Lettuce--the lettuce market is extremely variable and fragile right now. Almost all lettuce has transitioned to Huron, which is a very short lived deal. Sometime in mid to late November, the whole deal moves to Yuma, Arizona and California's Cochella Valley for the winter. What tends to happen is that the growing conditions in Yuma are less than perfect right now. Days are short and traditionally there is not enough heat and light to jump start the crop. So we're stuck with an area (Huron), which has received too much rain and Yuma/Cochella which is not ready to take over. This is also affecting baby spinach and spring mix which have been tender and wet.
Here's a snippet of an e mail we received from one supplier regarding romaine lettuce.
ROMAINE QUALITY NOTICE
"Unseasonable weather is causing Pink Rib, Windburn, Mildew and Cracked Rib." I'm not even sure what all these monikers mean. "Please look at all romaine products upon arrival, and do not accept the product if it does not meet your standards. We will not be issuing credits for any romaine products during this period of time." In English this means that growers are saying quality is poor but if you must have it, don't ask for credit." Wow!
Blueberries--from Argentina and Uruguay have hit the market and prices are beginning to come off a bit. Quality is quite good. My instinct says prices will drop rapidly since Chile is sitting on a record crop. Let's see.
Strawberries--the strawberry market is very tight mostly due to poor weather. Product is now coming from Santa Maria and Oxnard, though no California areas are exempt from the recent rains. Prices are higher and quality is hit and miss. Driscoll is one of the few strawberry packers around and they are taking advantage of it.
Limes--the market is soft and prices are dropping.
Lemons--are being sourced from many locations and prices are lower also.
California Navels--have hit the marketplace. Prices have opened around $30 for 72-88 counts. Product is a bit immature.
Asparagus-- prices finally move up a bit. We'll have to wait and see if the Thanksgiving push will alter prices significantly.
Green Peppers--prices have jumped here also. As the Mexican crop ripens, prices should come back down.
Arugula--B&W baby arugula or rocket has returned to the scene after dealing with a bout of bad weather. Quality seems to have returned to normal.
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( 2.8 / 113 )Many of the vegetables that skyrocketed in price last week have already crashed back down to Earth. This includes broccoli, cauliflower and iceberg lettuce. Markets will probably be a bit unstable for the next few weeks as new growing areas get situated. The real test will be where supplies are as the holidays approach. Here's a look at today's produce report.
Broccoli and Cauliflower--both California grown vegetables have dropped significantly in price and now hover around the $20 mark. Broccoli crowns have dropped also.
Brussels Sprouts--this fall vegetable has dropped a bit also and the quality is excellent. We are able to procure beautiful Holland baby brussels sprouts on a pre-order basis if you're so inclined.
Lettuces--as the lettuce supplies transition to the Huron District of California, supplies begin to increase. This has affected the iceberg lettuce market drastically as prices have plummeted. Leaf and romaine prices are a tad behind.
Cucumbers --have a two tiered pricing system right now. Southern cukes from Louisiana and Georgia, are less expensive, though quality is variable, while the more expensive cucumbers being shipped from Mexico are significantly nicer. Seedless cucumbers are in a bit of a gap as Canada is finishing for the season, while Mexican hot house seedless cucumbers are just beginning. Prices are higher.
Peppers--as the local markets finish up for the season, new crop peppers are demanding higher prices. Quality is very good. This will also be true of all "specialty" peppers such as poblanos, Hungarian hots, jalapenos, serranos and habeneros.
Lemons and Limes--the shift toward cooler weather lessens the demand for these fruits and prices are dropping.
Specialty Mushrooms--chanterelles, lobster mushrooms, and maitake or Hen of the Woods have been the "specialty" mushrooms of choice as of late. The prices are reasonable and the quality has been very good. Many of you have jumped on these mushrooms for menu choices, and we appreciate it. We'll keep bringing seasonal mushrooms to the table if the demand is there. Give Matt, Cindy or Mike a call if you're interested.
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( 3.1 / 131 )Many vegetables currently sourced from northern California have risen in price dramatically. Cool weather and fewer daylight hours have slowed production to a halt. Recent heavy rains have compounded the problem. This is the tail end of the Salinas growing season and items like lettuce, baby spinach, spring mix, broccoli and cauliflower are about to transition to the Huron district and Yuma, Arizona. It could be a bit premature for those areas to pick up the slack. This November like weather in October is adding to the problem, since it has prematurely ended several local deals in the Midwest and East Coast.
