-
NEW!
• California Delta Bartletts mid-week
• Durst Watermelon Bins
• Brown Turkey Figs - Main Crop
• Air Chief Grapes -
COMING SOON
• Mexican Lemons
• Gravensteins and Galas -
BACK IN STOCK
• Thompson Watermelon Bins
• Apricots
• Watermelon Radish -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Domestic and Utility Apples
• Avocados (larger sizes 40/48)
• Eggplant
• Green and Red Butter Lettuce
• Sweet Potatoes all varieties
• Lemons
• Blackberries
• Winter Squash -
GAPPING
• Rutabaga
• Shallots
• Salanovas -
WINDING DOWN
• Domestic Fuji
• Green Thai Mangos -
FINISHED
• Import Pears (except Red D’anjou)
• California Coastal View Produce Asparagus
• California Burdock
• Cal-O Bulk Fingerlings discontinued
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated July 17, 2022
FRUIT
As we move into middle of summer, California and Pacific Northwest fruits are both producing in a big way! The first true flush of Brown Turkey Figs will hit this week, ready to mingle with Air Chief Grapes and Watermelon Bins from Durst! Watsonville Strawberries are going strong, with a flush of Tomatero Blackberries in the wings. California Valencias are bountiful with promotable supply, though lemons will be tight as Mexican Lemons from Covilli begin to ramp up. Burkart is coming into a full flush of Peaches and Nectarines: some of the most flavorful, premium fruit you can find out of the valley. Look for the first California Pears this week, just in time as import supplies dwindle, with Gravenstein Apples next month. And out of the Pacific Northwest – LaPierre and Homegrown are continuing to ramp up Blueberry production throughout the month: expect large berries, great flavor, and many pack sizes to choose from. A couple weeks of Columbian Gorge Cherries along with large & juicy Apricots, the best of the season so far! Mexico is joining the party with a flush of all Mango varieties from Crespo, gorgeous white and magenta Dragonfruit from Covilli, and Papayas too! It’s a great time for fruit, and to bulk up those displays for these sweltering days.
APPLES
Domestic Fuji is winding down, the last one standing. Gala set to start end of August, with Gravensteins leading the local way.
AVOCADOS
Rincon fruit coming back on with great supply. The fruit is eating great - creamy flesh with full flavor. Look forward to some promotions in the near future, especially on smaller fruit (60ct/70ct)! Peruvian fruit is in house as a great value opportunity. Expect Traceland and Mexican Fair Trade from Equal Exchange end of August or early September. #2 Fruit also in good supply, be sure to ask your Earl’s sales rep!
BANANAS
Inventory and conditioning are in a great rhythm, don’t forget to scope our daily banana report!
BERRIES
Blackberries: Tomatero starting up with sweet and succulent large berries!
Blueberries: LaPierre and Homegrown started with a bang last week, excellent quality and flavor. Will continue to ramp up this month. Learn more on our blog.
Strawberries: California grown fruit is tasty and in promotable volumes from a mix of growers - Tomatero, Sun Valley, Martinez, and more!
Raspberries: Moving into greater quantity from US sources, including AG Berry.
CITRUS
Grapefruit: Back into sweet, juicy volume from Hyde!
Grapes: Moving forward it’ll be an Air Chief party! Excellent flavor on all colors. Ask about bulk grapes!
Valencias: Promotional volumes becoming available as we move into late Summer.
California Lemons: Getting tight for a couple weeks, with prices climbing. Mexican fruit from Covilli not quite ready yet – another week or two.
figs
Brown Turkeys in over the weekend, with Black Missions on their tail later this week! Past the early Breba crop, we’re looking at the first flush with full inventory through the Fall.
pears
Only Red D’anjou available from Import. California Bartletts in this week!
STONE FRUIT
Cherries going strong from Pacific Northwest, into Columbia Gorge this week with a dropping price. Pluots – Dapple Fire, Crimson Glow, Dapple Dandy! Beautiful deep magenta flesh and very sweet. Lots of fruit coming on from Burkart over the next few weeks – one of our most flavorful, premium growers. Pacific Northwest Apricots are here – juicy, large, and in good supply for the next few weeks.
TROPICALS
May see a gap on Covilli Pineapples as they move between growers – plenty of Dole to cover all your pineapple needs. Into a good stride on Dragonfruit, along with domestic fruit from RVO. Mangos – solid numbers on all varieties! We’ve begun to receive direct Papaya deliveries, which should ensure optimum freshness
Mango Mania!
