Market Notes
Sept. 5, 2019

 

GOODBYE STONES HELLO PIPS

     While the best stone fruit of the year is gone, a part of the commitment continues. For those not aware the selection of fruit grown by Andy’s Orchards is not by coincidence. He is committed to maintaining classic and heirloom varieties along with his own crossbreeding program. He doesn’t grow what gives the best yield or the fastest growing fruit. He is a steward of stone fruit, preserving the delicious varieties that have been passed over for easier and more fruitful fruit. The same is happening with apples and a small group of growers   For as long as we can remember the Red Delicious has been the King of apple varieties here in the U.S., but according to data shared at last month’s US Apple Association’s Marketing and Outlook Conference the Gala variety is poised to take the throne as the new king.  Gala production is pegged to be at 50 million cases, surpassing the estimated 45.82 million cases of Red Delicious.  This shift is huge and it shows that flavor is as much of a factor as price.  While the flavor of today’s Gala is a far cry from the original Kidds D-8 strain, it is much more complex than the Red Delicious.  A more telling change is that the Honeycrisp is poised to move into the number four spot surpassing the Granny Smith!  When the Honeycrisp came on the scene it set a new pricing threshold in foodservice and at retail, again driving home the point that the market will pay more for flavor.   With this in mind, we are working with a group of growers in Maine and New Hampshire to resurrect the Uncommon Apples program.  While these growers moved away from some of the varieties that were marketed in the original iteration of the program, the varieties that are also used as cider apples are still growing in their orchards.  Favorites like Ashmead’s Kernel, Calville Blanc d’hiver, Esopus Spitzenberg, Golden Russet and Wickson are still being grown and will headline the reintroduction.   We are working on a limited run for this season to test the waters and build a foundation for next season, please contact your Culinary Rep. if you are interested.  

DORIAN

     We are thrilled that the storm skirted Florida the east coast is still under siege.  Currently South Carolina is getting blasted with heavy rains, taking down electrical poles and tangling up lines in trees. At this writing Dorian is a category two storm which although downgraded can and has caused a lot of damage. Once the wind and waters subside there will be immense amount of help. To date nothing has been hit as hard as the Bahamas. Hit by the category five power of Dorian, air traffic has been completely shut down. While we support the idea that the several cruise lines that use the island select a few ships for support systems some produce people are helping out. Culinary, along with several other produce folk are donating funds for water and supplies that are being loaded on small boats and can get supplies to people in need. This is direct access to the most damaged areas without any protocol or red tape. If you would like to be a part of the grass roots effort please contact our main office and we will provide the necessary information.  

   PRODUCE QUIZ – WHO AM I???

     My first recorded use was in China on or about 2700 BC.  Originally I was used medicinally as a powerful laxative, and a known cure for venereal diseases.  It was not until the eighteenth century that my stalks became part of the food supply.  As a family we are almost indestructible as a perennial with stalks growing up to 24 inches long.  My leaves contain oxalic acid and are lethally toxic if ingested in any quantity.  You will find us in frolicking in the fields from late winter to early summer and hothouse grown all year.  While our indoor relatives have all the good looks and cleanliness, but we’ve got the flavor.  Although I am used as a fruit, I am actually a member of the buckwheat family.  Often combined with strawberries or ginger, I’m great in a fruit soup, fruit pie, as a sauce for meats, jams, sorbet, ice-cream, and have even been seen fried or poached.  In a pinch I can probably be used in sword fights but you probably wouldn’t win.

Answer to last weeks quiz…FRUIT…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., 2015