The overall market continues to be strong. There are various deals on long items, with a few shippers. Retail movement continues to be steady. Quality continues to be good, overall. New crop gala starting over the next week & a half.
Mexican field prices continue to increase up and pushing up all sizes, small fruit is the most impacted as demand exceeds. We expect this for at least a few more weeks. Note MX freezes last Sept is starting to be felt and will continue to be felt over the next 2 months. The Flora Loca still struggles to make USDA dry matter standards thus causing delays to import into US. Peruvian fruit is available mostly out of the east but Calif is receiving some as well. Calif crop is still looking good but on the light side. In general; the demand is down slightly and market is still strong. Mexico is accounting for about 61% of US supplies while Peru is 21% and domestic is 18%.
We are starting to see limiting supplies of BLACKBERRIES as we reach the end of the month. The second week of August we should see better supplies.
Good supplies of BLUEBERRIES throughout the country. New Jersey, Michigan and California appear to have plenty of fruit going into next month.
Supplies from Mexico will start to increase, helping to fill all of the orders. Watsonville and Oxnard will continue to produce high quality RASPBERRIES, but don’t look for the market to change next week.
Temperatures in the growing areas of California have turned favorable for fruit production. We should see adequate supplies as we go into August.
Central Calif Grapes are in full swing harvesting all colors. Quality has been excellent, however high temps in the picking areas can and will slow harvest down.
KIWI is all Chilean at this time. Sizes are good and all packs styles are available and will be packed fresh for orders. Market is steady and shouldn’t see much change until mid August. Chilean fruit is hard and will take sometime to ripen up.
Lemons remain tight. Imports are available on both coasts from Argentina and Chile. Despite this the market continues strong. Domestically fruit is all harvesting district 2 (Ventura/ Oxnard) but supplies are light. Look for the market to continue to show an increase on a weekly basis. Domestic is demand exceeds with grading heavy to choice standard due to scarring.
Markets have gotten very active over the last week. The current lime crop is winding down, and the next crop is just getting started. Lime shipments crossing the border are currently just barely meeting the demand, and we will see the large sizes 110-175ct volume begin to reduce the next few weeks with the crop transition. Ongoing rains for the past several weeks and high humidity continue to produce stylar and skin breakdown in fruit. The overall volume of the new crop will be smaller than the crop that is currently finishing up. We do not expect it to be as small as the same crop last year when there were major shortages, but it will not be at the “normal” levels for this time of year. Another thing to keep in mind is that the active hurricane season is approaching, and hurricanes are something that we will have to keep an eye on for the next 8-10 weeks until we get past “hurricane season” in October.
Movement expected about the same. Tommy Atkins supplies light and in few hands. Crossings include a light volume of Haden Keitt varieties. Trading Ataulfo moderate, others fairly slow. Prices are generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Cantaloupe size profile continues Large 9/12’s and almost no small fruit. Calif West side is going but with fair supplies which has increase the market slightly. Quality is very good with high sugar content.
Honeydews harvesting West side. Sizing is big mostly 5/6’s no little ones really around. Look for this seasons crop to stay light with California acreage being down. Quality is very nice at this time…. good clean fruit with high sugar…. Eat great.
Mixed Melons should be in good supply in the next few weeks. Crenshaw’s, Casabas, Juan Canary, Santa Claus, etc.
Valencia’s going well peaking on a 88/72/113’s. Market is firming up as businesses are opening more and more and many are looking to schools opening in over the next month. Quality is fair to good due to the heat.
Small D’Anjou pears are extremely tight. Pricing continues to be very strong. Quality is good. Hearing new crop NW Bartlett’s begin the 2nd week of August.
Movement expected about the same. Trading is active. Prices 5-7s much higher, 8s higher. Quality is variable.
Calif Grapefruit looking nice picking in Bakersfield area. We are now into the Summer/Marsh varieties. Fruit is peaking smaller sizes 40/48/56’s and demand is good. Off shore Mandarins/Tangerines are here and eating well/ good size and color…. call your Amerifresh rep for more info.
Peach size is mostly 54/56 & larger available with some 60’s available. Yellow Nectarine production is steady with good demand. Red and black plums are available in all sizes with good supplies. Pluots, flat peach and velvet apricots are available.
Movement to increase slightly as harvest in central and south Texas is expected about the same and west Texas is expected to increase seasonally. Trading is active. Prices are generally unchanged.