We are still inching to the end of the 2019-2020 crop of reds & Fuji, with new crop Gala, Honeycrisp, early Fuji, & golds are now available. New crop true Fujis to start very soon. Storage supplies are still good for some varieties. USDA orders have kept the market strong. The retail movement continues to be steady, in the wake of COVID-19. Quality as been good, overall.
Calif harvest is slowing down now picking out of the northern groves; this will continue with light supplies into Oct. Mexico has been slow to harvest in an effort to push up the markets however this doesn’t appear to be working too well as the market, in general, is steady with a little strength showing on smaller fruit. Mexico has good volume which should continue through Oct. Mexico will be in the driver’s seat as far as pricing goes for the next few months. Sizing is peaking 60/48/40. Look for Chile to bring in some fruit this month with the majority of that crop going to Europe; Columbia will likely start arriving here in mid-Oct.
Better supplies this week and into next week. Oxnard numbers keep increasing, as well as imports from Mexico.
Very limited this week and next. End of the season for Mid-West and poor weather out of the East. Waiting for More imported containers next week. Berry size is smallish.
With the increased supplies of Mexican fruit, we are seeing a little more availability of Raspberries. The California fruit volumes remain about average for this time. But with the Mexican supplies, orders should be covered next week.
Continued very limited supplies out of the Salinas/Watsonville Valley. New crop supplies coming out of Santa Maria and Oxnard are not enough to fill the empty pipeline. On top of this, we (Salinas/Watsonville) will be in extreme heat again. The market will remain active and high priced.
Central Calif continues harvesting multiple varieties of green/red/black seedless grapes. Availability is excellent and will have good supplies into early Nov when the crop starts winding down. Early estimates are that green seedless with start to tighten up in late Oct but red seedless should see us through the end of the year. Black Sdls and Globes are in light supplies. The quality and condition of all grapes is very good to excellent. There is a little bit of a split market based on berry size with some great deals to be had on small berry/bunch size; these will clean up over the next 3-4 weeks. The market is steady.
Calif shippers have started to harvest (this fruit will be hard so plan to condition). All sizes and packs are available. The market is up at this time and will stay that way for the next 3-4 weeks as Chilean cleans up and Calif fills the supply line.
Lemon currently available domestically from Calif as well as imports from Mexico/ Chile/ Argentina. The market is lower on the imports and inching up on smaller domestic fruit. Calif harvesting out of Dist 2 (Ventura area) and in general fruit is peaking 140/115; quality fair to good with the occasional scaring/ blemish/ discoloration. District 3 (desert) has started to size pick; this fruit is lighter in color/ firm and hard.
Movement expected about the same. Supplies 110-150s very light, 230 -250s heavy. Trading is fairly slow. Prices 175-230s much lower, others lower. Quality is variable.
Movement expected to decrease sharply as most shippers are finished for the season. Trading is moderate. Prices are generally unchanged. Cartons 1 layer Keitt 6-10s supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. Quality is variable. Lighter crossings expected to continue through October 3.
Honeydew supplies are down as well with shippers transitioning. The quality has remained good to excellent. Market is finally seeing some increase due to lack of supplies. Sizes mostly 5/6’s.
Cantaloupe profile is peaking on Jbo 9/9 with limited 12 and smaller. Harvest is slow as shippers transitioning out of central Calif back down to the desert. Market is up and expected to stay this way for at least the next 2 weeks. Quality has been good to excellent. Look for Mexico to start crossing in mid Oct.
Valencias are blowing up and out fast. Great demand on Vales but we are running into a gap and seeing more orders prorated over the next 3 weeks…. as shippers stretch this to the limits. Most shippers are done just waiting for Navels. Fruit quality has been just fair with some softness and fuzz ball on receiving. This fruit is being gassed to bring back the color which is not helping the shelf life. The grading has been hard and mostly fancy grade. Sizes peaking on 56/72 with small fruit just not there and what is going faster than they can pack. The market is strong and will continue increasing as we wait for Calif Navels; the current estimated start date of the 3rd week of Oct. Offshore Navels are winding down fast.
New crop Bartletts & D’Anjou are here, along with red pears. There are a few Bosc, but they’ll be in better supply as the month continues. Pricing has been very strong for the beginning. California Bartletts are still going & are getting the majority of the movement right now. Quality is good.
Movement expected about the same. Trading 5-7s moderate, 8s very slow. Prices 5-6s lower, others generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Tangerines imports trying to clean up this week and next as domestic grower anticipates starting later this month. What is left we are seeing occasional gassing scars and fuzz balls in the box. check back here for updates.
Nectarine & Peach are all buy done very limited supplies and sizes left. The market has strengthened due to this. That being said we have early fall Plum varieties which should continue into mid to late Oct. These plums are in few hands so be sure to call for more information. Pomegranates are going and look for Persimmons to have good shipping volume in the next 7-10 days.
Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. Quality is generally good. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issued the week of October 4.