Market report: trucks, transitions, and tomatoes
Published by Becky S December 5th, 2004 in food
Sheesh, some people get mad when you skip the Market Report. It’s deleted, people. Gone. Ken typed it up, submitted it to the newspaper, and accidentally erased it before sending his weekly e-mail. It happens to all of us.
But…because I’m the blogger who cares about your produce needs, I got a copy of the Art Museum Area Home News and have reproduced some of the Market Report highlights below. At the risk of being late for brunch, I might add.
The Market Report, by Ken Klein
Klein’s 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!
Transportation problems
Higher fuel prices have caused a rough time for independent truckers, who are refusing to make multiple pick-ups and will not wait hours for product to come in from the field. This situation has caused a bidding war for trucks. Couple that with the transition in growing areas from California to Arizona, and you have one big mess for everybody, since the long distance freight charges are added into our costs.
Product talk
- Tomato prices are now at the highest levels in history. Demand is still there, and supply is nonexistent. This situation will continue for three to four weeks. Grape and cherry tomato prices have come down, but they are still outrageous.
- Peppers are still going up. Green peppers are way crazy. Red, yellow, and orange are even higher, since they come from the Netherlands.
- Broccoli and cauliflower seem to be coming down, but I will wait and see before declaring victory.
- Blueberries are starting to arrive from the South, along with cherries.
- Peaches, apricots, and nectarines are close to arrival. The color should look great, but it is all about sweetness. I will report on this in a few weeks.
- Grapes should be starting soon. This is good news because the California crop has been over for the past few weeks. What we have now is the storage fruit, and it does not get better over time.
- California naval oranges are looking great, as are clementimes. Get them now!
Have a fruitful week!
food kleins market produce
Thank you, Becky!!! I hope you weren’t too late for brunch.
Yes, the clementines have been fantastic.
Thank you! We just bought 10 pounds of Clementines. (I bought 5 lb for $8.99, then dh found them 5 lbs for $4.99)
Greetings from Santa Cruz, CA. You have been linked to my weirdness, forever.
Thank you. No really, THANK YOU, because I have become addicted to market report.
I will have you know Green peppers $3.99 PER POUND
red and yellow…are you sitting down….$5.99 per pound.
Can you say ouch.
Yes, the pepper situation is completely outrageous. At the brunch on Sunday (I wasn’t even late), there were grilled peppers on the buffet, and I made sure to scarf ‘em down.
Finally some good news on the tomato front:
Tomato supply about to catch up