Market Updates

August 20~24, 2007

FRESH PRODUCE MARKET-BOB SARDELLI (ext. 1914)

ICEBERG LETTUCE
Lettuce growers have been battling varying degrees of mildew and fringe burn which have generally reduced yields over the past three to four weeks. Most shippers confide that their recent production has been down 20 percent. Lettuce price increases over the past two weeks have been purely shipper driven and are now considered topped out for this market cycle. Buyers can expect moderate volume increases over the next two weeks accompanied by improved quality and higher yields. Warmer temperatures beginning Aug. 19 may accelerate the return of normal yields. Daylight hours are shortening. It is eight weeks past the summer solstice and only five weeks from the autumn equinox.

STRAWBERRIES
Driscoll's overall production is down 50 percent from just one month ago. The Salinas/Watsonville season will conclude in the second or third week of September instead of the customary mid-October timeframe, or when the first autumn rains arrive. Oxnard will be the primary shipping district beginning in early to mid-September. Shippers say that strawberry plants throughout Salinas and Watsonville are tired and producing tender fruit. Today's fruit has outstanding flavor, but sizing is smaller, the color tends to be dull, and the shelf life is shorter. Prices will continue to advance well into next week and beyond.

BEEF, CHICKEN, CHEESE & DAIRY MARKETS- NEIL SHEEHY (ext. 1924)

BEEF MARKET

Overall, the market has shown some surprising strength this week. Most steak cuts are in short supply and prices have responded jumping higher at summer’s end. The only steak meat that hasn’t jumped too much is NR Strips. Traditionally this market bottoms out in late August and early September. Round meat and grinds have stayed steady to finish the summer.

POULTRY MARKET

Fresh boneless chicken breasts have been in very short supply pushing prices quickly higher this week. Boneless breast meat should continue to increase as summer ends. Wings, too, have shown some strength, running about a nickel higher.

CHEESE & DAIRY MARKETS

Cheese price increases of the past couple of weeks have stuck. This will keep the market high into early fall, after that we will have to wait and see.

SEAFOOD MARKET-BRIAN SHEPARD (ext. 1935)

FRESH SEAFOOD

Hopefully, we will see some availability for Maine Mahogany Clams this week. There was some discussion about opening some outlying harvest areas as we move into this week. Red-tide has shut areas from Maine to parts of Massachusetts over the past week. Connecticut Blue Point Oysters will also remain short in this week's market due to heavy rain closing some crucial bay areas. Haddock markets are expected to strengthen slightly this week resulting from less product being seen at East Coast auctions. Flatfish pricing will most likely remain strong as a result of recent supply shortages, and trip limits.

FROZEN SEAFOOD

Canadian Lobster Tail production has begun for this shedder Lobster season. Most all of the large suppliers will not have this product available for sale for the next two weeks. However, supply remains steady for Brazil warm-water tails and pricing looks to remain strong for this week. This product remains the most common alternative to the Canadian cold-water tails. Supplies of Censea 16/20 Ct Raw P&D Shrimp have remained extremely tight on supply over the last few weeks, but new production is on the horizon. This item is expected to arrive this Tues.