Klein's Supermarket weclomes you! Our Family and Staff have been providing quality food since 1892. We are now the 4th generation of brothers operating our family business.
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Greetings Food Lovers!
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With the month of September, comes the hint of fall and apple season. The first to arrive in large qualities is the Gala apple. Gala apples are sweet and very flavorful. This apple is Recognized by the pink to red stripes and the yellow–gold flesh. This apple is a cross between the Kidd’s Orange Red and the Golden Delicious apple. Gala apples are one of the top 5 apples most commonly consumed in the US. The Gala apple was first introduced to the US in the 1970’s.
The gala apple is native to New Zealand, but also now grows domestically in many States. Did you know: Apples are the second most purchased fruit in supermarkets, ranking after bananas. You will need to purchase 2 pounds of whole apples to make one 9” pie. It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce one apple.
When buying, apples should be firm with smooth and clean skin. Store your apples cold, anything over 40°F will start the deterioration process. Apples are an ethylene producer, so take care when storing with other produce items and fresh cut flowers that are ethylene sensitive.
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My friend Kay was lamenting the other day. Her compact garden has reached the glory days with her tomatoes ripening up all at once. What can one do but either share or find creative uses for the harvest.
Plump, fresh, juicy tomatoes have long put New Jersey on the produce map. That and Lancaster county growing some fantastic gems, what better way to showcase our harvest with a bowl of cold and tasty Gazpacho. Gazpacho is a cold Spanish tomato based raw vegetable soup, originating in the southern region of Andalusia. Tomatoes are one of our regions most famous products( along with the soft pretzel, steak sandwich and Phila Cream Cheese).
Tomato Gazpacho
Ingredients
• 3 large tomatoes, large dice
• 2 peeled cucumbers, chopped
• 1 red pepper seeded and chopped
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• 1 jalapeno seeded and chopped
• 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Combine chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, and
jalapeños in a bowl and season with salt. Let sit for about twenty minutes
allowing all the flavors to macerate. Puree mixture in a food processor.
Once all the ingredients are pureed, mix in the cilantro and vinegar and
adjust the salt and pepper. Chill then serve.
Serves 3-4, then make more!
Produce Talk
Apples
Washington State will start packing Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Honeycrisp apples to accompany the current supply of Gala apples. From the East Coast, growers will begin packing Golden Delicious along with current supplies of Red Delicious, Gala and Honeycrisp apples.
Stone Fruit
As we move into September, growers in California find themselves with a huge volume of peaches, nectarines, plums, and pluots. Prices are aggressive on all varieties of stone fruit as growers hope to keep inventory moving. Quality remains fantastic on all varieties. However, the bulk of the harvest has been picked and is now in cold storage, it will not be getting fresher.
Cantaloupes
After a gap that our cantaloupe growers were facing last week, we are back with good volume. Expect consistent supplies through the week. Prices have decreased slightly with many growers looking to move volume.
Pears
California has good supplies of Bartlett, Bosc and specialty pears available. Washington State has ample supplies of Bartlett and Star Crimson pears. Bosc and Anjou pears are expected to start in two to three weeks.
Grapes
Supplies of Crimson, Scarlet Royal, and Majestic grapes have increased with a few Flame seedless left. Prices are a little higher than the Flame grapes. White seedless grape growers are finding heavy supplies of Thompson seedless grapes. Due to this increase in supply, prices have softened on the larger sized grapes.
California Citrus
The supply of Valencia oranges is good for larger sized fruit. There are few smaller sizes but the price on the smaller sized fruit is much higher. The lemon market is steady and all sizes are currently available.
California Strawberries
The warm weather during the early part of last week caused some quality issues. Bruising upon arrival will continue to be prevalent since the average temperature was in the 90s. Production continues in Salinas, Watsonville and now small amounts of the fall crop are available in Oxnard, California.
Bush Berries
Raspberry and blackberry production has declined. Supplies will be limited during the next two weeks, which will lead to higher prices. Light supplies of blueberries from the Pacific Northwest have created higher prices. Prices will remain higher until a good supply of imported product begins to arrive. Quality on blueberries will remain fair at best. Expect to see soft, shrivel and wet berries in each pack. Sizing has moved back to the 6 oz. package.
Tomatoes
Supplies will begin to lighten up each week as we head into the end of September. Our grower in Lancaster County will enter into his 4th and final planting next week. Look for nice big tomatoes. These supplies will last about two weeks as he crowns the field. Quality is outstanding.
Roma tomatoes continue to be steady from Tennessee at this time. Grape and cherry tomato supplies will drop off this week as growers on the Eastern shore wind down for the season. Expect prices to increase slightly. Quality is superb.
Pumpkins
After last year’s crop failure, due to much rain (which you might have noticed when you were looking for canned pumpkin) pumpkins will start rolling in next week from our local growers. The crop looks excellent this year.
Asparagus
After shippers adjusted the prices due to short supply, the market has weakened due to overall lack of demand. The supply situation remains unchanged; however, prices are decreasing. The growing areas in Central Mexico are almost ending and production from Peru continues to be light due to weather conditions. Mexican asparagus production will start in a new district in two weeks.
Cucumbers
Cucumber supplies have increased countrywide because many local regions are in full production during the next few weeks. Quality from all regions is superb. Expect the first production from the Northern region of Central Mexico in 2-3 weeks. This will begin the 2010/2011 Nogales, Arizona produce season.
Iceberg Lettuce
Lettuce pricing has decreased as demand has weakened. Good supplies of Iceberg lettuce are currently available. Case weights are back to normal and color is light green with no signs of rust to the lower part of the frame.
Leaf Lettuce
Leaf lettuces are available for shipping out of Santa Maria and Salinas, California. Leaf lettuce and Romaine pricing has stabilized. Good supplies have met decent demand through the holiday weekend. Quality has improved during the last two weeks. There are only minor windburn and tip burn issues remaining. Weather in the Salinas Valley and along the coast of California has returned to more traditional temperatures so growers anticipate a good run on product for the next few weeks. Green leaf lettuce remains the tightest of all the varieties available.
Have a fruitful week!
Greetings Food Lovers!
I have always have had an interest in folk and blues music. One of the joys of living in the Delaware Valley is our access to concert venues both large and small to feed our passions. With this in mind, I had been planning on attending the Philadelphia Folk Festival and hear the vast array of music. On Saturday evening, I arrived with my partner, set up our lawn chairs and plopped down with friends and relaxed to four hours of music from folk blues, blue grass and jazz.
I had this idea to look for food, not for the masses, but what the entertainers were eating. Several years ago, I was in the press area talking with the musicians. There was David Bromberg eating a pizza with his wife. Over the years, I have heard stories about musicians wanting certain food in the dressing rooms. I wanted to revisit this and report what our traveling troubadours were consuming. However, I awoke to heavy rain and promises of thunderstorms all day Sunday. I will keep this quest on hold until next year. If any of you attended the Phila Folk Festival, I hope you kept dry!
Produce Talk
Seedless Watermelons are basically finished for the season out of Delaware. A few growers are beginning to bring in better volume out of North Carolina and this should continue through the Labor Day holiday.
Cantaloupes from California are in ample supply with sizing peaking on the large size and good quality. Growers are looking for business, so pricing is getting better. The honeydew supplies are steady with large size fruit. The quality and sugar content on these melons is absolutely wonderful!
Grapes
Crimson, Scarlet Royals and Majestic grapes all start this week, but pricing will be a bit higher on these varieties. Flame grapes have had some issues with size and color, but supplies coming in this week should show improvement.
Stone Fruit
Peaches—there are ample supplies of peaches from the East and West Coast. This fruit has good quality and flex in pricing.
Nectarines—fruit from California is a bit tight in supplies and prices are on the rise. New Jersey has a small supply of fruit available with comparable pricing. Plums—As the current varieties of black and red plums come to an end, pricing is increasing by $2-$3 per case. Look for the late season of plums to arrive soon
Pears
California’s new crop pear season is well under way. There is a good supply of Green Bartlett, Stark Crimson and Golden Russet Bosc pears with good quality. Comice and Seckel pears are starting to show up. Washington State is shipping their new crop Bartlett pears.
Strawberries
Strawberry supplies continue to be light because of the overcast weather in the Salinas and Watsonville growing districts. Production will continue to decline through the month of August. Bruising upon arrival continues to be a problem due to the excess moisture from the wet, foggy mornings. Oxnard, California will start harvesting its Fall crop in late August; quality is expected to be good from that region.
Bush Berries
Raspberry and blackberry production has slowed down because of the cooler weather. Supplies will be limited during the next two weeks. Blueberry availability is limited out of the Pacific Northwest. Most blueberry arrivals are showing quality defects such as wet and shrivel. Look for pack sizes to change back to 6 oz. clamshells as we move into September.
Green Beans
The recent drop in temperatures has allowed for excellent growing conditions causing there to be an excess of supply in the market. Growers are looking to make volume deals to spark movement.
Corn
The local Labor Day corn supply is coming on now, which is ten days early. This will cause some issues when the holiday hits because we will be past the glut in supply.
Iceberg Lettuce
The lettuce market remains strong because of the current weather. The below normal temperatures and foggy mornings have caused the growth to slow down. Many shippers are waiting for fields to size up, which limits daily yields. Product availability is 30 percent below normal and will continue to be light through the week. Expect some quality issues including mildew and fringe burn, especially on the product left in the fields to size up. The weights are still good, but could fall off as harvest crews try to meet size in order to fill orders.
Broccoli
Even though there is a decrease in plantings in California due to summer plantings, the market is very soft. There are abundant supplies of broccoli from California and Maine. Shippers are looking to make deals!
Green Bell Peppers
The pepper market is extremely active as all of the local growing regions are in full production and each grower is making his own deal. Plantings are on second and third picks, so sizing is trending to the smaller sizes.
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Cucumbers
Although prices are falling off, cucumber supplies are very tight and will remain tight. The shortage in the market is due to cooler weather in many of the growing regions within the United States. Production out of Mexico is very limited, which typically coincides with the domestic season allowing the local farmers to sell cheaper than they are this year.
tomatoes
Good supplies continue from our growers in Pennsylvania. The quality for the season has been excellent so far on all sizes. Roma tomatoes are steady out of Tennessee and Virginia. Quality on Romas tomatoes has been very nice. Grape tomato prices have climbed this week and volume has dropped. Look for limited supplies over the next couple weeks. Quality has been very nice.
Asparagus
The market on asparagus remains tight. The weather in Peru has caused delays in production of their crop. The market is expected to decrease slightly, but remain quite strong. Overall, quality is good and should improve as the weather does in Peru.
Have a fruitful week!
Greetings Food Lovers!
It won't be long now till the fall harvest begins and we will taste apples and pears from local orchards or from the premium growing regions in Washington State. Before we get too excited about the harvests to come, let us enjoy what nature has to offer us at this very moment.
Grapes
The supply of white seedless grapes is good with Thompson seedless and Princess varieties starting. The quality is outstanding and extra large fruit is available. The next 3 to 4 weeks will be tough on red seedless grapes. Many growers are having problems with Flames coloring up and having to leave the fruit on the vine too long. Some growers will be completely out of red grapes until the Crimsons start in September.
Peaches
There are plenty of peaches from the East and West Coast. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are both beginning to have good volume available.
Nectarines
California has plenty of big, high colored fruit currently shipping. New Jersey is also shipping nectarines and this season, their size is comparable.
Berries
Strawberries: Strawberry supplies have continued to lighten up during the past week because of the overcast weather in the Salinas and Watsonville growing districts. Prices are higher. Production will continue to decline through the month of August. There continues to be a major issue with bruising upon arrival, especially on the East Coast as they must travel 3000 miles. Once you take them home, eat them quickly, they will tend to get mouldy.
Raspberry production has slowed due to cooler weather. Blackberries are still peak supply. Good supplies of Blueberries are arriving from the Pacific Northwest and have been priced aggressively, but the party is just about over and we will see prices going up as quickly as they came down
Apricots
Washington will finish with apricots next week. California still has a small supply of a late variety apricot, which is expected to be available for another week.
Plums
This week, plums are boasting pretty good volume and plenty of big fruit available. Now is the time to buy since next week supplies are expected to drop off as many growers will gap before the Angelino plums begin. The Angelino plum is the last major variety of the black plum.
Cherries
The Washington season is winding down with only a couple of growers still packing supplies. This is expected to last only another week or two. Look for prices to be firm and to increase.
Apricots
Washington will finish with apricots next week. California still has a small supply of a late variety apricot, which is expected to be available for another week.
Plums
This week, plums are boasting pretty good volume and plenty of big fruit available. Now is the time to buy since next week supplies are expected to drop off as many growers will gap before the Angelino plums begin. The Angelino plum is the last major variety of the black plum.
Cherries
The Washington season is winding down with only a couple of growers still packing supplies. This is expected to last only another week or two. Look for prices to be firm and to increase.
Celery
Demand for celery remains softer due to the local deals being in place right now. Freight rates are higher out of California, which keeps the promotable pricing out of reach. Look to product from Michigan or Canada as cheaper alternatives.
Iceberg Lettuce
We are now in the middle of the summer months and the planted acres in California are decreasing because of regional competition in the East Coast and Canada. Demand continues to remain flat across the country. The light demand can also be attributed to the cost of freight. Quality remains good.
Leaf Lettuce
Leaf lettuce prices remain flat as demand is weak and product is available from California, Michigan, and Canada. Overall, quality is good with occasional windburn on the tips of some of the leaves. There are deals available at shipping point, but these are not expected to last very long at all.
