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NEW!
• Purple Brussel Sprouts
• Import Bartlett Pears
• Green Garlic -
Promotable Volume
• Mexican Asparagus
• Onions (OPN article under Market Update)
• Covilli Purple Rose Heirlooms -
COMING SOON
• Coastal View Produce California Asparagus (Gonzales) end of the week
• Abate Fetel Pears
• Red Seedless Celebration Grapes (end of week)
• Formosa Papayas (Tuesday) -
BACK IN STOCK
• Wintergreen Burdock
• Sunrise Purple and Rainbow Carrots
• Thai Coconuts
• Green Seedless Globe Grapes
• Dole and Covilli Pineapples (Monday)
• Tangos (Monday)
• Nagami Kumquats -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Green Beans
• Covilli Heirlooms start of the week
• Read more under Weather Update below -
GAPPING
• Tasteful Selections Bagged Potatoes and Fingerlings
• Diced Butternut
• Anna’s Napa Cabbage
• Gai Lan
• Honeydew
• Josie’s Rustic Tomato Parmesan Salad -
WINDING DOWN
• Ettinger California Avocados
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FINISHED
• Opal Club Apples
• HoneyBell
• Zutano and Fuerte Avocados
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated March 12, 2023
FRUIT
FRUIT update
Promotable volumes of Blackberries, Raspberries, and Strawberries from Mexico as well as California grown Forbidden Blueberries in 6 oz clamshells. Blueberry pints will be tight this week. Blood Oranges, Tangos, Gold Nuggets and Cara Caras in good volume. Navel supply will be looking up later in the week. Have you tried the unusual Buddha Hand and fun Lemon T’ Orange? 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. The Buck Lemon T’ Orange is large sized with a similar flavor to a traditional lemon, but with less tartness. Use as you would a lemon and it’s fantastic in baking. Try in a lemon cake with a lemon frosting, lemon bars, or in jams and marmalades.
Import Bartlett Pears are here and Abate Fetel Pears are arriving soon. Remember the first pears of the season will be green and take weeks to ripen. Ettinger’s are the last standing California Winter Avocado. California Hass Avocado season to start most likely by the end of March.
March is Equal Exchange Banana month. Make sure to download posters, shelf talkers and more to highlight your Fair Trade banana display: https://www.info.equalexchange.coop/produce-materials
Formosa Papayas return Tuesday
Apples
Club Apples are finishing up. Opals are done. Cosmic Crisp will be the next apple to wind up followed by Envy and Jazz.
Cuyama California Fuji and Pink Lady storage apples are still going along with domestic apples out of Washington - Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, Pink Lady and Granny Smith.
Avocados
Last of the California Ettinger Avocado. They are similar to Fuerte Avocados, pear-shaped with smooth, thin, bright green skin, which does not peel easily, and pale green flesh. Ettinger Avocados have a mild flavor.
As we near the end of Mexican Avocado, mature fruit has a high oil content and eats differently. Pro Tip: Eat when the fruit gives slightly to pressure.
California Hass most likely to start by the end of March.
Bananas
Consistent quality and ripening on Coliman and Equal Exchange (Ecuador) Fair Trade Bananas.
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.
March is Banana month
Berries
Blackberries: Good supply for the next few weeks.
Blueberries: Good supply from Forbidden on 6oz pints. Pints are scarce.
Strawberries and Raspberries: Good supply out of Baja and prices are decreasing.
Citrus
Extended periods of rain make it difficult to pick. It takes 2-3 days for the groves to dry out to avoid post-harvest quality issues such as clear rot/mold.
Valencias: First California variety will be the Midnight with fantastic flavor and sweetness. Stay tuned for arrival date.
California Lemons, Cara Caras, Gold Nugget and Tango in good supply. Grab Blood Oranges while they are still available. Navels back in good supply mid week. HoneyBells are done.
Limes prices slowly climbing a bit as product tightens up a bit.
