Over the last five years, U.S. vegetable production declined by over 3% as Mexican exports increased by almost 40%. Over the last five years, the vegetable sector has faced Covid-19, extreme weather events, skyrocketing costs for growers, challenging logistics, and the decline of U.S. vegetable production by over 3% from 2017 to 2022. In that same time frame, Mexico's total fresh vegetable exports increased by almost 40%, delivering commodities such as asparagus, cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell peppers to the world's largest importer of fresh vegetables, the neighboring United States.
Asparagus demand is light, and prices are lower this week. Most shippers transferred back to packing only the 11-pound cartons/crates bunched. Some growers let the fields fern out in the Caborca growing region as the weather is getting warmer and production transitions to the constitution growing region, around April 22. Movement from Mexico crossings through Calexico, California, and Arizona is expected to decrease. Trading is fairly slow. Prices are lower. 11-pound cartons/crates bunched jumbo are mostly 20.75-22.75, large are mostly 18.75, standard are mostly 18.75; organic large are 21.75-22.75, standard are 21.75-22.75. Extra services are included. Movement of very light container volume from Peru arriving through South Florida ports of entry began and is expected to increase along with air shipments over the next two weeks. Current supplies are insufficient to establish a market. Quality and condition are generally good.
Avocado supplies are heavy and expected to remain steady. Fresh arrivals combined with older fruits are causing a two-tiered price structure. Deals are made to move older fruit and fruit with high dry-matter content. Low demand for fresh arrivals caused prices to weaken. Movement from Mexico's crossings through Texas is expected to remain about the same. Trading is fairly slow. Prices are lower. Cartons of 2-layers Hass 32s are mostly 45.25-46.25, 36s are mostly 44.25-45.25, 40s are mostly 44.25-45.25, 48s are mostly 44.25-45.25, 60s are mostly 46.25, 70s are mostly 38.25, 84s are mostly 28.25-30.25; organic 48s are mostly 52.25-54.25, 60s are mostly 49.25-51.25, 70s are mostly 40.25-42.25. Extra services are included. Movement from South District California is expected to increase seasonally. Trading is fairly slow.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov