Asparagus: Alert
Markets are up with supplies being very tight. Mexico’s main growing regions have been facing
extreme heat, reducing yields and quality. Supply is barley meeting demand, with many farms
in Sonora closing. Central Mexico won’t stabilize until June. Supply is expected to be tight into
the summer. Quality is fair.
Berries:
• Blackberry Markets are slightly up. Supplies are improving with California and Georgia
showing increased production in the final week of April. Quality is fair to good.
• Blueberry Markets are up. Supplies are tight out of Central Mexico, Chile, and California
due to recent weather conditions. Elevated pricing is expected until California and the
Northwest ramp up in April. Georgia is expected to start the First week of May. Florida
is producing but will have short season due to freeze in early February. Quality is good.
• Raspberry markets are steady. Supplies from Central Mexico and Baja remain light.
California production is expected to begin next week. Quality is fair to good.
• Strawberry Markets are up. Rain has impacted all growing regions over the past couple
of days, making it difficult for growers to access fields and harvest product. It will take
several days for conditions to dry sufficiently for crews to begin stripping and cleanout.
As a result, fill rates are expected to decline, with potential order cuts in the coming
days. Offerings will remain light, and water related quality issues are likely. Quality is fair
to good.
Broccoli: Alert
Broccoli markets are up and extremely limited, with lower yields from recent heat and rain.
There is an AOG trigger on all Broccoli value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Brussel Sprouts:
Markets have come down. Quality is good.
Cabbage:
• Green Cartons: Markets are up. Quality is good.
• Red Cartons: Markets are up. Quality is good.
• Bagged Cabbage: Markets are steady. Quality is good.Carrots: Alert
• Cello markets have strengthened with more demand on the southern crop from out
west. Quality is good.
• Loose Markets remain high but steady. Quality is good.
• Value-add Carrots the Imperial Valley is currently the main growing region. Availability
should improve in the next 3–4 weeks as Bakersfield ramps back up, weather
permitting. Limited supply out of Bakersfield pushed shippers into Imperial Valley a bit
early, when product was still undersized. As a result, growers have slowed harvesting to
allow for proper sizing. With a few more weeks, sizing and availability should both
improve. Baby and value-added carrots remain available, but are being closely
managed. Quality is good.
Cauliflower: Alert
Markets are up and extremely limited, with lower yields from recent heat and rain. There is an
AOG trigger on all Cauliflower value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Celery:
The market is up. Supplies out of Southern California are expected to be moderate. Yuma has
finished, and the Salinas region is not currently producing. Slight seeder has been reported.
There is an AOG trigger on all Celery value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Citrus: Alert
• Lemon: Markets are up. District 1 (San Joaquin Valley) is supporting District 2
(Oxnard/Ventura County), which is currently the main growing region. Suppliers are
seeing about 70% choice and 30% fancy due to coastal growing conditions. Sizing is
peaking at 95/115/140ct. Markets are extremely tight on 165ct and smaller lemons.
Quality is good.
• Limes: While pricing leveled off last week, Monday saw a sharp drop in pricing as
demand is softer to start the week. Cinco de Mayo pulls are expected to start this week
and continue into next week as both retail and foodservice operators begin to build
inventory. Supplies continue to remain heavier to the smaller-sized fruit, with the
majority of volume currently falling in the 230/250/200 count range. While the gap in
price between large sizes and small sizes is still there, it has closed significantly.
• Orange: Markets are active. The California Navel crop is heavily weighted toward larger
sizes, peaking on 56 and 72 count, while small sizes (113 and 138 count) remain very
limited through the season and into Valencia’s. Flexibility with size and grade will be
needed, with substitutions to larger Navels or Cara Cara oranges likely. Expect elevated
markets on Choice, Fancy, and small-size fruit, and encourage schools to accept 88
counts. A handful of Moroccan fruit is available. Quality is fair to good.Cucumbers:
• Cucumber Markets are down. Florida crop production is increasing rapidly. Supplies are
expected to stay sufficient, with Georgia beginning in mid-May. Overall quality remains
strong. Quality is good.
