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: Alert
• Blackberry Markets are down. 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 ramp up over the next few weeks. Quality is fair to
good.
• Strawberry Markets are up and sold out. Recent rainfall and persistently cold
temperatures are reducing yields. The Mother’s Day pull is now in full swing, and large
open-market orders are increasingly difficult to secure at any price. Shippers are
prioritizing contracts and previously committed volumes. Availability is expected to
improve heading into the weekend, though demand is projected to strengthen through
next week, which will likely keep the market tight. 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 continue to 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: Alert
The market is up. The Santa Maria and Oxnard regions continue to see moderate to light
supplies of this commodity, and markets are expected to remain tight throughout the week as
demand continues to exceed available supply. 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: Overall markets softened again compared to last week and are beginning to level
off. Larger sizes (110–150 count) continue to decline at a slower pace than smaller sizes
due to tighter supplies. Harvesting remains focused primarily on smaller fruit, with the
bulk of production peaking at 200 count and smaller. Overall quality remains strong,
though an increasing volume of #2 grade fruit is becoming available as the current crop
progresses. Weather conditions in Mexico are forecasted to remain mostly sunny with
temperatures in the mid to upper 90s throughout the week, which should support
continued growth and improved sizing. There are storms currently forecasted this
weekend but those should not affect harvesting. With Cinco de Mayo approaching next
week, demand is expected to strengthen, which may lead to firmer markets and
potential price increases driven by increased buying activity.
• 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 andexpected 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 steady. Florida crop production remains strong. Supplies are
expected to stay sufficient, with Georgia beginning in mid-May. 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: Alert
South American import markets have leveled off and are expected to remain steady through
the final couple of weeks of the season. Mexico has begun very light shipments of both red and
green grapes at pricing well above Chilean fruit, while domestic grapes from Coachella are just
starting in limited volume at even higher prices than Mexico. Quality is fair to 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 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 steady. 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 to good.
• Red Pepper markets are steady. 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. Quality is good.Tomatoes: Alert
Supply remains tight in both Florida and Mexico, with round and vine-ripe tomatoes extremely
limited, especially in the West, where availability is nearly nonexistent. Romas are carrying
most of the demand, adding pressure and keeping that category very snug. Grape and cherry
tomatoes are available but inconsistent as Nogales winds down and crossings remain limited.
Overall, expect continued tight supply and limited flexibility over the next couple of weeks until
new regions come online.
• Round tomato markets are up. Quality is fair to good.
• Roma tomato markets are up. Quality fair to good.
• Grape tomato markets are coming off. Quality is good.
• Cherry tomato markets are steady. 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. Broccolini
3. Broccoli
4. Carrots Value-added
5. Cauliflower
6. Grapes
7. Jumbo Yams
8. Lemons
9. Lettuce
10. Oranges
11. Onions
12. Strawberries
13. Tomatoes