Nagami Kumquats had a short gap, but they are back.
grapes
Import Green and Red Seedless Grapes are back for a little longer. Then will gap for about 6 weeks until Mexico starts up in May.
kiwi
In Italian fruit until New Zealand starts up in May.
Melons
Honeydew is done. Sweet Mini Watermelons in good supply.
Crespo Ataulfo Mangos
pears
Import Bartetts are here and Abate Fetel are coming soon! Remember the first pears of the season will be green and take weeks to ripen.
Bartletts are sweet and juicy, this pear’s skin changes from green to yellow and its flesh becomes smoother as it ripens.
Originating in France, Abate Fetel is elongated in shape with yellow skin that often is russeted. Sweet and aromatic, this pear is ideal for baking and fresh eating. Abate Fetel softens quickly. Be sure to enjoy this variety while still slightly firm.
tropicals
Dole and Covilli are back with Pineapples Monday. Thai Coconuts are in good supply. Yellow Dragon Fruit has good flavor (Ecuador) 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. Download POS and educator posters on our website.
Returning Tuesday: Formosa Papayas are a large variety with pretty orange flesh, a mild flavor and light fragrant aroma. Papayas contain the super enzyme papain which helps break down protein, aids in digestion and detoxifies the body. Read on to learn how to cut and enjoy papayas, more health benefits and storage and ripening tips. Read the full blog in our vegucation highlight.
VEGETABLES
weather & veg update
We are still in winter with wet and cold stormy weather forecast for the next week throughout California. Fields are wet and muddy, making it hard to harvest and it is still unclear how the weather in the Salinas/Watsonville will affect inventory this week.
The upcoming transition from the desert back to the Salinas/Watsonville growing region will be rough. Plantings are delayed due to the wet weather and we can expect slow growth on almost all commodities and intermittent shortage gaps down the road in April and May on Celery, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Romaine, Iceberg, Cabbage, Sweet Baby Broccoli and Arugula. We will be looking at a high market with scarcity as we head into the upcoming Easter and Mother’s Day holidays.
The weather in the desert is forecast to warm up over the next few weeks which will help size up product, however warmer weather does bring the challenge of issues with aphids.
The cold and wet weather slowed down Tutti Frutti Peas. Their Leeks, along with some Onions and Carrots are under water. Stay tuned for weekly updates.
ORGANIC ONIONS IN PROMOTABLE VOLUME
Jarod Hunting, Produce Buyer, Earl's Organic Produce
OPN CONNECT NEWSLETTER 309 · MARCH 2, 2023
As a staple item that regularly appears on most shopping lists, onions aren’t a prime candidate for big retail promotions, but there are now opportunities to promote organic onions that should last well into spring.
“There is a good supply of organic onions right now, and we expect that to be the case through the transition,” said Jarod Hunting of Earl's Organic Produce, located on the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market.
The company’s onion buyer was speaking of the transition from the storage crop to the new fresh crop of organic onions, which will be harvested in the California desert beginning in late April. “Right now we are pulling storage onions from a few different sources in the Pacific Northwest and Nevada,” he said.
The current price and supply situation on organic onions, Hunting said, is very favorable—much better than a year ago. Wildfires in the Northwest in 2021 led to a short 2022 storage crop, with many shippers having 30-40 percent fewer onions than normal. “This year we are expecting a seamless transition from the storage to the desert in mid-April,” he said.
Ask your Earl’s Sales Rep about promotional opportunities on onions and read the full Onion Update article.
Covilli Purple Brussels Sprouts
Asparagus
Mexican Asparagus at very aggressive pricing in promotable volume for St. Patrick’s Day.
California Coastal View Produce, an Earl’s Exclusive, arriving end of the week. The season will start off slowly until the weather improves. Weather dependent, the season goes through July 4th. Earl’s has POS shelf talkers and grower profile to help you promote CVP.
