|
Notes from the Green Grocer --
October 11, 2005
LETTUCE MARKET:
Iceberg Lettuce: Salinas
is winding down; supplies are diminishing; prices
are up. Romaine: Growers are
feeling out the market and trying to prop it up;
transition to southern fields is just around the
corner. Green Leaf, Boston, and Red Leaf:
Surplus supplies in Salinas and Santa Maria, pricing
is flat. Romaine Hearts: No change
in prices. Spinach: Supplies
are good and prices are stable…
|
BERRY NEWS: Strawberries:
Quality is still a problem;
prices are stagnant; Driscoll seems to have
the best overall quality. Long Stem
Strawberries: Supplies are good; prices
are firm. Blueberries: The
berries are running small and sweet; Oregon
supplies are still adequate. Blackberries
and Raspberries: Prices
are rising rapidly, especially on blacks; rain
in Guatemala is causing supplies to become extremely
short.
|
TOMATO UPDATE:
Roma Tomatoes:
Fruit is mostly from Baja; supplies are good; prices
are low. Two Layer Repack Tomatoes
and Loose Tomatoes: The market
is steady; fruit is mostly from Northern California
or Baja; quality remains good. Cherry Tomatoes:
Supplies are a little snug; prices are heading back
up. Yellow Tomatoes: Supplies remain
short; prices are high. Grape Tomatoes and
Teardrops: Prices are unchanged and quality
is still very good. Heirloom Tomatoes:
Supplies are lighter; quality remains excellent;
most shippers are packing mixed only but there are
still a few straight packed Brandywine,
Pineapple Marble, Purple Cherokee, and
Zebras... |
 FRESH
FRUITS: California Haas
Avocados: Prices have leveled off; quality
is excellent. Chilean fruit is much cheaper than
California but the quality of the local fruit is
still far superior. Bananas: No
change in price; supplies are very good. Cantaloupe
and Honeydew: Prices are up slightly on
large fruit but smaller sizes are more competitively
priced. Mixed melons are winding down; varieties
include mostly Casaba and Santa
Claus. Tuscan Melons: They
are available now; they are green cast but they
are orange inside. Watermelon: Quality
is good; prices are moving up. Green and
Red Grapes: Quality is excellent; prices
are unchanged. Lemons: Supplies
are long; good deals on just about all sizes. Limes:
Rains continue to fall in Mexico; prices are up.
Juicing Oranges: California Valencia’s
are in good supply; prices are cheap. Grapefruit:
California marsh ruby is all there is; color is
very pale; Texas is a  couple
of weeks away. Hawaiian Papayas:
Supply is good and prices are steady. Pineapples:
Supplies are steady and quality is good. Plums:
Their quality remains fairly good; best
quality is on black Angeleno variety. Nectarines:
Supplies are short; quality is not very
good. Peaches: Not very good either,
supplies are light as the season is all but over.
There are good supplies of Apples, Cranberries,
Figs, Kiwi’s, Gold Kiwi’s, Mangoes,
Pomegranates, and Pears...
|
 FRESH
VEGETABLES:
Artichokes: Supplies are
good and quality is much improved. Asparagus:
Mostly Chilean with a little bit of the local California
grass; prices are stable. Bok Choy and Napa
Cabbage: Prices are perking up. Blue
Lake Beans: Quality is good; good local
and Mexican supplies; prices are low. Broccoli:
Good supplies in Santa Maria and Salinas; bunched
and crowns are both reasonable. Carrots:
Jumbo supplies are improving; prices have come back
in line. Cauliflower: The market
has fallen off; prices are down. Cabbage:
Supplies of red and green are a little short; prices
are firm. Celery: Supplies are
good; prices are down. Cucumbers:
Prices are all off slightly; quality is excellent.
Eggplant: Quality is good; prices are weak.
Red Onions: Prices are inexpensive.
Yellow Onions: Supplies are improving;
prices are coming off. White Onions: Prices
are down. Curly Parsley and Italian Parsley:
Supplies are good and prices are unchanged.
Green Bell  Peppers:
Prices are low; Red and Gold Bell Peppers:
Supplies are good; prices remain low. Squash-Gold
Zucchini: Quality is good; prices are unchanged.
Green Zucchini: Supplies are good;
prices are firming up. French Haricot Vert
Beans: Growers are in short supply; prices
are up. Yellow Wax Beans: Supplies
are a little better; prices are lower. Baby
Squashes: Baby crookneck is coming up short;
prices are high; better prices are available on
Baby Zucchini, Green Summer, or
Yellow Summer. There are good supplies
of Chard, Kale, Carrots, China Peas,
and Snap Peas...
|
As
with all fresh fruits and vegetables, the market could
change daily . . .
Archives
October 11, 2005
|
