KEEP AS DRAFT Fresh From the Field

The apple market remains firm this week as demand remains good. Most of the varieties have now started to harvest on the new crop apples out of Washington, and the rest will start up in the next couple of weeks. It is too early to predict the size of the new crop but the impact of the heat wave in Washington will certainly be a negative on the overall size and storability. We will keep you updated as more accurate information is provided. Expectations at this point are for a crop less than last season but it is still very early to get any accurate read on the size and condition of the new crop. The quality of the fruit so far looks good.
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Peru and California avocado supply is now mostly finished, and Mexico is the main source of supply. Avocado inventory has been reduced and the price spread between sizes 48s and 60s has narrowed to more typical levels. Size 32/36s continue to be in short supply and prices are at higher levels.
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Blueberries
Blueberries are expected to start coming in with volume this week, but this is very much dependent on boats being unloaded. The current market is in decline based on this information, but we could see delays in loading/unloading at ports due do struggles to get fruit out of Peru and Argentina due to weather, vessel delays, and import delays due to lower staffing and COVID restrictions.
Blackberries
Mexico is ramping up quickly, with good volume this week out of Texas or California on new crop Mexican blackberries!
Raspberries
Less supply again this week on raspberries as we end the summer crop and move into new crop from Mexico for the 2021-2022 season. Volumes should turn in a few weeks.
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Cantaloupe production is winding down in California as we transition to Arizona. Sizing in California is mostly 9/12 counts, with a few jumbos. With shorter days and cooler weather, expect to see a green cast to cantaloupe and brix will be slightly lower. Volume is expected around October 15th in Arizona with one grower already packing.
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Oranges
Chilean navels have been reporting strong quality all season, peaking on 56/64/72s. In the coming weeks, expect prices to settle in as more and more containers arrive on the West Coast if ports stop having delay issues. There have been reports of a lot of vessels being stuck at port for up to a few weeks, causing a lot of supply issues. This is forcing shippers to repack after they receive product to make sure it is clean. All sizes are currently tight, especially 56 count and larger. Some shippers will be shipping California navels as soon as next week, but most will be starting the week of October 25th or later. California Valencias are starting to wind down and pricing is now starting to increase a bit across the board, but mainly on 88s and smaller. The season will be over in the next few weeks, peaking on 48s/56s. Fruit is firm and eating well. 88s and smaller will be very tight all season long.
Lemons
Some fruit is still coming out of District 2, but the crop is mainly choice fruit, with very little fancy fruit. District 3 has just started so the expectation is that quality will improve. We are seeing more and more shippers with lemons loading in Texas, but supply is on the lighter side currently, but will be picking up as we head into the peak of the season. Peaking on 140s/165s. Chilean lemons are peaking on 140s/165s as well. Argentinian and Chilean quality has been strong all season. We have seen some blowers here and there as there have been some delays at ports, but most shippers are saying they are focusing on repacking those containers that experienced delays. Dozens of containers are sitting on vessels waiting to unload so supplies are tough on the West Coast.
Grapefruit
The overall grapefruit market has remained pretty steady. Supplies are keeping up with demand at this point. Quality is excellent with no issues being reported at this time. We have transitioned into Marsh Ruby variety, peaking on 36/40/48s. Large size pricing has remained steady for the last month with very little movement. Small sizes are where the deals are! Mexican grapefruit will be starting in Texas in the next week or two.
Mandarins
Mandarins are very tight! Quality and brix have been pretty good, but we hear they are not eating great right now. California is done now. Mandarins have been delayed at ports as well causing some supply issues. Expect this issue to continue for the near future.
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The focus is now on late-season varieties that will carry us to the end of the year. We anticipate some increased markets in the month of November and December. This past weekend, limited rain passed through with little to no impact; much of our vineyards this time of year have the canopies covered with plastic. Currently, overall markets are positioned to continue moving volume with quality fruit supporting ads with good quality fruit. This year’s Scarlet Royal crop has been excellent! Expect to see aggressive pricing for the next 2 weeks on red and green seedless, with markets moving up in November and December…late-season red and green volume will be snug! Black seedless, red globes and specialty varieties are moving along with demand. Organics will start to trend down on volume with quality being a factor in November.
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Honeydew are extremely tight in California and are expected to stay that way throughout the rest of the California season. Demand is exceeding supply at this point. Sizing has been an even split between 5/6 counts, followed by jumbo 5 count, although limited supplies. Sizing is peaking on 8 count. Quality and sugar have been good with some scarring present. We are currently transitioning to Arizona as one grower has already started. We are still about a week away from any kind of domestic volume. Mexico has also started slowly with volume expected mid-October.
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Region: Veracruz, Mexico
Currently, the crop is peaking on 200/175/230s. The weather forecast is showing rain at the end of the week; however, it will not impact harvesting this week. The demand for limes has been moderate to low. Because of the holiday on Monday, the crossing report was not available. Sizing profile is peaking on sizes 200/175/230. Size distribution: 110-9%, 150-14%, 175-21%, 200-21%, 230-18%, and 250-16%. Quality issues being reported: oil spots and blanching. Expect to see these quality concerns for the next few weeks. Looking ahead, we expect a little decrease of the available fruit in October; however, quality could improve a little.
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Brazilian Update: Due to a shortage of vessels there was no vessels that arrived last week, which will create a short supply gap this week 42 (week of October 10th). We have already started communicating with certain programs; if you have any potential or pending orders, please reach out to us to coordinate coverage. In anticipation for this decrease, we are bringing in additional fruit arriving this week (week 42).
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Historically, we have seen volume increases from May to July. This year, we noticed this high volume got pushed back to the last couple weeks of May. As a result, we had plenty of supply. Warmer weather helped the growers to harvest more fruit at farm level so we’re now noticing more availability in the market with good supplies. Shippers are offering extra papaya, mostly pallet quantity for now, but close for that availability to become load volume.
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We have new crop Bartletts, Anjou, red pears and Bosc shipping out of Washington State and Oregon this week. The crop in the Northwest is looking a little smaller in volume this year and the fruit will run one to two sizes smaller than last season. Overall, there will be plenty of fruit to promote and advertise!
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Pineapple (Offshore)

