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DECEMBER 9, 2022 LIPMANFAMILYFARMS.COM
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February is on the lighter side. As usual, cooler weather and
ROUND TOMATOES less daylight hours cause this time period to be the lowest
point of production of the season.
FL round tomato production remains limited but should also
begin to bounce back after Christmas with normal volumes from GRAPE TOMATOES
post-storm crops in the new year. R/P growers are wrapping up
but there's still some small fruit around. Most are like Lipman, Grape tomato volumes aren't quite back to par in FL, but
and are looking for the crops that were replanted further south supply and quality are both looking better. Grower reports
after the storm to come online. We have been harvesting some indicate that there's a mix of production levels- some on the
3rd picks (mostly offgrades) in Labelle this week and will move lighter side and a few, including Lipman, running at steady
into some crown picks early next week. However, these are still levels. We're just moving into the replanted crops in Naples
crops that were hurt by Ian, so yields and sizing will be on the and should see volume pick up over the next week. Quality is
lower side. As with romas, the round tomato recovery is in sight taking a turn for the better with most growers shipping nice-
for Mexico. Although East Mexico and Baja are in the seasonal quality fruit. Looking to the West, there will be a few grapes
decline and will finish soon, a few have started harvesting in La remaining in Baja as we ride out the month of December, but
Cruz (West Mexico) with Culiacan to follow in the next few weeks. the Western focus is on West Mexico now. Culiacan and
Things remain snug at this point, but should be running on all LaCruz have started in a light way and should see volume
cylinders by the New Year. gradually build over the next few weeks. With Guasave
expected to start any day, grape supply should "normalize"
ROMA TOMATOES over the next 10-14 days.
FL's roma volumes are still light, but they have becone more
COLORED BELL PEPPERS
steady as growers, including Lipman, work through the crops
that experienced the least storm damage. We're seeing a little Aside from a decent influx of offshore product coming into FL
more out of Labelle this week and quality is decent, considering and the NE, the vast majority of colored bell supply is coming
what these crops went through. We'll be moving into the first out of Mexico this week. Reds are still the tightest suit with
post-storm crops in Naples in 2-3 weeks, with normal Winter oranges and yellows at levels similar to each other. Quality
volumes online by January 1st. In the meantime, expect a slow, has been good on the Central MX product with limited
slight and gradual increase in volume industry-wide. It looks like greening, but we could see a few more issues over the next 2
Mexico growers are on the verge of improved supply as well. weeks as we wait for Culiacan growers to get into the deal in
East Mexico and most areas in Baja expect supply to continue the last week of December/first week of January.
the seasonal decline through the rest of the month. However,
LaPaz, the last area in Baja to start, will continue with steady GREEN BELL PEPPERS
supply through the month, slowing down after the first of the
year. The real change in supply is coming from West Mexico. GA continues to harvest and ship pepper although the quality
Culiacan and La Cruz have started harvesting this week and is just fair and won't work for some customers. The majority of
should ramp up in the next 10-14 days. The Guasave area will Eastern peppers are coming from FL, where some newer fields
also come online over the next couple of weeks. are coming off this week and next. There's a nice spread of
sizing options although the high demand on XL for retail
TOV makes them a little snug at times. FL's quality is definitely
Canada still has some small fruit available, but will finish up better than GA's, but there's still some weather-impacted fruit
over the weekend. This leaves TOV supply to a few small
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
domestic deals and MX. The supply outlook from now through
in the harvest mix. Look for that to further improve as growers
move into non-affected plantings. In the West, Sinaloa farms, MINI SWEET PEPPERS
including our own Victory Gardens crops, are now adding to
the mix. Between Sinaloa and Sonora, supply should be At long last, we are finally seeing more mini sweets crossing in
adequate. No quality issues have been reported. Nogales as some of the major growers get online with new
crops. Volume will gradually ramp up as we move toward the
end of December.
CUCUMBERS
FL's cucumber crops are winding down quickly. Several
GREEN BEANS
growers have just started to harvest the last fields of the Growers are working beans in South FL and the Lake area, but
season. Once these are done, there will continue to be a few yields are a little lighter than anticipated at this point. Overall,
light pockets of product in Central and South FL, but the there seems to be a little less in the ground than usual. On a
majority of Eastern cucumber production will be out of positive note, no quality issues have been reported. Looking to
Honduras until Spring. The imports are expected to start in a the West, we are seeing solid production as more fields and
light way next week with volume by January 1st. Current quality growers in Mainland Mexico get into the game. Supplies are
has been better than average with only a few minor defects expected to be good through the month of December and well
here and there. As for the West, cooler weather last week has into January.
slowed this week's production a notch. There are still a few
coming out of southern Baja, but 90% of the volume is coming HARD SQUASH
from the states of Sonora and Sinaloa where quality has been
excellent. Availability on larges is snug, but there are no issues There are still a few hard squash coming out of MI, NY, ME and
with supers and/or other sizes/grades. GA but not a lot of product remains in the East. There are
quality issues with spaghetti and not all growers are offering
YELLOW & ZUCCHINI SQUASH the full line. We don't expect much change in the East until the
Honduran program starts in late January/early February. In the
With Plant City, Homestead, and other South FL areas in West, Sonora growers have been bringing consistent volumes
consistent production this week, soft squash supply is of acorn, butternut and spaghetti into Nogales. We are starting
adequate in the East. Nice weather has helped to provide good to see a little more ground scar on the acorn. Spaghetti quality
yields and quality from most all production areas. In the West, is varied and there haven't been any real issues with butternut.
