Notes from the Green Grocer -- Jan. 2, 2008

PDF Version of this Document

Specialty: Baby Squash: Cold weather is still keep inventories light and prices high. French Beans and Yellow Wax Beans remain lower priced; Baby Peeled Carrots with tops are still short. Baby Arrugula and Spinach are suffering the effects of cold weather; quality is poor…

Stone Fruit: Quality is much improved on Chilean stone fruit; sizing is getting bigger; Nectarines are still hard but the Peaces and Plums are closer to ripe; Apricots, Red and Rainer Cherries are all very good; prices are still on the high side...

Tomato Report: Two Layer and Loose Tomato prices have leveled off. Roma Tomatoes are a little easier but expected freeze in Florida could drive the market back up. Grape Tomatoes are getting tougher; prices are up. Cherry Tomato prices are unchanged. Cluster Tomato prices are unchanged....

Lettuce Report: Growers are reacting to cold weather and early morning frost; Iceberg and leaf markets are up modestly; Spinach is a little short; prices are up a bit here too; Mescaline salad has much better quality and supply this week; prices are unchanged....

Berry News: Strawberries are getting better and prices are off slightly but if the rain that is forecasted materializes this market will immediately suffer in quality and prices will immediately react. Raspberries remain short; Blueberries are plentiful; Blackberries are much improved….

Fruit Report: Apples and Pears: Supply is good and quality is at its peak. Avocados: We are using California flats for 24 and 48 count; we are using Mexican 36 and 60 counts until those sizes become available in California fruit. Citrus: Texas Grapefruit and Valencia orange quality remains excellent; Lemon prices remain strong; Limes are still high; California Navel oranges are very good; prices are low. Grapes: Chilean Greens are getting better; Chilean red seedless are here but too expensive; we are still finding good California fruit at a better price. Offshore Cantaloupes are in better supply; pricing is unchanged; Honeydew prices are on their way up; quality and sugar are unchanged. We are still using only South American pineapples; prices are up....

Vegetable Report: Artichokes: No change; frost damage is evident; supplies are short; prices are high. Asparagus: Demand will drop but supply is still snug; there is still no relief in price. Blue Lake Beans: Better quality is from Baja; prices are low. Broccoli: Supply is light; prices are heading back up. Cauliflower: The market remains strong due to cold weather; prices are high. Celery: Prices are higher. Cabbage: Green cabbage is short; prices are up again. Carrots: Cold ground temperatures is causing smaller sizing and higher prices. Cucumbers: Prices are up; Hothouse cucumbers are unchanged but quality is an issue. Eggplant: Globe prices are up; Japanese eggplant are still having quality problems; prices are high. Onions: Brown, red, and white onions prices are low. Peppers: Green bells are unchanged; Red peppers are getting cheaper; Gold bells are unchanged. Zucchini: Cold weather is keeping supply very short; prices remain firm. Gold Zucchini is very short; prices remain high. Straightneck quality is excellent but prices are strong. If the freeze in Florida happens prices will be high on all Mexican produce ….

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.



Archive

Dec. 25, 2008
Dec. 18, 2007
Dec. 11, 2007
Dec. 4, 2007
Nov. 23, 2007
Oct. 23, 2007
Oct. 16, 2007
Oct. 9, 2007
Sept. 18, 2007
Sept. 10, 2007
August 28, 2007
August 21, 2007

July 31, 2007
July 9, 2007
June 22, 2007
June 12, 2007
June 5, 2007
May 30, 2007
May 22, 2007
May 15, 2007
May 8, 2007
May 1, 2007
April 24, 2007
April 17, 2007
April 10, 2007
April 3, 2007
March 27, 2007
March 20, 2007
March 13, 2007
March 6, 2007
Feb. 28, 2007
Feb. 13, 2007
Jan. 30, 2007
Jan. 23, 2007
Jan. 9, 2007
Jan. 2, 2007
Dec. 26, 2006
Dec. 13, 2006
Dec. 5, 2006
Nov. 28, 2006
Nov. 21, 2006
Nov. 14, 2006
Nov. 7, 2006
October 31, 2006
October 23, 2006
October 3, 2006
Sept. 28, 2006
Sept. 19, 2006
Sept. 12, 2006
August 29, 2006
August 15, 2006
August 8, 2006
August 1, 2006

 July 25, 2006
July 18, 2006
July 11, 2006
July 5, 2006
June 27, 2006
June 20, 2006
June 13, 2006
June 6, 2006
May 30, 2006
May 23, 2006
May 16, 2006
May 9, 2006
May 2, 2006
April 25, 2006
April 18, 2006
April 11, 2006
April 4, 2006
March 28, 2006
March 14, 2006
March 7, 2006
February 21, 2006
February 14, 2006
February 7, 2006
January 31, 2006
January 24, 2006
January 17, 2006
January 10, 2006
January 4, 2006
December 28, 2005
December 20, 2005
December 13, 2005
December 6, 2005
November 26, 2005
November 22, 2005
November 15, 2005
November 10, 2005
November 1, 2005
October 25, 2005
October 18, 2005
October 11, 2005