Strawberries--supplies are very scarce until Florida picks up the slack in a few weeks. Prices are much higher, though quality has been good for this time of the year. Blueberries remain inexpensive, though quality is variable. Raspberries have been quite reasonable, though I would expect a stronger market next week.
Zucchini and yellow squash--the freeze in Georgia left Mexico as the only game in town, and prices are high. This is somewhat confusing to me since these squash are not big Thanksgiving vegetables, and demand should not be excessive. These squash mature quickly and don't usually stay expensive for long, so I would imagine prices should abate quickly.
Cucumbers--are another vegetable coming almost exclusively from Mexico and prices are high here also. Product is from new areas and quality is good.
Tomatoes--unfortunately are still an issue. Prices are high and quality is suspect, especially for slicers. New crop grape tomatoes from Florida have been good, though other tomatoes take longer to mature, so supplies there are limited.
Cranberries--growers like Ocean Spray are all of a sudden saying this years' crop is short, so buy now. Distributors are telling us that their orders are being cut, so buy now. What's a wholesaler like Frog Holler to do? I guess pass the word that cranberries are tight, so if you want them after Thanksgiving, you better stock up. This does sound like a chain letter, doesn't it.
Lot's of good news, so far:
Winter Squash--a bit of local butternut, acorn and kabocha squash are still around at reasonable prices, though supplies are dwindling rapidly.
Green Beans--they're coming from Florida, prices are lower and quality is very good.
Broccoli and Cauliflower--prices are in the high teens for both, which is quite reasonable. Quality is good and hopefully things will stay where they're at.
Asparagus--here, too, we have a supply exceeds demand situation. So far, growers are having difficulty pushing prices higher. We'll see what happens next week. Usually asparagus prices climb for the holiday.
Lettuce--the price of iceberg has fallen, and other varieties have been stable. Good news here, also!
Celery--is another staple of Thanksgiving where prices are low.
Apples--virtually all varieties are now available, and prices are dropping for most varieties after a crazy run of very high prices. Good "local" apples for pies are still available such as Northern Spy, Ida Red, and Golden Delicious.
Idaho Potatoes--the market falls another few notches as harvest nears completion. Slower demand has lead to lower prices.
Fennel--prices remain stable here, also, for this California grown vegetable.
Turkeys--I'm not sure how the price of Turkeys are doing this year. I imagine they're stable also.
We, at Frog Holler, hope all of you have an enjoyable and relaxing Thanksgiving with friends and family. Peace out!
| permalink | related link |
( 3 / 5 )Early November is a transition time in the produce industry. All the high volume summer deals, such as tomatoes, corn, peaches, cherries, melons, etc. are now behind us. The local, fresh apple deal is winding down, as most of the apples have been harvested and placed in coolers for delivery throughout the winter. The citrus season is just beginning as grapefruit from Texas and Florida have begun showing up in produce sections. Florida sunburst tangerines, California and Spanish clementines are right around the corner, as are California seedless navel oranges. The big citrus push though, really takes place December through March.
So, I'm sitting here contemplating what the outlook is for the -vegetables which are associated with Thanksgiving. Some years we're lucky with ample supplies and reasonable prices, while other years, weather problems create poor quality and high prices. It's a bit early for bringing out the crystal ball, but so far I'm quietly optimistic we might luck out this year.
Here's a look at some of these items:
Sweet Potatoes--please don't call me a yam, which is only a very distant relative, is the vegetable associated with Thanksgiving. North Carolina, is the country's largest producer followed by California, Mississippi and Louisiana. The major varieties currently grown are Jewel, Covington, Beauregard, and Garnet, the latter which is mainly grown in California. All of these are moist-fleshed varieties. Sweet potatoes are actually being looked at as a possible replacement for corn to produce ethanol, because of their high carbohydrate content. Anyway, I was supposed to be talking about supplies for Thanksgiving. Don't worry, we'll have 'em, even though Louisiana got hit by hurricanes Ike and Gustav which flooded much of their crop. The other states have plenty for this this holiday.
Green Beans--are so tender and susceptible to weather problems, that it's too early to make a call here. Currently product is coming from Georgia, which was hit by a freeze last week. That hurt the cucumber and squash market, more than the bean market. Growers in Florida are about to begin their harvest and all is looking good so far.
Cranberries--are rarely a problem for Thanksgiving, though in some years supplies become scarce around Christmas. Cranberries are being harvested in Michigan, Wisconsin and Massachusetts, which supply most of the product we use for the holidays. The predominant varieties are Early Black, Howe, and Stevens. The later Howe variety is preferred for its darker color and storage ability.
Brussels Sprouts--are another popular vegetable for this holiday. Prices tend to escalate for these little cabbage like vegetables, because demand is so high. Currently the crop is in good shape and no problems are on the horizon. We also offer baby brussels sprouts( a one week pre-order) which come packed 10X500 gram bags to a case.
Broccoli and Cauliflower--have been on a roller coaster ride as of late. Prices are currently reasonable, though here, too, the huge demand created by Thanksgiving often boosts prices. Occasionally there will be an oversupply, and prices could stay low.
Celery--the market is showing some signs of weakness which could carry forth a few more weeks.
Potatoes--of any color are popular for this holiday. Russet potatoes are showing signs of weakening, while reds, whites and yukons are all strong holding at about $30 per case.
| permalink | related link |
( 2.8 / 20 )It's getting scary out there, and I'm not talking about devil's night.
