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april & may highlights
• Earth Day - April 22
• Passover - April 22-30
• Far West Fungi Mushroom Festival in Santa Cruz - May 4-5
• Mother’s Day - May 12th
• Memorial Day - May 27th -
NEW!
• Edible Flower and Thai Basil - Bay Area Herbs Compostable Clamshells
• Anna’s Spring Offerings: Purple Snap Peas and Green Cabbage -
promotable volume
• California Coastal View Produce Asparagus
• Covilli Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts
• Horseradish for Passover -
COMING SOON
• Mexican Honeydew and Cantaloupe
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BACK IN STOCK
• California 84ct and Bagged Avocados
• Pineapples
• Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes
• Frisee
• Escarole
• Delicata Squash - Monday -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Butter Lettuce and Little Gems
• Radicchio -
GAPPING
• Romanesco
• Red Onions
• Rainbow Carrots -
WINDING DOWN
• Citrus Season
• California Kiwis
• Domestic Pears -
finished
• Mexican Ginger
• Import Grape Season
• Yellow Cipollini Onions
earth day is april 22nd
OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
At Earl’s Organic Produce, we extend our commitment to sustainability beyond our organic products by practicing the three Rs – reduce, reuse, and recycle – in all aspects of our business operations. Earl’s Organic is proud to be a Certified California Green Business.
HOW WE LESSEN OUR IMPACT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
We compost and recycle in both the office and warehouse to significantly decrease landfill-bound refuse. Our diversion rate is 96%!
PREVENT FOOD WASTE
Donate over 500,000 lbs of produce yearly to organizations around the Bay Area including the San Francisco Food Bank and the San Francisco Produce Market Food Recovery program.
PALLET REUSE
We return pallets for reuse to decrease the amount of hardwood lumber harvested for pallet production.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Earl’s Organic Produce is proud to be an inaugural member of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SPUC) Clean Power SF “Super Green” Program. Electing into the “Super Green” option means that our 34,000 sq. ft. west warehouse is powered by 100% certified renewable energy. With the Clean Power SF Program, Earl’s Organic Produce can focus on reaching our goals of becoming a zero waste and carbon neutral facility.
TRUCKS
All of our trucks use biofuel.
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated April 14, 2024
FRUIT
fruit mARKET update
Spring weather is unpredictable, and we continue to be in a state of transition as weather flips back and forth from warm to cold and rainy. Trees are blossoming wherever you go and hints of Stone Fruit Season to come are alive in the beautiful cherry blossoms seen throughout the Brentwood and Lodi/Stockton growing regions. Last week’s rainstorm brought hail but the good news is the hail did not affect the Cherries in Brentwood and Dwelley is still on track for a strong stone fruit season to start May 1st.
The cold and rain tightened up Blueberry and Strawberry supply last week and rain is back again this weekend. Growers are still recovering from the weather. Local Strawberries from Watsonville/Salinas Valley will be tight the beginning of the week. We will see Blueberry pints out of the Central Valley return the front side of the week.
Import Grapes are done and we won’t see Grapes again until Coachella starts up in May.
California Kiwis are on the last of the storage inventory with excellent flavor. New Zealand Golds will start up first in May followed by green fruit in June. There may be a gap in supply.
Domestic Pears are about done with the last of the D’Anjou and Bosc Pears. Don’t miss the delicious Import Dessert Pears - Alexander Lucas, Abate Fetel and Durondeau. Read more about their flavor profiles below.
Apples
Bumper crop in Washington with a nice variety of apples and grades. Cuyama is the last standing California Apple grower with customer favorites Sweeties, Lady Apples and Arkansas Black.
Avocados
California Hass Avocado production is slowly picking up with good flavor. They take longer to ripen up and may have uneven ripening at the beginning of the season. Look for 84ct and Bagged Avocados to return this week.
Bananas
Earl’s carries Fair Trade Bananas year round. Ask us how we can help with your banana program. Download Earl’s Banana Ripening, and Handling and Receiving guides on our marketing page.
Berries
Blackberries: Solid supply out of predominately Baja.
The cold and rain tightened up Blueberry and Strawberry supply last week and rain is back again this weekend. Growers are still recovering from the weather. Local Strawberries from Watsonville/Salinas Valley will be tight the beginning of the week. We will see Blueberry pints out of the Central Valley return the front side of the week.