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Tropical Wave #41 is affecting the Pacific region with isolated thunderstorms. The Caribbean and Northern regions expect scattered rainfall for the remainder of the week. Quality is reported as good at 14+ brix, with some water spotting issues possible due to the additional rainfall. USDA crossing report for week 39 is showing a deep drop to just below 900 loads of pineapples crossing for the entire continental USA. USDA is reporting demand as moderate and market as steady. Delays at Texas ports have again become an issue with as much as 10-12 days after release for fruit to leave ports of arrival.

Pineapple (Mexican)

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Main growing regions in Mexico are Veracruz, Tabasco, and Colima, and most fruit crosses through border entries in Texas and Arizona. Demand is up on all sizes with good supplies arriving from both Mexico and Costa Rica. Mexico is in full production, but domestic Mexican demand is as high and coveting for supplies. Markets are up as we see lower volumes arriving. We currently have GOOD supplies of our fruit from Mexico and quality is reported as very good, with brix over 13%. Most shippers are peaking on 7 and 8 counts, with limited supplies of 5/6 counts in the market. Please contact your Robinson Fresh sales representative with any questions and to discuss promotional planning.
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The conventional strawberry market has a three-tiered pricing structure with a range in prices and quality depending on the growing area and whether it is new or old crop. Santa Maria, California is forecast to be sunny but breezy in the afternoon on Wednesday; Thursday and Friday will have plenty of sun and then become mostly sunny for the weekend. Highs are expected in the 60s on Wednesday, increasing to the 70s for the balance of the week, with lows in the 40s. Salinas/Watsonville, California is forecast to be mostly sunny and cool on Wednesday, becoming sunnier and warmer for the balance of the week. Highs are forecast in the 60s on Wednesday, increasing to the 70s on Thursday, and then the 80s on Friday and Saturday, decreasing to the 70s on Sunday with lows in the 40s. Oxnard, California is forecast for sunny skies with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Oxnard, California new crop fruit has good color and size with occasional misshapen; the old crop fruit has bruising, dark color, soft shoulders and overripe with much smaller fruit.
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Supplies are a little tight on seedless and very tight on minis! North Carolina and Florida are going with small fall crops and limited supplies. We have a fall crop in Walnut Grove, California and we have good supplies on 60-count seedless. Mexico has started into Edinburg, Texas, and Nogales. Mini watermelons are tight and 8/9-count minis are very tight. Most customers are starting to switch over to cartons for the winter.
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