Green Bell Peppers
The bell pepper market is leveling out as we are now in the midst of the local pepper crop. Sizing has moved from being mostly Jumbo during the crown pick to the extra large and large sizes, which we see now.
Colored Bell Peppers
Red bell peppers are a great promotion item for the next few weeks. The red bell pepper market has softened with lower prices and good volume from all of the California growing areas. Quality is exceptional and all pack sizes are available.
Cucumbers
The cucumber market is expected to be very active until mid-September. The regional deals from Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Southeast have limited production. There are heavy amounts of select cucumbers available.
Asparagus
The asparagus market is extremely tight. The rains in Central Mexico have caused supply issues and there are delays with production in Peru. The market is expected to decrease since better supplies of asparagus are to arrive early in the week. Overall, quality is fairly good and should improve with better weather conditions in Mexico.
Broccoli
Broccoli remains strong from Santa Maria and Salinas, California even though summer acreage is being reduced. Maine is now harvesting broccoli, which is being distributed throughout the Northeast. These supplies are competing directly with West Coast production. Broccoli prices will continue to be depressed throughout the week.
Cauliflower
The cauliflower market will remain stable this week. Quality is very nice, boasting white and off-white domes, full packs, and good, green jackets.
Tomatoes
Vine ripe row pack tomatoes have become short this week from Alabama and Tennessee. Our grower in Alabama, J & J Tomato, ran into a small gap between plantings, which caused a shortage. Look for more Alabama vine ripe tomatoes this week as the folks at J & J Tomato return to the field. The market price has risen slightly. We have a great opportunity on local vine ripe tomatoes from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. These tomatoes are stickered with the “PA Preferred” label.
Roma tomatoes are in good supply from Alabama and Tennessee. We will also have plenty of local supply this week. Overall quality has been outstanding.
Grape tomatoes will be in excellent volume this week from Pennsylvania. Growers in Chambersburg and Ephrata are in full swing. Look for this market to remain cheap for a few more weeks.
Greetings Food Lovers!
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In the game we play daily which we call life, we loose touch with the unknown. Our routines are set, we go to work and come home and relax. Hang out with friends and family, eat some nice food, watch tv and do whatever makes us happy (paying bills is not one of them). What we don't see is not part of our reality.
This week, my produce supplier in the Lancaster area emailed me that they had fresh corn delivered that morning from a local farmer. I opened up the attached photo to find the farmer delivered it with his horse and wagon. In our world of modern farming techniques, it is refreshing to see there are other methods!
Produce Talk on Summer Fruit
Cherries
The Washington season is winding down. Rainier cherries will finish by mid-week and red cherries will finish packing by August 15th.The majority of the fruit will small size, those big plump cherries are have all been picked and now we are left with the "seconds" . Prices will be much higher as the season ends.
Peaches and Nectarines
Peach supplies are plentiful from California and the East Coast. Prices are aggressive on both yellow and white peaches. Supplies of yellow and white nectarines from California and some yellow nectarines from New Jersey are available boasting superb quality.
Plums
There is a good volume available of red and black plums with the varieties of Fortune and Friars starting this week. With this volume, some aggressive prices are available.
Berries
Strawberries: Overall strawberry supplies have lightened up over the last few days due to the overcast weather in the Salinas and Watsonville growing districts. Prices have increased with most shippers, but cannot climb too high because Driscoll’s volume is still decent.There are some issues with bruising upon arrival,especially here on the East Coast.
Raspberries: Raspberry production has slowed due to cooler weather. Supplies will be limited during the next 2 weeks, expect to see high prices.
Blueberries: Good supplies of blueberries are arriving from the Pacific Northwest and are priced aggressively. Michigan and New Jersey season are over. Enjoy this fruit now, they will soon shift to the smaller packaging which will in effect double in price.
Melons
Cantaloupes: We are dealing with erratic supplies and fair quality. If you can find it, there is a new hybrid called Magnificent, and the name says everything. It has a deep orange color with a slight taste of papaya.
Honeydew: Growers have been in and out of production as they suffer through small gaps. This has kept the market tight, but by the end of the week supplies and volume will be in full swing. King of the West brand is now shipping, it is truely a vine ripe product that is extra sweet.
Watermelons: Mid-Atlantic watermelon supplies are good along with great quality. Prices should remain steady for the next 3 weeks; however, expect prices to increase by the last week in August.
Grapes
The market on red seedless grapes is firm with only a little play on smaller fruit. Color has been great. Growers of white seedless grapes in the Arvin district are finishing with Sugarones; however, Thompsons and Princess varieties will start within 1 week. The Fresno district is expecting the same time frame as Arvin. Supplies will be light on whites and prices will be firm until then.
Pears
Washington is finished with last year’s crops of Anjou pears. California is moving along with new crop Bartlett pears and prices have dropped with better volume. Washington will start new crop Bartlett pears in 4 weeks. Bosc pears have just started in California. Expect supplies to be available for this weekend’s sales.
Apples
The old season is winding down and new crop apples from the Northwest are soon ready. Ginger Gold apples could start as early as next week, with Gala apples available in 3 weeks. Until then, Fuji, Gala and Braeburn varieties are finished with growers pushing to clean up Granny Smith supplies. Until the new crop comes in, there will be plenty of imports. Much is the same for Eastern apples, meaning the new crop is just around the corner.
Have a fruitful week!
Greetings Food Lovers!
The latest high-flavor stone fruits attracting oohs and aahs from fruit lovers are the pluots and the plumcots. Each variety offers vibrant colors, rich juices, overwhelming sweetness, and a smooth skin. The varieties vary in color from golden yellow to green to dappled red to almost black and are available from late May through October.
Pluots and plumcots are relative newcomers to the stone fruit category. The name “pluot” is trademarked by plant geneticist Floyd Zaiger, who originated the hybrid fruit some 20 years ago. This fruit is seventy-five percent plum and twenty-five percent apricot. Plumcots are a fifty-fifty cross between plums and apricots developed by Luther Burbank. When selecting, your fruit should be plump and firm. Avoid pluots that are green or have broken skin. To ripen at home, keep fruit out of the fridge at room temperature.
Today there are more than 80 different varieties of pluots and plumcots, most of which come from California. Pluots and plumcots resemble plums in appearance and texture, but their hybridization with apricots results in a sweeter, less acidic and very flavorful fruit. Plumcots have been known for hundreds of years from regions of the world that grow both plums and apricots from seed.
Produce Talk
Eastern Peaches
This week marks the start of Pennsylvania-grown peaches. Prices are slightly higher than the Jersey peaches; however, quality is expected to be outstanding. Jersey peach prices remain steady. South Carolina peaches have decreased slightly to better compete with the increase in PA and NJ supply.
Pears
California Bartlett pears are now here! River Bartletts and Star Krimson have started this week. Expect good supplies from now throughout August with prices slowly decreasing. Washington Bartletts are about 3 to 4 weeks away.
