MARKET UPDATE WEEK # 45

Good Afternoon,

Floridians have been spared a brief reprieve from the typical hot conditions. Cool, rainy weather will be the catalyst this week as we are seeing similar conditions around North America. Commodities out of California, Mexico, and Florida will all see some affects; some will thrive in the cold and others will struggle.

As cooler temperatures finish off CANTALOUPES and HONEYDEWS in Arizona, import melons could not bridge the gap any better. MELONS from Guatemala and Honduras will kick off the season this week, followed by stronger volumes out of Costa Rica. All signs point to a strong offshore season with healthy supplies.

FREEZE warnings have been issued for areas in Georgia and some parts of Northern Florida. The freeze may end the Georgia season on items like SQUASH, EGGPLANT, TOMATOES, and GREEN PEPPER. The same cold front will slow production on those commodities in Florida, causing some market activity.

While the dry veg struggles in the cold, Florida STRAWBERRIES will thrive! Temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit will help the fruit solidify, building up a stronger and crunchier structure. Next week looks like the first week for some decent volume on FL STRAWBERRIES. Supplies will start slow and get better as more fields get into their second and third harvests.

EGG prices are on the rise and continue to climb! The annual holiday push has taken its toll on EGG MARKETS. In addition to holiday demand, supply will also be affected by the cool weather. Believe it or not, when temperatures drop and day light is scarce, Hens will produce less eggs. The chicken will use more of its energy to stay warm rather than laying eggs. Once we get through the Thanksgiving holiday, we should see this market come off.

LETTUCE, ROMAINE, CAULIFLOWER, BROCCOLI, CELERY, and almost all West coast veg is TIGHT! The transition to Yuma has not been a pretty one this year, as some shippers are gaping on several different commodities. We are due for at least another week of higher pricing and we will see where the supply goes from there. There are some talks of better supplies next week.

CHERRIES have made an appearance here in Miami! While we are still dealing with early varieties, (tart flavor and lighter color), more fruit seems to be available. Early import cherries can be risky but we are weeding out the weak fruit and constantly searching out the right quality.

Please keep an eye out for our "Weekly Fresh" to see what specials we will be offering for next week, NOV 18-22nd. It will be delivered to your email and available on our website this Friday!

More as it happens,
Parker Tannehill