Fords Produce Company Inc Since 1946 | 1-800-821-FORD (3673)
Spotlight

November 23th, 2020 Supply Update: Happy Thanksgiving! Potato farmers are well into their harvest and quality has been beautiful on this year’s crop.

Harvest, Potato

Happy Thanksgiving! 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 crop is trending toward smaller sizes, creating premium pricing for the larger spuds.

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.

Squash from Florida is limited and quality is suspect. We are seeing a lot of scuffing and scarring from both Florida and Mexico. High winds from tropical storm Eta has done some serious damage to the squash plants in Florida. New fields from Mexico will provide much needed relief with quality but we are still 10 days away from their first harvests. Zucchini is in better shape with both quality and availability.

The major holiday for asparagus is here and there is good volume and great quality for Thanksgiving this year. Markets are expected to ease up again next week as they typically do after a heavy Thanksgiving pull and retailers get caught up.

We’ll have our first citrus from Florida this week! We’re bringing in fresh juicing oranges, navels and grapefruit. We’re excited to get this season started as it always gets us in the mood for Christmas!

Strawberries remain limited, and pricing remains elevated. Colder weather this week will limit California harvests and markets will be strong.

We were really worried that Tropical Storm Iota was headed to Costa Rica to wipe out their pineapple crop, but fortunately they were not heavily effected. Quality remains excellent and supplies are very strong. Prices are at very low levels due to the strong harvests.

Get ready for Thanksgiving! 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.

Q: Why did the farmer have to separate the chicken and the turkey?
A: Because he sensed fowl play.

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Weekly News Archive

North Carolina Tomatoes are in full swing

Produce Supply Update April 12th, 2024: Asparagus – The market is getting tight on volume and prices are rising. This is due to volume declining in the fields because of curtailed harvests by farmers due to the cheap market that had growers upside down for a period and weather conditions that have been less than favorable for a few days which is tightening the volumes and raising the prices in the market. Avocados – Now that Mexican holy week is over, they’re settling down a little bit as the pickers get back into the groves. The next big driver will be Cinco de Mayo, and until then the market will drive pricing downward I think. Cabbage – Supplies are good and steady for the next several weeks. Warmer days have the fields bringing better volumes and heads sizing up. Florida is going strong and they’re already looking forward to the transition to Georgia farms. Corn – Florida is reaching strong volumes on sweet corn and flavor is improving as well as the quantities harvest. 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. Squash- The quality of yellow squash is starting to have some issues. We are noticing a higher amount of scarring and scuffing from both regions. We are also starting to hear of some folks discarding their fields because of depressed markets. Mexico is scheduled to continue until the end of the month. Georgia is around the corner, and we will start seeing some product by the end of the month. Strawberries – We received our first shipment of local strawberries this week and they are absolutely beautiful! The mild winter brought them on early and we’re expecting a great season. Strawberries are always the first crop harvested for the spring so get ready for more items to appear very soon. Tomatoes – We thought pricing was coming down, and that big storm system came across the US and damaged the fruit and shut down harvests. Prices jumped again on the short supplies, but I think we are trending downward as warmer weather brings on the spring season. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Florida’s corn season finally cranked back up and prices are way down this week.