Raspberries: Steady out of Mexico until summer. California grower AG Berry is planning to start up in June out of Arroya Grande.
Citrus
Grapefruit, Limes, Lemons and Tango Mandarins are steady. Cold and rainy weather brings quality issues and Cara Cara and Navels will be ending soon.
Limes inching up in price a little bit.
Valencias from Mexico are high in sugar and the best piece of fruit to juice. California Valencias are at the beginning of the season, a bit tart and are still developing their sugars.
Tangos are crushing it with incredible flavor. A tasty piece of fruit!
grapes
Import Grapes are done and we won’t see grapes again until Coachella starts up in May.
kiwi
California Kiwis are on the last of the storage inventory with excellent flavor. New Zealand Golds will start up first in May followed by green fruit in June. There may be a gap in supply.
melons
Mini Seedless Watermelons availability is a bit better with high prices. Cantaloupe and Honeydew from Mexico will start up in 3-4 weeks.
nuts
Check out the new low price on Almonds! Storing almonds in the refrigerator will maintain their freshness for at least a year.
pears
Domestic Pears are about done with the last of the D’Anjou and Bosc Pears.
New arrivals: Import Anjous and Autumn Bartlett (also known as the Packham) are similar to a Bartlett with a wider base.
Delicious import dessert pears are a highlight on retail shelves. Abate Fetel sweetness is balanced by a complex floral palate. They should be eaten when they are barely soft to the touch. They are excellent baked in tarts and cakes.
Abate Fetel Pears
pears, continued
Alexander Lucas Pears have crisp white flesh with an incredible aromatic fragrance. When ripe they have a beautiful buttery texture that melts in your mouth. They are best eaten out of hand. Durondeau Pears are a bit tart with a crisp bite and a floral flavor. They are fantastic for cooking and eating out of hand.
Durondeau Pears
stone fruit
Trees are blossoming wherever you go and hints of stone fruit season to come are alive in the beautiful cherry blossoms seen throughout the Brentwood and Lodi/Stockton growing regions. Last week’s rainstorm brought hail but the good news is the hail did not affect the Cherries in Brentwood and Dwelley is still on track for a strong stone fruit season season to start May 1st.
tropicals
Pineapples return Sunday. Formosa Papayas have a rich orange color with remarkable flavor. Intennza Papayas are a very large piece of fruit with tropical notes. Add a squeeze of lime to papayas to enhance the flavor! Ataulfo larger sizes are scarce and peaking on smaller sizes out of the southern growing regions of Mexico. The Mango trees in the northern growing region are not quite ready yet. Tommy Atkins are in good supply in a variety of sizes.
VEGETABLES
download coastal view produce california asparagus pos cards for your display!
veg mARKET update
Springtime is here and Mexico is winding down on warm veg, while California is slow to start. Covilli will most likely be done in Mexico by the end of April. All the larger growers (think Cal-O, Braga and Lakeside) have transitioned from the southern growing regions back up North. New blocks are not coming on consistently. Add in weather and the start of the season is a bit of a bumpy ride. Broccoli and Baby Sweet Broccoli is still a bit tight. Lettuces are challenged from the weather. Hailstorms knocked out Cal-O Red and Green Butter Lettuce. It will take a few weeks to recover. Tomatero will return with Butters in another 1-2 weeks.
More on the Spring Transition in Earl’s blog.
It is a rough time for Garlic as the California Gilroy storage crop as well as fresh garlic out of Argentina is finishing up. Mexico will start up in May and we will see a big jump in quality. We may see some gaps.
Sunrise Farms (Lompoc) is starting to produce Kohlrabi, Little Gems Lettuce and their Green Programs.
Anna’s Organics (Chowchilla) first spring offerings of Purple Snap Peas and Green Cabbage are here. As we get further into April Red Cabbage and Watermelon Radish will come on.
grower news
Sunrise Farms (Lompoc) is starting to produce Kohlrabi, Little Gems Lettuce and their green programs.
Anna’s Organics (Chowchilla) first spring offerings of Purple Snap Peas and Green Cabbage are here. As we get further into April Red Cabbage and Watermelon Radish will come on.
asparagus
Tremendous potential as the weather warms back up later this week. Sustained warmth not only warms up the air but the soil too. The asparagus crowns are primed and ready to rock and roll.
