Notes from the Green Grocer -- Jan. 15, 2008

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Specialty: Baby Squash: Slow demand continues to push prices down. French Beans and Yellow Wax Beans are in the same boat; prices are lower. Baby purple artichokes are available; quality is good but price is high…

Stone Fruit: Chilean Peaches and Nectarines continue to improve in quality; white nectarines are available. Plums are Apricots are plentiful. Bing and Rainier Cherries are very good; prices have come down...

Tomato Report: Availability of Mexican fruit is much improved on two Layer, Loose, and Roma Tomato; prices are coming down. Grape Tomatoes are much easier; prices are off. Cherry Tomato prices have come off also. The Cluster Tomato Market is the only market with any kind of steam; prices remain high....

Lettuce Report: Iceberg and leaf markets are waffling; prices are softer; Spinach is very short; growers are experiencing mildew and other quality issues; prices are up; Mescaline salad continues to have quality problems but prices are unchanged. Baby Arrugula and Baby Spinach are a real problem now; growers are in short supply due to quality and prices are active....

Berry News: Strawberries; Prices are off slightly but supply is still extremely light; most berries are being shipped east due to the freeze in Florida which is keeping our market high as well. Raspberries remain short and high priced; Blueberries and Blackberries are not being grown locally and are not impacted by the rains; due to lower prices they are better alternative…

Fruit Report: Apples and Pears: Supply is good and quality is at its peak; Fragrant Pears are now available. Avocados: We are using California on all sizes; we still have a few Mexican 36 counts. Citrus: Texas Grapefruit and Valencia orange quality remains excellent; Lemon prices remain strong; Limes are high priced and getting higher; California Navel oranges are very good; prices are low. Grapes: Chilean Green and Red Grapes are unloaded and supply is much better; prices are coming off. Offshore Cantaloupes are short; pricing are higher; Honeydew are short too and prices are on their way up; quality and sugar are very good but demand is exceeding supply. We have both Maui and South American pineapples; quality is good and prices are unchanged....

Vegetable Report: Artichokes: No change; frost damage is evident; supplies are short; prices are high. Asparagus: Prices are much cheaper. Blue Lake Beans: Mexican bean quality good; prices are unchanged; Chinese Long Beans are short; prices are high. Broccoli: Supply is better; prices are easing off. Cauliflower: Supply is better; prices have dropped. Celery: Product is short and prices remain high. Cabbage: Green cabbage prices are slipping. Carrots: Prices remain firm. Cucumbers: Prices are very short and prices are very high; Hothouse cucumbers are unchanged; quality is fair. Eggplant: Globe prices are unchanged; Japanese, Italian, and Chinese eggplant are transitioning to Mexico; quality is mediocre and prices are up. Onions: Brown, red, and white onions prices are low; Green Onions are a real struggle; demand exceeds supply and prices are on their way up. Peppers: Green, Red, and Gold bells are all lower in price. Zucchini: Prices are still high but we hope this is the top; supplies are still short. Gold Zucchini is short too; prices remain high. Straightneck supplies have shortened up too; prices are very high...

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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