Christmas demand is snowballing. We are a little over a week from Christmas celebrations, and produce markets are ripe with the anticipation of strong holiday demand. But before we can get to Christmas and all things merry and bright, an astronomical event is just around the corner.
The Winter Solstice is only five days away, marking the shortest day of the year and the astronomical end of the fall growing season. However, the effects of extreme weather experienced during the late summer/fall seasons are expected to linger a bit longer as winter growers work to ramp up production.
ProduceIQ Index: $1.37/pound, + up 2.2 percent over prior week
Week #50, ending December 13th
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Honeydew volume was so low this week that the USDA, which relies on a minimum number of offers, did not report prices. Transitional pressure, inclement weather in Central America, and freight delays combine to make a not-so-merry holiday season for buyers and suppliers. Suppliers are not expecting significant improvements in availability until after the New Year. But, who knows, perhaps Santa will pull off a Christmas miracle, and buyers will find ample volume under their tree on Christmas morning.
Honeydew prices typically rise from now through the end of January.
Carrots are a prime example of how summer’s weather can continue to haunt produce markets even as we stand in the doorway of winter. The effects of the incredible heat wave that lasted nearly two months in California are continuing to play out in carrot markets. At $27, jumbo carrot prices near the record highs of 2023. Volume out of Kern, CA, is down once again. Expect elevated markets through January.
Carrot prices are looking to plateau at a higher level for the holidays.
Asparagus prices are rising higher and quicker than in previous years for week #50. Cooler-than-usual weather in Mexico is vaulting average prices to new levels. The Christmas table favorite will come at a hefty price for buyers this year and will likely stay elevated into January. Prices will ease in early to mid-January as growers in Carborca, Mexico, ramp up production.
Asparagus surpasses $36 and typically rises further through the holidays.
Escalated prices but sufficient supplies are the persistent trend for celery markets this holiday season. At $26 for week #50, average celery prices are above average but are only the fourth-highest price seen in the last ten years. Transition to Yuma is underway, but heat and subsequent insect and quality issues are keeping the burden of supply on growers in Central California. Soft post-holiday demand will likely ease prices even further over the next couple of weeks as volume increases out of Yuma, AZ.
Though prices rise slightly, sufficient quantity is available for buyers to take advantage of.
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ProduceIQ Index
The ProduceIQ Index is the fresh produce industry’s only shipping point price index. It represents the industry-wide price per pound at the location of packing for domestic produce and at the port of U.S. entry for imported produce.
ProduceIQ uses 40 top commodities to represent the industry. The Index weights each commodity dynamically, by season, as a function of the weekly 5-year rolling average Sales. Sales are calculated using the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for movement and price data. The Index serves as a fair benchmark for industry price performance.
