-
NEW!
• Kiwi Berries
• Peri & Sons Shallots
• Fresh Crop Honeycrisp -
COMING SOON
• Pomegranates
• Persimmons
• D’Anjou Pears
• Pumpkins -
BACK IN STOCK
• Turmeric
• 10# Ginger
• Bagged Brussels -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Grapefruit
• Large Lemons
• Cucumbers & Euro Cucumbers
• Roots -
WINDING DOWN
• Corn
• Crespo Mangos
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated September 18, 2022
FRUIT
It may not feel like Fall yet with heat waves throughout California, but the produce speaks for itself: this week look for Kiwi Berries and fresh crop Honeycrisp, as new Pear varieties continue to trickle in. Stone Fruit is winding down: Peaches will hold on the longest, but don’t let them ripen too much – late season fruit is more tart and eats best when still firm. Expect the season to continue rolling with Pomegranates and Persimmons at the end of the month, and Forbidden Blueberries ramping up! Strawberries seem to have weathered the heat fairly well, with our Watsonville growers hoping to produce throughout October. Lemons hit a tight spot over the past few weeks, with limited product available from the US and Mexico – size is trending small, best to switch to a 140ct where possible. Summer Melon varietals are all but done after the heat, though the basic varieties should hang out with Cantaloupe and Mini Watermelon going the longest. And keep that heat in mind when buying Grapes this week – green especially can show signs of ambering and increased shatter, but we are keeping a close eye on quality! Crespo is winding down after a fantastic season, and we’re looking at Ava’s California Keitts to get us through the Fall.
Black Mission Figs
Jujubes
Red Grapes
APPLES
Cuyama is ramping up – a few weeks ahead of other apple growers. First fresh crop Honeycrisp in this week.
AVOCADOS
Equal Exchange product from Mexico as well as Rincon in Carpinteria for late season California fruit – high oil content and excellent flavor! Prices have come down as the two markets meet.
October is Fair Trade month. Stay tuned for more information on how you can highlight your Fair Trade display.
BANANAS
Take care to store your bananas properly. Here are some helpful tips.
Download Earl’s Banana Handling & Receiving Guide for more helpful tips.
bananas are extremely susceptible to heat
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: 56-58 F, 13.3-14.4 C
• Temperature for ripening: 60-65 F, 15.6-18.3 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
BERRIES
Blackberries: Tomatero producing excellent size and flavor
Blueberries: 1-2 weeks left on Bridges blues. Forbidden continuing to trickle in, no large volume until October.
Strawberries: Weathered the heat fairly well it seems. Domestic supply is dwindling as we move into Fall, though Watsonville season aiming to extend through October.
Raspberries: Expect production to slow after the heat.
citrus
Grapefruit: Stay tuned for smaller sizes.
California Lemons: California was tight on product out of the desert after rain last week. Sizing small on the 140ct side of things. RVO starting again at the end of September.
fall fruit
Pomegrantes & Persimmons should show up last week of September! Jujubes are here and making waves!
Kiwi Berries will be landing this week, expect supply to be on the tight side this year due to extra tree pruning. Good for the trees to get a break!
grapes
Benzler Totes are starting to wind down. 10 days of extreme heat can spell some issues in grapeland – they will likely start to amber quicker, arrive with browner stems, increased shatter, and other potential condition issues. Green Grapes are the most sensitive, Red and Black are more resilient.
melons
Varietals are all but done – left with the basics. All varieties will start to wrap up by the end of this month, with Cantaloupe & Watermelon holding on the longest. Bins still available for the time being.
pears
Going strong with Hosui Asian Pears from Homegrown and Frog Hollow!
D’Anjou likely to show up in 3-4 weeks.
No Seckel Pears from our growers this year due to low yields and lack of rain. We will be looking for other sources.
stone fruit
3-4 weeks remain on Yellow Peaches – supply starting to dwindle on other stone fruit varieties. Maintaining movement on yellow peaches is extremely helpful to our growers, encouraging them to keep producing late-season fruit – thanks for the support!
tropicals
Keitts from Crespo winding down – one more land before Ava’s California Keitts bring us through the Fall.
