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march highlights
• Easter - March 31st
• California Coastal View Produce Asparagus
• March is Equal Exchange Banana Month (Downloadable POS below) -
NEW!
• California Avocados (Monday)
• Durondeau Pears (Argentina)
• Charleston Purple Sweet Potatoes
• Tomatero Baby Sweet Broccoli
• Tomatero Strawberries -
promotable items for easter
• Mexican Queen Victoria Asparagus
• California Coastal View Produce Asparagus Downloadable POS cards below.
• Far West Fungi full line up of ReadyCycle mushrooms are on Earl’s Weekly Specials for one more week!
• Tutti Frutti (Buellton) Sugar Snap Peas
• Covilli Fair Trade Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts -
COMING SOON
• Comanche Creek (Chico) Purple and Green Snap Peas, English Peas, Fava Beans and Spring • Green Garlic
• Organicgirl Arugula beginning of April
• Rhubarb just around the corner
• Import Abate Fetel Pears
• Cherries and Apricots early May
• California Coachella Grapes: May
• Watsonville/Salinas Berry season: May -
BACK IN STOCK
• Mini Seedless Watermelons
• Horseradish - Thursday -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Bunched Spinach
• Celery 30ct
• Red Butter -
GAPPING
• Organicgirl Arugula - Look to spicy Mizuna as a substitute.
• Tasteful Selections Bagged Potatoes
• Terra Dolce - Dried Anaheim and New Mexico Chiles
• Import Green Seedless Grapes -
WINDING DOWN
• Mexican Avocados end of March
• Blood Oranges -
finished
• Yellow Cippolini Onions
• Burdock
• Greenbelle Strawberries (Mexico)
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated March 24, 2024
FRUIT
fruit mARKET update
We are a little over a month away from the kickoff of Stone Fruit season with Apricots and Cherries starting to pop up around May 1st. Local Cherries from Dwelley in Brentwood will start off their season with Royal Tioga Cherries. Overall, it is looking to be a strong California season.
Easter is a week away and warm weather brought on a bounty of California Blueberries and Strawberries. Forbidden Fruit Premium Blueberries have excellent flavor, size and texture! Homegrown Blueberries are available in 12/6oz and pints and are a great California value option. The first of the Tomatero Strawberries have arrived. Look for volume to pick up in May. AG Berry Strawberries are super flavorful with beautiful color. Blackberries and Raspberries are steady out of Mexico. Mix and match varieties and sizes to increase sales.
Mexican Avocados are at the tail end of the season. They have been on the tree for a longer time and are more mature, meaning they ripen quicker, have a higher oil content and should be eaten firm. The flavor is outstanding this time of year but don’t wait until they are too soft, or they will be rancid. A sign of a very mature avocado with a high oil content is when the green/yellow flesh turns to a duller, almost mustard color.
A new crop of California Hass Avocados is slowly starting up. As we eagerly await the California season to gain traction, we must be patient. Buyers should be aware of the avocado growing cycles and know that they can be disappointed with an early crop. The cycle of maturation, no matter where avocados are grown in the world, means the early crop will have low oil content, low flavor and uneven inconsistent ripening. The trees are full of fruit and in order to continue to size and produce, the tree needs to be relieved of their burden to make room for the next more flavorful picking. The oil content will develop as they mature with each picking. Each year the timing is different, and the weather can have a major impact on how it ripens and availability. You can count on us to keep you up to date on all things avocado.
New this week, the Charleston Purple Sweet Potato is a close cousin to the orange-colored yam. It has an elongated shape and striking shade of dark purple. The variety not only holds color during the cooking process, it turns an even darker shade of purple! The Charleston Purple has a drier, denser texture and more balanced sweetness than orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
Apples
Envy, Jazz and Cosmic Crisp Club Apples will continue until fresh crop starts up in August. SugarBee will continue for a while longer. Look for Pazazz to come to an end soon.
Avocados
Mexican Avocado season is winding down as California is trickling in. Mexican Avocados are at the tail end of the season. They have been on the tree for a longer time and are more mature, meaning they ripen quicker, have a higher oil content and should be eaten firm. Read more.
Bananas
Download POS Card (left)
Download POS Card (right)
BERRIES
Blackberries Coming out of Baja with nice quality and stable pricing.
Blueberries: Forbidden Fruit premium blueberries have excellent flavor, size and texture! Homegrown Blueberries are available in 12/6oz and pints and are a great California value option.
berries, continued
Raspberries Coming out of Baja with nice quality and good supply for Easter.
