-
NEW!
• Gravenstein Apples
• Maywood Main Crop Black Mission and Kadota Figs
• Thomcord Grape Totes 10x2#
• California Esquire Mango mid-week
• Crespo Mallika Indian Mangos
• Sunrise New Fingerling Potatoes
• Sunrise Bagged Shishito Peppers
• Tutti Buttercup and Carnival Hard Squash -
COMING SOON
• Tutti Frutti Red Kuri
• California Keitt Mangos mid-August -
BACK IN STOCK
• Asparagus (Mexico)
• Christopher Ranch Chopped and Roasted Garlic
• Ginger (Peru)
• Purple Bell Peppers
• California Shallots -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Domestic Apples
• Avocados (larger sizes 40/48)
• Brussels Sprouts
• Ambrosio Corn
• Eggplant
• Green and Red Butter Lettuce
• Sweet Potatoes all varieties -
GAPPING
• Utility Apples
• Dwelley Corn
• Colored Cauliflower 1-2 weeks
• Lakeside Watermelon Radish for the next 6 weeks -
WINDING DOWN
• Domestic Apples
-
FINISHED
• California Burdock
• Flame Grapes
• Import Pears
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated August 7, 2022
FRUIT
California Mango season is starting with the Esquire Mango and California Keitt Mangos are just around the corner! With a subtly sweet flavor, the Esquire is the first variety coming out of the short season in California's Salton Sea area! Red, Green and Black Grapes are coming out of the Central San Joaquin Valley (Bakersfield/Delano). Don’t miss new specialty varieties including Champagne, Thomcord and Candy Snap Grapes. Maywood (Corning) main and sweeter crop of Figs has started. Now is the time to enjoy sweet California Figs all on their own. Valencias are the California Summer Orange with outstanding flavor, excellent for juicing. Plums and Pluots will go through the Fall. Two more weeks left on delicious Cherries from the Pacific Northwest(PNW). California Stone Fruit is winding down with plenty of opportunity in August to promote Yellow Peaches and Nectarines. Ask your Earl’s Sales rep for more information. California Hass Avocados 70ct & 84ct will be gapping until the end of the week. Plenty of 48ct and 60ct for all your Avocado needs!
Thomcord Grapes
Burkart White Peaches
Pink Dragon Fruit
APPLES
California apple season starts with local Gravenstein Apples from Sebastopol. The Gravenstein Apple Fair is August 13th-14th.
California Gala new crop is starting up slowly. Domestic storage apples out of the PNW are holding on - think Fuji and Honeycrisp. It is an import market. New Zealand Envy Club Apples will join the Jazz Apple in a few weeks.
AVOCADOS
The Avocado market is volatile with both domestic and import fruit from Peru and Mexico on the market. California remains strong with supply and holding at a steady price point. While Californian fruit cannot keep up with import pricing, the California fruit is eating at its best right now and cannot be beat in flavor! Mexican and Peruvian Hass Avocados are young in maturity which equals lower flavor, lower oil and the possibility of inconsistent ripening.
Traceland (Morro Bay) late season Hass Avocados are one to two weeks out.
BANANAS
Download Earl’s Banana Handling & Receiving Guide for more helpful tips.
retail floor “do’s and don’ts”
Do not stack banana hands more than 2-3 layers high due to risk of bruising
Do not down-stack fruit into shopping carts or other items that can bruise or dent fruit
Treat all bananas with care – ALWAYS hand place on shelf and NEVER drop or throw fruit
BERRIES
Blackberries: Local fruit from Tomatero and Sunrise. Availability will improve as we get into August.
Blueberries: The PNW is past their peak and season is winding down quickly. LaPierre (Washington) large, flavorful Draper and Homegrown (Oregon) 6oz and pints for a few more weeks. Forbidden will be back late August/early September.
Strawberries: Local California is past the peak season, but we will continue to see fruit from Tomatero, Sun Valley and Martinez.
Raspberries: Good availability from AG Berry and Sun Valley along with some Fresh Kampo.
CITRUS
California Lemons coming to an end with a transition to Mexico. Valencias are the summer citrus - excellent for juicing and they will go well into the Fall before transitioning to Mexican fruit. Hyde Grapefruit has a few more weeks of Star Ruby followed by the Marsh variety to take us into the Fall.
figs
Enjoy the first of Maywood (Corning) Black Mission and Green Kadota main and sweeter crop. Brown Turkey and Black Mission also coming out of the central San Joaquin Valley.
grapes
So many new specialty grapes! Thomcord Grapes are a cross between Thompson grapes (crunchy, sweet and seedless) and Concord grapes (deep purple color, classic grape flavor) which gives you the best of both varieties. Now available in recyclable 10x2# tote bags from Fruitworld.
