February 9th, 2024 Produce Supply Update: California Weather – Multiple storms on the west coast have caused flooding and disruption in harvesting. We expect to see over the coming weeks delays and shortages in product availability Cucumbers – Supply continues to be a struggle. They’re not grown in any significant volume domestically during the wintertime. Honduran product is in high demand due to the shortage from Mexico. Mexico is still not producing the volume that they normally produce during this time due to their cold and wet weather. Melons – Honeydew and cantaloupes are widely available at all ports. Most of the production is currently arriving from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Demand is sluggish and importers are looking to make deals. Quality and sugar have been good. Mixed Vegetables – Cold weather in Florida and Mexico have shut down production on peppers, cucumbers, and squash. Supplies are extremely tight on many commodities right now and pricing is surging as buyers struggle to find product. Potatoes – We are still seeing softness in the market as multiple regions still have lots of storage potatoes. Russets are abundant from multiple areas and can be promoted with confidence. We may start to see some upward pressure on reds, whites, and yellows as storage starts to dissipate and we move to fresh product from Florida over the next month or so. Strawberries – Light supplies due to limited harvesting caused by recent rains and the forecast for rain later this week and early next week. Orders for the Valentine’s Day pull may also be impacted by the rain forecast for next week. There will be increased demand due to the Valentine’s Day holiday. Tomatoes – Have been EXTREMELY limited for the past couple of weeks, but we’re seeing some softening of the market, especially on romas. Many will choose romas instead of round tomatoes if they can, so the round tomato market will follow the romas. Q: If it takes 6 men 3 hours to dig a hole, how long does it take 3 men to dig half of a hole? A: There’s no such thing as half a hole. It’s a whole either way.
California Weather – Multiple storms on the west coast have caused flooding and disruption in harvesting. We expect to see over the coming weeks delays and shortages in product availability
Cucumbers – Supply continues to be a struggle. They’re not grown in any significant volume domestically during the wintertime. Honduran product is in high demand due to the shortage from Mexico. Mexico is still not producing the volume that they normally produce during this time due to their cold and wet weather.
Melons – Honeydew and cantaloupes are widely available at all ports. Most of the production is currently arriving from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Demand is sluggish and importers are looking to make deals. Quality and sugar have been good.
Mixed Vegetables – Cold weather in Florida and Mexico have shut down production on peppers, cucumbers, and squash. Supplies are extremely tight on many commodities right now and pricing is surging as buyers struggle to find product.
Potatoes – We are still seeing softness in the market as multiple regions still have lots of storage potatoes. Russets are abundant from multiple areas and can be promoted with confidence. We may start to see some upward pressure on reds, whites, and yellows as storage starts to dissipate and we move to fresh product from Florida over the next month or so.
Strawberries – Light supplies due to limited harvesting caused by recent rains and the forecast for rain later this week and early next week. Orders for the Valentine’s Day pull may also be impacted by the rain forecast for next week. There will be increased demand due to the Valentine’s Day holiday.
Tomatoes – Have been EXTREMELY limited for the past couple of weeks, but we’re seeing some softening of the market, especially on romas. Many will choose romas instead of round tomatoes if they can, so the round tomato market will follow the romas.
Q: If it takes 6 men 3 hours to dig a hole, how long does it take 3 men to dig half of a hole? A: There’s no such thing as half a hole. It’s a whole either way.
