Good Grief!

The first unedited edition of the Market Report is here—a day before the Art Museum Area Home News makes its way to a stoop near you!

Executive Summary:

• Strawberries – bruised
• Asparagus – victim of freak storms!
• Corn – Florida supply is excellent
• Lettuce and tomatoes – prices falling.

Read on for the whole thing!

The Market Report, by Ken Klein
Kleins Supermarket, 2401 Pennsylvania Avenue, Philadelphia
Our Hours: M-F 8 AM to 8 PM; Sat. 8 AM to 8 PM; Sunday 9 AM to 1 PM

Greetings Food Lovers!

Quiz

There is evidence that the Assyrians and ancient Persians ate me, but the Greeks were probably the first to cultivate me. The Romans even referred to me as the “Greek Nut”. I do know that I originated in parts of Western Asian, and from there spread to the Mediterranean. Now I also grow in California, Australia, and South America. I require warm weather to grow, and take up to five years to reach my fruit-bearing age.

People who cultivate me now often use honey bees because I am genetically self-incompatible and need the assistance of bees for my pollination. The Hebrews used me as a symbol for haste because I blossom suddenly, but the Greeks and Spaniards used me as a symbol for good luck. Medieval Europeans used me instead of cows’ milk in order to avoid the rules of fasting days. Pliny, Plutarch and the Englishman, Gerard, thought that I was a reliable cure for drunkenness.

My culinary value is unmatched. I can be used in anything from salads or chicken dishes, to danishes and syrups. I can be fuzzy, green, and liquid, or I can be fuzzy green and solid, or I can be brownish and solid. Some of my varieties are considered toxic because I contain prussic acid when raw, and so my bitter form is banned from sale in the United States, but my sweet side provides a nutritional powerhouse because I am packed full of calcium, fiber, folic acid, potassium and Vitamin E.

What am I?

• Cashew
• Pistachio
• Peanut
• Almond

Market Report

We have been baking in wonderful weather this past week. Let’s examine the potential results forthcoming. Warm temperatures for a sustained period increase the potential for earlier harvests for our Jersey and Pennsylvania farmers. If this happens, we can expect local produce on our tables earlier this season. If this turns out to be a “glut”, we might see lower prices as farmers and shippers have to move the product quickly. With higher gas prices, transport issues are not a concern with local products.

• California’s agriculture areas have been suffering with triple digit temperatures for weeks. Warm temperatures have matured the lettuce crop prematurely, causing an abundance of lettuce supplies and depressed price levels. However, supply gaps could be forthcoming in the next month which may cause the lettuce markets to rise.
• These same conditions have created problems with Strawberries. Reports of bruising and softness have reduced the shelf life of this fragile fruit. Considering the “road trip” to Pennsylvania, I find it amazing the strength of all soft fruit.
• Washington State had a freak wind and rain storm last week, wiping out a huge portion of the asparagus crop. Many of the farmers have requested disaster relief.
• Tomato market has dropped off. Shippers have held the price too high for too long and it ended up hurting them in the long run. Volume started to pick up and demand dropped off, causing prices on all tomato products to soften. Quality out of Florida has been excellent. We should see California to step in with great supplies in early June.
• As we come into the Memorial Day Holiday, we usually see prices creeping up on watermelons. Shippers are saying that the market will remain steady through the holiday weekend. Quality has been excellent on both seedless and sangria watermelons. There has been an increase in personal seedless watermelons this year. They are the size of a small soccer ball. The quality has been outstanding, with a deep red color.
• Corn out of Florida continues to be fantastic.
• Stone Fruit from California! Plenty of spring heat has jump-started the California fruit season and produced some high sugar levels. Because the fruit came on so quickly, the sizes are mostly small and prices are very reasonable. Apricots, cherries and plums are starting to arrive in larger numbers. We should see lower prices soon!
• Navel oranges from California are done for the season. What is left is in cold storage and will not get better. There are great deals out there for the remanding stock as shippers want to clean up what they have. It has been a great season.
• Florida grapefruit is in the same situation. Time to say goodbye! I have the shift to California supply. This is always a sad time for me. The Florida product has a much better taste, it is sweet!
• Avocados from California are the only game in town now. You know what that means. Higher prices. Expect to pay .50 more than you did last week.

The answer to the food quiz is almonds.

Have a fruitful week.

[ed. Check out the almond webcam]