MARKET UP-DATE for the week of August 30, 2010

LETTUCE- The Iceberg market will continue to ride erratic levels higher than the norm. Past weeks of cool weather, resulting in a delayed harvest schedule, have produced ideal lettuce quality and condition. Late August temps will see the first warm spell and consequently better production as promotional features unfold, with many jumbo sizes available.

LEAF LETTUCE- Romaine is softer in the market. Romaine hearts continue to be light in availability and this will continue throughout the week. Mildew and tip burn issues are a continued problem on all leaf items. The growing regions have had extreme high heats that will inevitably affect the quality. To what extent will be unknown until arrivals occur next week. Green and red leaf items are moderate in availability.

TOMATOES - Tomatoes on the vine- After good availability for most of the summer, there are almost none available to buy in Ontario today. Volume will be cut in almost half within the next few weeks. There has been some very good sized and high quality tov’s coming from Mexico recently, although pricing is up and this will continue to climb. Hothouse beefsteak tomatoes- There has been a good amount available lately, but this should change very quickly. Growers are already talking about fobs in the teens from Ontario on larger sizes. The inventory had gotten pretty backed up for some guys, but once this cleans up there is very little behind it. There are very few field tomatoes on the east coast currently and this could also drive the market up –California has also been cooler than normal and it hasn’t had its normal surplus of rounds either.

BROCCOLI- The market on broccoli has been depressed for quite some time which should be the status quo for the next few weeks. Quality and condition are excellent. Volume this week and next have lightened up quite a bit but then ramps right back as we get into the fall. This is a great time to set up some promotions.

CAULIFLOWER- Slightly lighter supplies next week with better supplies expected the next three weeks. The overall quality is still very nice 30-32lbs nice white colored heads with nicely trimmed green jackets that are packed tightly.

CELERY- Movement has been fairly good and the market is stable. Quality has been exceptional for some time and that is not expected to change anytime soon. Weights have been averaging around sixty pounds plus, the color is dark green and the product is very clean.

POTATOES- Idaho continues to peak on smaller size cartons in the old crop but supplies are disappearing quickly! The market has stabilized, but the larger counts are still short. A couple packers have started with new-crop Norkotahs and they are peaking on 80/90/100’s. Idaho’s quality on old-crop has been mostly good although peeper-sprouts and internal black-spotting have shown up sporadically. New crop quality is good with little skinning. Washington continues packing new-crop norkotahs and is peaking on 80- count. The early potatoes have been of good quality and have had good maturity. The Washington market is steady to slightly lower on all sizes. One Colorado shipper has old crop norkotahs while the rest are packing new crop. The Colorado/Nebraska potatoes are smaller and still peaking on 90/100 count and have had good maturity. Demand for new-crop has been strong although prices are down slightly. Minnesota is also packing russets right now and they have better numbers of the larger counts. California continues to pack colored potatoes. All Colors are available from the Stockton area and they continue with excellent quality in all colors. Minnesota and Wisconsin both continue to pack reds and golds as well and also a few whites. The market is lower in both areas as more shippers get in.

ONIONS- The market declines for some varieties and continues this week as shippers from Colorado and Washington are in full production. Oregon and Idaho are also getting started and New York and Canada have their own onions as well. California growers are still harvesting. After a gap in red availability the market is strong and steady. Whites slid slightly this week as did the yellow market. Sweets have been holding steady. Overall demand is good and steady and good supplies and quality continues out of California. Nevada harvest has begun on Sweetie Sweets.

GRAPES- Red seedless Flames, Crimson and Scarlett Royal are now available. The Flames are still peaking to med/large with the Crimson or Scarlet Royal seedless peaking to large. Quality is very good on all varietals. Thompson green seedless are available and running to the medium/large sizes, while the Princess Green seedless are nice and large. Summer Royal black seedless and Red Globes are also available with good quality.

STRAWBERRIES- Growers went from months of cold and foggy mornings to 4 days of record heat that started on last Sunday August 22 in the strawberry growing regions. Temperatures in the strawberry growing areas were in the mid to high 90s with some areas hitting 100 plus degrees. The mini heat wave will be short lived as the forecast is calling for the moist and cool weather pattern to move back in this week. This heat will downsize fruit and hurt quality. Quality issues to be aware of will be sunburn (bronzing), over ripe fruit, bruising and decay. The market is steady to slightly weaker towards the middle of this week but will firm back up as the week moves on. The northern strawberry growing areas will go till the first major rain event hits, which is typically sometime in October. The Oxnard fall crop will be the next area to come into play sometime in September followed by Mexico in the middle of October.

BLUEBERRIES- Very light supplies and moderate to good demand is causing a firming market this week. Blueberry season is starting to wind down a little quicker than normal. Weather in the Michigan and BC growing areas is the main cause of supplies falling short. Growers are transitioning their packs from pints back into 6ozand 4.4oz. Look for quality to go downhill. Upcoming blueberries supplies could be very limited due to a freeze in Argentina last month. You could feel the effect of this mid September through the middle of October. TREE FRUIT- Domestic peaches are still available with good volume to promote and excellent quality. Nectarines now have good supplies as well as excellent quality. Red and black plums still very good availability this week. Tree ripe or preconditioned peaches, nectarines and plums are now available. Their season will continue into September with good volume and quality on peaches and nectarines so bring on the orders. Pineapple- Pineapples are available in full pallets loading FOB Los Angeles area. The market is very tight with limited supplies. Some shippers are selling out to pre-booking.

