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february & march highlights
FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS
• Presidents Day - February 19thMARCH HIGHLIGHTS
• California Coastal View Produce Asparagus
• March is Equal Exchange Banana Month (Downloadable POS below)
• St. Patrick’s Day - March 17th -
NEW!
• Club Apple EverCrisp
• Club Apple Pazzazz
• California Blueberry Pints
• Buck Marmalade Orange -
promotable items
• Queen Victoria Mexican Asparagus
• Local Artichokes out of Salinas Valley
• Covilli Brussels Sprouts
• Covilli Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes
• Local Dwelley Honeynut Squash
• Wild River Small Kiwis 16/1# Clamshells
• Tango Mandarins -
COMING SOON
• California Coastal View Produce Asparagus - Buy local!
• Ambrosio (Gilroy) Lacinato
• Pomegranate Arils -
BACK IN STOCK
• Buck Mango Orange
• Kumquats - Mandarinquat, Nagami and Meiwa -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Wondercress
• Arugula
• Poblanos
• Red Choice Peppers -
GAPPING
• Baby Bok Choy
• Import Grapes
• Peruvian Ginger
• Peri & Sons Onions
• White Onions
• Yellow Onion Earth Bags
• Coke Spring Onions
• Tutti Frutti English and Snap Peas -
WINDING DOWN
• Zespri Gold Kiwis
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finished
• Daisy Mandarins
• TDE Mandarins
• Mt. Hood Biodynamic Pears
• Comice Pears
• King of Mushrooms Wild Foraged Chanterelles
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated February 18, 2024
MARKET update
Rain and cold weather persist, and Wet Veg is less than perfect quality. It takes about two weeks to really see weather related issues on wet veg in the fields. Just as the fields are drying out the next rainstorm is here and will continue through most of this week. Crews will continue to be hampered by muddy fields. Weather is slowing down production, tightening up volumes and prices are rising as supply decreases. This includes Berries, Citrus, Arugula, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Leaf Lettuces, Radishes, Salad Greens and more. Expect prorates, gaps and quality issues due to the weather.
RVO fields were too muddy to pick Navels and Cara Caras last week, but inventory is looking up as we see some days of dry weather. The main concern continues to be quality issues that show up post-harvest such as clear rot. Our QA-IC team does a stellar job at looking at each citrus arrival and checking for quality. Buyers should be aware that quality issues can show up after the product leaves our warehouse. Please make sure to check your delivery as soon as it arrives and let your Earl’s Sales Rep know of any quality issues.
RVO Tango fields in San Diego were hit hard by the last storm, so they are finished with that growing region and moving into District 1 (Central Valley) and starting their first pick this week.
Import Grapes are tight with any available grapes landing on the East Coast and staying on the East Coast. Grapes are gapping for now. Import Grapes will taper off around mid-April and Coachella and Mexico will hopefully start sometime in May, but that can always change with Mother Nature.
Apples and Pears are now coming out of CA Storage. Only the strongest apples and pears picked back in October are selected to be stored in Controlled Atmosphere rooms, allowing growers to extend the season well into the summer and early fall. Read the full blog under Earl’s Vegucation.
The Onion market is short with no real relief until Peri & Sons starts up out of Nevada in August. No White Onions are available at all. Anderson will carry us through at least March. Read the full market update here.
King of Mushrooms Wild Foraged Chanterelles are done. Dried Wild Foraged Mushrooms can easily be reconstituted and enjoyed year-round. Sold by the each: Black Trumpet, Candy Cap, Forest Blend, Lion’s Mane, Maitake, Morel and Reishi. Ask your Earl’s Sale Rep for more information.
FRUIT
Apples
Welcome the newest Club Apple arrival, EverCrisp! Covered in a blushed rosy red over a creamed background, the EverCrisp is sweet and juicy and packs a loud crunch, combining the best of its parents Honeycrisp and Fuji. The durable apple arrives late in the season and stores strongly – it maintains sweetness and firmness like no other. That makes EverCrisp the perfect snack for a healthy New Year.
Cuyama (Cuyama, CA) expects to continue to pack and ship a wide variety of Apples coming out of CA (Controlled Atmosphere) Storage through early summer. Look for Granny Smith, Arkansas Black, Crimson Gold, and even some Gala into the mix of Fuji and Pink Lady.
Only the strongest Apples and Pears picked back in October are selected to be stored in Controlled Atmosphere rooms, allowing growers to extend the season well into the summer and early fall. Growers will test their apples and pears for firmness, skin color, seed color, sugar level and flesh chlorophyll to predict when they mature enough to pick to be stored in CA. Read the full update under Vegucation.
