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Commodity Updates

Jun 28, 2017

Lettuce Iceberg Melon (Watermelon)

This market is stronger with all shippers. High temperatures Seedless Watermelon in the west is very short and only fair
in the growing regions these past weeks has produced quality due to the heat, western Arizona is done shipping
smaller yields with all growers. Slight mechanical, russet along with Coachella. Bakersfield is shipping in a limited
spotting and insects have been reported, but minimal. The way with only fair quality and size
quality overall is good. The weights are averaging 42-46
pounds. The availability in Santa Maria is moderate at Onions
best. Salinas continues to have moderate production with
some growers while others are stronger. A few shippers are
flexing based on volume type orders. Demand is stronger. California and New Mexico onion shippers are in the middle
of transitioning from overwinter onions into transplants/
spring seeded onions. This has shipper very light to
Lettuce Leaf moderate on supplies of all colors and sizes. Demand is
moderate to good which have the markets active. The
mixed bag of quality last week seems to have improved
The market is steady with romaine . Lower yields are being this week with the temperatures cooling down slightly.
reported due to growing conditions in past weeks. Demand Look for the size profile to flip-flop from Jumbo’s and larger
is off, possibly due to product defects being reported. to Jumbo and smaller as we get into the spring seed
These defects include tip and fringe burn along with insect onions over the next two weeks. Trucks are limited due
damage. Green and red leaf as well as butter are steady in to the 4th of July holiday coming up next week. The main
the marketplace with light demand. Similar defects are also shipping points are still California and New Mexico. A few
being reported on these commodities just like romaine. The Washington shippers have started shipping some yellow
loss of school business seems to be a bigger problem for onions this week with very limited supplies.
leaf items compared to lettuce.

Melon (Cantaloupe) Pears

Cantaloupes are in the exact same adverse situation the Washington – D’anjou pears are steady on all sizes and
honeydews are in. Lopes went through an intense and they continue to peak on US#1 80/90s. Smaller size fruit
damaging heat wave. Temperatures were from 112 - 121 remains limited. The quality has been good.
for over a week. The intense heat affected the quality of
melons and we should look for sun scalding and softness. Chile – Chilean Packhams are steady on all sizes and they
Supplies were extremely hampered by the extreme heat still have a fairly even size spread from 70-120s but supplies
and crop losses happened. The fact that crews were being are light as the end of the season is near. Argentinian
pulled from the fields for their own safety from the heat led Packhams are also steady and are still heavier to 100s and
to very low harvesting and fruit was destroyed by the heat. larger but their season end is also close. The quality for
We can expect quality problems and rising prices through both has been good. Both Argentinian and Chilean Bosc
the middle of July. The West Side starts the first week of pears are steady and heavy to 100 size and larger. Chilean
July. The market is much higher.
fruit is limited as well as the season is close to the end. The
quality for both has been good.
Melon (Honeydew)

Honeydews have been adversely affected by last weeks
heat wave. Crop losses were heavy and quality has been
hit hard. Dews are not doing well and will struggle until we
have production in July out of the San Joaquin Valley. Soft
spots, sun scald and sugar spots are prevalent in almost all
of the fields. The market is higher.

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