Market Notes
May 19, 2016
GREEN SCENE NOT REAL CLEAN
California weather continues to be very strange. Unfortunate rains mess with the cherries while unexpected rains mess with the greens. Combine that with the weird frosts and missed plantings and you come up with sporadic availability, poor crops, and rejected product. We try and take care of all of that in advance so when you order you know what you are going to get and what we put on the truck rides well. So, here’s what still sucks. Teen spinach remains tight but there is hope that new fields as soon as next week will end the allocation. Arugula is also a problem. Both on the conventional and organic side a lot of product is being rejected due to yellowing. Allocations on arugula are heavy and expected to remain for the next two weeks. Good news is the great quality and quantity of mesclun, baby lettuce and kale are all good and regular pricing will resume next week. Of course, potential weekend rains could change all of that. Stay tuned, stay ahead.
SPRING THINGS
Fiddlehead Ferns have resurfaced from Canada of all places and are in abundance out of the Los Angeles Produce Market. Porcini are now in brief abundance with product available both domestically and from South Africa. Ramps are winding down and we expect another three weeks at the most. Ramp bulbs will begin in about a week. Morel Mushrooms are up and down in price and color but are running on the low side and we expect we have not yet seen the bottom of this year’s market. Nettles are winding down and along with Claytonia will become limited with spotty availability in by mid-June. Huitlacoche (corn smut), which many of our customers have been asking about, is only available frozen and will not be available to us until early July.
HOLIDAY OUTLOOK
If this is a grilling holiday for you, things are looking good from the produce isle. Slow smoking Harvest Moon Potatoes slowly gives them a crisp skin and a creamy center that really does melt in your mouth. Fennel, peppers, heirloom tomatoes are all easily available along with eggplant, beets, and fun grill stuff like radicchio and starfruit. Wasabi leaves hit the market and are great for rolling wrapping or salads with kumquat, pomegranate and walnuts. Spicy peppers abound including ghost, reaper and similar deadly varieties for that ultimate chili. Stone fruits and Washington State cherries came on a bit early so we will have some of the great varieties to celebrate with. Beans, squash, and corn are all ready to be loaded for those awesome holiday salads and as long as you can survive without arugula, this should be a great weekend for produce. Don’t forget the grilled fingerlings!
NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – – WHO AM I???
I am a native of Malaysia, although I flourish year round in Brazil, United States, Mexico and Israel. I am not alone on my branch. My fragrant, white and red petals always accompany me. Although my diameter ranges from 1 to 2 inches and I am thin skinned, this is no indication of the pulpy punch my flavor packs. My potent juice is added to cakes, soups, sauces, punches, fish, sorbet, and pies. In Florida, one of my unique varieties has been known to open doors, but it might take a while. But most often my glistening, bright, smooth skin garnishes summertime specialties. I share many characteristics with a cousin fruit, and often we are used together. I am an excellent source of Vitamin C as well as potassium, folic acid, and calcium. I am also good for your daily bouts of scurvy, but not when squeezed into beer. These days I can also be squeezed from a finger.
Answer To Last Week’s Quiz…THYME…Congrats To All Winners
Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702
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Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2015