-
NEW!
• Savoy Spinach (Vegucation blog!)
• Gai Lan (Vegucation blog!)
• Family Tree California Blueberries
• Purple Baby Broccoli -
COMING SOON
• Coastal View Produce California Asparagus
• Import Bartletts
• Abate Fetel Pears -
BACK IN STOCK
• Side Hill Meyer Lemons
• Josie’s Lemon Herb Salad Mix -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Artichokes
• Organicgirl Arugula
• Baby Sweet Broccoli
• Cal-O Green Onions -
GAPPING
• Cal-O Red Bunched Beets
• Burdock
• Diced Butternut
• Anna’s Napa Cabbage
• Thai Coconuts
• Honeydew -
WINDING DOWN
• California Fuerte Avocados
• Cippolinis
• Green Import Grapes
• Shallots -
FINISHED
• California Ettinger and Bacon Avocados
• California Super Colossal Garlic
• Page Mandarins
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated March 5, 2023
FRUIT
FRUIT update
Good news! The cold and rainy weather did not damper the harvest and quality of Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries and Blueberries. They made it through just fine and we are sitting in a good place. Blueberries are available in 6oz and pints. Have you tried the new Family Tree California grown Blueberries out of Reedley? Large and crunchy with a classic blueberry flavor. They are starting out slow but look for supply to increase. Berries out of Mexico have good flavor from multiple growers. Add a little of sunshine to your berry display as winter lingers on.
Offer your customers a variety of Winter Citrus and stay healthy! Bright and zesty winter citrus varieties are bursting with flavor. Buddha Hand, Gold Nuggets, HoneyBells, Tangos and more!
The unusual Buddha Hand fruit is all rind with no juice or pulp. For a refreshing kick to a meal shave thin slices of Buddha Hand and add it to a salad or use it to top steamed tofu or fish. The lack of bitterness makes it perfect for candied fruit or to infuse in your favorite spirit.
Gold Nugget Mandarins have bumpy skin and are very aromatic and easy to peel. Fruit is seedless with a rich and sweet flavor.
HoneyBells are sweet, juicy and tangy. They are a cross between a Dancy Mandarin and a Duncan Grapefruit.
Tango Mandarins are a seedless Murcott. Its rind is rich with citrus oil and aromatic when pierced or muddled.
Download Earl’s Winter Citrus guide here and follow the flavor.
The Ambrosia Club Apple does not turn brown when cut which makes it great for snacking and cutting up for salads. The EverCrisp Club Apple is sweet and crunchy and no wonder why, it is a hybrid of a Honeycrisp and Fuji apple. The EverCrisp is best eaten out of hand. Download Earl’s Club Apple Guide here.
Buddha Hand
Apples
Driving towards the end of the Club Apples. Ambrosia, EverCrisp, Opal. Jazz, Envy, SugarBee and Cosmic Crisp. The delicious Ambrosia is great for snacking and cutting up for salads because of its nonbrowning qualities. The EverCrisp is sweet and crunchy and no wonder why, it is a hybrid of a Honeycrisp and Fuji apple. The EverCrisp is best eaten out of hand. Download Earl’s Club Apple Guide here.
California grown Cuyama down to Pink Ladys and Fujis.
Avocados
Last of the Zutano California green skin Avocados. Expect Hass Avocado prices to be stable through mid-March and then prices will start to rise. California Hass Avocados about a month away.
Bananas
Consistent quality and ripening on Coliman (Mexico) and Equal Exchange (Ecuador) Fair Trade Bananas with good supply into the end of next week. March is Equal Exchange Banana Month! Download a hanging banana cut-out, 4x6 shelf talkers, and 8 x 10 posters to start a conversation about the small-scale farmer grown, organic and Fair Trade Bananas on your shelves. The cut-outs can either be printed double-sided or single-sided and glued together. Download here.
Gold Nugget
Berries
Berries made it through the cold and rainy weather last week!
Blackberries and Raspberries steady supply.
Blueberries: New! Family Tree (Santa Maria) Blueberries are large, crunchy and firm. HGO California pints and 6oz as well as value 6oz packs out of Mexico.
Strawberries: Coming out of Mexico with seasonally appropriate flavor and some white shoulders.
Citrus
Good news! Grapefruit, Lemons and Limes supply and quality is not affected by the winter storms.
Cara Caras through March. Navels have a bit of scarcity from the storm but will go into May.
We are a several months away from California Valencias, good flavor continues out of Mexico.
Offer your customers a variety of Winter Citrus and stay healthy! Bright and zesty winter citrus varieties are bursting with flavor. Rainbow Valley Orchards Tangos (seedless Murcott) have a great sugar/acid balance after sitting on the trees for a while. HoneyBells are phenomenal! Great for eating out of hand and they make a delicious juice. Page Mandarins are done.
Gold Nugget Mandarins have bumpy skin and are very aromatic and easy to peel. Fruit is seedless with a rich and sweet flavor.
Tango Mandarins are a seedless Murcott. Its rind is rich with citrus oil and aromatic when pierced or muddled.
The unusual Buddha Hand fruit is all rind with no juice or pulp. For a refreshing kick to a meal shave thin slices of Buddha Hand and add it to a salad or use it to top steamed tofu or fish. The lack of bitterness makes it perfect for candied fruit or to infuse in your favorite spirit.
Download Earl’s Winter Citrus guide here and follow the flavor.
Tango Mandarin
grapes
We may see another shot of Green Seedless mid-week. Sweet Celebration Red Seedless Grapes (Peru) have a good sweet crunch.
kiwi
Fully into delicious Gold and Green Italian Kiwis.
Melons
Going steady with Mini Seedless Watermelons. Honeydew is gapping.
pears
Last of the Domestic Pears are winding down. Import Bartletts arrive this week. Remember the first pears of the season will be green and take weeks to ripen.
tropicals
Ataulfo Mangos (Mexico) are smooth and buttery and taste even better when they start to wrinkle. Look to small sizes for a value buy. Round Tommy Atkins have a beautiful blush. Formosa and Intennza Papayas are available with Intennza being the larger of the two varieties. Add a squeeze of lime for an out of this world eating experience.
VEGETABLES
vegetable update
St. Patrick’s Day is next Friday. Celebrate the holiday with Brussels Sprouts in net and bulk, Russet Potatoes, Cabbage, Onions, Carrots and Asparagus. We might see some California Coastal View Produce start up out of Gonazales in the Salinas Valley in time for St. Patty’s Day, weather dependent. Stay tuned for updates from your Sales Associate. Make sure to check our weekly specials each Sunday.
The annual March transition from the desert back to the Salinas/Watsonville growing region is delayed. The prolonged cold weather patterns does a number on condition and availability of product. Covilli Green Beans will be very tight as we head into the week. The cold weather has also delayed plantings, tightening up supplies and creating intermittent shortage gaps down the road in April/May on Celery, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Romaine, Iceberg, Cabbage, Sweet Baby Broccoli and Arugula. Stay tuned for updates.
Eat your greens this winter season! Savoy Spinach from Sunrise Farms has a hearty and bold flavor. This coveted variety softens and turns sweeter when cooked. Gai Lan or Chinese Broccoli from Sun Valley Farms in the Pajaro Valley has a taste similar to broccoli but slightly more bitter. Earl’s Recipe Tips! Blanch in hot water before stir frying to help remove some of the bitter taste and keep the crunchy texture. Stir fry the stems first and then add in the leaves.
Sun Valley Gai Lan
Asparagus
Mexican Asparagus offers a great value and is in good supply. California Coastal View Produce out of Gonzales estimated to start harvesting by the end of the week. CVP is an Earl’s Exclusive.
Artichokes
Prices are starting to come down out of the desert.
bunched beets
Cal-O continues to gap on Red Beets. Look to Coke and Lakeside to cover the gap.
green beans
Cold weather has slowed down Covilli Beans and supply will be very tight as we start off the week. Promotable volume will improve by mid-March.
