MARKET UPDATE JULY 19-23, 2021

Good afternoon,

We are starting to see some activity on California vegetables. Lingering effects of the heat wave are lowering yields on LETTUCE, ROMAINE, LEAFY GREENS, and even CILANTRO. With schools set to start in the coming weeks, we should see demand increase on these items, especially ICEBERG and ROMAINE. Growing conditions have since improved, so let's hope that supply has enough time to catch up before school starts!

BROCCOLI and CAULIFLOWER supplies have seen the same conditions but have handled the heat better than their leafy neighbor crops. While demand for flower and broccoli is also on the rise, we are only seeing a few shippers run short on product, keeping any price increases minimal.

GRAPE supplies have increased this week in California. GREEN SEEDLESS grapes have hit their stride this season and market pricing is coming off. BLACK and RED SEEDLESS are moving in the same direction at a slower pace.

PEAR supplies are tight! IMPORT BOSC PEARS are finished out of the northeast. California Bosc pears are the only option, and they are EXPENSIVE! We will have some inventory left on imports for next week but will sell out quickly so please order early. ANJOU PEARS still have light availability out of WASHINGTON as well as a few imports in the northeast. Look for strong markets on both BOSC and D'ANJOU PEARS until new crop is available out of Washington in September.

It looks like BUTTERNUT imports are done for the season! Prices will be up a bit next week as we move into domestic product out of the northeast.

Speaking of imports, we are starting to see early arrivals on Chilean LEMONS! We should see some much needed relief on domestic markets thanks to the inbound supplies. Be cautious when comparing lemons to lemons in the coming weeks as some imported lemons will be a 17 kilo - 38 pound box versus a 40 pound domestic box.

Greenhouse veg markets have started to firm up for several commodities. Growers in Canada are dealing with high temperatures and shorter days as the season passes it's peak. EUROPEAN CUCUMBERS are seeing a spike in prices as demand far exceeds supply. SNAKCING TOMATOES are another commodity affected by the heat in growing regions. We are seeing some very high prices in Heirloom tomatoes, both minis and full size. On the bright side however, quality of arrivals has been excellent as shippers are emptying their inventories daily.

STONE FRUIT remains in full swing with a wide variety of fruits available in volume fill and clamshell pack outs. Add some flavor and color to the shelves with some sweet summer stone fruit while we are in peak season!

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill