. . . market outlook

WWW.PRODUCEEXPRESS.NET                                                                            February 18, 2010

DEL RIO SPRING GREENS

Produce Express and Del Rio Botanicals are pleased to be part of a feature series by the Sacramento Bee entitled “Road to Recovery”. This week’s article highlights the use of local growers and producers and the role that agriculture plays in our regional economy. The use of local and seasonal ingredients by both consumers and restaurant chefs remains an important concept and we feel that the relationship between our company and Del Rio Botanicals serves the concept well.

This week, and throughout the year, Del Rio offers many seasonal organic greens that are available to all of our customers. If a particular product is not in stock on our shelves, it can be ordered for next day delivery, ensuring a high degree of both quality and freshness. The weekly product list is posted on our website, www.produceexpress.net.

Available this week:

Arugula-Large leaf, loose cut. Classic Italian green, pronounced, peppery flavor. 4# box-$13.75

Arugula Rapini-Smaller cut, loose leaf with unopened flower buds. 2# box-$14.75

Mizuna-Delicate salad green. Crisp, green serrated leaves with mild spinach flavor. 4# box-$16.75.

Fava Greens-Fresh leaves of growing fava plant. Delicate flavor and texture. 2# box-$14.75

Braising Mix-A complete mix of seasonal ingredients including 3 varieties of chards, mustards, fava greens, mibuna and more. 4# box-$16.75.

Kales-Dino and Red Russian kale. Sturdy, flavorful. 2# pound-$14.75

Salad Mix-Blend of lettuces, greens, herbs and flower petals. Not your average spring mix. 2# box-$10.75.

Spring Garlic-Also known as green garlic-developing bulbs, mild garlic flavor. Bigger cloves as season continues. $4.00#

Herbs-Tuscan Rosemary, Oregano, Mints. Bunch/Pound. $1.35/$10.50

 

 

 

HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES

F.D.A. RECALLS: None

F.D.A. WARNINGS: None

Seasonal Favorites

Delta Asparagus- This past week of “Spring like” warmer temperatures has done wonders for local, Delta grown asparagus. Beginning Friday we will have all sizes of asparagus coming in from the Stockton and Lodi areas. The market will start in the low $40’s on twenty eight pound cases and should start to ease as the season progresses. Because it is just starting we will be using several sources to insure availability.

Blood Oranges- Twin Peaks and the other local growers of blood oranges will finish this week. We will still have sources in Southern California with fruit for at least another four to six weeks.

Seasonally Challenged

Onions- Storage supplies from the Northwest are being shipped internationally as other growing areas like Australia and Mexico struggle. New crop Mexican yellow and white onions have been hampered by wet and cold weather. The majority of the crop is staying within Mexico. Texas should start in the coming weeks but is anticipating similar crop issues. The market on yellow, red and white onions will remain strong until California and the northwest start later this Spring.

 

 

 

 

           

Del Rio Botanical

Often referred to as “the Produce Express farm”, Del Rio is a year round supplier of organic produce exclusively to our company. Suzanne Ashworth plants an extensive variety of well known and heirloom crops. Daily delivery from Del Rio creates a true farm to restaurant approach with product going from field to table overnight.
Farm Owner
-Suzanne Ashworth
Began Farming-
1996
Location-
Elkhorn Yolo County.
Crops-
Greens, Squashes, Tomatoes.
Season-
Year Round.
Farm Size-
78 acres.
Website- www.
delriobotanical.org

 

APPLES

Red (Wa)- high $20’s↑ Granny (Ca)- low $30’s* Golden (Wa)- low $30’s↑ Gala- low $40’s*

Fuji(WA)- low $30’s Pink Lady- low $40’s* Honey Crisp- low $50’s Gravenstein- done

Pippens- mid $30’s Braeburn- low $30’s Crab Lady- high $20’s Crab Hyslop- low $20’s

AVOCADO-

California 60 count- low $30’s* California 48 count- high $30’s*

Quality and consistency are starting to improve, market should start to ease slightly.

