Growers are Planning PRODUCE NEWS - Bay Cities Produce
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Volume Twenty-Seven - No. 3 March 1, 2021
PRODUCE NEWS
“Where Your Patronage Is Never Taken For Granted!”
Growers are Planning
Next up, St. Patrick’s Day. Hard to believe we Not all areas would be hit. Fruit growers tell us they
are coming up on our recognized Covid-19 make it, one out of four years. Usually, one or one
anniversary. Two celebrated New Years are behind and a half crop will be lost. One year they will break
us, Valentines’ Day, Black History even and one year they will hit it big. The problem
month, President’s Day, and Fat Tuesday. Seems with that one year he hit it big, usually that means
like they were a bigger deal last year. Almost forgot others had loses that made the market stronger.
to mention the Super Bowl. Biggest guacamole day Many of you know areas like HWY 88 heading
of the year, just not the same. Our thoughts and to Jackson. Have you noticed the fruit trees that
prayers go out to all affected by this off the hook have been pulled out and replaced with grapes?
freeze going on. Sheltering in place does not mean
much if one cannot go anywhere. No food, water, So many reasons. Sure, weather takes the fun out at
heat. No electricity? times. Many of our tree fruit growers are
third generation. Cost of living, taxes, labor, crop
But produce is moving back west. Planting insurance and fuel to mention a few make
conditions have been great. Mild weather always is a growing some crops less attractive. But grow they
double edge sword in the produce business. Lack of will. Within thirty days we should see some
rains make it possible to get into the fields earlier, California fruit. By May, end of May stronger tree
many are already planted and in a couple weeks fruit showing, and maybe some melons. Nobody
some will start harvesting. Very possible to get an does fruit like California. Having a reminiscent
early set on some of our fruit trees. Some great moment of watermelons around the table. We sell
tasting fruit may be just what the doctor ordered to 1000 to one seedless watermelon to seeded. How did
put some smiles on some faces. Downside, these we let this happen?
are anxious moments for our growers. Early crops
are always good if we do not get the late freeze. Old time flavor, and seeds, what are our kids going
to put in their straws?
Usually about one out of four years this
happens. Row crops will recover for the most part, it
is the resources spent in the planting that hurts the Steve Del Masso
most. Tree fruit takes the biggest hit. Early President
blooms and late freezes do not mix well. When the
blooms freeze over to some extent there is crop loss.
Volume Twenty-Seven - No. 3 Page 2
Red & Green Cabbage – Two words
Nap Thyme used in tandem that best defines the state of
the Cabbage market: “status quo”. Multiple
growing regions and great supply.
Nap Galvezzzzzzzz Zz
Ask about our St. Patrick’s Day special blend.
It is a quick and easy prepped way to get your
meal going.
Red, Green, Butter, & Iceberg
Brussels Sprouts – Mexico is going to
Lettuce – Growers/Shippers in Yuma are be our supplier of Brussels Sprouts for
backed up with inventory and it’s all due to a approximately two more months. Round about
highly depressed market. Prices are VERY the end of April, we should be enjoying the
reasonable. The amazing thing is that growers first picks from the fields around Santa Cruz
are expecting to move back to the Salinas and Watsonville.
Valley by the end of the month. This could be
two to three weeks earlier than most years.
Cauliflower – Prices are projected to go
Spring Mix, Baby Leaf & Cello-
up a bit or two for a couple three weeks then
steadily settle back down in concert with the
Pack – As I previously mentioned, growers onset of the Salinas season. Until then, Santa
are “pulling out all of the stops” in order to Maria will be the key shipping point for all of
move back to Salinas by the 3rd week of this our Cauliflower needs.
month. Product quality is excellent and costs
are stable. Broccoli – Surplus supply continues to
allow Broccoli to be a highly promotable item.
Romaine & ❤️❤️❤️’s of Romaine
–With demand for freshly made Salads in a Broccoli & Cauliflower Florets –
dine out setting at an all-time low, Romaine Santa Maria is the primary area from where we
Lettuce is in abundance. Prices are flat and the source our Florets (Broccoli & Cauliflower).
next adjustment will be a downward one due The weather is cooperating and is reflected in
to the less money spent on freight once we stable prices and quality. When the 2021
start back in Salinas. Salinas season is back up and running, I am
expecting to see some softening in costs as
Green Leaf Crowns & Better competition comes into play. But it may not
Burger Leaf – Product quality remains happen until May.
good and prices are stable.
