Eastern Canada's Market Update

ICEBERG- Expect production of this commodity to be light all week. Demand exceeds supplies. Triggered pricing continues on all value-added items. Shippers are firm on averages and this will continue for the entire week. Most growers continue to limit production in order to allow upcoming fields to gain size and weight. Aside from light-weights, the quality has been good. Weight is averaging 34-38 pounds on liner lettuce. There have been minor reports of mechanical, misshapen heads and growth crack but these defects are minimal. The weather has cooled off and growers are gaping in production. With the holiday past us, demand was expected to fall off but thus far this has not happened. Supplies are expected to be better in seven to ten days.  Quebec iceberg lettuce continues with good supplies and heavy demand. The primary pack from Quebec is 24ct cello wrapped.

ROMAINE / LEAF- The romaine market is steady with some suppliers while others have eased up slightly. The overall production for this commodity is on the lighter side. Shippers were not able to offer value-added romaine to begin the week except for normal averages. This will likely continue for the entire week. Although schools are out, demand exceeds supplies due to gaps in production with multiple growers. These production gaps are expected to continue through-out this week, at minimum. Green leaf continues to be very limited as well. Romaine hearts continue to be very active and demand exceeds supplies, industry-wide. Triggered pricing is in effect on romaine and green leaf items. The quality is good with leaf items. Minor mechanical, insect damage and tip burn have been reported but in a very light way. The weights on romaine are averaging 33-38 pounds and green and red leaf range from 22-25 pounds. Quebec green leaf, red leaf and romaine continue with good volume and heavy demand. 

SPRING MIX/BABY SPINACH/BABY KALE- Baby leaf supplies continue to be plentiful as the weather in the Salinas Valley has recently spurred on the growth and have produced better yields. Quality is good with occasional yellowing and bruising of the tender leaves.

ROCKET ARUGULA / WATERCRESS / BABY RED KALE– Arugula: Arugula supplies continue to be a little on the tight side, due to recent rains but we do not anticipate any gaps in supply. We are also seeing a decline in the bleached (off color) arugula leaf that we have seen recently. Supplies and quality should continue to improve as long as the rains stay away and allow fields to thoroughly dry out. Baby Red Kale: The recent wet, hot weather has negatively affected the supply of baby red kale and it will not be available for the foreseeable future. Watercress: Bunched watercress quality and availability is good.  Red watercress, a winter crop is now done until the fall.

IMPORTED BROCCOLI-The broccoli market continues to stay steady and plentiful as California has experienced some recent warm weather. This recent warm weather has increased yields and has affected the over-all quality. Quality is fair with slight purpling, some mechanical damage and occasional yellow cast.

ASPARAGUS– Canada and Michigan are finished for the season. Markets have been low for the last 4 weeks and we’re finally starting to see it rising along with demand. Central Mexico (Guanajuato) production has decreased this week due to lack of rain. Rain is expected this weekend, and we should see better volumes in 7-10 days. The bigger sizes are still short in the market due to the weather. Peru supply has remained unchanged and should stay about the same through July. Peru is having the same issue on the bigger sizes due to weather in the South, this should get better in about 4-6 weeks when the weather becomes warmer. The next 2-3 weeks are expected to be difficult with higher markets and limited volumes from Central Mexico and Peru.

IMPORTED CAULIFLOWER– The recent warm weather in the Salinas Valley continues to keep supplies moderate to plentiful. Overall, the quality is good with minor bruising and yellow cast with weights in the 25 to 28-pound level. Look for the market to continue to adjust going into next week. Quebec has started and Ontario should start over the next week to 10 days.     

BEANS– Green bean supplies continue to be very tight. Inclement weather in the main North American growing regions has caused a supply gap expected to last from mid-June through late July. High temperatures have caused the Georgia and North Carolina seasons to end early. The Ohio season is delayed due to rain; instead of ramping up in late June, adequate volume is not expected until mid- to late July. Excessive heat is keeping yields low in California and Mexico as well. Expect active markets and limited stocks through late July. Snipped: Snipped bean supplies are tight and are being pro-rated with good quality and triggered pricing. 