BANANA-

Banana- low $20’s* Plantain- mid $30’s Petites- limited

BERRIES-

Strawberries (Ca.)- high $20’s* Stemberries- mid $30’s Raspberry (Ca.)- high $30’s*

Blackberries- high $20’s* Blueberry(Chile) – high $20’s↑ Fresh Cranberries- done

Frozen Cranberries Frozen Huckleberries Gold Raspberries-

Blackberry quality is still showing signs of rain damage.

CITRUS-

Grapefruit (Tx)- low $20’s* Lemons- high $20’s* Limes- mid $30’s*

Oranges- high teens* @Blood Oranges- mid $20’s Meyer Lemons 10#- low teens

Pummelo-low $20’s Clementine- low $20’s Key Limes- low $30’s

Mex. Juice Orange- high teens Kumquats- low $30’s Cara Cara- low $20’s

Local blood oranges will finish next week.

FIGS-

Black Mission- done Brown Figs- Done @Del Rio Black (40ct.)- Done

GRAPES-

Red Seedless(Chlie)- low $30’s↓ Green Seedless(Brazil)- low $30’s↓ Black Grapes(Chile)- high $30’s↓

MELONS-

Cantaloupe- mid $20’s↑ Honeydew- high teens↑ Seedless Watermelon- $9/$10↑

All melons are being affected by heavy rains in South America. Cantaloupe supplies are very short.

PEARS-

Bartletts- high $30’s↑ Bosc- high $20’s* Red- low 20’s* D’Anjou- mid $20’s

French Butter- done Comice- mid $20 Seckle- high $20’s Asian- mid teens

Domestic bartletts have finished. South American imports are very expensive, best value is D’Anjou.

PERSIMMONS-

Fuyu- done Hachiya- done Cinnamon- done

Domestic/California persimmons are done, imported/Israeli product is very expensive.

TROPICAL-

Pineapple- high teens↓ Kiwi- low teens Mango- $9/$10* Papaya- low $20’s*

Mexican Papaya- high $20’s Starfruit- N/A Coconut- mid $20’s Green Thai Papaya- high $20’s

The pineapple market is down slightly.

DRIED FRUIT-

Apples Cranberries Pineapple Raisins Golden Raisins Cherries Pears Apricots

Mango Black Figs Blueberries Peaches Mixed Berries Papayas Currants Nectarines

JUICE-

Orange Lemon Lime Grapefruit Carrot Apple

@PUREE’- (Frozen)
PERFECT PUREE’ FROM NAPA VALLEY

Raspberry* Blueberry White Peach Blood Orange Kiwi Mango Coconut

Pomegranate Lychee Nut Strawberry Passion Fruit Guava Cherry Key Lime

Blackberry Papaya Meyer lemon Lemon Zest Apple Pear Lime Zest

Pineapple Citrus Tangerine Mixed Berry Cocoa Mojito Sweet & Sour

El Corazon Apricot Rum Runner Passion Colada Yuzu Luxe Sour Tamarind

Red Sangria Black Currant Orange Zest White Sangria Caramelized Pineapple Concentrate

 

* Market steady ↑ Market up ↓ Market down @ Local Farms

ARTICHOKES-

18’s- low $30’s* 24’s- low $30’s* 30’s- low $30’s*

36’s- high $20* 48’s- low $30’s* Baby’s- high $30’s*

Market will remain strong for 2 to 3 weeks, 24 and 36 count demand is exceeding supply.

ASPARAGUS-

Large- high $30’s Standard- high $30’s Pencil- high $30’s White 11#- low $30’s

Southern California asparagus is starting this week, market is in the high $30’s.

BEANS-

Bluelake- mid $40’s* Baby French(Mex)- mid $60’s↑ Yellow Wax- limited

Fava Beans 25#- done Chinese Long- low $20’s @Romano 15#- done

Cannelini Beans 15#- done Cranberry Beans 15#- done Garbonzo Beans 15#- done

Bluelake and French Beans are arriving from Mexico. Rain damage and lack of color is affecting quality and shelf life.

