The overall market seems to continue to be strong. 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 which is starting into is springtime increases and decreased crossings. Field prices are up in MX and logistics and weather are definitely playing into this. Sizing is 60/48/70 with fruit starting to see a few more 40/36’s in the marketplace. You can expect to see a pricing increase for the next 6-8 weeks at least. Calif crop is all ready for picking though we have a few weeks before any large volumes will fill the market. Growers are holding out for better sizing since the crop size took a little hit in January.
Demand exceeds supplies of BLACKBERRIES this week and into next week. Few numbers are coming from Mexico, and we do not foresee California supplies to increase until mid-March.
While the Peru season is finished, we are seeing an increase in volumes from Chile and Mexico. Domestic California season should commence at the end of March. Look for a steady to weaker market next week.
The RASPBERRY market will remain firm this week and into next week. Limited supplies of Mexican fruit and cool temperatures in California have kept inventories down. Look for an active market till mid-March.
Overall supplies of STRAWBERRIES will continue to be limited. The drop in volume of imported Mexican fruit will continue to hinder supplies. Slightly warmer temperatures in California will help supplies but do not look for big inventories till mid-March.
Off-shore Grapes from Chile and Peru market continues up. Green Seedless is in a demand exceeds situation which will take us through most of March (on both coasts). As a result demand for Red Seedless is spiking and taking its market up as well. South American weather is the main cause– slowed harvest & quality issues. In general grape, supplies are looking a little dicey for March-early April and look for the market to stay strong.
KIWI is predominately Greek & Italian… Chile is still a few weeks out. Calif growers are cleaning up with bits and pieces of lots but for the most part, done. Imports have more sizing available but still looking at big fruit until Chile starts. All pack styles are available and will be packed fresh out of bins for orders. The market is up and will remain this way until the supply lines fill up out of Chile so at least until mid-April. The east coast is seeing the better volume of imports and should start to get some Chilean fruit in about 3 weeks.
The lemon market is steadily harvesting District 1. The fruit is peaking 140/165/200 heavier to fancy than choice. Fancy fruit continues to move out well for export. The fruit is a clean and a nice yellow color. Also available– Meyer Lemons, great for cooking think curds/ lemons pies/ and Lemon squares.
Limes are shooting up due to lower supply and gapping between Crops. The Winter Crops is still not ready yet.. mostly small limes on Trees. The “Old Crop” is about done, so now they will harvest Small limes from Winter Crops because the “market” is so high, and it will deplete the crops for the next few months, by not letting those small limes stay on the trees and Size up ( basically robbing Peter to pay Paul). If demand keeps rising hopefully due to the country opening back up again, then we expect the market to stay extremely strong until Summer. (The same phenomenon happens with Limes every year at this time, some years worst than others ); with this being said Mexico’s Gulf region is harvesting and showing issues- medium skin breakdown/ light color/ blanching and scaring. Volume is very light and will remain as such until the end of March out of this area…. big fruit will be scarce. On the other hand, the Pacific region has a similar quality issue but is showing good green color; again here growers are picking the small fruit to grab the market so expect the supplies of big fruit to be very light. All this is what is lining us up for an expensive market for the summer stated above.
Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies light and in few hands. Trading is slow. Prices Tommy Atkins lower, Ataulfo generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Honeydew is mostly coming from Mexico but improving if you will from offshore. That being said the market continues to be flat with just lackluster demand. Quality is good to excellent and we have a run of sizes.
Cantaloupe supplies are improving and with that, the market had come off a bit. Larger sizes 9/ Jbo 9 are still in shorter supplies and getting cleaned up by retail… so expect a premium there. Supplies from Guatemala & Honduras and should continue to improve through early March. Quality is currently good to excellent. Early spring plantings are in the ground and looking at similar supplies to last year…. should start (fingers crossed) in mid-May.
Calif Navels look very nice with good orange color. The fruit has sized up; 113/138 are very limited. This will be the situation for the balance of the Navel season; expect the market on small fruit to increase regularly. Calif quality has been good to excellent for the most part though you will see an occasional puff ball. Pack out is heavier to fancy than choice…. and choice is selling out faster. TX got hammered the last two weeks and their Citrus crops are showing it. This will increase the demand for small and choice fruit. Florida though has seen some very nice weather; the market here will move up in reaction to the losses in TX. Call your favorite Amerifresh representative and get details.
All varieties of pears are available. Small pears are extremely tight. Pricing continues to be very strong. Quality is good.
Movement expected about the same. Trading is moderate. Prices 5s slightly lower, 6-8s generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Mandarin/ Clementines are in full swing harvesting the desert up through central Calif. Fruit is looking & eating great. Sizing is peaking 32/36/28; the market is steady with good demand. Pummelos/ Oro Blanco (Sweeties) look good sizing is big for the most part though there are some smaller lots. 10/12’s. Desert and Central Calif have Minneola which is sizing big this year peaking the 80’s. Calif Grapefruit is back up and picking in the desert and Bakersfield with light supplies. Demand will strengthen due to damage TX recently received; the market is up.
We continue to have Arils (pomegranate seeds) currently packing from Peruvian products. Asian Pears available with both Yellow and Brown skin varieties and expect to continue with this fruit into early spring. Imported Peach/ Plums/ Nectarines are arriving weekly with improving supplies and better markets.
Movement expected to increase. Trading early is fairly slow, late moderate. Quality is variable.