Asparagus: Alert
Markets have eased with increased volumes from Canada, Washington, Michigan, and Peru.
Domestic production will peal in early June and start declining by late June, which may shift
demand back to imports. Overall, tighter conditions are expected to return late June into July.
Quality is fair.
Berries:
• Blackberry Markets are steady. 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
production in June, followed by Michigan in July. 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 up. Strawberry production is currently underway in
Salinas/Watsonville and Santa Maria, while Oxnard is nearly finished for the season.
Abnormally cool weather conditions have continued to suppress yields, keeping overall
supplies limited as the industry moves beyond the Memorial Day demand pull.
Production in Salinas and Watsonville is expected to gradually increase in the coming
weeks, while Santa Maria volumes begin to decline. Current forecasts indicate the
cooler weather pattern is expected to continue into next week, which may further slow
the pace of production growth. Quality is fair to good.
Broccoli:
Broccoli markets are coming off. Broccoli supplies continue to improve, putting downward
pressure on the overall market. 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 steady. Quality is good.
• Value-add Carrots the Imperial Valley carrot season is wrapping up, with Bakersfield
Spring production set to begin next week. Smaller sizing continues to limit supplies and
support elevated markets for Jumbos, sticks, and chips. Weather delays earlier in the
season extended desert production and slowed the transition. Field conditions and
peeled yields are improving, with more consistent supplies expected through June. By
July, volumes should return to more normal levels as Kern County production ramps up
under better growing conditions. 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 coming off. There is an AOG trigger on all Celery value-added products. Quality is
fair to good.
Citrus: Alert
• Lemon: Markets are up. The lemon market for 140ct and smaller fruit remains elevated
due to limited supply and strong demand, with tight conditions expected through June.
Domestic production is centered in District Two, while small sizes remain extremely
scarce. Offshore imports are expected in late June and July, mainly larger fruit, with
Mexican crossings gradually increasing and providing some relief. Until then, pricing is
expected to remain firm. Quality is good.
• Limes: Market conditions strengthened last week, driven by reduced inbound volumes
and an increase in demand associated with Memorial Day and warmer weather across
the country. Production in Mexico was significantly impacted by heavy rainfall, which
limited harvesting for several days. Additional midweek storms and further weather
activity expected later this weekend may continue to constrain harvest levels.
• Orange: Markets are up and 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: Alert
• Cucumber Markets are up, with Supplies remaining tight. Eastern supplies are tight
following the end of South Florida production. Georgia volume is expected to improve
over the next 7-10 days. North Carolina is anticipated to begin early June in a small way.
Overall quality remains strong.
• Cello Cucumber markets are coming off. 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 good.
Grapes:
South American grape imports are expected to conclude by the end of May, while Mexican
grapes have begun crossing through Nogales and should reach full production in June. Mexican
shippers are expected to aggressively move volume ahead of California’s Central Valley season,
which begins 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. Reported quality issues include slight pink ribbing and misshapen
heads, with carton weights averaging 36–41 pounds. There is an AOG trigger on all Lettuce
value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Lettuce Leaf: Alert
• Romaine 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.
There is an AOG trigger on all Romaine value-added products. Quality is fair to good.
Shippers are prorating to an 100% of a 6-week average.
• 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.
Shippers are prorating to an 80% of a 6-week average.
• Green 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. 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 down. Quality is good.
• Honeydews: Markets are down. Quality is good.
Onions: Alert
Markets are steady. Texas onions are available but limited, due to rain over the last few weeks.
Texas is expected to finish up within the next week. California has started but is also very
limited. New Mexico should ramp by the end of the month. Transportation continues to
influence market movement. Quality is good.
Peppers: Alert
• Green Pepper Markets are strengthening as supplies remain tight. South Florida has
wrapped up production, and we are now transitioning into Georgia. Recent heavy
rainfall across Georgia has further impacted supply conditions. Pepper sizing is trending
heavily toward XL, and overall quality ranges from fair to good.
• Red Pepper markets are coming off, but supplies are still tight. Quality is fair to good.
Pineapples:
Markets have softened some. Quality is good.
Potatoes:
Markets are up. Transportation costs are driving the market. Quality remains strong.
Squash: Alert
Markets are steady but supply remain tight. 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:
Tomato availability continues to improve across all categories as Florida, Mexico, Baja, Georgia,
and South Carolina ramp up early summer production. Round tomatoes remain the most stable
with full sizing availability, while Roma supplies are tightening as the Ruskin and Palmetto
regions wind down. Grape and Cherry tomatoes remain steady overall, despite minor heat-
related grading issues in Florida.
• Round tomato markets are coming off. Quality is good.
• Roma tomato markets are up. 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 (Prorating 50% of a 6-week average)
2. Asparagus
3. Carrots Value-added
4. Cucumbers
5. Green Peppers
6. Jumbo Yams
7. Lemons
8. Oranges
9. Onions
10. Romaine
11. Romaine Hearts
12. Squash