The tomato market is on fire as all local deals are done and Florida is weeks away from helping out. The 20lb vine ripe market is approaching $30 rapidly as are 25lb 5x6 tomatoes. Product is coming in on the pale side, so we're scrounging to supply red tomatoes to our customers. We even bought hot house tomatoes for the weekend to help the cause. Grape tomatoes are also deer and romas are on the upward swing, too. We may not have seen the peak yet!
Here's some other news:
Berries--Chilean product is supplementing blueberries from Argentina and prices seem to be coming down. Quality is variable. Strawberries from California have seen a little upward movement, but warm weather in the growing area of Oxnard, keeps product moving along. Raspberries, which are coming from California and Mexico, seem to be stable.
Lettuce--iceberg remains expensive, while other lettuces show some relief. All romaine products are lower, as are red and green leaf.
Cantaloupes--prices are lower for melons, which are now coming from Arizona. The offshore deal, meaning Central America, usually begins in late November and carries us through around March. Honeydews remain quite reasonable, though quality has been only fair.
Asparagus--the market has been very soft for Peruvian product. Prices hover around $2 per pound for all sizes.
Sweet Potatoes--some new crop, uncured sweets are showing up, as last year's crop is winding down. These "green" sweet potatoes, from Louisiana and Mississippi, are available until right around Thanksgiving, when cured product carries us through for the rest of the season.
Cauliflower--prices fall significantly after a week of being high.
Persimmons--both the hachiya and fuyu varieties are available. Fuyu's can be eaten when hard like an apple, while the hachiyas must be very soft to be enjoyed.
Snow Peas and Sugar Snaps--prices are on the rise for these products from Peru. They must be encountering some weather problems in the land of Machu Pichu, since both snow and snap peas and haricovert, which come from there, have been problematic as of late.
| permalink | related link |
( 2.9 / 27 )How come we don't have drive "Inn's" for voting in Michigan. We always seem to wait for trends to shift from the coasts to the heartland. Why is that? Oh yea, we're just getting into the absentee ballot. Works for me!
Many growing areas in California are in transition as the shift from Salinas to the desert has begun. Every year as local deals finish up, volume becomes a bit unstable in these short lived California deals. Mexico is beginning to crank up its winter deal beginning with cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash. Here's a look at other produce items.
Broccoli and cauliflower--the California market is getting "stupid", as prices are approaching the mid $30 range for both. We've been fortunate to source some Michigan broccoli which is significantly less expensive and quite tasty.
Brussels Sprouts--quality is excellent right now for this winter vegetable. People either love 'em or hate 'em. Where do you stand? We have been able to source baby brussels sprouts if you're interested. Great for roasting!
Russet Potatoes--good news here as more states begin to harvest. Prices are lower and the quality looks great.
Seedless Cucumbers --prices are on the rise as Canadian product becomes a bit scarce. Slicing cucumbers are coming from a variety of states, with the best quality from Mexico. Quality is excellent.
Tomatoes--prices are on the rise for slicers, grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. Romas seem to be stable for now. Product is shifting mainly to Southern California and Baja California, which happens to be in Mexico. Wait a second here!
Lettuce--iceberg lettuce has been expensive for awhile, and there is no relief in sight. Green leaf and romaine seem to be stable for now, and quality is very good. Red leaf doesn't have much color, especially after the beautiful Michigan red lettuce we've had recently.
Artichokes--produce heavily in the spring and fall. The fall crop, so far, seems abundant and prices are quite reasonable. Many sizes are available, and purple artichokes are available as well as their green brethren.
| permalink | related link |
( 3 / 36 )Ah, yes, the election is right around the corner. Should we stay out of politics here, yea, I think so, but you do remember the cabbage patch doll, don't you. It is right in the midst of cabbage season, an extremely versatile vegetable. Huge heads for stuffing or pickling, or small heads are available to us now and the quality is superb. As the weather begins to cool down, all the root vegetables will improve their flavor. This includes parsnips, carrots, turnips, cabbage, and horseradish. This cooler weather is signaling the end to many other vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, zucchini and yellow squash, cucumbers, and corn. Here's a look at where the slack is being picked up from.
Cucumbers--this is one hot market right now as product begins to come in from Mexico, California and Georgia. Prices are much higher. Seedless cukes are about the same, while pickling cucumbers are much higher.
Zucchini and yellow squash--this fast growing vegetable is now coming from Georgia and Mexico. Supplies are high and prices are low.
Fennel--this winter favorite is abundant right now and prices are very reasonable. Fennel gains in popularity every year and rightfully so. It is so very versatile.
Corn--this should be the last week for local product. Prices are higher and quality is lower. Florida will soon dominate, but there is a quality gap right now.
Pineapple --is a bargain right now. Prices are much lower for Costa Rican golden ripe pineapples. A good choice for your winter fruit salads.
Cantaloupes--product shifts from California to the Arizona desert, where nights are cool making it difficult for the melons to ripen properly. This transition happens every year and quality usually suffers. The winter deal from Guatemala and Costa Rica is just around the corner.
Lemons and Limes --now that it's the weather is turning cooler, the prices of lemons and limes are down. Figures eh! When we use a lot of them the prices are high, and now they are low. It's a free market economy of supply and demand, and there's just no demand.
Berries--the better California strawberries have shifted from the Salinas Valley in the north, to Oxnard, in the south. Quality is improved and prices remain very reasonable. Blueberries are already shifting to Argentina, and prices are a bit higher.
| permalink | related link |
( 3.2 / 63 )Next
Calendar