BROCCOLI-

Broccoli 18’s- mid teens* Broccoli Crowns- mid teens* Broccoli Rabe- high teens*

Broccolini- high $20’s

CABBAGE-

Green- low teens* Red- high teens* Napa- mid teens*

Bok Coy- high teens↑ Baby Bok Coy 10#- mid teens Savoy- low $20’s

CARROTS-

Jumbo Carrots- $12/$13 Clip top Carrot- low $20’s* Iced Bunched- high teens*

Peeled Mini Carrot- low $30’s* Baby Bunch- low $20’s↓ Baby Mixed Carrot- mid $20’s↓

Peeled Baby Carrots- high teens*

CAULIFLOWER-

Cauliflower- high teens↑ Broccoflower- mid $20’s Carnival- (6ct.)- mid teens*

Cauliflower market is up slightly, quality is stressed by rains.

CELERY-

Celery- high teens* Celery Root- mid $20’s Celery Hearts- high $20’s*

CHILIES-

Jalapeno 40#- low $20’s* Long Green 25#- low $20’s* Pascilla 25#- mid $20’s↑

Serrano 10#- low teens* Tomatillo 40#- low $20’s↑ Yellow Wax 10#- mid teens*

Habanero 10#- mid $40’s* Red Fresno 10#- mid $20’s* Thai Chile- $4.75 per pound

CORN-

Yellow- low $30’s* White- high $20’s* Baby Corn (100 count)- done

Corn supply is improving, market is still above normal.

CUCUMBER-

Cucumber- mid teens↑ English- mid teens↑ Pickling 25#- high teens↓

Lemon 10# done Persian- high $20’s↓ Armenian- done

Rain and cool temperatures in Mexico are causing growing and harvesting issues.

EGGPLANT-

Eggplant 18’s- mid teens* Japanese 10#- high teens* Chinese 10#- mid teens*

GARLIC / SHALLOTS-

X-jumbo- mid $50’s* Super Colossal- mid $60’s* Peeled Garlic- steady

Elephant 10#- high $30’s Whole Shallots- steady Peeled Shallots- steady

Cippoline- mid $20”s @ Spring Garlic- starting Black Garlic

Fresh garlic continues to climb due to lack of Asian imports.

GREEN ONIONS-

Green onions- low teens* Mexican Spring Onion- mid teens*

 

 

* Market steady ↑ Market up ↓ Market down @ Local Farms

GREENS-

Mustard- low teens Collard- mid teens Red Chard- high teens

Leeks- low $20’s Green Chard- high teens Dino Kale- high teens

Green Kale- mid teens Rainbow Chard- low $20’s Cello Flowering Kale- high teens

Still no Riverdog greens available at this time.

HERBS-

Basil Baby Arugula Arugula Chives Cilantro

Baby Dill Oregano Italian Parsley Mint Thyme Parsley Rosemary Tarragon Watercress Sage

Chervil Opal Basil Thai Basil Sorrel Savory

Mint tips Hydro Watercress

Weather issues in Baja causing many shortages. Basil quality is being affected by travel and weather.

LETTUCE-

Iceberg- low teens* Green Leaf- low teens* Red Leaf- low teens*

Romaine Hearts- mid teens* Garden Hearts- low $20’s* Hearts of Romaine- low $20’s* Butter- low teens* Romaine- low teens* Hydro Butter- (12 ct.)- low $20’s*

Romaine heart quality is improving, market is steady.

MUSHROOMS-

Domestic- steady Shitake- steady Oyster- steady Crimini- steady

Portabella- steady Chanterelle- limited Hedgehog- $12.75 / lb. Morels- N/A

Porcini- done Chef Sampler- high $40’s Enoki- steady Black Chanterelle- $12.75 / lb.

