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Upcoming Holidays
• Labor Day: September 4th
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NEW!
• La Granjita Hot Peppers, Watermelon Gherkins, Mixed Medley Tomatoes
• Maywood Black Mission Figs
• Hosui Asian Pears
• PNW Starkrimson Red Pears
• Crespo Mango Mania Display Contest Winner Announced! -
promotable items
• California Bartlett Pears
• California Raspberries
• Black Mission and Brown Turkey Figs
• Black, Green, and Red Seedless Grapes
• Stone Fruit - Plums and Pluots
• Tomatero Blackberries and Strawberries
• PNW Blueberries 6oz, pints and 18oz
• Tomatero 12ct naked cauliflower
• Mixed Heirlooms
• Local Monterey County Zucchini -
COMING SOON
• Concord Grapes in 3 weeks
• Jujubes first pick in a few weeks.
• Persimmons and Pomegranates September
• JAS Corn in 2 weeks and artichokes in September
• California Keitt Mangos
• California Kiwis
• D’Anjou Pears -
BACK IN STOCK
• Thai Coconuts
• Intennza Papayas
• Sunrise Nantes - limited volume
• Purple and Orange Cauliflower
• Count Russets
• Shallots on Monday -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Lemons
• Sweet Potatoes -
GAPPING
• Celery Root
• Burdock
• Cal-O Red and Green Butter
• French Breakfast Radish
• Cal-O and Lakeside Bunched Spinach -
WINDING DOWN
• Covilli Brussels Sprouts (Baja)
• Storage Crop Domestic Apples
• PNW Rival Apricots
• Durst Seedless Watermelon Bins -
finished
• Cosmic Crisp Club Apple
• PNW Apricots
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated August 20, 2023
FRUIT
fruit mARKET update
It’s fresh crop California Gala and Bartlett time! The California heat gets the sugars to express themselves for a fantastic eating experience. Download Earl’s Bartlett Pears Ripening and Storage Tips here.
Seasonal transition on Stone Fruit as supplies tighten up. Peaches are winding down and late harvest fruit is eating firmer. They are lower in moisture and less juicy than early varieties but they are full of flavor. The Peaches have been on the tree longer resulting in a more solid piece of fruit. Don’t wait until they get too soft though, this could result in a mealy peach. We will have plenty of late seasonal varietals through August. On the Pluot front the Honey Punch has excellent flavor and gorgeous color. Pluots are a great Stone Fruit item to promote as Peaches and Nectarine supply slows down.
Hurricane Hilary is also expected to hit the Central Coast early next week. Folks are beginning to strip pick in preparation for the rain. Expect to see a lot of small fruit on the market followed by limited availability late next week. PNW has some late plantings coming on that should get us through late August/Early September including the popular O'Henry!
California Mango season is starting with the Esquire Mango mid-week and California Keitt Mangos arriving end of this week. 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.
Concord Grapes are just finishing up turning purple and it should be about another 20 to 25 more days before they get to where the sugar needs to be at.
Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Kadota and Excel Figs are tasting exceptional fresh and superb in homemade fig bars.
In tropical fruit, the 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.
Sunrise Passion Fruit has been delayed until early September due to a wet spring.
Raspberries
Apples
It’s Fresh Crop California Gala time! The California heat gets the sugars to express themselves for a fantastic eating experience.
Good opportunities on smaller Galas 113ct. Wonderful for juicing, school lunch programs, delis, kitchens and back to school snacks!
California Gravensteins are a local favorite! The Gravenstein is loved for its sweet tart flavor and berry fragrance. It makes gorgeous cider and an excellent pie.
Pink Lady/Cripps Pink winding down. Granny Smith is very difficult to find. Import Utility Apples are back and very pricey.
Avocados
The California season is winding down and fruit is coming out the northern regions. Traceland (Morro Bay) first pick this week with good sizing on 48ct and 60ct. We will see some #2 Avocados for delis and kitchens.
Bananas
Download Earl’s Banana Handling & Receiving Guide for more helpful tips.
Bananas are extremely susceptible to fluctuating temperatures.
Do not expose them to extremes of cold or heat
Avoid setting containers in drafts, near heating vents, windows, or motors
Ideal temperature to store in a well-ventilated space: 56 to 58 F,13.3 to 14.4 C
Temperature for ripening: 60 to 65 F, 15.6 to 18.3 C
Relative humidity: 90 - 95%
Mist: No
Typical shelf life: 3 to 7 days (ripened, depending on conditions)
Do not store or transport with commodities that produce ethylene i.e., apples, pears, etc.
