MARKET UPDATE 05.26.24

Good afternoon,

STRAWBERRY supplies look to remain steady for another few weeks. Cooler conditions on the west coast have kept quality in check while we see this surplus in volume. We are in PEAK California strawberry harvest and have fruit coming out of Santa Maria, Oxnard, Watsonville, and Salinas in strong numbers.

CHERRIES are also at their peak, for the California season at least! Smaller, early cherries have been mostly harvested up or scrapped at this poing as growers move their packouts towards larger fruit. We expect to have good quality fruit next week in a 9.5 row and largetr size. The week of June 3rd will most likely be our last week in California cherries as shippers are unsure of the quantity and quality of the California BING variety this year. June 10th, we should have our first arrival of Washington cherries and WA shippers have their hopes up for a strong start.

After several months of an inflated IMPORT GRAPE market, we are starting to see pricing come off. Pricing is lower because importers are now faced with new crop fruit starting to arrive from Mexico and even California. Next week will likely be the last week that shippers with any sense will use Chilean fruit at a bargain price. After that, be weary of the cheap package because it is most likely a deal to clean out someone else's old crop cooler.

ICEBERG LETTUCE supplies can't seem to catch a break. The trend of cool, wet weather over the last month or so has not let up, keeping growth rates slow on several commodities. AS ICEBERG and ROMAINE are more susceptible to quality defects in mildewy conditions, we are seeing crop losses at higher rates than the other vegetable staples. ICEBERG pricing came off for a brief moment but is on the rise again for next week. ROMAINE is a bit more of the haves and have nots, so pricing is slightly softer than last week.

BROCCOLI and CAULIFLOWER are in good availability for next week. There are deals to be had especially on CAULIFLOWER!

STONE FRUIT season in California is off and running. Although we are still about 4 weeks away from California PLUMS, we have volume fill and POUCH BAGS of PEACHES, NECTARINES, and APRICOTS.

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill