DLJ Produce

Table Grapes

Red Seedless

This week will be the toughest transition week, as California is done, Peruvian fruit is limited and wiped out by demand and we wait for the first break bulk Chilean vessel on the West Coast. Expect a very limited availability with high FOBs through this week. The Chilean vessel will bring some relief on January 9th, but not enough to adjust the market or fill the empty pipeline. The second Chilean vessel due the 3rd of January will help, along with some increasing Peruvian arrivals after the political unrest has settled may help.

Green Seedless

Mimicking the red grape market, but tighter on supplies. Green seedless are generally non-existent on either coast as we see the limited arrivals due to the Peruvian gap on arrivals. Chilean volume will not start until the January 9th arrival, but not gain momentum until late January. Expect demand to continue to clean up any green availability and retailers to be short for the near future on inbound volume. Be cautious, no promotions until volume corrects itself going into February.

Black Seedless

With California done, only a small amount of Peruvian black seedless has arrived on the East Coast, mostly the Sweet Favor variety. The West Coast is still waiting and will not see its first direct arrivals until the 3rd – 4th week of January. Expect a gap on the West until volume begins to arrive. The true volume to promote will be February / March / April.

Red Globe

Supplies will remain extremely limited on the red globe due to the Peruvian shipping gap. Demand will continue to clean up the small amount of fruit arriving over the next few weeks. Avoid any promotions, as availability will be day to day, and gap between arrivals.

Tree Fruit – Imports

Cherries

The first break bulk cherry arrivals from Chile will arrive on January 9th, helping to adjust FOB’s and bring on volume availability. Air flights will decrease as vessel fruit starts. The volume will be available to start promotions for the 1/11, 1/18, and 1/25 ad periods. Expects a 3 to the 4-week window of heavy volume and promotions, but volume will stop very abruptly moving into February. This change in projections only allows for a short time for promotion. Carry fruit in February, but avoid print promotions. Now is the time to push once the first vessel lands.

Peach / Nectarine

Only a very small amount of early fruit has arrived to the East Coast. The first container arrivals on the East peaked on small fruit like 56 ct trays and 60/72 size volume fill. The West will not see its first direct stone fruit until the first Chilean break bulk vessel around January 9th, with one small container arrival this week as well. Expect the first boat to bring some volume of 48’s and 56’s in trays and allow for movement to begin for retailers on stone fruit. Mostly yellow on the vessel, with isolated amounts of white fruit and early variety plums.

Import Citrus

Clementines

Same thing as navels. Weather is limited in the amount of harvest time, but demand is good and growers will continue to fight to hit volume projections. Quality will be at its peak. Just need some sunny weather to get the volume back to its peak volume.

Oranges

Another week of rain and fog, made it hard to get into the field. Growers will work off bin backs and limited amounts of field harvest time. Size and color have picked up… just relying on better weather to allow heavy field harvest to resume.

Lemons

Central Valley fruit is coming on strong. Size and color are starting to peak, seeing a fair amount of large fruit size coming off the tree. Smaller sizes are more limited and being eaten up by food services and schools. Continue to promote all CA citrus as the volume will start to peak.

DLJ Produce is home to the finest and freshest produce nationwide. Our customers depend on our produce 365 days a year coast to coast. If you want to discuss fruits, vegetables, cold storage, organic produce or simply want to chat, give us a call today.