http://www.frogholler.info/blog/index.php http://www.frogholler.info/blog/index.php?entry=entry100130-050535 Here's a look at today's news!

Tomatoes--this defies gravity. Florida is virtually wiped out for much of the winter, but the tomato market has hit rock bottom this week. Vine ripe tomatoes out of Mexico are flooding the market and prices are much lower. Roma tomatoes are a bargain also, while grape tomatoes are on the high side. Don't expect this pattern to last long. There is already pressure on the tomato market to raise prices, so this weekend could be the bottom of the market.

Strawberries --California is out of the game for awhile and could adversely affect the market if a new wet weather front hits this weekend. Here's what one periodical had to say.

(UPDATED COVERAGE, Jan. 26) Southern California strawberry grower-shippers suffered a series of storms barreled through the state that could keep them from harvest until late in the week of Jan. 25 — placing Valentine’s Day promotions into jeopardy.

The rain started with a few showers Jan. 17, bringing some torrential downpours by the time the wet weather went away Jan. 22. An estimated 6 inches of rain to parts of Ventura County, where Oxnard growers didn’t expect to be picking again until late in the week of Jan. 25.

Even with California temporarily out of the picture, Florida berries have come back from their freeze and volumes are high. Prices are a bargain this weekend, though this too might not last too long.

Asparagus--new crop Mexican asparagus is picking up steam, and 28 pound cases will be available next week for a tad over $2/lb. This trend should continue for awhile. A good time to put asparagus back on your menu.

Cucumbers--both slicers and seedless cukes are lower this week. Mexico, once again, carries the load as supplies begin to increase.

Limes--the market is retreating for limes out of Mexico after hitting their high point last week.

Zucchini and Yellow Squash--usually follow each other when it comes to prices, but strangely enough they are going in opposite directions. Zucchini is quite reasonable in the mid teens, while yellow squash is over $30. Now isn't that something!






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Lettuce--prices have settled down nicely, as favorable weather over the past two weeks has enabled product to mature nicely. It wasn't too long ago that romaine and iceberg were in the $40-$50 range. Most lettuces are now under $20, and quality continues to improve. Unfortunately rain has invaded the desert and is supposed to continue through Saturday. This could cause interruptions in the harvest, which we could see by the end of next week. Stay tuned!

Broccoli and Cauliflower--both vegetables are in a supply exceeds demand situation and prices are quite reasonable. Almost all the production is from California so we'll have to see if the rain affects prices here.

Strawberries--rain could be a problem here. These large, new crop, spring berries were beginning to ripen nicely (the first few shipments had white shoulders), and it was quite convenient to be able to shift to California while the Florida berries recuperate from the freeze. Florida berries are beginning to work there way back to the marketplace and we might shift back and forth depending on how things sort themselves out.

Collards and Mustards--for you greens lovers out there (I'm one) Georiga product was frozen in last weeks freeze and product has shifted to Texas. The quality is superb, though prices are much higher.

Celery--a shortage of product from California and Florida has caused the market to climb. There may not be relief in sight until February. Anise/fennel is in the same boat.

Green and Red Peppers--red peppers are quite reasonable as product is available from both Mexico, Florida and Spain. Green peppers after rising quickly post freeze are beginning to retreat.

Mangoes--it's been awhile since I've been able to recommend mangoes, but these Kent mangoes from Peru get my stamp of approval.

Green beans and corn--are both in extremely short supply and very expensive. Shift to other vegetables if you can, as this shortage could last until spring.

Grapes--from Chile are finally coming along as prices drop over $10 per carton. This trend should continue and quality should begin to improve.

Blueberries--another Chilean crop that is in full swing. Prices are very reasonable for the dead of winter (here), and quality is quite tasty.]]> http://www.frogholler.info/blog/index.php?entry=entry100113-103126 So what happened to the produce in Florida, you ask? First of all, nothing grows in cold weather so even if there was no damage, prices were going to escalate as all supplies shifted to Mexico, who is not ready to supply the whole country. Strawberries, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, sweet corn, and tomatoes, have all taken a hit from the freeze and prices have escalated across the board. It is being reported that Florida has virtually lost its winter corn, green bean and much of its squash crop. The Florida, juice orange crop, has lost about 10% of its crop due to the cold weather. Actually this is being touted as one of the worst freezes since the big freeze of 1989-1990. Twig and leaf damage could be severe enough to affect next years orange crop. Orange juice futures have been on a wild ride, reaching all time highs last week and quickly dropping as the freeze was a bit less than naysayers predicted. Green peppers and tomatoes seem to have been affected greatly due to the cold weather, and will probably show further price issues in the days and possibly months ahead. Greens in Georgia have also suffered, as mustard greens now shift to Texas and prices are higher. Collards are a bit tougher and may have come out okay. Strawberries have a way of rebounding after a freeze, and California berries will help pick up the slack. Luckily southern California weather has cooperated and the spring strawberry crop is progressing nicely to ease pressure from the Florida freeze.