ONION-

Yellow Onion- high teens* Red Onion- low teens* White Onion- low $40’s*

Sweet Onion- 10# $7/$9 Pearl Onion- steady @Torpedo 40#- done

Yellow, red and white onion markets are very strong due to lack of new crop production.

PEAS-

Sno Peas- low $20’s↓ Snap Peas- low $20’s* English Peas(Mex. Org.)- high $60’s

Organic English peas have started in Mexico, sold by the case only.

PEPPERS-

Green Bells- high $20’s↑ Red Bells- mid $20’s↑ Gold Bells- high $20’s↑

Bell pepper markets continue to climb due to lack of eastern product and southern rains.

POTATO / SWEET POTATO-

Russet- mid teens* Kennebec- high teens Red Potato- steady White Potato- steady Yukon Potato- low $20’s Purple- high $30’s Fingerling Gold- high $20’s Fingerling Red- low $30’s Yellow Finn- N/A

German Butterball- N/A Sweet Potato- mid $20’s Yams- low $20’s

We are subbing butter cream potatoes for German butterballs, mid $30’s.

RADISH-

Bunched Radish- high teens* Daikon- high teens* Jicama- mid teens*

Watermelon and black radish are available by the pound.

ROOT VEGETABLE-

Turnips- mid teens Rutabagas- high teens Parsnips- low $20’s

Red Beets 25#- mid teens Gold Beets 25#- high $40’s↑ Chioga beets 25#- mid $30’s↑

Horseradish- steady Ginger- low $30’s Sunchokes 10#- high teens*

Gold and chioga beets are much stronger due to gaps and harvesting issues.

SPINACH-

Bunched- high teens↑ Cello- steady Baby- steady

Bloomsdale- limited Tatsoi- high teens

Bloomsdale spinach is limited, we will be pulling from many sources including Riverdog.

* Market steady ↑ Market up ↓ Market down @ Local Farms

SQUASH-

Italian Squash- mid teens↑ Yellow Squash- high $30’s↑ Grey Squash- high teens↑

Gold Bar Squash- done Summer Squash- done Sunburst Squash- done

Italian and yellow squash production and quality is being affected by rain and cool temperatures.

TOMATOES-

Large Loose- low $20’s 5x6- high teens↑ 5x5- high teens↑

4x5- low $20’s #2 Tomato- low teens* Roma- high teens*

#2 Roma- low teens* Red Cluster- low $20’s Yellow Cluster- high $20’s*

Orange Cluster- high $20’s Cherry Tomato- mid $20’s↓ Red Grape 10#- low $20’s

Mixed Medley- low $30’s↓ @True Vine 20#- done True Vine Roma 20#- done

Tomato market is getting stronger due to lack of east coast product and rain damage.

WINTER SQUASH-

Butternut Squash- high teens* Acorn Squash- high teens Spaghetti Squash- high teens

Banana Squash- done Kabocha Squash- low $20’s Red Kabocha- low $20’s

Delicata Squash- done Dumpling Squash- limited Del Rio Squash- done

Del Rio winter squash is done for the season.

