Freshspective

Steady availability on cantaloupes in the Imperial Valley. Yuma is slowing down but we are seeing better volume in El Centro, Blythe, and surrounding greater Phoenix regions. Sizing remains heavier to jumbo 9-counts and 9 counts, with lesser 12 counts. Cantaloupes up north in the Central Valley of California will start next. Athena cantaloupes on the East Coast are done in Georgia and just getting started in North Carolina.  

Oranges:

• California Navels: The season has now ended, with remaining fruit extremely limited and primarily in terminal markets. Focus has shifted fully to Valencias and imports.
• California Valencias: The Valencia season is ramping up, with steady supply on smaller sizes (88s and smaller), while large fruit (56s and larger) remains tight. Re-greening continues to be present due to high temperatures, but this does not affect internal quality. Brix levels remain strong, ranging from 12 to 14.
• Florida Valencias: Domestic Florida volume is virtually complete for the season. Remaining fruit is limited, and pricing is elevated where still available.
• Import Navels: First Chilean and South African navels have started to arrive in limited volumes. Early fruit is trending medium to large in size, with solid quality and sugar levels in the 11–13 brix range. Supplies are expected to build after the Fourth of July holiday.
  
   

Lemons:

• California: District 2 is now the primary production area. Supplies are tightening on fancy grade and larger sizes (95s and larger), and the overall market is firming. Choice grade and smaller sizes are more readily available.
• Imports: Argentinian fruit continues to arrive, with Chilean volume now beginning to pick up. Sizing skews larger (95/115 counts), with good early quality. Expect growing availability over the next few weeks as the import season ramps.

Grapefruit:

• California: Central Valley Star Ruby season continues with good availability and strong quality. Internal color and sugars are excellent. Supplies are expected to remain steady through most of July. 
• Imports:  Chile and South Africa are expected to begin shipping light volumes in early July, with better availability by mid-month.

Mandarins:

• California: The domestic season has finished. Remaining inventory is minimal and clearing quickly.
• Imports: Early Peruvian varieties are in the pipeline with Chilean clementines starting to land. Quality has been strong, with good sugars and firm skin. South African mandarins are expected in early July, with more volume toward mid-month.

Retail demand for table grapes is weak due to high prices and average quality fruit out of Mexico. Grapes most likely won’t be featured in a lot of 4th of July promotions this year, which may lead to a price drop soon. Growers in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley are optimistic about a tight market, but consumers may not pay when cheaper cherries and strawberries are available. Look for further spot-market reduction this week on greens as volumes increase; reds to remain stable or bump up slightly as Flames come to a close. 

Good availability on honeydews in both the Imperial Valley and Nogales. Both regions will wrap up the first week of July. The Central Valley will begin harvest the first week of July so there will be overlap between regions.

Region: Veracruz, Mexico

Weather Update: 
The forecast for the week ahead suggests that there will be rain for some days. Expect temperatures to range from a minimum of around 72°F to a maximum of up to 83°F..
 
Market Intel: 
The demand for limes has been steady.

Sizing Profile:
Peak sizes are 200/230/175; and size distribution is 110-1%, 150-6%, 175-20%, 200-33%, 230-24%, and 250-16%.

Quality:  
We are entering the fourth week of June and are pleased to see rain in this week’s forecast. Although harvest activities may be delayed on rainy days, the month has continued to provide sufficient volumes. We will maintain close monitoring of the fruit to ensure the proper quality levels are required for each program, and size ranges will continue to be carefully reviewed to meet all established standards. This week, we expect to continue harvesting fruit in sizes 175, 200, and 230.
 
Looking Ahead:
During the first days of July, we expect slightly lower volumes compared to what we observed throughout June, but the harvest remains favorable. It continues to develop steadily. The forecast indicates continued rainfall, which supports a positive outlook for achieving good quality, strength, and coloration in the fruit. A broader range of sizes will be available, which will help us meet the needs of all summer programs. Over the next four weeks, we will observe a gradual decrease in fruit volume. However, this reduction does not mean we will lack a solid and steady supply throughout the summer. Quality standards will become more rigorous toward the end of July, as the current rainfall will help produce stronger and better hydrated fruit in the coming weeks.

• Conditions remain stable but with some concerns due to the impact of Hurricane Erick that affected fields in Southern Mexico. Good conditions for papaya production will remain for at least the next two weeks. Contracts are being serviced with some extra fruit available to offer. Prices are stable in the U.S. market and should remain as is for the rest of June. 
• Majority of sizes are between 6s-12s with SOME surplus fruit.
• Quality is reported as good with fruit showing less speckling and mostly green.
• Color 25%- 50% / 12-14 brix at point of shipping. The ideal temperature for Imperial papaya is 48 degrees to avoid quality issues upon receiving.
• Crop outlook:  Forecast has conditions for good supply for the next two weeks.
• Market Intel:  Enough supply to service demand.
  
   

The Northwest pear crop this season is very small, down between 30-50%, depending on the variety. We are currently shipping Anjou and red pears out of Washington. We expect the market to remain tight and the pricing to remain on the higher side for the foreseeable future. The import season is now beginning to wind down, but we still have some arrivals of imported Bartletts, Bosc, and Anjou available on the East Coast. Overall, we have pears to sell, but pricing will remain higher than normal until the new crop starts in the fall out of Oregon and Washington. The next new crop starting up that will provide some relief will be the California Bartlett crop. This crop is projected to be better than normal and is projected to start shipping around July 12th this season. There will be promotional opportunities on California Bartletts this season.

Santa Maria and the Salinas/Watsonville growing areas in California are currently in production; although, some Santa Maria shippers have moved fields to processors and the freezer.  As the Samta Maria season winds down, the fruit is running smaller and showing more quality issues.  Availability is tighter going into the 4th of July holiday pull and markets are strengthening. Prebooks are strongly recommended!  

Weather Outlook:

• Santa Maria, California - The week of June 23rd is forecast on Wednesday to be partly sunny and cool, and then sunny for the balance of the week.  Highs will be in the upper 60s to low 70s and lows in the upper 40s to low 50s.   The week of June 30th is forecast to be mostly sunny.  Highs on Monday and Tuesday in the 60s, increasing to the 70s for the balance of the week, and lows in the 50s.
• Salinas/Watsonville, California -The week of June 23rd is forecast to be mostly sunny.  Highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, and lows in the 40s.   The week of June 30th is forecast to be partly sunny.  Highs in the upper 60s to low 70s and lows in the 50s.
  
  

Watermelon supplies are very good.  60-count seedless are a little tight.  Georgia has started and there are plenty of 36-count seedless and 45-count seedless.  Texas is winding down out of Edinburg, Texas.  Northern and Western Texas will start next week. Out West, Nogales is winding down.  Arizona and California have good supplies.  June and July are good times to promote melons.