Crespo Summer Mango Mania is not to be missed! Ask your Earl’s Sales Rep for more information or a Mango Mania POS Packet and download digital materials to highlight your display. Learn more about how you can participate!
VEGETABLES
Well into summer, the same conditions that gives us ripe, juicy tomatoes create the conditions for aphids, other pests, and sunburn. We are loving the first flush of local Cherry Tomatoes – with gorgeous varietals from Durst, Ambrosio, Anna’s, and Comanche. Heirlooms and Corn supplies both hit a snag last week with some lower temperatures, but should be back into good supply this week. Early Girls are touch and go for now – but continue to improve in quality and flavor. The Broccoli market is beginning to stabilize, with better supply from Josie’s and Lakeside, Sunrise Crowns to compliment. Baby Broccoli will be a Lakeside show, as Tomatero is gapping for a few weeks. Their Romanesco will be gapping as well, though Celery is bountiful and clean. After a week of heavy aphid pressure in Red Butter Lettuce, Cal-O is harvesting from new, aphid-free fields, and Lakeside has great quality. The Greens category can feel the aphids as well – especially Lacinato Kale, so be sure to give them a good wash. We’re seeing more Peppers from Wilgenburg, along with local Cucumbers. Eggplants from Coke are back, and Varietal Eggplants and Peppers are skipping into the warehouse as well, though in a limited way to start. As for those hardier crops – California Garlic is spotless and fresh, Onions are looking solid, and the Russet and Gold Potato supplies are opening up with no expected gaps.
asparagus
Good availability out of central Mexico. Fresh and looking solid.
ARTICHOKES
Sizing up smaller from Ocean Mist, look for larger chokes from Lakeside.
Bunched beets
Gapping from Sun Valley, but plenty of volume from Cal-O, Terra Firma, and Ocean Mist.
green beans
Dwelley limited on varietal beans- Cranberry, Romano, Yellow Wax. Blue Lake Green Beans looking good.
broccoli
The market is stabilizing – better volume and quality from Josie’s as well as Lakeside. Limited crowns from Sunrise to compliment Josie’s.
sweet baby bROCCOLI
Tomatero will be gapping for a few weeks, but Lakeside is looking great.
brussels sprouts
Inventory on the tight side.
carrots
Rainbow Carrots from Sunrise are back – clean and pretty!
cauliflower
Sun Valley flush with Orange and Purple varieties for the next couple weeks, before a gap in August.
corn
Dwelley back into plenty of bi-color supply!
romanesco
Excessive purpling and aphid pressure and the fields, Sun Valley to start up in another week.
celery
Beautiful, great price from Tomatero and Josie’s!
cucumbers
Price coming down on cucumbers, better volume this week. Euro – Wilgenburg starting this week, with Mexico to supplement.
eggplant
Coke Eggplant is back. Varietals coming on from Comanche and Full Belly in limited quantity – look for Chinese Eggplant!
garlic
Spotless and beautiful domestic garlic from Christopher Ranch!
lettuce
We are keeping a close eye on Red Butter quality, after issues with aphids last week. Green Butter from Lakeside in better shape, and Cal-O moving into a new field this week. Little Gems are gorgeous from Tomatero, though Sunrise Salanovas are gapping.
leeks
Large and strong from Lakeside.
bell peppers
Yellow Bells back this week, along with Mini Mixed Peppers. More local supply coming on from Wilgenburg. Moving into solid supply of local Hot Peppers and Shishitos – look for clamshell Shishitos from Tomatero, with Padrons on their tail!
onions
California going strong! Terra Firma is a great opportunity for a local onion at an aggressive price.
potatoes
Availability opening up on Russets of all sizes, with no expected gaps.
radishes
Watermelon back this week!
summer squash
Tomatero reaching a peak for Zucchini – excellent supply and beautiful, uniform squash. Yellow Squash varieties in from JAS and Comanche.
sweet potatoes
End of the season, keeping inventory tight.
tomatoes
Look for Ambrosio, Durst, Anna’s, and Comanche. Mixed pints and Sungolds aplenty, though Early Girls still touch and go.
winter squash
California coming on in a small way - small numbers of Kabocha and Delicata. Spaghetti, Acorn, and Butternut in good shape.
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