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Charlie’s Produce
March 27th, 2015
Fresh News
www.charliesproduce.com
Commodities
at a glance...
HOT PICKS!
PLEASE CALL TO CHECK AVAILABILITY.
Some items may have limited inventory, may require a special order, or may be out of stock.
COMMODITY
Apples
QUALITY
Good
MARKET
Steady
Foraged
Asparagus
Good
Steady
CastelFranco
016-01914
Check first--Wild mushrooms are in low supply
Avocado (Mexican)
Good
Steady
Red Watercress!!! Beautiful
017-03132
Sea Beans
017-01210
Avocado (California)
Good
Steady
Opal Apple USXF
011-01112
031-02071
Mandarin 5# bag
031-00940
Bell Peppers (Western)
Good
Lower/Higher
Meyer Lemon 20/1#
012-01434
Black Truffles- Pre-order
FiddleHead Ferns, 5# ctn
Fresh Morels
Bell Pepper (Eastern)
Good
Higher
Easter Egg Radish
016-02773
Berries: Strawberries
Fair
Steady
DragonFruit
013-01318
Berries: Raspberries
Fair
Steady
Dried Cherry, tart 5#
033-05323
Berries: Blackberries
Fair
Steady
Kumquats 10# Ctn
CaraCara Orange
013-01336
012-01615
Berries: Blueberries
Fair
Steady
Broccoli
Good
Steady
Blood Orange
012-01982
Carrots
Good
Steady
HoneyComb-----PreOrder
011-00002
Cauliflower
Fair
Lower
Tomato Grape Golden 15/10.50z
022-01413
Celery
Good
Steady
Kale Sprouts Lollipops 4.5# case
016-02716
Citrus: Lemons
Good
Steady/Higher
Frozen Huckleberries 5# bag
014-01513
Citrus: Oranges
Good
Steady/Higher
Rhubarb Hothouse grown, 5# Ctn
016-02301
Cucumbers (Western)
Good
Steady
Lady Alice Apples
011-01895
Cucumbers (Eastern)
Excellent
Lower
Romanesco--Great quality!! 18#
017-01396
Eggplant (Western)
Good
Higher
Baby Tatsoi 3# case
017-01507
Eggplant (Eastern)
Fair
Higher
Muscat Grapes--Seeded, 16#
014-01951
Spring Garlic, 10# Ctn
023-01290
Grapes, Green
Good
Steady
Spring Garlic by the #
031-01301
Grapes, Red
Good
Higher
Baby Romanesco 24ct
017-01392
Green Onions
Fair
Steady
Nettles!! Nearly Spring item!! 1#
031-02721
Lettuce: Leaf
Fair
Steady
Miner's Lettuce- pre-order, short window!
017-01363
Lettuce: Iceberg
Fair
Steady
Carmen Pear---Beautiful!! Delicious!!!
011-03005
Melons: Cantaloupe
Good
Lower
Purple Asparagus
016-01092
Melons: Honeydew
Good
Steady
Squash Blossoms 25ct
017-01440
Baby peeled Rainbow carrots w/tops 5#
017-01322
Green Almonds 25# case
034-00532
Baby Veggie Crudite 4 oz. clamshell
017-03112
Fava Beans 25# case
016-01126
Conventional
017-01215
031-01583
16-10oz San Marzano tomato
019-05091
Organics
Opal Apples
Sunchokes 10#
Braising Mix
Easter Egg Radish
Watermelon Radish
Kumquat 10#ctn
King Oyster mushrooms 16/6oz.
Broccolette 18ct
Lacinato Kale 24ct
Black Radish 10# case
Red Sunchokes 10# bag
Ruby Crescent 24#
Gold Beet bulk 25#
Russian Fingerling Potatoes
Lady Alice Apples
Rainbow Shred Carrot(AWESOME) 2/5#
Green Garlic 10# ctn.