CELERY- Celery production in the Salinas and Santa Maria growing regions has improved with steady volume meeting demand this week. Quality reports show very nice product with good color, clean appearance, and good condition. The weather forecast calls for slightly warmer than average temperatures into the weekend with light winds and stable temperatures over the next two weeks. Currently, Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Salinas are the primary shipping locations for celery off the west coast. Quebec celery is scheduled to start sometime this week.

GREEN ONIONS– Green onion supply continues to be plentiful with the recent nice weather in Mexico and Salinas. The cooler weather in March is causing occasional leaf minor and mechanical damage. The market will continue to stay steady going into next week. Quebec green onion production has ramped up and supplies are easily meeting demand with very nice quality.

EGGPLANT- East:  Eggplant supplies are steady and pricing is a little higher this week. A few shippers in Georgia will continue through the week. North Carolina is in the peak of their season and New Jersey is starting this week with light supplies. Quality is good in most regions. Eggplant from Georgia is starting to show its age and wear and tear from heat and rain. Demand on eggplant is not very strong keeping pricing at a moderate level. West: Light supplies of eggplant continue to be available to load in the west. Eggplant is currently being harvested in Bakersfield, California.  Light supplies of eggplant are expected through the week. Both fancy and choice grade are being packed. Quality on California eggplant is currently fair at best. Fresno, California is expected to start harvesting eggplant this week. Eggplant supplies from the Coachella Valley are expected to finish this week.  

ONIONS– Yellow onions had a slight dip heading into last week but now showing strength as New Mexico has a few growers gapping on supply and pushing demand into California. We expect to see a strong market into next week and looking to the week of July 22nd to see another drop in the yellow onion market when New Mexico has improved production. Red onions in both regions are in good supply and we are seeing lower markets. White onions will see a stronger market as supplies are limited and expected to be tight until new crop in the Northwest begins late August/early September. Winter over onion supplies in Washington quickly dried up with the heavy demand. Walla Walla sweets are still available out of Burbank. New crop in the Northwest is expected to start mid-to-late August.

FIELD CUCUMBERS– East: Cucumber supplies are tight with small volumes in a few locations. Western North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey all have light supplies of cucumbers. Michigan and Ohio have started very light supply, this where the next big volume will come from but most shippers will not start until next week. Quality has been good in most regions, and the number one grade product has been at a premium. We expect supplies to continue to be tight through the week. Local field cucumbers will start this week. West: The cucumber market is on the rise. West coast cucumbers are currently being harvested out of Baja California. The crop from Sonora has finished this week. Good supplies of cucumbers are being produced by the Baja district. All sizes and pack styles currently being packed. Demand for retail cucumber has exceeded supply on the West Coast. Quality from Baja is good.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS- The brussels sprouts market continues to stay steady as there is plenty of supply is in the pipeline. The recent warm weather has brought on yields. Look for this market to continue to adjust going into next week.     

CORN- Georgia is done for the season and more northern regions are starting. There was lots of rain in Indiana making for very wet and slow harvesting conditions. Market is very high. Local corn has started with very light supplies.

IMPORTED CARROTS- California carrots remain steady with good supplies. The rainbow variety is now back in production for the 25-pound pack after a month-long gap. Mexican jumbo carrots remain fairly tight with an escalated market. This spike was caused by recent rains in Mexican production areas making it difficult to enter fields to pack. Mexico will continue to experience sporadic rains as it is their wet season.   

ZUCCHINI– East Coast: Zucchini supplies are in a few locations but no location has a very big supply. Yellow is very tight. Supplies of green are better but demand is good and shippers are struggling to fill orders. Western North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey Pennsylvania and Connecticut are shipping light supplies of zucchini. Michigan, Ontario, Quebec and Ohio are starting with light supplies. The volume in the mid-west should pick up by next week. West Coast: Both green and yellow zucchini continue to be harvested in Santa Maria, Fresno, and Baja California. Better supplies of green continue to be available; more than yellow from all three districts.

BELL PEPPERS- Peak volume from North and South Carolina is behind us and we are starting to look toward New Jersey and New York for the next regions. Early reports show decent quality coming out of New Jersey. In the next couple of weeks, volume will start to pick up in New Jersey. Ontario should start over the next 2 weeks.

