Market Notes
  December 17, 2015

THE NEW DEAL

We wrote about this a few weeks ago and now the time has come. We have been talking with an established Mexican grower for a few months now and on Monday we will be receiving our first shipment grower direct snow peas and stringless snap peas from Mexico. This product comes from western Mexico and we will have a consolidation point in the LA market area for easy loading. This is not speculation product. Our grower only picks product when it is ordered and from the samples we have seen the product is beautiful. We will learn about pricing quickly but we should be easily in line with the LA Market prices or lower. Consideration is made for product shipping east. Our initial receiving is only a half pallet of each so we will keep it fresh. Deliveries are twice weekly so a two-three day pre order is required. We hope to develop this into a regular program so eventually there will always be some on hand. If in stock we can deliver same day to your favorite LA dock at additional cost. For FOB’s and delivery costs, please contact your Culinary Rep. New Year, new program, we’re psyched. We hope you will be too.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Culinary Specialty Produce will be closed from 12:00 noon Thursday 12-24-2015 to 6:00AM Saturday 12-26-2015 for the Christmas holiday. Culinary Specialty Produce will also be closed at 12:00 noon on Thursday 12-31-2015 to 6:00 AM Saturday 1-2-2016 for the New Year’s holiday. The produce quiz will be on vacation 12-26-2015 and 1-31-2015 to make room for the Nineteenth Annual Christmas Song and the 2015 top ten. The quiz will resume Thursday, January 7, 2016. As always the 24/7 Culinary hotline will be in operation so there will always be a Culinary employee to answer your calls. Air freight will be crazy starting next week and cargo will be easily bumped. We strongly recommend you stay ahead on your flights. Economy is up, Santa will be busy.

SHORTAGES

Fifty-two degree nights and seventy-four degree short days have seriously affected the growth of both specialties and commodities in both Yuma and Southern California. Prices are up as supply is light but orders are mostly getting filled. Spinach and arugula are scarce, broccoli and cauliflower and artichokes have soared in price. Carrots of all sizes have been tough and their price is up as well, but the warmer weather in Mexico should soon resolve this. Purple carrots are not to be found. The nice thing about this is the product we do get is outstanding quality although sizing is on the small side. No medium or large baby beets, they are true babies. Growers are telling us that this will last through the first of the year. Only positive thing we could find was great quality, availability, and price on regular sized fennel.

NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – – WHO AM I???

We were used by the Romans to flavor sauces and vinegar. Over two thousand years old, we are a native to the Mediterranean region where we were also considered an aphrodisiac. We are both annual and perennial, thriving in the winter months as well as the long days of summer. Although the exact amount varies from cousin to cousin, we are all rich in carvacrol and thymol. Used in the curing of salami we are also a component of that de Provence thing, but we often have to compete for that honor. We are very popular in flavoring all sorts of legumes, (probably due to the fact that we counteract flatulence), and we have even been used as a salt substitute. We go all out with our peppery flavor, but save us for the end as overcooking renders us very bitter. We bring life to any stuffing, our leaves are used for making tea, we are signature soup, and we never met a sausage we didn’t like. Primarily culinary, we also have excellent medicinal values. We can be quite effective in improving digestion, increasing perspiration, stimulating the uterus and nervous system as well as relieving menstrual disorders and soothing sore throats. We do not get to play with expectant mothers, as time has shown we are just too much for them.

Answer To Last Week’s Quiz…PLUOT…Congrats To All Winners
Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa, Mark or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702
Visit us at www.culinaryproduce.com
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Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2015