A peek at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s daily market news highlight page usually doesn’t reveal too much.
There is typically a smattering of higher prices and a handful of lower-trending markets. The March 16 edition looked different, with a much longer list of higher-trending fruit and vegetable markets.
Talking yesterday with Western Growers Dave Puglia, president and chief executive officer of Western Growers, he related grower-shippers were at full throttle trying to meet market demand from retailers who have seen big demand from shoppers stocking up in the wake of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
On March 16, the USDA reported “higher” or “much higher” markets for:
- artichokes;
- avocados;
- beans;
- beets;
- broccoli;
- cabbage;
- cantaloupe;
- cauliflower;
- celery;
- cilantro;
- cucumbers;
- ginger root;
- grapes;
- greens;
- iceberg lettuce;
- romaine lettuce;
- mangoes;
- onions;
- oranges;
- peppers;
- potatoes;
- grape tomatoes; and
- watermelons.
Here is a glimpse at the March ascent for some commodities....