EAST COAST PEPPERS- Pepper supply is in transition from North Carolina to New Jersey. North Carolina is over its peak production but will continue shipping until the end of July. New Jersey bell pepper volume is picking up and will peak the third week of July. Quality is good in all regions, size is trending mostly to larger sizes. The market is steady with good demand, most supply is in only a few hands this week, so expect the market to stay on a steady pace through the week.

WEST COAST PEPPERS– Serrano: Moderate supplies of Serrano pepper are available to load in Los Angeles, from Mexico. Supplies are expected to remain steady throughout the week. Supplies currently meet demand. Price on Serrano peppers is expected to remain the same through the week. Jalapenos: Moderate supply of Jalapeno are still available to load in Los Angeles from Mexico. Jalapenos are being harvested in Baja California with good quality. Mostly medium to large size are available from this region. The market on Jalapenos is steady. Light supplies of Jalapenos are also being harvested in Santa Maria, California. Green: Good supplies of green pepper are being harvested in Bakersfield, California and in the Fresno, California growing area. Mostly XLG, retail size and choice grades are being packed. Quality on green pepper from these areas is good. Green pepper supply currently exceeds demand, and the market has decreased with better supplies of green pepper. Red Pepper: Good supplies of red bell pepper are being harvested in the Bakersfield and Fresno growing area. Both retail and choice grades are currently being packed from this district. Quality from Fresno and Bakersfield is good. Supplies from the Coachella growing district have finished up this week. Light supplies of red pepper are still crossing through Nogales this week. With better supplies being harvested in the Bakersfield and Fresno areas, the market has decreased on mostly choice grade. Market on retail grade has maintained steady.

POTATOES– New crop potatoes continue to be in short supply with very active markets. California remains the main source of supply for red, yellow and white. Bakersfield is finishing up and transitioning into the Stockton area putting even more pressure on the West Coast. Texas has started this week on reds and yellows but off to a slow start due to rain over this past weekend. The weather has improved and production is expected into August. North Carolina/Virginia are struggling on red potato supplies with yellow and white in good production but heavy demand keeping volume to a minimum. Alabama has started their very short 2-3 week deal with some reds and will see yellow potatoes by the end of the week. Minnesota is expected to start the first week of August and potentially bring some relief to the overall supply. Ontario will start new potatoes in early August. Carton Baking Potato: Idaho potato markets are on the move for most sizes as the Burbank storage crop winds down for the season. Larger size 40 count through 70 count continue to inch higher with smaller sizes now showing a rising trend. Suppliers are reviewing their storages and slowing down production to stretch the remaining inventories for the balance of the storage crop. With additional demand shifting into other regions such as Washington, Colorado, and Wisconsin, expect to see markets creep up in all areas. Quality in the late storage potatoes will show more shoulder bruise as we get deeper into July. The occasional hollow heart will also be seen in some lots. Wisconsin quality remains fair.

SEEDLESS WATERMELON- Supplies of seedless watermelons are a little tight. There was rain was received this past weekend in Georgia that slowed up harvesting. Seedless are currently available in the east from Pellham, Georgia; Pineview, Georgia; and Blackville, South Carolina. We will start seedless out of Battleboro, North Carolina in a couple of weeks. Light supplies of seedless watermelon are still available to load in Nogales, Arizona from Mexico. Bins continue to be packed. The quality of the watermelon from Sonora, Mexico is mostly fair. Supplies from Sonora, Mexico should finish up this week. Seedless watermelons have started to be harvested in Phoenix, Arizona. Local seedless and yellow flesh will start around the middle of August.