Hermosillo is expecting to finish harvests within the next 7-10
days but Guaymas, Los Mochis , Guamuchil and Culiacan are
seeing production increasing and expect good volume for the ORGANIC GRAPE TOMATOES
next several weeks . Promotions look good on all flavors for
Organic grape tomato supply remains snug. West Coast
the month of December .
growers are looking for a premium for their better-quality
product and are holding firm on pricing. Baja is down to one
EGGPLANT grower, Central MX is still going with most of the product
crossing through TX, and Sinaloa MX is just now getting started.
There are plenty of eggs in the East to handle demand, most of By January, volume will have rebounded back to consistent and
which are coning from Plant City or South FL. Quality has been stronger levels.
nice on the FL fruit, but it's not so great on the remaining eggs
in GA. As for the West, Mainland Mexico/Culiacan has strong
supplies as they typically do throughout the month of ORGANIC ROMA TOMATOES
December.
With Baja almost finished, the majority of supply is coming
from Central Mexico. We don't expect any major change until
CHILI PEPPERS late December/early January when Sinaloa's crops get rolling.
Plant City is usually the stronghold for chilies in the East this
time of year. With Hurricane Ian causing interruption, they've ORGANIC MINI SWEET PEPPERS
gotten off to a late start but now have most all varieties except
for serrano. There are also small pockets of jalapenos, Organic mini sweets continue to be extremely tight this week
poblanos and Cubanelles throughout South FL. Aside from hit as Baja has struggled the majority of the season and Mainland
or miss availability and very light volumes of serranos, Mexico does not see any kind of new crop volume until
Cubanelles seem to be the most snug item in the East. As for January.
the West, Mainland Mexico growers have been slow to get
rolling which has kept availability on the shy side for most
items. Serranos, habaneros and Anaheims are the more snug
varieties. Quality is fairly good on most items, but there are
some tips issues on poblanos and quality is just okay on
Anaheims. Look for more crops to come online and better
volumes over the next 7-10 days.
CURRENT INDUSTRY NEWS ARTICLES
NEWS IN THE PRODUCE INDUSTRY
Top 10 grocery trends in 2022
By Russell Redman
WINSIGHTGROCERYBUSINESS.COM Dec. 05, 2022
2022 proved to be a tough year for grocery retailers, shift some of their focus away from the main money-
distributors/wholesalers and manufacturers. The making store areas to the center store grocery sections
sharp changes brought by COVID-19 in 2020, which as they battled supply shortages. With much of that
required all players to adapt quickly, have begun headache now subsided, supermarkets are again
shifting back as consumers and businesses try to put investing to enhance the perimeter—and with good
the pandemic behind them. But much of the economic reason. According to Kroger Chief Merchant Stuart
fallout remains: Elevated inflation, lingering supply- Aitken, fresh is the No. 1 determinant of store choice, as
chain snarls and fears of a looming recession. 70% of customers base their preferred shopping venue
on fresh offerings.
The uncertain environment has created both
challenges and opportunities for grocery industry
stakeholders. With 2022 drawing to a close, Winsight 4. Return of shopping at stores.
Grocery Business highlighted 10 grocery industry The rebound of foodservice and perimeter departments
trends (among many others out there) that made reflect an even larger trend: Grocery customers are back
headlines during the year: to shopping regularly at brick-and-mortar stores in the
wake of the pandemic. This year, food retailers of all
1. Food-at-home demand is still going strong. stripes have reported upticks in store traffic, and grocers
While some momentum has swung back toward have gotten back on track with store opening and
restaurants, as consumers felt safer returning to upgrade programs.
public activities, many shoppers have retained their
preference for eating at home due to habits generated 5. E-commerce sales growth levels off.
during the pandemic, hybrid work environments and With many food shoppers going back to stores, U.S.
high menu pricing at restaurants. Grocery industry online grocery sales growth has moderated following the
executives have continued to remark about the breakneck pace triggered by the pandemic, which
ongoing strength of food-at-home, and their sales pushed consumers away from risky in-person shopping
growth has attested to the trend, even after the and toward safer delivery and pickup services. Still,
companies cycled exploding sales from 2020. strategic advisory firm Brick Meets Click noted that e-
grocery sales have maintained the “significantly high
2. Supermarket foodservice rebounds. plateau” reached since the onset of COVID-19, as the U.S.
COVID-19 forced grocers to shut down much of their online grocery market remains more than three to four
self-serve and other prepared food operations and times bigger than it was pre-pandemic.
shift to packaged grab-and-go fare. With pandemic
restrictions now largely removed, foodservice at the Continue to the rest of the trends
supermarket is back on the upswing. FMI-The Food
Industry Association’s latest “Power of Foodservice”
report cited NielsenIQ data showing that deli
prepared food dollar and unit sales have risen in
2022, along with purchase frequency among heavy
buyers. What’s more, the extended food-at-home
trend exposed many shoppers to all of the
foodservice options at the grocery store as these
operations have reopened, and they have become a
part of weekly planning for meals at home.
