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 steady. California is starting to reach peak volumes. CEMEX
continues to move strong shipments into the U.S., and Georgia is expected to begin in
about two weeks. Quality is fair to good.
• Blueberry Markets are coming off. CMEX, California, Georgia, and Florida are all in
production, helping ease pricing across all pack styles. The PNW is expected to begin in
the next 2 to 3 weeks. Quality is good.
• Raspberry markets are steady. California production is underway, and availability
continues to improve. Quality is fair to good.
• Strawberry Markets are coming off. The Mother’s Day pull is subsiding, and demand is
beginning to ease, though market conditions remain tight. Production is expected to
improve in Santa Maria, Salinas, and Watsonville, with the market likely to soften next
week. Quality is fair to good.
Broccoli:
Broccoli markets are coming off. Supplies remain limited, but the market is expected to ease
slightly next week as weather improves and the Mother’s Day pull subsides. There is an AOG
trigger on all Broccoli value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Brussel Sprouts:
Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Cabbage:
• Green Cartons: Markets are down. Quality is good.
• Red Cartons: Markets are steady. 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 continue to 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:
Markets are coming off. conditions are beginning to improve as the Mother’s Day peak has
passed, and the market is expected to edge slightly lower next week. There is an AOG trigger on
all Cauliflower value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Celery: Alert
The market is up. Santa Maria and the Oxnard region continue to see moderate to light
supplies, with demand still exceeding availability, keeping the market tight throughout the
week. Overall quality remains good, with only slight seeding being 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: The lime market has shown signs of stabilization at the start of the week
following several consecutive weeks of declining prices. Availability of large-sized fruit
(110/150/175 counts) remains limited and continues to command a premium compared
to smaller sizes. Current production is heavily weighted toward 200-count and smaller
fruit, contributing to a widening price spread between larger and smaller sizes.
• Orange: Markets are active. The California Navel crop is heavily skewed toward larger
sizes, peaking on 56ct and 72ct fruit. Small sizes (113ct and 138ct) are very limited and
expected to stay tight through the rest of the Navel season and into the Valencia
transition, which may begin in the next few weeks. Flexibility on size will be necessary,
with substitutions into larger fruit likely as suppliers maintain contract averages. Please
communicate these sizing constraints to schools and DOD programs and encourage
acceptance of 72ct or 88ct fruit. Quality is fair to good.Cucumbers:
• Cucumber Markets are up. Florida crop production remains strong. Supplies have
tightened due to cooler weather and seasonal transitions. Overall quality remains
strong. Quality is good.
• Cello Cucumber markets are steady. Quality is fair to 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:
Grapes are currently available from three countries across two continents. Chile is nearing the
end of its season, with green grapes almost finished and reds expected for another two weeks
as shippers look to exit. Mexico is crossing both colors through Nogales, with pricing expected
to become more competitive soon. Coachella remains the highest-priced option, having started
reds this week and expected to begin greens next week. Quality is fair to good.
Green Onions:
Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Herbs:
• Basil: Quality is fair.
Lettuce Iceberg:
Markets are coming off. Common defects include outer leaf discoloration and misshapen
heads. Weights are averaging from 36-40 lbs. There is an AOG trigger on all Lettuce value-
added products. Quality is fair to good.
Lettuce Leaf: Alert
• Romaine markets are up. Production has been limited due to recent rainfall in the
growing regions. Smaller sizing, lighter weights, discoloration, and insect 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 steady. Production has been limited due to recent rainfall in the
growing regions. Smaller sizing, lighter weights, discoloration, and insect pressure are
being reported across all leaf items. Quality is fair to good.
• Red Leaf markets are steady. Production has been limited due to recent rainfall in the
growing regions. Smaller sizing, lighter weights, discoloration, and insect 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 good.
• Honeydews: Markets are steady. Quality is good.
Onions: Alert
Markets are down. Texas onions are available but 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: Alert
• Green Pepper Markets are up. The South Florida season is winding down, with some
ongoing quality concerns. Georgia has begun production, but volumes remain too light
to meet current demand. Pepper sizing is trending heavily toward XL. Quality is fair to
good.
• Red Pepper markets are up and sold out. Quality is fair to good.
Pineapples:
Markets are steady but high. Quality is good.
Potatoes:
Markets are steady. Transportation costs are driving the market. Quality remains strong.
Squash:
Markets are up. Mexican supply has decreased significantly. Florida’s spring crop is off to a
strong start, but prices remain elevated due to strong demand. Georgia is ramping up, which is
expected to ease the market soon. Quality is good.
Tomatoes:
The market is beginning to decline, with prices adjusting quickly after an extended period at
elevated levels. Roma tomatoes have seen the most significant corrections, while rounds
remain higher but are also trending downward. Grape tomatoes are relatively steady at lower
price points. Increased production from Florida, Central Mexico, and the start of the Baja
season is improving availability, with post–Mother’s Day demand also softening and
encouraging more aggressive movement from suppliers.
• Round tomato markets are coming off. Quality is good.
• Roma tomato markets are coming off. Quality is 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. Artisan Romaine
2. Asparagus
3. Broccolini
4. Carrots Value-added
5. Green Peppers
6. Jumbo Yams
7. Lemons
8. Oranges
9. Onions
10. Red Peppers
11. Romaine
12. Romaine Hearts