APPLES- Washington apple movement is gaining momentum with the advent of new crop Gala packing. Supplies of 2009 are running low with Fuji and Golden delicious nearly out and Granny Smith are getting in short supply. Red delicious should be available until the start of new crop. Golden supreme are now in greater supply. Michigan apples will produce an estimated 17 million bushels of apples this fall. In a typical year, the Great Lake State, the nation’s third largest apple producer, ships 20 million bushels. Michigan has had plentiful rainfall and warm weather which makes for good fruit development. Expect high color and high sugar brix. Michigan is about 6 days earlier than normal.Pears- Bartlett and Starkrimson are now available, while green and red D’Anjou and Bosc will be coming on next month.

RASPBERRIES- This heat had shut down the raspberry plants and a lot of the fruit on the plants were burnt up. Supplies are very limited and quality is fair at best. Once the weather cools down we should see supplies come back in 5 to 7 days.

MANGOS- Mexico, Kent’s and Keit’s available in good range of sizes. Larger fruit is moving well, loading out of Texas, Arizona and very few imports.

MELONS- Cantaloupe: the market is beginning to strengthen this week as availability is more limited than over the last few weeks. Quality is still very good and sizes are very large peaking to 9s with minimal small fruit. Honeydew: The west side fruit is still peaking on 5s there is limited availability on 6s and smaller. Shippers are sizing up on orders in order to get trucks loaded. Watermelon: Michigan supplies now in good volume – supplies will seasonally build to peak next week – Fourth week of Month. Primary variety will be Crunchy Red’s. 45s will be peak, with crown cut to produce good supplies of 35s seedless – 60s will be limited until late in the month. Few Seeded supplies – 35s and 45s. Pricing should be fairly steady with good Regional demand currently. Demand to be influenced by weather patterns in MO and West TX, for Labor Day Holiday. Markets continue to trend higher on Strong Regional demand, with favorable weather in the forecast.

BELL PEPPERS/CUCUMBERS/SQUASH- Supplies of green peppers are in strong supply again out of Michigan. Pricing has fallen back to reasonable levels this past week. Supplies are starting to increase in the central coast of California –while the Fresno area is beginning to slide. All I all, pricing is stable –but keep buying for quality. Colored peppers are in good supply in central California –and with light demand, this trend is expected to continue this week. Cucumber supplies are strong in Michigan and quality is good. Out west, Mexico has begun with limited supplies. Expect supplies to slowly improve over the next few weeks. Squash supplies are sporadic out of Michigan, and pricing is firm. Continue to buy for quality on both coasts.

AVOCADOS- California harvest is now past the 70% harvest point. Harvest is expected to go into September. Demand remains very strong. Mexico is practically a non factor at this time. Off bloom fruit should be available in a couple of weeks, and new crop in September. California Fruit harvest is still peaking on 48s, with supplies of smaller sizes light. Growers are still slowing harvest to spread fruit supplies out through September when export fruit volumes are expected. Demand is very strong. Mexican fruit growers are crossing very light volume of off bloom fruit into the states. Supplies will slowly increase as growers move into and through September.

ASPARAGUS- This market is stable. Supplies will continue to be very light on jumbo sizing throughout the week. Peru has had cold weather issues that have kept production at a minimum. Mexico production has picked up. Continue to place orders as early as possible to assure coverage of orders.

ARTICHOKES- Harvesting continues out of the central coast of California in Castroville. Sizing is mostly jumbo 12s with some large and medium artichokes available. Look for the production of mediums to increase in the next few weeks. Volumes are limited during the month of August, with production slated to increase in the middle of September. Quality and availability are excellent due to the cooler weather patterns California has had for the past 8 weeks.

LOCAL GROWN- We have limited quantities on some products and as much as you can use on others. Available now we have, zucchini squash, yellow squash, basil, chives, watermelons, jalapeno peppers, Anaheim peppers, Acorn - Butternut squash, spaghetti squash, pumpkins, Indian corn, Gourds and mixed specialty squash.

CITRUS- Valencia demand is increasing on the smaller sizes 113s and 138s and the market is going up. This variety is packing sizes 72, 88, 56, 113 and 138. Valencia’s are showing re-greening and some softness. Navels are coming in from off-shore and are mostly larger sizes; 48, 56 and 72, with few offerings of 88s and 113s. Fruit quality is very good, but at high prices. Lemon demand is very good and the market is stable. We have off-shore fruit coming in on both coasts. Fruit quality is very good. Clementine’s and Minneola’s are available. Grapefruit- Star Ruby’s are finishing up and Marsh Ruby’s will start shortly.