Quandt’s Foodservice Distributors

Market Update – March 8, 2010

Fresh Produce - Bob Sardelli Ext. 1914

BROCCOLI-This market is stronger on bunched product and crowns are very light in supplies. Most suppliers are starting this week with enough crowns for contract and little to sell on the open. Supplies will be light throughout the week. The quality continues to be good, coming out of Santa Maria, Yuma, and Scottsdale. Light supplies on bunched product is available in Salinas.

CELERY-This market is stronger with all sizes. Production is lighter in Oxnard and Santa Maria and suppliers are scrambling to fill all orders. There continues to be a few shippers of celery in Yuma. The quality continues to be good from all the growing regions. Book orders early as demand looks to increase throughout the week.

Eastern Cucumbers: Florida cucumber pricing continues to rise as Honduran supplies diminish. With the end of the off shore cucumber deal at hand, Florida has no domestic product to “fill in”. The freeze of several weeks ago has significantly delayed the onset of Florida’s domestic cucumbers. Quality is fair to poor at this time.

LETTUCE-The lettuce market is stronger. Huron production will start with a few suppliers in 2-3 weeks and Yuma will continue through the month of March with most suppliers. There have been some issues of pink ribbing, discoloration, and mechanical damage seen upon arrival. This again is related to the past rains in the desert region. Growers have started to pass on fields due to quality. Yields are lighter.

TOMATOES-Eastern: Demand continues to exceed supply. Florida continues to be a non-factor in the tomato supply chain. There has been significant crop loss from the early freeze and supplies out of Florida will be down and won’t rebound probably until spring. Compounding the already desperate situation, Florida is experiencing more cold weather in the 30’s. This will slow an already injured Florida crop. We can expect to see higher fob’s probably up through the spring accompanied with shortened supplies. It is looking like the Florida crop may get back into production around late March possibly April.

Beef, Poultry, and Dairy - Neil Sheehy Ext.1924

BEEF: The March 1st near slaughter ready cattle herd is estimated to be 3.6% smaller than the three year average for the date. Beef output is anticipated to remain below year ago levels this spring. Many beef markets are moving upward due to the slowdown in production. However, buyers are beginning to limit purchases suggesting temporary market tops may be near.

POULTRY: Retail demand for chicken breasts could be crucial in determining if chicken breast prices can move seasonally upward this spring due to the modest increase in production that is anticipated. Typically, the boneless skinless chicken breast market rises  during the next twelve weeks. January 31st chicken breast  and leg quarter  holdings were modestly below a year ago. January chicken wing stocks were 2% larger than 2009. Additional chicken wing market declines are anticipated.

DAIRY: Milk production during January was .6% less than last year due to a 2.4% smaller milk cow herd and a 1.9% increase in milk per cow yields.  Dairy farmers added a net 3k head to the dairy cow herd during January marking the first increase in thirteen months.  Declining class III milk futures prices are anticipated to lead to further dairy cow herd and milk output reductions in the coming months.  The cheese markets are notably lower but should bottom soon.  The butter market is moving upward.  Usually the butter market rises roughly $.10 a pound during the next two weeks.

Seafood- Rick Knapp Ext.1935

Scallops- The new season started for American scallopers Monday March 1st, there will be some minor changes, when and where the fleet can fish, but overall the changes are minor from last year. Large U/10 scallops are still very scarce and most offshore captains do not expect any volumes of larger scallops until late spring or mid summer.

Salmon- Markets are beginning to tighten up. Salmon fillet prices are increasing daily ,shortages are expected to run into the summer months. Expect to see salmon fillet prices hit all time highs.

Halibut- Fresh Halibut is available from long trip and day boats in Canada and supply should continue to improve as weather conditions improve. Unfortunately weather patterns this time of year are unpredictable as is the supply. The West Coast is gearing up for the new season and I expect new supply to be available within a week or two, but traditionally the first landings are very expensive. It could take a couple of weeks for prices to moderate as supply increases, but with a drop in quota for 2010  I expect prices to remain strong.

Quandts fresh seafood program- If you are looking for a special seafood item and you need it right away,ask your Quandts sales representative about our 1:00 pm cut off for next day delivery. We allow you more time to plan for your seafood needs.