Produce Update-April 10 2015

Just for fun we looked at the price list produce update from this day a year ago, and we would literally only have to change a couple of sentences and it would be completely accurate – nearly every market factor is identical.  The most demanding market we are looking at right now is avocados.  Only now are producers seeing the actual damage to the crops from the unprecedented hail storms a month ago.  Because avocados are rock hard on the trees, the hail pitting has just started to show up, and apparently it is far worse than expected. We are desperately trying to get more information, and looking at all our options. We talked to one associate who imports avocados into Montreal, just a couple of days ago, while he was in Michoacan and his response was “it’s crazy down here.”  A small percentage of California growers are out of production because they’ve run out of water, with expectations of a slightly smaller crop across the state - but prices aren’t representing this with increases of 20% related to the crisis in Mexico.  We will keep you updated as best we can – just expect that whatever is out there is going to get more and more expensive for the next few months, which is such a drag with 30% annual growth in avocado demand.  Apple prices are changing daily as Washington growers juggle inventory while they watch pricing and arrival times for Argentina, Chile and NZ Fruit.  We will not see the challenges on supply this year that we did a year ago, but prices will be higher because of the lower Canadian dollar.Our Peru mango deal is done, and first shipments of Fairtrade Tommy and Ataulfo are getting packed this week.  At least the mango regions, an hour closer to the ocean than the major avocado production areas have missed any bad weather.  This is our first Fairtrade mango program from Mexico, with Pragor adding mango growers into the coop.  Expect to see those in about 10 days, for a good run through the Michoacan and Nayarit crop seasons (a couple of months usually.)Lime prices and availability continue to be a struggle – key limes are ½ the price, they’re Fairtrade, and something you should be trying out if you aren’t already!  Melons have exploded into the scene with all producers across Sonora in the game, including bins at very reasonable prices.  A treat awaits with the arrival of the first Abate Fetel pears – the creamiest of the southern dessert pears – like, even kids who spit out gritty textured Bartletts will love these.  Another treat in the Pear department is the re-introduction of the heritage Durondeau pear – this is a Belgian variety that slowly disappeared from orchards in the US over the years but is a wonderful piece of fruit, with very small amounts available this year from new trees planted a few years ago in Argentina.Would like to send out a big thanks to many BC growers who are finding ways to store so many products longer and longer through the winter and early spring – this is the first year we have had multiple choices of BC cabbage, carrots, onions and squash this late, and some early hoophouse greens as well.  This is a combination of perseverance, market savvy and better storage – all good!Green veg prices are now starting to creep down as Salinas production increases but it will still be a choppy market for another couple of weeks.  Prices usually drop first on the fastest growing crops (lettuce / broccoli etc,) and latest on plants longer to produce (parsley, celery.) We should squeeze through the season on yellow onions, but the storage red crop is done and the new crop from Imperial Valley is still about 10 days out.Watch your retails on potatoes.  Russets take longer to grow and production out of California is late and not expected for 3 – 4 weeks.  Anyone with Canadian or Washington Russets left is raising prices – which is their way of benefitting after babying potatoes in storage for ½ a year – with all those additional costs.Inland Mexican growers are back in the market with their 2 month spring run on tomatoes, zucchini, cukes etc. so expect prices to crumble quickly after being very spendy the last few weeks, or has it been months?