-
NEW!
• Comanche Creek (Chico) Broccoli DiCiccio, Rainbow Chard, Red Mustard, Purple Loose Daikon and Purple Turnips
• Kent Mangos (Peru)
• Sugar Snap and Snow Peas Cello and Bulk -
COMING SOON
• Mexican Asparagus
• Covilli Brussels Sprouts
• Tangos
• Import Peruvian Green Grapes this week
• Import Red Grapes in 2 weeks -
BACK IN STOCK
• Aloe Vera Leaves
• Ralph’s Leeks
• Sub Tropicals: Pink Dragon Fruit, Passion Fruit and Feijoas -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Red and Green Chards
• Eggplant
• Varietal Citrus (read the full Market Update)
• Crimini Mushrooms
• Sugar Snap and Snow Peas Cello and Bulk
• Mixed Heirlooms
• Yellow Squash
• Zucchini -
GAPPING
• Cherry Bomb Peppers
-
WINDING DOWN
• PNW Fraserland Potatoes
• California Garlic
• California Kiwis
• Durst Sugar Pie Pumpkins -
FINISHED
• Anna’s Red Napa Cabbage
• Montecucco Gold Beets
• Tommy Atkins Mangos
• Side Hill Satsumas
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated January 8, 2023
FRUIT
fruit update
Heavy Rains Affect Citrus Harvest
Heavy rain throughout California continues for yet another week. Citrus has certainly been affected with harvest coming to a halt on Satsuma Mandarins, Clementines, Navels and upcoming Tango crop. The rain has made it cumbersome for the workers and tractors to get out on the muddy ground. Standing on the wet soggy orchard floor also compacts the soil which is not good for the tree’s roots. One of the biggest worries from a grower’s standpoint is that the rain will cause the citrus to be waterlogged which can cause molding, possible rind breakdown and a shorter shelf life. The tree takes in extra water making the fruit super hydrated and diluting the sugars. The grower needs to wait a few days for the dry weather to disperse the sugars again before picking. An additional concern is that if the fruit were to be picked when it is wet, the oil from the workers’ hands would leave fingerprints and the pressure would cause the fruit to stay yellow instead of orange.
We are expecting rain throughout California for another 7-10 days. Tangos have been pushed another week. Side Hill Satsuma season is done. Thank you for making it a huge success! Cara Caras and Navels will be limited. Clementines may gap. Stay tuned for updates!
Pummelos
Homegrown Blueberries available in promotable volumes
Cara Cara Navels
APPLES
Cuyama California Apples have excellent flavor. The Black Arkansas tastes better after being in storage. The Fuji Lady Apple and Crimson Gold Crab Apple are perfect snack sized apples.
Club Apples are varieties that are not just patented, but also trademarked and controlled in such a way that only a select “club” of farmers can sell them. Club varieties are licensed for growing and marketing by a plant breeder or corporate entity which owns the legal rights to that variety. Licensees are growers and marketers depending on the license system. Find out the Benefits of being a Club Apple.
avocados
Equal Exchange trucking improved after the holidays, however with the Mexican border currently closed expect delays. Excellent volume and sizing expected for Super Bowl Sunday on February 12th.
Bacon Avocados have smooth bright green skin and creamy pale green flesh. Their mild flavor is delicious on avocado toast or in a winter citrus salad. Be careful when cutting this avocado into slices as the skin is very thin and delicate. We recommend peeling back the skin and then slicing the avocado.
bananas
Coliman Bananas are grown by a cooperative of farmers in Colima, the southwestern corner of Mexico. In winter, the dry season’s high heat and low humidity means that bananas grow larger (over-develop) over a shorter duration(immature). In terms of ripening, this leads to higher external color on the skin, even through the internal fruit is starchy and may not be ready to eat. Rest assured that any loss from such issues will be covered by Earl’s. More information on potential issues to look for coming Monday morning with the price list.
berries
Blackberries and Raspberries coming out of Mexico.
Blueberries: California Forbidden and Homegrown Blueberries have outstanding flavor! Promotional volume opportunities on Homegrown Blueberries!
Strawberries volume is looking up with growers out of Mexico and Baja coming on.
citrus
Side Hill Satsumas are finished.
Grapefruit: Desert fruit is small while other growing regions are sizing up larger.