Cherries
Cherry prices continue to increase as shippers still cannot meet the strong demand. We are now into the late season varieties, which include Sweet Hearts, Lapins, and Skeenas. There are plenty of very large sizes around and quality remains excellent.
Lemons
The lemon market remains high as California’s supply is limited. Chilean lemons are on the scene but because of tight supplies due to the strong demand (hot weather) we will continue to see high prices.
Bush Berries
Raspberry production has slowed due to cooler weather in California. Supplies will be limited during the next 2 weeks. Blackberries are in peak supply and prices are reasonable. As of last week, there were still enough blueberries on the bushes in Jersey, but the migrant labor force shifted up to Michigan to pick berries there. As a result, the Jersey blueberries were harvested by machines and sent to the processing factories for jam and pie fillings. Good supplies of blueberries are starting to arrive from the Pacific Northwest, which will help to keep the market in check. Limited supplies are available from New Jersey and Michigan supplies are starting to slow down. The party is over!
California Melons
Cantaloupes in the Bakersfield region just cannot get started fast enough, so we are seeing an unusual gap between districts in California cantaloupes. As you can imagine, this has sent the market sky high. Like always, the new fields are producing larger sizes which will keep the prices higher. This week, we will receive our first arrival of King of the West label honeydew melons. Just like cantaloupes, we will see very big honeydews. Local Lancaster County cantaloupes are in great supply right now and they are fantastic!
Navels
California navels are finished. Navels from Chile and South Africa are here and quality is outstanding! Expect better prices in the coming weeks.
Grapes
Central California grapes are arriving now and the peak of the growing season is just around the corner. Prices will be higher the next week until the volumes pick up.
Iceberg Lettuce
Lettuce prices have started to decrease. Supplies are steady and demand has decreased. The overall quality on iceberg lettuce is good. The weights have increased and product has a good green color, but expect the occasional misshapen head.
Leaf Lettuce
The leaf lettuce market has remained weak due to very light demand for product from California. Canadian product is available, which is keeping most East Coast buyers from looking for product from the West Coast. Qualities out of both regions are showing minor defects.
Green Bell Peppers
Local growers are making deals around the country so the demand for supplies overall is decreasing. Quality is excellent with ample amounts of all sizes available.
Colored Bell Peppers
The red bell pepper market is falling quickly from the extremely high prices that have been the norm for the past few weeks. Volume is increasing from all California growing regions. Following a late start due to cooler than expected weather, production is now back on track. Quality is excellent.
Have a fruitful week!
Greetings Food Lovers!
Spotlight on Peaches
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The ancient Chinese considered peach a symbol of longevity and immortality. The phrase "You're a real peach" originated from the tradition of giving a peach to your loved ones and friends. True wild peaches are only found in China. Unlike the cultivated fruit, the wild fruit is small, sour and very fuzzy. The Romans called peaches "Persian Apples" naming them after the country that introduced peaches to the West. Peaches are a good source of vitamins A, B & C.
The peach was revered by the Chinese who thought it conferred immortality on those who ate it. Introduced into the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, the peach quickly became a favorite among the Native Americans who were growing it well before most of the colonists got around to planting
peach trees.
There are two classes of peaches - freestone and clingstone. Freestone peaches have pits that fall away easily. Clingstone have pits that cling to th flesh that is firmly attached to the stone. There are two colors of flesh for peaches - white and yellow. White flesh fruit is less acidic and tends to be sweeter.
Peach Dumplings
Ingredients:
1 c. Sugar
1 Tb. Butter
2 c. Hot water
2-3 c. Peaches,
freshly sliced
1 c. Flour
2 tsp. Baking power
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Tb. Sugar, optional
1/2 c. Milk or cream
Cinnamon sugar, optional
Directions:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup sugar, butter and hot water. Add peaches and bring to boil. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar, if using; stir milk or cream to form a stiff batter. Drop large spoonfuls of batter onto the boiling fruit. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes. Spoon out dumplings and serve with cream or ice cream. Yum!
Spotlight on Nectarines
Nectarines are a delicious summertime fruit, which can be enjoyed in raw or other cooked forms.Commonly showcased side by side with peaches,nectarines are a similar, but yet different fruit. The best way to identify the difference between a nectarine and a peach is by the lack of fuzz on the nectarine.
Store at 31° F to 34° F. When ripening, simply keep them on your kitchen counter for a day or so. Putting them in a paper bag will speed up the process.
The word 'nectarine' means sweet as nectar and this is very likely the obvious origin of the name. Nectarines are thought to have initiated from peach seeds and possibly derived from China 2,000 years ago. California grows over 95% of the nation's nectarine crops today. New Jersey is a distant second. One Chinese emperor was so enthralled with nectarines that he and his people referred to themas the "nectar of the gods." Nectarines are actually a subspecies of the peach that lacks the gene for fuzz.
Nectarines will have a better flavor when they are not ice cold. Nectarines can be added to pastry, bread recipes and salads
Tomato & Nectarine Salsa
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Ingredients:
1 Nectarine, large
1 Tomato, large
1/2 cup. Sweet onion, chopped
1 Tb. Cilantro, fresh & chopped
1 Tb. Olive oil
1 Tb. Lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 tsp. Jalapeno pepper, minced
Directions:
Coarsely chop the nectarine and tomato. Add onion, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice and
jalapeno. Mix to combine. Serve as a dip with chips or spooned over grilled fish.
Produce Talk
Stone Fruit
There are a lot of peaches here on the East and West Coast. The market has bottomed out in the Southeast because of the abundance of fruit available. Plus, New Jersey peaches will start as early as this week and Pennsylvania supplies will be available by July 15th. In the West, movement has been slow with little activity East of the Mississippi, so they are eagerly looking for sales as well. Expect the peach market to remain cheap.
The nectarine market is getting stronger with good volume and larger sizes. There are deals on the smaller fruit. The plum market is strong with supplies on the erratic side as they transition to the next variety.
Grapes
Grapes supplies are abundant! Growers from Mexico and California are in full production and looking for business on both red and white seedless. Quality, color and size are outstanding. Now is the time to eat these tasty gems!
Berries
Strawberry supplies have decreased because of the cooler weather last week. Shippers were forced to take product from the fresh market and move it to the cannery due to quality issues. The weather issues combined with heavy ad commitments have caused the prices to go up. Look for supply issues to continue through this week.
Raspberry production has slowed due to cooler weather. Supplies will be limited over the next two week and prices will increase.
Blackberries continue to be in peak supply. Blueberries are in full flush from New Jersey and prices seem to have settled after an extremely active week. Good supplies from California are continuing to arrive. This is prime time from either growing region!
Melons
Cantaloupes & Honeydews: The market tumbled last week on both. Since this is peak production, many growers are having trouble moving fruit, especially since there is a shortage on trucks. Therefore, growers are making deals with those who can move their product quicker.