Candy Snaps have a wonderful tropical, fruity and sweet taste. Tiny Champagne grapes, eat the whole cluster, stems and fruit in one bite! Flame Grapes are done and we have moved into the bigger, plumper and sweet Red Seedless Sugra53 from Air Chief. Black Summer Royale and Green Sugarone round out all the colors.
kiwi
California Green Kiwis in 20/1# bags and volume fill. New Zealand Gold Kiwis in clamshells are sweet with no acidity.
melons
Good supply on Seedless and Seeded Watermelon Bins. Thomson Yellow and Seedless Watermelon coming to an end. Specialty Melons are starting up in a bigger way with Piel de Sapo (has pale green to white inner flesh with a sweet flavor similar to Honeydew), Orange Crush Cantaloupe (incredibly sweet with deep orange flesh), Snow Leopard Honeydew (white with splashes of dark green and refreshing light green flesh) and Canary (bright yellow skin and a crisp, super-sweet creamy colored flesh).
Don’t miss our colorful Melon Guide and follow the flavor through the melon season.
pears
The delicious Bartlett grown along the Sacramento Delta will be very green and take a few weeks to ripen. Golden Bosc has a buttery soft and juicy texture. Hosui Asian Pears combine the flavor and sweetness of Pears with the crunchiness of crisp Apples. Their mild flavor is sweet and slightly tart. No California Red Pears available.
stone fruit
D.E Boldt wrapping up their Stone Fruit production and overall California is starting to wind down. We will see Yellow Nectarines through August, and White Peaches and Nectarines for a few more weeks. Yellow Peaches, weather dependent, will go through mid-October. Lots of opportunities to promote Yellow Nectarines and Peaches at aggressive prices for volume promotions. Speak to your Earl’s Sales Rep for more information. Plums and Pluots will go through the Fall. Two more weeks left on delicious Cherries from the PNW.
STONE FRUIT, CONTINUED
Apricots - Rival (PNW)
Cherries - Rainier and Dark Sweet (PNW)
Yellow Nectarines - Honey Haven, August Brite, Fire Sweet, Beach Baby, Giant Bright
White Nectarines - Majestic Pearl
Yellow Peaches - 99, August Flame, Lady Erin, Rich Lady
White Peaches - Snow Giant
Plums - Flavor Gem, Flavor Rich
Pluots – Crimson Glo, Honey Punch, Dapple Dandy
Peterson Family Fruit - Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC)- August Flame Yellow Peach and Beach Baby Yellow Nectarine
Tropicals
California Mango season is starting with the Esquire Mango mid-week and California Keitt Mangos are just around the corner! With a subtly sweet flavor, the Esquire is the first variety coming out of the short season in California's Salton Sea area! It is a low water variety meaning non-tropical regions and regions more susceptible to drought can grow this tasty piece of fruit. They start out on the greener side but will ripen up often with little to no change in skin color, later in the season they will land with more yellow and red on them as they ripen.
Crespo Summer Mango Mania continues with promotable pricing on all varieties and sizes.
Ataulfos are winding down with excellent opportunities on 20ct. Tommy Atkins Mangos are done and transitioning into the Kent variety. NEW Mallika Indian Mangos have silky and creamy fiberless sweet flesh. Pale green skin turns bright yellow with light pinkish and yellow blush tones.
Covilli Oaxacan Pineapples for a few more weeks. Plenty of delicious Dole Pineapples.
Refreshing Dragon Fruit is a delicious superfood. It is also known as pitaya, pitahaya, or strawberry pear. The flesh has edible seeds, and the flavor is slightly sweet and tastes like a cross between a kiwi and a pear. How to eat: The soft skin is very easy to cut through. Cut the fruit lengthwise in half and scoop out the flesh or peel back the skin and cut the fruit into bite sized pieces. Watch “How to eat Dragon Fruit, a refreshing superfood!”
VEGETABLES
This is the time of year that Dwelley(Brentwood) corn is seeing higher worm pressure. We will see a gap for about a week and a half when they move into a new block. Ambrosio(Gilroy) will have limited volume on corn. The Broccoli market is beginning to stabilize, with better supply. Calo continues to see heavy aphid pressure in Red Butter Lettuce and will gap until they start up out of a new field. Lakeside Butter Lettuce has great quality. California Russet Potatoes are done for the year. The PNW will start up this week. California Reds and Golds still available from Bakersfield through the fall. Don’t miss the gorgeous new fingerling potatoes from Sunrise(Austrian Crescent, Amarosa, Purple and Rainbow). Sunrise ‘new’ potatoes are freshly dug, cleaned and packed without being cured in the field or the cooler. Storage Tip: New potatoes should be stored and displayed under refrigeration to maintain the freshness and quality of the potato.
Local cherry tomatoes are picking up steam and have excellent flavor as well as Early Girl and Heirloom Tomatoes. Tutti Frutti Mixed Heirlooms have great flavor. Tutti winter squash program has started with Kabocha, Buttercup and Carnival. Now is the time to start getting excited about Tutti Hard Squash Bins! Download Earl’s Hard Squash Guide.