Volume Twenty-Seven - No. 3 Page 3
Broccolini - Aspiration – I continue to Cantaloupe & Honeydew Melons –
rely on Mexico for good quality Broccolini – Guatemala is penciled in to be our Cantaloupe
Aspiration. I am hoping that by early April I supplier for the next couple of months. If they
am able to get it domestically. equal last year in quality and flavor I have no
worries. Honeydew Melons will either be
coming up from Mexico or Guatemala.
Celery – The major Celery growers in Whoever has the best quality Melon with the
Oxnard have caught back up to the highest sugar content and flavor gets our
unexpectedly high demand for Celery. The business.
market is now stable, and the pipeline is chock
full of nice-looking Celery.
Mexico Watermelons – Quality is
essentially on a hit or miss basis. Trying to
“Stringless” Snap Peas – I will be bring in a Watermelon that is acceptable is
using Mexico Snap Peas for a few more weeks quite the weekly challenge. The market is
prior to transitioning to Salinas. As is normal active and there isn’t a whole lot of good
with all new Snap Pea fields, for the first 2-3 product around. Imported Watermelons are
harvests the pods are smaller in size and get not high on my list of recommended items.
larger as the plants mature.
Cutting Edge
Green Onions – The growing conditions O-rganics®
in Nogales, Mexico have been ideal for Green ………. solely about organically grown produce.
Onions. Quality is A-#1 and prices are low.
Our Wet Leaf O-rganics® continue to come
& Pears – The USDA Food Box from a wide range of areas. And, at times, it
program sucked up a significant portion of can be quite the mind teaser. In a single
small size Apples from the 2020 harvest. week, I’ve brought in Wet Leaf O-rganics®
Higher prices and lack of inventory will be the from Yuma, Arizona; Holtville, Brawley, and
norm from now until the next harvest at the Salinas California.
end of the year. Larger sizes are your best
buy. 10 months out of the year, we are sourcing
Domestically grown D’Anjou Pears is the way our Dry O-rganics® from Mexico. There
to go. The quality of Controlled Environment simply isn’t a great number of domestic
stored D’Anjou Pears is excellent! growers to pull from.
Mangos – The season just transitioned to
Mexico and prices are swiftly coming off. Over
the next three months, I am expecting to see
some “hot deals”. Year after year, Mexico has
stood head and shoulders above all other
countries with the best tasting and the most
reasonably priced Mangos.
Volume Twenty-Seven - No. 3 Page 4
Butternut Squash (Organic &
Conventional) – I am not seeing nor
Ricardo’s
Market Insights and Highlights
expecting any month-to-month changes for both
grades of Butternut Squash. Prices are estimated
to hold fast to last month’s levels.
Round & Roma TOMATOES – March
is most definitely on track to be an excellent month
for Rounds and Roma Tomatoes. The growing
areas in and around Culiacan, Mexico are mature
and producing an impressive number of good
quality Rounds and Romas. Prices are penciled
in (with ink) to remain reasonable for at least the
next 45 days.
EGGPLANT – Quality of imported Eggplant
is very good but unfortunately there isn’t much
demand. Prices may go up a smidgen this month.
Red & Yellow Onions – are an easy and
simple pull from the Northwest. Prices have held
firm in reaction to the demand by the USDA Food
Box program.
Varietal TOMATOES (SMALL) – Russet Potatoes – Prices remain steady
The 2020-2021 season has been a pricing and will persist for the next two months. The
paradox for small size Tomatoes. I say this cyclical period where we see increased demand
because higher prices are typically reflective of an hasn’t hit.
unplanned delay or shortage on the supply side.
This year, there isn’t a shortage of supply, it’s in Small Potatoes Fingerlings –
response to unusually high demand from the Eastern Washington inventory levels are holding
household consumer. And what is so interesting is up well with sufficient quantities of good quality
this buying segment more than made up for the Fingerlings to make it through until the
minimal demand from the food service industry. Edison/Bakersfield season launches in a couple of
Hopefully, this month, we shall enjoy some sort of months.
price relief.
