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How to read USDA FOB “mostly” ranges

For produce sales desks that rebuild a morning price sheet from USDA AMS Specialty Crops Market News. Accurate reading beats averaging the whole high–low.

What a shipping-point line looks like

Here is a real broccoli line from the Salinas-Watsonville section of the USDA AMS Phoenix Shipping Point Vegetables report (IX_FV120) for October 16, 2026:

• Full range (11.45–20.95): the low and high of the sales reported for that pack. When the report notes a wide range in price, quality and condition, the edges can reflect very different product.
• Mostly (12.45–15.95): AMS defines “mostly” as “the majority of sales within a reported price range. Transaction driven, not volume weighted.” In other words, it counts sales, not cartons. It is usually a more useful starting point for a sell sheet than the full range.
• Few / occasional higher or lower: a small number of sales outside the main range (for example “few 24.25”). Treat them as outliers and confirm with your own trading before you price off them.

What AMS says shipping-point prices include

Per USDA AMS My Market News (Shipping Point vs Terminal): shipping-point prices represent open (spot) market sales by first handlers on product of generally good quality and condition unless otherwise stated. Reported prices generally include applicable brokerage, customs/duties, U.S. packaging, and U.S. freight costs prior to first sale paid by the shipper/seller. “Delivered Sales, Shipping Point Basis” excludes charges for freight after sale.

Sources: My Market News — Shipping Point Reports vs. Terminal Reports; My Market News glossary — “Mostly”.

Practical desk habits

• Quote and margin off mostly, then adjust for your pack, quality, and relationship—not a naive midpoint of the full range.
• Track Δ vs yesterday on the same district/pack so you only reopen lines that moved.
• Keep contract/PO prices in a locked column so a morning Market News refresh cannot overwrite commitments.
• Do not mix shipping-point FOB with terminal wholesale on one unlabeled column (see companion guide).

Where to get the official numbers

Go to USDA AMS My Market News (free) and find the shipping-point report that covers the district you sell from. For example, the Salinas-Watsonville and Santa Maria vegetable sections appear in IX_FV120. If you copy numbers from anywhere else, check the date, district, and pack against the official report.