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

September 13, 2021 Supply Update: NC has started up with cucumbers and they’re expected to continue with them right up until the first frost.

Cucumbers

Avocados – Remain limited on the new harvests and pricing remains higher with the limited supply.

Berries – Domestic blueberry growers are finishing up, though there are still limited amounts coming from California. Strawberry fields are transitioning to new growing areas that should have better berries with their cooler weather.

Cucumbers – NC has started up with cucumbers and they’re expected to continue with them right up until the first frost.

Corn – Canada, Michigan and New Jersey are still pulling high volumes and we’re expecting less demand after the Labor Day weekend.

Limes – Pricing is falling fast on good quality limes. Stronger harvests in Mexico are causing markets to slide.

Peppers – Michigan and Canada remain the strongest sources for good quality pepper right now, though Tennessee is still harvesting nice fruit in limited quantities. Red, yellow, and orange supplies are staying about the same.

Potatoes – We’re right in the middle of the New Crop / Old Crop transition for baking potatoes. Supplies always begin very limited and prices always start out high on the freshly dug potatoes. As we get into late September, we’ll see drastic drops on potato pricing as the farmers finish up harvesting and get to the business of selling instead of storing potatoes.

Squash – Has begun here in NC, though supplies remain somewhat limited and last week’s rains will not help matters.

Tomatoes – Are still in full swing in NC and supplies are still beautiful. Vine-ripened, Romas, and heirlooms have been plentiful. Quality has been gorgeous. Feature them as long as you can on your summer menus.

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Weekly News Archive

Apples – They are now in the last days of harvest on this new crop of apples.

Happy New Year! Apples – Though North Carolina’s crop was devastated by Hurricane Helene, Washington State has now completed their harvest. They had exceptionally good weather for most of the harvest and managed to avoid any significant damage to the crop. The new crop looks good with estimates of around 128 million cases this year. Although this is smaller than last year’s crop of approximately 136 million, it’s still shaping up to be a good season. Due to the good growing conditions this season, the report from the growers is that fruit quality will be very good again this year. Grapes – Are arriving at our ports from South America already, but California is still packing red seedless varieties. The overlap of growing areas should make the transition a smooth one this year. We’ll be making the move to South American grapes this week. Greens – Cabbage, Collards, Kale, Turnip and Mustard are all in their prime right now. They like the cooler weather and harvests are good locally. Southern holidays are not complete without greens on the table! Tomatoes – We continue to see the reeling effects of Hurricane Helene and Milton. Supplies remain drastically short on all varieties and are at critical level currently. All eyes are on Mexico for them to begin their season and take the pressure off the Southeast. Peppers – Product continues to be in a demand that exceeds the supply situation, but it looks like Florida is slowly getting into the game. We are noticing a few more growers starting to harvest. Mexico is slowly getting more product, but limited labor due to the holidays is having an impact on harvesting. Pricing is easing downwards. Potatoes – Idaho has a great crop and the surge in demand for the holiday season has now passed. Pricing should settle in at very favorable levels for a while. Strawberries – California is past their peak season and struggling to fill orders. Quality is not as nice as we’d all like to see and supplies are short. Florida will begin their season in the next week or so, adding some volume to the market and bringing pricing down for everyone. I have the uncanny ability to predict what is in a wrapped present. It’s a gift.

Holiday Cornucopia

Merry Christmas And Happy New Year To You and Your Family! Thank You for Your Business, Have a Great Week!

Bell Peppers

Good Morning! Cabbage – is still going locally and quality and pricing has been really nice. Corn – Georgia is finishing for the season as Florida and Mexico start production. Volume will be light for the next couple of weeks and pricing is up. Cranberries – Are here! Get them for your holiday menus and dishes! Grapes – Are arriving at our ports from South America already, but California is still packing red seedless varieties. The overlap of growing areas should make the transition a smooth one this year. Greens – Collards, kale, turnip and mustard are all in their prime right now. They like the cooler weather and harvests are good locally. Lettuces- Iceberg lettuce, romaine, red and green leaf supplies are improving this week. Quality reports are much improved with the completion of the transition to new fields in Arizona. Pricing is much better this week. Tomatoes – We continue to see the reeling effects of Hurricane Helene and Milton. Supplies remain drastically short on all varieties and are at critical level currently. All eyes are on Mexico for them to begin their season and take the pressure off the Southeast. Peppers – Georgia’s season is officially done, as the freezing temperatures over the weekend put an end to it. Markets are still strong, as Florida is also experiencing some cooler weather, along with the lingering effects of the hurricanes this fall. We are still hopeful that Florida will be back to normal volume by the middle of the month. Colored pepper remains tight too, with farmers picking it green to reap the high prices. Potatoes – Especially sweet potatoes are a big part of menus for the holidays and fortunately there’s plenty of all varieties for your menus. Squash – Mexican fields are getting cranked up and quality and volumes are much improved. Florida farmers are getting started, but volumes are still light. I went to a pickle packing plant to see how they do it. It was jarring.

