Asparagus: Alert

Markets have eased after Mother’s Day demand declined. Supplies remain tight due to

production gaps in Mexico and lighter domestic harvest. Supply is expected to improve through

late May. Market pressure should ease heading into early summer. Quality is fair.

Berries:

• Blackberry Markets are up. Supplies remain steady with product continuing to ship from

California’s Central Coast, Oregon, Georgia, and Central Mexico. 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. CMEX and California’s Central Coast continue to produce

steady volumes, helping maintain stable supply levels. Quality is fair to good.

• Strawberry Markets are coming off. Oxnard is nearly finished, with current production

coming from Santa Maria, Oxnard, and Salinas. Quality is fair to good.

Broccoli:

Broccoli markets are coming off. Supplies remain slightly limited, but the market should

continue to ease next week as weather improves. There is an AOG trigger on all Broccoli value-

added products. Quality is fair to good.

Brussel Sprouts:

Markets are up. 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 2–3 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 toallow 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. Supplies are continuing to improve across all growing regions and the

market is expected to ease slightly heading into next week. There is an AOG trigger on all

Cauliflower value-added products. Quality is fair to good.

Celery:

The market is steady, but remains active due to reduced yields from Fusarium, which has

impacted roughly 25% of the crop industry-wide. There is an AOG trigger on all Celery value-

added products. Quality is fair to good.

Citrus: Alert

• Lemon: Markets are up. District 2 (Oxnard/Ventura County) is now the main production

region, with District 1 (San Joaquin Valley) providing supplemental volume. Due to

coastal growing conditions, the crop is running about 70% choice and 30% fancy, with

sizing peaking on 95/115/140ct. Markets remain 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. Eastern supplies are tight following the end of South Florida

production. Georgia is expected to improve in quality and availability soon. Overall

quality remains strong. Quality is good.

• Cello Cucumber markets are steady. Quality is fair to good.

Eggplant:

Markets are up. Supplies remain tight in Florida, Mexico, and California. Markets are expected

to stay up for 2 weeks until Georgia production improves. Overall quality remains goodGrapes:

South American imports are expected to wind down by the end of May, while Mexican grapes

crossing through Nogales are just beginning and will ramp up to full production in June.

Shippers will be motivated to move volume ahead of California’s Central Valley start in mid-

June. Quality is fair to good.

Green Onions:

Markets are steady. Quality is good.

Herbs:

• Basil: Quality is fair.

Lettuce Iceberg:

Markets are coming off. Quality issues persist, including outer leaf discoloration and misshapen

heads, with INSV impacting overall growth. 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. Light availability is expected to continue for at least the next

few weeks due to an estimated 25% industry wide crop loss from INSV. There is an AOG

trigger on all Romaine value-added products. Quality is fair to good.

• Romaine Heart markets are up and sold out. Light availability is expected to continue

for at least the next few weeks due to an estimated 25% industry wide crop loss from

INSV. Quality is fair to good.

• Green Leaf markets are up. Light availability is expected to continue for at least the next

few weeks due to an estimated 25% industry wide crop loss from INSV. There is an AOG

trigger on all Green Leaf value-added products. Quality is fair to good.

• Red Leaf markets are steady. Light availability is expected to continue for at least the

next few weeks due to an estimated 25% industry wide crop loss from INSV. 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 steady. 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 high with supplies being tight. 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 steady, but supplies are still tight. 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: Alert

Markets are up. Mexican supply has decreased significantly. Supplies remain tight in the East

and west due to seasonal transitions. Georgia is expected to start harvest later this week.

Quality is good.

Tomatoes:

East Coast supply is improving as Ruskin/Palmetto reaches full harvest with strong quality and

volume. Mexico’s Sinaloa/Sonora season is winding down with limited but fair-quality

production, while Baja/Jalisco remains light. Overall pricing is expected to stay steady into early

June

• 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 / Baby Romaine

2. Asparagus

3. Carrots Value-added

4. Green Peppers

5. Jumbo Yams

6. Lemons

7. Oranges

8. Onions

9. Red Peppers

10. Romaine

11. Romaine Hearts

12. Squash