Skip to Content

Market Insider May 7, 2021

Filtering by:
Key:
  • Promote
  • Caution
  • Alert
  • Steady

Apples

Apples
steady

The overall market seems to continue to be strong. There are various deals on long items, with a few shippers. The retail movement continues to be steady. Quality continues to be good, overall.


Avocado

Avocado
steady

Avocado market is relatively stable with field prices being the same.  Mexico is starting to see slightly better volume on the 48’s.  In general, the fruit is currently packing 60/48/70.  Cinco de Mayo ads and volume wasn’t what was expected; as a result supplies are currently better than demand if you can believe it. This is causing Mexico to slow harvest to try and keep market steady. Biggest push has been on small “cheaper” fruit and is expected to continue for the next few weeks.  Calif crop is still looking good but harvest like in Mexico has slowed (growers are hoping this will push the size cure up a little bit more). In general, the market on domestic product is a little stronger than Mexican. Peru is starting to increase on there harvest…. just waiting for maturity… look for fruit from here to start arriving decent supplies expected by the end of May.


berries

Blackberries

Blackberries

traffic light with red light lit up

Blackberries

Supplies continue to be limited as estimates out of Mexico are coming up short daily.  We are still waiting for California to start suppling product.

Blueberries

Blueberries

traffic light with yellow light lit up

Blueberries

Storms continue to wreak havoc on BLUEBERRY farms in Georgia and Florida.  This will force interest to keep buying out West.  Mexico still remains the primary region suppling the market.  California fruit should increase in 7-10 days

Raspberries

Raspberries

traffic light with yellow light lit up

Raspberries

Limited supplies of RASPBERRIES this week and into next week.  Favorable California weather will help to incease supplies, but I do not see the market easing for about 10 days.

Strawberries

Strawberries

traffic light with yellow light lit up

Strawberries

The STRAWBERRY market appears to be weaker, but with Mother’s Day this weekend supplies are extremely short.  New week will be see the post Mother’s Day decline in business and we will see the strawberry market prices drop.


Grapes

Grapes
traffic light with yellow light lit up

Off shore Grapes only Red Seedless remain of any worth and these will continue for the next 2 weeks. We are seeing some Green Grapes scratch and cross out of Mexico but don’t expect to see much volume until mid May at best. Grape market is very strong at this time due to lack of supplies. Look for this to situation to continue until late May early June when we should have both Mexico and Coachella going good on both Red and Green.


Kiwis

Kiwis
steady

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

Lemons
steady

Lemons going in District 1 and and seeing a little more volume out of District 2. Fruit continues to peak 140/165/115 and clean so heavier fancy grade.  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.


Limes

Limes
traffic light with yellow light lit up

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 during the middle of the week that will disrupt harvest but we have good in-stock levels to fill orders. The availability 250’s-12%, 230’s-48%, 200’s- 26%, 175’s-10%, 150 -110’s – 4%


Mangos

Mangos
steady

Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading early moderate, late fairly slow. Prices Tommy Atkins lower and Altaulfo slightly lower. Quality is variable.


Mixed Melons

Mixed Melons
steady

Honeydew market stable with Mexico the predominate supplier at this time. Fruit quality is good to excellent all sizes in play. Off shore fruit is cleaning up for the season.  Look for domestic fruit to start out of the desert in the next few weeks.

Cantaloupe supplies are doing well and we are seeing a little loosening on smaller sizes in the markets. Offshore is winding up and Mexico is picking up volume. All sizes are available. Offshore will finish up shortly; Domestic/ desert program is expected to start beginning of this week and expecting to see good quality. Quality is currently good to excellent.


Oranges

Oranges
traffic light with yellow light lit up

Calif Navels still going with supplies of 72’s & larger.  The nice Calif weather is heating up which is leaving the fruit a little on the soft side and with occasional issues. 88-138 Fruit is limited with strong increasing markets…. as shippers try to extend this season as long as they can. Unfortunately 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.  Valencia are on the cusp of starting but most if not all this fruit currently picking is going to export at big ticket prices.


Pears

Pears
steady

All varieties of pears are available. Small pears are extremely tight. Pricing continues to be very strong. Quality is good.


Pineapples

Pineapples
steady

Movement expected about the same. Trading is fairly active. Prices are generally unchanged. Quality is variable.


Specialty Citrus

Specialty Citrus
steady

Murcotts/ Tangerines continue harvesting with good supplies.  Sizing is peaking 32/36/28; market is steady with good demand.  Central Calif is harvesting thier Minneola — peaking 100/80/125 great for those school lunch bags as an alternative to Oranges…. deep color and lots of juicy flavor.  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 expected to stay strong.


Stone Fruit

Stone Fruit
steady

We are still seeing supplies of Imported Bartletts and Forelle Pears come in and will continue for at least another month; Look for Calif to start with Sumer sprites in late June early July followed closely by Bartletts.   Calif Tree Fruit is off and running. Supplies are still on the light side with early yellow Peaches and Nectarines as well as Apricots. Fruit in general is 64’s and smaller at this time, occasionally getting a few pallet of 54/56’s. Look for some Apriums available this week in very light numbers.  Cherries are looking good and we are starting to see some harvested down in the Bakersfield area Tioga’s and Brooks…. sizing is heavier to 11/12 row supplies will continue to improve over the next few weeks. Arils (pomegranate seeds) currently packing from Peruvian product.


Watermelon

Watermelon
traffic light with yellow light lit up

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.