Market Minute: Supply and price relief on the way
After the normal preholiday draw, produce markets should show signs of softening up. Hopefully with some warmer weather in the desert and Mexican growing areas, product will have a better chance of maturing.
January is usually the slowest month for sales following Christmas and New Year's. Even February feels a trickle of the sales struggle. That's because consumers experience the reality of credit card bills from their considerable holiday spending. This is when the product demand lightens up as shoppers make smaller purchases to pay those bills.
Product supplies should become more readily available. This is winter and we rely on the desert crops as well as imports from warmer areas of the globe. Optimistically, we should see some supply and price relief.
Blueberries: Peru should have decent volume into January. Mexican product will continue with good volume for promotions.
Clementines: Demand is fairly light and the market is steady out of Morocco. California has a good supply showing excellent quality — very promotable.
California Navel Oranges: Demand is fairly good with a steady market. Smaller sizes are peaking and quality is excellent. Promotable.
Tomatoes: Markets are improving. We are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel as more crossings are coming out of Mexico. Pricing is starting to show signs of easing. Florida will start production as well. There should be promotable product out of both shipping areas.
Green Bell Peppers: The new crop harvests look good. Both Florida and Mexican peppers will show steady production. Volume should pick up for promotions.
Check with your produce suppliers for more information and put together some welcomed promotions as we enter 2023.
Ron Pelger is a produce industry adviser and industry writer. He can be contacted at 775/843-2394 or by e-mail at [email protected].
