DLJ Produce - Marketing Report
Week of September 28th – October 4th
13260 Daum Drive
City of Industry, CA 91746
626 330 – 6849
This will be the last week of harvest for most stone fruit growers. Supplies of
yellow peach and yellow nectarine will carry into October in moderate numbers. Plum
growers will finish harvesting the last of their Angelino black plum crop and work off
of inventory. As stone fruit begins to wind down, new Fall items will start to be
harvested. The CA apple crop will roll along steadily, with growers approaching their
first harvest of Fuji and Granny Smith. Last week saw increased availability on Early
Foothill pomegranates, with heavy volume right around the corner in October. As soon
as we reach the cooler temperatures next month, persimmons and quince are expected to
start breaking color and be ready for harvest.
Crimson red seedless grapes will continue to
see increased production as volume has hit its
stride for the season. Some Scarlet Royale and
Vintage Red varieties will remain on
inventories. FOB prices will largely remain the
same as growers try to continue to push
volume, with only a small increase seen on
premium XL fruit. The green grape crop will
roll along steadily as growers have finished
harvesting the last of their Thompson crop.
Shippers are expected to break into their 16 lb. storage green grapes by the mid-
October. Red Globe availability will remain consistent all the way through the end of
October and Autumn Royal black seedless will continue to pick up steam as more
growers harvest their first run of the field, roughly 2 weeks later than a normal season.
CA STONE FRUIT
PEACHES
We will see the end of the yellow peach season
come near as growers will finish harvesting Autumn Flame
variety by the end of the week. Availability will carry us
through the first couple weeks of October, with other
specialty varieties like Last Tango being added to the mix.
Volume fill sizes will remain very limited for the remainder
of the season thanks to the fruit large size. Quality will
remain strong as we finish the season. The last of the
September Snow white peach will clean up on inventories this
week, with only limited tray packs remaining to ship. Overall,
the 2010 season was a battle for the CA peach farmer as he
fought heavy supplies of local peaches on the East Coast. Demand is expected to
increase as growers start limiting unnecessary production by digging out orchards.
NECTARINES
The last of the yellow nectarine crop will be harvested this week, with good
volume remaining on inventories. Supplies of September Bright will remain available
through the week and is expected to carry supplies into October. Small volume fills will
slowly start to disappear and will leave large size tray packs behind. Quality will remain
fantastic and supplies are expected to hold through October 8th. This will be one of the
latest yellow nectarine seasons to date thanks to the 8 – 10 day late start we experienced
this season. The last of the white nectarine crop has been harvested and inventories are
expected to be clean up by the end of the week, signaling an end to the 2010 season.
PLUMS
Black plum availability will remain considerably higher than expected for an
average season. Increased volume on varieties leading up to the Angelino harvest has
created a glut of supplies in late September compared to an average season. This has
helped to fill the natural gap that always occurs between these varieties and will help
keep FOB prices at a reasonable level. Expect FOB prices to slowly increase as we
approach October, but not to the original level anticipated. Currently, supplies of large
size tray packs are available in good numbers. Smaller fruit has become very limited,
with growers peaking on larger sizes. Good supplies of black plum are expected to carry
all the way through most of September into the first couple weeks of October.
Growers will continue to harvest their Holiday and September Yummy
varieties of red plums. Expect FOB prices for red plums to remain just slightly higher
than their black counterpart due to limited volume on the horizon. Supplies will remain
available leading into October, but are expected to finish earlier than the late season
Angelino crop. Quality will be very strong on what remains of the crop thanks to mild
weather so far in September. This will be a good week to promote both colors of plums
before the end of the season.
POMEGRANATES
Volume will finally start to arrive on the 2010 pomegranate crop. Supplies
of pomegranates have become more readily available
thanks to increased acreage coming into production. Size
was a struggle at the onset, but more 36 size tray packs
are starting to be harvested. Early Wonderful variety is
expected to start by the end of the week and the heaviest
volume of the season is not expected until mid-October
once the Wonderful harvest gets going. Quality and crop
volume is expected to be fantastic this season with an
increased demand at the consumer level as more people
become proponents of the pomo’s antioxidant power.
CENTRAL VALLEY GRAPES
As more Crimson red seedless start to break full color, volume will reach its
peak during the middle of the week. Vintage Red and Scarlet Royale will continue to be
harvested / shipped in small numbers as we reach their last week of promotions. FOB
prices will remain consistent until the end of the week and the market is expected to
slowly increase on quality fruit. Growers will harvest fresh into 19 lb. cartons as well as
stash fruit away in pick totes for late later house pack use in November. Overall quality
is expected to be remain strong this season, but growers are waiting to see if they see the
same 2nd and 3rd pick quality issues they fought in the Flame crop.
The Thompson crop will see its last harvest of the season as shippers clean
up their 19 lb. crop and get ready to break into storage grapes. Expect FOB prices on
green grapes to remain lower than the red, at least for the time being, as volume is more
prevalent. Once shippers break into their storage Thompson crop, expect FOB prices to
increase and reach an equilibrium point. Less 16 lb. Thompsons have been harvested
this season compared to years past due to the increased volume of the Autumn King and
Luisco crops. Autumn King will begin harvest by the end of the week and the grapes
naturally large size is very impressive. The first pick of the Luisco variety is not expected
until the end of the month.
The Autumn Royale crop will be in full swing by the end of the week, with
good size and color starting to arrive. Growers will slowly transition into volume on
Autumn Royals as we progress through October. FOB prices will remain consistent as
blacks do not see the same kind of demand as their red / green counterparts. The
upcoming Autumn Royal crop looks to be outstanding in size and quality once the
volume starts to arrive from the field. Expect supplies to carry the crop all the way
through mid-November or possibly even December since the season saw a 10 – 14 day
late start.
CHILEAN CITRUS
October will see the last promotable month for Chilean Navels. All fruit
being imported after the marketing order are inspected for quality and sugar levels, and
the fruit has proved to be outstanding. The last arrivals of the season will hit by the end
of the week and shippers will work off of inventory. Supplies are expected to carry into
November, when the CA navel crop begins. Quality will remain outstanding in the time
being as should create a fluid transition in growing regions. Now is your last chance to
promote!