Market Notes

August 18th, 2022

 

 

BABY VEGETABLES

French beans remain stable while baby squash is still a bit of a roller coaster ride.  Baby yellow patty is still extremely scarce and expensive when we can find it.  Green zucchini, on the other hand, is readily available and affordable.  Baby green patty pan is in the middle, a bit scarce and a bit expensive.  At least we are seeing a trend toward lower prices and larger quantity.  Carrots of all colors, cuts and packs are a great value.  Shipments have been arriving beautifully, and there are some great prices for volume buyers.  Snow Peas and Snap Peas are very reasonable and abundant.  

SPRING THINGS

We always want what is not available.  That’s part of the procurement game, and we are glad to play.  We have heard rumors that limited morel foraging has begun.  While we can not assure procurement at this point we can assure outrageously high prices for the first of the season.  Wait a week, and the price drops over 70%.  We also have the first of the season Fiddlehead Ferns.  Remember, the first fiddlehead ferns of the season are the variety whose centers are dark gray /brown in color, not the bright green ones that come from the East Coast, pick about a month later.  Additional indications that warmer weather is imminent is shown by the current availability of stinging nettles, and miners lettuce.  

TOMATOES, TOMATOES, TOMATOES

While red teardrop tomatoes are just about impossible to find, and yellow teardrop tomatoes are here today and gone tomorrow, we have wipes the tears from our eyes and the new clear view revealed some great varieties now available at great prices.  We are talking sweet 100’s, red cherry, orange cherry, sugar plum, sun gold, and the latest new heirloom variety, black plum.  These tomatoes are packed in 12 count clamshells that are UPC coded and certified organic.  We can offer incredible deals on these luscious fruits for the next 6 to 8 weeks so get while the getting is good.  

PRODUCE QUIZ – WHO AM I???

I am an orange of the navel variety.  I am a freak, a limb sport if you will a genetic mutation.  Nobody grafted me; I simply appeared as a different limb on a regular navel tree growing in Venezuela.  Even today, I am considered genetically unstable, and often called a chimera.  I’ve been partying with some bloods and mandarins lately, and you wanna talk unstable?  Anyway, here’s what makes me cool.  First, I often have variegated leaves, which is pretty neat compared to the bland old green leaves of a regular orange tree.  But my internal color is what gives me star quality.  Not bloody red, but pink, salmon pink, similar to a Star Ruby Grapefruit.  In the USA I grow best in California although I was first domestically cloned in Florida groves, I lacked the rich flavor and the bright color my western crop provided.  Finally, my flavor can not be beat.  If you a re lucky enough to find me, peel me and you to will thrill to my wonderfully distinctive, rich, sweetness.  Sometimes described as the “tutti-frutti orange”, I am available late fall through winter.  Grab me while I’m stable, cause you never know what I’ll turn into next!

 

 

Answer to last quiz….COCONUT…Congrats to all winners!

Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702 Visit us at www.culinaryproduce.com “like” us @ Culinary Specialty Produce on Facebook© Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2020