Avocados
Mexican Avocados are in peak flavor with high oil content. Ready to eat with the fruit gives to gentle pressure. Convenient AvoTerra 14/6ct Net Bags are a great price with incredible flavor.
Bananas
March is Equal Exchange Banana Month. Every purchase matters. Download a cool Banana Hanging Mobile for your produce department as well as a variety of POS cards. POS cards can also be sent with your next delivery. Tell your Earl’s Sale rep!
NEW! PAZAZZ club APPLES
The Pazazz Club Apple arrives Tuesday! Download Earl’s Club Apple Variety Guide and Club Apple Overview and follow the flavor. Pazazz is an apple variety like no other. It’s a descendent of the beloved Honeycrisp but has a unique look and taste all its own. With every bite you’ll enjoy a burst of sweet yet tart flavor – plus Pazazz’s famous crunch. Whether you’re eating a Pazazz as a fresh snack or trying one of our special recipes, “Wow Right Now” is just a bite away.
BERRIES
It’s cold and wet and Berries are growing slow. Blueberries are grown under hoops and we will see some pints this week from Homegrown. As soon as Blueberries get some warm days we will see an explosion of fruit.
Blackberries & Raspberries: Baja producing a limited amount of Blackberries and Raspberries. We are keeping inventory tight as berries are exhibiting cold and moisture issues.
Blueberries: Up and coming players out of the Central Coast with HGO and Central Coast.
Strawberries: AG Strawberries are grown under hoop houses. Solid looking fruit with good legs. Look for increased volume by Tuesday.
Citrus
Grapefruit: RVO is peaking on large size Star Rubys. Ask us about special pricing.
California Lemons: Meyer Lemons from Coke and Buck.
Limes: Stable for now. Weather may change volume and pricing down the line.
Kumquats: Mandarinquat, Nagami and Meiwa are back this week with their wonderful zing of sweet and tart flavor.
Blood Oranges are in peak flavor and oh so fragrant with an incredible berry flavor.
Cara Caras and Navels are tight due to rain. Expect to see disruptions. HGO larger sized Cara Caras coming out of the Central Valley.
Mandarins: TDE Mandarins were hit hard by the rain and the season is over. Daisy Mandarin season is done. Bagged Pages will be a quick shot. Bagged Tango and Murcotts are a customer favorite and in good supply through April. Buck Pixie Mandarins are starting up soon.
citrus, continued
New from Buck, the Marmalade Sour Orange also known as a Seville Orange. Known for its bitterness and fragrant aroma, they are the best variety for making traditional marmalades. Can also be used for essential oils.
One more pick up of DOC Minneolas and then they will transition from the desert to the Central Valley growing region.
We will not see any Honeybells this year due to it being an alternate bearing year.
grapes
Import Grapes are tight with any available grapes landing on the East Coast and staying on the East Coast. Grapes are gapping for now. Import Grapes will taper off around mid-April and Coachella and Mexico will hopefully start sometime in May, but that can always change with Mother Nature.
kiwi
California Kiwis from Family Farm and Wild River in VF. Wild River has a flush of smaller Kiwis available in 16/1# clamshells at a great price. A great sell at $3.99 at the retail level.
melons
Mini Seedless Watermelons out of Mexico have good flavor. No other melon varieties available at this time.
pears
Mt. Hood Biodynamic Pears are done. Golden Bosc, Red and Green D’Anjou continue until Import Varieties start up late March/early April.
tropicals
Pineapples are plentiful. Crespo Ataulfo Mangos are in good supply but will tighten up in the coming weeks. We will see some relief in March. Ataulfo’s smooth and buttery flesh with no fibers is loved by Earl’s team members as well as our customers. Follow Earl’s Instagram stories to find out why we love Ataulfos!
Crespo Dried Mangos pack sizes have good availability and are a wonderful snack year round.
We will see some periodic gaps on Thai Coconuts.
VEGETABLES
Asparagus
Mexican Asparagus prices continue to drop. Build dynamic displays and get customers excited about this beautiful spring vegetable. 28# value packs arriving mid-week. We may see some California Coastal View Produce Asparagus this week, weather dependent! There are only a few major California Organic Asparagus growers left. As you plan your spring displays, make sure to create space for local California CVP Asparagus. POS cards available to highlight your display.