Athena Cantaloupes: Athena cantaloupes are now being shipped from North Carolina and Virginia. Over the next few weeks, product will be ripening up and down the east coast and shipping to the markets. Quality is excellent!
Cherries
With what looked like a large crop this season from Washington State, growers are finding it is much smaller than expected. With the July 4th holiday strong demand, supplies are short, the market is strong and it is a scramble to cover orders. Weather has not cooperated with rain interrupting the harvest and causing supplies to be lighter than usual.
Tomatoes
Round tomatoes continue to be plentiful from Georgia and South Carolina. Look for great tasting product on some great vine ripened field packed tomatoes. Tennessee will begin to harvest, but at a low volume and North Carolina is right around the corner.
Roma tomatoes are steady from South Carolina and Quincy, Florida. Sizes are slightly smaller than normal until we get into the crown harvest in Tennessee, which is expected to begin early in the week.
Grape and cherry tomatoes are arriving from South Carolina. This market will gradually climb after the holiday as we make the transition into Virginia for the summer months. Volumes will decrease from the Southern states.
Iceberg Lettuce
Iceberg lettuce quality is improving, but there are still some minor issues with russet spotting and mildew on the outer wrapper leaves. The frame size is still small. Demand has decreased primarily due to high freight rates so the market could weaken as the week progresses.
Leaf Lettuce
The New Jersey season is coming to a quick end as the temperatures are too high to maintain good quality.
The transition to Canadian product will be smooth as these fields are all ready to be harvested. Leaf lettuces are still available from California as well. Pricing has remained soft this week due to weak demand and quality. However, pricing may rise slowly during the week due to lighter weights caused by mildew, which is also decreasing the yields.
Green Bell Peppers
The green bell pepper market is strong. Supplies are limited in the Eastern growing regions and are extremely tight from California. Coachella is almost done for the season and Bakersfield is starting their harvest later than expected. Look for local product from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to start within the next 2 to 3 weeks. When Pennsylvania and New Jersey product arrives, the price will come down.
Asparagus
The demand for asparagus is fair, but is strengthening due to availability becoming tighter. Market prices have increased and are expected to remain high. Most of the supplies are arriving from Peru.
Cucumbers
Cucumber supplies are tight nationwide because of the decrease in production caused by the extreme temperatures on the East Coast. Michigan has started production and will serve as a good alternative for product. Michigan cucumbers should also have an increased shelf life. Expect this market to remain strong for a bit longer.
Broccoli
Good supplies of broccoli are currently available. The fields are yielding more bunch cuts than the crown cuts. Therefore, better deals are available on bunch 14 and 18 counts. California volume will become light as East Coast deals are expected to start in the next few weeks.
Cauliflower
The cauliflower market remains stable although supplies will become light and pricing will start to trend upward as the week progresses. Cauliflower quality is very nice with white to off-white domes, full packs and good green jackets.
Potatoes
The red potato market will be tight and prices expect to remain high. Florida is finishing up, North Carolina is starting, but won't have great quality. California has supplies, but will increase their prices as demand increases for product from this growing area.
Onions
Jumbo yellow onions have eased off slightly and prices have slightly decreased as a result. Medium yellow onions were plentiful, but have now tightened up so i expect expect prices to increase.
Red Bell Peppers
Red peppers are still in good supply from Coachella; however, supplies are not as strong as last week. Quality is outstanding. Overall, the red bell pepper market is weak because of limited demand. There will be a small gap in supply as Coachella finishes and the Bakersfield region will not be ready to start harvesting for several weeks.
Have a fruitful week!
Greetings Food Lovers!
It's Cherry Season
With their large size, deep mahogany color and crisp, juicy texture, it's easy to see why California dark sweet cherries are summer’s most anticipated fruit. Dark sweet cherries will be plentiful from May to June. The California cherry season is short, but very sweet, so now is the time. After its short season, Washington State will follow up. Dark sweet cherries are ideal for toppings, baking, in fruit salads or simply as a healthy snack.
Handle your sweet cherries carefully and delicately to avoid bruising. Keep cherries out of sunlight to avoid softening and stem damage.
The sweet cherry, which is different from the sour one, originated
in Asia Minor in the fertile area
between the Black and Caspian Seas. Sweet cherries came to America in 1629
with English
colonists and later to California with Spanish missionaries.Today’s sweet
cherries come from stock that dates back to the 1800's, when California
became an established cherry production region.
Did You Know
Don’t break cherry stems. Cherries with stems have a greater shelf life
than those without.
Cherries are drupes or stone fruits and arerelated to plums, peaches and
nectarines. In an average crop year, a sweet cherry tree will produce 800
cherries. While they have long been a popular dessert
fruit, cherries were used for their medicinal purposes in the 15th and 16th
centuries. On average, there are about 44 cherries in one pound. The Romans
carried cherries throughout Europe and England along the routes of conquest,
as well as leaving offspring behind.
Summer Fruit News!
Peaches
Supplies from California continue to improve on both white and yellow peaches
and larger sizes are becoming available. Eastern peaches from Georgia and
South Carolina are arriving this week. Color
and quality are expected to be great.
Nectarines
It has been a slow start for California nectarines, but volume is beginning
to increase along with sizing. The first arrivals are expensive and shipped
in smaller boxes, which keep the prices higher.
Plums
Chilean plums are finished. California should start shipping some early
red plums next week, but no actual volume will be available until the first
week in June.
Cherries
Cherry volume is increasing; however, demand is very high due to Memorial
Day ads. With rain predicted by mid-week, many chains are pulling their
orders earlier causing supplies to be tight. Prices have relaxed, but will
stay higher than usual due to current demand.
Pears
Washington’s Anjou pear market will increase prices as growers open up their
final cold storage rooms. There will be ample supplies of imported Packham
and Winter Bartlett, as well as some Anjou from Chile. Bosc pears are available,
but limited. California will not start new crop pears until some time in
July.
Citrus
Navel orange market remains strong as growers get into the late varieties
and the season ends. Along with higher freight rates, expect an increase
overall in navel prices. Valencia oranges are shipping from California at
lower prices. Florida grapefruit will finsih up next week. next week, but
the California season is up and running with some nice ruby red Star grapefruit.
Minneola tangerines are almost gone, but Gold Nugget and Pixie tangerines
are available. Australian Fal Glo tangerines will be here next week, as
well as Chilean clementines.
Strawberries
It’s strawberry time! Supplies are in full swing and production remains
good. It looks like we will have good prices for the summer as growers and
shippers have moved into the Northern growing districts.
Bush Berries
Raspberry supplies continue to increase. The perfect time to eat! Blackberries
are also in peak supply. Production continues from Mexico and California.
Good supplies of blueberries are available from Florida, California and
now North Carolina. With the start of North Carolina pack sizes are moving
back to pints for the summer months. New Jersey will start harvesting by
June 7th, with peak volume expected by June 21st.
