Spokane Produce

February 20, 2012

Something To Think About

“Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.” - Janet Lane

February 20, 2012

The Facts

New Mexico University has identified the hottest chili on Earth. According to a study carried out at the institute the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is steaming ahead of its rivals. "For this study, we wanted to establish the average heat levels for super-hot varieties. That's something that hadn't been scientifically set," said Paul Bosland, an NMSU Regents Professor and director of the Chili Pepper Institute. "We also wanted to see which chile pepper truly has the highest heat levels." For the study, Bosland and his partners Danise Coon, a senior research specialist, and Gregory Reeves, a graduate student, looked at several chili breeds reputed to be among the hottest in the world, including Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, Trinidad Scorpion, 7-pot, Chocolate 7-pot and Bhut Jolokia - a previous world record holder identified by the Chile Pepper Institute and certified by Guinness World Records in 2007.

Each of the tested varieties was cultivated at the university, in a standard way to ensure normal heat levels. Mature fruits were selected, harvested, dried and ground to powder so that the compounds responsible for the heat could be extracted and examined. When they examined the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion things really started to warm up. It was found to have more than 1.2 million Scoville Heat Units. Chocolate 7-pot came in at almost 1.17 million SHU. 7-pot placed third with more than 1.06 million SHU. Trinidad Scorpion packed almost 1.03 million SHU and Bhut Jolokia had almost 1.02 million SHU.

Chili peppers of the same variety will often vary in heat, even when grown in the same field or picked from the same plant. This study saw similar results, with some individual plants scoring much higher than the mean heat levels. Two individual Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper plants registered more than 2 million SHU - almost twice as hot as an average Bhut Jolokia pepper. "Part of the reason we conducted this research is that rigorous scientific testing is required to ensure accurate determination of super hot heat levels," Coon said. "The Chili Pepper Institute, as the leading authority on chili peppers, was a logical place for this research to be conducted."

Source: Fresh Plaza

February 20, 2012

Market News

Berries - Heavy rains in Mexico combined with rains and freezing temperatures in Florida earlier this week have severely impacted strawberry quality and availability. Supplies coming out of California are extremely light due to the recent rains and unseasonably cool weather. Harvest has been curtailed there as the fruit is not coloring up enough to pick. The raspberry market is beginning to show some signs of easing but remains about steady. Supply is more readily available than any of the other berries with good quality. Blackberry supplies have been greatly impacted by the weather in Mexico. Supplies are extremely light and look to continue to be short. The blueberry market continues to strengthen as supplies tighten up. Chile has peaked and numbers are slowing starting to wind down.

Grapes - Chilean fruit is coming in to both coasts with good quality. The growing areas are moving from the Northern to the Southern region where the fruit is better quality and size. The market is softer on red grapes as there is plenty of fruit with little demand. This will change in the next couple of weeks and product will become more limited as we will transition from Flames to Crimson red seedless. Green grapes are limited as less volume is coming in and quality is fair to good.

Melons - Cantaloupe: Demand continues to exceed supplies. Offshore fruit is extremely limited. With fewer vessels coming in they are still selling out the week prior to arrival. Product will continue to be limited for the next 2-3 weeks. Quality is very good and the market is steady. Honeydew: Demand exceeds supplies. Offshore fruit is still more limited on dews then Cantaloupe. Mexican fruit is still extremely limited also. Very good quality and mostly 5’s available for what little fruit is out there. Quality is good. Fruit continues to sell out before it comes into port or crosses the border.

Avocadoes - This spring will see the start of the first full season of Peruvian Hass in the North American market. According to ProHass in Peru, the Hass industry will export 90,000 metric tons in 2012 – 130% of last year’s volume. For the North American market, ProHass projects 2,000 containers of Peruvian avocado will arrive versus 436 in 2011. The projected total volume of Peruvian avocados that will arrive in the North American market in 2012 is estimated at 100,000,000 pounds


Source: The Source, Fresh Fruit Portal