Artichokes
Freshly cut off the plant, local JAS Artichokes (Salinas Valley) offer a very nice price on large 18ct. Purple Artichokes are sporadic.
baby bok choy
Gapping for now. Warmer weather after the rain brought out the aphids.
green beans
Covilli is packing a small amount of hand packed 15#. Plenty of 25# .
broccoli
Josie’s Broccoli has really good pricing.
SWEET BABY broccoli
Tomatero has a good amount and nice quality.
brOCCOLI CROWNS
Broccoli Crowns seeing some pin rot. Too wet or too dry, the plants stress out and bunches spread out while growing, unlike a tight broccoli head when the conditions are perfect. Moving from Josie’s over to Organic Treat coming out of the desert region that received less rain.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Covilli has a flush of Brussels, perfect for merchandising with a beautiful display of Asparagus.
cabbage
Looking great! Good supply on Green, Red and Savoy Cabbage. Anna’s vibrant Red and Green Cabbage is more consistent.
CARROTS
Sunrise Nantes program is strong.
cauliflower
Sun Valley had a hard time growing Cauliflower during the cold and rainy winter weather. We may see some in the spring.
celery
Issues are starting to pop their head out. Seeing more blight, a bacterial disease brought on in wet weather, and keeping inventory tight. Celery out of Mexico looks very clean.
cucumbers
Bagged and clamshell Persian Cucumbers are hard to find.
GINGER
Will continue to be Mexican Blue Ginger. June will be scarce for Ginger from all growing regions. Expect a month gap when Mexico ends and Peru starts up in June. By July we will be flying with Yellow Ginger. Read the full update.
TURMERIC
Secret Beach is a premium #1 quality. Fijian Turmeric quality is not as nice with a value price to match. Excellent for juicing and food prep.
greens
Sun Valley and Tomatero out of Watsonville/Salinas are both waiting for new blocks to come on. The Northern growing regions are still in the winter pattern, expect volume to come on the first week of March. Look to Capay and growers out of the desert for now. Greens are looking sharp.
herbs
Cool weather continues to slow down the growth of Chives, Dill, Tarragon, and Basil.
arugula
Is very scarce and is susceptible to yellowing and mildew. Organicgirl 5oz Arugula continues to gap and sporadically available in 10oz clamshells. Mizuna is a good spicy sub until quality improves. Mizuna pre-orders are helpful to secure product.
lettuce
Red Butter is still very tight. Green and Red Leaf is much better volume. Lettuce out of the desert is having quality issues. Romaine Lettuce will have some epidermal peel. Leafy Greens can tolerate the frost up to a point or they can tolerate a few frosts but then damage shows up. Epidermal peel occurs when the outer layer of the leaf freezes, partially dies and then begins to peel. The leaf will have a translucent look. Read more about quality issues on lettuce due to the cold weather.
wondercress
Due to colder temps the last few weeks, Watercress has still been growing at a slower rate, producing lower yields.
leeks
Good supply from Terra Firma (Winters, CA) and Ralph’s (Mt. Vernon, WA).
mushrooms
King of Mushrooms Wild Foraged Chanterelles are done. Dried Wild Foraged Mushrooms can easily be reconstituted and enjoyed year-round. Sold by the each: Black Trumpet, Candy Cap, Forest Blend, Lion’s Mane, Maitake, Morel and Reishi. Ask your Earl’s Sale Rep for more information.
onions
Market is short with no real relief until Peri & Sons starts up in Nevada in August. No White Onions are available at all. Anderson will carry us through at least March.
Coke Spring Onions are gapping due to the rain.
peas
Tutti Frutti English and Snap Peas are still gapping. Del Cabo Snap and Sugar Peas are helping to fill the gap.
dried chiles
No bulk dried New Mexican Chiles. All product is being repacked into smaller sizes until availability improves.
bell peppers
Red Choice is a bit tight. All other colors are in good supply.
hot peppers
Poblanos are a bit scare. Good supply of Jalapeños and Serranos.
potatoes
Choice Potatoes are back this week. Larger sized Russets are tightening up at the end of the season.
summer squash
Covilli Zucchini is back and into a steady supply of all grades.
spinach
Bunched Spinach have some cold damage and there may be some yellow leaves and mold is rearing its ugly head. We are keeping a close eye on quality.
tomatoes
Del Cabo seeing better volume on Red Grapes and Sugar Plums in clams and open pints with lower pricing. Wholesum is tight on their Specialty Tomatoes.
winter squash
All varieties looking good except Acorn which is limited and sizing up small. Local Dwelley Honeynut in promotable volume with special pricing.
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VEGUCATION CORNER