Watermelons, Cantaloupes & Honeydew
Florida has been struggling to harvest watermelons in volume. Some shippers
are hoping to harvest by midweek. Look for prices to be high this week.
However, growers will have excellent volumes after the holiday and they
will be making deals to move the volume. Quality is superb. Athena cantaloupes
are available in excellent volume from Florida. Dulcinea Tuscan variety
is also available. Quality and taste is excellent!
• Honeydew prices will start to decrease as supplies increase from Southern California, Texas and Mexico.
Grapes
New crop of white seedless Perlettes are here from California and Mexico.
The sizing is large with some extra large grapes. Sugarones from California
will start within 10 days. Flame seedless are arriving. Good supplies of
Chilean crimsons are available and most shippers are pricing aggressively
to reduce inventory before California and Mexico flood the market.
Have a Fruitful Week!
Greetings Food Lovers!
Vidalia Onions From Georgia are Here!
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The Vidalia onion story began over 70 years ago in Toombs County , Georgia . In 1931, a farmer by the name of Mose Coleman discovered the onions he had planted were not as hot as he expected, they were sweet! Today, Vidalia onions are anticipated each spring season by consumers.
Vidalia onions have a very different flavor. This onion is sweeter and milder than other onions. This sweetness makes them excellent in salads and on sandwiches, where using hot onions would be too overpowering. Vidalia onions taste great grilled, baked or all by themselves.
Vidalia onions are great to roast or grill. They work well with red peppers, portabella mushrooms, asparagus, eggplant and summer squash.
Did you know:
In 1986, the Georgia state legislature passed legislation giving the Vidalia onion legal status and defining the 20-county production area. In 1990, Vidalia onions were named as Georgia ’s official state vegetable. Tourists who bought sweet onions at the Vidalia Farmer’s Market coined the name Vidalia onions. Vidalia onions have a higher water and sugar content than other onions.
Produce Talk
Grapes
Chilean white grapes remain a challenging commodity. The cost of these grapes can vary by as much as $14.00 per case depending on size and quality. Expect to pay top dollar for perfect product. There will be plenty of packs with an array of defects. The red grape market is stagnant and has not increased as expected. There is good availability and overall demand is not there to push the market.
The expected arrival dates for Mexico and Southern California grapes looks to be around mid to late May.
Stone Fruit
Both red and black plums are the only stone fruit left from Chile . California supplies have started with limited volume in the Arvin district. Fresno has a small supply of yellow and white peaches as well. A few early cherries are being packed. Apricots are expected to begin early in the week. Expect steady supplies of cherries, peaches and nectarines to be available no later than May 8th. The costs will be very high.
Cantaloupes and Honeydew
The offshore season is rapidly winding down for both cantaloupes and honeydews. Southern California and Arizona are still a few weeks from having any volume available. Prices have jumped!
Strawberries
Once again weather is affecting strawberry production in all growing regions. Rain followed by overcast skies and cooler temperatures are expected to limit production this week. The limited production comes at a bad time because shippers are just starting their Mother’s Day promotions. There are reports of some bruising and rain damage at shipping point, which will more than likely result in decay for trips lasting longer than 2-3 days. Field inspectors are working hard to pick the best lots available in order to minimize the amount of quality defects.
Asparagus
The demand for asparagus remains very good with production from the Lodi , Stockton , and Salinas regions in California . Lodi and Stockton are not currently producing enough volume to supply the country with asparagus causing the market to increase. Supplies are expected to remain tight and demand should remain steady. There will be high prices for the remainder of the season until we transition to Washington State . New Jersey is currently harvesting; however, their volume is very light and growers are dealing with cold weather challenges that have decreased their amount of asparagus available.
Broccoli
There are light supplies of broccoli currently available due to the planting gaps caused by winter storms. Some product is available for loading from Santa Maria and Salinas . Warmer weather is in the forecast, which should help increase production. Be cautious of quality issues such as water mark due to the excessive amount of rain.
Iceberg Lettuce
Most shippers are now loading in Salinas and Santa Maria . Rainfall early last week created some quality concerns and field inspectors are finding excessive rust, pink rib, and mildew. Growers are peeling down the lettuce heads to remove some of the quality defects; however, this is causing the product to be small with puffy heads. Harvest crews continue to work to find the best possible quality.
Leaf Lettuce
Water damage has created significant quality related issues. Due to mildew, shippers need to clean the product by trimming back the damaged leaves. This is causing difficulties filling cartons and making the correct shipping weight. Color is light and the leaves will be ‘ribby’ for the next few weeks.
Green Bell Peppers
The green bell pepper market continues to be very strong due to heavy demands and overall light supplies. Nogales currently has very light supplies of Mexican peppers in medium and choice grade sizing. Overall, the sizes are small and quality is fair. Coachella volume is increasing daily and growers are currently packing mostly large to extra large sizes since they are in the midst of their crown pick. Quality of these green bell peppers are outstanding. The market overall is expected to remain unseasonably high for the next three week due to the estimated light supplies coming from the Florida and Georgia growing regions.
Eggplant
Eggplant production in Mexico is finishing up and Florida ’s quality is not meeting most standards; therefore, the market is continuing to increase. Expect prices to start decreasing towards the end of the week. They will not come cheaply!
Colored Bell Peppers
Red bell peppers are extremely limited in supply since Nogales is almost finished shipping Mexican product for the season. Therefore, only small choice grades are left since most late season colored peppers were picked early to capture the high green pepper market earlier in the year. Coachella is expected to start producing red bell peppers in the next few weeks. The hothouse bell pepper market is nearing the end, therefore, supplies are limited. Canadian hothouse shippers do not anticipate having much volume until mid to late May. And as you can guess, high prices!
Have a Fruitful Week!
Greetings Food Lovers!
Tomatoes on the plate
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Delectable raw or cooked, tomatoes pair beautifully with so many foods and flavors: such as poultry, fish, rice, pasta, as well as other vegetables. We can eat them raw in salads, salsas or sandwiches, cook them to make sauces, stuff them and bake them, or grill them on skewers with other vegetables. However you use them, look for tomatoes that are brightly colored, smooth skinned, and heavy for their size. Make sure you keep your tomatoes out of refrigeration, cold temperatures will damage tomatoes and make for a poor eating experience. Once sliced, tomatoes can be kept in the refrigerator, but will taste best when returned to room temperature.
Tomatoes were first cultivated in 700 AD by the Aztecs and the Incas. The Spanish carried plants back home from Mexico to Spain . Viewed with distrust, the Spanish thought the tomato to be poisonous because it was a member of the nightshade family. Today, tomatoes are one of the world’s most consumed produce commodities.
Did you know:
* Americans obtain more of their vitamins from tomatoes than
from any other vegetable.
* The French call the tomato pommes d’amour which means “the apple of love”.
* Tomatoes should never be left to ripen in direct sunlight, as they will
lose most of their vitamin C.
