Happy Memorial Day

market marketnotes notes

produce market report May 21, 2013

Just a reminder that Keany Produce will be closed Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. Keep our fallen soldiers in your thoughts and prayers and enjoy the day off!

Worth a Look
Honeydew melons are arriving daily from four warm and sunny locations now: Mexico, Southern California, Texas and Central America. Now is the time to feature these great-tasting melons. Watermelon from Florida is hitting its stride and it is really good stuff. If you want to get an early taste of summer, this is it! We are in terrific shape on all leafy greens now! Order up the most beautiful romaine, red and green leaf, boston, iceberg for all your crunchy salads just in time for summer!

This is the heart of the season for luscious strawberries. Did you know these delightful berries have more vitamin C than oranges? Nicest fruit and best prices of the year, right now! Red seedless grapes are the only grapes this week which are plentiful and priced reasonably. We have some of the nicest mangos of the season here right now from Mexico. Keep in mind that the yellow Kent mangos are better eating and less stringy than the rosy hued ones showcased in supermarkets. We carry Kent mangos.

Worth a Look
Honeydews Watermelons Strawberries Mangos Red Seedless Grapes Green and Red Leaf, Romaine Bushel Spinach Dill and Mint Local Asparagus Kale and collard greens

Keep in Mind:
With the first signs of summer, lemon demand starts to accelerate and the prices begin to inch up. That is the situation we are in now. Quality, juicy good flavor and size are great but demand is affecting pricing. California navel oranges are finished and we are moving to valencias. Clementines and Cara Cara oranges are also finished for the season. Local asparagus is here and we have great stuff, too, out of California. Castroville is continuing to ship awesome-looking artichokes. Green onions, cilantro and bok choy are holding steady with good pricing and excellent quality.

The California stone fruit season has started and we have peaches, nectarines and apricots. Early season fruit commands higher prices but worth it! Although still a bit of a premium, the California cherries prices are heading south. Not as crazy this week. Raspberries are in much better shape now and not nearly as high as they have been. Great quality, too! Both yellow and white corn are flowing in from Florida. Good prices in spite of the early summer spike. Celery demand exceeds supply due to the seeder problem in the fields. Green grapes are experiencing a very exciting market with high premiums for good quality. Some are showing amber and brittle stems so we are shopping around for good quality. Blackberries are very, very tight with high prices.

Keep in Mind
Peaches, Nectarines and Apricots Cherries Raspberries

Watch
Avocados are remaining high and tight out of California. The 48 counts are in high demand which is driving the price up considerably. Red and yellow peppers are victims of a treacherous transition from Mexico to San Diego. The Mexican plants are old which leads to wrinkled, shriveled peppers. We want those bright, firm, shiny specimens so we have to be picky, leading to higher prices.

Local Corner
Maryland and North Carolina are sending us gorgeous local strawberries. Expect the berries to be somewhat smaller than California, with a down home appearance but that is not stopping the rush to order. Act fast as these sweeties are getting snapped up! Kale and collard greens are premium quality. Bushel spinach is the star performer this week. It is so fresh and plentiful that even the leaves bulging out of the crate look like they just got picked! Asparagus, picked fresh daily, is here from Godfrey Farms of Maryland. Jersey grown dill and mint are in stock.

Lemons Corn Oranges Asparagus Green Onions, Cilantro, Bok Choy

WATCH
Avocados Green Grapes Red and Yellow Peppers Celery Blackberries

Keany Produce Company | 3310 75th Avenue | Landover, MD 20785 | 301-772-3333 | FAX: 301-772-3469 Visit us on the web at: www.keanyproduce.com