Market Notes
September 20, 2018
POTATO MARKET UPDATE
All cylinders humming for potato growers around the country. From New York to Oregon with Washington, California, Idaho, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania are harvesting this month. True new potatoes are loading as fast as we can pack them while the majority goes into storage for a two to four week sweat. Our two bases, Edison, California and Mosca, Colorado cover most everything you could want in a potato size, shape, color or variety. Food service packaging available in 10, 20, 25, or 50 pound pack, bulk packaging available in 2000 pound totes, and retail packaging available in paper, plastic or mesh. Both locations support organics but the bulk is from Colorado.
SEASONAL STUFF
If you want a half ton plus or quarter ton plus mutant pumpkin please let us know as soon as possible so we can bid it out or buy one and arrange transportation. As long as we are on the squash side of the season let’s jump in. Yes, we have the Turks Turban, Blue Hubbard, Carnival, Cinderella, and Castilla (fairytale) squash ready to ship along with the standard Spaghetti and Butternut, but right now we have three different colors of acorn squash; green, white and gold. This won’t last long but as acorn squash is often used as a vessel this is a great opportunity for some spectacular seasonal color. Speaking of color, along with every shape and color of pumpkin except Frankenstein (crop failure this year), we also have ornamental gourds, mini-Indian corn, wheat bundles, corn stalks, strawberry corn, cow pies and glycerin fall leaf bundles. I guess it’s time to say good-bye to summer and hello to harvest.
FLORENCE FOLLOW-UP
So the initial bang was not as fierce as expected but the resulting river rise and floods have yet to peak. Florence was not without fatalities and the evacuation rescues continue. Lack of water and electricity appear to be quickly remedied and to date the attention needed is available. From a produce point of view there has been great damage to the sweet potato crop. Prices are up while growers are not yet able to get into fields to fully assess damage. But freeways are waterways and roads are rivers. As the water recedes and communities reseed, we will say a prayer and send some funds for the newly homeless and lives lost.
NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – – WHAT AM I??
Don’t call me daughter, although I am a delectable member of the Purslane family (Portulacacae). I am a small but loveable breed, and I am often found in the underbrush, but usually mistaken for a weed. My white notched wildflower blossom is in the center of what appears to be a single cupped round leaf, but is actually two leaves fused together. My single shoot grows no more than twelve inches tall, but my stems spread out from my base to form groundcover. As an early spring plant I am succulent and have long and narrow leaves. I have been spotted in shades of purple and brown, but I am primarily green. During the California Gold Rush my leaves were anticipated with great joy because they were quickly consumed to help people fight off scurvy. While I thrive in the early warm weather of spring, the summer heat will dehydrate me quickly, thus making my life a brief one. Whether you enjoy me under my American, Indian or Spanish name, my showcase leaves make me a wonderful addition to any salad. As a green I am a uniquely intense source of vitamin C.
Answer To Last Week’s Quiz:…TIGER SQUASH…Congrats To All Winners
Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702
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Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2015