• Cello Cucumber markets are up and supplies are tight. Quality is good.
Eggplant:
Markets are steady. Florida’s production is ramping up. The market is expected to soften in a
few weeks. Overall quality remains good
Grapes: Alert
Green grapes are tightening on both coasts as Peru nears completion and Chile volumes remain
lighter. Supply has been sufficient so far, but is expected to tighten as the month progresses.
Red grapes are also tighter than recent weeks, though still more available than greens. Mexico
is expected to start before South American supplies finish, but a significant overlap is not
anticipated. Quality is good.
Green Onions:
Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Herbs:
• Basil: Quality is fair.
Lettuce Iceberg: Alert
Markets are up and sold out. Recent rains in growing regions have slowed production across
multiple suppliers, while processors have also purchased significant volumes of open lettuce.
Defects including misshapen heads, discoloration, and lighter weights are being reported. There
is an AOG trigger on all Lettuce value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Lettuce Leaf:
• Romaine markets are up. Production has been limited due to recent rainfall in the
growing regions. Smaller sizing, lighter weights, discoloration, and inspect pressure are
being reported across all leaf items. Quality is fair to good.
• Romaine Heart markets are up. Production has been limited due to recent rainfall in the
growing regions. Bruised/pink ribs are being reported. Quality is fair to good.
• Green Leaf markets are up. Production has been limited due to recent rainfall in the
growing regions. Smaller sizing, lighter weights, discoloration, and inspect pressure are
being reported across all leaf items. Quality is fair to good.
• Red Leaf markets are up. Production has been limited due to recent rainfall in the
growing regions. Smaller sizing, lighter weights, discoloration, and inspect pressure are
being reported across all leaf items. Quality is fair to good.Lettuce Tender Leaf:
Arcadian, Arugula, Cilantro, Parsley, Spring Mix, and Spinach. Tender leaf items are steady.
Minor insect damage and discoloration are being reported. Quality is fair to good.
Melons:
• Cantaloupes: Markets are steady. Quality is fair to good.
• Honeydews: Markets are steady. Offshore and Mexican honeydews are available but
expected to have issues through the month of April. Quality is good.
Onions: Alert
Markets are up. Texas onions are available but are very limited, due to rain over the last few
weeks. California has started but is also very limited. Transportation continues to influence
market movement. Quality is good.
Peppers:
• Green Pepper: Markets are down. Florida pepper volume has increased dramatically.
Mexico crossings are declining. Quality is fair
• Red Pepper markets continue to come off. Quality is fair to good.
Pineapples:
Markets are steady but high. Quality is good.
Potatoes:
Markets are up. Transportation costs are driving the market. Quality remains strong.
Squash:
Markets are down. Florida’s spring crop is off to a strong start, with fields performing well and
availability continuing to expand. Quality is good.
Tomatoes: Alert
Tomato supplies remain extremely tight due to earlier weather issues in Florida and transition
gaps in Mexico. Romas and rounds are especially short, with inconsistent quality, sizing, and
pack outs limiting usable volume. Grape varieties remain steady and available. Slight
improvement is expected later this month, but near-term availability will stay constrained. Baja
is 2–3 weeks out, and Mexico’s new crop in Jalisco has started on romas, with rounds expected
in about 3 weeks.
• Round tomato markets are up and sold out. Quality is fair.
• Roma tomato markets are up. Quality fair to good.
• Grape tomato markets are coming off. Quality is good.
• Cherry tomato markets are coming off. Quality is good.Yams: Alert
Markets are active. Jumbo yams are in short supply. Quality is good.
Market Alerts:
The items listed below are either being prorated or are in short supply.
1. Asparagus
2. Broccoli
3. Carrots Value-added
4. Cauliflower
5. Grapes
6. Jumbo Yams
7. Lemons
8. Lettuce
9. Oranges
10. Onions
11. Tomatoes
