June 17, 2011
News that is as fresh as our produce
top five updates
Markets are expected to be tight into the beginning of July.
LIMES
Fruit is starting to show signs of hot weather with blemishes and discoloration.
TOMATOES
Markets are lower as demand has eased.
FreshPress
a quick glance at the top produce items for quality and market conditions
ASPARAGUS
Market becomes more active as fields transition to new areas in Peru. Tighter supply on smaller sizes.
AVOCADO HASS
Markets strengthen as supplies become lighter and are expected to remain this way through the summer. Good quality and oil content.
BEAN, GREEN
Markets are stronger as we head into Northern growing areas. Quality is fair due to extreme heat and supplies will be extremely tight over the next few weeks.
BERRY – BLACKBERRIES
We have seen excellent quality, flavor and supplies of Blackberries from Mexico. We are starting to see increased domestic production as well, from California, Florida and North Carolina.
BERRY – BLUEBERRIES
We are moving into the very peak of U.S. Blueberry supply. Harvest is strong and moving up the East Coast. In fact, we have seen some of the first picks from New Jersey.
BERRY – RASPBERRIES
Quality has been excellent, with good berry size and excellent flavor.
BERRY – STRAWBERRIES
By late-June, we will be at the very peak of summer production in Watsonville and Salinas. Growers say fields responded quickly from the early June rain. There is improving production and a lot of white blossoms in the fields.
Reality
Check
, 2009
VEGETABLE Asparagus Beans Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Celery Cucumbers Lettuce – Iceberg Lettuce – Leaf Lettuce – Romaine Lettuce –Spring Mix Onions – Red Onions – Yellow Peppers – Green Peppers – Red Potatoes – Russet
Quality
Squash – Zucchini Tomato – Cherry Tomato – Grape Tomato – Mature Green
Tomato – Roma Tomato – V/Ripe
Squash – Yellow
Price LOW
GRAPES
AVG
Quality is fair due to extreme heat and supplies will be extremely tight over the next few weeks.
HIGH
GREEN BEAN
1 2 3 4 5
LOW
Markets strengthen as supplies become lighter.
AVG
AVOCADO HASS
HIGH
5
FreshPRESS
FRUIT Avocado Berry- Blackberry Berry- Blueberry Berry- Raspberry Berry- Strawberry Grape- Red Grape- Green Kiwifruit Lemons Limes Melon–Cantaloupe Melon – Honeydew Melon–Watermelon Oranges Pineapple
June 17, 2011
FreshPRESS News that is as fresh as our produce
BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER
Field Packed Broccoli is of fair to good quality, with lower supplies. Branchy product continues to be observed on some lots. Cauliflower quality is fair to good as well, with some product stands showing occasional mildew/mold. As with Broccoli, Cauliflower supplies are lower; and volumes for both of these commodities are expected to remain generally lower the next 2 to 3 weeks.
CELERY
Market is transitioning into the northern growing regions of Salinas Valley. During this transition, we will most likely see some supply gaps and more up-anddown markets.
CITRUS – LEMONS
Summer demand is upon us, markets are expected to firm up with the increase in demand. Larger sizes are firm.
CITRUS – LIMES
Fruit is starting to show signs of hot weather with blemishes and light coloration. Smaller sizes are tight for the next 3-5 weeks.
CITRUS – ORANGES
Navels and Valencias are readily available as the Navel season winds down and the Valencia season picks up. Good quality on both.
CUCUMBER & EGGPLANT
Good supplies on Cucumbers as they move North into Georgia, Carolinas, and eventually New Jersey. Eggplant quality is good.
GRAPES
LETTUCE
Overall lettuce supplies and quality are good. Iceberg lettuce, Green and Red Leaf, and Romaine markets are stable.
MELON – CANTALOUPE & HONEYDEW The import season is finished and we are into the Arizona and Brawley, CA growing areas. Sugar is good, as well as quality and supplies.
ONIONS
Markets are still strong as the crop in TX is finished and the New Mexico and California areas are not able to fill national volume. Supplies are short on Colossal and Super Colossal sizes.
Brix A percentage of soluble
solids in fruits are almost 100% sugar, therefore refractometers are widely used to check maturity in fruits. The number will be % of solids as sucrose.
Honeydew and Cantaloupe are all averaging about
11-12%
GREEN PEPPERS & SQUASH
Green Peppers are starting their northward march, with the first crown picks in Georgia, followed by North Carolina in a few weeks. Squash markets are into Georgia as well as North Carolina. Supplies are restricted due to the excessive heat.
RED PEPPERS
Markets are plentiful as availability improves in the Coachella area.
Brix Scale Low: 8-10%
| Avg: 11-13% | High: 14-17%
POTATOES
Markets have settled as demand has eased.
TOMATOES
Markets are lower as demand has eased. Good volume coming out of Quincy, Florida and South Carolina. Due to hot weather the crop is growing rapidly.
Red and Green Grapes are tight and will remain this way until the second week of July as they transition into California. Globe grapes have started in Mexico as well.
Sysco
News that is as fresh as our produce Please Distribute to: Executive Chef, General Manager, Kitchen Manager, Purchasing Manager, F&B Manager
NECTARINES!
As sweet as
Sugar!