Lettuce--is probably more susceptible to rain and cold than other vegetables. Cases have been running a bit light in weight. Iceberg, and all romaine products are higher. We're still able to ride the coattails of the end of a few Michigan growers who have a bit of leaf and boston yet. Once there is a hard freeze, that deal will be done.
Broccoli and Cauliflower--prices are hovering in the high $20's and low $30 range for both vegetables. Higher demand and waning local deals for these fall crops is pressuring the market higher as well as the cool weather is not helping products mature. We talked to one local grower who has 15 acres of cauliflower under production. The cool summer has just not matured the crop as usual. He said if things turn out right, he could have a bumper crop by Thanksgiving.
Celery--prices are starting to climb after several months of being quite reasonable.
Tomatoes--have gone up in price everyday this week. Luckily we have a few Michigan tomatoes to ease us in to this situation, but plan on tomatoes being over $1 per pound later this week. Grape tomatoes are following suit, though romas are stable for the time being. This situation is not uncommon at this time of the year as California is the only major player for vine ripes, while gas green tomatoes usually transition to California and then Florida. Relief usually comes once Mexico begins major volumes.
Berries--there is virtually an empty pipeline out there in the world of blueberries. Prices for the little that's available is in the $50-$60 range. The solution will come once Argentina begins shipping, which should happen shortly. Raspberries prices are creeping higher, and the quality is showing some signs of stress from recent rains. They still taste quite good, though the color is getting darker as the California deal is ending. Product will transition to Mexico, any day now.
Blackberry prices have come off a bit and the quality is improving. Unfortunately these varieties are quite sour, unlike the tasty blackberries we've had most of the summer.
Strawberries are rising also as fewer growers are left in the game. The recent rains are creating havoc here. We've received e-mails from distributors saying next week berries could be an issue. We'll have to wait and see.
Not all is bleak, though. There are still quite a few produce items that you can use to keep food costs lower. Here's a look.
Pineapples--prices are lower and quality has improved.
Peppers--a few local deals around the country is keeping this market soft. Both red and green peppers are quite reasonable.
Squash--this is the time for great deals on local hard shelled squash. Lots of choices and pricing is favorable. Don't wait too long since a hard freeze will cull the crop. Zucchini and yellow squash have transitioned to Georgia and Mexico keeping prices reasonalbe.
Eggplant--another good menu item for keeping costs down. Enough local product is in the pipelines to keep the market from moving higher.
Root Vegetables--this is the time of year when quality is at it's peak. Several local products are available including potatoes, carrots, turnips, and parsnips.
Potatoes--a huge crop of russet potatoes is contributing to low prices. A great menu choice here.
Asparagus--it's unusual to see other main stream vegetables go higher, and asparagus stay stable. But that's what's happening due to overproduction in South America. We'll see what Thanksgiving brings.
Apples--just about all local varieties are currently available. The late ripening apples which are the best for pies are staring to show up. These are Idareds and Northern Spy's. Prices are extremely reasonable for this huge local crop.
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( 2.8 / 166 )I've noticed that some prices of fall items are beginning to take off, and I couldn't understand why. There's no major weather issues that I know of to shake things up (that's usually the culprit). Business is quite sluggish all over at this time of the year, so prices should be stable. Well, I did some digging and came up with the answer. Who's to blame for the escalating produce prices we're beginning to see? Those darn Canadians, of course. The Canadian Thanksgiving is coming up next Monday, October 12th, and just like here, it's a huge food holiday. So, growers get a nice boost in business. Ads have been contracted for by Canadian grocers, taking product out of the pipeline, and we're paying for the shortage. Broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts seem to be the vegetables that seem to be taking off first. Prices are rising by the hour!
Also, several Michigan commodities are finished for the year or just about done. Items like summer squash, green beans, eggplant, cucumbers, and peppers, usually start coming from Georgia.
Here's a peek at some other produce items:
Zucchini and Yellow Squash--Michigan is virtually finished for the season and product is being sourced from Georgia. Prices are stable for now, though quality seems improved from late season Michigan product.
Blueberries--product from Argentina is late due to cold weather and Michigan product is getting very scarce. Prices are rising to the $40+ range for 12 1/2 pints. Raspberries from California are finishing up for the season. Product will most likely start coming from Mexico in the weeks ahead. Prices are on the rise.
Eggplant--some Michigan product remains but the party is virtually over. Georgia eggplant seems fresher and brighter, and prices are reasonable.
Tomatoes--this is usually a painful transition away from our local vine ripe tomatoes, to product which is picked pale and shipped across the country. It's right around the corner, as the rain and cooler temperatures bring the local tomato season to a close. A big boo hoo!
Grapes --the quality has been excellent for both green and red seedless varieties from California. There are still some concord grapes available from Michigan, if you're interested.
Pomegranates and Quince--the season is progressing for both fruits. Pomegranates are entering the mid season varieties which should have better seed color. We also offer 8 oz and 5lb pomegranate sees, which are great for salads and no hassle to you. They do have a limited shelf life, though. The other fruit I think of in this vein is persimmons, which should be available shortly.
Apple Cider--I tasted the most recent batch and the cider is great. Don't wait too long to jump on board. Peoples taste buds are changing due to the cooler weather, and cider sales are highest between Halloween and Thanksgiving.
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( 2.9 / 150 )Lately it seems difficult to come up with new information for these blogs, so today I'll take a different approach. Here goes:
As we enter the stretch run of the California grape season, a new variety called the Pristine grape should hit the market in early October. Developed over the last 20 years by Anton Caratan, this late season green grape is purported to be sweet and crunchy and extends the grape season. It is currently marketed only by Sun Fresh, Four Star Fruit and Delano Farms. I'm not familiar with this particular variety, but since other fruit disappears from view at this time, this could be a nice addition to the late summer (early fall) fruit selection.
Blueberries--from Argentina are poised to come on the heels of the domestic blueberry season. The South American blueberry deal is a relatively new phenomenon. It seems as if the Chilean blueberry deal catapulted onto the scene just a few years ago, and now Argentina and Uruguay have joined the fray. The anti-oxidant properties associated with blueberries have opened the floodgates for farmers to shift land to this hot commodity. As the Michigan and British Colombian crops wind down for the year, the northern province of Tucuman in Argentina is about ready to begin air freighting blueberries to the U.S. For your geography lesson, the deal then shifts to the main growing area of Concordia. The transition to berries from Argentina fills the gap until Chile begins shipping around December. These usually come by boat to the U.S. Blueberry growers look at other commodities that are now year round and say why not us.
Organic Apples--are now being treated with organic carnauba wax to "enhance the eating experience" of organic apples. Most apples are pressure tested during harvest, and there is a direct correlation between higher pressure and crunchiness. Wax on apples is applied to retain the "crunchy" factor or higher pressure testing. Without wax, the apple industry claims that apples lose about a pound of pressure per day on the retail stand. The organic industry has therefore created an organic wax to keep apples from getting mealy.
Nuts and Dried Fruits--the United States is certainly doing its part in going nuts! We've had back to back high volume and high quality nut harvests, though increasing world demand and poor growing seasons oversees, keep nut prices high. I'm not sure how the nut and dried fruit industry came to be associated with the produce industry, but since it is, I'm here to report on it! The domestic pecan crop is huge this year. Did you know that Georgia is by far the leading producer of pecans, followed by New Mexico and Texas. Walnuts and almonds also appear to have one of the largest grossing harvests in the history of either crop. The pistachio crop is also touted to be very large, and U.S. pistachios are prized oversees. When I was young, most of the pistachios sold in the U.S were from Iran and ofter red in color. The good ones were extremely tasty, though often infested with small worms. The U.S. pistachio industry did not even exist then, but soon took the world by storm with its clean and very large nuts. Needless to say there is not a huge market today in the U.S. for Iranian pistachios.
New crop medjool dates have entered the marketplace and as usual they are soft, sweet and delicious. The crop is harvested from the Cochella Valley in the California desert. Also dried calimyrna figs from Greece have appeared on the market in one 24x1 pound units. Soon we will also see California black mission and calimyrna figs as well as the incomparable Turkish dried figs. Yum!
Strawberries--have been a bit "under the weather" or "hit and miss" lately, due to rain in the growing area of Watsonville. The good news is that strawberries are beginning their transition further south, back to Santa Maria and Oxnard where the whole California deal gets going in the spring. This should take us through the fall and then we'll be touting the arrival of berries from Florida.
Romaine--the romaine market is in a supply exceeds demand situation, and prices are falling for all romaine products. Take advantage of these lower prices while they're around.
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