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:

• Full pints of blueberries are on the way, and it’s about damn time.
• California grape prices should be dropping soon.
• Several months of bad weather in Georgia caused a slow start for the state’s cucumbers and green peppers.

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

• Cantaloupe imports from Central America will continue through next week, which should be the end of the story on this product. In a few short weeks we should see the first of the sweet-tasting California.
• Honeydew from Mexico and Southern California are increasing in volume, and prices will drop. Quality is nice, but the fruit is peaking on the smaller sizes, so look for the best price to be on the six and eight (smaller) count melons.
• Quality on strawberries from California will be improving this week. Volume continues to increase in the Watsonville and Santa Maria growing areas; hopefully prices will drop.
• Blueberries in 4.4 oz containers will finish up this week from Georgia and California. Quality is top-flight, and the market came off slightly this week. North Carolina blues are scheduled to being May 28th in light volume with full pints.
• The California lemon market was up again with increased demand and will continue to be strong as we move into the summer months.
• California grapefruit is starting next week as the Florida season ends.
• Mexican red and white seedless grapes are here, along with the first grapes from California. The reports are for excellent quality and size on the first white Perlettes. The reds have a full color and a good size. Prices will be high next week on this first fruit of the new season, but look for significant price drops by the following week.
• Cucumbers from Florida continue to be in light supply this week. In a normal year, Georgia would be in full production at this time, but due to recent rain, wind, and cold weather, volume is not going to begin until June first.
• Red and yellow peppers from Nogales are finished for the season. Southern California volume is slower than normal because of recent bad weather. Growers expect volume to pick up next week. Still, demand will exceed supply, so the market will continue to be strong.
• Green peppers from Florida are about two weeks from finishing. Georgia, again behind due to recent bad weather, will begin at the end of this week. California has also begun picking beautiful green bell peppers. The market on green bell peppers continues to be steady.
• The iceberg lettuce market has firmed as growers’ volume decreases this weekend. As anticipated, many growers are going to have a slight gap in harvesting due to bad weather during Spring planting. The market is not expected to go through the roof, just correct itself slightly and get off the floor. Quality is very good.
• Tomatoes from Florida this week saw the arrival of field picked and vine ripened, with product almost looking like a real Jersey Tomato! If you purchased them, you know what I mean!

Have a fruitful week!