Tutti Frutti Mixed Heirlooms
Tutti Frutti Hard Squash
Shishito Peppers
asparagus
Mexico supply is healthy, with a more robust production cycle in the Fall.
ARTICHOKES
Ocean Mist steady.
beets
Lakeside Gold and Red Bunched Beets looking fantastic. Loose Gold Beets are extremely tight. Expect a gap at some point this month.
varietal beans
Dwelley Cranberry Beans are back along with Blue Lake Beans, French Beans, Romano Beans and Yellow Wax Beans.
BROCCOLI & broccoli crowns
Steady from a mix of growers.
sweet baby bROCCOLI
Lakeside really sharp. Tomatero will return later this week.
Brussels Sprouts
Covilli is done. Vegland will have some supply. Overall inventory is tight.
cabbage
Growers continue to see quality issues on Green Cabbage. Continue to look to Calo. Napa Cabbage Oceanside for another 1-2 weeks. Tomatero Savoy is beautiful!
carrots
Sunrise has started up with Purple Bunched Carrots. Sunrise Sweet Nantes are delicious!
cauliflower
Colored Cauliflower gapping for a few more weeks.
romanesco
Sun Valley is gapping until the next field starts up. Tomatero returns this week!
celery
Calling all Juicers! Juice Celery price is dropping.
corn
This is the time of year that Dwelley (Brentwood) is seeing higher worm pressure. We will see a gap for about a week and a half when they move into a new block. Ambrosio (Gilroy) will have limited volume.
cucumbers
Tight on Persian Clamshells. Plenty of Bulk Persians. Summer is the time for specialty cucumbers. Pickling Cucumbers now available in 10# and 22#. Comanche Armenian (also known as Painted Serpent) and Lemon Cucumbers are refreshing and crunchy.
eggplant
Anna starting up with Globe Eggplant. Specialty varieties include Chinese (long, narrow with a light purple color), Filipino (long, slender with smooth violet skin and creamy white flesh with few seeds); Orient Express (long and slender with thin purple skin and light flavor it is a favorite for Asian dishes).
ginger
Fresh new crop has beautiful hands of Ginger.
greens
As Sun Valley’s production on greens is slowing down we will see more Lakeside Chards, Collards and Kales.
herbs
Calo Cilantro gapping. Plenty of local growers. Calo Dill is back and we will continue to see Coke Dill at a value price. Tomatero Bunched Basil/Case is the essence of summer. It’s time to make pesto!
lettuce
Little Gems from Tomatero a bit limited. Butter Lettuce is a better spot to start the week. Lakeside has product but pricing remains expensive until Calo starts up again in another three weeks.
mushrooms
A heat wave in Canada has tightened up Portabellas from Farmers Fresh. The growth cycle takes a couple of weeks, expect supply to be tight until then.
bell peppers
Bakersfield is done with Reds. Plenty of 11# in all colors. Choice may be tight on the front side of the week. Beautiful Purple Bell Peppers from Sunrise are back.
hot/sweet peppers
White Jalapenos have a light fruity flavor and are hotter than a green Jalapeno, but not as hot as a Serrano. Sweet Gypsy Peppers are a light yellow. Wonderful in summer salads. Anaheim, Jalapeno, Serrano, Padron, Poblano and Shishito are in good supply. Lots of local hot peppers, Padrons and Shishitos. New from Sunrise, Shishito Cello Bags!
onions
It is transition time as most of California is finishing with their onion crop and we are moving into product from the Pacific Northwest. California Country Sweet is done with sweets. Tutti Frutti has started with their Sweet Onions along with Peri. Peri is set to transition to Nevada at the end of August. Anderson (PNW) is starting this week. Shallots are really good looking - 20# case is a good value.
potatoes
California Russet Potatoes are done for the year. The PNW will start up this week. California Reds and Golds still available from Bakersfield through the fall. Don’t miss the gorgeous New Fingerling Potatoes from Sunrise (Austrian Crescent, Amarosa, Purple and Rainbow).
summer squash
Beautiful Zucchini from Tomatero! Yellow Bar and Straight Neck Summer Squash from JAS, Sunrise Sunburst and gorgeous Mixed Squash from Comanche.
Download Earl’s Squash Guide here.
sweet potatoes
Keeping the number tights on storage crop. New crop by end of the month.
tomatoes
Still have some cool weather in most of the growing regions. Mild days elongate the time fruit stays on the vine, further developing the flavor. Tutti moving into field grown tomatoes soon and we will see larger sized fruit.
tomatoes, continued
Early Girls from Comanche and Dry Farmed Early Girls from Ambrosio and Tutti. A bounty of Cherry Tomato varietals from local growers.
winter squash
New from Tutti Frutti - Red Kuri, Delicata, Spaghetti and Kabocha. Anna’s Organic joining the party with Delicata, Spaghetti and Acorn. Sunrise Orange Kabocha is a nice compliment to green Kabocha.
FOLLOW THE FLAVOR @EARLSORGANIC ON INSTAGRAM
VEGUCATION CORNER