Strawberries: Small production from Tomatero out of Watsonville through April with a beautiful fragrant nose. Look for promotable volume to start up in May. Greenbelle Mexican Strawberries are done for the season.
Citrus
Marsh Grapefruit are a bullet diamond and will blow your socks off! A super tasty piece of fruit, they are sweet with floral undertones and low tangy acidity. Rio Red Grapefruit are transitioning from San Diego to the Central Valley.
Winter Citrus Varietals are starting to wrap up their season.
Minneolas are ripening up quicker with a short shelf life.
Blood Oranges have come to a sudden halt. Grab them before they are gone.
Cara Caras and Navels will be a short season and will go for another few weeks. Look for more opportunities on Cara Cara choice and larger fruit.
Wild River Murcott Mandarins are sizing up small and larger fruit is very scarce. Murcott net bags are a good value option.
Tango Mandarins will go for another 3-4 weeks.
Mexican Valencias are slowing down and California Valencias are expected to arrive mid-late April.
California Meyer Lemons made a surprise return from Marsalisi with a #2 value option.
Limes were tight last week and are looking better this week.
grapes
Import Green Grapes are all going to the East Coast. Red Grapes have made their way across the country. Mexico is anticipated to start around June 1st, weather dependent.
kiwi
California Green Kiwis are going strong.
melons
We will see more Melon Varietals out of Mexico in another month. Divine Flavor will start up in mid-April.
pears
At the end of the Domestic Pear season. Golden Bosc is scarce. Will see a true Bosc arriving soon. Import Red Bartletts arriving in about 3 weeks. Import Green Bartletts have great flavor but patience is a virtue as you wait 1-2 weeks for them to ripen up.
NEW! The Durondeau Pear from Argentina has a golden exterior with streaks of red blush and is covered all over in a soft russet. They are a bit tart with a crisp bite and a floral flavor. Read more under Earl’s Vegucation.
Pomegranate arils
No muss or fuss with the convenient Pom Arils. Add to salads or top your favorite rice or grain for a flavorful side dish.
stone fruit
About a month away from the kick off of Stone Fruit season with Apricots and Cherries starting to pop up around May 1st.
tropicals
Ataulfo Mangos (Mexico) are smooth and buttery and taste even better when they start to wrinkle. Look to small sizes for a value buy. Crespo Ataulfo Mangos are starting off slower and availability will increase as we get into April. Round Tommy Atkins have a beautiful blush. Plenty of Crespo Tommy Atkins Mangos to promote. Thai Coconuts and Intennza Papayas are back!
VEGETABLES
download coastal view produce california asparagus pos cards for your display!
veg mARKET update
We are in a transition stage from Mexico to California and Mexican Asparagus prices are starting to climb. We will see some 28# value packs in time for Easter. Warmer weather is bringing on more Coastal View Produce California Asparagus (Gonzales). Expect CVP volume to really get going after the holiday.
It will be a bumpy road during the transition over the next month. We will see better quality and supply as growers move up north. Leaf Lettuces are starting the transition as the desert warms up, resulting in quality issues and pest pressure. We may see gaps on Radicchio, Lettuce, smaller sized Celery and Cauilfower. Bunched Spinach is difficult to come by. Prices will start to decline on Baby Bok Choy and Broccoli as the weather improves in the northern growing region. Josies’ Regenerative Baby Sweet Broccoli is now coming out Watsonville/Salinas with good quality. Organicgirl Arugula will gap due to quality issues until the transition is complete in April.
We are seeing the last of the Storage Onion and Potato crop and looking to imports to finish out the season. We will see a gap on Red Onions until Mexico or the desert starts up in 2-4 weeks. Tasteful Selections are gapping on gold creamer straight packs and medley bags. The Pacific Northwest is winding down on russets and we are moving into sharp product out of Colorado. Look for Fresh Crop Russets and Red Potatoes to start up in late May/early June.
Domestic Garlic is wrapping up the season as we see the bulbs tiring out. Argentinian Garlic are nice and big, bright white, hard neck variety at a great price. Eventually we will be in all imports from Argentina and Mexico and new crop in summer.
Mexican Blue Ginger ending soon and we will see a gap before the first of Peruvian Ginger arrives in April by air, much earlier than expected.