GOLD PINEAPPLES– Last week, Costa Rica experienced more tropical weather, which reinforced the rain showers over the country. Morning rain showers were present in the north and Caribbean areas, mostly in the areas near the coasts. For the afternoon, rains moved to the Pacific and central areas. Although rains were not very strong, they were constant. This generated an alert for possible flooding and rivers overflowing. Total rainfall last week was 6 to 8 inches in the growing areas. From a quality perspective, fruit condition will continue similar as in past weeks, affecting fruit with water spotting and the UV radiation damage caused by the “magnifying glass” effect of direct sunlight on the water in the shell of the fruit. If rains continue, we could see a bigger affectation in the fruit. On arrival, we are seeing occasional browning on the interior of the fruit which is usually attributed to excess water absorption from when the pineapples were in the fields. Last week, the USDA crossing report shows 685 inbound loads from Costa Rica; this is a very low number for peak season. There was a national transportation strike promoted by truckers opposed to the implementation of the new value added tax expected to go in effect July 1st. Our growers made a titanic effort to complete the loads requested last week only to find themselves without the means to take these loads to port as protests blocked all roadways leading to the APM terminal which handles 60% of all exports out of Costa Rica. Last week, we found out that, 1,000 banana, pineapple, and other perishable containers were left stranded in Costa Rica not reaching the port and vessels had to sail leaving behind the product so desperately needed in Canada, USA and Europe. The strikes that occurred last week in Costa Rica have been resolved, which puts supply in better shape, but it doesn’t change our current tight situation as it will take time to fill the pipeline and fruit is short due to the decline in volume due to natural floration. The USDA is reporting very good demand and a much higher market.

PAPAYA- Rain remains in the forecast all week in the growing region of Colima, Mexico. Temperatures are in the low 70s in the morning and high 80s in the evening. Some growers have not been affected by the constant rain these past few weeks but we are still monitoring quality as the rain progresses. We are in the peak of the season now and volume has been increasing week over week. Sizing continues to peak on 8/9s with few 12s per manifest. Overall quality has been good with no major issues to report. The market remains firm. Please Note: “Consumers no longer need to avoid whole, fresh papayas, with the exception of Cavi brand papayas. The FDA strongly advises importers, suppliers, and distributors, as well as restaurants, retailers, and other food service providers from all states, to not sell or distribute whole, fresh papayas from Agroson’s LLC that are labeled under the Cavi brand. Based on this new information, the hold the FDA advised on June 28, 2019, for all imported Mexican papayas, is no longer necessary. Distributors don’t need to withhold Mexican papayas from distribution, with the exception of the Cavi brand.”

MANGO- Michoacán, Mexico has wrapped up mango production for the season. Mangos are currently being imported from the Mexican growing regions of southern Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco. Current sizing is peaking on 10 count followed by 9 count and 12 count. The larger sizes, like 7 and 8 count, are becoming more available in combination with smaller sizes. The varieties include Tommy Atkins, Kents and Haden for the red mangos and quality is very good with the fruit exhibiting a small amount of blush.

BLUEBERRIES– East Coast: Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana and Alabama blueberries are all done or nearly done for the season. New Jersey continues producing, but is past their peak. Michigan and Ontario are expecting to start in about 2 weeks. West Coast: Blueberries are in production all along the Pacific Northwest in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The market is easing. Quality is excellent. STRAWBERRIES- The strawberry market will remain firm this week as the actual damages from the recent inclement weather become increasingly evident keeping supplies short. Quality and quantities have been affected for much longer than what was expected. The market remains stable with higher undertones. Most growers are expecting this steady trend to hold through the last week of July when warmer temperatures should help plant growth and production numbers. Quality is just fair right now. Watch for weather-related issues to still be present in most lots including bruising, full ripe and short shelf life.  Santa Maria fruit has occasional bruising, over ripe, pin rot, windburn, seedy and misshapen with average counts of 21 to 23 with some smaller-sized fruit. Salinas/Watsonville fruit has occasional bruising, white shoulder, green tip, fan and crease with average counts of 18 to 20, occasionally higher and lower sizing.

RASPBERRIES / BLACKBERRIES– Raspberries: Raspberries are light in production this week in Mexico and will be for the next few weeks. Raspberries continue to be steady, mainly out of the Watsonville area of California and production should increase steadily as we move into warmer weather. Quality is good in most lots. Look for the market to remain firm through next week. Blackberries: Blackberry supplies continue to dwindle in Mexico as we come closer to the end of their season. The few growers in the Mexican highlands will continue to go through July but most will be done this week and won’t start again until next October. Western growers are transferring fruit from Georgia and Oregon to help fill orders. California is going now and expected to make it another 2-3 weeks. Then, supply will transition to Oregon with Washington and British Columbia starting late-August/early- September. Quality is good in most lots with the occasional older fruit showing some age upon transfer arrival. Look for the market to remain firm through July as we wait on the warmer weather to increase production.    

