Commodity Alerts - Iceberg Lettuce & Romaine/Romaine Hearts
UPDATE:
Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) continues to be prevalent in the Salinas Valley and causing havoc on iceberg and romaine yields. INSV is a virus caused by a stinging insect and has been a growing issue causing a wide variety of symptoms including wilting, stem death, stunting, yellowing, 'chicken pox-like' sunken spots on leaves, etches and ring spots on leaves (see pic attached of a romaine field and iceberg field affected by INSV) . INSV along with Fusarium are the main reasons driving this market higher and causing lower yields. Fusarium is a soil borne fungus that causes lettuce heads to die from diseased roots. This currently is an issue in the Salinas valley. Suppliers are seeing lighter weights than normal. Yields in production have been drastically reduced. Optimal yields are run around 1000-1200 cartons per acre. Many shippers reporting as low as 400cs/acre yield. Stronger markets are inevitable over the next couple weeks at a minimum. Additionally, the processors are now out buying more acreage to account for the smaller size lettuce heads.
Expectations:
- Much lighter supplies for the next 2-3 weeks on both romaine and iceberg. Some Growers are projecting 50% of normal yields.
- Shorter shelf life on all value-added items.
- Inconsistent quality including seeders.
- Lighter weights, 34-38 pounds.
- Stronger markets on iceberg and romaine, industry wide.
CPMA & the evolving produce market conditions.
Importing U.S. romaine lettuce: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has released the fall 2022 import requirements for romaine lettuce from the U.S. in advance. This was a key goal for CPMA and our government partners. The temporary conditions announced will be implemented from September 28 to December 22, 2022. Complete details on the Safe Food for Canadians licence conditions and other existing import requirements are outlined here:
- Notice to Industry: Fall 2022 import requirements for romaine lettuce from the U.S.
- Import requirements for romaine lettuce from the United States (2022)
- Notice to industry: Temporary Safe Food for Canadians licence conditions for importing romaine lettuce and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce from the U.S.
Labelling Changes – Success for Grape & Cherry Shippers: Earlier this month, the federal government published the final Food Product Innovation regulatory changes advising the industry members that none of the changes impacted their current food labels.
CPMA was very pleased to see that an exemption from net quantity labelling requirements had been granted to “pre-packaged fresh fruits or vegetables sold in retail stores that are packaged in unsealed transparent protective bags if sold by weight.” This change is a result of years of CPMA engagement with CFIA and a relief for members in the grape and cherry sectors. Read the July 12th CPMA member bulletin for more details.
CPMA Big 3 Pathogens Seminars: The first series of our seminars on the big three pathogens were held earlier this summer and all sessions were sold out. The courses featured a basic introduction to the nature of pathogenic bacteria, the environmental requirements, the products they are likely to contaminate and how to manage them. Please contact Jhall@cpma.ca to register your team members for the next sessions.
Pallet Shortage: This is still an issue for our sector as confirmed in the CPMA June Pallet availability survey and others across North America. CPMA is coordinating a meeting with CHEP and five key national associations’ CEOs to better understand how a collective approach could possibly support positive change. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.
Federal Advocacy: Coming up in August, CPMA will be recognizing our 2022 Produce Champion, Scot Davidson, Member of Parliament (MP), with an event in his riding, York—Simcoe, Ontario. We are looking forward to celebrating MP Davidson’s support for our industry, including his introduction of Bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act. Learn more about CPMA’s Produce Champions program.