Stay tuned for further updates!]]> http://www.frogholler.info/blog/index.php?entry=entry100104-093544 I'm glad the holidays are over so we can get back to "normal weeks."
It might take a week or so for produce prices to seek their true levels, since winter weather often is a major factor in availability and price. As we speak, Florida is experiencing a cold snap which is not making those vegetables (and tourists) happy.

Here's a look at what is happening today.

Strawberries--Florida usually comes on strong in January once the holiday push is over with, though the cold weather down there currently is slowing the ripening of the berries. A large percentage of Florida berries are grown in Plant City which is looking at 5 consecutive nights of freezing weather. We'll know much more about the prognosis of the crop for the upcoming months, in about a week after the last freeze.

Here's an excerpt from a produce news source about Florida and how the cold is effecting the berries:

Florida growers brace for winter freeze

Doug Ohlemeier

Growers are preparing fields for more below-freezing weather this week. Temperatures in Florida's strawberry-growing area dipped to 31 degrees. Forecasts call for temperatures to drop as low as 24 degrees Jan. 8
(UPDATED COVERAGE, 10:15 a.m.) PLANT CITY, Fla. — Florida strawberry growers say they escaped damage during the first night of an expected week of overnight freezing temperatures.

For five nights, weather authorities forecast central Florida temperatures to fall below freezing for central Florida’s strawberry growing region around Plant City.

From Jan. 4-8, temperatures are forecast to hit in the low- to mid-20s with 24 degrees predicted for the early morning hours of Jan. 8.

The National Weather Service issued freeze warnings and temperatures fell to as low as 26 degrees during the early morning hours of Jan. 4.

Growers sprayed water on fields to protect crops from freezing.

Wow, keep your eyes on the weather channel.

What could mitigate a temporary gap in Florida berries could be some progress in the new California crop. The "spring" California crop begins slowly in Oxnard this month, though January is one of the smallest supply months of the California season. Those berries are often quite large and new varieties are being touted as being "more flavorful." The proof will be in the pudding.


Broccoli--markets are much weaker as we enter January. A good veggie to promote for awhile. Cauliflower is behind the curve here as prices remain a tad high.

Celery--prices skyrocketed for the holidays and they have already come back down to earth. Naked celery is back down to around $30 down from almost $50 for the last couple of weeks. Anise on the other hand has been around $50 also and is still up there.

Tomatoes--continue to be less expensive, especially for grape tomatoes and roma tomatoes. Mexican vine ripes have shown a significant drop in price leaving just Florida 5x6 tomatoes as the last expensive tomato standing. This cold weather will not improve the situation.

Green Beans--I forgot to mention that not only has Florida had cold weather, but some wet weather also, which has affected the green bean crop. Prices are much higher. Some fresh cut packers have temporarily raised the price of their clipped beans also.

Garlic--here's a story. The last few years the Chinese government has subsidized the Chinese garlic industry as prices here were unbelievably low. Even with their cheap labor prices were under the cost of production. I believe I read where China produces about 80% of the world's garlic. Other countries, i.e. USA and Argentina have planted less product since they couldn't compete, and whammo a recession kicks in. China planted significantly less garlic, and they're keeping more of it at home thinking that taking it is effective in warding off H1N1. Maybe so, but garlic prices have jumped considerably since last year. Some help will come with the Mexican crop in early spring, though Mexico is not the player in the garlic world it once was. Local growers take note and plant more garlic.

Arugula--once again, Florida weather is wreaking havoc on arugula which has become a staple on many menus. B&W, our regular source is out of action for maybe another week, and Texas has had weather issues of its own (mostly cold) and is not shipping any product currently. We're trying what we can to bring in any arugula product, baby or otherwise. Sorry for the inconvenience.]]> http://www.frogholler.info/blog/index.php?entry=entry091218-152519
Berries--up, up and away! Florida strawberries lead the strawberry brigade and prices are higher. The good news is that each shipment seems to be a bit more mature, with larger berries and better color. Prices should recede quickly after the holidays. Raspberries are very tight and controlled by the Driscol Empire. Prices are in the high $40's for Mexican berries. Blueberries are inching upwards, though they are reasonable, and blackberries are moving north, also.

