Produce Update-March 25 2015

Randy: Mexican farm workers have gone on strike and thrown up barriers across highways in many areas of Northern Mexico including Baja.  These people are migrant labourers from the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, who are consistently abused by large corporate Mexican farms, who bring them to the north for the winter growing season.  We have been there and seen it, and have purposely not bought from farm operations we identified as being poor employers.         This is why we have been talking about Fair Trade and Fair labour in Mexico since 2007.  Many of the farms we have identified over the years as being good employers have now moved to a legitimate fair trade model.  And there are many, many Mexican farmers who are just great employers, whether acknowledged through certification or not. Unfortunately there are many more who are awful to their migrant workers.  But, the upside here is that there is now enough "chatter" about fair working conditions that these workers living in work camps and earning $5 a day know that there is a better life than the one they live, because there are so many good models that they now see and hear about.  And they are willing to jeopardize their jobs and strike and barricade, which is an awesome step forward.  We have always believed that the Fairtrade model would inspire farmers and workers to move to living wages and livable conditions.Annie: Strawberry bonanza continues, the berries are lovely and volume is increasing. Broccoli and Cauli supply will improve next week as Salinas fields mature. Most bunch items are in good supply with stable pricing, spinach still limited with baby spinach items very limited.Stefan: The spring crop of zucchini in southern California and northern Mexico is coming on strong this week. With so many farms hitting their stride now look for AD volume options and pricing to match in the coming weeks. Tomatoes on the other hand are limping along with demand still far outweighing supply. Soon Origino will be on with TOV and Beefs but that is still 2 weeks out. Local greens options are growing with chard from Two EEs added to the mix. They are harvesting this week so we should see some in house by Friday.Jodi: We’ve got pixies in house and they’re flying out the door as fast as we can get them in. I love these little flavor gems almost as much as I love Jim and Lisa that grow them. I had lemon on my pad thai last night, and it was just not the same and it reminded me to tell you that there’s no news on the lime front. Crops were wiped out by a hail that hit the growing regions of Mexico and there’s not even any conventional fruit available. Sorry guys! We’re in the dismal spring potato stage when storage crops are running low and new crops are distant on the horizon. It’s all russets, reds and yellows for now! Luckily there are lots of other tasty fruit and veg offerings to make up for it!