Notes from the Green Grocer -- April 17, 2007

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Specialty News: Baby squashes continue to be a bargain. French and Yellow Wax Beans are short; prices are rising. Baby Kiwi’s, Starfruit, Purple Pepino Melons, Cherimoya, Golden Passion Fruit, and Fiddlehead Fern are available...


Stone Fruit: California desert Peaches have started; fruit is small, green, and hard; better quality is a week or two away. The Quality of Chilean Red Plums is still good while some of the other varieties have problems...


Tomato Report: Mexico is finishing up and Baja is a month away; Florida is shipping too but overall fruit is short; prices on all tomatoes are on the rise; Roma tomatoes are particularly short and prices are up. Grape and Cherry Tomatoes: Product continues to be short and prices are strong. Heirloom Tomatoes: Baja season is finishing up. Clusters: Prices remain low; Cumpari, cherry cluster, orange and yellow clusters are also available....


Lettuce Report: Shippers have switched to Huron and Salinas fields; quality is good and prices remain low on Iceberg, Boston, Romaine, Greenleaf, and Redleaf. Spinach is coming mostly from Santa Maria or Salinas; quality is very good...

Berry News: Strawberries: Growers are very long on product and quality is excellent; prices are low. Long Stem berries are very good too. Raspberries are in light supply; growers are maintaining higher prices. Blackberries and Blueberries are abundant; prices are low.....

Fruit Report: Avocados: Prices remain strong; California fruit is our primary source. Citrus: Grapefruits and Lemons are steady; Limes are very short and prices are up radically. Texas oranges are finishing up; we are switching over to California Valencia’s for juicing. Grapes: Quality is good on Flames and Black Seedless; Thompson’s are showing amber color and prices are up. Kiwi’s: New crop New Zealand fruit is beginning to ripen some; prices are unchanged. Melons: Cantaloupe and Honeydew prices are steady. Watermelon quality is better. Mexican fruit is abundant, prices are easing up. Papayas: Supply is good, quality is improved. Pineapples: More airfreight space is available; prices are coming down....

Vegetable Report: 
Artichokes: Castroville chokes are in good supply; prices are off. Asparagus: California quality is excellent and prices are up slightly. Beans: Prices remain high but we are hoping for better numbers and cheaper prices later in the week. Broccoli & Cauliflower: Slow demand and better growing conditions has this market tumbling; quality is excellent. Celery: Some growers are experiencing seeder problems; prices are unsettled. Cabbage: Good supplies; prices are steady. Carrots: No change; cool weather is causing them to size smaller than normal. Cucumbers: Supplies are better, prices are low. Onions: Prices remain high on all varieties. Peppers: Green bells are still short; prices are higher than Red or Gold. Potatoes: Red and White rose are very short; product is coming from Florida and prices are high. Growers are swimming in Zucchini; prices are low. Straightneck and Gold Zucchini are coming out of Coachella, quality is excellent and prices are down. Butternut supply is better but prices are still high and sizing remains small....

As with all fresh fruits and vegetables, the market could change daily . . .

Further description of all the fruits and vegetables mentioned above can be found at Whole Health Foods and Wegman's Online Produce Encylopedia.


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