For the week ending December 7, 2024
Harvest volumes are down in all growing areas with no relief expected until late-December at the earliest. California, already struggling with production, is expecting heavy rainfall which could result in further harvest delays. Both Mexico is starting to see signs of improvement, but still only shipping light supplies. Florida is just getting underway although no significant volume is projected until mid to late-December.
Strong supplies and outstanding quality continue to arrive from Peru. Mexico is also shipping light supplies. Market prices are expected to hold at aggressive levels into early December.
Harvest volumes are starting to improve out of Mexico. Prices are still holding above average but should start to ease down towards the end of the month
Shipments from Central Mexico are gradually increasing. This is expected to continue through the holiday season. Pricing and quality are steady.
Prices are holding strong, particularly on product coming from the west coast. Production out of Salinas, CA is starting to wind down while Yuma has not yet ramped up. Broccoli floret shipments are still being prorated – we will substitute whole broccoli as necessary.
This typically volatile market will jump back up next week as growers finish up harvests in Salinas. Yuma has not reached full production yet, so supplies are somewhat limited heading into Thanksgiving.
California navel oranges are in much better supply with more favorable pricing. Australian blood oranges are in stock. Domestic California blood oranges and cara cara oranges are on schedule for early to mid-December. Other specialty citrus varieties are available upon request: satsuma mandarins, pomelo, fresh yuzu, pink lemons, bergamot oranges, and oro blanco grapefruit.
We are hoping that peak price increases are behind us as growers continue to improve production out of Yuma, AZ. Supplies are still light to moderate, but markets are trending in the right direction. A subtle price relief will come next week followed by gradual price reductions throughout December. Precut lettuce and romaine are still at elevated prices but could come down a bit after the heavy Thanksgiving pull. Smaller size heads and lighter case weights are still showing on all lettuce varieties. Spinach, spring mix, and baby kale prices also remain elevated.
The impacts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton are still lingering with some crops, including green bell peppers. Growers in Georgia are sorting through quality issues, while many fields in Florida were destroyed. This has shifted significant demand out west due to the shortage of supplies. We should start to see some relief by early to mid-December. Availability of colored bell peppers is also down significantly out of both Canada and Mexico. Elevated prices may last through December and into January.
All round tomato (4×4, 5×6, 6×6) prices have spiked in November with no relief in sight – possibly not until the new year. Roma tomatoes are above-average, but a less expensive option than rounds. Quality on rounds and Romas is marginal. Florida and Georgia are usually the main source this time of year, but multiple hurricanes have decimated fields, forcing growers to replant. The replanting will not bear fruit until sometime in December at the earliest. Much of the overall demand has shifted to Mexico now where they will also not have significant volume increases until January.
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