Market Notes
December 28th , 2023
10) CULINARY CHRISTMAS SONGS VOL. 1 EXPANDS – Last season we sere beside ourselves with the global release of the Christmas songs we have written for over thirty years were professionally produced on a CD. Letdown by many people not having the ability to play a CD (or not know what they were), this year we released the songs on our website. Along with the songs, the accompanying video shows the lyrics so you can sing-a-long with Culinary. Just click on the address below and follow the bouncing potato. https://culinaryproduce.com/culinary-produce-songs/ .
9) STAFFING– The days of sitting home and getting paid appear to be over. That does not mean that offices are fully staffed. A post covid realization that employees can be just as productive from home has a lot of benefits and we are seeing the “Lincoln Lawer” philosophy succeed.
8) TRANSPORTATION– Trucking demands and availability somewhat normalized this year but prices were up at least 5% across the board. This might have been jumping in on the inflation opportunities. We believe the upcoming year (or maybe two) will begin the one-stop, one-drop robotic over the road vehicles and the beginning of a ground transportation revolution. It won’t stop there. It will be either New York or
California where the first White Alba Truffles are delivered by drone. Herbs by drone anyone?
7) INVENTORY – With all the closings, re-openings, re-closings, shut downs, re-sizing and new deals the ability for most growers to forecast became difficult at best. Add to that different avenues for supply chain, and the weather that seemed to have covid for a good nine months and it becomes impossible. Between the unknown usage and rough harvests it seems growth has been on the conservative side. The buffalo are not going to eat as well (or as much) this year. It remains to be seen on exactly how lean the supply gets.
6) COMMUNICATION– Remember when the phone call was the thing? Good brokers (not mentioning any names) would know when the morning inventory was done and just the right time to get the buyer for the precious PO’s. We even knew when they read their e-mails. That’s all gone. To say it went to the clouds, would be an appropriate pun. We now have to use Whatsapp to order our endive from Belgium. Customers no longer have time for phone calls, and e-mails can’t be more the 120 words if you want them read. Text seems to be ok unless some pop up on your phone at an inopportune time. Orders come while changing diapers, making dinner, out shopping, or in the car. We now do it all, but we follow up with the phone when we can. Uh-oh, from cutting edge to old school!
5) VERTICAL GROWING – Still one of the most exciting developments in growing fruits and vegetables. Already proven with herbs and greens, recently we have seen expanded success with strawberries. Notonly were berries chemical free amid very tasty, this form of growing allows for development of varieties there would otherwise not survive. Yes, there have been some setbacks with overzealous facilities closing, but as we refine the operations, the regional needs, this will become global in scope and control also of the problems we have with poisoning our planet. Local produce will thrive and we guess eventually supermarket chains will jump in if they already haven’t.
4) HARVEST – We are a specialty company and we do not pretend to know the commodity side of the business as well as we do specialty. That said, from herbs, potatoes, baby vegetables, root vegetables, baby greens, and artichokes, we can define harvest in one word, late. This is what we meant when we said the weather got covid. Whether it be bad seed, saturated soil, dry, soil, infected soil, excessive heat, excessive, cold, or lack of labor or access, the above categories were affected. Now it seems the same will happen with the California winter citrus. Heck, we still have hard persimmons on our tree out front.
3) REGENERATIVE – We have been writing about this for a decade and it now seems like it has come to or is coming to fruition. Other “bio” type manes have been used in the past but regenerative seems to be the one that will stick. That means it will be the title that gets certified. It is a simple idea that was destroyed by Dupont after WWII, when ammonium nitrite literally covered our land. The simple idea was this; Take care of the soil and the soil will take care of the plants. This philosophy using compost and limited cultivation reduces use of water, eliminates pesticides, creates greater yields, and increases nutrient density. It is more often a less expensive way to grow, that until the certifiers get their certs and audits on it.
2) NEW ORGANIC RULES – Made number two again. April 19, 2024 is the beginning of enforcement and it has the industry buzzing. The certifiers are milking it, the distributors still don’t believe it, and the organic industry itself has not shown how they will enforce it. Needless to say, with this much of at stake they will need to show that the stronger organic rules are better for the planet and consumer as intended instead of fattening the wallets of certifiers and auditors. For the record, Culinary is certified.
1) CERTIFICATION – When ancillary services in any industry exceed the profit that industry, there is a bubble about to be burst. Okay, that might be hyperbole, but it is the direction we are going. It started with The GMO lobby insisted that labeling has to read non-GMO so they did not have to use a label saying GMO. Organic certification is tightening up but there remains a 7% recall of organic products. Now there is regenerative certification and are you ready for this? Regenerative certification will only be offered after organic certification is approved. Whole foods is now looking into pollination certification and that will soon become mandatory. Footprint and effect on the climate certification is not far behind. Add to that, even though these certifiers are approved by the government to do the exact same thing, they vary in their process, charges, and have become a status thing. As silly as that sounds the “my certifier is better than your certifier” is in effect, and supermarkets are playing this game. Possibly influenced by the certifiers themselves? Who audits them? We’re at the wrong end of the business.
THE ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS QUIZ IS ON HOLIDAY AND WILL BE PUBLISHED 1-4-2024
(the answer to the quiz dated 12-15-2022 is…PASSION FRUIT… congrats to all winners)
From us and ours to you and yours wishing you a safe, happy, and healthy New Year
Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa, Matty, or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702
Visit us at www.culinaryproduce.com “like” us @ Culinary Specialty Produce on Facebook
© Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2023