Market Notes
August 25, 2016
FINGERLING FIX FLOPPED
Our Wednesday dig turned into a Thursday look at it again and now our hopes are set on a Monday Harvest, Tuesday run and Wednesday deliveries. We were jumping up and down with excitement because we found a source in Arizona that could cover and expected to be running today. Instead we are banging ours heads against the wall as we learn that the Arizona load is now set for a Monday delivery. So we have been talking about this for the last four weeks, predicting that we would have all our problems resolved the following week. They have all proven to be wrong. Yellow fingerling potatoes of good quality do exist, we are sure of it. We don’t want to pay and charge a premium price for garbage and we are holding out for our product our reasonable alternatives. We really expect that to happen next week. That said, we do have beautiful quality Red Thumbs, Ruby Crescent, French Fingerlings and Purple Peruvian, all with excellent quality, and very reasonably priced. Organics fingerlings also available, call for details.
FRUIT NOTES FROM ALL OVER
Holiday grapes are on the radar and the weird grapes from the Grapery are coming in strong. Champagne grapes are all but done and be careful with quality this late in the season. Blueberries and strawberries are strong but Raspberries are very tight, due to upcoming holiday ads. Mangoes are tight from Central America and papayas are super tight from both Hawaii and Mexico. Mexican Pineapples are showing problems but Hawaiian product is golden with some very aggressive pricing. Currants of all colors are done and will not reappear until the December crop from Chile arrives. Pomegranates are in and it is expected to be a high volume season. New variety apples appear weekly but we don’t have the designer apples until late November. Jujubes have just begun along with fresh Barhi and red Zaghloul dates. Melons of all varieties bound but we have yet to see the elusive Charentais melon. The best buy for the next few weeks has to be the beginning of the domestic pear season. You already know about our love for the super sweet Seckel pear, but the whole pear family is in attendance. This includes French Butter, Comice, D’Anjou, Forelli, Bosc, Star Crimson, Bartlett and the hot must have Warren. Once again, call for details.
NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – – WHO AM I???
Native to Central America I am a tropical evergreen that can grow as tall as 33 feet but because my long trunk is not sufficiently woody and my leaves only grow on top I am technically not a tree. Though I am ripe when my green skin is streaked with yellow I am often picked green and ripened at room temperature. This allows me to survive the long distances I often have to travel to get to your market. Long enjoyed by Latin American Indians and the Spanish the Portuguese made me famous worldwide and now I am cultivated in most subtropical climates from Brazil to India. I am cylinder shaped, can have a bulbous end like a pear or be 18 inches long. My weight can range anywhere from 12 ounces to 20 pounds. I always have a center cavity filled with tiny edible black seeds that resemble peppercorns and actually have a peppery taste. My flesh ranges in color from brownish-red to pink to golden-yellow. I can be eaten like a melon and often doused with Port, Rum, lime or lemon juice. When added to fruit salads I help keep other fruits firm. I am regularly pureed, pressed to make juice, cooked to make jam, chutney or ketchup. You will also find me stuffed with other fruits, chicken or seafood. I am also used as a meat tenderizer. When unripe my green ripe rind is often baked or boiled and eaten like a sweet squash. While my seeds clear the intestines, my flesh is an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of Potassium and Vitamin A.
Answer To Last Week’s Quiz…HEDGEHOG MUSHROOM…Congrats To All Winners
Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702
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Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2015