October is Fair Trade Month. Earl’s Organic offers Fair Trade Bananas year-round. Buying Fair Trade products ensures that farm workers enjoy sustainable wages, safe working conditions and improves their community by collectively investing in social and business projects. $1 per every box of Coliman Bananas purchased goes to the Fair Trade Premium. Every purchase matters!

Earl’s Organic bananas are Fair Trade Certified 365 Days A YEAR

Equal Exchange Bananas are grown in Ecuador by small farmers under the AsoGuabo Cooperative.  Farmer cooperatives are groups of small farmers that have come together to collectively operate their businesses at a larger scale. They share resources, capital, and knowledge, democratically electing leadership and collectively making decisions.

Late summer produce is starting to wind down and it is the time of year to start making room for the wonderful bounty of Fall. There is a chill in the morning air and new crop California red Gala apples and fragrant Bartlett Pears are the stars of the show.

Cape Gooseberries are full of seeds with a texture and flavor similar to a tomato but with a deeper flavor and a hint of tartness.

California Apricots and Cherries historically lead off the season late April. This year, however, various factors have combined to delay the early varieties by as much as two weeks. The late start is being attributed to tremendous amounts of rain and colder-than-usual weather, which impacted bloom and pollination. “Overall it is going to be a unique and positive year,” Jarod Hunting, Earl’s Stone Fruit buyer said. Discover which varieties are arriving weekly.

Most years, the California stone fruit deal begins in late April, with apricots and cherries leading the way. This year, however, various factors have combined to delay the early varieties by as much as two weeks. Find out when to expect apricots and cherries.

California Organic Asparagus from Coastal View Produce in the Salinas Valley is a sure sign Spring is here! For over 35 years Coastal View Produce has been growing high-quality, organic asparagus in between the Santa Lucia and Gabilan mountain ranges in the heart of the Salinas Valley. The Mediterranean climate and fertile soil make it an ideal growing region for asparagus. Coastal View Produce asparagus, weather dependent, is available through July 4th.

During the winter months many growers move their operations from the Salinas and San Joaquin Valley down to Yuma, Arizona and the California desert. As the weather warms up historically in March, the growing areas move north from Mexico and the California desert to the Salinas Valley. Growers are saying this is the latest, wettest and most difficult transition they have experienced. Expect shortages on your favorite produce in April and May.

High temperatures and humidity for an extended period of time create the perfect conditions for aphids and mildew quality issues. This week temperatures in the California desert regions moved into the 70’s and low 80’s and all desert vendors are seeing increasing mildew and aphid pressure on warm veg items.