market price triggers in effect. Peruvian AVOCADOS are expected in early May, but we may see markets get worse in the coming weeks leading up to the holiday.

STRAWBERRY quality and volume has improved out of Oxnard as we have dodged some rain for the better part of the week. We expect dry, temperate conditions for the next week, ideal conditions for export fruit. Look for some good quality STRAWBERRIES up ahead.

BELL PEPPERS are finally seeing better market pricing and quality. Canadian supplies have started to pick up, easing pressure on demand. With Canada now in play, we will see more options, better pricing, and improved availability also on RETAIL and specialty packouts like mini sweets.

WATERMELON prices look to fall this week as Florida supplies improve. We are still early in the season, so production will have its limitations, but we are through the worst WATERMELON woes of the year!

Florida supplies of SQUASH, CABBAGE, PEPPER, and more, will start to slow down towards the end of this month. Reports out of Georgia, the next area of production, look good. CELERY and LETTUCE will also finish up at the end of APRIL and move out to California.

Domestic CHERRIES will be available for shipping the week of May 15th! There may be opportunities before but early fruit can be a gamble out of California.

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill