MARKET UPDATE JULY 14, 2023

Good afternoon,

Out west, markets are softening this week. Due to slow summer demand and high average temperatures pushing growth cycles ahead of schedule, we are seeing more competitive markets on California veg.

LETTUCE and ROMAINE supplies are moving well ahead of demand, especially romaine! Prices are low and consumers have their pick of product as all leafy greens are readily available. We expect some minor bruising and some discoloration here and there due to the heat but that comes with the summer territory.

BROCCOLI and CAULIFLOWER have found some much needed relief! Although we still need to be cautious on quality with above average temperatures, it looks like several shippers are producing much more volume this week.

GRAPE availability continues to improve out of Mexico and California, softening market pricing. Mexican GREEN, BLACK, and especially RED SEEDLESS grapes, are where the best deals are. California supplies should continue to improve as we move into the summer.

CABBAGE prices are starting to move up, mostly due to transportation costs. Georgia and the Carolinas are finished for the season, so we are sourcing out of the north eastern US as well as Canada. The extra mileage makes for a more expensive truck, and with cabbage being so heavy, that increase in freight cost makes a big difference on a load of cabbage.

Heavy rains in Mexico have made harvesting difficult on CARROTS, among other items. Mud and flood damage is making it impossible for heavy machinery to get into fields and harvest, so growers are going old school and hand picking! As you can imagine, volume is down due to the weather and the inability of man to compete with machine.

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill