Asparagus:
Markets are up and supplies are still tight. Mexican production is well below normal and
nearing decline ahead of holiday demand. This is keeping the market tight through early April,
with smaller sizes increasing and larger grades tapering off. Easter demand and extreme heat
will add pressure. Quality is fair to good.
Berries:
• Blackberry Markets are firm. Supplies remain light out of Central Mexico and California
production expected to begin mid-April. Quality is fair to good.
• Blueberry Markets continue to be firm. 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. Florida is producing but will have short
season due to freeze in early February. Quality is good.
• Raspberry markets are up. Supplies from Central Mexico and Baja remain light, with
demand exceeding supply which is keeping markets elevated. Quality issues and
transfer delays persist, and tight conditions are expected to continue until mid-April or
early May, weather dependent. Quality is fair to good.
• Strawberry Markets are up. abnormally high temps are causing heat related issues in
the fields in Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Maria, and Oxnard. Florida crop is pretty much
finished for the season due to quality concerns, putting additional pressure on California
supplies Quality is fair to good.
Broccoli:
Broccoli markets are up. Quality is fair to good.
Brussel Sprouts:
Markets are steady. 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 Market continues to rise as Canadian crop is nearly non-existent and pressure is
being put on Mexican product. Quality is good.
• Value-add Carrots are tight due to the current conditions in California. Baby and value-
added carrots remain available, but are being closely managed. Quality is good.
Cauliflower:
Markets are coming off and supplies are improving. Quality is fair to good.
Celery:
The market is coming off. Oxnard and Santa Maria are the main growing regions, while Yuma
production winds down quickly. There is an AOG trigger on all value-added Celery items.
Despite warm temperatures, quality is fair to good.
Citrus: Alert
• Lemon: Markets are up. District 3 (CA Desert/AZ) is finished. District 1 (San Joaquin
Valley) is now the main growing region, peaking on 115/95/140 count, until District 2
(Oxnard/Ventura) ramps up toward late March/early April. Markets are starting to rise
on 165, 140, and 200 counts as the product continues to size up. Quality is good.
• Limes: The market is entering extremely volatile territory. Catastrophic windstorms over
the weekend into Monday have wreaked havoc across lime-growing regions in Mexico.
Growers are still assessing the full extent of the damage, but early indications suggest a
significant impact on an already strained supply situation. Costs in Mexico continue to
escalate rapidly, with the most severe pressure on larger sizes. In fact, 175s and larger
are becoming virtually unavailable and are no longer consistently reported on USDA
market pricing. Current production is heavily skewed toward small sizes, primarily 250s
and 230s.
• 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 Valencias. 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: Alert
• Cucumber markets are up with supplies being extremely tight. Florida crop is expected
to start in mid-April. Markets will remain elevated for the next few weeks. Quality is fair
at best.
• Cello Cucumber markets are up and supplies remain tight out of Mexico. Canada
supplies are increasing each week. Quality is good.Eggplant: Alert
Markets are trending upward. Florida winter crop is nearly finished, with Spring crop expected
to start in early April. Mexico continues shipping into McAllen with slight market shifts. Overall
quality remains good
Grapes:
Green grape supplies are tighter on both coasts, with slightly higher prices as Peru finishes and
Chile offers lighter volume. Current supply meets demand, but supplies are expected to tighten
later in the month. Red grapes remain in good supply, with the market slightly higher. Quality is
good.
Green Onions:
Markets are coming off and supplies are improving. Quality is fair to good.
Herbs:
• Basil: Quality is fair.
Lettuce Iceberg:
Markets are steady. Strong production is expected this week, with harvesting in Yuma, Santa
Maria, and Huron. Despite warm temperatures, quality remains good, with weights averaging
39–44 pounds. Minimal discoloration and no internal burn have been reported. Quality is fair to
good.
Lettuce Leaf:
• Romaine markets are steady. Production is active in Yuma, Santa Maria, and Huron,
with Salinas starting next week. Quality is good.
• Romaine Heart markets are steady. Production is active in Yuma, Santa Maria, and
Huron, with Salinas starting next week. Quality is good.
• Green Leaf markets are steady. Production is active in Yuma, Santa Maria, and Huron,
with Salinas starting next week. Quality is good.
• Red Leaf markets are steady. Production is active in Yuma, Santa Maria, and Huron, with
Salinas starting next week. Quality is 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: Alert
• Cantaloupes: Markets are up due to strong demand. Quality is fair to good.
• Honeydews: Markets are up. Offshore and Mexican honeydews are available but
supplies are lighter than demand. Fields in Guatemala and Honduras have been
affected by plant viruses. Offshore pricing is up due to vessel delays. Quality is good.
Onions:
Supplies from Washington, Idaho, and Utah are available, with strong demand across the U.S.
Yellow and red prices are steady, while white onions are moving higher. Transportation
continues to influence market movement. Quality is good.
Peppers: Alert
• Green Pepper Florida peppers are extremely limited and declining volume as the season
comes to an end. Mexico crossings are very light with sizing issues. Markets are
expected to stay elevated for the next 3-5 weeks.
• Red Pepper markets are up and supplies are tight. Quality is fair to good.
Pineapples:
Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Potatoes:
Markets are steady. Production is back to a full, regular week, allowing for consistent pack-outs.
Transportation costs are driving the market. Quality remains strong.
Squash:
Markets are steady. Florida’s spring crop is off to a strong start, with fields performing well and
availability continuing to expand. As supply increases, market conditions are expected to
soften.
Tomatoes: Alert
Supplies of roma, round, and grape tomatoes are tightening due to freeze damage, weather,
and production issues in Florida and Mexico. Roma tomatoes are under the most pressure, with
limited volume expected into early May. Round tomatoes remain short, and grape tomato
supplies are gradually tightening. Overall quality is inconsistent, and supply is expected to stay
constrained in the coming weeks.
• Round tomato markets are up. Quality is fair to good.
• Roma tomato markets are up and sold out. Quality fair to good.
• Grape tomato markets are up and sold out. Quality is good.
• Cherry tomato markets are up. Quality is good.Watermelons: Alert
Lower yields and Mexican border issues are keeping watermelon prices high. Warmer national
temperatures are boosting demand. Offshore melons are nearly finished, leaving Mexican
melons as the main supply. Domestic production is several weeks behind due to the total crop
failure in the Southeast.
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. Carrot
2. Corn
3. Cucumbers
4. Eggplant
5. French Beans
6. Green Peppers
7. Honeydew
8. Jumbo Yams
9. Oranges
10. Rainbow Carrots w/ 2-inch tops
11. Snow Peas
12. Sugar Snap Peas
13. Tomatoes
14. Watermelon