Highly sensitive to freezing injury for a sustained amount of time (+12 hours)
Susceptible to chilling injury if kept below 55 F, 13.3 C
Damage sometimes is not apparent until the produce is returned to a higher temperature
Maywood Figs
BERRIES
Blackberries: Tomatero Berries are large and sweet!
Blueberries: PNW Blueberries are towards the end of the season with good quality on 6oz, pints and 18oz. Forbidden starting mid to late September!
Strawberries: Watsonville fruit comes in waves with excellent flavor. Harvest starting out of the Santa Maria southern growing region.
Raspberries: Outstanding flavor on California Raspberries. Wonderful fresh and frozen blended in a tropical drink for a hot summer afternoon.
Citrus
California Lemons sporadic out of the desert. Mexican Lemons are more readily available.
Valencias are the summer citrus- excellent for juicing. They will be ending early due to a wet and cold spring. We may see a gap before transitioning to Mexican fruit.
Lime inventory is perking up!
fall
Persimmons and Pomegranates coming in September. Jujubes first pick in a few weeks.
figs
In great supply on Black Mission, Brown Turkey and Kadota. The main crop is rich and sugary all on their own!
grapes
Sweet and crunchy Red, Green and Black Seedless in cello bags, loose and Benzler Totes are back. Thomcord Grapes are a seasonal favorite and customers love the tote bags.
Sunview Sparkle Red Seedless Grape is a proprietary variety with juicy sweetness.
Concord Grapes are just finishing up turning purple right now. It should be about another 20 to 25 more days before they get to where the sugar needs to be at.
kiwi
California Kiwis mid to late September. New Zealand Gold Kiwis winding down with extraordinary flavor. Look for these gems to be around for another 2-3 weeks.
Thomcord Grape Totes
melons
Orange Honeydew gapping for a few weeks. Cantaloupes in good supply.
Durst Watermelons will continue in small amounts through September.
pears
Hosui Asian Pears kick off the season which goes through spring. Stay tuned for plenty of promotional opportunities. Frog Hollow Warren Pears coming soon!
New Crop California Bartlett and Golden Bosc Pears. Good opportunities on smaller Bartlett, 110ct/120ct. The California heat gets the sugars to express themselves for a fantastic eating experience.
Starkrimson Red Pear coming out of the Pacific Northwest. We may see some D’Anjous soon.
stone fruit
Supplies tight and demand is strong as we head towards the end of the season and Hurricane Hilary is expected to hit the Central Coast early next week. The full update can be found under the fruit update.
Plums: Black Knight
Pluots: Honey Punch, Flavor King
Apricots: PNW is finished for the season
Yellow Nectarines: Fire Sweet, Red Roy, Summerflame
White Nectarines: Regal Pearl
Yellow Peaches: August Flame
White Peaches: Ice Princess
tropicals
May see a 1-2 week gap on Pineapples as growers out of Mexico and Costa Rica wait for fruit to size up.
California Mango season is starting with the Esquire Mango mid-week and California Keitt Mangos arriving end of this week. With a subtly sweet flavor, the Esquire is the first variety coming out of the short season in California's Salton Sea area!
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.
VEGETABLES
veg market update
JAS (Monterey Country) has a robust summer program with Eggplant, Peppers and Tomatoes. Exciting fall crops to look forward include Corn and Artichokes. Artichokes will run through January.
Comanche Creek (Chico) has so many beautiful Sweet and Hot Peppers, Cucumbers, Summer Squash and Tomatoes.
We are excited to welcome back Veronica and Victor from La Granjita (Hollister) “Little Organic Farm”. They are kicking off their season with Hot Peppers, Green Bells, Watermelon Gherkins and soon Cape Gooseberries.
Local Heirloom Tomatoes flavor, color mix, and uniform size getting better with each land. August is the California Tomato Season! Tutti Frutti benefits from the coastal influence which keeps their heirloom tomatoes firmer, later into the season. Temperatures down to 63-65 degrees at night allows the tomatoes to rest. When all the other local growers are down Tutti will go through Thanksgiving or the first frost.
Covilli is at the tail end of their season and Brussels Sprouts out of Baja will soon be done.
