From Foster’s Food Fair

Weather Conditions will Affect Produce Prices & Availability

Foster’s Food Fair – IGA would like to announce that our US supplier is warning that produce may be in short supply and prices may increase, as unusual weather patterns from El Niño disrupt the growing season.

Please see information from our US supplier regarding affected fruit & produce:

Strawberries

Strawberry supplies have become extremely short. This is due to rain and cold weather severely hampering maturity and yield in the Florida growing area; which is the main growing area for this time of year. The 3 major strawberry shippers (Driscolls, Naturipe and Welpict) are cancelling contracts and/or heavily pro-rating contracts. Supplies are expected to be affected through at least the next 2 weeks as they are very limited. Weather patterns are not expected to change in the coming week, so due to this, orders will not be shipped in full.

Red and Green Bell Peppers

Supplies are now drastically feeling the effects of the cold and rainy weather patterns in the Florida growing area, due to this, shippers have cancelled contracts and are pro-rating orders heavily. To add to the situation, the Mexican crop is almost non-existent, from a freeze (Hermosillo) affecting their main growing regions last month. The Florida growing region is being asked to cover full national demand. Shippers and growers are attempting to cover orders to the best of their ability, but due to weather, are still coming up very short on yield and orders.

Green Onion

Green onion supplies are all but non-existent due to the same freeze that affected the main growing area in Mexico last month. Small supplies that are grown in the Yuma, Arizona desert have also been heavily affected by their almost daily rains and cold temperatures. All contracts have been cancelled and most orders are presently being cancelled as well. Shippers are estimated to be at 10% of normal supplies for this time of year.

Watermelon

Watermelon supplies are suffering the same fate due to the freeze in the Mexican growing regions. Watermelon supplies out of the region covers the vast majority of North American demand. Florida’s wet and rainy weather has also affected the winter crop at least 2 weeks earlier than expected. Supplies have dried up and fruit is scarce.

Asparagus

Very hot temperatures have severely affected crops in the Peruvian growing area, which is where 90% of the volume is originating from this time of year. In some cases farms are pulling the plug on production altogether. Supplies out of Mexico will not be ready for at least another 2 to 3 weeks. Supplies, if any, will be short and sizes will be ranging, based upon availability. Therefore we cannot guarantee sizing. We will be pro-rating amounts based on availability.

Round Tomatoes

Round tomatoes are extremely short due to the cold and wet weather affecting the main Florida growing region. The yield out of Mexico is also down after last month’s freeze. Expect pricing to be high.

Roma Tomatoes

Roma tomatoes are in better supply and cheaper than good quality round tomatoes. These are more readily available; improving the current tomato situation slightly.

Our US supplier expects many of these markets to get lower in the next few weeks. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. To stay informed, please visit our

Product News Room at www.fosters-iga.com.