Red Spring Onions
Broccoli Di Cicco
English Peas 25# Carton
White Spring Onions 24ct
"Calcot" spring onions-limited--short window
Burdock Root 10#
Fava Beans….In very soon…ASK FIRST
Red A Potatoes 50# ctn
NW Rhubarb 15# Ctn
Baby Purple Artichokes
016-01028
70/90ct Red Bartlett Pears
Pomegranate 10CT.
013-01474
Power Greens 2# mix
Comice Pears
011-03317
040-00279
040-05113
040-05163
040-04748
040-05115
040-00688
040-04416
040-04030
040-04673
040-05107
040-05319
040-05475
040-05097
040-05524
040-00163
040-03555
040-05402
040-04717
040-04104
040-04313
040-04707
040-04705
040-05101
040-04052
040-05477
040-04404
040-00367
040-04781
Onions
Fair
Higher
Pears
Good
Steady
Potatoes
Good
Higher
Squash (Western)
Good
Lower
Squash (Eastern)
Good
Lower
Excellent
Higher
Fair
Steady
Tomatoes (Eastern)
Fair
Steady
Watermelon
Good
Steady
Stone Fruit
Tomatoes (Western)
Seattle: 206-625-1412 · Portland: 503-491-5974 · Spokane: 509-535-7393 · Anchorage: 907-258-1412
Page 1
Conventional
www.charliesproduce.com
APPLES & PEARS
Red Delicious are steady on all sizes.
They are still peaking on 80ct and larger
in the premium grades. Golden Delicious
are steady on all sizes and continue to
peak on 88/100ct. Granny Smith remain
steady on all sizes. The availability of
80ct and larger is excellent while the
88ct and smaller remain short. Grannies
are peaking on Washington extra-fancy
72/80ct with light supplies of the smaller
sizes. Washington Gala are slightly higher
and are peaking on 88/100ct. Fuji are
steady to higher and peak on 64/72ct.
Braeburn, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, and Pink
Lady are still available but the availability
is light. The Honeycrisp market is steady
to higher with light supplies.
Many
packers will finish shipping them within
the next couple weeks.
Washington D‘Anjou pears are steady &
continue to peak on 80/90ct while 120ct
and smaller remain short. Washington
Bosc are steady, peaking on 80/90ct. Most
packers are finishing up with domestic
Bosc. Washington red D’Anjou availability
is light, but they are steady on all sizes,
peaking on 45/50 half-cartons. Imported
Bartletts are peaking on 100ct and larger.
ASPARAGUS
This market is firm. Demand was expected
to be strong for the Easter pull but so
far, demand has been light. Moderate
supplies exist on Mexican product. The
main packs continue to be in standard
and large sizing out of the Mexico region.
Supplies will be very tight on extra-large
and jumbo packs. Domestic supplies are
available to load out of Salinas but pricing
is higher. Standard and large will be the
main sizing available.
AVOCADO
Supplies from Mexico are lighter. Mexico’s
growers are currently in clean up mode in
some groves. 48ct and larger continue to
be very short. California fruit is coming to
market in light supplies. Overall supplies
are light; quality remains good and the
market is firm.
BELL PEPPERS
Market is slightly lower on Green Bell
peppers due to demand and supplies
leveling out. Green bells are getting active
with larger size becoming short and quoted
at a premium. Smaller size and choice
green bells are more readily available.
Southern California has started in light
volume and production should increase in
the next couple of weeks. Colored Bells
are slightly higher. Gold Bells continue to
be short and in limited hands
BERRIES
The Strawberry market is steady and
quality is fair to good.
Volume is
increasing out of California with fruit
now coming out of Oxnard, Santa Maria,
Salinas and Watsonville regions. Oxnard
and Santa Maria volumes continue to rise
with lighter volumes available out of the
northern districts. Watsonville received
one half inch of rain Sunday evening /
Monday morning which resulted in some
harvests being cancelled early this week.
Crews have returned to those fields to cull
and clean the plants and have returned to
production efforts. We will see increased
demand this week as we get into the pull
for Easter fruit.
Blackberries: the market is steady and
quality may suffer this week as recent rain
and hail in central Mexico have disrupted
harvests and diminished projected
available volumes. Availability will be
lighter and loading will be affected out
of all areas. Overall, volume should be
increasing for this period of the season,
so we look for this disruption in supply
and quality to be short lived (5-7 days).
Raspberries: the market is steady and
quality has improved with fewer reports
of soft fruit. Production out of Santa
Maria has increased as Oxnard and Mexico
have come off.
Blueberries: the market is steady, quality
is fair to good. Domestic supplies have
begun in a small. Quality reported as
good with domestic fruit. Pints and larger
pack specials are limited to not available,
best availability in 4.4 and 6oz clams.
BROCCOLI
The market is steady. Demand is light and
supplies are moderate at best.
CARROTS
California’s desert crop is going well with
fair size coming out of the fields. Jumbo
size carrot availability has improved.
Quality of carrots is good.
CAULIFLOWER
This commodity remains steady in the
marketplace. Yuma continues to have
light supplies and Salinas’ production
is moderate at best. Issues on quality
include rough curd, brown spotting and
yellow casting.
CELERY
Large celery continues to have big
production numbers. Overall this market
has remained on a steady path. Small
sizing continues to demand a higher
price. Oxnard is the growing region at
this time. Yuma is just about finished with
most suppliers. Santa Maria has been in
and out in terms of availability.
CITRUS
Lemon demand is picking up. Crop is
peaking on 140ct and larger right now
with the 165ct and smaller remaining
tight in supply.
Oranges: Navels are moving very well
with supplies peaking on 72ct and larger.
Demand exceeds supplies on smaller
fruit, (113 & 138ct). External color is very
good. Internal maturity is good and eating
quality is excellent.
Limes:
The market has jumped up
again and the trend for the next month
or so is upward. Demand has increased
and supplies have dropped. Less than
favorable weather in the growing areas
has slowed down production. The winter
crop is the lowest volume crop of the
year, and we are into that crop now. The
forecast of lighter supplies from April
through mid-May will probably continue
to support these higher prices. The
overall quality continues to be acceptable
with some yellowing and minor defects
showing.
CUCUMBERS
Market is steady. Production from Sonora
is lower volume with the majority of the
production still coming from Sinaloa.
Expected warmer weather ought to
increase production and keep the market
steady for the next few weeks.
EGGPLANT
The market is slightly higher as
some growers are experiencing gaps.
Production has been steady and warmer
weather should help production keep
pace with demand. We are seeing some
adverse effects of the warm weather on
some lots of eggplant. We anticipate the
continued on page 3
Seattle: 206-625-1412 · Portland: 503-491-5974 · Spokane: 509-535-7393 · Anchorage: 907-258-1412
Page 2
Conventional
www.charliesproduce.com
market to have continued strength as
some growers are slowing in production.
GRAPES
The green seedless grape market has
plunged due to excessive inventories.
This is especially true on the smaller
500 and 700 code fruit. The larger sizes
have better quality but lighter supplies.
The red seedless market continues to be
firm and steady. Crimsons are now the
predominate variety, with good quality
and adequate numbers to meet demand.
LEAF LETTUCE
The romaine market has a pricing gap
depending on the supplier. Overall, this
market is steady. The reports on romaine
quality include instances of staining and
discoloration due to epidermal peel and
mildew. Weights on romaine are ranging
from 30-35 pounds. Green and red leaf
pricing is steady. Huron has stronger
production compared to the previous
week. Warm temperatures are creating
insect issues. Shippers have been spraying
heavily in the attempt to minimize the
bug issue. Supplies are light in Yuma on
all leaf items
LETTUCE
Strong supplies exist on this commodity
in Yuma and Huron. Bugs and gnats are
an issue in both growing regions as
temperatures reach high 80s in Huron and
90s in Yuma. The weights are ranging from
41-46 pounds. Blister, misshapen heads,
mildew, weak tip, and epidermal peel
continues to be seen upon arrivals but
the percentage is less than in past weeks.
Supplies look to be strong throughout the
week.
MELONS
Cantaloupe supplies are picking up and
demand remains good. The market is
beginning to come down because of
better supplies. The sizing is peaking on
12ct and 15ct with fewer 9ct. Offshore
melons continue to arrive on the west
coast in very light volumes with 12ct the
main size.
Honeydew: offshore dews are peaking
on 6ct. Supplies are steady for the rest
of the week. Rainy weather during the
planting stages and abnormal overcast
weather has caused low yields. Demand
is at a steady level and its matching
current supplies. Mexican dews have
been coming into Nogales but demand
for them continues to be light. Quality
has been good overall and looks to stay
this way.
Watermelons are becoming short due to
fields running their course with lighter
production out of Jalisco. Supplies are
extreme demand exceeds. The market
will continue short although there is
slight increase in production by week’s
end..
ONIONS
The onion market is active on yellow, red
and white onions out of all growing areas.
The Northwest season is starting to wind
down and will finish up around the end
of April. The Texas growing area should
start harvesting around the second week
of April followed by California. Quality is
fair with a few good lots coming out of
the Northwest. Mexico finally had a dry
week, so better supplies are starting to
come across into McAllen, TX the middle
of this week. Currently they are just
harvesting Yellow and Whites onions.
Red onions are about a week away. We
should see moderate supplies crossing
through next week, and then the crews
will take a week off for Easter which will
limit supplies. Quality is being reported
as Fair to good depending on the lots.
Demand is good to moderate.
POTATOES
Washington- Demand is still good on
large cartons (60ct and larger) which
has this market firming. All other sizes
have good to moderate supplies with a
steady market. Quality is being reported
as good.
Idaho – As you all know the Idaho crop
this year is small in size peaking on 80ct
and smaller. Norkotahs have a little
better size but this variety will finish up
in the next three weeks. Look for the
large cartons (40ct -70ct) to continue to
be very limited for the balance of the
storage season. Market on these sizes is
very active. All other sizes have good to
moderate supplies. Quality is still being
reported as good.
COLORED POTATOES
Western Washington – the market for Reds
is steady, most packers aren’t quoting
golds anymore. The reds are still peaking
on A-size.
Bakersfield, California – Red, Gold, and
white potatoes are steady on all sizes.
All three colors are peaking on A-size.
White supplies are limited and will
remain so until they start packing desert
product in early April.
SQUASH
Yellow squash and Zucchini are very
unsettled with light supplies of quality
product. We anticipate Sonoran squash
to start by this week which should relieve
the market slightly.
STONE FRUIT
California fruit is on the horizon! Early
season peaches, nectarines and apricots
are expected to start the week of April 6.
Good promotable volume in these items
is projected to be available the last
week of April. Cherries are also on the
horizon. Early season cherries should be
available the last week of April. Quality
on all is reported to be good although
the higher than normal heat has hurt
some early cherry crops.
TOMATOES
Western/Mexico: growers expect supply
and quality to improve in the next
couple of weeks now that the rains have
passed. Mexican production remains
sufficient for western demand as the
east continues to support their own.
Availability is best on medium sized
fruit. Roma production is moving into
better numbers this week with a couple
of growers out of Baja Mexico, (Vizcaino)
beginning harvests, with no significant
volume until San Quentin comes into the
mix in May. With improving supply and
quality on both coasts, Roma promotions
are recommended. Baja is slowly
increasing the amount of grape tomatoes
crossing into Nogales to meet western
demand.
Florida: the Immokalee/Naples growing
region in Florida has moderate
production as they begin to wind down.
For the next couple of weeks, size will
continue to drop off with fair quality.
Spring production from Immokalee/
Naples and the Palmetto/Ruskin regions
will get underway early April.
Seattle: 206-625-1412 · Portland: 503-491-5974 · Spokane: 509-535-7393 · Anchorage: 907-258-1412
Page 3