Good Morning! Apples – As we work our way through the beginning of a new year, we have a few less apples in storage than we expected a couple of months ago. The latest storage report is showing that inventories are lower on many varieties for this time of year than the same time last year. As a result, we are seeing a rising market on many varieties, sizes, and packs, and this trend is expected to continue for at least the next couple of months. Asparagus – Peru continues to offer good volume from the north region, with field transitions in place to ensure availability through mid- February and cover all Valentine’s Day needs. Broccoli – Tightened up drastically last week as the cold weather shut down growth. Prices are higher as everyone is looking for product. Celery – Supplies of celery remain extremely limited but are improving each week. The market has stayed very active with strong demand even after the holidays. It does seem to be easing down, but no where near normal levels yet. Corn – Sweet corn in Florida is very limited and pricing remains high. As we move into more wintery weather, pricing will likely remain high, and volumes will be limited. Lettuce – Production is experiencing disruption due to recent cold and rainy weather. Harvest crews out west are working diligently to procure solid quality in each carton, but their work has been cut out for them. Spinach and all other leaf items have been a struggle for the past couple of weeks. Potatoes – There are excellent supplies of high-quality potatoes coming out of storage in multiple regions. This is true of reds, yellows, and russets. Demand typically drops off as we get into the new year, as many consumers are looking for low-carb options. The low demand and large volumes make for an excellent buying opportunity and promotional period. Strawberries – The cold weather slowed down strawberry production, and pricing is climbing in anticipation of typical heavy Valentine’s Day demand. Tomatoes – The nationwide cold that we had last week has changed the plentiful tomato market seemingly overnight. Prices are much higher with the shorter supplies. Q: Why did the snowman look through a bag of carrots? A: He was picking his nose.