Market Notes
April 7, 2016

 

POTATO UPDATE

There is a lot going on in the world of specialty potatoes, but the state of the potato is good! Let’s start with Colorado. From points both north and south we are still shipping organic and conventional fingerlings. This year looks like we can run our Colorado programs through May and possibly a bit longer. This is due to improved (biotic) growing and improved storage technology. The same is true for our organic russets. We are now treating them with clove oil to maintain their organic status and eliminate late season peepers. We expect a price increase on the russets within a few weeks. California will begin harvest on just about everything next week. We are already running a limited amount of whites, while reds along with yellows will begin by the middle of next week. New crop fingerlings will be dug next week as well and we are told that this crop is really beautiful. Purple fingerlings and organic potatoes will ramp up a few weeks later. Organic russets from this area will not begin until mid-June. Harvest Moon potatoes are still available in “B” size out of Colorado and in a few weeks we will see our first crop of Harvest Moon from California. Florida remains touch and go with quality, price and quantity. The final missing link to a complete specialty potato program is the marble potato. We should be shipping them, three color, within two weeks.

FINGER LIME – KINDA SORTA ALMOST TIME

Why does everybody want things when they are not available? Why does nobody want things when they are abundant? Such is the dilemma with Finger Limes. This crazy and supposed winter crop seems to have a few seasons; 2.5 seasons to be exact. Unfortunately we just missed the .5. One of our growers had an early spring flush and while we wish they were ours, they are available through the LA Market. To put this into perspective, the entire harvest was less than 50 pounds. We are currently checking with our other growers to see if they had the same brief flush. No real volume for about a month. We will begin seeing some small harvest early May and hope to initiate our retail program by the months end. No promises for the holiday just yet. Food-service customers will start a few weeks before retail.

TRANSITION CONDITION

Well, we were right, but it was really nothing to brag about. Trucks loading in Salinas this week was a nightmare. With the addition of 24 to 48 hours most of our trucks got out. The problem is not the product. What is in the field is looking good. The problem is not the equipment. All processing, packing, and loading equipment, is optimal. The problem is the labor. There is a gap in labor for harvest and labor for getting the toes back into the field. This has hit both spinach and arugula the hardest and as a result the trucks are waiting and waiting and waiting. We have been informed that this problem is all but completely resolved and everything will be humming come Monday.

NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – – WHO AM I???

If you’re talking food, I am the valuable member of the Hawthorne family. I am a small crab apple looking fruit that began in the hills of Mexico and Guatemala. Due to the exotic pests I may carry I am not allowed into the United States. To that end I topped the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Smuggling, Interdiction and Trade Compliance program for the years 2002 to 2006. From prorogated root stock that was smuggled into San Diego in the 1990’s domestic product is now available. So, why all the fuss? We can also be eaten out of hand, as painful as that sounds, and some of us even get canned, not exactly the high-life. The other reasons are many; First, I am very high in pectin which can be used as a stabilizer or a congealing agent. Obviously great for jams and jellies, I am also used pharmaceutically and industrially as well. Second, I am a very popular main ingredient in a Mexican Christmas punch. For this I am peeled, seeded and boiled until soft. Canned is starting to sound better! Finally I am used as a paste to make a candy for Day of the Dead offerings. Now that’s something to brag about. I am awesome in punches, pies, jams, jellies, cookies, cakes and candy. I am a coagulant extraordinaire and I can clog things up. Are you now starting to get why I am great? Here is so me more good stuff, I am not GMO, I have zero fat, zero cholesterol and only 87 calories per 100 gram serving. Nutritionally I am full of pectin power along with high contents of vitamins A and C. Oh yeah, if you want to beat the crap out of me I can also be found in piñatas. Don’t get me started on the medical stuff, but it’s there.

Answer To Last Week’s Quiz…ANGELICA…Congrats To All Winners
Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702
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Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2015