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Commodity Updates
Keep up-to-date on how weather and other conditions across the country and the globe affect the quality, availability, and pricing of your fresh fruits and produce.
THE OUTLOOK...
The first winter type storm system of the season is currently moving into Central California with substantial rainfall as it slides to the south and east today. Cold air mass behind this system will bring cooler temperatures and very strong winds
as it moves to the east later today. This system will impact Southern California today into Tuesday as it moves out of the region. Harvests in the Salinas Valley have been suspended today as up to an inch of rain has fallen overnight. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue as the system moves out over the next day or so.
This first storm system of the season looks to open up the track for more systems to follow the similar pattern. Forecasts expect the next system to impact the region next Monday. All signs point to a strong winter season with the influence of the El Nino on the west coast. The hope going forward is for some breaks in between these storm systems to allow for the areas to dry out before the next system and avoid potential flooding.
The bulk of the precipitation looks to remain north of the Yuma region with a chance of showers mainly to the north over the next couple of days. The main impact to these desert regions will be cooler temperatures (10-15 degrees below norms) and another round of very strong winds. At this point we will have to see how this strong system impacts the numerous regions currently in production as it swings though over the next couple of days.
THE FORCAST... 
Avocados - Mexican production is steady; quality is good. Replenishment supplies after last week's rains have started arriving in the US. Keep in mind: This early season fruit will have a tendency to remain green when ripe, as the skin isn't mature enough for it to darken. Color is not an indication of ripeness, pressure is. >>Click here for information on avocados.<<
Blueberries - Pricing continues to climb; domestic fruit has ended and demand has continually increased for the short, sporadic supply of offshore fruit. This is an industry-wide shortage. Volumes of offshore fruit are expected to increase when Chile ramps up in November.
Strawberries - Rain has finally made its way to the central coast of California. It is enough rain that it will likely put the northern growing area out of production for the remainder of the season. As a result, strawberry production will decline rapidly for the next several weeks. Days are getting shorter, plants are tired and labor is shifting. We expect a big step down in production this week and throughout November. Keep in mind that this time period is extremely volatile due to weather patterns and the expectation of increased weather events with the forecasted wet El Nino season. We will work to provide as much forward information as we can to manage expectations. With northern California ending, more pressure will be put on Oxnard and Santa Maria production which cannot cover the demand for fresh strawberries currently. Plus central Mexico also received significant rain and wind over the weekend. Florida is forecasted to begin production around the end of November/beginning of December.
Cauliflower - The is a market shortage, evident by the current high market prices. This shortage could potentially intensify as the Salinas production slows down for the season and demand increases for the holidays and winter season. Cauliflower has a hard time growing this time of year and this year is certainly no exception. Challenges include uneven growth, low yields, and poor quality. Early reports indicate that Yuma is on schedule for mid-November harvest.
Broccoli - Quality has been a challenge, much like cauliflower contributing to limited supplies and a tight market.
Kale - Supplies out of California and Mexico are moderate to good. The California and the Baja region continue to be the main growing regions at this time. The overall quality continues to be good. Pricing looks to be competitive for the entire week.
Romaine & Iceberg Lettuces - Please be advised, over the next month you will see: Lighter supplies (25-50% reduction) and gaps in production with the transition from Salinas to Yuma. Growers and shippers will be working on averages. This will be an industry-wide challenge. Expect increased prices and shortages. Please keep this in mind when planning your menus.
Challenging quality issues (excessive fringe burn, core length, and internal burn) persist as a result of the erratic weather patterns throughout Salinas' summer season. As a result of those quality issues, yields have been drastically impacted the last few months and this projection of lighter product availability will continue through the Salinas to Yuma transition on Romaine and Romaine Hearts.
In addition to those challenges at the field level, the product in Salinas had been consistently 10-14 days ahead of schedule. Now, as we transition down to Yuma, Romaine and Romaine hearts scheduled for the weeks of 11/2-11/7 and 11/9-11/14 are not coming ahead of schedule like in Salinas has. This product in Yuma has also endured 105-115° temperatures and the monsoon that hit on 9/9 and caused widespread field flooding (6 inches of rain fell on a region that generally gets 2-3 inches of rainfall per year!).
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