We are inching to the end of the 2019-2020 crop, with new crop Gala & earlier golds just around the corner. Storage supplies are still good for some varieties. USDA orders have helped to strengthen the market, over the past month. The retail movement continues to be steady, in the wake of COVID-19. Quality has been good, overall.
Avocados supplies are currently plentiful with fruit from Mexico/Peru and Calif. Mexico is in their summer season with decent supplies of 48 and smaller fruit with supplies flush at this time they are slowing harvest slightly. Peru imports here are just about to their peak with hard fruit on 48/40/60 fruit. Calif is going strong and is close to a demand exceed supply situation (due predominately to promotions pushing US-grown product); sizing here is a little larger peaking 48/60/40/70 size. Most of the market is the same for all growing areas though slightly higher for Calif. Mexico and Calif fruit showing better maturity and oil contents. Look for the market to stay relatively stable on 48/60 and trying to inch up on others over the next month. Note by late August; Calif and Peru will be winding down and Mexico will be in the driver’s seat with new crop fruit.
Supplies of BlackBerries will continue to be limited into next week. We could see the market increase. The quality of what is available is very nice.
Better supplies of BlueBerries will keep the market steady. We have Blues coming out of many producing areas.
Continued light supplies of Raspberries. We will see the market jump next week.
The demand for Strawberries continues to be average at best. Local farms throughout the country are still in production. Supplies are on the downside of the peak and numbers will continue to decline. The market should inch up next week.
Nogales & Coachella are cleaning up and there are some good deals going on med/large berries… priced to move on Red and Green Seedless grapes. The market is stable out of the south. Bakersfield/Arvin is now in the mix and we are seeing some better berry size out of this region and they don’t mind asking a bit more for it. We expect to see the overlap of areas start to clean up by the end of July… until then the medium berry bunch packs will be very promotable.
We are hitting the Chilean fruit-heavy at this time with all Kiwi sizes available to ship. The fruit is firm and eating well. Supplies expected to stay good through the summer months into early fall.
The summer season of Lemons where demand is strong and supplies are light. With that being said the market is on the rise on all sizes but more pronounced on smaller fruit 140 and down. We don’t expect change now until the end of July when imports should be coming in hot and heavy (mostly fancy grade here). Domestically harvesting district 2. Peaking 140/115 but even those sizes are not getting any breaks. Quality in general is good with the occasional scaring/blemish/ discoloration.
Movement expected to increase slightly. Trading is moderate. Prices 110-150s slightly lower, others generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Movement expected about the same. Crossings include light supplies of Hadens. Trading early moderate, late fairly active. Prices Tommy Atkins 7-12s and Kent 7-8s slightly higher, others generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Honeydews: The honeydew market is steady. Honeydew supplies from the desert will finish up over the next 10 days and are starting out of the westside. Quality on honeydews is mixed from the desert but should be good out of the westside.
Cantaloupe: The cantaloupe market is strong and steady at this time with fruit harvesting out of the westside region. All sizes are available but better supplies can be found 9/12/Jbo 9’s. Quality is looking good to excellent so far.
Valencias are in full swing on with more than 30% of the crop is already in the box. Sizing is peaking on 88/72 and the small fruit is cleaning up fast and demanding a premium. The fruit looks good and is packing heavy to fancy grade. The market is strong with a lot of the fruit going into 10/4# bags and or loose for the USDA box program. Market to stay strong on the Valencia program through the end. Some independent sheds closing for 4-6 weeks for rehab and annual maintenance– also to give themselves product for “school” pulls in Aug/Sept. Offshore Navels are now arriving and are priced well to move to retail and wholesale markets. The majority of this fruit is fancy.
We are coming to the end of the pear season, with D’anjou being the last variety available. Smaller sizes are extremely tight.. Many will look to California Bartletts for small pears in this month & WA Bartletts to start around the 15th of August. Pricing remains steady, as we get closer to the new crop Bartletts in Aug. Quality has been good.
Limited supplies from Mexico due to the production gap expected to continue through the summer. Prices are higher. Quality is variable.
Tangerines/Mandarins are now into imports arriving on both the east and west coasts. Larger sizes are spoken for on retail ads but we still have some nice fruit to offer out packed bulk and bags. These are easy to peel with good sugar and flavor.
Apricots, Nectarine, Peach, Plum, and Pluot are all now available and are eating great. The Apricots are starting to wind down a bit with limited sizes available. Nectarines peaking 48 thru 60’s; this fruit just isn’t getting any volume on large sizes yet this year. Peaches showing good volume mostly 48/50’s sizing; now is the time to promote on Peaches. Red & Black plums as well as Pluots have good availability on almost all sizes.
Limited supplies from Mexico due to the production gap expected to continue through the summer. Prices are higher. Quality is variable.