Yams & Sweet Potatoes – We are
Heirloom Tomatoes – Heirloom ever so incrementally approaching the end of the
Tomatoes from Baja are cutting well with very storage crop. No one is fretting about inventory
good flavor and quality scores. With almost zero levels. Growers are saying there is more than
demand from the restaurant industry the market is sufficient quantities of Yams and Sweet Potatoes
inundated with product and prices are at a low to make it until the next harvest in June
point. commences.
SQUASH – There is a deluge of Zucchini and Potatoes of Color – I’ve checked in with
Yellow Squash coming up from Mexico and prices the three main suppliers that we tap, and they all
cannot go any lower. I believe fresh Squash will echoed similar sentiments and confidence no
be inexpensive for the next two weeks and gapping issues will arise prior to the arrival of
possibly longer. product from the next growing areas.
Volume Twenty-Seven - No. 3 Page 5
Red, Green, & Yellow, Bell Peppers – Jumbo Carrots – The best quality bulk
The current supply and price situation is OK. pack Jumbo Carrots I have been able to
There are plenty of Red and Green Bells, but consistently source is from Canada. I am of the
Yellow Bell costs are climbing. I’ve received a belief I will be using them until the Bakersfield
number of FYI messages from growers/shippers season is in full production mode sometime in
based in Mexico. They all said “it’s gonna get April/May.
crazy around the end of the month.” From what
I’ve been told, the transition to Coachella is not Oranges – Inventory levels of the 2020-2021
going to be smooth and easy and at times Bells Navel Orange crop are rapidly diminishing. The
will be pricey, especially Red and Yellow Bells. smaller sizes are all but gone. They are being
absorbed into the USDA Food Box program. Next
up will be imports and the California Valencia
Season.
CHILI PEPPERS – March is here which
also means a limited supply of Chili Peppers and Please take note: The freeze last month in Texas
higher prices. In spite of a great deal of effort by is expected to have a drastic effect on the citrus
growers here in this country and Mexico, it occurs output this upcoming season.
every year and the trend seems to be irreversible.
Cara Cara and Blood Oranges remain plentiful
BLUE LAKE GREEN BEANS – There and two of my favorite Citrus Fruits.
is a consistent flow of Green Beans arriving from
Mexico every week like clockwork. They are not Clementine, Cutie, Tangerine Mandarin Oranges
expensive, nor would I describe them as are expected to be gone by the end of the month.
inexpensive. Shipping costs are keeping prices Enjoy them while they are still about.
firm.
The Mineola should last through the month but as
CORN – prices are high…..high….high! And soon as April appears, they should disappear.
they will remain so for the next three weeks. Or up
until the California season in Coachella kicks off.
California/Texas Grapefruit – We
are into the last cold storage lots of California
CUCUMBERS – March is a big transition grown Grapefruit. Towards the end of the month
Texas fruit should come into play.
month in Mexico for Cukes. Prices are beginning
to heat up as shippers begin to get antsy and are
LEMONS – March is going to be a good month
anticipating the uncertainty that lies ahead. The
move to a new growing region may go smoothly for California Lemons. Regreening issues are
or we could see a week or two of lofty prices. behind us. Fruit and flavor quality are excellent.
And prices are softening.
Santa Maria Hot House growers continue to
supply the market with an English Cucumber that
is superior in all quality comparisons to an import.
Volume Twenty-Seven - No. 3 Page 6
LIMES – After an unprecedented run of 8 Snow Peas – Mexico growers are fully
months of very reasonable Lime prices, the tide committed to supplying us with Snow Peas for
has begun to turn and wholesale costs are rising. the next two months. Unless a weather pattern
The underlying cause is a delayed reaction to blows through the growing region and dumps
weather related issues back in December. a bunch of rain on the vines, quality issues
should not be a concern.
