Notes from the Green Grocer -- March 18, 2008

PDF Version of this Document

Specialty: Baby Veggies: Prices on Baby Squashes are unchanged; French Beans are still the low priced bargain of the week. Yellow Wax Beans are in good shape; prices are unchanged. Baby Beets and Turnips are plentiful...

Stone Fruit: Chilean Lemon Pluots and Dapple Dandy are finishing up; good supplies of Larry Anne red plums are still available; Peaches and Nectarines are beginning to diminish in quality but are still okay for now…

Tomato Report: Prices are unchanged on loose, Roma, and two layer tomatoes; Cherry tomatoes are short and prices are up; Clusters, Grapes, and Baja mix heirloom prices are lower....

Lettuce Report: No change in leaf prices; Iceberg is up slightly. Spinach quality is good; prices are unchanged. Baby Arrugula quality is better; prices are unchanged....

Berry News: Strawberries; Demand for the Easter week pull is keeping prices in check; after the weekend prices should fall. Raspberries are near impossible; all growers are short and prorating and prices are up sharply. Blackberries and Blueberries are a much more reasonably priced alternative…

Fruit Report: Apples and Pears: Supply and quality remain good. Avocados: Availability of California fruit is good; prices are edging upwards. Bananas: Local distributors are starting to catch up with demand but so far no break in pricing. Citrus: Texas Grapefruit and Valencia oranges are unchanged; Lemon prices are unchanged; Limes are short due in part to the labor shortage caused by migrant workers going home for the holiday; California Navel orange supplies remain good and prices are unchanged. Blood Oranges are in good supply; prices are low. Grapes: Black, Green, and Red Grape quality is very good; prices remain low. Cantaloupes prices are unchanged and quality is very good; Honeydews are also lower priced; quality is good; Watermelons are still short; quality is mediocre and prices are firm. Costa Rican and Maui pineapples are short this week; prices are up again....

Vegetable Report: Artichokes: Quality is improving and prices are steady. Asparagus: Prices on jumbos are up; smaller sizes are unchanged. Blue Lake Beans: Quality remains good; prices are unchanged. Broccoli: Quality problems in the desert are causing us turning north for better product; prices are up. Cauliflower: Prices are following suit with the broccoli market; prices are up. Brussels Sprout: Growers are in gap; supplies are tight and prices are firm. Celery: Availability is good; prices are low. Cabbage: Prices are lower. Carrots: Prices are unchanged. Cucumbers: Supplies are good and prices unchanged; Hothouse cucumbers are still cheap. Eggplant: Supplies are much better and prices are down on Globes; Japanese and the like remain short and expensive. Onions: Brown, red, and white onions prices are unchanged. Peppers: Green bells are up; Gold Bell prices are unchanged; Red Bell Peppers prices are down; quality on red and gold are good but green quality is mediocre at best. Straightneck is plentiful and prices are cheap; Gold Zucchini is very short and prices are much stronger this week; Green Zucchini is up a couple of dollars this week...

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

March 11, 2008
March 4, 2008
Feb. 26, 2008
Feb. 12, 2008
Feb. 5, 2008
Jan. 29, 2008
Jan. 22, 2008
Jan. 15, 2008
Jan. 8, 2008
Jan. 2, 2008
Dec. 25, 2007
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