Notes from the Green Grocer -- Dec. 25, 2007

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Specialty: Baby Squash: Holiday demand and cold weather are combining to keep inventories light and prices high. French Beans and Yellow Wax Beans are a lower price alternative; Baby Peeled Carrots with tops will be a struggle again this week; prices remain high …

Stone Fruit: Quality is much improved on Chilean stone fruit; sizing remains small; Nectarines, Peaces, and Plums are all in good supply. Apricots, Red and Rainer Cherries are all very good; prices are still on the high side...

Tomato Report: Two Layerand Loose Tomato prices have dropped off drastically. Better quality Roma tomatoes are still demanding premium prices; Grape Tomatoes are still a struggle; Cherry Tomato prices are easier; quality is better. Heirloom Tomatoes: The season is over for now; new crop Baja tomatoes start in mid January; Cluster Tomato prices remain high....

Lettuce Report: No significant changes in Iceberg and leaf markets; quality is good and prices are reasonable. Mescaline salad growers are in better shape with quality and supply; Baby Arrugula is still short; quality remains questionable....

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: California fruit has arrived; we will be finishing with Mexican crop and should be all Cal by this time next week. Citrus: Texas Grapefruit and Valencia orange quality remains excellent; Lemon prices are up on all sizes; Limes are up too; California Navel oranges are very good; prices are low. Grapes: Chilean Greens are in short supply and prices are high we’re still using California reds; Chilean reds are a week out. Offshore Cantaloupes are in better supply; pricing is unchanged; Mexican Honeydews have leveled off; quality and sugar are much improved. We are still using only South American pineapples; quality very good.....

Vegetable Report: Artichokes: No change; frost damage is evident; supplies are short; prices are high. Asparagus: Supplies remain short and there will be no relief in price until Mexico starts after the New Year. Blue Lake Beans: Better quality is from Baja; prices are low. Broccoli: Quality is very good; prices are unchanged. Cauliflower: The market is tough; cold weather is causing quality problems; prices are up. Celery: Prices are unchanged. Cabbage: Green cabbage is short; prices are up. Carrots: No change in prices. Cucumbers: Pricing is up slightly; Hothouse cucumbers are unchanged. Eggplant: Prices are unchanged on Globes; Japanese eggplant are still having quality problems; prices are high. Onions: Brown, red, and white onions prices are low. Peppers: Green bells are unchanged; Red peppers are easier and lower; Gold bells are tight but prices are easier. Zucchini: We were hoping for lower prices last week but it didn’t happen; supply is very short; prices are up. Gold Zucchini is very short; prices remain high. Straightneck quality is excellent 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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