MARKET UPDATE WEEK # 48

Good Afternoon,

What a difference a week makes! After several weeks of tight markets and short supplies out west, shippers finally have some product to deal. LETTUCE, ROMAINE, CAULIFLOWER, and BROCCOLI are all in good supply in ARIZONA and SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. FLORIDA is also getting going on LETTUCE and ROMAINE, which means CELERY and ROMAINE HEARTS are not far behind!

GRAPE markets are beginning to take off. Domestic fruit is down to the last few lots, pushing up pricing, especially on GREEN SEEDLESS. REDS are in much better supply but still nearing the end of the season. There is some PERUVIAN fruit arriving on the east coast, but the declining California supply will dictate price levels for at least another two to three weeks. We will not have any clamshell grapes for next week due to the lack of domestic supply. Imports should pick up enough by DEC 16th to start packing clamshells again.

TOMATOES and other EASTERN VEG commodities are struggling to produce significant volumes in this cold weather. Yes, the STRAWBERRIES and CITRUS love the cool, but PEPPERS, TOMATOES, CUKES, EGGPLANT, and SQUASH do not do well in these conditions. Lighter yields means less volume to meet demand, which is what gives us the higher costs. We should see some warmer weather next week and hopefully that forces some higher yields.

We rarely mention CARROTS in our update, as their supply is normally incredibly steady. However, this week is a bit different! Canadian carrot shippers are down to storage inventory and Georgia is just getting started. We are still seeing some strong demand which is elevating market prices. Once Georgia gets into some significant volume this market should loosen up again in a few weeks time.

Christmas season is upon us and the holiday items are rolling in! Next week we will continue to have CHERRIES, CRANBERRIES, CINNAMON BROOMS, CHRISTMAS TREES, POMEGRANATES, and tons of other items that will help set the Holiday mood! Please help us get you covered in full and get your orders in as early as possible.

Have a great rest of the week!

More as it happens,

Parker Tannehill