Market Notes
September 14, 2017
IRMACATIONS
Severe damage was inflicted by Hurricane Irma and now the entire State of Florida joins its Caribbean neighbors and Houston in rescue and repair. While our leader thanks all the professional agencies involved, another indication of American spirit is all the people coming together to help each other. All of a sudden, color and beliefs vanish when survival is involved. Maybe we can carry that over when there is not a tragedy involved. Considering the amount of damage the survival rate is amazing and again while tragedies suck, it is great to see the country come together and help each other. The rebuilds will be long but maybe we will rebuild peace, love and understanding as well. Ah, but we digress, onto the produce! Power and ports were definitely Irmacated, but in the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale areas the produce flow is ramping up again. Truck loading will be intact this Friday although there will be limited product. Asparagus are few, snows and snaps are very expensive, but carrots and beans are available, cheap and beautiful. Blacks and blues are maybe’s and most sprouts will be out for another week. By the end of next week operations are expected to be 100%.
WHITE CREAMER FIRE SALE
It’s amazing! It’s incredible! Call before midnight tomorrow! We have two loads of museum quality white creamers at a price we are embarrassed to admit. Yes, they are that inexpensive. We have a load for next week and another load for the week after. FOB California we can delivery to the East Coast at half price of normal table stock and you will have to call us for FOB prices in Northern California. This is for multiple pallet (at least two) quantity only. Pictures are available on request. This is a first come first serve make some money opportunity that rarely comes along in a tight market. Please contact your Culinary Rep for pricing, timing and photos.
GREEN SCENE NOT PERFECTLY CLEAN
The problems are three-fold; Spinach, Baby Heads and Frisee. Spinach is reacting to the heat by refusing to grow which obviously slows down harvest. Most orders have no problems but there are still occasional back-ups that affect orders. There is only one value offering on the baby heads right now and that is the BMX. The neighboring farms that are willing to cover our shortage, pack smaller boxes and cost a bit more. We can also pull product from points south for single varieties. With the interruption in Florida the demand for baby heads have increased and supply is beginning to outweigh supply. This will calm down in a few weeks as the Irma damage is repaired. Stay ahead on these orders so you do not get caught in a shortage. Frisee is showing occasional tip-burn from afternoon bursts of incredible (105-110 degrees) heat. Newer fields in different locations will solve this condition by the end of next week.
NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – – WHAT AM I??
I am the bud of a flower plant that developed from cardoon. During the Middle Ages I acquired a reputation for being an aphrodisiac that immediately made me popular with the Greeks & Romans. As a native of the Mediterranean region I was introduced to America by French and Spanish explorers. I grow three to five feet high and can be eaten prior to flowering. We just adore fog, so the micro-climates in California are what we love best even though we are more prolific in Italy, Spain, France and Greece. We have over a dozen varieties, most of which are round, many of which have thorns. We are usually green but some wild ones arrive in purple just to be different. Our babies are often robbed from the cradle and eaten uncooked as can only be done at that age. Humans eat my vital organs, my, bottoms, my leaves and my bud, but if you wish to remain breathing avoid our midsection. We, in turn, nibble on their fingers when we can. We are, steamed, baked, boiled, stuffed, used as dips, marinated or added to salads. I am a good source of potassium, magnesium, folic acid, and vitamin C. As a pharmafood stimulate the secretion of bile, act as a cleanser for blood, as well as being an antitoxin and a diuretic.
Answer To Last Week’s Quiz…OREGANO…Congrats To All Winners
Call 908-789-4700 –Lisa or Richard– Fax 908-789-4702
Visit us at www.culinaryproduce.com
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Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2015