TOMATOES
Roma production continues to drop off drastically in Florida as we get into the most damaged plantings from the freeze. Expect sizing to be smaller and quality to be just fair on whatever we are able to harvest. Mexican supply out West is hurt from poor weather and disease pressure. Market is getting very high and will continue to tighten with gap starting on Florida production. It does not look to improve until early April at best.
Our vine ripe round tomatoes are steady out of Homestead with good quality and size. Other regions in South Florida are not doing as well. While most of those crops were not hit as hard as the romas by the freeze there will be weeks with very limited availability and poor quality. Western supply is very inconsistent and sizing has been smaller than normal with just fair quality. Expect market to continue to rise over the next few weeks.
Grape production in Florida and out West seems to have flushed with the warmer weather, but cooler temps are expected this week that will slow it down. Quality and supply should remain good out of our Homestead crops, but like the rounds we expect a significant reduction in volume for March from bloom drop in Immokalee and other growing areas.
VEGETABLES
Squash is starting to pick back up in volume from post freeze damage. We started a new field of yellows end of last week and a new zucc field today. Production is not back to normal levels yet, but we should continue to see a gradual increase. Mexico supply is still low, which is keeping the market elevated.
Cucumber quality out of Mexico is very nice right now. That said, the winter crop is starting to wind down as it reaches the end of its season. As we move through the transition from Mexico (ending mid-March) to Florida (starting mid-April), supply typically tightens and the market strengthens. We’re beginning to see the early signs of that shift this week, and it should continue over the next few weeks.
Bean supply remains extremely limited. While we are not expecting freezing temperatures tonight like those forecasted for the Immokalee growing region, any additional cold will further stress an already severely impacted crop. We may see minor improvement in two weeks, but realistically supply will remain very tight through mid-April. Expect the market to very tight until then.
Bell pepper supply in Florida remains very limited. The Immokalee growing region is forecast to receive additional freezing temperatures tonight, which could further stress an already compromised crop. Mexico is producing good quality peppers; however, supply is constrained due to strong demand on a crop that is reaching the tail end of its season. At this point, we are not anticipating any meaningful improvement until early to mid-April. Expect supplies to stay tight and the market to remain elevated over the next 4–6 weeks.
