MARKET UPDATE WEEK # 36

Good Afternoon,

We are approaching the final weeks of summer! For most, the end of summer means season winding down and kids going back to school. In the world of produce, it means that we are on the verge of FRESH APPLE CROPS!

We are still in the early stages of the new season, but we are seeing NEW CROP ANJOU, BOSC, and BARTLETT PEARS, as well as, GALA, HONEYCRISP, and GOLDEN DELICIOUS APPLES. Supplies are still just starting out, but we should start to see more new crop varieties available weekly! RED DELICIOUS and FUJI new crop are expected as early as next week. It will take some time for the markets to settle as growers find out what production is looking like, but we are on the cusp of closing these market gaps!

BERRIES can be difficult during the summer and this year has been no exception. STRAWBERRY markets are on the rise as volumes are steadily decreasing out in the northern growing regions of California. Santa Maria (a southern California region) is producing but not on a large enough scale for big shippers to transition down south. There is no telling if quality will get better when supply shifts to Santa Maria, but history does tell us that October can be a tough month for STRAWBERRIES.

BLUEBERRIES are finishing up in BC and Michigan. We should see import volumes increase on the east coast, but market prices may start to tick up. Reports on import fruit are all pointing to solid quality.

BROCCOLI markets continue to gap into next week. A heat wave in the Salinas Valley created pin rot, brown beads, yellowing, and bead separation in fields. As shippers weed through the poor quality product, volumes cannot keep up with demand and market prices continue to rise.

CANTALOUPES are tightening up! Supplies are beginning to wind down as we are 4 to 6 weeks away from the end of the season. With demand steady and supplies starting to decline, we will see some additional market activity for the remainder of the season.

TOMATO markets are getting active. ROMA tomatoes are seeing the worst of it as Mexican imports are limited, and California supplies are struggling through the heat wave. On the east coast, ROMAS are also in high demand with little supply. As growers sift through their fields post Hurricane Dorian, it seems as if most of the volume has been spared. Rain soaked fruit can create some serious quality issues so we will be sure to avoid the affected areas and provide the best quality for the right price!

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill