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Market Trends Updated 1/05/09

	Lettuce Leaf Lettuce: This market is steady but with cold weather in the forecast expect the market to pick up by the end of the week. Supplies in Yuma are adequate and the quality continues to be above average. Some quality defects showing up will be epidermal peel, fringe burn, tip burn, and wind burn. The market is steady. Lettuce: The lettuce market is higher. Most suppliers are still fighting cold temperatures and lack of growth in this commodity. Winds have also left debris and dirt on a number of lots of lettuce. Quality will be average at best. The market looks to stay firm all week. The market is higher.
	Strawberries Strawberries: Strawberry production in Florida is up and better than weeks previous. Reports of quality are good. Shippers are already actively looking for business in both Florida and McAllen TX. Warm days and moderate nights have made for ideal growing conditions in Florida. California is a bit higher than the other shipping areas due to still lower production and lesser quality. Demand is also playing a part in the market decline. The market is lower.
	Broccoli The broccoli market has shown some strength. Cold temperatures and rain has supplies limited in all of the growing regions. Cold weather is expected throughout this week. With the holiday approaching, this market still looks to be active all week. Supplies will remain tight all this week with prices increasing daily. The market is higher.
	Tomatoes Western: Tomato production is getting better in San Diego with more fruit available. There continues to be a lack of bigger sizes. Quality is getting better but color continues to be a bit of a challenge. We can expect to see Nogales start getting better volume increasing weekly as we approach January. There are more small sizes than bigger and color is still a struggle. Roma availability is very tight accompanied with an active market. Roma quality is good but color is an issue. The market is higher. Eastern: Palmetto Ruskin growing area is becoming more of a producer with tomatoes. We can expect to see better production in FL also due to a bit warmer temps. Roma tomatoes are still tight. The market is higher.
	Berries Blueberries: Blueberries are in good supply and will continue to be abundant for the foreseeable future. We are seeing much more product arriving at once. The majority of fruit landing currently is Chilean and reports of quality have been good. The market is lower. Raspberries: Raspberry production continues tight this week due to cooler temps in the growing regions. There are significantly less raspberries crossing currently. There are some small quantities from Chile into Los Angeles. Blackberries: Blackberry production from Mexico is up to speed and product is abundant. There is significantly more product available. There are a handful of shippers with very aggressively priced blackberries due to heavy deliveries. Reports of quality have been good. Market is lower.
	Summer & Zucchini Squash Western Squash: Nogales supplies from Southern Mexico are good on Italian and improving on Yellow. Supplies look to continue improve over the next few weeks. Demand is fair. The market is steady. Eastern Squash: The squash market continues to hold at the lower levels as southernmost Florida gets into full swing and the temperatures remain warm.
	Grapes There are still light supplies of California storage Crimson Red seedless grapes that will bridge the gap between the increased supplies of offshore fruit. The Crimsons are still being priced to finish that deal and surprisingly quality is still very good. There are a few more Chilean grapes hitting both East and West coast ports to start this last week of the year including Flame red seedless, and Perlette/ Sugarone/Prime green seedless, but only light supplies will be available until next week. The market is steady.
	Peppers Western Green Bells and Colored Bells: Green bells from Mexico crossing into Nogales continues at a steady pace. Demand is good. The market is steady. The Colored Bells from the California Desert continue with fair volume this week as they start their seasonal drop off. They should go through the end of the year. Quality remains good, size is small to medium. Yellow bells are still limited. The market is steady. Eastern Bells: The pepper market remains steady. Warmer temperatures anticipated this week should soften the market slightly by the end of the week.
	Cucumbers Western Cucumber: Cool weather in Mexico is slowing production crossing into Nogales. Volume and quality will be down for another week. Demand is fair.Eastern Cucumbers: The cucumber market in Florida is seeing some relief. Currently, supplies are still trickling into the ports but it is enough to force the market down on domestic product. As more supplies enter the ports, expect prices to continue to drop.
	Melons Cantaloupes: Supplies of large sized offshore fruit from Guatemala are in better supply this last week of the year, and demand is only light. Increasing supplies over the next 7-10 days will further ease the pressure and they will be more readily available. There are still very good supplies of the smaller sizes (15ct)* and deals remain available! Quality is very good with the Harper varieties including long shelf life and higher Brix levels. The market is steady. Honeydews: The honeydew market is very strong. There are limited supplies available this week, and in few hands. Large sizes are especially short and it looks to remain that way well into next week and beyond. Expect only light supplies to be available and the market to remain strong through the entire week. The market is higher.
	Asparagus Mexico product is expected to have good availability in about a week. Supplies are expected to be heavier on standard and large sizes with extra large and jumbos expected to be tighter until approximately the fourth week. Peruvian asparagus has gained some strength in the marketplace. The market is steady.
	Stone Fruit Increased volumes on Chilean Rainier and Bing Cherries continue to arrive on both coasts. Only moderate demand for light supplies is keeping the market in check and steady through the Christmas week. There is stone fruit available now from Chile on the West and East Coast including Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots and Plums. There is only light volume to start with, and prices are high, but eating quality is very good for the first shipments! The market is steady.
	Carrots Quality and availability continue to remain steady on the West Coast. Harvest is still coming out of Bakersfield. The market is steady.