Sun Valley continues to have beautiful Chards and Kales. Orange and Purple Cauliflower offers a wonderful color break on retail displays.
Sunrise is increasing their summer offerings with Bunched Basil, Hot and Specialty Peppers, Purple Bells, Bagged Shishito Peppers, fresh dug Fingerling Potatoes, Honeynut Squash and Beefsteak Tomatoes.
Anna’s is in the middle of their Pepper season and coming back into Eggplant after the fruit has sized up.
Mexican Asparagus will be tight until the end of September when harvesting will start out of Cabora. Mexico is in a severe drought in the Asparagus growing regions. Growers are allocated a certain amount of water. After that, they rely on monsoon rains each afternoon to water June-September.
Green Okra
Asparagus
Stalled out a bit and inventory has tightened up this week.
Artichokes
Lakeside slowing down for a bit and Ocean Mist is back with mostly 24ct.
baby bok choy
Yields are low and inventory has tightened up.
varietal beans
Dwelley Blue Lake Beans trickling in. French, Romano and Yellow Wax in steady supply.
corn
Dwelley will have a small gap until the end of the week. PNW Nottinghamshire will carry us through the gap.
broccoli
A big flush from Lakeside and Tomatero.
brussels sprouts
Covilli is wrapping up their season until California starts in September.
carrots
Sunrise Bunched Nantes very limited for another week or two. Rainbow, Purple and Yellow Carrots make a colorful display.
cauliflower
Pretty Orange and Purple Cauliflower from Sun Valley.
romanesco
Abundant from Lakeside for the next few weeks.
celery
Really nice quality from Tomatero and Josie’s with steady pricing through August.
Full line of Wild Crafted Dried Mushrooms
cucumbers
Slicer pricing has shot up and Juice Cucumbers are hard to find.
eggplant
Exciting varietals include: Calliope (small white and purple oval Indian eggplant), Filipino (long eggplant that is purple in color with some green) and Paloma White (thin skin white eggplant with a mild sweet flavor and creamy texture).
ginger
Transitioning into new crop out of Peru. Secret Beach (Kauai) coming to the end of their deal.
greens
Settling into Cal-O, Tomatero and Sun Valley gorgeous Greens.
herbs
Local Tomatero Basil in large fragrant bunches in excellent supply.
lettuce
Cal-O Red and Green Butter affected by a hail storm and will be gapping for at least another week. Living Butter is back in better supply.
mushrooms
New from King of Mushrooms, a full line up of Foraged Wild Crafted Dried Mushrooms: Porcini, Black Trumpet, Candy Cap, Chanterelle Golden, Forest Blend, Lions Mane, Maitake, Morel, Reishi and Turkey Tail.
okra
Okra season is here with pretty Green and Burgundy. Excellent for pickling.
onions
Peri & Sons and Anderson have really beautiful product. Peri & Sons transitioning to Yerington, Nevada in September. Will see some Cipollini in mid-September. Shallots return on Monday.
Cherry Bombs
bell peppers
Summertime is a great time to roast colorful Bell Peppers and add to salads, mix with roasted corn, or add to a sandwich.
hot peppers
Local growers are harvesting wonderful Hot Pepper varieties: Lemon and White Jalapeño, Serrano, Anaheim, Poblano, Shishito and Cherry Bomb. Download Earl’s Pepper Guide. Sunrise Habanero bulk pack coming in September.
potatoes
Bouchey 20# Loose Fingerlings are back. Cal-O Fingerlings returning soon. New Crop Russets should be kept a limited time at room temperature. They are susceptible to skinning and sprouting. They are really beautiful and a great eating potato!
summer squash
Mixed Squash from Comanche looking beautiful. Extended heat will bring this deal to a close.
sweet potatoes
New crop coming late August/early September. Purple Stokes new crop is starting slowly.
tomatoes
Local Heirloom Tomatoes flavor, color mix, and uniformity getting better with each land. August is the California Tomato Season!
Tutti Frutti will get into big volume at the end of August. Tutti gets coastal influence which keeps the tomatoes firmer, later into the season. 63-65 at night allows tomatoes to rest – unique when we can buy from the beginning of the season through Thanksgiving or the first frost.
winter squash
Stepping into the Tutti Frutti late summer program with Delicata, Spaghetti and Acorn offering with Butternut. Mixed Hard Squash Bins coming soon.
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VEGUCATION CORNER