Broccoli
Good volume from multiple growers.
Broccoli Crowns
Good supply from Tomatero out of Watsonville.
Sunrise Farms Savoy Spinach
Sweet Baby Broccoli
Tightened up quite a bit. Don’t miss Baby Purple Broccoli as a fun alternative from Coke.
Brussels Sprouts
St Patrick’s Day is not far off! Plenty of net bags and bulk to take us through the next few weeks.
Cabbage
Your choice of Napa, Savory, Red or Green for your St. Patrick’s Day display.
Carrots
Sunrise Nantes have the sweetest, crunchiest flavor. In promotable volumes. Mix in Red Carrots from
Cal-O (available only seasonally) and Yellow Sunrise Carrots.
Cauliflower
Light on 16ct, plenty of larger 12ct heads.
Romanesco
Sharp pricing and quality from Organic Treat.
St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th!
Celery
Josie’s and Organic Treat good quality.
Cucumbers
Sitting pretty on Slicer Cucumbers and Euros. Persians are a little on the tight side.
eggplant
Good news, pricing is starting to come down a bit.
garlic
California is almost done. Double A sized Garlic from Argentina is nice and big and comparable to a super colossal size at an aggressive price.
greens
Sun Valley (Watsonville) is coming back into better production. The cold weather makes the colors pop on Red and Rainbow Chard!
herbs
Special packs of herbs such as Sorrel, Chervil, Savory can all be ordered with a 2 day lead time as well as large 50ct packs of beautiful Edible Flowers. Ask your Earl’s Sales Rep for more info.
Lettuce
Romaine Heart prices are starting to go up in the coming weeks.
Organicgirl Arugula is experiencing mildew issues due to the cold weather in the southern growing regions. When arugula is not available Organicgirl will pack spicy and peppery Mizuna until the situation improves. We will let you know when and if this happens.
leeks
Tutti Frutti (Buellton) fields are really wet and they are waiting to plant. In the meantime we will see some Leeks from the Pacific Northwest.
mushrooms
Earl’s has a wide variety of Fresh and Dried Mushrooms. Now is a great time to experiment with something new. Download our mushroom guides here and ask your Earl’s Sales rep for a recommendation.
We love meaty Oyster Mushrooms. The thick white stems are also edible, not just the caps. Black Oyster Mushrooms have a slightly chewy texture and are soft with a bittersweet aroma reminiscent of anise. They also have a mild, sweet, and nutty, umami-forward flavor.
onions
One to two more weeks left on Cippolinis and two to three weeks left on Shallots. Soon Onions will be transitioning from storage to fresh crop. Peri and Sons will transition from Nevada to El Centro at the beginning of April and Cal-O will start out of Bakersfield in May. Cal-O Green Onions are going to tighten up again through mid-March. Josie’s (MX) will cover any gaps.
peas
Volume is looking up on English, Snap and Snow Peas.
bell peppers
Big jump on price as supply has tightened up.
hot peppers
Cherry Bombs, Padrons and Shishitos are a hit or miss.
potatoes
Stable prices on Red and Gold Potatoes through St. Patrick’s Day. Russet prices continue to creep up. Tasteful Fingerlings 4-5 weeks out. Cal-O Fingerlings will start up in May.
roots
Sunchokes, Parsnips, Rutabaga, Purple and White Turnips are plentiful. Perfect for roasting on these cold winter nights. Burdock is done season until fall.
spinach
Sunrise Savoy Spinach is hearty with a bold flavor!
summer squash
Covilli is in a flush of Zucchini. Let us help you plan promotional opportunities!
sweet potatoes
Pricing is stable with good volume on all labels.
tomatoes
Cluster Tomato prices are dropping a bit. Covilli Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes are not only beautiful but have excellent flavor. Ask about promotable opportunities.
winter squash
Jester is gapping. Acorn, Butternut, Delicata (small sizes are a great value), Honeynut, Kabocha and Spaghetti are plentiful. Learn more about Hard Squash varieties here.
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