Crop Report
Date of Creation: February 25, 2010
Weather Update: Florida is expecting another possible freeze tonight. Temperatures are forecasted to reach 27 to 35 degrees throughout the state. Strawberry growers will be watering their crops.
Vegetable Commodities:
Avocado:
Dominican Republic is harvesting in light supplies. Markets are strong. Quality is fair to good. There have been some scarring issues on the fruit being brought in. Expect to finish by March 3rd-4th.
Broccoli: North Florida harvesting in light supplies. Better supplies expected by next week. Markets are firm. Quality is good.
Cabbage:
Texas and Florida are harvesting in limited supplies. Markets are strong. Quality is good. Red & savoy cabbage available in light supplies. Expect limited supplies through mid March.
Celery:
Florida is harvesting in steady supplies. Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Collard Greens:
Florida and Texas are harvesting in good supplies. Florida is the best area for greens currently. Markets are steady.
Colored Bell Peppers:
Florida: red, yellow, and orange available in very limited supplies. Markets are strong. Quality is fair to good.
Corn:
Florida harvesting in very limited supplies. Markets are strong on all colors. Corn is percentage-expect smaller ears and tips. Pricing and availability will be day to day.
Cucumbers:
Markets are strong due to lighter volume from Mexico. Honduras is shipping in lighter supplies. Florida cucumbers are finished until late March. Pole grown cucumbers from both areas. Quality ranges from fair to good.
Eggplant:
Florida is harvesting in limited supplies. Markets are strong as Mexico is harvesting lighter supplies.
Grape Tomatoes:
Currently loading from Florida in very light supplies. Markets are strong. Pricing and availability will be based on a weekly day basis. Golden grapes and organic available in very limited supplies. We expect better supplies by late March.
Green Beans:
Pricing and supplies will be on a day to day basis. Very limited supplies are available. Quality is fair to poor. Expect new crop product to start back by mid-March. Mexican beans available in South Texas in light supplies..
Green Bell Peppers:
Markets are strong as lighter volume being shipped out of Nogales. Florida is shipping in very light supplies. Quality is fair from Florida. Expect light supplies for the month.
Green Onion:
Guatemala is harvesting with fair supply and quality. Markets are steady.
Hard Squash:
Markets are steady on acorn, butternut, spaghetti and buttercup. Shipping product from Honduras and Mexico. Quality is fair to good on all items. Supplies are fair.
Heirloom Tomatoes (Ugly Tomatoes):
Eastern Growing Area: Pricing and availability day to day. Quality is fair. Markets are strong.
Peppers:
Currently loading hot peppers from Texas. Florida is harvesting in very light supplies. The peppers grown in Mexico and cross into Texas and Nogales are where you need to be until April.
Leaf Items-Green Leaf-Boston-Romaine:
Florida is harvesting in limited supplies on green, red and romaine. Quality ranges from fair to good.
Lettuce: Florida is harvesting Iceberg in very light supplies. Endive and escarole are available in good supplies. Quality is fair to good.
Mustard Greens:
Florida and Texas are harvesting in good supplies in Florida. Markets are steady. The better quality is from Florida currently.
Pole Beans:
Product virtually non existent. The quality will is fair at best. Markets are very strong. Expect better supplies by mid March.
Radishes:
Florida: available in good supplies. Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Roma Tomatoes:
Florida is harvesting light supplies. Markets are very strong. Better supplies expected by late March –early April.
Sweet Potatoes:
Louisiana and North Carolina continue to ship with steady supplies. Quality is good. Markets are steady.
Tomatoes:
Florida is harvesting in very light supplies. Majority of tomatoes will be a combination grade. Markets are firm. Pricing and availability will be day to day. Expect better supplies by late March-early April.
Turnip Greens:
Florida and Texas are harvesting in good supplies. Pricing is steady. The best quality is from Florida currently.
Yellow Squash: Heavy loss of product from Florida. Mexican and Honduras squash being brought over in light supplies. Markets are strong. Florida new crop will start mid March.
Zucchini:
There was a heavy loss of product from Florida. Mexican and Honduras squash is being brought over in lighter supplies. Markets are strong. Spring crop expected to start by mid March.
Fruit Commodities:
Apples:
New York is packing Gala, Red Delicious, Gold Delicious, Romes, Cortland’s, Jonamacs, Fuji’s, McIntosh, Empires, Pink Lady, Braeburn and Granny Smith. Michigan is harvesting Romes, Jonagolds, Reds, Golds, Macs, Johns, Empire, Ida Red, Gala and Fuji. The best deals are out of Michigan. The overall quality has been good from all areas. Gala and Fuji from Michigan expected to finish late next week.
Grapefruit:
Florida:
Good supplies on the middle sizes, 40ct and smaller, fair supplies available on 32ct and larger. Quality is good. Markets are steady on 40ct and smaller, firm on bigger sizes. Texas is harvesting in good supplies on 36/40/48ct, lighter supplies on 27ctt and larger. Bahama Stars finished for the season.
Limes:
Mexico has light supplies on all sizes. We have Ecuador and Guatemala limes in fair supplies. Quality is fair to good. Markets are strong and expected to remain strong for the month of March. Quality has been good.
Oranges:
Pineapple variety has finished for the season. Valencias are available in good supplies. Markets are firm.
Papaya:
Solo papaya’s volume and market are steady. Maradol supplies remain in steady supplies from Belize & Guatemala. Overall quality is fair to good. Better quality is coming from Guatemala. Mexico is harvesting in steady supplies and prices are steady.
Tangerines:
Markets are steady. Shipping the Honey variety. Expect to end by late March. Quality is good.
Athena Melons;
Finished….
Variety Melons:
Personal seedless are available in light supplies. Offshore and Texas are the areas we are pulling from. Markets are firm on all sizes. Quality is good.
Watermelon:
Markets are strong. Quality is fair to good from offshore. Mexican melon quality has been good. Shippers are mostly doing cartons.. Expect light supplies and high markets through March.
Strawberries: Florida berries are available in better supplies. Markets are starting to ease off. Current quality is fair to good. Mexican fruit is crossing into Texas is available in better supplies. Markets are easing off from Mexico. Florida expecting freezing temperatures tonight, growers will be watering tonight.
