Market Notes
March 4th, 2021

 

POTATO CHANGES

We are going to experience an east coast burp.  Our forward (JIT) distribution service out of Pennsylvania for fingerlings and other specialty potatoes usually stocks product from our Mosca, Colorado facility. This recently rebuilt uber modern facility run organically and up until just about now the potatoes are run and packed organically. This time of year, when we get into our storage the potatoes require more than the organic method of applying clove oil in order to restrain sprouting. The potatoes need to be gassed, which cannot be done in an organic facility.  We do have an alternative facility to run the late season storage potatoes but that is going to take about three weeks to set up. In order to keep our year round distributions going on the east coast we are going to bring in California product which is new crop and sprout nipped. The down side of this is product will be a touch more expensive per case and there will be a distribution gap from the middle to the end of next week. We have a few pallets remaining and then will be out until the ides of March. Please pardon our burb, it is no more than a brief interruption.  

    SPRING THINGS

Morels are available in the States but, the morels are not from the States.  Domestic production has not yet begun and is estimated to be about three weeks away. We do have fresh product from the Himalayas (fancy way of saying China) that are beautiful large conica’s and quite expensive. All the pre-ramp greens are coming on now, just as expected.  There are nettles, wild onions and western fiddlehead ferns available now, but the ramps are a few weeks away. There is still snow on the ground in ramp land even with the sixty degree temperatures during the day. It won’t be long until they pop their heads up from the ground and then it moves very fast. We will keep you informed. Please contact us in the next two weeks if you want to be on the “first ramp on the block” list.  

WINTER CITRUS

      Lots of goodies remain as the season winds down. Heirloom navel oranges and Star Ruby grapefruit remain in good supply while Buddha hands and finger limes are all but done. Cara Cara’s are abundant and we have four varieties of lemons including Meyer, T’Orange, Lemonade and Seedless.  Kumquats are through but the Sanguinelli blood oranges are sublime. We are two weeks away from Pixie mandarins and what we said we would only mention twice.  Now is not one of those times. Call for prices and deals.  

NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – WHO AM I

 Don’t call me daughter, although I am a delectable member of the Purslane family (Portulacacae).   I am a small but loveable breed, and I am often found in the underbrush, but usually mistaken for a weed. My white notched wildflower blossom is in the center of what appears to be a single cupped round leaf, but is actually two leaves fused together. My single shoot grows no more than twelve inches tall, but my stems spread out from my base to form groundcover.  As an early spring plant I am succulent and have long and narrow leaves.  I have been spotted in shades of purple and brown, but I am primarily green. During the California Gold Rush my leaves were anticipated with great joy because they were quickly consumed to help people fight off scurvy.  While I thrive in the early warm weather of spring, the summer heat will dehydrate me quickly, thus making my life a brief one.  Whether you enjoy me under my American, Indian or Spanish name, my showcase leaves make me a wonderful addition to any salad.  As a green I am a uniquely intense source of vitamin C.

The answer to last weeks quiz was…WOODEAR MUSHROOMS…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