LIMES- Quality on limes continues to improve with minimal stylar or skin breakdown. Supply continues to be good. Smaller fruit seems to be slightly more limited. In the coming weeks, we expect to see the crop size up a bit as the crop matures. Volume is expected to lower slightly within 2 weeks causing a slight upward trend in pricing.

LEMONS– California: California supplies will continue to remain tight on 140’s and smaller for most of the summer. Market prices continue to stay strong on both choice and fancy fruit. The quality continues to improve. Offshore supply is getting better weekly, with inbounds on both coasts which will help offset California supplies. Import quality is very good.   

CHERRIES- Over the past few years, overall, Washington-wide cherry volumes have lessened each year and this year’s volume is predicted to be smaller than last years. Retail ads continue to command volume; therefore, keeping prices strong and inventories low. For some smaller shippers, they will finish packing this week and quickly sell out of inventory.    

STONE FRUIT- Stone fruit supplies are steady. Due to the warm weather and new varieties, size is ranging on the large side. Smaller fruit (TP 54 and VF 60 and smaller) is limited. This is especially true on peaches and nectarines. Plums are sizing up as well, but there are still some smaller sizes out there. Growers continue to have plenty of volume available for promotional opportunities. We are in the peak of the California season. Quality has been excellent. Demand has been lower than years past and shippers are looking for business. We expect to see good supplies through August.  

CANTALOUPES- Cantaloupe is a little flat due to the overlap between growing regions. In California, we are seeing good numbers on small fruit. Quality on California fruit is good with brix levels in the 12%-14% range. Desert fruit is showing availability on all sizes. There will be fruit in the desert for another week as the season is coming to an end.

HONEYDEWS- We continue to see warm temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley this week. Growers are seeing mostly smaller fruit as the season ramps up. Solid internal and external quality. Large fruit is limited this week but expecting better numbers next week. The desert is tapering off and will be done for the season in the next week. Late season fruit is fair with good availability on all sizes. We can expect an overlap between these two growing regions for the next few weeks.    

ORANGES- California Oranges: With navels pretty much done, production on California Valencia’s will increase. We’ll have plenty of supplies on all sizes and grades with great quality. Markets on both grades are in the mid-teens. Valencia supplies continue to improve weekly, especially on the 113’s and smaller in both choice and fancy grades. Quality is looking great. Offshore: Imports from South America have started arriving. The first arrivals on import navels will be on the smaller side.

CLEMENTINES- The Moroccan clementine season is done. Clementine’s are now coming from either Israel or California and packed 15x2lb bags. Quality is good.

GRAPEFRUIT- Quality out of California is improving, but has some occasional scarring. Internal and external color is nice with high brix. California has better supplies on red grapefruit with increasing volume daily peaking on 36/40 count.  

