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
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.
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.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
IN PRODUCE
Tomato prices are still very high. Florida was not prepared for the Mexican crops to
fail and do not have enough supply to cover the demand. We will be in a “demand
exceeding supply” situation for a few weeks at least until the Mexican crops can recover.
Prices on greenhouse tomatoes have risen sharply as a result of the field tomatoes being
so expensive. Grape tomatoes have taken the biggest jump in price this week. English
cucumbers are also expensive due to limited supplies coming out of Mexico. Ontario
greenhouses are not in production due to the limited hours of sunlight and the high costs
of heating the greenhouses at this time of year. Also affected are the hothouse peppers.
Other items remaining high priced – Asparagus, beans, celery, corn, and winter squash.
WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW
THIS WEEK
Strawberries have dropped a bit in price but blue-black and raspberries are still pretty
cheap. Prices on hothouse items are higher such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.
Asparagus is in short supply so prices are higher so beans are a better value this week.
Soft fruit from South America is available but they are expensive. Apricots, nectarines,
and peaches are all in season. Better options for something a bit exotic are dragon fruit,
blood oranges, cactus pears, forelle pears (sweet and small), figs and persimmons.
YOUR
BEST BUYS
Beets (all colours), carrots (all colours) – pretty much all root veg is a good pick for value
along with green peppers and zucchini. In the fruit section use clementines, kiwi, mangos,
kiwi, pineapples and berries such as blackberries, blueberries and raspberries.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WE WILL BE CLOSED ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1, 2020.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF SERVING YOU.
WE WISH YOU A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WHAT’S HAPPENING
IN PRODUCE
Tomato prices are way up and here’s the reason – Devastating rains in Mexico have ended operations early for
some farms and delaying the start of others causing a supply gap as farms work to recover operations and assess
storm damage. The demand for tomatoes from both Canada and the USA is now forced to look at Florida as the
only source where the supply is already lighter than normal due in part to the extreme heat that affected crops
weeks back during the fruit set portion of the growing cycle. Other items remaining high priced – beans, celery, corn, iceberg,
snow/sugar snap peas, strawberries, and zucchini.
WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW
THIS WEEK
Strawberries are expensive and by comparison blue-black and raspberries are pretty
cheap. Romaine and romaine heart prices have fallen sharply and are much cheaper than
iceberg lettuce. Soft fruit from South America is available but VERY expensive. Apricots,
Cherries, nectarines, and peaches can be enjoyed for a small fortune. Better options for
something a bit exotic are blood oranges, cactus pears and forelle (sweet and small) pears.
YOUR
BEST BUYS
Beets (all colors), carrots (all colors), broccoli crowns are cheaper than the bunched,
grape tomatoes are much cheaper than the round cherry tomatoes, pepper squash is the
best value in winter squash and romaine lettuce. In the fruit section use clementines, kiwi,
mangos, our juicing oranges are a 113 ct orange that is excellent for eating, garnish and
juicing, pineapples, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries.
HOLIDAY HOURS
TUESDAY DECEMBER 24 – A.M. DELIVERIES ONLY
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 25 – CLOSED
THURSDAY DECEMBER 26 – CLOSED
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1 – CLOSED
ALL OTHER DAYS ARE REGULAR HOURS
