• may highlights

    • Cinco de Mayo – don’t miss Earl’s live Instagram Friday May 3rd at 1pm sharing Crespo Mango recipes and cutting tips!
    • Far West Fungi Mushroom Festival in Santa Cruz - May 4-5
    • Mother’s Day - May 12th
    • Memorial Day - May 27th

  • NEW!

    • Thai Coco Buckets
    • Crespo Ataulfos Big Box
    • Spring Specialties: Fiddlehead Ferns and Ramps - pre-order by Tuesday for Thursday delivery
    • Fresh Crop Peruvian Ginger
    • Tutti Frutti, Comanche, and Sunrise Local Sugar Snap Peas
    • Tomatero Zucchini
    • California Green Beans (Coachella)

  • promotable volume

    • California Coastal View Produce Asparagus
    • JAS Artichokes
    • Covilli Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts
    • Sunrise Nantes and Rainbow Carrots
    • Mixed Heirlooms (Mexico)

  • COMING SOON

    • California Cherries
    • Fresh Crop Onions mid-May
    • U.S. Grown Top Fox Flavored Organic Pumpkin Seeds

  • BACK IN STOCK

    • Red and Green Leaf and Butter Lettuce in better supply

  • TIGHT INVENTORY

    • Celery
    • Baby Bok Choy
    • Romaine Lettuce

  • GAPPING

    • Tasteful Bagged Potatoes

  • WINDING DOWN

    • Navels
    • Cara Caras

  • finished

    • Cello Navels
    • Pom Arils
    • Ralph’s Leeks

BUYER’S NOTES

Updated April 28, 2024

FRUIT

fruit mARKET update

Stone Fruit season is looking to be good with a strong bloom set. The trees had chill hours, no frost damage and plenty of water. Apricot and Cherry season is just around the corner, and we may see our first Cherries in about a week! 

Convenient Pre-Conditioned Hass Avocados 14/6ct Net Bags offer your customers a delicious personal sized Avocado that is ready to eat in a few days.

Cinco de Mayo is this weekend! Cross merchandise California Hass Avocados with sweet and juicy Mexican Ataulfo and Tommy Atkin Mangos for the holiday.

Earl’s will be live on Instagram this Friday at 1pm highlighting their favorite ways to eat Crespo mangos.

Stack them high! Covilli Fair Trade Limes will be plentiful for Cinco de Mayo.

No big storms in sight and Berries are looking up across the category. Tomatero and AG Berry will lead Local Strawberries with bright red color and delicious flavor. Cross merchandise with California 6oz and pint Blueberries. Blackberries and Raspberries from Mexico add color and variety to retail displays.

Mother’s Day is May 12th. Speak with your Earl’s Sales rep about promotional opportunities for the holiday.

The first arrival of the Thai Coco Bucket was a slam dunk. They are returning on Sunday. The convenient Thai Coco Bucket makes it easy to enjoy fresh coconut water on the go. Just use the handy puncture tool, insert the straw into the top of the coconut and enjoy a refreshing and hydrating beverage rich with amino acids that can help you recover from a workout faster.

It’s Cinco de Mayo week. Ataulfo and Tommy Atkins Mangos make an excellent salsa. Covilli Fair Trade Jalapeños are on Earl’s Weekly Specials and are a key ingredient in salsas and guacamole.

Apples

The Cosmic Crisp has a fantastic crunch and outstanding flavor. Look no further than the WXFY-premium 100ct with no sticker for a fantastic value on a Club Apple. Pazazz, SugarBee and Jazz Club Apples going for a little longer.

Avocados

Convenient Pre-Conditioned Hass Avocados 14/6ct Net Bags offer your customers a delicious personal sized Avocado that is ready to eat in a few days. Cinco de Mayo is this weekend! Cross merchandise California Hass Avocados with sweet and juicy Mexican Ataulfo and Tommy Atkin Mangos for the holiday. Earl’s will be live on Instagram this Friday at 1pm highlighting their favorite ways to eat Crespo Mangos.

Bananas

Earl’s Fair Trade Banana program is year-round. A few extra pennies per pound, the Fair Trade premium, empowers farmworkers to democratically choose projects that make a difference in their community. And Bananas aren’t the only Fair Trade product we carry!