GRAPES– The Mexican grape season is winding down quickly, with many growers finishing packing and shipping their inventory of red seedless grapes within the next few days. On the other hand, good volumes of green seedless grapes (Sugraones) are still available out of Mexico and will continue to be shipped and paired with new-crop, 19-pound red seedless into mid-July. Both colors of grapes out of Coachella continue to be harvested through this week, with many growers finishing Flames and transitioning to Scarlet Royals as a late-season red seedless option. Much like Mexico, Sugraones are also readily available out of Coachella, with cheap deals being made on volume orders. Much of the focus in the grape industry will now be the transition from Mexico/Coachella to the Central Valley of California. New-crop, 19-pound red seedless grapes (Flames) are now being harvested through this week, with volume building as additional growers begin packing their first box of red seedless of the season. New-crop Sugraones are still roughly a week behind Flames, with most growers beginning harvest this week. We should start to see some of the “specialty” grapes, such as champagne, over the next couple of weeks. The overall start to the Central Valley region remains roughly 7-10 days behind a normal season, with the overall crop expected to be very similar to 2018 in regard to both volume and also quality/sizing. Green: Growers have started the new harvest of green grapes this week in California’s Central Valley. Production is light but will ramp up quickly as we move forward. We continue to see an overlap of harvest with Coachella and Mexico. However, we have seen several reports of quality issues on Mexican grapes. Soft, wet berries, shatter and early decay are some of the issued we have seen this week. Coachella seems to be holding up, but both areas are approaching the end of their seasons and we need to start making the transition into the new harvest. Prices are more expensive on the new harvest, but the quality is better. As we move forward, we expect good quality and increased production out of the central valley. As volumes increase, prices will gradually level off. Look to make the move over next week. Red: Growers have started California harvest this week in the Central Valley. Harvest numbers are lighter and market prices are higher. However, the quality is much better than what we are seeing out of Mexico. Coachella is still harvesting and the quality seems to be holding up. Mexico continues to have good volume, but we have seen several complaints this week on quality. We are approaching the end of the season and prices are cheap, but the quality is starting to suffer. We are seeing wet berries, shatter and early decay. This week is the first week that we have seen this wave of issues, but it is a good indication to make the switch to a new harvest. We expect Central Valley production to continue to increase moving forward. We will continue to have an overlap between the new harvest in Coachella and Mexico for the next week or so. There will be a big price disparity between new harvest and Mexico, but as production increases in California, we expect prices to level off. Moving forward we will transition into 100% Central Valley harvest and we expect good quality and supplies for the season.   

AVOCADOS- Industry arrivals for last week totaled 51.4 million pounds. Mexico delivered 21 million pounds, California harvested 12.7 million pounds, Colombia supplied 50,000 pounds, New Zealand came in with 40,000 pounds and Peru provided 17.7 million pounds. Inventory levels at 42.5 million pounds overall (40 million conventional). Current supply flow is expected to reach the mid 45 million-pound level with the surge of Mexico’s Loca crop and Peruvian volumes at the peak of the season. With the gradual decline from California, and Peruvian volumes peaking at the 17+ million-pound mark, Mexico continues to lead industry supplies. Mexico- The state of Michoacán harvested 30 million pounds last week with 21 million pounds shipping to the United States. Unexpected heavy Loca crop availability caused field prices to drop. Harvest this week is expected to peak at around 21-24 million-pounds with 84-87% expected to ship to the US.  The weather forecast for the state of Michoacán continues to call for afternoon rains throughout the summer, with slight limitations on harvest. The new crop fruit will take about 10-12 days to ripen and will remain green externally when ripe. New crop fruit will also be heavy on smaller fruit and #1 grade fruit. With inventories depleted, suppliers are not only trying to ripen fruit as quickly as they can but also replenish inventories. California- California harvested 12.7 million pounds. Projected harvest is 10 and 7 million pounds for this week and next, respectively. This signals California’s gradual drop in production, of which is expected to last until mid-September.  Estimated crop size adjusted to 180 million pounds. The fruit is showing great internal and external quality. The flavor profile is on point as fruit eats great and cuts well. Volume will taper off come August. Peru- Peru arrivals to the US totaled 17.7 million pounds for last week. Projected arrivals for this week and next are 17.4 and 12.6 million pounds; season arrivals have peaked at 17 million pounds and are expected to stay at a 13-14 million weekly average throughout the month of July. Estimated US volumes for the season have updated to 180 million pounds. Market Outlook – With arrivals and harvests totaling 50 million pounds last week, we expect the market to soften, especially on 20s and smaller. Peru and California will begin to decline after this week, which will start to leave a weekly gap in available product. Large fruit will remain tight, as Flora Loca supply curve leans towards smaller sizes. We are anticipating a tight market for August and September, with little relief until Mexico harvests the Aventajada crop. 