Tangos have been delayed due to the rain.
California Eureka Lemons getting a bit tight from the rain.
Meyer Lemons from Marsalisi are plentiful.
Limes are very tight out of Mexico. Read the full Citrus update in the Fruit Market update.
fall
Pomegranate Arils take out all the prep work! Available in 12/4.4oz cups.
grapes
Green Globe Peruvian Grapes arriving later this week. Peruvian Red Grapes in 2 weeks.
kiwi
California Family Farms will go for 3-4 more weeks and then we will move into imports.
pears
Red A’njou, Green A’njou and Golden Bosc for another 6 to 8 weeks and then imports will start up with Bartlett’s late February. Asian Pears for a few more weeks.
tropicals
Thai Coconuts are picking back up. Tommy Atkins are done and we have moved into Kents (Peru). Pineapple volume is looking good. Warmer weather and less rain out of Mexico brings better quality on Papayas. Pink Dragon Fruit, Passionfruit and Feijoa Sub-Tropical Fruit are back!
VEGETABLES
vegetable update
Mexico update
As of Friday afternoon, the Mexican border is closed. Expect delays on Covilli, Equal Exchange Avocados, the start of the Ippolito Mexican Asparagus season and more. Stay tuned for updates.
Cold, rainy, and snowy weather, the New Year Holiday week, labor issues and logistical challenges have kept a lot of workers out of the fields and the packing sheds and equipment off the road. Trucking out of Nevada and the Pacific Northwest continues to be very tight.
Apples and Pears: Heavy snowstorms and pass closures in Washington are delaying trucks and temporarily affecting supplies.
Wet Veg: As predicted, heavy rains this past week throughout California are causing delays in harvesting and packing. We are receiving reports from growers in the Salinas and Coachella Valley regions that they have been rained out. This means no one is getting into the fields to harvest and we will be tight on many items into the middle of the week. Cauliflower has been slow to size up out of the desert due to low overnight temps. Weather is looking up in the desert and we will see some Cauliflower from Josie’s this weekend that is pricier, especially with added freight costs. Tomatero will have some Cauliflower in larger sizes 9ct/12ct. California Artichokes are back in a limited way. Broccoli Crowns are starting up out of the desert as well as Flat Parsley and volume will improve this week. Quality on all Leaf Lettuce is sharp and volume is picking up as we start the new year.
One thing to remember is that many growers have made the transition down to the desert and it is a 2-day ride back up to the Bay Area. All these challenges have tightened up inventory as we headed into the New Year.
Most Organic Veg Crops Gaining Volume—but Celery Still Short
Excerpt from OPN NEWSLETTER JANUARY 5, 2023
“As we head into the new year and through the month of January, we are forecasting a much better supply of Organic Broccoli, Organic Cauliflower, Organic Romaine Hearts, and Organic Red/Green Leaf with market pricing to fall more in line with seasonal norms. One item we anticipate remaining in an extreme demand-exceeds-supply position for the foreseeable future as we transition fully from Salinas to the desert is Organic Celery. We project this trend to continue all the way into February at this point,” said Braga Fresh Family Farms Director of Sales Casey Mills.
Rick Kilby, vegetable buyer for Earl’s Organic Produce on the San Francisco Produce Market, echoed the sentiments of Braga, especially on the quality of the product. “The quality is fantastic, and the market on most commodities is easing, but there are still some tension points,” Kilby said.
He singled out organic celery and said it is going through the same situation that faced cauliflower, broccoli, head lettuce, and the leafy greens as they transitioned from the Salinas Valley to the desert production areas a month ago. Celery is one of the last commodities to finish in coastal California and one of the last to start harvesting in the desert.
“Supplies are short,” Kilby said earlier this week. “It looks like good production coming out of the desert is still a week or two away.” Read the full article here.
Speak with your Earl’s Sales Rep about promotional opportunities
Covilli Green Beans
Anna’s Napa Cabbage
asparagus
Mexican Asparagus season out of Caborca starting up soon.
artichokes
Lakeside starting up in a small way on 18ct and 24ct.
brussels sprouts
Bulk coming from Covilli soon.
bunched beets
Gold and Red from Cal-O. Montecucco done with gold beets.
green beans
Covilli has plenty of volume with good quality.
