. . . market outlook

WWW.PRODUCEEXPRESS.NET                                                                            February 25, 2010

Riverdog Farm

This week we are offering several ‘early spring’ crops from Riverdog farm in Yolo County. Riverdog is located in the Capay Valley, approximately 20 miles west of Woodland and is a certified organic farm. The rich creek bottom soil, warm summer and relatively frost free winters allow partners Tim Mueller and Trini Campbell to grow fruits and vegetables year round. This week we are stocking:

· Spring Garlic-Planted in the fall and fully mature by early summer, this is the developing garlic bulb; slender stem, mild garlic flavor.

10# case-$34.75. Available by the pound.

· King Richard Leeks-An heirloom variety. Long stem, high yielding shank, excellent flavor.

20# case-$28.75.

· Rapini-An Italian green more commonly known as broccoli rabe in America. A member of the turnip family-slender stem, leafy top with small broccoli like buds. Pungent flavor. May be steamed, braised or fried.

12 bunch per case-$19.75.

· Spring Onions-Red or White. Developing onion-long shank, very fresh with good flavor.

10# case-$29.75.

In addition to the above crops, a variety of greens, carrots and herbs are available on a ‘picked to order’ basis-for a complete list please contact our office. Our continued relationship with Riverdog is part of our ongoing attempt to provide our customers with local, seasonal, and in this case, organic produce.

HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES

F.D.A. RECALLS: None

F.D.A. WARNINGS: None

Tomatoes

The freezes that hit Florida in December and January caused severe damage to existing crops and fruit. Those freezes devastated the young seeded tomato plants that would be producing fruit now and for the next six to seven weeks.

Florida will have very little if any production until mid April. Mexico is currently supplying all of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Demand continues to exceed supplies. Mexico has also been hampered by heavy rains and cooler than normal temperatures which affects quality and yields.

The markets on all round tomatoes will be in the low to mid thirty dollar range by next week. Some reports anticipate a forty dollar market. Roma tomatoes are more plentiful but will follow the market upward as demand shifts. Salsa or #2 tomatoes will be very limited and could reach the low twenty dollar range if available at all.

 This market condition is expected to last four to eight weeks depending on Mexico’s weather and availability of supply as well as Florida’s ability to produce.

 

 

 

 

 

           

Riverdog Farm

Riverdog Farm is one of the many organic farms growing produce in the Capay Valley-Cache Creek area. Riverdog offers an extensive list of seasonal fruits and vegetables on an almost year round basis (they take two weeks off at Christmas). Riverdog’s produce is “picked to order” ensuring high quality, fresh organic produce.

Farm Owner-Tim Mueller and Trini Campbell.
Began Farming
-1994.
eason-
year round.
Location-
Capay Valley, Yolo County.
Crops-
leeks, greens, broccoli.
Farm size-
200 acres, organic.
Website-
www.riverdogfarm.com

 

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-

Blackberries and raspberries are suffering from 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 are finished for the season.

 

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

Market will remain strong until early-mid March.

 

ASPARAGUS-

Large- low $40’s Standard- low $40’s Pencil- low $40’s White 11#- low $30’s

Delta grown asparagus has been very good, market should start to ease.

 

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

Market is up slightly due to continued wet weather.

 

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#- mid $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- low $30’s↑ Baby Corn (100 count)- done

Supplies are still tight on white and yellow corn.

 

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- high 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- $3.95 per # Black Garlic

 

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

 

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

Most herbs are still being affected by weather in Southern California and Mexico.

 

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*

Iceberg and leaf lettuce will start to gap.

 

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- low $20’s↑ Red Onion- low teens* White Onion- low $50’s↑

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

Yellow and white onions continue to get stronger due to supply shortages.

 

PEAS-

Sno Peas- mid teens↓ Snap Peas- low $20’s* English Peas(Mex. Org.)- high $50’s↓

English pea market continues to improve.

 

PEPPERS-

Green Bells- low $30’s↑ Red Bells- high $20’s↑ Gold Bells- mid $30’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

T.D. Wiley bloomsdale spinach this week, 6 pound case low $30’s.

 

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

 

SQUASH-

Italian Squash- mid teens↑ Yellow Squash- low $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 $30’s↑ 5x6- low $30’s↑ 5x5- low $30’s↑

4x5- mid $30’s↑ #2 Tomato- mid teens↑ Roma- mid $20’s↑

#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 very strong; prices on all sizes will be in the low to mid $30’s next week.
Romas will follow as demand increases.

 

WINTER SQUASH-

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

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

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

 

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