Grapes--Brazil and Peru are bridging the gap between California and Chile green grapes. They are in the right place at the right time this year as prices for perlettes and sugarones are very high. There are still some red and black seedless grapes out of California, though Peruvian Flame grapes have entered the market.

Broccoli and Cauliflower--are rising solely due to holiday demand.

Anise--prices seem to be going through the roof this year. I've seen prices already quoted in the $40's next week for small sizes.

Green Beans--another vegetable prized at the dinner table for the holidays. Prices are higher here for good quality beans.

Lemons--prices inch up a bit as most product shifts to Arizona for the winter. Quality is good!

Limes--prices are up a few dollars here, also.

Red, Yellow and Orange Peppers--product is being sourced from Spain as we wait for Mexican product to kick in. Prices are higher!

There is good news out there, also, as we approach the new year!

Tomatoes--the tomato market is starting to free fall. Grape tomatoes and Florida tomatoes lead the way, with Mexican vine ripes following behind. Next week should show some serious improvement.

Lettuce--good news here, too. Iceberg lettuce leads the way as prices fall under $30. Other lettuce varieties are falling also as the Yuma deal catches up to demand.

Green Peppers and Eggplant--Florida and Mexican product compete for business and demand is not affected much by the holiday.
Remember, it's basically a red holiday.

It's local somewhere!

Say hello to the beginning of the Texas growing season. Texas does a wonderful job growing greens such as parsley, bunch beets, arugula, dandelion greens, dill, swiss chard, cilantro and cabbage. We're also procuring our juice oranges and some ruby grapefruit from the lone star state.


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Here's a look at what else is going on:

Cantaloupes--low demand causes prices to plummet. The melons, now coming from Guatemala, are quite inexpensive.

Tomatoes --are curretnly a major problem. Mexican vine ripes are not kicking in fast enough, and Florida tomatoes are slow to ripen also, and won't provide much relief until January. Buyers have few options but to purchase pink tomatoes just to fill orders. We pride ourselves in providing you with ripe tomatoes, though it's quite challenging to do so now. We apologize if we're temporarily caught with pale tomato syndrome.

Pineapples--have been on a roller coaster ride for several months now. High prices and poor quality, followed by low prices and high quality. Well, luckily, we're in the later situation right now, so use 'em!

Lettuce--this is a strange one. The romaine market has dropped first, so prices which were in the mid $50's are now in the high $30's. Still not a deal, but going in the right direction. Green and red leaf have hovered in the same area, but iceberg lettuce has risen a bit. Let's see what happens next week.

Berries--new crop Florida strawberries are trickling in, and we're flip flopping between Florida, Mexico and California for product. Florida berries are our preference moving forward, though cool weather and recent rains have slowed the deal down. Blackberries from Mexico have been a bargain, while raspberries from Mexico have been of high quality, though expensive. Blueberries are being sourced from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, and have moved from 4.4 ounce containers to mostly 6 ounce containers in anticipation of the recently touted huge crop. Quality is improving.

Specialty Citrus--is slowly gaining traction in the form of Meyer lemons, blood oranges, heirloom navel oranges, cara cara navels, kumquats, pummelos, mandarins and clementines. It's still a bit early to claim they are at the peak of the season. Grapefruit options range from pink to star ruby or red, to white, and they're getting sweeter by the week. Our grapefruit juice is improving also.
We are currently sourcing juice oranges from Texas, and they are quite sweet. Gotta get my shot of vitamin C. I just read today that one sixth of the population has had H1N1. Wow!



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Tomatoes --while Florida is far behind in production, Mexico claims to have a great looking crop and as supplies increase prices should begin to fall. The worst is over as prices are slowly beginning to fall. Grape tomatoes and romas are fairly reasonable, leaving gassed green Florida tomatoes and Mexican vine ripes being outrageously priced.

Lettuce--the worst was thought to be over, though prices remain very high. Supposedly the transition to Yuma lettuce should have pushed prices down, but high demand is forcing growers to pick lettuce while young, which is exacerbating the problem. Let's hope for warm weather in Arizona.

Berries --the warm weather in Florida has accelerated the crop, and significant volume should hit our market by mid December. Florida strawberries have been excellent over the past 5 years or so, so we welcome their arrival. Prices could be reasonable by Christmas.
Blueberries have begun being shipped from Chile as well as Argentina and Uruguay. The supposed gigantic crop has been downsized due to poor weather in South America. Blackberries from Mexico and Guatemala are a bargain, while raspberries remain stable.

