MARKET UPDATE WEEK # 24 - 2020

Good Afternoon,

As we expected, last week's heat wave in California created some market activity. Higher temps have forced shippers to sort through product, separating the good from the bad. Rain continues to pound Florida this week all while we watch Tropical storm Cristobal develop in the Gulf.

HOT weather means a lot of things for perishable product. First and foremost, fringe burn, discoloration, and bruising become more likely when temps rise. Brown beads in broccoli and discoloration on lettuce will be possibilities over the next week or so. We are dealing with afternoon temperatures ranging from 90-102 Fahrenheit which are obviously not ideal growing conditions.

BROCCOLI markets are way up due to the heat! Please get ice on your broccoli as soon as you can on arrival. The ice will help maintain the color and consistency of the product.

We are seeing a shortage on SMALL SIZED LETTUCE. The heat is pushing product to grow faster and although some shippers may still have 30ct lettuce, the vast majority are only able to harvest 24ct.

CORN is nowhere to be found! Overcast skies out in GA have slowed crops, leaving growers with corn too small to harvest. Availability will be very light until the crops begin to size up.

Supplies on PEARS are getting TIGHT. We are approaching the end of the season for Washington apples and pears, and with it, certain sizes are becoming difficult to find. ANJOU PEARS 100ct and SMALLER are the hardest to come by. Substitutions from 120's into 100ct and 110ct may be necessary. CALIFORNIA will be starting BOSC and BARTLETT pears next month but there will be a gap between seasons.

MELON markets are strong but showing signs of improvement. Domestic supplies are picking up steam and we should be coming up on some better availability.

TOMATO markets remain strong this week. CHERRY and GRAPE clamshells are in high demand and while we transition out of Florida, supplies are fairly weak. ROUNDS and ROMAS are tight, but we are expecting to see some more volume crossing out of Mexico in the coming weeks. Of course, a lot can change depending on Tropical Storm Cristobal.

DAIRY markets are soaring! After several weeks of stagnant demand due to COVID-19, the Farms to Families program injected demand for millions of pounds of product into the marketplace. Remember, companies are practicing social distancing. That means 50% labor occupancy in some facilities and a significant slow down on supplies.

More as it happens,
Parker Tannehill