Market Report- Week Beginning August 5th, 2024
What’s Hot
It’s an absolute Local Produce bonanza, with all our local producers now supplying our coolers daily with some fantastic product. For those with FeastON certification, now is the time to fill your larders, and for those who want to know more about FeastON certification, reach out to your Account Executive.
This space is often full of corny jokes, so this week we’re going to change it up and tell you in the driest, least excited, tone possible that Welsh Bros are on in full force with what is inarguably the best corn available. Don’t agree? Call your reps to talk about it; we’re all ears.
Despite what you may have heard from some 90’s band- the best peaches come from Niagara, and they were put there by our friends at Ivanchuk farms. They’re eating beautifully, so buy some for now, and maybe consider preserving some for later.
Other Ontario stone fruit to take note of are shiro plums and blue plums, eating very well, and nectarines, the weird hairless cousin of the peach.
Another farm that continues to produce stunning product is our friends over at Denboer Farms. Their bunched carrots and radishes are fantastic, and a real opportunity buy.
Green Valley Farms are also producing superb quality leafy green vegetables such as kales and dandelion. Our current obsession is kale charred over coals with chili lemon and feta.
We are transitioning to a local Ontario shishito pepper. Early reports on quality are overwhelmingly positive, although we have yet to receive feedback on how this year’s local weather patterns may have affected spice levels. In our opinion though, the uncertainty is part of the fun!
Melons are having a banner year so far in terms of quality. Consistent weather in the growing regions has really helped develop flavour and texture this season.
Another strong contender for the buyer’s choice item are the cherries from Washington. We currently have a size 8.5 cherry, which is to say you should see the size of our cherries! They’re eating like candy right now, and we can’t get enough!
Items of Concern
The excessive rain combined with high heat is proving a challenge for local strawberry farms. While flavour remains high, shelf life is being adversely affected.
Rain and high heat are also impacting spinach yields, which is starting to produce downstream availability concerns.
Looking Ahead
We are anticipating a great mid-summer season based on what we’re seeing coming in from the fields and speaking with our partners. Early autumn produce is starting to round into form, so keep an eye on our social feeds for more information on late summer arrivals.