Light supplies from Georgia. More shippers expect to start harvesting this week. Quality and Condition variable but generally good.
Green bells are steady this week. The product is shipping from Central California. Nogales should start crossing the product in a couple of weeks. Red, Yellow, and Orange are steady.
Movement expected about the same. Trading early moderate, late fairly active. Prices Habanero higher, Jalapeno slightly higher, Anaheim generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Light supplies from Virginia expected to decrease seasonally. Prices are unchanged. Quality is generally good.
Cucumber prices are steady this week. The product is still crossing through Baja and Nogales. Supplies have improved and quality is getting better.
Moderate supplies from Georgia. Prices are higher. Quality is good.
NW Onions OR & WA, Demand is building while prices are FIRMING on all colors. Export is now adding pressure on all colors as well. White prices have risen noticeably. Transportation costs continue to be strong as trucks are difficult and costlier to secure in many states. Harvest will be finished soon. Consequently, growers are no longer under pressure to sell. They are glad to raise prices and will slow production as needed while filling storage with these beautiful onions. Yield is projected to be a bit off this season due in large to a cool spring and smaller size profile overall. All colors of Organic Onions are available albeit at higher pricing this season. Mexico, movement is expected to be about the same. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market.
Mt Vernon: the harvest is unencumbered as the weather is outstanding for harvest, baring the occasional rainstorm; the harvest is marching along as planned. All colors are available including Fingerlings. Organics are available. Eastern WA continues with a supply of Red & Yellow potatoes along with colored Fingerlings. Quality is good. ORGANIC colored spuds and fingerlings are available as well.
Russet Large cartons are attractively priced with good volume available for the upcoming holiday retail push. Great time to promote 60’s and larger. Conversely, look for 90ct and smaller, including consumer packs, to heat up this season. As the Foodservice sector struggles to maintain its presence in 2020 – large carton prices will take the hit. Also, prices are projected to only increase for specialty packs and bales as they continue to dominate demand at retail. Demand is high on tight supplies of small product in WA, OR & ID. All districts seem to have had good yield this season (grower translation= HUGE potatoes) which may work against them this year considering that demand is on anything in a bag as consumers continue to look for the safe packaging. Quality is outstanding. Organic Russets are available.
Moderate supplies from North Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana expected to increase seasonally. Prices are generally unchanged. Quality is variable.
Zucchini – Zucchini supplies continue to improve, prices are down. Central California should be winding up production soon. The product is available in Nogales. Light supplies from Carolina. Prices are much lower. Quality is variable.
Yellow Squash – Yellow Squash is the same as zucchini, prices are down. Central Cal production should start winding down soon. The product is crossing through Nogales. Moderate supplies from Georgia expected to increase. Prices are lower. Quality is variable.
The East: Availability is super tight due to heat and rain over the past few months. We will have to wait for the Palmetto/Ruskin growing regions to start now to give supply relief.
The West: Doesn’t have much supply to help the east. Baja is dealing with extreme heat and Central Mexico is on a week lull in their production cycle. Expect this market to be tight. The supply increase we were expecting has yet to occur; Nogales has been crossing however we do not expect a normal market for about a week.
The East: Like the rounds, romas have the same challenges that are affecting production. They too are awaiting the Palmetto/Ruskin growing regions to start late October.
The West: Baja and Eastern Mexico are waiting on new crops in the next week or two so supplies remain light. California is feeling the effects of an earlier heatwave; which will more than likely conclude the season in a week.
East Coast: The majority of the crop’s volume has tightened even further due to weather. We are in hopes the Palmetto/Ruskin growing areas will help fill the gap albeit they are forecasted to be light and are not due to start until late October.
West Coast: Baja and Eastern Mexico are wrapping up their summer crop. Availability will remain light until the fall crop begins this week. The majority of California’s green crop is seeing volume issues and will continue to decline as the season wraps up now.