Berries

No big storms in sight and Berries are looking up across the category. Tomatero and AG Berry will lead Local Strawberries with bright red color and delicious flavor. Cross merchandise with California 6oz and pint Blueberries. Blackberries and Raspberries from Mexico add color and variety to retail displays.

Citrus

Stack them high! Covilli Fair Trade Limes will be plentiful for Cinco de Mayo.

Rio Reds Grapefruit are extremely sweet and have barely any seeds. A tasty piece of fruit.

Mexican Valencias are done being harvested and California has started up. Sugars and color are still developing on new crop fruit, and we are in a place of scarcity until volume gets going.  Murcotts and Tangos going for a few more weeks. 

Navels are far and few between. Cara Caras may go another week. 

Last shot of Nagami Kumquats. Eat the out of hand or juice them for a shot of tangy acidity in your favorite juice or smoothie.

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. Gold Kiwis 8x1# clamshells from New Zealand arrive mid-May and green fruit will start up in June.

melons

Cantaloupe and Mini Seedless Watermelons from Mexico will continue through May until the first of the California season starts up.

nuts

Check out the new low price on Almonds! Storing Almonds in the refrigerator will maintain their freshness for at least a year.

pears

Nice handful of Import Pears: Abate Fetel and Alexander Lucas Dessert Pears are creamy and sweet. Wonderful for eating out of hand or baked. Autumn Bartletts (also known as the Packham with a wider base than the Bartlett), Bartletts, D’Anjou, Bosc and Red Bartlett round out the pear category. So many wonderful varieties and colors to choose from.

stone fruit

Stone Fruit season is looking to be good with a strong bloom set. The trees had chill hours, no frost damage and plenty of water. Apricot and Cherry season is just around the corner, and we may see our first Cherries in about a week!

tropicals

Crespo Ataulfos Big Box arriving this weekend. Fruit will be in the 12-14ct size range. Tommy Atkins are super sweet with low acid and ripening up with full color. A really great piece of fruit. Look for an aggressive price for Cinco de Mayo and don’t miss Earl’s live Instagram on Friday, May 3rd at 1pm sharing mango cutting tips and recipes. 

The first arrival of the Thai Coco Bucket was a slam dunk. They are returning on Sunday. The convenient Thai Coco Bucket makes it easy to enjoy fresh coconut water on the go. Just use the handy puncture tool, insert the straw into the top of the coconut and enjoy a refreshing and hydrating beverage rich with amino acids that can help you recover from a workout faster.

VEGETABLES

download coastal view produce california asparagus pos cards for your display!

veg mARKET update

Celery is the last item to make the spring transition back up north to the Salinas & Watsonville area. Mexico is seeing blight and harvest damage, and U.S. grown Celery is not sizing up due to weather. Celery will be tight on the front side of the week. Mexico will wrap up their season in about 2 weeks. Expect Celery challenges to continue a while longer.

The first of the fresh crop Peruvian Ginger has finally arrived by air. Fresh Crop Ginger has a light cure and the skin hasn’t had time to develop a thicker cured skin. Buyer beware you may see some skinning. It will be limited at the beginning of the season.

Red and Green Leaf and Butter Lettuce is looking up this week with better volume and quality. Tomatero getting into their Lettuce fields and will have a nice spring crop. Romaine Lettuce is seeing some pest pressure with aphids that is typical at this time of year and will be limited.

Celebrate the bounty of spring with local sweet Sugar Snap Peas from Tutti Frutti (Lompoc), Sunrise (Buellton) and Comanche (Chico).

Support California Asparagus! There are only two main Organic Asparagus growers left in California. Coastal View Produce is an Earl’s Exclusive. 28# volume cases offer a better price per pound. Download California Coastal View Produce Asparagus POS cards above and share the love for California Asparagus as well as easy asparagus recipes. POS cards are also available to be sent with your next delivery. Let your Earl’s Sales rep know.

Spring Specialties: Far West Fungi Fiddlehead Ferns 12/6oz and Ramps 2x3# bags

Pre-Order by Tuesday for Thursday delivery. Available through May.

fiddleheads

Fiddleheads are sweet like asparagus, grassy, and snappy like a great green bean. Prep fiddleheads by rinsing the fronds and rubbing off any papery brown skin. Once clean, fiddleheads can be blanched and then grilled, steamed, braised, sautéed, roasted, or pickled.

 
 

Sautéed Fiddleheads

  • 3 cups fresh fiddlehead ferns cleaned and ends trimmed

  • 3 tablespoons unfiltered extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook fiddlehead ferns in the boiling water until barely tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in prepared fiddlehead ferns, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until ferns are lightly browned and tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle with lemon juice.

ramps

Ramps are part of the allium family and taste stronger than a leek, which generally has a mild onion flavor. They are loved for their garlicky flavor which shines in pesto, sauces and vinaigrettes. Like spring onions, you can eat ramps from top to bulb. The ramp season is short, and wild foraged like truffles. Keep the season going a little longer by pickling them. Ask your Earl’s Sales Rep for more information on this coveted spring specialty. 

 
 

asparagus

Support California Asparagus! There are only two main Organic Asparagus growers left in California. Coastal View Produce is an Earl’s Exclusive. 28# volume cases offer a better price per pound. Download California Coastal View Produce Asparagus POS cards above and share the love for California Asparagus as well as easy recipes.

artichokes

Locally grown JAS Artichokes grown in Hollister are sweet looking with aggressive pricing.

baby bok choy

Very limited due to slow growth during the transition period back north.

varietal beans

Lots of Beans to choose from. Fava Beans are here in good supply. Covilli Green Beans have moved into a new block with improved supply. The first California Green Beans have arrived from Coachella.

broccoli

Quality looks really nice.

brussels sprouts

Covilli Brussels Sprouts are beautiful and in promotable volume.

carrots

Sunrise Nantes and Rainbow Carrots are back and plentiful.

cauliflower

The spring transition is complete and we are seeing a nice explosion of product. Look for Earl’s weekly special.

celery

Blight continues to be an issue and it will be a rough transition on quality. Mexico quality is nice, and production will stay there until domestic quality improves.

ginger

The first of the Fresh Crop Peruvian Ginger has finally arrived by air. Fresh Crop Ginger has a light cure, and the skin hasn’t had time to develop a thicker cured skin. Buyer beware you may see some skinning. It will be limited at the beginning of the season.

greens

Lakeside Greens offer a great value on Kales and Chards.

herbs

Quality issues on Parsley is tightening up supply with high prices.

lettuce

Red and Green Leaf and Butter Lettuce is looking up this week with better volume and quality. Tomatero getting into their lettuce fields and will have a nice spring crop. Romaine Lettuce is seeing some pest pressure with aphids that is typical at this time of year and will be limited.

leeks

Ralph’s Leeks have finished for the season. Now into all California product.

mushrooms

Mushrooms are returning soon. Far West Fungi is waiting for the snow to melt to forage for the high-altitude Wild Morels. FWF will have Morels in bulk and clamshells. Don’t miss two day so

onions

Peri & Sons have completed the transition from Yerington to El Centro. All colors will be back with fresh crop by mid-May.

peas

Celebrate the bounty of spring with local sweet Sugar Snap Peas from Tutti Frutti (Lompoc), Sunrise (Buellton) and Comanche (Chico). Download a Tutti Frutti Sugar Snap Pea POS card below.

hot peppers

It’s Cinco de Mayo week. Covilli Fair Trade Jalapeños are on Earl’s Weekly Specials and are a key ingredient in salsas and guacamole. Don’t forget Crespo Mangos in your holiday display.

potatoes

Storage crop Russets, Reds and Golds will wrap up by the middle of June. Tasteful Selection Gold and Medley delayed a few weeks.

spinach

Oceanside small but clean bunches at a great price.

rhubarb

Pacific Northwest Grown, Rhubarb is tart when raw and sweet when cooked. Learn more about Rhubarb in our blog.

summer squash

Tomatero spring Zucchini starting up and will go for a few months. 

tomatoes

Mixed Heirlooms from Mexico are in promotable volume. Perfect for promoting for Cinco de Mayo!

FOLLOW THE FLAVOR @EARLSORGANIC ON INSTAGRAM

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