“Supply is actually pretty good right now. It’s not too heavy. The quality has improved now that we’re getting into the winter season,” says Sandy Gatanio of Pompano Beach, Fl.-based Ayco Farms Inc.
Gatanio notes Ayco started the beginning of November with some product that had been damaged by adverse weather in Guatemala, where it sources its peas. “And it was an excess amount of stuff that came in with low prices but that seems to have cleaned up and now we see steady volume,” says Gatanio. “It’s not heavy volume but it’s not super light so we have a moderate amount of stuff.”
Supply is in line with this time last year, he adds.
Demand on snaps to pick up?
Meanwhile demand is good, but not overwhelming. “Demand is about the same as last year. The snow peas now are going to stay stable in the $12-$14 FOB range here in Florida,” he says. “We think the snaps might get a little bit stronger basically because that’s a commodity that has a bit more demand during the holiday season. You put them on party platters for the Christmas holidays and foodservice is definitely going through more snaps than normal. We see demand on the snaps getting there with those prices going into the mid to high-teens.”
The cold spells that were being seen as far as Guatemala even have stopped which should help production. “It’ll offset the demand so it won’t become a difficult market but it won’t become sloppy either,” Gatanio says.
For more information:
Sandy Gatanio
Ayco Farms
Ph: +1-954-788-6800 x123
sandy.gatanio@aycofarms.com
www.aycofarms.com