MARADOL PAPAYAS - Mexico
growers/shippers continue to do a stellar job RASP, BLUE & BLACK BERRIES –
supplying the U.S. market with incredibly
consistent papayas of excellent quality. • Raspberries are incredibly expensive and
probably stuck at these levels through the
AVOCADOS – The California Haas season end of the month. The underlying
reasons for the exorbitant prices are
has officially started and are available, but I am weather related. I am expecting to see a
holding off. Right now, the Mexican Haas is a bit of respite in April and then much more
better value and slightly better quality. In two so in May when the SoCal season
weeks, I will make another side-by-side taste commences.
comparison and decide upon a plan.
• I had to stop considering imported
Blueberries because of quality and shelf-
life problems. I decided to stay with
domestic production from Oxnard. They
are pricier but are much higher in quality.
• Oxnard Berry growers also beat out
Mexico for our Blackberry orders. This is
the first time in a bunch of years I’ve
Root Vegetables –
Overall, Root shunned imports at this time for
Vegetable demand is extremely low and yet, domestically grown Blackberries. The
there are three items that continue to pull domestic berries are just a better quality
through. They are Red and Gold jumbo size product right now.
Beets and medium size Chioggia Beets. Not
only are they a very versatile and tasty STRAWBERRIES – Oxnard growers did a
Vegetable, but they are also quite good for super job delivering incredible looking and
you. great tasting Strawberries for Valentines Day.
With the holiday behind us and the onset of the
incredible California Strawberry season, the
Grapes – I am coming across lots of next two months should see prices come off.
beautiful looking grapes from Peru and Chile.
The jumbo size Green Grapes from Chile are
gorgeous! Chile growers are finally upping
their game to be more quality competitive
against Peru grown Grapes. Prices are still
way up there but they are gradually starting to
come down. It may take another two weeks
before they are back to more palatable levels.
Asparagus – Mexico growers have come
through big time with all sizes of Asparagus at
very reasonable levels. What a turnaround
from last month! I recommend you include
Asparagus on your promotable list.
Volume Twenty-Seven - No. 3 Page 7
JEFF’S TRIVIA TRIVIA WINNERS
QUEST
The answers to last month’s trivia were c) Tomatoes
c) Domino’s Pizza
They are rumored to live in invisible villages in It took quite some time for the tomato to be accepted
the forest, caves, and tree hollows. Leprechauns as edible in Europe. For a while they thought that the
are shy creatures, and they spend most of their tomato was poisonous due to the fact that some of the
lives collecting gold coins and guarding the other fruit of the nightshade family happen to be.
treasure, in Irish mythology, they were once Thanks to Tom Monaghan we can all now sit from
great warriors who were banished by an evil the comfort of our own homes and order out some
dinner to be delivered straight to our doors.
magician and his army after it conquered Ireland.
Domino’s now has more than 8,000 franchises that
Since they live in the forest they survive on are in more than 54 countries.
potatoes, nuts, dandelion tea, mushrooms and
wildflowers and other wild foods. Let’s get to the Congratulations to our February winners:
trivia! Jose H @ IHOP Livermore, Martha @ Executive
Inn, Ann @ Rick & Ann’s Restaurant, Julita @
Strizzi’s Restaurant, Ana @ Ronaker’s Coffee
1) How much gold is in a leprechaun’s stash at
Shop, Grady @ CoffeeTime, Brooke @ Danielsen
the end of the rainbow? Co. And a few late January winners: Gabriela @
A) one gold coin for every year of his life Strizzi’s Restaurant.
B) one gold coin for every trick he has
played March celebrity birthdays:
C) as much as he could steal 1) Sharon Stone 10th (63) Actress
2) Stephen Curry 14th (33) NBA
3) Eva Longoria 15th (46) Actress
2) Which of these veggies are flowers? 4) Kurt Russell 17th (70) Actor
A) broccoli 5) Lady Gaga 28th (35) Singer
B) globe artichokes “what do you get when you cross poison ivy with a
C)cauliflower four-leaf clover? a rash of good luck! Happy St.
D) all above Patrick’s Day!
Don’t worry this month you will get 2nd BAY CITIES PRODUCE, INC.
chances. 2109 Williams Street
San Leandro, CA 94577
Fax or email me with the answer and win a great (510) 346-4943
prize. Jeff@baycitiesproduce.com FAX (510) 352-4704
www.baycitiesproduce.com
You can also read
