THE TOMATO MARKETS ARE STILL VERY TIGHT AS DEMAND FAR OUT WEIGHS SUPPLY. DROUGHT, LABOR AND LOGISTICS CONTINUE TO KEEP THESE COST HIGH AND VOLUME OF CROP PRODUCTION LOW. BE PREPARED TO SEE SHORTAGES IN MANY PROCESSED TOMATO PRODUCTS: SALSA, TOMATO PASTE, AND EVEN KETCHUP.
Apples – Smaller size lower grade apples very tight. Larger
nicer apples prices steady.
Asparagus – Steady supplies continue out of Peru and Mexico to keep this market steady.
Avocados – Strong harvest out of Mexico, plenty of fruit in the
pipeline. Markets are steady and demand is just okay. 60’s continue
to dominate the pack out. Plenty of opportunities to move volume.
Bell Peppers – Good supplies of green bells coming through
Nogales but peaking small. Red and Yellow bells should be
starting in Nogales in next two weeks.
Blackberries – Good availability and lackluster demand
this week should provoke lower pricing and good availability.
Blueberries – Blueberries are coming from several
locations including CMEX Peru & Argentina. Look for volume deals
being offered to keep coolers clean.
Raspberries – Good availability and lackluster demand
this week should provoke lower pricing and good availability.
Strawberries – Strawberries are become more
available as we see the Covid shut downs erode some of the
demand. Look for this week to be slow on the berry front compared to recent weeks.
Pricing should ease off accordingly.
Broccoli – Market is coming off as demand has slowed during
this holiday week.
Brussels Sprouts – Market continues to go higher as supplies are tight. Continue reading MARKET REPORT NOVEMBER 25TH 2020
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN PRODUCE:
Clocks have turned back and spring is in the air! We are all looking forward to the extra hour of daylight and some warmer weather – especially the greenhouses. We are expecting to see some better prices by the end of the month on our local greenhouse-grown items such as English cucumbers, beefsteak tomatoes, tomatoes on the vine, grape tomatoes and medley cherry tomatoes. A combination of warmer weather and lower demand has helped to somewhat ease prices on tomatoes – plum tomatoes specifically.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK:
Asparagus is really cheap! Take full advantage now because prices on other veg options are running a bit higher as with cauliflower, peppers, and zucchini. Prices on blueberries continue to be the highest in the berry dept. so use more blackberries and raspberries. Watermelons are in short supply and prices are higher – use cantaloupes and honeydews.
YOUR BEST BUYS:
Asparagus, beets (all colors), broccoli crowns, carrots (all colors), sweet corn, we have a 15lb box of choice red peppers that are a great value, grape tomatoes, plum tomatoes, snow peas, and sugar snap peas. In the fruit section use blackberries, cantaloupes, figs, clementines, honeydews, mangos and oranges (blood oranges are still around too!).
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN PRODUCE
Finally, we are seeing some stability in produce prices. Prices that have been on the higher side are continuing on that trend,and prices that have been are on the lower side are continuing on that trend as well. Examples of this are tomato prices, they refuse to fall. Watch out for the prices on plum tomatoes! On the other hand, we have seen prices on broccoli and broccoli crowns are cheaper than ever. You’ll find prices of strawberries have fallen now that the Valentine’s Day rush is over, although the price on the blueberries is much higher than usual due to a gap in supply.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK
Since plum tomatoes are so expensive try 6×7 as a substitute and you can literally save$30 per case.
Stay with strawberries and blackberries and steer clear of the much more expensive blueberries and raspberries.
Buttercup and butternut squash is your best choice in the hard squash category as pepper squash is much more expensive
and use green zucchini instead of yellow if saving money is something that interests you.
YOUR BEST BUYS
Asparagus, beets (all colors), all broccoli, carrots (all colors), 50lb cooking onions, grape tomatoes, all sizes 25lb tomatoes,
green peppers, snow peas, and sugar snap peas. In the fruit section use blackberries, cantaloupes, clementines, figs, honeydews,
mangos, oranges (blood oranges too!) pineapples, and strawberries.
The rollercoaster of prices continues. Asparagus, cluster tomatoes, hothouse tomatoes,extra-large 5×6 size tomatoes, watermelons, and zucchini remain expensive. Prices on broccoli, green peppers, iceberg lettuce, and 6×7 tomatoes have fallen off a bit but are still higher than they should be at this time of year. Lastly, we are seeing prices rise on cauliflower, 22lb boxes of red peppers, pineapples, and strawberries. The reason behind all this is simply – inconsistent supply due to the weather. There is nothing special going on that would have increased demand on any of these items with the exception of the strawberries. Grocery stores, food manufacturers, industrial bakers etc…are all placing their orders for Valentine’s Day so prices will continue to rise over the next two weeks.
The larger sizes of tomatoes (hothouse and 5×6) are much more expensive than their smaller counterparts. If you don’t absolutely need a large size tomato to use the 6×7’s or even Roma tomatoes and you’ll save a bunch of money. If you are looking for a yellow vegetable use wax (yellow) beans instead of yellow zucchini. They are much cheaper and you’ll get more mileage out of them.
Beets (all colors), carrots (all colors), 50lb cooking onions, grape tomatoes, medium size 6×7 tomatoes, green kale, romaine lettuce (our is Andy Boy brand this week) and both snow peas and sugar snap peas. In the fruit section use blackberries, blueberries, red delicious apples, large size 9 cantaloupes, clementines, kiwi fruit, and mangos
USE BROCCOLI CROWNS INSTEAD OF THE BUNCHED BROCCOLI AND YOU’LL GET MORE VALUE FOR THE MONEY
NEED LOTS OF GREEN ZUCCHINI? BUY THE 40LB BOX AND YOU WILL REDUCE YOUR PER POUND PRICE DRASTICALLY
USE 6X7 TOMATOES INSTEAD OF 5X6 TOMATOES
WHAT’S HAPPENING
IN PRODUCE
Freezing wet weather in both the California and Mexican growing areas is causing
large problems for growers. Supplies, in general, will remain tight as growers struggle
with yields and quality. This will result in higher prices as the demand is now exceeding
the supply and will continue to do so for the rest of January. Items most affected by this
are asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, green peppers, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and
zucchini. The loss of Mexican imports has had a huge impact on Canadian supplies
of peppers, tomatoes and zucchini and reports are that the recovery will not be quick.
WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW
THIS WEEK
Prices on green peppers have taken a huge jump and they are now more expensive than
both red and yellow peppers. Tomato prices are down a bit due to the drop off in demand.
There is no change in the tomato shortage and the price of the extra-large 5×6 proves it.5×6
tomatoes are VERY expensive. Roma (plum) tomatoes are the best value in tomatoes.
Two other items that are much higher priced than usual are honeydews and watermelons.
YOUR BEST BUYS
Beets (all colors), carrots (all colors), 50lb cooking onions, red and yellow peppers are
both cheaper than green peppers, grape tomatoes are much cheaper than round cherry
tomatoes, Roma (plum) tomatoes are the cheapest option in a 25lb box of tomatoes and
we are expecting to see yellow zucchini at cheaper prices than green zucchini. In the fruit
section use berries! Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are all a
great value for the money! Also clementines, mangos, pineapples and red delicious apples.
