Field Report

29 July 2010

Apples/ Pears: We’re getting late into the storage season. Small sizes and lower grades are particularly difficult to find. Once schools start up supplies will be put under even more pressure. Despite the small counts, markets are relatively steady. New crop Bartletts are now in stock.

Avocado: California is past peak in its harvest. Mexico is not crossing as their season is close to the end and what little that is produced is being consumed south of the border. Demand is strong and supplies are under pressure especially the smaller sizes.

Bell Peppers: Supplies of colored bells has improved over the last few weeks. Greens are coming out of several regions and in good supply. Quality is nice. Regional deals across the country are helping to keep the market balanced.

Berries: Strawberries- Cool damp mornings are slowing Central Coast production. Expect supplies to continue shrinking and prices to rise into August. Quality is fairly good with moderate sizing and good color. Pricing is multi-tiered based on label, berry size and shelf life. Those buying strictly on price may be disappointed. Raspberries- Demand remains strong relative to current supplies, keeping this market firm. Quality is very good. Blackberries- Production is coming out of Watsonville and demand is strong enough o keep pricing firm. Quality is good. Blueberries- Oregon, British Columbia and Michigan are increasing their production and supplies continue to improve. Quality is very nice.

Broccoli and cauliflower: Pricing on broccoli continues to be soft. Availability and supplies are ample. Growers have transitioned to reduced acreage to offset regional deals across the country. Quality from the Central Coast region is excellent. The cauliflower market has settled down. Supplies are growing now, but production gaps are in the forecast. Prices could fluctuate based on supplies.

Citrus: Oranges: The Valencia crop is peaking on mid-sized oranges, with 88’s and 113’s being most common. Quality is excellent and juice content is high. Pricing should remain stable through the month. The Valencia season will run into October. Recent temperatures have cracked 100. This heat causes a reverse flow of chlorophyll, resulting in re-greening of the outer skin. This condition is strictly cosmetic and does not alter the internal sugars or eating quality of the fruit which is currently excellent. Lemons: Supplies are good, but summer demand is heavy and the market is moving higher especially on larger sized fruit. The availability of offshore fruit is improving and starting to influence prices.

Lettuce: The lettuce market is overwhelmed with light demand. California shippers have reduced acreage by as much as 20 percent to offset regional deals across the country. Supplies still exceed demand and prices remain reasonable. The lettuce industry is dependent on long haul trucks to bring product to market. Truck availability on the West Coast has been inconsistent and expensive dating back to late spring. This tight truck market is further compounded by melon, stone fruit and grape deals competing for the same limited set of trucks.