SPRING MIXES-

Spring Mix- Lettuce Only 7 way- Del Rio Salad Mix-

Organic Spring Mix- Organic lettuce Only-

BABY LETTUCES-

Mixed Baby Lettuce- Lola Rosa- Baby Romaine- Red Oak-

Baby Red Romaine- Mache- Green Oak- Lil Gem-

CHICORIES & GREENS-

Radicchio- Frisee’- @Belgian Endive-

@Red Belgian Endive- @Mixed Belgian Endive- Travisio-

@Braising Mix- Mizuna- @Del Rio Arugula

BABY GREENS-

@Baby Red Chard- @Baby Red Mustard- @Baby Gold Chard-

MICRO GREENS-

Arugula- Basil- Cilantro- Rainbow Mix- Bull Blood-

Mache- Mizuna- Wasabi- Mint Lavender- Radish-

Chervil- Asian Mix- Celery- Intensity Mix- Italian Mix-

BABY VEGETABLES-

Red Beets- Leeks- Italian Squash- Yellow Squash-

Gold Beets- Fennel- Summer Squash- Sunburst Squash-

Chioga Beets- Turnips- Mixed Squash- Radishes- Baby Corn- N/A

EDIBLE FLOWERS-

Mixed- Pansies- Roses- limited Orchids 100 ct.- Violas-

Nasturtiums- @Confetti- @Rose Petals- limited @Squash Blossoms- done

LEAVES-

Green Ti- Red Ti- Palm- Leather Leaf- Bay-

Banana (frozen)- @Avocado- Kiefer Lime- Babies Breath-

SEASONAL-

Lemon Verbena- N/A Pomegranates- done Rhubarb (15# hot house)- low $50’s

Lavender- (no flowers) Rampicante Squash- N/A Cardoon

Pumpkins White Pumpkins Blue Pumpkin

Pomegranates are done for the season. All pumpkins are finished.

 

 

 

 

* Market steady ↑ Market up ↓ Market down @ Local Farms

CHEESES-

Cheddar Jack Mozzarella Fresh Mozzarella Pepper Jack Buratta

Parmesan Cotija Feta Mascarpone Swiss Brie

Queso Fresco Ricotta Goat Jack/Cheddar Mix Blue Cheese Cottage

White Cheddar Dry Jack Gruyere Point Ryes Blue Sharp Cheddar Parmesano Reggiano

DAIRY-

@Manufacturing Cream @Half & Half @Buttermilk @Whole Milk

@Sour Cream @Yogurt (Plain) @Whipping Cream @2% Low Fat Milk

EGGS-

Large* Xlarge* Medium* Large Cartons*

Liquid Hard Boiled Egg Whites Organic

DRIED BEANS-

Cannelini Cranberry Green Flageot Marrow

@Fava @Early Lady Pinto Small Red

Black Small White Garbonzo @Jade Pearl

LENTILS-

French Green Black Beluga Golden Crimson

RICE-

Arborio Carnaroli Basmati Jasmine Long Grain

Wild Chinese Black Purple Sticky Himalayan Red

GRAINS-

Barley Couscous Bulghar Wheat Polenta Quinoa Spelt

SPICES-

Peppercorns Chile Flakes Oregano Fennel Seeds

Mustard Seed Sesame Seeds Paprika Cinnamon

Cayenne Pepper Cinnamon Sticks Cumin All Spice

N. M. Chile Powder Vanilla Vanilla Extract Vanilla Puree’

OILS-

@California Pure Olive @Extra Virgin Olive Rice Canola

@VINEGARS-

White Wine Red Wine Cabernet Champagne Pear

Zinfandel Apple Cider Dark Balsamic Golden Balsamic

NUTS-

Pine Nuts* Walnut Meat↑ Cashews Almonds Pistachio

Pecans Pepitas Macadamias Hazelnuts Chestnuts

TORTILLAS-

@Flour 6”/ 8”/10”/12” 6” Corn @Sonora Corn 6” Thin Corn

@Flavored (Tomato/Basil, Spinach/Onion, Variety Pack)

WOOD-

Hickory Chips Apple Chips Mesquite Chips Cherry Chips

Mesquite Apple Walnut Kindling

Mesquite Charcoal

FROZEN PRODUCT-

Strawberries Blackberries Blueberries Raspberries

Peaches Mixed Berries Boysenberries Cherries

Spinach Green Beans Edamame Corn

Peas Onion Rings 3/8” Fries Steak Fries

Shoestring Fries Curly Fries Egg Whites

DiNAPOLI CANNED TOMATOES-

San Marzano- Peeled & Ground- Fire Roasted- Marinara-

Sauce- Diced- Paste- Puree’-

* Market steady ↑ Market up ↓ Market down @ Local Farms

 . . . . previous "seasonal and specialty produce" issues