Current Market Updates

Week 18 2024 market update:

Fresh Cilantro, Parsley, Italian Parsley: MPG has moved back to a bulk herb program. We will be shipping these items in a 30ct bulk pack going forward.

Berries
Strawberries: North Carolina harvest should take us through the first week of May, at which point we will transition to California. Quality has been excellent from both growing regions.
Mixed Berries: Currently out of Mexico, tight raspberry market with plenty of supply on Blackberries

Lettuces and Leafy Greens: The Salinas growing regions have experienced various weather patterns; from rain to cold, hail, recent warm temps all of which are impacting various crops. Romaine and iceberg are experiencing disease pressure, mildew, and lower weights reducing overall yield. Cauliflower production has recently slowed down due to the cold weather. Production teams are doing everything they can to keep on top of the crops, monitoring quality, and get product harvested.

We are still experiencing elevated credits and returns from a handful of stores on iceberg and romaine hearts. Rib discoloration does not mean product is out of grade and if only cap leaves are affected credit is not appropriate... The quality evaluation on all lettuce needs to follow two criteria and credit should not be requested if one of these things is not present:
1. Decay
2. Discoloration affecting the product deeper than the first three leaves If it is just brown or pink discoloration on the bottom of the iceberg head it is in tolerance and credit should not be requested.

Watermelon: Harvest has begun in Florida; we have a basket builder on the bin seedless watermelons shipping to the stores this week .

Cantaloupe and Honeydew: We will receive offshore product from South and Central America until Mid-May at which point we will move to Nogales.

Limes: Mexican supplies have loosened, and more supply has become available

Blueberries: Remain very promotable going into May. The Georgia harvest is fully underway; this will carry us into the end of May.

Asparagus: Quality is good with ample supplies out of Peru.

Avocados: Mexican crop is limited, and markets are high we expect Columbia and Peru to begin by May and will see some relief at that point

Clementines: California Clementines will be available going likely through May however this is an off-harvest year, and markets are going to be high all season with yields peaking this month.

Colored Pepper: Supplies have improved dramatically, and we are now being offered promotions.

Eastern vegetables: Little to no change this week… good supply and quality out of Florida
Corn: Very good supply
Cabbage: Quality has suffered recently because of hot temperatures and rain in the growing regions
Cucumber: Florida supplies are good, and markets are falling Green Pepper: Supplies are plentiful.
Zucchini and Yellow squash: Some scuffing is prevalent as recent storms with high winds in the growing regions caused some challenges.

Grapes: The industry has moved to the Chilean season. We continue to have tightly supplied markets and expect that to be the case until Mexico begins harvest at the end of May.

Lemons: California harvest is ongoing. Supplies are good.

Mini Cucumber: Pero has been struggling with the cucumber quality and supply. We have moved to another source of supply to bridge any quality gap.

Onions: Yellow, Red, and White onion harvests are underway in Mexico and California. Supply is improving. The Vidalia season is in full swing with good quality and supply.
  
Tomato:
Nature Sweet Snacking tomatoes: We have received our full orders for the first time in months on the snacking tomatoes. We expect supply to be better going forward.

Hothouse:
Beefsteak Supply is now meeting demand and we are heading into some promotable opportunities in the next few weeks TOV – Supplies are plentiful.