TOMATOES
Florida roma production is going to be very tight for the next 7 days or so because of temperatures and short labor crews similar to the round tomatoes below. Quality looks very good compared to a few weeks ago. Mexican production is extremely light has the new Culiacan supply is 7-10 days behind the grapes and the rounds. Market is going to jump drastically for about 2 weeks and then settle back down for mid-January through mid-April barring any major weather events.
Florida growers have not been able to harvest much around the holidays with labor issues as well as colder temperatures slowing maturation. Crops have plenty of fruit and will bounce right back with warmer and the holiday season finishes up. Western production has begun but volume on the bigger tomatoes is still light. Quality looks good. Market is going to move a little this week with lighter supplies but will settle out by the end of next week.
New production out of the new Mexican growing region is improving every week and quality looks good. Older field crops out of Mexico do not look good. Florida production is slowing down some as older plantings finish but new production is improving. The cold weather this week will stop harvest for a day or two and then supply will bounce back by the weekend.
VEGETABLES
Squash yields have improved with our newer fields; however, cooler temperatures are expected to hinder production in the short term. We anticipate strong volume as we move into January and past these current temperatures. Meanwhile, volume and quality from Mexico remain strong. Due to the weather, we expect a slight market increase for post-holiday business.
Cucumber production is slowing in Florida, and the majority of our supply will transition to our western programs. Quality and yields in Mexico remain excellent. While the Florida market appears strong, the volume and quality of Mexican supply should prevent the market from becoming too aggressive.
Current bean quality is good, though cooler weather will slow production and likely cause the market to strengthen. As we move into January, yields typically decline due to lower availability and increased thrip pressure, which usually results in a market reaction.
Bell pepper volume and quality are currently strong. While Florida supply is steady, production is expected to suffer as cooler temperatures move in. Mexican volume remains strong. Consequently, we expect the Florida market to gain strength heading into January, while the Mexican market should remain softer.
