Notes from the Green Grocer -- Dec. 18, 2007

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Specialty: Baby Squash: Holiday demand and cold weather have driven prices up. French Beans and Yellow Wax Beans are a much more reasonable alternative; Baby Peeled Carrots with tops are very short due to demand and short labor supply in Mexico; prices are up sharply …

Stone Fruit: Chilean stone fruit has arrived; Nectarines, Peaches, and Plums are all in good supply but are hard and under ripe; better product is a week or so away. Apricots, Red and Rainer Cherries are all good; prices are still on the high side...

Tomato Report: Tomato prices will continue to be strong for at least another week. Better news for Roma tomatoes; prices are a little easier. Grape and Cherry Tomatoes: Prices are still very high; quality is mediocre. Heirloom Tomatoes: Supplies are limited; prices are high; sizing is very small. Cluster Tomatoes are reacting to market pressure; prices are up....

Lettuce Report: Iceberg and leaf growers have leveled off; quality is good and prices are reasonable. Mescaline salad growers are struggling; supplies are low and prices are up; Baby Arrugula is still short; Baby Spinach is a much better alternative....

Berry News: New crop Strawberries are in short supply; rain has had a huge impact on quality; Despite its lighter weight New Zealand clamshell berries are a better buy due to quality. Raspberry and Blackberry prices are up; no change in Blueberry prices….

Fruit Report: Apples and Pears: Supply and availability of different varieties is very good; prices are low. Avocados: Mexican fruit continues to be very good; prices are unchanged. Citrus: Texas Grapefruit and Valencia orange quality remains excellent; All Lemons are up; Limes are cheap; California Navel oranges are very good; prices are low. Grapes: Chilean fruit should arrive late this week; prices will be very high; California green grapes are finished; California Red Grape prices are on their way up. Cantaloupe pricing is easier this week for smaller fruit; larger sizes are still getting higher prices; Honeydews are on the rise; quality and sugar are much improved. Maui Pineapples are still having problems; Costa Rica has better quality but prices are getting higher.....

Vegetable Report: Artichokes: No change; supplies are short; prices are high. Asparagus: Strong demand light supply will be with us for at least another week; growers are raising prices daily; Mexico should start next week and prices should plummet. Blue Lake Beans: Quality is good; prices are low. Broccoli: Quality is very good; prices have leveled off. Cauliflower: This market is in much better shape this week; quality is very good. Celery: Prices are unchanged. Cabbage: This market remains unchanged. Carrots: No change in prices. Cucumbers: Quality is good; prices are low; Hothouse cucumbers are unchanged. Eggplant: Prices are unchanged on Globes; Japanese eggplant continues to have quality problems; prices are up. Onions: Brown, red, and white onions prices are low. Peppers: Green bells are cheap; Red and Gold bells on the way up. Zucchini: Growers are trying to maintain margins but all indications are that prices will be coming off this week. Gold Zucchini is very short; prices are high. Straightneck quality is good but prices are strong….

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.



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