We are inching to the end of the 2019-2020 crop. Supplies are still good on some varieties. The Feeding America box has helped to strengthen the market, over the past month. The retail movement has been steady, in the wake of COVID-19. Quality has been good, overall.
Avocados are doing well fruit out of Mexico/ Peru/ and Calif. Mexico is in there summer season with decent supplies of 48 and smaller fruit. Peru filling in nicely with green hard fruit especially on the east coast. Peaking mostly on 48/40/60 fruit. Calif is going strong although the crop is a little light but has some size (40/36’s). The market is the same out of all growing regions at this time with the 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.
Supplies remain steady, but no overproduction. Look for normal pricing for this time of year.
Supplies of Blueberries being harvested on the East Coast will continue to supply the East. West Coast supplies are available, but not overabundant. Pricing should be steady.
Raspberries continue to be a roller-coaster supply ride. Every 2-3 days we have plenty of supplies, then 2-3 days of limited availability.
California continues to provide peak volumes as we end the month of June. Local berry farms throughout the country are still providing fruit for their local markets. Typically demand slows after the 4th of July.
Nogales & Coachella are going with good supplies of Red and Green Seedless grapes. The market is stable and priced to move. We will see these areas overlap with Bakersfield / Arvin which now looks to start the end of next week.
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 start to dwindle. With that being said the market is on the rise of all sizes but more pronounced on 140 and smaller. Relief not expected to mid to late July when imports get going well. The fruit is mostly district 2 with just a few stragglers out of district 1. Peaking 140/115 but even those sizes are not getting any breaks. Quality in general is good with the occasional scaring/ blemish/ discoloration.
Moderate supplies from Mexico expected to increase slightly. Prices 110s/150s higher, others generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Movement expected about the same. Crossings include light supplies of Hadens. Trading is fairly slow. Prices on Ataulfo generally unchanged, others slightly lower. Quality is variable.
Honeydews: Supplies are finally doing good with better supplies currently than the cantaloupe. Sizing here remains large peaking Jbo 5/5/6’s. The quality is very good. Look for the westside growers to get going in about 10 days; after the July 4th holiday.
Cantaloupe: The cantaloupe market is demand exceeds on all sizes with shippers selling out daily. Volume should get better towards the end of the week with the westside expecting to start between the 2-9th.. sizing, in general, has been peaking 9/12’s. Quality has been good to excellent so far.
Valencias are in full swing on Valencia with more than 30% of the crop is already picked and packed. Sizing is peaking on 88/72 and the small fruit is cleaning up fast. Quality is good packing out heavy to fancy. 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 fo 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, with the Feeding America program taking many bags. Many will look to California Bartletts for small pears in July. Pricing remains steady, as we get closer to the new crop Bartletts in Aug. Quality has been good.
Moderate supplies from Mexico expected to decrease due to the production gap. Prices are much higher. Quality is variable.
Tangerines/ Mandarins domestically are finished. We now have imports arriving mostly on the east coast but last week did see some containers arrive on the west coast as well. Most of this fruit is pre-sold with Walmart taking the bulk of it for ads over the next 8 weeks. We will have some bulk and bags available in light supply for spot orders.
Apricots, Nectarine, Peach, Plum, and Pluot are all now available. The Apricots are almost done; the market here is a little stronger with limited sizes available. Nectarines peaking 48 thru 60’s; large sizes are very tight. Peaches are back into good volume mostly 48/50’s sizing. Red & Black plums as well as Pluots all sizing have good availability.
Movement expected to increase. Trading active at slightly lower prices. Prices are slightly lower. Quality is generally good.