Produce Supply Update April 5th, 2024: Asparagus – The market is getting tight on volume and prices are rising. This is due to volume declining in the fields because of curtailed harvests by farmers due to the cheap market that had growers upside down for a period and weather conditions that have been less than favorable for a few days which is tightening the volumes and raising the prices in the market. Avocados – Became very scarce very quickly last week. With many farms and farmhands in Mexico taking Easter Week off, and the higher than average demand caused by March Madness parties, suddenly there wasn’t enough avocados to supply demand. Prices quickly rose on the limited availability. Cabbage – Supplies are good and steady for the next several weeks. Warmer days have the fields bringing better volumes and heads sizing up. Florida is going strong and they’re already looking forward to the transition to Georgia farms. Corn – New seasonal harvests from Florida fields have got the corn deal rolling. Pricing is remaining good and we’re starting to see some size on the corn now that the temperatures are climbing. Lettuce – Iceberg and leaf lettuces are somewhat limited. Overall quality is fair with some weak tip burn reported. The primary shipping points are currently Yuma and the Imperial Valley. They haven’t made the transition yet to new fields in the Salinas Valley. 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 lighter volumes. Strawberries – We’ll be starting local strawberries this coming week! They came a bit earlier this year because of the mild winter we’ve had. Looking forward to a great season. Tomatoes – We thought pricing was coming down, and that big storm system came across the US and damaged the fruit and shut down harvests. Prices jumped again on the short supplies, but I think we are trending downward as warmer weather brings on the spring season. Pricing on grape tomatoes and mixed baby heirlooms are much improved already. Insurance companies are warning campers that if their tents are stolen they will no longer be covered. Q: What’s orange and sounds like a parrot? A: A carrot.

Strawberries

Produce Supply Update March 29th, 2024: Asparagus – Are seeing a little bit of strength with Easter demand this weekend, but solid supplies out of Mexico and Peruvian fields making strong harvests. Quality has been very nice. Avocados – Became very scarce very quickly last week. With many farms and farmhands in Mexico taking Easter Week off, and the higher than average demand caused by March Madness parties, suddenly there wasn’t enough avocados to supply demand. Prices quickly rose on the limited availability. 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. 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 – Easter demand for strawberries helped to clean up the oversupply that shippers were feeling last week. Things have settled out to normal pricing now, but prices are still 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: How many Easter eggs can you put into an empty Easter basket? A: Only one. After that it’s not empty anymore.

Cabbage– We’re stocking and shipping local Cabbage and the season has been great so far.

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

Blueberries – Should continue locally well into July and then we’ll make the transition to more Northern states like New Jersey and Michigan.

Produce Supply Update March 15th, 2024: Asparagus – Markets remain subdued with strong volumes crossing the Mexican border. We should see an uptick as we get closer to Easter and the strong demand resulting from Easter Brunches and menus. Blueberries – Market is changing as South American imports end and North America starts. Imported blueberries are wrapping up as their season comes to an end and transitioning to Florida (domestic) and Central Mexico. With the start of the domestic season, the first peak in production will come late-April with Northern Florida/Southern Georgia. Until then, expect volumes to slowly increase and pricing to slowly decrease over the coming weeks as the remaining stragglers out of Chile end. We should start seeing local blueberries around the middle of May with the early warm weather this year. Corn – The large spring Florida volume is on the horizon with many farms starting in the next 7 to 10 days. Expect pricing and quality to improve markedly at that time. Cucumbers – Conditions remain the same as volume continues to be short. We hope to have consistent supply from Mexico by the end of March. Florida’s volume has an estimated arrival of early/middle of April. 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. 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 – Continue to yo-yo up and down, but mostly up. Romas are the high value choice, with better volumes keeping markets lower than round tomatoes. Q:What do you call an Irishman on St. Patrick’s Day? A: A taxi

Broccoli – Remains extremely limited in California, but our North Carolina farmers are getting started with better volume this week

Produce Supply Update March 8th, 2024: Asparagus – Markets remain subdued with strong volumes crossing the Mexican border. We should see an uptick as we get closer to Easter and the strong demand resulting from Easter Brunches and menus. Broccoli and Cauliflower – Rain in California growing areas is causing major quality issues for cauliflower. We’re hearing about and seeing a lot of brown discoloration on the curds. Broccoli is in good supply from several regions. Corn – Florida corn season is progressing and pricing and availability are rapidly improving. We should continue seeing more volume as the season continues and the weather warms. Cucumbers – After months of tight supplies and record breaking pricing, we should begin to prices fall this month. Florida and Mexican farms will be harvesting better volumes, and pricing should follow. 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. Tomatoes – Continue to yo-yo up and down, but mostly up. Romas are the high value choice, with better volumes keeping markets lower than round tomatoes. Q: How many apples grow on a tree? A: All of them.

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