3. Perimeter back in the spotlight.
The resurgence of foodservice is part of an overall
comeback by the fresh departments—produce,
meat/seafood, deli, bakery and floral. During the thick
of the pandemic, supermarkets were compelled to
NEWS IN THE GROCERY WORLD
The latest TikTok trend just might start in
the grocery store
By Diane Adam
WINSIGHTGROCERYBUSINESS.COM Nov. 18, 2022
Grocery retailers are jumping on the TikTok bandwagon And it’s not just grocery retailers who are reaping the
and viral videos are propelling their grocery items to fly benefits of video sharing on TikTok. Going viral has
off the shelves. helped many smaller food companies expand
distribution as well, including Dan-O’s Seasoning.
TikTok was the surprise star of last month’s general Just two years ago, Dan-O's Seasoning could be found
session panel of industry experts at the International only at flea markets, trade shows and a handful of local
Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Global Produce & grocery stores in the company's home state of Kentucky.
Floral Show in Orlando. Retailers on the panel said When the pandemic hit in 2020, in-person sales
grocers would be foolish to ignore the power of the opportunities dried up, but then founder Dan Oliver
video-focused social media site that draws millions of turned to TikTok.
eyeballs each day.
Thanks in large part to the brand's successon TikTok
The TikTok trend shows there is a big opportunity for with the hashtag #danosseasoning, the all-natural
retailers, Tammy DeBoer, president of the Kroger Co. seasoning company announced last month it is set to
banner Harris Teeter, told the packed audience. enter into an agreement with top grocery stores.
Understanding firsthand, Harris Teeter stores in the "It's crazy how our 'Plan B' pandemic marketing strategy
Charlotte, North Carolina, area faced a feta shortage resonated with so many people," said Oliver in a
last year, causing feta sales to spike 117% after a recipe statement. Oliver is the star of the brand's now-verified
calling for a block of the salty, white cheese went viral TikTok account with 3.1 million followers, dishing up
on the social media platform. comforting recipes for mashed potatoes, extra-cheesy
macaroni and cheese, and more using hefty doses of his
The TikTok feta recipe is one of many viral postings to company's seasoning mix.
benefit grocery retailers. Phoenix-based Sprouts
Farmers Market’s $5 deli sandwich went viral as well. With holiday shopping already underway, shoppers and
The hashtag #sproutssandwich has garnered nearly 13 grocery retailers alike will be merrily scrolling for the
million views since it started circulating in July. next viral TikTok trend.
So, it comes as no surprise that this holiday season,
grocery retailers are partnering with food influencers in
the U.S., to widen their cumulative reach via TikTok.
Austin-based Whole Foods Market is hosting its ultimate
home-cooking showdown to find the “Next Hot Bar Star”
for the holidays. Partnering with Whole Foods Market
for the festive challenge is TikTok star Babs of Brunch
with Babs. The self-proclaimed “everyone’s
grandmother” is TikTok famous and an author with
expertise on all things cooking, hosting and guesting.
Babs announced the partnership on TikTok.
The contest asks participants to follow Whole Foods
Market and tag #WFMHotBarStarContest and the
brand’s account in the video caption.
“We’re giving our fans the ultimate way to steal the
show this year—getting their dish named the Next Hot
Bar Star and available for all to enjoy next holiday
season,” Susan Stillson, senior culinary development
chef at Whole Foods Market, told WGB. “The internet's
grandma is already trusted for her wisdom on holiday
traditions that impress guests and hosts alike, so she
was a natural partner to help us spread the word and
encourage recipe submissions.”
UPCOMING PRODUCE
EVENTS: BAROMETER:
ITEM QUALITY PRICING
Bell Pepper Good Steady
March 2-4, 2023
Southern Exposure Produce Show
Cucumber Good Higher
Orlando, Florida
seproducecouncil.com Eggplant Varied Steady
Green Beans Good Lower
Chili's Varied Steady to lower
Squash-Hard Good Lower
Squash-Soft Good Lower
Tomatoes Good Lower
WINTER NEWSBITES EDITION SNEAK PEEK
Look out for this delicious
recipe by Food blogger,
FoodbyMaria, dropping in
our winter edition
Newsbites next week!
QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEWSLETTER? EMAIL: MAGGIE.BARTHOLOW@LIPMANFAMILYFARMS.COMYou can also read