PEARS– Washington: The pear market is steady, but inventories are quickly depleting. With availability limited to D’Anjou (Red Anjou are done), there are only a few shippers who have inventory. As we make our way through July, that inventory will continue to diminish, especially on 110ct and smaller. New crop Bartletts are expected mid to late August, followed by Red Bartletts/Starkrimson at the end of August. Offshore: Chilean and Argentinean Bartlett pears are available. Chilean Packams (70-120ct) are available. California: California Bartlett pears are expected to start this or next week. Bosc pears are expected to follow the week of Aug 12.

TOMATOES– East Coast: The regional summer programs are underway and the market tone is steady to lower this week as more fruit becomes available. Growers in Quincy, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have finished for the season. As anticipated for early July, smaller growers are popping up, helping to improve eastern supply loading at regional farms in Alabama, North Carolina, Tennerssee, and Virginia. The mature green round market has begun to soften as supply and quality continue to improve. Roma tomatoes are beginning to fill the eastern supply chain out of farms in Tennessee and North Carolina helping to stabilize the market. Grape tomatoes have also transitioned to new fields, moving from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina further north to Virginia and Eastern Tennessee where volume and quality have improved greatly from just 2 weeks ago. West Coast: Mexican tomato prices are steady from last week. Baja and Eastern Mexico are underway and have begun to establish the western market for vine ripes tomatoes. Northern California is continuing to ramp up production of mature greens driving the market down as farm production builds momentum in the San Joaquin Valley. Roma tomato prices are steady and expected to slide as California gradually increases operations over the next 7-10 days. Mainland Mexico is slowly improving grape tomato harvests while Baja continues to produce better quality as they move into new fields. Duties remain at 17.56% of the value of tomatoes crossing into the US directly affecting the cost of goods. The added costs for importers will ultimately be reflected in what the consumer pays and is pressuring Mexico to help offset costs by keeping prices low to continue the flow of tomatoes into the US. Since the suspension agreement was terminated in early May, the current landscape is proving to establish a new “minimum” as Mexico works to find footing in the US market. It is too soon to determine how both supply and demand will be affected in the long run, but it is expected that imports will be reduced at some point in the future.

APPLES- Washington: The apple market continues to firm up as we make our way to August. Ginger Golds are expected to gap as shippers continue to struggle with filling orders. Those shippers who do have them are selling to the shippers who don’t (and for a substantial price). Many shippers have scaled back their apple packing lines and have allocated much of that labor to cherries, which has also contributed to the active market. In the coming weeks, we will see smaller shippers ‘clean up’ on certain varieties (Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Gala), adding pressure to the large shippers who have fruit year-round. Similar to years past, July will bring increased prices as we move closer to August and to the new harvest. We are less than two months away from the new crop starting with Royal Galas. The new crop looks to be a normal to large crop with a good range of sizes. Of course, this could all change with the weather but, so far, so good. Ginger Golds and early Honeycrisp to start the week of August 5.  California: Galas should start around the end of July/beginning of August (heavy, spring rains have affected California start dates). Granny Smiths should start at the end of August/first week of September

CASTLEFRANCO / CLEMENTINES / LOCAL ENGLISH PEAS IN THE POD and SHELLED / CHERRIES / APRICOTS / PEACHES / NECTARINES / RED & BLACK PLUMS / FORLELLE PEARS / LOCAL FAVA BEANS / LOCAL FLAT BEANS / LOCAL FIELD CUCUMBERS / LOCAL PICKLING CUCUMBERS

GARLIC SCAPES - From BC. Organic. Now available.

SEA ASPARAGUS- From BC. Local harvest.

PORCINI- From Oregon. Top quality. Limited Supplies.

SUMMER TRUFFLES- From Spain.

WINTER TRUFFLES - From Australia. Whole and pieces now available.

BLUEFOOT- From France. Limited weekly arrivals.

MOREL MUSHROOMS- From BC. Perfect quality. Peak season.

CHANTERELLE - From Bulgaria. First of the season.

VALES SOVEREIGN POTATO / PRICKLY PEARS / SEVILLE ORANGES / RED CURRANTS / GALIA MELONS / CALIFORNIA POMEGRANITE / GREEN OLIVES / CARA CARA ORANGE / FIDDLEHEADS / ONTARIO RAMPS / FLORIDA JUICE ORANGE / ONTARIO RHUBARB