* Tomato plants are also one of the most common home garden plants found
in the U.S.
* Lycopene is the substance that gives tomatoes their rich red color.
Produce Talk
Stone Fruit
Chilean nectarines are finished. Peaches are expected to last about one more week. Plums will be available for another 2 or 3 weeks with new arrivals expected this week. There are limited supplies of peaches arriving from Mexico as well as from Coachella. Arvin, California is expecting to begin harvesting in 7 to 10 days. The Fresno area will start towards the end of the month or by the first week in May. Nectarines will begin around the same time and plums will follow within a few weeks.
Several days of cooler weather and rain should not have too much effect on this early fruit; however, it has pushed back the start of the cherry season. Cherries are expected to only begin harvesting around the 28th of April in the Arvin district. Early apricots will start to appear by May 3rd.
Grapes
The Chilean grape market remains erratic. Quality, size, and color are all playing a factor in determining the price of the grape you are buying. The cheaper the box, the more defects. Mexico and the Coachella district are both looking to start the first week in May, with California running a little ahead of Mexico on Sugarones white and seedless Flame grapes.
Cantaloupes and Honeydews
Cantaloupe and honeydew volume is much better this week and pricing has decreased slightly. The offshore season will be winding down by the end of the month. California plans to start honeydew harvesting in the desert by May 7th and cantaloupe harvesting is planned to begin by May 14th. We may experience a gap between the two seasons, therefore, expect this market to tighten up and prices to increase as we move closer to May.
Strawberries
Once again heavy rains hit the Watsonville , Salinas and Santa Maria districts, which has caused growers to concentrate on stripping rain damaged fruit. This marks the second week in a row of measurable rain impacting the quality and yields with more rain expected. Shippers are noting some bruising and rain damage, which will result in decay for rides longer than 2 or 3 days. Growers feel that they will have berries available by end of the week. Harvest crews are doing their best to pick the best lots available for loading.
Florida Citrus
There will be good availability on grapefruit through the end of April and prices should remain stable. The volume on juice oranges will be good through May. Fewer houses are packing Honey tangerines, so look for supplies to tighten up and prices to increase.
California Citrus
The lemon market is firm and fruit is peaking on the larger sizes. The navel season still has a long way to go with the later varieties shipping into June. Prices are increasing by over $1.00 this past week and shippers are estimating an increase of another $2.00 by mid-week. Minneola tangelos are winding down and will finish by the end of the month. Expect these prices to continue to increase.
Onions
All onions supplies are a challenge. White onions are the most difficult due to extremely tight supplies and no decrease in demand, which has prices very high. Spanish yellow onions have quickly increased in price due to rains in Texas and Mexico . This was the crop expected to ease the market; however, shippers are unable to harvest until next week. Expect prices to remain high until California starts in May. Medium yellow onions and red onions remain fairly steady, although red onion prices are expected to increase. Sweet onion prices remain high; however, Vidalia season is expected in 2 weeks.
Green Bell Peppers
The green bell pepper market has a wide range of prices. The extra large and jumbo sizes are holding strong; however, the medium and choice peppers are priced more aggressively. Quality is fair to good. Coachella started harvesting in some fields last week, but sufficient supplies will not be available until the beginning of May. Florida is also building up volume and prices should continue to decrease next week.
Colored Bell Peppers
Red peppers are tight due to Mexico ’s very low volume. This is a result of green bell pepper high prices, which encouraged grower to harvest red peppers early. Quality is poor, so red peppers will not travel far. The hothouse bell pepper market is very active as production from Mexico ends and Canadian supplies are not yet ready.
Tomatoes
Mexico still has good supplies tomatoes but the quality has just been fair. Florida is still very short on supplies at this time, but expect to see some improvement within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Roma tomatoes have become very short from Mexico as the season winds down. Florida is still a few weeks away from any significant volume, so expect prices to remain high at this time. Grape and cherry tomatoes are in excellent supply. Quality of the grape and cherry tomatoes are excellent.
Have a fruitful week!
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One of the tell-tale signs of spring is the abundant displays of fresh asparagus in the stores. Asparagus is native to Eurasia and was regarded as a delicacy by the Romans. In the 16th century, asparagus gained popularity in France and England . From there, the early colonists brought it to America . Asparagus is sometimes referred to as the aristocrat of vegetable. Asparagus can be found in green, purple and white varieties.
Steamed, grilled or even raw, fresh asparagus is one of the true delicacies of the season. When selecting asparagus, look for bright green stalks with purple tinted buds. Keep them stored in your fridge in a glass of shallow water. Keep tips dry. Good quality product will be firm and have close, compact tips.
If an asparagus plant is well cared for, it will generally produce for about 15 years without being replanted. Asparagus root contains compounds called steroidal glycosides, which helps reduce inflammation. In China , asparagus spears are candied and served as special treats. Asparagus spears grow from a crown that is planted about a foot deep in sandy soils.
Looking Ahead
Cherries
The California cherry season is moving along with the start date estimated at approximately April 23rd. Expect a lull in production around May 15th to last approximately 7-10 days; however, the bing cherry harvest will begin immediately afterward. The bing cherry production will overlap into early Northwest production making for a seamless transition between areas. The Northwest season looks to be a lighter bloom than in years past and there have been some frost warnings with below freezing overnight temperatures in late March. Overall, it still looks to be a good harvest from the Northwest, although the next few weeks will determine these expectations.
California Stone Fruit
The 2010 summer season is rapidly approaching. At this point we are anticipating a great year for stone fruit. We have had over 850 chill hours, which is slightly above normal, which has given the trees plenty of off-season rest. Blooms and initial sets look very encouraging and balanced. A light crop nor a very heavy crop is expected at this time. Overall, a high quality and hopefully steady market is expected. Estimated start dates include May 3rd for Super Rich peaches, May 10th for nectarines, April 26th to May 3rd for apricots, and late May for plums and plumcots. In the next week, we should have a better understanding on the Southern and Jersey peaches, which are closer for transport and usually better tasting.
Grapes
As expected, the market on red grapes tumbled this week falling by nearly half. For example, white grapes going for $2 less per case depending on size. There will be cheap deals on some white grapes, but these will be weaker quality, smaller sized and lacking color. Expect the prices to not waiver on the premium fruit. Looking forward, pricing should remain steady over the next few weeks.
Cantaloupe and Honeydew
There are better supplies on all sizes of cantaloupes and honeydews and prices are beginning to decrease. The fruit is still peaking on the larger sizes.
Strawberries
California and Florida have good supplies of strawberries available. Even with the Easter holiday, there are more than enough berries to supply the demands to the market. Rain is forecasted in Southern California , which might limit harvest and slightly stabilize the market. A word of caution, Florida has been reporting quality issues.
Bush Berries
Raspberry supplies are tight as Mexico finishes up and California is beginning to start. Supplies are expected to increase by mid-April. There are limited supplies of blueberries from South America and California is only beginning to harvest. Florida blueberries will start later this month.
