APPLES New crop Washington Gala, Fuji, and Red Delicious supplies are now on the market. Granny Smith production will start next week. Michigan new crop Fuji and Red Delicious stocks will start shipping by the end of the month. Quality is excellent.
ASPARAGUS High prices persist amid tight supplies and transitioning growing regions. While markets for all sizes are elevated, small, standard, and large sizes are sufficiently supplied while jumbo and extra-large sizes are extremely limited.
AVOCADO Yields are increasing in Mexico. Prices for large sizes (32- to 48-count supplies) are inching down. The small-size market (60- to 70-count stocks) has fallen to average levels.
BELL PEPPERS The market is level. West Coast stocks are available out of the Hollister, Oxnard, and Arroyo Grande regions but the seasons are past peak volume. East Coast growers are shipping from Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. The North Carolina season will begin in a week or two. Prices will start creeping up later this month.
BLACKBERRIES The market is elevated; supplies will remain limited through early October. California supplies are insufficient. Growers will begin shipping out of Central Mexico in early October. The Pacific Northwest season is ending. Quality is fair; soft skins and red cells have been reported.
BLUEBERRIES Expect rising prices for the next month. Mexican supplies are not meeting demand. The Pacific Northwest season is wrapping up. Offshore shipments will increase by late September. Quality is good.
BROCCOLI Markets have stabilized. California growers report a patchwork of quality with sporadic occurrences of hollow core, insect pressure, and yellowing/brown bead. Prices should remain steady or even soften later this month due to additional acreage coming online throughout September.
CANTALOUPE The market is fairly steady but will firm up again in a few weeks prior to the harvesting transition to the Arizona-California desert region. Expect volume to fall while the San Joaquin Valley season winds down. Quality is very good.
CAULIFLOWER Markets are declining rapidly this week as supplies increase. Yields are on track for the current season; favorable weather will aid growth. Quality is good; fields affected by insect pressure are being avoided and disked to reduce the spread to healthier fields.
CELERY Markets are fairly steady at depressed levels. Salinas supplies are ample. Santa Maria production will continue year-round. The Michigan season is in full swing. Quality is very good in all regions with minimal disease pressure.
CHILI PEPPERS Markets are a bit higher, but a stable fall and winter are forecast. Quality is very good. Anaheim, Habanero, Jalapeno, Pasilla, Red Fresno, and Serrano Chile Peppers are available.
CUCUMBERS Prices are level. Baja stocks are average. The East Coast and Michigan regional seasons are winding down. Quality is very good: skins are deep green and smooth.
GRAPES California green and red seedless prices are stable; volume is high. Quality is very good.
GREEN LEAF Markets are level. Supplies are sufficient but are expected to decrease in the coming weeks as the Salinas Valley season winds down. Defects are being trimmed at harvest. Seeder is being reported in some lots following extended warm weather.
HONEYDEW Prices are fairly steady but will firm up again in a few weeks prior to the harvesting transition to the Arizona-California desert region. Expect volume to fall while the San Joaquin Valley season winds down. Quality is very good.
ICEBERG Markets are stable. Salinas yields are currently higher compared to prior weeks, but will diminish as the season wraps up. Mildew and disease pressure are being found more frequently in some lots.
LEMONS Prices are high, particularly for 165- through 235-count fruit; demand is strong and supplies are tight. Quality is down industrywide due to high temperatures. Offshore and Mexican stocks will supplement shortages.
LIMES Markets are skyrocketing. Hot, humid weather and steady rains in Veracruz, Mexico are impacting quality and lowering yields. Colombian fruit is limited following trucking strikes and strong European demand.
ONIONS Red and yellow onion prices are rising as growers shift gears and direct harvested product to storage facilities, tightening fresh-run stocks. High quality storage onions with solid skin sets are expected to start shipping in the next two to three weeks.
ORANGES California’s available Valencia supply continues to diminish; several major growers have already ended their season, and more will end over the next few weeks. California will experience a supply gap in October that will last until the Navel season begins in late October/early November.
PEARS Prices are elevated. The California pear season will run through October. New crop Washington Bartlett Pears are on the market; the D’Anjou variety will start shipping in early November.
PINEAPPLES The market will remain elevated for several more weeks, especially prices for five- and six-count supplies. Seven- and eight-count supplies are more readily available. Crownless fruit is extremely tight as most shipments are crowned pineapples.
RED/YELLOW POTATOES Prices are low. New crop, fresh-run Red and Yellow Potatoes are available in Idaho, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Fresh-run quality is excellent; skinning and excess moisture will be observed. No. 2 supplies will increase once potatoes are shipped out of storage. The North Dakota season will start in early October while the Michigan season will begin in early November.
POTATOES The market for 40- to 70-count supplies is soft. Prices for smaller cartons (80- to 100-count stocks) are higher due to limited availability. New crop, fresh-run Norkotah Potatoes are available. Quality is excellent; light skinning and excess moisture will be observed until supplies go through the “sweat,” a process that pushes out field heat and puts them in dormancy, preventing sprouting during the early months of storage. U.S. No. 2 yields are low due to the high quality of initial lots. The new crop Burbank season will begin in late October.
RASPBERRIES Prices are rising. The season in Baja, Mexico is ending; growers will begin shipping out of Central Mexico in early October. Quality is fair.
ROMAINE Markets are fairly steady at moderate levels. Yields are lower than in prior weeks as the Salinas Valley starts to wind down for the season. Fringe burn and disease pressure are present in some lots.
STRAWBERRIES The market is steady. The Santa Maria and Watsonville, California seasons are wrapping up. Santa Maria’s fall crop will begin next week. Quality is very good; fruit is plump, juicy, and deep red.
TOMATOES The summer seasons in Michigan and Virginia are slowing down this week. North Carolina will be the main region in September; growers will transition south to Georgia during October. Supplies are sufficient in California and Baja, Mexico; some growers are doing some extra grading as high temperatures affected quality. Medium sizes are the most abundant.
TREE FRUIT The market is elevated. The California stone fruit season is ending. Nectarine and peach harvests have ended. Plums will be on the market until early October.
WATERMELON Prices are level; supply is meeting demand. The Mexican new crop season will begin in October. Quality ranges from good to very good.
ZUCCHINI Prices are stable. West Coast production continues in Santa Maria, California, and Baja, Mexico. Mainland Mexico will resume harvests by late September/early October. The East Coast regional season is winding down. The last summer supplies are being shipped out of North Carolina.
