Wednesday, June 25, 2008

In full summer swing.

Well we are now in the full summer swing and there is a lot going on in produce. While everyone is thinking on whether they should travel for the 4th or save gas they are still all planningon buying potatoes, onions, etc for their backyard cookouts. Lets take a look at what is happeing around the country.

POTATOES
Russets- WOW! High prices wherever you look. ID, WA, CA are the biggest players with 4-5 other states shipping in small amounts and everyone is cashing on in the shortage while they can. As we see it it will stay strong till September and then we should be back to normal pricing.

Reds-Supply is good with product coming from CA, TX, NC, VA & FL. Quality is soso and prices aren't cheap but then again nothing in potatoes are cheap. Lots of small reds in every area for the taking. WA & MN are all planted but running about 10 days behind due to cool temperatures.

Yellows/whites - CA has the best quality hands down but are sporadic on supply. NC is shipping but quality for retail is questionable right now. Should get better within the next 7-10 days.

ONIONS
Yellows- small yellows have picked up recently with the demand for the 4th picking up. Jumbos have become the forgotten child and have become very cheap. CA, NM, TX, AZ are going and WA has started with new while they are still selling old crop. No need to stock up on these.

Reds/Whites- Market is soft on these as well. Shipping from NM,TX, CA mainly with plenty on hand.

SWEET POTATOES
Jumbos are becoming short and prices have moved north to try and slow it down. Plenty of 1's and combos.


We hope you enjoy four July 4th holiday. Let us know how we can assist you in any way.

Freedom Kongvold
freedomk@epix.net

Monday, March 3, 2008

March Madness.

For many March is a month for exciting basketball games with hopes of a great Cinderella story. For those of us in the produce business March is more excitingly the month that potato and onion lovers start eating again! After a month of poor movement lets break down where we stand.

SWEET POTATOES:
Steady as they go with all shipper trying to prepare quotes to try and capture their share of the Easter push. Jumbos are short leaving plenty of #1's in all shipping districts.

ONIONS:
Yellows are still shipping from WA/ID in volume with some shippers finishing up and several more to come. Good volume is coming across from Mexico and the price has drifted south to try and compete with the Northwest product. Texas shipments will start in the next 10 days with heavy volume 14-20 days out.

Reds are plentiful in WA,ID,NV but slim from Mexico. Prices are stable
Whites are plentiful in WA,ID,NV and plentiful from Mexico. Your price is available.

POTATOES:
Reds are still coming from WA,ND,CA, Canada and new crop shipping from Florida. Florida has thus far been successful holding their price up which has allowed ND to command good prices as well.

Yellows shipping from CO, WA, ID, Canada and new crop as well from Florida with very tight availability. Ca will start near the end of March.

Whites are shipping from CA and FL with the later having the best quality but higher price. CA will settle in near the end of March as they start the Desert crops.

Russets. Idaho is suffering from poor growing conditions and is making it hard for those who have become used to beautiful appearing russets. They are Sound but are not as pleasing to the eye as usual. This said they have been able to sustain their pricing and having a tough time getting enough of the larger sizes to fill tthe demand. WA, WI, ME, CO & Canada are still shipping and their product is looking very nice.

I hope this brief recap has been helpful and feel free to call and let us do the homework for you. Enjoy your Day!

Freedom Kongvold
Philip G Ball Co
570-586-5700

Monday, January 28, 2008

Weather & New Crop

It seems that weather and the coming of new crop are the most impacting influences at the moment. Lets take a look.

POTATOES:
Russets.........
>Idaho has had severe freezing temperatures for the last week and it doesn't look like they are going to warm up yet. This of course limits what they have available for shipping since they cannot transport their potatoes from storage to the packing shed. Thankfully the movement has been light so they aren't backed up in a bad way, they are though not trying to move anything extra. Even #2's are not available at a discount anymore.
>CO is still short of supplies and WI is having a good year with plenty of business which also means they are able to command a higher price.
>canada still has nice product

Reds..........
Still shipping from ND, WA, CA. Quality from WA is great and ND is shipping some nice product as well. CA is the normal light pink color. BIG NEWS>>> NEW CROP STARTING in FLORIDA February 1st!!! Product should be nice and pricing will be set this week.

Whites......
CA is the only option until FLORIDA starts next week. Quality in CA is not so great but it's all thats available. Love it or leave it.

Yukons.....
WA is cleaning up, CA is shipping, Canada is also an option for good quality.

ONIONS:
Yellows.....
First put your head in your hands and repeat after me..."UhhOhh". That's where we are in the the yellows onion deal. ID & WA have heavy volumes of JUmbo & Medium yellows with Mexico hot on their tails. Prices are at the bottom and shipper's are losing money packing them. WI, MI, NY & Canada also are very heavy in medium & prepak yellows. CO is cleaing up.

Reds....
Maintaing a nice price. No real movement either up or down.

Whites.....
WA & ID are shipping but quality is just soso. Good enough to get by if that's what you want. NV still in at higher prices and now Mexican whites available with good quality and more reasonable pricing.

Enjoy your week and keep the emails coming!

Freedom Kongvold
Philip G. Ball Co.
freedomk@epix.net

Friday, January 11, 2008

Let's get this year started.

Let me start by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. I hope this year brings you closer to whatever it is you hold close to your heart. If it's produce then you are for sure at the right place. Produce so far this year is moving at a quick pace. All markets are loading heavy with all items...the question is do they need it or are they just hedging waiting for some business to pickup? East coast seems a litlle quite so far. Lets break it down:

POTATOES-
>REDS - are moving briskly from ND, MN, & WA. Prices are drifting up and with the frost in FL there now is a question mark on what new crop yields and start date will be. Rumor is that the frost will mainly impact the availability in mid FL season and not the starting and ending fields.
>YELLOWS- steady as she goes. There seems to be a perfect balance in supply and demand on these. Prices and availability are steady.
>RUSSETS- HOT! Tight supplies and strong demand has this market feeling strong. Buyers can get what they need but may have need to stay booked ahead and be willing to see slight increases in price along the way. Will this change come the end of January? What is your thought?

SWEET POTATOES - Party is over..back to business..nothing more to say.

ONIONS-
>REDS - mainly shipping from WA, ID and availability is mixed, Washington shippers to have plenty and ID shippers have few. Prices are spread about $2.00 per 25# between shippers.
>YELLOWS- plenty of supply in WA, ID and CO is ending soon. Small ones are still shipping from Canada, NY, WI & MI in plenty.
>WHITES - market jumped a little on whites in the last 2 weeks and then settled down a bit. WA,ID,NV are all shipping with Mexican whites starting now.
>SWEETS - name your flavor. There is still a good supply of of shore sweets available with the Mexican sweets starting. And lets not forget about WA sweets along the way which are looking real nice.

ORGANICS - good supply available on potatos and onions in organics with quality still looking good.

Hope this helps...let us know what we can do to make you new year better than the last.

Freedom Kongvold
Philip G Ball CO
freedomk@epix.net