Cucumber
Market: Stable | Quality: Good | Demand: Steady
The cucumber market is steady on demand but tight on volume. Mexico’s production is decreasing with the cool/rainy temperatures and being past the peak for production until new crop starts in March. Market should remain strong through February.
Lemons
Market: Stable | Quality: Good | Demand: Steady
California continues to have a strong supply of lemons. Navels are peaking on larger sizes, but some availability in 88/113 sizing.
Lettuce
Market: Up | Quality: Okay | Demand: Steady
Dessert temperatures are on the rise, and so is the iceberg market. Growers are facing light yields and lightweight crop, and above-average weather has pushed crops ahead by a couple of weeks. Cosmetic issues like sun scald, fringe burn and weak tip are being culled in the fields and lowering yield. It is projected that demand will continue to be strong through Valentine’s Day and will outpace supply for at least the next couple of weeks. Other commodities like romaine, leaf, and cabbage are faring a bit better right now, with much lower demand and adequate supply
Onions
Market: Stable | Quality: Excellent| Demand: Steady
The Iceberg market continues to heat up with extremely light yields coming from the fields, Onions continue to cross in from Mexico offering another solution to help with the higher freight rates in the Pacific Northwest.
Peppers
Market: Stable | Quality: Okay | Demand: Steady
The supply for peppers is steady with good demand. Florida is still producing but depending on the frost expected this weekend, it could end the season early for them. This would put more pressure on Mexico to produce more volume. Could see an increase in price next week.
Potatoes
Market: Stable | Quality: Excellent | Demand: Steady
The potato quality remains beautiful with a plentiful supply. Freight continues to be a challenge with the winter storms keeping pressure on the market.
Tomatoes
Market: Up/Tight | Quality: Okay | Demand: Steady
Tomato market has remained the same this week as last week for now. This is mostly due from growers in Florida getting everything they could from fields before the frost hit. The damage from the frost is still being evaluated and is still a little early to put numbers to it but can say that the romas and grapes are affected more than the rounds. There is definitely going to be damage and will be seeing a significant bloom drop come early spring. Mexico has seem some more volume cross this week but that has a lot to do with more #2 product crossing.
