For the week ending December 21, 2024
Harvest volumes are down in all growing areas with no relief expected until late-December at the earliest. California production has been slowed by rain. Volume out of Mexico remains limited. We won’t see any major improvement in pricing until Florida ramps up production within the next few weeks.
Strong supplies and outstanding quality continue to arrive from Peru. Mexico and Chile will begin increasing shipments into the States over the coming week. Sizing and flavor remain excellent with reasonable pricing.
Driscoll’s are shipping strong supplies out of Central Mexico. Allowing for some decent prices through the end of the year. Quality has been excellent in recent weeks.
Shipments from Central Mexico are gradually increasing. This is expected to continue through the holiday season. Pricing and quality are relatively steady.
Prices are holding strong as Yuma slowly increases harvests. Improved availability is expected in another 1-2 weeks. There are less expensive options of bunched and crowned broccoli coming from the southeast, but California/Arizona grown product is commanding a premium.
Production in Yuma, AZ is progressing slowly with only fair quality. Supplies will be extremely limited for the next 10-14 days.
California navel oranges are in much better supply with more favorable pricing. Domestic blood oranges and cara cara navels are just getting started with limited availability. Other specialty citrus varieties are available upon request: satsuma mandarins, pomelo, fresh yuzu, pink lemons, bergamot oranges, and oro blanco grapefruit.
All lettuce prices are getting some much-needed price relief from stronger production out of the southwest. Decreased demand over the past few weeks coupled with ideal growing conditions in Yuma, AZ are allowing markets to recover. Iceberg, romaine, romaine hearts, spring mix, and processed lettuce prices have all decreased – and will continue to gradually come down throughout the month.
Cantaloupe and honeydew prices are up due to short supplies. The domestic season has finished, while offshore shipments have yet to arrive. Markets will hold stronger until after the holidays.
Watermelons will also be tight for a few weeks as Mexico transitions from northern to southern growing areas. Florida and Georgia are producing much less volume than usual due to Hurricane Milton.
Green bell peppers remain in short supply with high prices. The season in Georgia has concluded – any remaining product there is of marginal quality. Florida is the main growing area in the east, but growers continue to recover from hurricane damage. Mexico is seeing increased demand, but there’s not enough product there to fill pipelines. Red, yellow, and orange bell pepper prices are starting to ease with supplies improving out of both Canada and Mexico.
Extreme prices are continuing for most tomato varieties from overall demand far exceeding supplies. There are no significant changes and price relief isn’t expected until January. Production out of Florida remains limited from the hurricane damage, but harvest volumes should start to improve within the next 1-2 weeks. Grape tomato volumes are low and will stay that way until late-December. Roma tomatoes are a less expensive option than rounds (5×6, 6×6, 4×4), if flexibility allows for the substitution. Campari and on-the-vine cluster tomatoes are also going for reasonable prices.
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