Artichokes
More 18ct this weekend. Historically at this time we see some frost kissed. The frost causes the outer layer of the artichoke to turn brown, flake and peel when the temperature reaches below 32 degrees. Although the brownish color may not look pretty, frost kissed artichokes have a more intense nutty flavor. Once cooked, the brown disappears, leaving a delicious green artichoke!
baby bok choy
Good supply from Lakeside.
bunched beets
Tomatero starting up with Red Bunched Beets for about 2 weeks.
Onions in promotable volumes
green beans
Cold weather drastically slowed down Covilli Green Beans. We will see green beans from other growers in limited supply.
Broccoli
Bunched and Crowns are in an active market with prices expected to rise.
sweet baby broccoli
Grown year round in the Salinas Valley. Prices are very high. Conventional market is tight and overall growers are seeing lower yields and slower growth because of the colder weather.
brussels sprouts
New! Specialty Purple Brussels Sprouts. Sweeter and milder flavor than green brussels sprouts. Green and purple sprouts share a similar nutrient profile. Both provide healthy servings of vitamins A, B6, C and K. Each variety is an excellent source of folate and fiber. However, the deep purple pigmentation results in more anthocyanins, delivering even more antioxidants.
Mexican Asparagus in promotable volumes
cabbage
Excellent supply of Red and Green Cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day.
Carrots
Good news! Sunrise Purple and Rainbow Carrots are back!
cauliflower
Prices are jumping up. 16ct is extremely limited.
romanesco
Nutty flavor! Great promotable item for the next few weeks.
celery
Market is tightening up as the conventional market is tightening up. Tomatero will have a flush for 2-3 weeks.
cucumbers
Persians, Euros and Slicer Cucumbers all look good.
eggplant
Steady pricing on Globe and Graffiti.
fennel
Beautiful heads are plentiful!
greens
Sun Valley (Watsonville) harvest has slowed a bit with the cold weather. Sunrise (Buellton) is helping to fill the gaps.
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
We are keeping an eye on loose Arugula out of the desert for quality issues such as yellowing and mold from the cold weather. Lettuce in good supply from multiple growers. Romaine Hearts will be a little pricey due to cold weather in the desert.
leeks
Tutti Frutti Leeks are under water and more rain is coming. Plenty of Ralph’s Leeks out of the PNW.
mushrooms
Earl’s has a wide variety of Specialty Fresh and Dried Mushrooms. Download our guides here.
Maitake Frondosa is wonderfully adaptable with a fabulous, forest aroma and a light, crunchy texture. The other common name for this variety is Hen-of-the-Woods.
Traditional in Asian cuisine, but its rich versatile flavor also finds complements with roasted meats and chicken, cheeses, dark leafy greens, and hearty grains.
onions
Peri supply out of Nevada is steady with a transition to El Centro in late April. Last of the Cippolinis with new crop in September/October. Spring Onions are sporadic. Cal-O Green Onions are tightening up.
peas
Snap Pea volume decreasing this week. Snow and English Peas steady. The cold and wet weather slowed down Tutti Frutti (Buellton) peas.
bell peppers
Divine Fair Trade Peppers in all colors are steady.
hot peppers
Jalapenos, Serranos and Anaheims in good supply. Shishitos are gapping.
radish
Tomatero done with Watermelon Radishes. Lakeside is into a flush.
potatoes
Storage potato prices continue to be on the rise with a tighter supply than we are seeing on onion storage. Tasteful Selections Creamers and Fingerlings new crop in late April.
roots
Montecucco is winding down. One more shot of Burdock. Pacific Northwest is done on Purple Top Turnips. Plenty from Lakeside.
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
Covilli Purple Rose Heirlooms are in promotable volume. Ask your Earl’s Sales rep for more information. Mixed Heirlooms will be tight on the front side of the week.
winter squash
Kabocha and Delicata are tightening up and prices are up.
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VEGUCATION CORNER
