Good Grief!

The Market Report is a weekly column written by Ken Klein of Klein’s Supermarket in Philadelphia’s Fairmount neighborhood. He writes the column for the Art Museum Area News and kindly allows me to post it here. The report is a fascinating look at the forces that drive the quality and price of our food.

Executive summary:

• Eat your broccoli.
• Florida citrus is over.
• Stone fruits are ramping up.

Read on for the entire report.

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!

Produce Talk

• Sweet corn from Florida continues to be in extremely tight supply. Cold night temperatures have slowed the maturing rate, so expect smaller than normal ears as growers try to harvest as much as possible. Quality is good with excellent flavor.
• Iceberg lettuce prices have moved up this week and are expected to remain there until the end of May. Green and red leaf lettuce from California lacks supply, mainly because of planting gaps caused by last winter’s California weather. Expect high prices and low quality. Romaine, on the other hand, has improved in quality.
• Broccoli prices have gone down due to light demand combined with a surge in California volume. This situation will be short-lived, so eat more broccoli.
• Asparagus has begun in Washington state. The quality is first rate, but California’s season is ending, so prices will not get much cheaper.
• Tomatoes are in big demand with little supply, which translates to high prices! Florida is harvesting less because of weather and shifting production regions. Mexico is shipping 25% of the volume due to rain damage. Hothouse tomatoes are available, but the prices have shot up—don’t be surprised to pay over $2 for a tomato.
• Grape report! We are two to three weeks away from the start of the new crops out of Mexico and Southern California. Higher prices on all grapes are expected until the arrival of the new season.
• Stone fruit: The first peaches and nectarines will arrive from California early next week, running in smaller sizes. Apricots and plums won’t start for another four to five weeks. Our first cherries fro California will be flying out this weekend, with outrageously high starting prices. Eastern peaches from Georgia will be ready in about three weeks.
• The best way to describe the cantaloupe market is high and tight. Loupes are scare, and the shippers that have product to sell can name their prices. With California four to six weeks from starting a new crop, there will be a gap of several weeks. Florida product, usually available to fill this gap period, will not be available because high winds and bad weather tore up the vines last month.
• The party is over on Florida citrus. Most shippers have pulled the plug on grapefruit. If you spot some at your favorite store, buy it! Otherwise, you will have to wait until December.
• Navel oranges are winding down for the season; expect price increases in upcoming weeks as the remaining product is harvested. Summer is Valencia orange time. These look and taste like the navel orange but contain seeds.

Have a fruitful week!