MARKET REPORT AUG. 12TH, 2015
Lordy Lordy – it’s a peach bonanza!
Local apples are dominating, and we are running out of some varieties of imports intentionally with so many B.C. varieties coming on quickly. Apparently BC blueberries are done like donuts. That was a very fast season now, wasn’t it? Same story with cherries – say goodbye for another year! But hello to BC grapes – it used to be there was one producer growing organic grapes but that has changed, with a growing number of folks planting out quite a few subsets of the original Concorde grape – that’s the one that tastes like grape juice. Newer varieties (with far fewer seeds) like Venus and Coronation have taken hold and the first are about to arrive – expect a healthy 4 – 6 week season. Apparently it’s a fabulous year for grape growers across the Interior – the wine industry is all excited about an early crop being able to stay on the vine for a long time and age very well. I guess we’ll find out next year when it’s in bottles!
It appears that every Ataulfo mango has been milked from Mexico – it was a surprisingly late season anyhow with more organic producers in northern Mexico growing them. Other varieties are now mostly from the very northern Mexican states, and you can tell how slim the supply is getting watching prices inch up. If you’re gearing up for another shot of heat this week, you just gotta’ buy Inaba Watermelon bins – these are dark green, shiny and a hit every year. Valencia orange pricing continues to climb – nothing we can do about it – water is a very precious commodity and citrus growers are hurting. Although it isn’t just California. Parts of B.C.’s Sunshine Coast are in such bad shape you are now only allowed to water your veggie garden with used bath and laundry water. Organic shampoo should be a big hit up there now! Lordy Lordy – it’s a peach bonanza – these are all freestone, and there is a ton of 30 – 40’s on the list – those make the biggest splash (on your face) on the first bite, and it is worth it!The first harvests of BC Bartlett’s are under-way, and we’re demanding there is no slow down for tray-packing – just put the large Fancy’s in a box and ship them! And Klapperton’s, and the hit of the early season, Star Krimsons from Washington, now arriving a few days late. Plums – well we’re having a hard time keeping up as variety after variety sells through. Ursula was complaining today that we sold out of Santa Rosa’s before she’d even eaten one her faves! With blueberries done in a flash, California strawberry sales have increased back to pre-blues levels and quality is excellent.Mary Forstbauer’s first picks of green beans have just arrived from Chilliwack – nice to have yet another fresh BC item on the list although initial volumes are small. Broccoli supply continues to struggle – the stars aren’t lining up this year for major California producers – it seems to be feast or famine (glut or gap) and we’re in that famine department at present. Lots more surprises – how about local bulk red onions from the Fraser Valley – I think that’s the first time those have ever been listed! George’s first yellow Cobra onions are on the way as well from Cawston.