Cabbages

Good Morning! Broccoli and Cabbage – are still going locally and quality and pricing have been really nice. Celery – Rises every year in anticipation of the increased demand of the holidays. People who don’t buy celery any other time of the year have to have it for their Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes. So, just like clockwork it goes up in price every year in November and then falls off in January. Grapes – Are arriving at our ports from South America already, but California is still packing red seedless varieties. The overlap of growing areas should make the transition a smooth one this year and keep pricing very favorable. Greens – Collards, kale, turnip and mustard are all in their prime right now. They like the cooler weather and harvests are good locally. Lettuces- Of all varieties remain extremely tight as the first fields in the Yuma growing region have been slow to develop, impacted by hotter weather in the early growth stages. This transition between growing areas happens every year, but some are smoother than others. Melons – Mexican farmers are well into their season now and quality and volumes are very good. Pricing is down due to the lower freight costs on shorter delivery routes. They have plenty of cantaloupe, honeydews. Watermelons should be starting in Florida, but the hurricanes wiped out most of their crop and prices have soared on the limited supply. Tomatoes – We continue to see the reeling effects of Hurricane Helene and Milton. Supplies remain drastically short on all varieties and are reaching their most critical level currently. Peppers – Volume in Georgia continues to be down due to the hurricane damage, though Florida is trying to get harvests going. Mexico should be harvesting good volumes now but they’ve been plagued with disease and cool temperatures slowing their volume. Potatoes – Especially sweet potatoes are a big part of menus for the holidays and fortunately there’s plenty of all varieties for your menus. Squash – Especially hard squashes are popular this time of year and we have many varieties for you to choose from. I asked the bus driver “How long will the next bus be?” He said “Same length as this one.”

Celery Stalks and Cut Celery Sticks - Celery Was super-tight and spendy through the spring and early summer,

Happy Thanksgiving! Broccoli and Cabbage – Are still going locally and quality and pricing has been really nice. Celery – Rises every year in anticipation of the increased demand of the holidays. People who don’t buy celery any other time of the year have to have it for their Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes. So, just like clockwork it goes up in price every year in November and then falls off in January. Grapes – Are arriving at our ports from South America already, but California is still packing red seedless varieties. The overlap of growing areas should make the transition a smooth one this year and keep pricing very favorable. Lettuces- Of all varieties remain extremely tight as the first fields in the Yuma growing region have been slow to develop, impacted by hotter weather in the early growth stages. This transition between growing areas happens every year, but some are smoother than others. Melons – Mexican farmers are well into their season now and quality and volumes are very good. Pricing is down due to the lower freight costs on shorter delivery routes. They have plenty of cantaloupe, honeydews and watermelons, though the cooler months see a lot less demand than summertime. Tomatoes – We continue to see the reeling effects of Hurricane Helene and Milton. Supplies remain drastically short on all varieties and are reaching their most critical level currently. Peppers – Volume in Georgia continues to be down due to the hurricane damage, though Florida is trying to get harvests going. Mexico should be harvesting good volumes now but they’ve been plagued with disease and cool temperatures slowing their volume. Potatoes – Especially sweet potatoes are a big part of menus for the holidays and fortunately there’s plenty of all varieties for your menus. Q: Which side of a turkey has the most feathers? A: The outside.

Sweet Potatoes. Purple and orange

Good morning! Asparagus – Mexico continues to experience tight volumes, though production is gradually increasing as the weather cools down to temperatures more suitable for asparagus. We anticipate improvement around the last week of October, with peak production expected in November, just in time for the Thanksgiving pull. Peru is seeing strong production, and we don’t anticipate any issues in meeting demand as we prepare for the holidays. Broccoli and Cabbage – are beginning locally and will continue until frost. Lettuces- Of all varieties are higher this week. Iceberg lettuce, romaine, red and green leaf supplies are limited this week as supplies in the northern growing regions are finishing up. The southern growing region is expected to start over the next two weeks, but until then expect lettuces of all types as well as salad mixes to be higher than normal levels. Melons – Mexican farmers are well into their season now and quality and volumes are very good. Pricing is down due to the lower freight costs on shorter delivery routes. They have plenty of cantaloupe, honeydews and watermelons, though the cooler months see a lot less demand than summertime. Oranges – Quality has improved dramatically with the start of California’s Navel season. This fruit is one of the best on the market and we look forward to a great season. Tomatoes – Were drastically effected by Hurricane Helene and Milton. The path of both went right through the growing areas of Florida and Georgia and simply wiped out a large portion of the crop as well as future plantings. Also, Helene went through the Tennessee and NC mountains and wiped out their tomato crop. Prices continue to rise and we’re all waiting on Mexican farms to start harvesting to help ease the markets. Peppers – Volume in Georgia continues to be down. Yields are lower due to the bloom drop that they had during the storms. Farmers continue to harvest but please be aware that overall volume is lower. Markets are trending higher. Expect colored peppers to increase also, as the farmers will pick the peppers green to get the high prices, not letting the pepper ripen to red, yellow or orange. Potatoes – Especially sweet potatoes are a big part of menus for the holidays and fortunately there’s plenty of all varieties for your menus. Q: Where does a rainbow go when it breaks the law? A: Prism. It’s a light sentence but gives it time to reflect.

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

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