VEGETABLES
Many chefs speak of this time of year as the best for produce – we still get to enjoy Summer’s finest, as the hardy veg fills the shelves. And it’s a Winter Squash world out there! Beautiful and bountiful varieties from Tutti Frutti are perfect for that fall feel, with Pumpkins on the way in a few weeks. Broccoli is in a much better spot this week, and better supply should start to bring the market price down. Cucumbers and Celery, however, are on the tight side – expect prices to rise and stay high with the lack of product. We’re looking at the last week of Corn from Dwelley, with Bicolor from the Pacific Northwest to supplement. Keep Asparagus tight: late season product from Mexico does not have the legs of fresh Spring grass. From the heat wave: Eggplant is showing considerable sunburn, limiting an already-tight supply, and we’re keeping a close eye on Cilantro and Leaf Lettuces. Local Peppers are at a peak with bells from Tomatero and Specialty Hot Peppers from Comanche, and Tomatoes are tasting fantastic from all growers! Potatoes will continue to cure to thicker skins in the coming weeks, as fresh Root Vegetables arrive from Montecucco and Ralph’s.
Fingerling Medley
Black Futsu Squash
Heirloom Tomatoes
asparagus
Keep asparagus tight – late season from Mexico does not have the legs of peak season product.
ARTICHOKES
Production cycles strong for the next four weeks, at least.
sweet baby broccoli
Solid inventory from Lakeside and Tomatero.
broccoli crowns
Market is strengthening. Better quality and supply from Josie’s and other growers. Price should start to drop soon.
brussels sprouts
Bagged Brussels back this week!
carrots
Sunrise will gap on Nantes Carrots for about a month due to extreme weed pressure. Looking at Sun Valley and Ralph’s product to fill in.
corn
Supply is dwindling as Dwelley winds down, some Bi-Color available from the Pacific Northwest this week.
cauliflower
Hope to land some Colored Cauliflower from Sun Valley this week!
celery
After several weeks of excellent supply and sharp pricing, expect the market to rise.
cucumbers
Supply is very tight from both US & MX, sourcing as many Slicers and Euros as possible.
eggplant
Considerable sunburn from the heatwave limited an already-tight supply.
ginger
Turmeric back this week
greens
Leaning on Lakeside, a bit of a lull from Tomatero and Sun Valley. Summer Kale doesn’t hold its green color as well.
herbs
Excessive heat leads to bolting on Cilantro, we are keeping our eyes on all product.
kohlrabi
Purple will be the first to come, with Green on its tail.
lettuce
Green and Red Little Gems as well as Salanovas gapping due to heat and tip burn. Transition from Tehacapi to LaMont for the fall may spell a bumpy road for Cal-O Leaf Lettuces.
bell peppers
Tomatero filling in gaps from Mexico and Canada. Mini Pepper prices have increased.
hot peppers
Look for Scotch Bonnets & other varietal Habaneros from Comanche!
onions
Look for Shallots from Peri & Sons as well as Christopher Ranch. Potential disruption on Green Onion deliveries due to rain in the Valley.
potatoes
Clean potatoes from Bouchey – susceptible to skinning due to thin skin (which also allows them to be the first on the market!). This can lead to some oxidization, but it’s only a cosmetic issue. Potatoes should have a stronger cure by October.
radishes
Look for Fall supply from Anna’s Organics – Daikon & small bunched Radishes.
roots
Supply is thin from California, in a transitional period as Pacific Northwest growers start up with high quality Roots in a few weeks.
summer squash
Yellow Squash is tight. Zucchini price on the higher end.
sweet potatoes
Fresh crop, prices are up.
tomatoes
Rain in Chico affecting Tomatoes from Comanche. Heirlooms going strong from multiple sources.
winter squash
Gorgeous product from Tutti Frutti, mixed bins available! Look for the “Orangetti” squash from Dwelley – a sweeter spaghetti squash with an orange hue! Pumpkins should be ready the end of this month – bins available in October.
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