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Notes from the Green
Grocer -- Jan. 31, 2006
 "If
you like variety in your snacks, plums are the fruit
for you. More than 140 varieties of this colorful
fruit are sold fresh in the United States. Plums
provide some fiber and vitamin C. The plum is a
drupe--a pitted fruit--related to the nectarine,
peach, and apricot, but it is far more diverse than
its relatives, coming in a wider range of shapes,
sizes, and, especially, skin colors. Its flavors
also vary from extremely sweet to quite tart. Some
plum varieties are specifically bred so that they
can be dried and still retain their sweetness, to
become prunes. The varieties that we call plums
are mainly eaten fresh, but they are also canned
or processed into jams and jellies. One of the most
influential American plum breeders was the horticulturist
Luther Burbank, who developed a variety called the
Santa Rosa, which now is about one-third of the
total domestic crop."
More about Plums from Whole Earth Foods. . .
LETTUCE MARKET:
Spinach, Boston, Romaine, Greenleaf,
and Redleaf: Cooler weather is causing
mild concern; shippers will try but not succeed
in raising fob’s. Iceberg:
No change; prices are depressed…
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BERRY NEWS: Strawberries: Quality
is very good; prices are down. Long
Stem Strawberries: So far so good,
prices are low. Blueberries:
Supply remains good; prices are up slightly.
Blackberries: Quality is very
good; prices are low. Raspberries:
Prices are active; supply is a little short…
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 TOMATO
UPDATE: Two Layer Repack
Tomatoes and Loose Tomatoes: Rain
in the Mexican fields could impact prices; so far
no change but it could go up if there are any significant
losses. Cherry Tomatoes: Prices
are down. Roma Tomatoes: Supply
is still short on firm ripe fruit; prices are holding
at current levels. Yellow Tomatoes:
Supplies are extremely short; prices remain very
high. Grape Tomatoes: Fruit is
coming in very small; supplies are better but prices
remain high. Teardrops: Supplies
are good and prices are still high. Heirloom
Tomatoes: Mixed heirlooms are still available;
price and quality are unchanged. |
 FRESH
FRUITS: Apricots:
Both New Zealand and Chilean are available; quality
is excellent. California Haas Avocados:
No change in prices; quality is very good.
Cherries: Good supplies of Chilean
Bings and Raniers are still available; prices are
good. Cantaloupes: Supply is short;
quality is good; prices are up. Honeydews:
Supplies are short; prices are up again. Watermelon:
Quality is still not very good; prices are high.
Mixed Melons: Charantais and Crenshaw
melons are now available. Green
and Red Grapes: Chilean flames
are off in price; we will be making the change to
offshore reds. Thompson seedless grapes are good;
prices are lower. Oranges: Texas
Valencia’s are still the best for juicing;
California navels are excellent for garnish; Blood
Oranges: Good supplies are available now.
Grapefruit: Texas  Rio
stars are very good. Limes: Rain
and cold in Mexico is causing a high market; prices
are firm. Hawaiian Papayas: Supplies
are good; prices are unchanged. Nectarines
and Peaches: Chilean stone fruit
quality is good and prices are unchanged; white
flesh and donut peaches are available; quality is
excellent. Plums: Both red and
black are in the market now. There are good supplies
of Apples, Gold Kiwi’s, Mangoes, Pomegranates,
and Pears . . . |
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 FRESH
VEGETABLES: Artichokes:
Castroville chokes still have frost damage; no
18 size, light supplies of loose, and only 24
or 36 count are available. Asparagus:
Prices have leveled off; best prices
are on large and jumbo sizes. Bok Choy
and Napa Cabbage: Supplies are
good; prices are low. Blue Lake Beans:
Supplies are light; prices are up. Broccoli:
Cool weather is causing big supply problems;
prices are up but we think they may have peaked.
Cauliflower: Cold weather has
slowed growth; supply is short and prices are
up. Cabbage: Green is up slightly;
red cabbage is up too. Celery:
Prices are back up. Cucumbers:
Supplies are tight; prices are going up.
Eggplant: No change; prices are low.
Red Onions: No change in prices.
Yellow Onions: No changes to
report. White Onions: Prices
are unchanged. Kale, Curly Parsley and
Italian Parsley: Supplies are
good; prices are unchanged. Green Bell
Peppers: Prices are down in spite of
light supplies. Red and Gold
Bell Peppers:  Prices
are the same on red but yellows are very short;
prices on gold are higher. Squash: Gold
Zucchini: Quality is much improved; prices
are heading back up. Yellow Straightneck:
Prices are strong; cold weather is making
it short. Green Zucchini: Cool
weather is causing prices to head back up. French
Haricot Vert Beans: Finally has gotten
off the floor; prices are up. Yellow Wax
Beans: A bargain; prices are low. Baby
Squashes: Very short and expensive except
for baby zucchini. There are good supplies of
Chard, Carrots, China Peas, Hard Squashes,
Sweet Potatoes, and Yams...
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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.
Archives
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 |
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