Broccoli and Cauliflower--from California are following the lettuce market. Demand far exceeds supplies and prices are higher. As product moves further along in the desert, prices should come down.

Asparagus--felt a little bump from Thanksgiving, though prices will fall a bit this week. The market for asparagus is quite soft as over planting in Peru and Chile has stuffed the market.

Citrus --product is heating up here. Florida and Texas juice oranges have supplanted California valencias. As usual for this time of the year, the juice is a bit thin and pale, though certainly not offensive. Each successive variety will improve the flavor. California Navel oranges continue to gain maturity. Quality is quite good for this early in the season.

Cranberries--product seems to be dwindling quickly, so if you think you might need some product for the holidays, don't wait too long before purchasing them.

Mexican product--such as cucumbers, green peppers, zucchini and eggplant is coming on like gang busters giving relief to these commodities. Prices are dropping as supply exceeds demand here.

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Well, we've dressed up our newest Frog Truck with "Lady Frog" or maybe she's Froggie Mama. It's about time we've graced Ann Arbor with a lady frog, don't you think? You should know our style by now. Every new truck gets a new Frog "cartoon" which we hope puts a smile on your face. There's enough serious stuff going on out there, so we try to keep things on the lighter side while we truck around the city trying to deliver you the best produce around. I love it when I see kids in a car pointing at our trucks, laughing their heads off. Our good friend and, of course, local artist Zeke Mallory, has painted all the Frog trucks. Thanks Zeke, for the smiles you've put on our faces. Check out his work on his webswite at www.zekemallory.com
While we're at it, we've just about met our goal by having a fully refrigerated truck fleet. This is to insure that your food is delivered to your dock at temperatures between 32 and 42 degrees. Frog Holler Produce Co. is in the process of obtaining its HAACP certification, a food safety acronym which stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. After 9/11 and its terrorist implications, and way too many incidences of Salmonella and other disease producing organisms over the past 5 years or so, governmental agencies are trying to combat this problem by instituting a range of policies to help assure food safety. Beginning at the farm would be a good place to start, but I won't get pulled into politics right now. So, we at Frog Holler Produce, are stepping up to the plate by instituting new policies which will increase our awareness of delivering food safely to you. This will eventually include traceability which will enable the food chain to trace a tainted product back to a particular farm. I thought my new Android could do this stuff. What are apps for anyway? This has become such a big deal, that many companies seem to place a higher value and price on their policies than on the quality and taste of the food itself. We appreciate and understand the role that food safety plays in the distribution process, but our reputation for quality and service will still be our calling card. We would love for you to come visit us in our new and improved facilities if you get the chance. Your support has enabled us to grow and assist us in servicing you better. It is a 2 way street!

Thanks once again,

Froggie Rick (as some called me back in the day)
Froggie Mama (she's the newest Frog in town)]]> http://www.frogholler.info/blog/index.php?entry=entry091111-164304
Lettuce--continues to be in this funk due to California rain storms which occurred in mid October. All California leafy greens are affected such as spring mix and baby spinach. Product is tender and saturated with water. Patience will be needed to get through this.

Tomatoes --demand exceeds supplies leading to higher prices. Actually the quality of the early season Mexican tomatoes seems quite good, though supplies are very limited. Florida gassers are just getting going leading to higher prices. We're struggling to keep up with color, though we should be on top of that this weekend.

Broccoli and Cauliflower--prices seem to be receding here, especially for cauliflower. Hopefully this is a sign that the lettuce market will follow suit.

Asparagus--prices continue to rise fueled by rain from Hurricane Ida and other vegetables being higher. Why should asparagus be left behind?

Parsley--those big bunches from Texas are about to be shipped. They must have large handed farm workers in Texas that pack the herbs. Everything is bigger in Texas they tell me. Prices are higher. Pretty soon most greens will be coming from Texas. Look for knobby onions, chard, dandelion greens, cilantro, endive and escarole and kale.

Cucumbers--as Mexican supplies increase, prices drop a bit. Quality is excellent. Seedless cukes, on the other hand, are in short supply as Canada is about finished for the year and no one has taken her place.

Zucchini and Yellow Squash--prices are falling fast and both Mexico and Florida increase production. Hard shelled squash, on the other hand is finishing up locally and prices are rising.

Citrus--the season is here. Seedless Clementines from Spain and Satsumas from California have hit the market. We prefer the satsumas now as they seem to have more maturity, though next week could be a different story. Larger pickings of California navels are dragging the market down. Florida and Texas grapefruit are shipping larger loads each week, and prices are falling. We are beginning to squeeze grapefruit juice if you're interested.
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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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