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Notes from the Green Grocer --
Nov. 10, 2005
 "The
banana, which has been a staple for thousands of years,
is a nearly ideal food, and Americans have made it
their favorite fruit. The banana has a great deal
to offer nutritionally. Because bananas contain less
water than most other fruits, their carbohydrate content,
by weight, is higher, which is one of the reasons
that bananas are a favorite of endurance athletes.
Bananas can be easily digested by virtually everyone,
including infants and the elderly. This fruit also
supplies a substantial amount of potassium along with
significant amounts of vitamin B6. Bananas also have
a small amount of folate (folic acid) and vitamin
C. "
More on bananas from Whole Earth Foods. . .
 LETTUCE
MARKET:
Iceberg Lettuce: Huron
iceberg is in full swing; Yuma should start next
week. Romaine: Still hipping
out of Salinas with a few shippers starting in
Huron, quality is good. Green Leaf, Boston,
and Red Leaf:
No change once again. Romaine
Hearts: Quality is very good,
no changes to report. Spinach:
Prices are low: quality is good; expect muddy
product on bunched due to rain… |
BERRY NEWS: Strawberries: Rain
is having a negative impact on quality, it will
be mediocre at best; prices are up. Long
Stem Strawberries: Quality is improving
but prices are high. Blueberries:
Argentine and New Zealand berry quality is excellent;
prices are beginning to come down. Blackberries:
Guatemala blackberries are coming
into better supply; prices are coming down.
Raspberries: Quality is good;
prices unchanged…
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 TOMATO
UPDATE:
Roma Tomatoes:
The market is definitely off; quality
remains excellent. Two Layer Repack Tomatoes
and Loose Tomatoes: The
market is steady with larger sizes at a premium
price. Cherry Tomatoes: Supply
improving; prices are down. Yellow Tomatoes:
Supplies are very short; prices are very
high. Grape Tomatoes and Teardrops:
Prices are gaining strength; supplies are short.
Heirloom Tomatoes: The season is
winding down with supplies on the light side; prices
remain stable... |
 FRESH
FRUITS: California Haas
Avocados: California fruit is unavailable
but the Chilean are good so far; we don’t
expect any significant supply of California fruit
until the middle of December. Bananas: No
change; prices are weak. Figs:
Supplies are getting short; cool weather is taking
its toll. Cantaloupe and Honeydew:
Large size cantaloupes are abundant; smaller sizes
are more expensive; honeydews remain excellent.
Mixed Melons: This weeks offering
include Galia, Orange
Honeydew, and Tuscan
Melons. Watermelon:
Quality is improving: prices are leveling off. Green
and Red Grapes:
California quality is still good; prices are up
on good green ones. Lemons: Supplies
are good; prices are stable. Limes: Prices are heading
up. Juicing: California Valencia’s
are in good supply; prices are good; local navels
are a few weeks away.  Grapefruit:
Texas Rio stars quality is really good now and prices
continue to come down. Hawaiian
Papayas: Quality is really good
and prices are steady. Pineapples:
Supplies are still light; still no surface 2 layer
fruit available; there is only 2 layer Maui and
single layer jet fresh fruit available at this time.
Plums: Still a few California reds
left but quality is not too good; we recommend waiting
on Chilean fruit. Nectarines: Finished
for the season. Peaches: Finished
for the season too, Chilean and Mexican fruit still
a few weeks away. There are good supplies of Apples,
Cranberries, Kiwi’s, Gold Kiwi’s, Mangoes,
Pomegranates, and Pears . . .
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 FRESH
VEGETABLES:
Artichokes:
Quality is good and prices are unchanged.
Asparagus: Quality is excellent
and prices have leveled off. Bok Choy and
Napa Cabbage: Prices are the same
as last weeks quotes. Blue Lake Beans: Quality
is good; prices are firming up. Broccoli:
Good supplies in Mendota, Santa Maria,
and Salinas; bunched and crowns are both cheap.
Cauliflower: The market has leveled
off; prices are cheap. Cabbage:
Prices on California green are down; red cabbage
is scarce and prices are up again. Celery:
Supplies are short; prices are up. Cucumbers:
Prices are still very strong; supplies are light.
Eggplant: Quality is good; prices
are beginning to move up. Red Onions:
Prices are still low. Yellow Onions:
Supplies are good; Idaho and Oregon are shipping;
quality is improved. White Onions:
Prices are the same. Curly Parsley and
Italian Parsley: Supplies are good
and prices are unchanged.
Green Bell Peppers: Prices are
coming down. Red and Gold Bell Peppers:
Seesaw affect, red is down while gold is
up. Squash: Gold Zucchini: Supplies
are light; prices are up. Green
Zucchini: Supplies are snug; prices are
back up. French Haricot Vert Beans:
Prices are down from last weeks quotes. Baby
Peeled Carrots with Tops: Rain has damaged
many of the fields; prices are up. Yellow
Wax Beans: Supplies are short; prices are
up. Baby Squashes: All varieties
are down in price as supplies improve. There are
good supplies of Chard, Kale, Carrots, China
Peas, Hard Squashes, Pumpkins, and Snow
Peas...
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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
November 1, 2005
October 25, 2005
October 18, 2005
October 11, 2005
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