Broccoli and Broccoli Crowns
Desert coming on in full force, with great quality and price falling.
sweet baby broccoli
Picking up out of the desert.
cabbage
Anna’s Red Napa Cabbage done for a few months. Anna’s Red and Green Cabbage for a while longer. Tomatero will have good volume on Green Cabbage and some Savoy.
carrots
Cal-O Red Carrots are back out of the desert through March/early April. Nantes good volume from Tomatero and Lakeside. Sunrise Nantes are not sizing up due to the cold rainy weather. Rainbow Carrots tight and Lakeside may gap for about a week. Sunrise Rainbow is limited.
cauliflower
Josie’s is wrapping up in Salinas and will have a slight gap. Maybe start in the desert this week. Tomatero has 12ct and larger sizes. Tomatero larger sizes and Organic Treat also in the mix this week. Sun Valley Colored Cauliflower and Romanesco in about a week.
romanesco
Tomatero has good supply.
celery
Continues to be tight and prices rising. More information in Earl’s interview with the Organic Produce News.
chicories
Frisee and Escarole from Lakeside out of the desert.
cucumbers
Euro and Persian Cucumbers are very tight. Slicer Cucumbers volume is looking up and Juicing Cucumbers are back in stock.
eggplant
Globe and Graffiti are tight.
fennel
Prices are starting to fall now that product is coming out of the desert. Will see limited volume from Tomatero.
garlic
California is winding down with Super Colossal available for a few more weeks, and Colossal Garlic through February. We will see Argentinean product overlap as California winds down.
ginger
Back in stock.
greens
Winter Greens nice crisp and robust out of Watsonville with shorter stems. Out of the Southern growing regions the bunches are a bit leggier. Quality is high out of both growing regions. Green and Red Chards a little bit more available but demand continues to outpace supply. Rainbow Chards are looking a little better.
herbs
Parsley is now coming out of the desert and volume will look better this week. Bunched Herbs, except Chives, are back in good supply after the holidays! Chives continue to be in short supply due to adverse weather and herbs not sizing up.
lettuce
Quality on all Leaf Lettuce is sharp and volume is picking up as we start the new year.
Josie’s Package Salad Changes:
Josie’s Rustic Tomato Salad will no longer contain roasted garbanzo beans due to supply chain issues
Josie’s Caesar Salad has a new updated design
leeks
Ralph’s out of Mt. Vernon, WA had a huge snowstorm and then rain, but their coveted Leeks are back.
mushrooms
Crimini and White Mushrooms inventory has stabilized after the busy holiday.
bell peppers
Green, Red, Yellow and Orange are in good supply.
hot peppers
Anaheims and Poblanos from Covilli are back. Cherry Bombs gapping. Covilli is into a flush of Jalapenos. Please speak with your Earl’s Sales Rep about promotional opportunities.
onions
Green Onions from Cal-O are tightening up and volume out of the desert is limited and prices are up. Red and Yellow Onions are looking solid.
peas
Sugar Snap and Snow Peas available in cello and bulk.
potatoes
Delays out of the Pacific Northwest due to weather. PNW season is winding down. Fraserland for another week or so followed by Nature’s Bounty until we transition in the spring to product out of Mexico. Expect limited sizing over the next few weeks. Tasteful Selection Purple Passion Potatoes are done. Bagged Fingerlings are limited.
Radish
Cal-O Red Radish in good supply. Easter Egg Radish keeping tight as we keep an eye on quality on the greens.
Roots
Montecucco is done with Gold Beets, followed soon by Parsnips and Red Beets. Expect to see California and PNW on roots and beets over the next couple of weeks.
Summer Squash
Sunburst and Zucchini will be tight this week.
Sweet Potato
Pricing is stable with good volume on all labels.
Tomatoes
Cluster Tomatoes continue to be tight. Covilli starting up with Romas.
Winter Squash
Honeynut is back. Last call for Sugar Pie Pumpkins.
FOLLOW THE FLAVOR @EARLSORGANIC ON INSTAGRAM
VEGUCATION CORNER
Pummelos are the largest fruit in the citrus family and are best recognized by their refreshing, clean citrus fragrance. The Pummelo can be cut open and segmented in 4 easy steps.