Market Notes
January 30th, 2025
CALIFORNIA FIRES CONTINUE
As of January 30, 2025, California is experiencing significant wildfire activity, particularly in the Los Angeles area. The Palisades Fire, which began on January 7, has been a major concern. Recent reports indicate that the burn area is fully contained, and final evacuation orders have been lifted, allowing residents to return to their properties. Tragically, the death toll from the Los Angeles fires has risen to twenty-nine, with thousands of firefighters battling blazes across approximately forty-five square miles of densely populated areas. The Palisades Fire is among the largest of these incidents. Despite previous criticisms and threats to withhold federal aid, both President Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom displayed a show of unity and support during their visit together. The Palisades Fire has been a major incident in Los Angeles County. As of January 29, evacuation orders have been lifted, allowing residents to return to their properties. The fire has caused considerable damage, including the destruction of historic landmarks such as the Topanga Ranch Motel and Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House. The Hurst Fire near Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley has been fully contained. The fire burned approximately 850 acres and damaged two structures. No injuries have been reported. The battery burning in Moss Landing has ended. There is reported heavy metals in the ground within a two mile radius of the burning battery warehouses. Looks like the fires are over. Now it’s time to blame, sue and build. Let’s build back better! (whoops)
POTATO NOTES FROM ALL OVER
Amazingly, potatoes seem ,to be thriving everywhere, at least on the specialty size. When speaking about rounds, the “B” size seems to be the go to pack for retail both on the organic and conventional markets. Let the oner biters fight it out we like to “B” in the middle. Marbles, creamers, and “A” size are also available but the “B’s” are the movers. Fingerlings are abundant. Organic product will start showing its age in a few weeks and out will come the clove oil. We have good supply on yellow and red fingerlings, but we are light on the purple so we are saving them for the assorted pack. That means limited bulk product on the purples. Shipping is now from seven states and two countries so we can about cover anything….till tomorrow. Please erach out if you have a specialty potato needs.
NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – WHO AM I ???
I am famous for playing hard to get, yet the few that are graced with my presence find me on a small tropical tree cultivated in parts of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. I am the reigning queen member of the Guttiferaceae family and am actually referred to as “Queen of the Tropical Fruits.” I grow at my own leisure, which is usually in a timely fashion, and I am difficult to propagate, even down right persnickety. My thick vibrant skin is strikingly handsome. I share the same purplish red skin color as a pomegranate, but I am far more beautiful, both inside and out. My insides are segmented into small pulpy white to ivory sections. My pulp is delicate, yet powerfully sweet and juicy. My exotic flavor has been described as a mixture of pineapple, apricot, orange and grape. Taste me and I will practically melt in your mouth. My pulp can be pureed and used as a topping for ice cream, sherbet or tossed in fruit salad. Most take delight in scooping me right out of my chilled skin. In Indonesia, lucky for them, I am actually abundant, and I am often used in recipes for pickles and vinegar. If you are blessed with fashion sense, you may be wearing my eye catching color on your belt, shoes, wallet or gloves because my skin contains tannins, used for dying certain materials. I contain potassium and vitamin C as well as traces of iron and niacin. If my name were broken down you would find the name of another member of the fruit family, but believe me there is no relation. Contrary to popular opinion I never had a Bar-Mitzvah and have no religious affiliations.
The answer to last weeks quiz was … GRAPES… Congrats to all winners
Visit us at www.culinaryproduce.com Phone 908-789-4700
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