KEEP AS DRAFT Fresh From the Field

The imported grape market remained strong through the month of February, with limited volume of fruit in inventory on both coasts into the final week of the month. Continued vessel and container delays have limited availability across all importers, with many already holding back inventory for early March when the industry will finally begin to feel the effects of the late-January rain that impacted multiple growing regions in Chile. We expect green seedless varieties to be impacted significantly more than red seedless from this weather event, which will result in very limited green seedless options through much of the remaining months of the import season. Looking at current varieties being shipped, a wide range of red seedless options (Allison/Sweet Celebration/Flame/Crimson) are still being sold across multiple price points, with a handful of green seedless varieties (Sugraones/Thompson/Sweet Globe/Arra 15) also still available.
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Pineapple (Offshore)
Gustavo.Lora@robinsonfresh.com
An increase of the trade winds over Costa Rica will be expected for this week. Higher temperatures and significant rainfall over the Caribbean and the Northern regions are also within the forecast while a decrease in rainfall in the Central Pacific, and South Pacific will become more typical of the dry season. Quality, internal condition and brix levels have all been reported as good, but a change of age has been reported at some farms. The USDA crossing report for week 07 is similar to last week with over 1,000 inbound containers for the entire continental USA from Costa Rica. The USDA is reporting demand as light and a slightly lower market. Demand for pines is reported as light with plenty of surplus fruit at most shipping points. The market continues to fall due, in part, to good Costa Rica supply; compounded again by a reduction in demand due to weather conditions affecting most of the USA but particularly the events that affected the Gulf states last week. The expectation is that weather will continue to improve and, as we get closer to the early Easter promotions, the market will regain some strength. Mexican supply remains good with plenty of surplus fruit available currently.

Pineapple (Mexican)
Jiovani.Guevara@robinsonfresh.com
Main growing regions in Mexico are Veracruz, Tabasco, and Colima, and most fruit crosses through border entries in Texas and Arizona. We have seen slow demand in the last two weeks, and we expect inventory levels to increase as we see new arrivals from Mexico and Costa Rica. Supplies from both Mexico and Costa Rica are up, and higher supplies are expected in March. Markets are expected to remain stable. March will be a great time to promote pineapples while supplies and quality will be at their highest. Quality of our fruit from Mexico is very good, with brix over 13%. Most shippers have all sizes available in the market. Please contact your Robinson Fresh sales representative with any questions.
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Weaker markets at the beginning of the week may firm up toward the back half of the week as Florida harvest volumes taper off. Mexico volumes may also decrease due to less-than-favorable markets for their growers. Please have your customers start placing Easter ads, as this time period will have limited volumes available. Oxnard, California is forecast for mostly sunny skies with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. Central Mexico is forecast for mostly sunny skies and very warm temps with highs in the 90s and lows in the 40s. Plant City, Florida is forecast for thunderstorms on Wednesday, becoming sunny and pleasant on Thursday and Friday, and then thunderstorms possible for the weekend. Highs are forecast in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Oxnard, California fruit has good color, occasional white shoulders, soft shoulders, pack bruising, seedy tips, and discoloration and scarring from the wind. Average counts are 20 to 22, occasionally higher and lower.
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