Navel gazing

The California navel f.o.b. market has come off its post freeze highs in a major way. The USDA reported the market dropped from $32 per carton on Jan. 24 to about $17-19 per carton on Feb. 8 for first grade 72s.
One field buyer I visited with today said the full extent of the freeze damaged fruit may be known in the next couple of weeks. Up to 30% or 40% may be salvaged. There will be some navel supply in March and early April, but the source noted the late season late lane varieties got "blasted." Valencias were also hurt badly, as they had no sugar and not much skin to protect them.
Most navel shippers have installed weight density sizers, which help greatly in separating freeze damaged fruit from good fruit.
Some South Africa navels may start arriving into North America by March. Other world suppliers are moving into California's export markets, with Spain, Egypt and Turkey shipping to markets like Hong Kong and Malaysia.