The incessant rain over these past few weeks is taking its toll on summer fruits and vegetables. Like how much water can a watermelon or green bean soak up. We need a good dose of sunshine to preserve the flavor of items that grow on the vine.
The days seem to be changing--getting a bit shorter and cooler at night. That either means baseball season is changing to football season, or fall is about here. The town is starting to fill up and it's a bit more difficult to get around. In the produce world it means apples, pears and concord grapes. Michigan apples have begun with the Paula Red variety and Ginger Gold (yellow delicious type). Believe it or not, the wonderful super special bestest apple of all time--for now, the honeycrisp, is just about ready. If you want to make applesauce, we can source cooking apples like greenings, wolf river and the like which are high in pectin.
Michigan concord grapes (actually fredonia is the first variety) are just beginning. These grapes are basically grown for grape juice, jellies and jams, but we always bring some in to have an opportunity to taste their unique flavor and texture. As we move a bit further into fall, we also can get red seedless canadice variety and white seedless himrod variety. This is in addition to the seeded varieties of red delaware and green niagara grapes. Say yes to Michigan!
California mountain bartlett pears are being harvested now, which are an improvement from the earlier river bartletts. Some of you (restaurants) use pears in a pear and cheese salad, so we're trying to have some on hand which are not grass green and have a break, so you can use them right away. Let your salesperson know if you want your pears ripe or not, and we'll try to accommodate. We pride ourselves in trying to have ripe product for you especially with items such as tomatoes and avocados. Let us help you by taking the hassle of ripening product away from you.
This blog may be quiet for a few weeks, so talk to you in September.
Rick
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( 3 / 176 )Just off the press. We've got a great deal on french beans for the early part of next week. Guatemala is loaded with haricovert and the price is right. 5lbs for only $10. Such a deal. Get them while they're hot!
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( 2.8 / 201 )So much for my recent statement about asparagus becoming reasonable. The recent earthquake in Peru and the several aftershocks which have continued to rock the country thereafter, took place right near the heart of the asparagus growing region. Several loads were shipped to the U.S. right before the quake, so prices and supplies will be reasonable early next week, but getting product out now will be difficult. Packing plants have lost electricity and water, and the roads to get product to port are in bad shape. If asparagus is a mainstay item on your menu, call next week for an update. Stay tuned!
Hot, dry weather here in Michigan and in California is beginning to take a toll. Strawberries in Calif. are beginning to rise in price. Quality has been only fair (so much other wonderful fruit is around). If the weather cools, quality will improve. Raspberies have been a better buy.
Lettuce prices from California are also higher, especially iceberg and spring mix. This situation should not be long lived.
Michigan vine crops, i.e.summer squash, cucumbers, green beans are diminishing in supply as prices creep higher.
Summer Michigan apples are beginning to appear. These first few varieties are great for apple sauce.
Other fruit is plentiful. Pineapples, melons of all types, bartlett pears, grapes, figs, peaches and plums are still summer like.
Thanks for tuning in.
Rick
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( 2.9 / 307 )The article below is an excerpt about the freeze (it approached -5 degrees) in Chili which affected the avocado market.
SANTIAGO, Chile — A heavy snowfall Aug. 8 in central Chile — with forecasts for more snow and low temperatures — followed an exceptionally cold July, dealing a blow to the avocado crop just as exports to the U.S. started.
Even before the snow, Chile’s Comite de Palta (avocado committee) estimated July freezes wiped out 37% of the season’s crop.
The early-August weather brought new worries about apple and pear crops and citrus trees. Chile is currently exporting clementines and lemons to the U.S.
Weather-related problems could affect Chilean avocado markets for up to two years, with lower production as U.S. consumption increases by 15% annually, fueled by marketing and promotional efforts from U.S., Chilean and Mexican avocado marketers, said Rob Wedin, vice president of sales and fresh marketing for Calavo Growers Inc., Santa Paula, Calif.
This is why the avocado market is approaching $60/case.
The asparagus market has fallen to under $3/lb. That's better!
Many of you took advantage of the great calimyrna fig deal last week. This week black mission and brown turkey are the figs to buy. Prices are a bit up, though still very reasonable.
Michigan slicing tomatoes are in full swing. For salsa, gazpacho or cooking uses, we stock a less expensive, not as pretty, though flavorful tomato. Ask our sales force for more information.
Heirloom tomatoes are still going strong.
Michigan peaches are in mid season form. They are freestone and tasty. Don't wait too long to use them though since the season will begin to wind down rapidly.
Happy Eating
Rick
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( 2.7 / 222 )Too dry, now too wet--It's the farmers dilemma, but it's a good time to share with you some market news.
--Calimyrna figs from California are abundant and inexpensive. "Pony" boxes of 12-14 count large figs cost only $6 this weekend. I'm not sure how long the price will stay there. Also available are black mission figs in pints for about $30 per case of 12 pints.
--Asparagus is finally about to come off its high price. There should be some relief next week and more the week after.
--Onions are being harvested from many areas around the country putting downward pressure on the market. Prices are falling.
--The same can be said for russet potatoes, Red A and Red B potatoes.
--The Michigan heirloom tomato deal has finally crept off the ground, though this wet weather can lead to some cracking. Cherokee purple and Brandywine are in the warehouse now and soon to come from our growers near Benton Harbor will be Mister Stripey, Amanda Orange, Green Zebra and Great White to name a few. You can check descriptions of these tomatoes on the Jonny Seed web site. www.jonnyseeds.com
--I was just informed there will be an article in next Wednesday's (Aug. 15) N.Y. Times about the Benton Harbor Fruit market. The writer,one of Ann Arbor's own, heard that Frog Holler and The Produce Station go to the Benton Harbor market and she wrote an article about it. It should be in the Times' dining section.
Later,
Rick
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