It’s springtime in the valley, buds are blooming on trees and the soil is warming up to bring on more spring vegetables. Comanche Creek (Chico) will soon be harvesting Purple and Green Snap Peas, English Peas, Fava Beans and Spring Green Garlic.
Asparagus
We are in a transition stage from Mexico to California. Warm weather means more activity out in the field as the heat stimulates the crown, bringing on more California Coastal View Produce production. Promote locally grown California asparagus for Easter. Downloadable POS cards above and below!
Artichokes
Local JAS (Hollister) is back into gorgeous Purple as well as Green Artichokes. Artichokes can grow 2-3 inches with warm weather. Look for light production as we get into April and then expect volume to take off.
bunched beets
Red and Gold Beets from Montecucco in the Pacific Northwest.
parsnips, rutabaga
Parsnips, Rutabaga out of the PNW have 3 more weeks and then transitioning into California.
green beans
Good volume for the Easter holiday!
brOCCOLI & brOCCOLI CROWNS
Tight as growers transition to new growing regions.
brussels sprouts
Wonderful supply for the Easter holiday.
SWEET BABY broccoli
Tomatero has started up with limited production. Josie’s Baby Sweet Broccoli continues to be tight. Braga Fresh, home of Josie’s Organics made a commitment to harvest and take to market regeneratively grown trial crops; a major step in trialing low soil tillage concept to improve the carbon content in soil. Watch the video to learn about Regenerative farming, the benefits and potential impact of these trials.
carrots
Sunrise Nantes have tightened up. Plenty of other options for the Easter holiday.
cauliflower
Small sizes tight until the transition up north is complete. Read more under the market update above.
celery
We can expect scarcity in April and May – the last crop to transition out of the desert.
cucumbers
Euro Cucumber pricing is starting to come down.
garlic
Domestic Garlic is wrapping up the season as we see the bulbs tiring out. Argentinian Garlic are nice and big, bright white, hard neck variety at a great price. Eventually we will be in all imports from Argentina and Mexico and new crop in summer.
ginger
Mexican Blue Ginger ending soon and we will see a gap before the first of Peruvian Ginger arrives in April by air, much earlier than expected.
greens
While Watsonville/Salinas is sputtering to come to life, prices from all growing regions will be up until more production comes on.
lettuce
We will see better quality on Leaf Lettuce as it transitions back up north from Bakersfield to Watsonville/Salinas. Prices will remain high until volume and quality picks up. Red butter lettuce is gapping. There is plenty of Red and Green Leaf and Romaine with prices still elevated. Organicgirl will gap on Arugula until April until they transition back up north.
mushrooms
This is the last week of Far West Fungi ReadyCycle Mushrooms on Earl’s Weekly Specials.
onions
It is the end of the Storage Crop as Nevada and the Pacific Northwest is winding down. Peri & Sons are done with Red Onions. Supply on Reds and Whites out of Mexico are tight as demand increases. Expect to see some gaps.
spring onions
Spring Onions a bit difficult to find.
peas
Tutti Frutti Sugar Snap Peas are sweet and crunchy. Snow Peas from Del Cabo (Mexico) are steady.
bell peppers
Orange Choice is scarce. All other Colored Bells are looking good.
hot peppers
All Hot Peppers are in good supply except Poblanos.
potatoes
All Storage Crop supplies are dwindling. Colorado Potatoes look sharp from Nature’s Bounty - bigger and more consistent. Prices on Russets, Red and Golds will continue to go up until fresh crop starts in April out of the desert on Reds and Golds and Russets in June. Tasteful is gapping on Bagged Potatoes and Nature’s Bounty will help fill the gap until they start back up in April.
summer squash
Covilli is finishing their Zucchini season early due to a virus. We will see plenty of Zucchini from other growers.
sweet potatoes
NEW! The Charleston Purple Sweet Potato is a close cousin to the orange-colored yam. It has an elongated shape and striking shade of dark purple. The variety not only holds color during the cooking process, it turns an even darker shade of purple! The Charleston Purple has a drier, denser texture and more balanced sweetness than orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
Charleston Purple Sweet Potato
tomatoes
Covilli is back into good supply on Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes. Good color and flavor also coming from Ideal Harbest out of Mexico. The Cherry Tomato flush has taken a step back this week.
winter squash
Delicata is gapping. Local Dwelley Honeynut is done and Covilli has started up out of Mexico.
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VEGUCATION CORNER