Watermelons
Volumes of the full size seedless watermelons from Northern Mexico are increasing daily. Look for prices to slide down as the weeks go on. Quality is outstanding.
Tomatoes
Vine ripes will continue from Mexico through April. Florida has started harvesting round tomatoes, but the yields remain light. The month of May will be much better for volume and pricing. Expect to pay a smaller fortune on quality round tomatoes. Plum tomatoes are in better supply from Mexico . The market dropped off this past week and should remain on the lower side as Florida enters production. Look for Florida ’s volumes to increase over the next few weeks. Grape and cherry tomatoes have become more readily available in Florida . Look for prices to slide significantly over the next 2 weeks. Canadian grown beef and tomato on the vine tomatoes are still available but expensive.
Iceberg Lettuce
Growers are in the process of transitioning back to the Northern growing regions of California and quality is typical for this time of year. The product in Yuma has big heads and light color with the occasional tip burn. This should be the final week for loading in Yuma . Santa Maria is beginning to harvest, but reports show some internal decay due to the heavy rains in early March. Product quality should improve in Santa Maria this week.
Green Bell Peppers
Demand for green bell peppers remains strong. Mexico ’s pepper volume is decreasing, so pricing remains high. Quality is fair to good on most packs. Overall, pricing is expected to remain high until late April or early May. Coachella is 2-3 weeks away from harvesting, but significant volume is not expected until the first week in May. Nogales is at the end of their season and is currently facing challenges to meet quality expectations. Peppers from Georgia could be available in mid-April, which would decrease prices and increase availability. It is a strange time when red peppers cost less then green.
Onions
The onion market remains outrageously high and most likely will remain that way through May when California has supplies. However, it seems that prices should at least level off through the month of April. Texas will start within 2 weeks, but will not have enough volume to decrease prices. Vidalia sweet onions are expected to start the last week in April with only a small volume available. Heavier volumes are expected in May.
Have a fruitful week!
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The Immigration and Customs agency is making good on a promise to step up audits on illegal immigrants, and one of the biggest apple growers in central Washington is now a prime example that agriculture is not exempt from government scrutiny. There has been a shift from targeting illegal immigrants to targeting employers who hire them. Gebbers Farms, which grows apples and cherries was audited and as a result more than 550 workers were “dismissed. According to the Gerbbers Farms web site, the family farm has been in business for more than 100 years with 5000 acres. This is a major issue for growers and U.S immigration policies. Agriculture is big business with huge labor needs during harvest time. The work is hard and the hours are long. If Americans living in the agriculture areas are not interested in filling in the labor gap, we might see prices going higher or shortages in product available to us. Have your heard President Obama talking about immigration reform? Here is one issue that should be addressed.
Produce Talk
Grapes
The market on white grapes crashed in the middle of last week. There was heavy receiving at the piers as importers loaded up since the cut off for white grapes goes into effect on April 10th. This date is to protect the California growers from competition at the offset of their growing season.
Prices will remain down through next week, but expect prices to then firm up as the supply transitions to the last of the season fruit. The red seedless market slipped some this week; however by mid-week, expect this market to tumble just like the white grape market. Red grapes will continue to arrive in the U.S. through April 10th as well. Mexico is expected to start Perlettes by April 1st, red grapes by April 8th and Sugarones by April 15th.
Florida Citrus
Various shippers are winding down their supplies of Honey tangerines. Grapefruit will be available through the month of April with prices beginning to creep up after the 15th of the month. The market on Valencia oranges has a little flexibility, but tends to firm up by mid-April as some supplies begin to diminish.
California Citrus
The prices on smaller navels and smaller is firm. Deals are being made on big sizes fruit. We should see navels being available through June. Cara Cara navels will last through the 1st week in May, but blood oranges are finishing this week. Murcotts will be available through the end of April and Minneolas are expected through the 2nd or 3rd week of April. The lemon market is steady with peak sizes running towards the smaller end of the spectrum.
Strawberries
Strawberry harvest numbers are well above estimates in both Florida and California . Prices are very unstable as Florida shippers are pushing to continue shipping with slightly weaker product and California shippers are forced to match price to keep inventory moving.
Bush Berries
Raspberry supplies from Mexico and California are getting better and should improve by early April. The Chilean blueberry market is firming up as supplies are limited. Light production is still available in Mexico and California .
Avocadoes
The avocado market continues to climb. Mexico is the prime supplier since California has very limited supplies available. Prices rose marginally last week.
Mangoes
Supplies are arriving from Peru , Guatemala and Brazil . Mexico has just started shipping. With the volume in Mexico increasing, expect prices to drop over the next week or two. There are Hayden , Kent , and Tommy Atkin varieties available. Don’t buy a green mango. They just will not ripen well.
Clementines
The final shipment of Moroccan fruit arrived last week and shippers are making deals to clean up supplies. Chilean fruit starts in early May and supplies from South Africa is scheduled to arrive in June.
Eggplant
Higher demand during Easter is creating a wide spread in the market. Due to Florida ’s rough winter, buyers are forced to source eggplant from Nogales , prices are very high.
Tomatoes
Vine ripe product is tight as Mexico ’s volumes have dropped off. The national market in Mexico is also very strong by keeping many supplies there. Florida will not be ready to contribute any type of volume so expect round tomatoes to increase in price again. Mexican roma tomatoes are also very tight since most growers were in a gap last week, which pushed the market up extremely fast. Florida is still a few weeks away from any decent volume. It looks like we should see Florida grape and cherry tomatoes next week at maybe reasonable prices as Florida growers are back harvesting. There are some Canadian hothouse tomatoes that are huge. Each tomato is around 1 lb. each which would bring the retail price to about $3.
Iceberg Lettuce
Quality is normal for transition time—big heads and heavy weights, which make it difficult to travel from Yuma to the East Coast since product will arrive with some bruising and cracked mid ribs. The Santa Maria area is slowly starting and the quality is lighter in weight, color, and heads are puffy. Some shippers have started in Huron and will then transition to Salinas the week of April 6th. Please be patient when it comes to quality for the next few weeks as it is always difficult to find excellent quality product at this time.
Spring Mix
The transition is approaching and this is typically the time of year that product shelf life shortens. Do not over buy this but use it quickly because quality and condition could become an issue.
Green Bell Peppers
The green bell pepper market remains very expensive. Coachella will begin in late April. If the volume from Florida and Georgia goes as planned, we may see this market begin to decrease as availability improves in late April.
Colored Bell Peppers
Expect all colors to be tight for the remainder of the season or until Coachella starts. Shippers will be selling product as is, which will include shipping their second labels. Currently a huge upswing is underway with red bell peppers since shippers picked red peppers as green to take advantage of the market. Expect to see product that will ripen and turn red. Quality defects will also include some mis-sizing, as well as misshapen and “chocolate” coloring.
Have a fruitful week!
