DEMAND
West Coast row crop shippers are seeing improved demand from retailers as Thanksgiving approaches, fair demand from foodservice distributors and increased processor activity on the open market.

TRANSPORTATION
Truck availability in the greater Northwest and Colorado will get even tighter when the Christmas tree season starts later this month. Availability along the West Coast is adequate. Freight rates remain high as the cost of oil hovers near $50 per barrel. Many trucking companies continue to ask for fuel surcharges.

ICEBERG LETTUCE
Persistent cool temperatures and intermittent rain have combined over the past three weeks to create questionable quality in many Huron lettuce lots. Concerns include reduced shelf life, poor yields, internal salt and pepper, russet spotting, pink ribs and excessive water in packaged salad bags. Prices are on the rise and will continue to climb daily heading into next week.

Huron shippers warn that this situation will only worsen as the Thanksgiving pull approaches and the autumn lettuce season progresses into the week of Nov. 22. The start of Yuma will not be a saving grace since the desert has also been plagued with below-normal temperatures and above-average rainfall. Processors apparently have enough lettuce at their disposal for the moment, but it wouldn't take much of an increase in processor demand to send the lettuce marketing soaring. Inform your sales force and customer base that the current trend of questionable quality and rising prices will last into late November.

ROMAINE LETTUCE
Romaine prices have skyrocketed over the past 10 days due to substantially reduced yields and poor quality. Some shippers are now quoting 'f.o.b. acceptance final.' Concerns include short shelf life, decay, russet spotting, broken ribs and insect damage. This situation will continue until Yuma gets settled sometime after Thanksgiving. Green leaf and red leaf prices are riding the coattails of the rapidly rising Romaine market.

CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI
Like everything else, the cauliflower and broccoli markets have been hurt by the persistent cool temperatures and above-normal rainfall. Yields of both items are visibly lower. Prices have quickly escalated since last week and have the potential to climb even higher late this week and/or early next week. Desert supplies of both items will start around Nov. 15-22. Central Valley broccoli supplies will continue well into November, but tonnage has been throttled back by the cold weather. This situation will worsen if the Thanksgiving pull is significant.

STRAWBERRIES
California supplies from Oxnard are negligible, prices are very expensive, and quality is just fair. Receivers must expect medium to small berries, a wide range in color, and fairly short shelf life. Quality would have a chance to improve if warmer temperatures and clear skies were to return for at least one week. Desert strawberry supplies will start in December.

CELERY
Overall increases in production from Oxnard are keeping the overall celery market fairly stable. Shippers are doing a nice job of dealing with the intermittent wet weather to meet demand and the upcoming Thanksgiving pull, which is expected to be significant. Sizing remains heaviest to 30-count followed by 36-count and 24-count. Overall quality is excellent with nice bright color. Expect steady and firm prices heading into next week. Desert supplies will start in January.

ONIONS
The harvest is complete, and all onions are in storage. Onions will come from storage into March and April; Washington state may pack into May. The next new crop will come from Tampico, Mexico, in mid- to late February. Nov. 1 stocks on hand were 60,646,500 50-pound units, which is up 10.77 percent nationwide compared to last year. About 32.2 percent of all remaining onions are held in Ontario, OR, and 26.9 percent are held in Washington state. Central Oregon has the third most with 9.1 percent, and Colorado has the fourth most with 6.5 percent. Compared to last year, Ontario holdings are up 15 percent, Washington state is up 9.5 percent, central Oregon is up 54.7 percent and Colorado is up 20 percent.

Trucks remain very difficult. Availability is limited for so early in the shipping season. One can only imagine how tight trucks will become during the holidays and Christmas tree pull. Colorado shippers say that extra business is coming their way as traditional Northwest buyers can't always find ample transportation.

RUSSETS
The harvest is complete and all russets are in storage. All current shipments have gone through the sweat. Potatoes are now dormant and have a tight skin. Idaho shippers say that the crop is medium to medium-plus in size and will be very marketable. Quality is excellent in all major producing areas. Prices continue to be very reasonable, and this is an excellent time to highlight new-crop russets.

Idaho shippers say that this year's russet crop is 50 percent Norkotahs and 50 percent Burbanks. Norkotahs made up 10 percent of the crop 10 years ago and 30 percent of the crop five years ago. Idaho shippers recognize that there is a split market between Burbanks and Norkotahs. Burbank shippers are getting $1-2 per cwt. more on 80-count and larger and No. 2s. Trucks, rail piggyback vans and rail cars are tight, so plan your needs well in advance.

NAVELS
New-crop navel supplies are quickly gearing up. Sunkist and independents are harvesting at will. The crop is running 70 percent fancy grade and 30 percent choice. Sizing is running heaviest to 72s, 88s, 56s and then 113s. Small sizes, 113s and smaller, will be very limited all shipping season. Orange prices should continue to ease into next week.

LEMONS
Central Valley supplies are light and limited. Desert supplies will be 44 percent lighter than last year. Desert fruit is peaking on 140s followed by 115s, 165s and 200s. The Ventura crop is 99 percent harvested, and shipments are predominantly from storage. Pricing will gradually decrease over the next month.

MELONS
Temporarily, there is a fairly wide range of cantaloupe prices throughout the desert. Early-autumn shippers are starting to wind down, while late-autumn shippers are just ramping up. Prices are expected to strengthen as soon as this weekend or early to mid next week. Honeydew supplies and prices are steady at current levels. Nogales supplies continue to increase. The latter part of this week will be a good time to buy. Buyers must be fully aware of, and be willing to accept, the distinct green autumn cast to the cantaloupes. Honeydews are internally very strong but do have varying degrees of exterior scaring. Currently, all fruit show the typical autumn characteristics with sugars between 10 and 11 percent.

GRAPES
Overall supplies are winding down. The Thompson season is getting closer to the end as storage supplies are running lower. Shippers put their best Thompsons in the 16-pound lugs and save them for the last part of the shipping season. Prices are very firm at current levels. A few green seedless shippers are now offering the Autumn seedless green variety. The Red Crimson market is very firm as the shipping and storage seasons are winding down. Storage supplies of Ruby Reds are exhausted. Red prices are strong and increasing. In general, there remains a noticeable price difference based on berry size.