Produce Update-January 7 2015

Stefan: Warmer weather has returned to some parts of California and Mexico but with the freeze happening the next few days all across the USA it for sure will mean more pressure on supply. With no Texas or Florida production it means all of North America is depending on California and Mexico for produce supply. Field cucumbers are virtually non-existent again. TOVs are in that same boat. Long English are still rolling along. Lots of pepper production now from areas further south in Mexico. Eggplant is in a minor gap between suppliers so it’s tight for a bit.Annie: Happy Winter! January is here, and the demand for fresh produce is back as usual. And as usual, cold weather in SoCal and Northern Mexico means some items are somewhat limited like the more delicate and more vulnerable to cold, such as salad mixes and chard. But we have great supply on broccoli, cauli, kales, and most other veg, as growers continue to harvest daily as soon as their fields warm up. So instead of 5am-5pm, they can harvest from 11am-4pm…still, I admire these folks who are out working double time in the cold. Agrofresco is coming into full production now, their lettuces are lovely, and kales are perfect. Well Pict Strawberries will be back in stock this weekend, with California crop likely next week. Blackberries and new crop Chilean blueberries are still in great supply.Jodi: I’m back from vacation and ready to start the New Year surrounded with cold weather systems in all the places that matter.  Like Stefan and Annie both said, there’s huge pressure on California and Mexico to produce for the whole of the continent right now due to freeze outs on the East Coast. Citrus is no exception to the freezing weather and we could start to see shortages in supply as harvests become physically risky, or quality becomes compromised. Cold weather produces air pockets under the skin in citrus and makes for some might dry, bland fruit. So, let’s think warmer thoughts for the South! Across the Creek’s spud season is drawing to a close with only Russets and a few others left to list. We’ll start to move east for our potato listings but try to keep it as close to home as possible.