Cosmic Crisp is now available!! Small-sized fruit is limited availability on some varieties. Big red delicious are tight. USDA orders & a shorter crop, have kept the market strong. The retail movement continues to be steady, in the wake of COVID-19. Quality has been good, overall.
The avocado market remains steady despite Mexico’s light supplies crossing. Mexico represents the majority and normally we would be seeing pricing going up but due to slowness in the Foodservice area, this has not yet happened. Mexico has good volume especially on smaller sizes 60/70/84. Sizing is peaking 60/48/70. We are still seeing some Lenticil issues out of Mexico (this is cosmetic only and in no way affects fruit quality but will put more into the #2 category) as a result of summer rains on the fruit.
We anticipate good numbers of BLACKBERRIES next week. The imported Mexican volumes will continue to increase as the weather remains favorable.
All imported fruit arriving daily. Peru is past production peak but supplies still good throughout the month. Mexican fruit continues to increase as favorable weather promotes volumes. Fruit from Argentina and Chile arrives daily on both coasts.
We had good movement with RASPBERRIES during the Thanksgiving holiday. Now as we move towards the end of the year, demand will subside and the market will adjust. Like the other berries, Mexican production continues to increase weekly.
The overall STRAWBERRY market appears softer. Production from Mexico continues to increase. With little to no rain in California, production from all areas, even areas that are supposed to be finished, continue to produce fruit. Not a BIG demand item for the Holidays, strawberries should be readily available during the month.
Central Calif supplies of Grapes are winding down fast on Green seedless and the market is reflecting this. Expect to clean up on Greens just as imports start to hit the West coast. Red seedless are in fair to good supplies and expect to have into the early part of Jan, so here at least we will see an overlap with imports later this month. The quality and condition of the grapes are still very good. The market is starting to move up.
Calif is moving local grown KIWI. The fruit is still fruit and will need a bit of time in ambient temperature to condition up. All sizes and packs are available. The market is steady and all the fruit is picked and binned back for custom packing out over the next 3 months.
The lemon market is relatively steady picking out of District 3 and also now in District 1 (though this fruit is taking some gas to color up). In general, the fruit is peaking 140/115; the quality is looking nice fruit is firm lighter yellow in color. The Meyers have started mostly out of the desert and a few ranches here in Central Calif– Great for Lemons Pies.
Good performance 68%. The current regions of limes: Gulf of Mexico: The weather forecast scattered rains for this week in this crop zone, as a consequence will be seeing medium to the high presence of blanching, yellowing, scaring, skin break down, and light green color. Pacific Region: (Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán) Medium presence of skin break down and good green color. The sizes available are small and medium sizes. The forecast is for light rains. The availability 250’s 10%, 230’s-200’s 40%, 175’s 30%, 150 -110’s 20%
Movement expected about the same. Trading early moderate, late very slow. Prices are generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Honeydew supplies are winding down with the harvest out of Mexico. Sizes have been mostly 6/8’s. Offshore supplies are coming in with limited numbers.
Cantaloupe profile is peaking on 9/12 with North American fruit finishing up with good supplies and fair to good quality. The Offshore product is now arriving from Guatemala on both coasts. Look for the quality to be a bit mixed at this time with the transition.
Navels peaking 113/88/72’s. Gassing time is down to less than 24 hours and on some ranches, none is required at all. Demand is good with the market steady on larger 56-48 sizes but looking to move on small 113/138’s. Quality is looking very nice with fruit packing out about 85% fancy. Central Calif continues to have optimum temps with nights in the low to mid 30’s (knock on wood no hard freeze warnings in the immediate future). In addition to Navels, we have also started Blood Oranges and Cara Cara though both are in very limited hands for the next 10 days (growers holding out for better natural color). Sizing on both of these items will be peaking around an 88.
All varieties of pears are available. Pricing continues to be very strong. Quality is good.
Movement expected about the same. Trading early moderate, late slow. Prices are generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Mandarin/Clementines are in full swing. The fruit is looking and eating great (cool nights have really improved color). Sizing is peaking 32/36/28. The crop size is nice and not expecting much on small fruit this year. Pummelos/Oro Blanco (Sweeties) are also currently picking … sizing 10/12/8’s with a very nice color.
Pomegranates/ Persimmons/ and Quince are now all on board for the holiday season. Decent sizing and color on all. Asian Pears are also still going with both Yellow and Brown skin varieties available. Peach/ Plums/ Nectarines are done domestically starting to see some high prices air shots out of South America for big money.
Movement expected to increase slightly. Supplies very light and in few hands. Trading early moderate, late very active. Prices are slightly higher. Quality is variable.