MARKET UPDATE WEEK # 25 - 2020

Good Afternoon,

Summertime is on its way! We are less than ten days from the start of the season and clearly, Mother Nature has a head start. RAIN and HOT weather set the trend this week as temps rise in CALIFORNIA, MEXICO, and FLORIDA.
BROCCOLI markets have skyrocketed this week as supplies become near non-existent. In addition to light availability, yellowing, brown beads, and branchy stalks are all side effects of too much sunlight. Please be mindful on your broccoli orders for next week as quality will be fair.

STRAWBERRIES are in peak season out in California. The warm weather has brought on healthy supply but that also means there is some overripe fruit out there. We only bring EXPORT berries this time of year, which are harvested a few days early to maintain quality and shelf life. There is a difference in price, but if you are exporting the fruit, it is a must.

BLUEBERRY supplies are going to start decreasing next week. Rain damage in North Carolina and Georgia is going to slow things down until volumes in the North East pick up.

APPLE supplies continue to tighten. The USDA is expected to make an announcement on the continuation of the Farmers to Families program by June 15th. If the program does continue, expect pricing to climb on sizes 100ct and smaller, including 12/3 bags.

CHERRIES have finished up in California and are off to a slow start in Washington. Heavy rain and adverse growing conditions severely slowed early harvests. Along with a significant price gap between small and large fruit, we are also expecting prices to hold higher for longer than in a typical season.

DAIRY prices have increased again this week for the third week in a row. Markets seem to have reached their peak and we are expecting prices to level off soon.

LEAF production is doing well. ROMAINE is in good supply and we have ROMAINE HEARTS on ad next week! Make sure to check out the WEEKLY FRESH! LETTUCE is in a slightly different spot due to some shippers gaping on supply. CELLO 30ct LETTUCE is still tough to come by, but not as bad as last week.

CELLO CARROT supplies are getting tight. Heavy rain has made harvesting a challenge; crews must harvest by hand as mud prevents heavy equipment from getting in and out of fields. Shippers are also on their toes in anticipation of the Farmers to Families renewal, which could lead to a significant flood of business for several items overnight.

More as it happens,
Parker Tannehill