Fun Fact: Asparagus spears can grow 6 to 10 inches in a day.
Download Coastal View Produce Asparagus POS Cards above.
artichokes
Larger 18ct are limited. Cold weather has slowed down production and JAS is peaking on 24ct. Lakeside finishing up in Holtville with smaller 12ct. Plenty of beautiful Purple Artichokes to be enjoyed.
Fair Trade Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts
Covilli in a flush on Green Beans with aggressive pricing for one more week.
Broccoli, Sweet Baby Broccoli and Broccoli Crowns
Cold and rainy weather has slowed down production. Tomatero has a limited offering of Broccoli Crowns.
cabbage
Napa Cabbage is showing some quality issues from the weather. We are keeping an eye on quality. Anna’s is starting up with their spring offering of Green Cabbage. Their Red Cabbage spring crop will start by the end of April.
celery
Continues to be an active market. It is the last veg to transition and is still coming out of the southern growing region.
garlic
It is a rough time for Garlic as the California Gilroy storage crop wraps up as well as fresh garlic out of Argentina. Mexico will start up in May and we will see a big jump in quality. We may see some gaps. California new crop starts in July.
ginger
Mexican Ginger is done, and we are waiting for new crop out of Peru to start up in 3 weeks.
turmeric
Fijian is a value buy. Premium Hawaiian Red Turmeric from Secret Beach is sharp.
greens
Lakeside Chards, Kales and Collard Greens are a value option. Local program from Sun Valley, Tomatero and Sunrise are slow to come due to cold and wet weather. A wave of warmer weather in the coming weeks will jump start Spring Greens programs.
horseradish
A favorite for Passover which falls April 22nd-30th. Add Horseradish to anything that needs a burst of bold flavor. Mix it into dips or salad dressings, spread it onto sandwiches or burgers, mix it with sour cream and serve alongside a roast, add it to your Bloody Mary, serve it instead of wasabi with sushi, or stir it into ketchup and pair with shrimp for homemade cocktail sauce. The options are limitless!
Homemade Horseradish Sauce
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
1 cup peeled and cubed horseradish root
¾ cup white vinegar
2 teaspoons white sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
herbs
New from Bay Area Herbs - Edible Flower and Thai Basil in Compostable Clamshells. Earth Day is April 22nd. Show your love for carrying sustainable packaging by promoting a full line up of Bay Area Herbs. Ask your Earl’s Sales Rep for more information.
lettuce
Butter and Little Gems are experiencing pest pressure as the transition back up North is finishing up.
mushrooms
Far West Fungi offers a wonderful line up of Fresh and Dried Mushrooms. Download the guides on Earl’s marketing resource page.
Don’t miss the Far West Fungi Mushroom Festival May 4th and 5th in Santa Cruz.
onions
Working through the last of the storage crops. Red Onions have been mostly unavailable. We will see a small amount of reds from Peri & Sons out of the PNW and Nature’s Bounty out of Mexico. New crop will start up in May bringing relief to all colors when Peri & Sons starts up out of El Centro. New crop Shallots are coming in July.
peas
Sweet Tutti English and Sugar Snap Peas are an essential element to a spring display.
bell peppers
Divine coming to the end of their deal. Look for Peppers to be a bit bumpy as we enter a transition space. Choice Bell Peppers price and quality is volatile. Mini Mix Peppers are back.
hot peppers
Covilli Fair Trade Jalapeños back in better volume through May. Poblanos are also back with consistent availability.
potatoes
Storage Crop supplies are running out. Prices on Russets, Red and Golds will continue to go up until fresh crop starts in April out of the desert on Reds and Golds and Russets in June. Tasteful Selection Bagged Potatoes will return mid-April. Tasteful Bagged Fingerling Potatoes are sharp!
summer squash
Divine Yellow Straight Neck looks nice. Covilli Zucchini deal winding down as they wrap up their Mexico season.
tomatoes
Covilli Mixed Heirlooms are back and will be abundant through June when Tutti Frutti starts up out of Lompoc. Rainbow Cherries A&A are scarce.
winter squash
Delicata returns this week!
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VEGUCATION CORNER
