Good Morning!

 

Tomato markets tightened up further last week as stronger demand met the weak supplies we’ve been seeing for the past few weeks.  Quality remains good, but as supplies continue to tighten, farmers will begin selling weaker tomatoes just to meet demand.  Shippers are not expecting the tomato market to return to normal levels until around the first of April.

 East coast vegetables, items that we would normally receive from Florida during these winter months, remain extremely tight.  Shippers simply do not have enough product to fill orders.  As the prices have risen, demand has not eased off, creating a very difficult market.  Mexican farms did a great job early on of filling orders that normally

 would have been supplied from Florida fields, but now their supplies are running low also.  Items like peppers, cucumbers, beans, and squashes remain extremely tight, and prices will continue to rise until around the beginning of April when Florida’s season begins again.

 

Washington State Pear growers continue to have a great year, with plentiful supplies and excellent quality on all varieties.  Prices are very favorable currently.  Apple growers, though, are finding that they are running lower on storage apples as the year continues.  Prices are creeping up each week as supplies continue to dwindle.  Quality remains excellent.

 

Potatoes of all varieties are still plentiful and beautiful.  Supplies are expected to lighten up over the coming months on Idaho potatoes, but for the time being, prices are as low as I’ve seen them in a long time.  Don’t forget that we’re now stocking red, gold, and purple fingerling potatoes in a convenient ten pound box.

 

Honeydews and cantaloupes are trickling in from Central America now in very small amounts.  Pricing is strong on the small supplies, and sugar levels are low on the early fruit.  As this harvest matures, pricing should improve as well as sweetness.

 

In order to keep your Produce Supply Update and price lists coming without an interruption, make sure that you add lynn@fordsproduce.com, vaughn@fordsproduce.com, alex@fordsproduce.com, and to your address book.

 

Q:  What do you call Lassie with a rose in her mouth?

A:  Cauliflower