SALINAS, CA- Summer is nearly here and with the warm weather at our heels, demand will continue to rise for cool, fresh, produce options at retail. John Georgalos Commodity Manager for Tanimura & Antle joined me to discuss the current state of the lettuce market and what we can expect in the weeks to come from T&A.
“We've recently experienced a planning gap as a result of rain earlier in the year,” John tells me as he updates me on T&A’s lettuce supplies. “The lighter volumes helped push the market to the levels we're seeing now. FOB's are currently in the mid-teens.”
As of this week, T&A has seen lettuce volumes normalize to levels slightly higher than planned and John sees this trend continuing for the next two to three weeks, at which point volumes should taper off to projected levels.
“Overall quality is very good and we see no issues that would interrupt quality or supply. As a result this is a good time to promote lettuce,” John adds. “The biggest influence on markets this time of year are the many regional homegrown areas which have recently started shipping product.”
Although homegrown leafs and lettuce have started on the East Coast, the previously experienced cool wet weather on the East Coast has reduced the amount being harvested. The continued demand for West Coast lettuce is welcomed, he notes.
T&A grows lettuce, romaine, romaine hearts, artisan romaine, George T Romaine, red leaf, green leaf, artisan lettuce, Boston lettuce, endive, escarole, red romaine, sweet gem, and hydroponic Boston lettuce, year-round to respond to its customer’s needs.
