Spotlight

Produce Supply Update April 26th, 2024: Local Produce – We’re getting started with our local farmers on a few of the early season items. We have strawberries and asparagus. We should begin seeing broccoli and cabbage very soon too. Apples – As we enter spring, shippers are still in a pretty good supply situation with apples out of Washington. They still have ample supplies of apples in storage for most varieties. There are a few varieties and packs that have tightened a little and are showing some small price increases, namely galas and honeycrisps. Overall, they still have a large crop of apples to sell, and we expect to see attractive pricing on most varieties into the summer months this year. Asparagus – We have local standard sized asparagus and we’re going to keep it going as long as we can. It’s been really nice this season. Blueberries – Have started domestically and we’ll look forward to a great season. Our local guys are expected to begin in a couple of weeks, kinda early this year because of the mild winter and early spring. Corn – Is very limited, though still available locally. Other areas are harvesting at full speed, keeping the market very favorable to use it in your menus. Grapes – Mexico is wrapping up their harvest, ending the glut of grapes. California is well into their season now and the market is stabilizing at a higher level. Quality remains very good. Lettuces – Iceberg and leaf lettuce supplies are limited this week. Planting gaps caused by spring rains combined with cooler than average weather have impacted supply. Warmer weather on the forecast should help to improve the situation over the next few weeks. Potatoes – Idaho potato shippers are still seeing very good storage supplies and high quality overall. Pricing should remain very favorable all of the way through summer into the new crop. Squash – Zucchini is plentiful but Yellow continues to remain short, but we expect the warm weather in Florida to help with yields. Georgia will start this week with no major volume yet, but outlook looks promising for next week. Q: What is the most masculine thing you can put on a sandwich? A: Mannaise. Q: Why don’t you ever see hippos hiding in trees? A: Because they’re very good at it.
Produce Supply Update March 22nd, 2024: Asparagus – Are seeing a little bit of strength with Easter coming next weekend, but solid supplies out of Mexico and Peruvian fields making strong harvests. Quality has been very nice. Cabbage – Supplies are good and steady for the next several weeks. Warmer days have the fields bringing better volumes and heads sizing up. Corn – New seasonal harvests from Florida fields have got the corn deal rolling. Pricing is much better and we’re starting to see some size on the corn now that the temperatures are climbing. Cucumbers – As predicted, the market has begun to fall off on cucumbers. Florida finally has started their harvest and Mexican weather has warmed to allow better volumes. Prices are down considerably this week. Melons – Honeydew and cantaloupes demand remains light across the country. Most of the production is currently arriving from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. With sluggish demand, importers are looking to make deals. Quality remains very nice. Lettuce – Iceberg lettuce supplies remain limited this week with most growers reporting good supplies of romaine, green leaf, and red leaf. A recent hailstorm, combined with colder than average temperatures over the past two weeks, have impacted iceberg quality and decreased yields. Harvesters are trimming off outer leaves at field level to help keep the pack nice, but weights are lower as a result. Peppers – We are finally starting to see both Florida and Mexico with decent volume at the same time. We do need to remember that Florida will continue to experience peaks and valleys on yields due to previous weather. For now, we should see steady volume in the next two weeks. Colored peppers rose last week on light volumes. Strawberries – Are in a glut situation with several growing areas overproducing more berries than the market can use. Prices are very favorable right in time for Easter weekend. Tomatoes – Are finally settling downward as warmer weather in Florida is bringing on the crop. Quality and pricing are both improving rapidly on all varieties. Q: Why do cows have hooves? A: Because they lactose

November 9th, 2020 Supply Update: Potato farmers are well into their harvest and quality has been beautiful on this year’s crop.

Harvest, Potato

Potato farmers are well into their harvest and quality has been beautiful on this year’s crop. They’re expecting a very good year.

The new apple crop is now in the last stages of harvest. The crop is coming in smaller than projected and is now projected to be in the 110-million bushel area versus projections in early August of 135 million. This crop will be around 25 million bushels short of the crop from last season. They had an early freeze during harvest that will cause a lot of losses but we won’t know the extent of the damage for another few weeks.

Strawberries are staying extremely limited. Colder weather this week will limit California harvests and markets will be strong.

Florida has increased their tomato harvests and Mexican growers are finally coming into good volumes of fruit. Supplies and quality will continue to improve over the coming weeks and prices are trending downward.

Squash, beans and cucumbers are all in a glut right now with sluggish demand meeting with heavy volumes from the fields. Quality remains very good.

Mexican Avocados are reaching their peak and shippers are lowering prices to move product. Now is a great time to feature them with prices very attractive.

We still have plenty of winter squash varieties for your fall menus. Also pie pumpkins for your baking needs! The cooler weather has been great for greens like kale, collards, turnip and mustard greens. Quality has improved with the warmer weather passing. Leaves are much darker green than we see during summer.

Lettuce farmers in California are still struggling to fill orders. Romaine, Green Leaf and Iceberg are staying in very short supply with good quality very difficult to come by. Pricing remains higher on the very limited supplies.

Q: What is the best time on a clock?
A: 6:30 hands down!