Market Notes
September 28, 2017

THE FALL SEASON ARRIVES

Let’s talk pumpkins. Big Mac (1 to 4 count), Cinderella, Fairytale, Jarradale, Knuckle Head, Mini Orange, Mystical Jack, Orange Sparklers, Painted Pumpkin (with or without hair), Pie Pumpkins, Painted Pie Pumpkins, Pumpkin Silhouette, Pumpkin Skull, Baby Tiger Pumpkin, Wee Bee Little Pumpkin, White Pumpkin, White Mini Pumpkin, Casper Pumpkin (with or without stem) and Frankenstein Pumpkin. Let’s talk fall décor. Decorative Gourds, Autumn Glycerin Leaves, Hay Bales, Corn Stalks, Wheat Shafts, Small Green Goblins and their sisters, Indian Corn, Skeleton Fruit, Mutant Blue Hubbard and Baby Turks Turban. If you can throw it, bake it, roast it, fry it, or hang it, we got it! Call for details.

AND THE RAINS VISITED BRIEFLY

It is starting to seem like the rain has to visit every potato crop around the country and cause a little damage. Starting in central California the rains followed us from field to field. Then we went to New Mexico and after a few good days we were rained out. Up to northern Colorado next and we got shut down after three days of harvest. Then off to Wisconsin where the product is freckled and speckled and now the rains have checked into the San Luis Valley where our southern Colorado fields are. They had one inch or rain last night. That’s enough to prohibit equipment from harvesting without getting stuck. Of course this happens just after we put potatoes in storage to sweat, a process we cannot interrupt. Hopefully the rain will head to South Park and leave our fields alone. Fortunately we will get the spuds out in time and this will just rearrange scheduling for a few days. After the San Luis Valley our next harvest areas are in Florida. Let’s see what happens there.

OFF-SHORE

Asparagus from Ensenada are coming in strong due to the improved weather. Southern Peru is also ramping up due to the warmer weather. All this adds up to improved quality and lower prices. Peruvian baby lettuce that was shaky is now stable. Baby squash is a great buy as it is getting tighter on the west coast. Both orange and rainbow cry-o-vac carrots are steady and French beans supply will be increased by weeks end. Brazil has good supply of Mangoes and Papayas. Snow Peas and Snap Peas will tighten up as production in Guatemala as these crops are being affected by the rainy season. Peruvian peas will be limited as well as freight costs rise and European demand increases. Irma took the domestic starfruit so that market is limited as well.

NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – – WHAT AM I??

am a perennial plant grown for my rhizomes which originated in either China or Japan. Three decades after Admiral Perry’s visit, I made the scene in Europe, when commercial farming began in 1887. Although I am named after a village in France not far outside of Paris, Sully-sur-Loire was ground zero for me. Related to the mint family, I look or taste nothing like mint. When first dug and cleaned I have a white skin, but with constant exposure to oxygen I turn brown as I dry out. I look like a short string of fat beads which accounts for my nickname, knotroot. It is very important not to overcook me as my delicate taste will completely disappear. To enhance my flavor, I can be soaked or peeled before cooking. The term a la Japonaise means garnished with me. I have been seen marinated in French dressing or served with tomatoes and watercress. I am high in carbs and sugar.

L ‘Shana Tova (Happy New Year)- still

Answer To Last Week’s Quiz…MANDARIN…Congrats To All Winners

Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702
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Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2015