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.
Avocado market is relatively stable but we are seeing field prices starting to move up slightly…. in general the demand has be relatively flat. Mexico is starting to see slightly better volume on the 48’s with fruit peaking 60/48/70. Mexico appears to be slowing harvest which with the onset of Peru arriving the end of the month is not very surprising. Biggest push remains on small “cheaper” fruit which is coming down in volume…..this will add to the market increase expected over the next 2-3 weeks. Calif crop is still looking good but on the light side. Calif should be announcing new total crop estimates in the next week or so and we expect these numbers to be down from earlier estimates. In general; the market on domestic product is stronger than Mexican imports.
Blackberries will continue with relatively light volumes out of Mexico. New crop out of California not expected until late May early June.
Supplies out of the East coast and South East have hit. Plenty of blues out East will mean buyers will stop looking out West for product. Volumes will start to build in California and the market will adjust downward.
The market remains firm with raspberries. The fields continue to fight color issues. We are expecting another light harvest week in California next week.
Now that the Mother’s Day Holiday is over, Demand for strawberries will slow and inventories will build. Pricing will be at it’s lowest level this year. Oxnard season will be finished in a few weeks, but Salinas/Watsonville season is in full production.
Off shore Red seedless Grapes are still hanging in there with the market very strong. We are seeing some Green Grapes scratch and cross out of Mexico and supplies are on a day by day basis. We should start to see fruit in general improving supplies the end of next week. Coachella should get going with some supplies in about 3 weeks on both Red and Green.
KIWI is all import (Italy/ Greece/ Chile) at this time. Sizes are good and all pack styles are available and will be packed fresh for orders. The market is fairly strong but should start to come off as more Chilean fruit arrives to the US. Quality from Greece and Italy is good with occasional give (ready to eat relatively quickly)… Chilean fruit on the other hand is rock hard and will take some time to ripen up.
Lemons winding down in district 1 and slowly out of district 2. We are anticipating supplies to be light for the next two months out of district 2 for summer fruit. Fruit continues to peak 140/165/115 and clean. In general, the fruit is well shaped with a nice yellow color. Look for this to shift into more choice around late May once District 2 is the predominate harvest area of fruit. Market is moving up and will continue this way until imports start arriving late June to help subsidies supplies on both east and west coasts.
Quality: Good performance will be 64%. The current regions of lime : Gulf of Mexico: Medium incidence of skin break down, high incidence of blanching, scaring, and smooth skin. The availability continues in small sizes, the big sizes are tight. Tight volume continues on big size limes. Pacific Region: High incidence of skin break down, blanching, scaring, light green color and smooth skin. The availability continues in small sizes, the big sizes are tight. Weather: Rain forecast the whole week with high temperatures that will disrupt harvest but we have good in-stock levels to fill orders. The availability 250’s-12%, 230’s-50%, 200’s- 22%, 175’s-10%, 150 -110’s – 6%.
Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading is fairly Slow. Prices on Tommy Atkins lower, Ataulfos generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Honeydew market relatively flat with Mexico the predominate supplier at this time. Fruit quality is good to excellent all sizes in play. Look for domestic fruit to start out of the desert in 7-10 days.
Cantaloupe supplies are steady at this time predominately from Mexico. Market on small fruit is good for movement… but large 9/12s market continues to strengthen. All sizes are available. Domestic/desert program is going with very light numbers but will start to pick up volume by late May. Quality is currently good to excellent.
Calif Navels still going but with big sizes — 72’s & larger. Calif weather is heating up which is leaving the fruit a little on the soft side and with occasional issues. 88-138 fruit is very limited with strong increasing markets…. as shippers try to extend this season as long as they can. You can expect to see the overall quality down slightly from here out especially in choice grade….. the shelf life is going to be shorter; so please be aware. Shippers are trying to be proactive and grade out as much as they can. Valencias are on deck but harvest has been very light and most if not all this fruit currently picking is going to export at big ticket prices. Valencia crop in general is looking a little lighter than last year with this being said the fruit will be a bit larger…. This will not be as noticeable in general, now but we will see and feel this when fall rolls around and school demand increases. Florida orange season is winding up over the next few weeks and the quality remaining is just marginal with heavy scaring (characteristic of Florida fruit).
Small pears are extremely tight. Pricing continues to be very strong. Quality is good.
Movement expected about the same. Trading is fairly active. Prices are generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Murcotts/Tangerines still in good supplies and we should see this continue into early June when the season comes to an end. The sizing is peaking 32/36/28; market is steady with good demand– this may be a good alternative for the small citrus not currently available in Oranges. Calif Grapefruit is picking in the desert as well as the Bakersfield area with light supplies. Fruit is peaking smaller sizes 40/48/56’s and demand is good…. with nice deep ruby red color… We will see this go through June when we start transitioning into Summer/Marsh varieties which will have more of a light blush.
Calif Tree Fruit is looking good we have decent supplies of yellow Peaches and Nectarines as well as Apricots. In general; fruit is sizing 64/72/56’s with larger sizes still on the light side and pricey. Apriums got going last week as well. Cherries are looking good; nice size and color (knock on wood, so far no weather to diss rail the crop). Mostly looking at 11/12 row but starting see better supplies of 10row. Arils (pomegranate seeds) currently packing from Peru/Chile. Imported Bartletts and Forelle Pears will continue for at another month; Look for Calif to start with Summersprites in late June early July followed closely by Bartletts.
Harvest expected to begin the week of May 9. Quality expected to be generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issued the week of May 16.