-
NEW!
• California Coastal View Produce Asparagus
• Abate Fetel Pear
• Tutti Frutti Snap Peas -
Promotable Volume
• Tutti Frutti Snap Peas
• Mexican Asparagus -
COMING SOON
• Compostable Herb Packaging
• Comanche Creek Green Garlic and Daikon -
BACK IN STOCK
• Tutti Frutti English Peas in limited volume
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TIGHT INVENTORY
• Green Beans
• Baby Broccoli
• Butternut
• Sunrise Carrots
• Organicgirl Butter Lettuce
• Cluster Tomatoes -
GAPPING
• Napa Cabbage
• Sunrise Nantes Carrots
• Celery Root
• Covilli Delicata
• Mixed Herbs
• Pineapples
• Tasteful Medley Creamer Potatoes
• Romanesco
• Bunched Spinach -
WINDING DOWN
• Mandarins
• Club Apple Class -
FINISHED
• Ambrosia Club Apple
• SugarBee Club Apple
• California Green-skinned Avocados
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated March 26, 2023
FRUIT
FRUIT update
As the season shifts, look for varied sizing across multiple classes. In Apples, we have multiple Honeycrisp offerings for price flexibility, as well as 113-count Fujis and Pink Ladys for a value option. Citrus is winding down – Cara Caras are still available, as well as Tango Mandarins. In a few weeks we’ll begin to see some California Valencias to offset late-season Navels. Ask your sales rep about larger Grapefruit and Lemons – the growers appreciate our help moving these less value options! Mexican Berries made it through the rain and we have a good supply of Blueberries, Raspberries and Blackberries. Strawberries return Monday. Crespo Mangos are taking the Bay Area by storm! Thank you for your partnership in promoting this awesome fruit – together we’re surely boosting Vitamin C for all.
Abate Fetel Pear
Apples
Cosmic Crisp Club Apple continue to be a crowd pleaser! Cosmic Crisp, Jazz and Envy Club Apple will have good supply for a little longer. California Cuyama Pink Lady bags and Fuji Apples steady. Honeycrisp sizing up bigger with less volume. Look for 40# cases to turn into 27#. Import Apples in about 4 weeks with Gala and Fuji Apples out of South America.
Avocados
Mexico season is almost done. California Hass in 2 weeks.
Bananas
Transition period for Ecuador as they are going into winter. Mexico will transition to a stronger season with increased production as summer starts up in a few months. Earl’s visited Coliman Organic Fair Trade Banana Farms in Mexico. Learn more below!
Coliman Organic Fair Trade Banana 2023 Calendar
Berries
Overall the berry market is volatile because of the cold and rainy weather. Production is split between central Mexico where it is drier and Baja where it is getting hit hard with rain. Nothing coming out of California at the moment.
Blackberries: Rising market with the rain in Baja.
Blueberries: California fruit slow to color up with the cold weather. Mexico season is ending. We won’t see a flush until the weather warms up in a few weeks.
Strawberries: Weather hampering supply and quality out of Baja. Prices are on the rise as the market changes.
Raspberries: Steady supply out of Baja.
Citrus
Bringing in Gold Nuggets, Tangos and Murcott Mandarins as they become available.
grapes
Import Grapes could be finished. More updates coming this week.
kiwi
All Storage crop. Bulk out of Italy/Greece and bags from California. New Zealand starting in May.
Melons
We will start seeing Mini Seedless Watermelons again this week.
Coliman Bananas are tagged with colored ribbons after they start to flower. Learn more below.
nuts
California leads the nation in nut production, producing 100% of all walnuts and almonds and 99% of pistachios commercially grown in the United States. Don’t miss our Bulk Nonpareil Almonds, Bulk and Pieces/Halves Walnuts and Bagged Pistachios. Ask your Earl’s Sales Rep for more information.
pears
Domestic giving away to Import Pears. Golden Bosc and Red D’Anjou are slowing down. Import Bartletts and Abate Fetel are here!
Originating in France, the Abate Fetel Pear has an elegant elongated shape with yellow skin that often is russeted. Sweet and aromatic, this pear is wonderful for cooking and eating out of hand. The Abate Fetel softens quickly so be sure to enjoy this variety while still slightly firm.
stone fruit
Just around the corner with Cherries starting by early May.
tropicals
Covilli Pineapples gapping for 3 weeks. Dole pineapples returning at the end of the week. Fill your tropical display with sweet Crespo Ataulfos and Tommy Atkin Mangos, Thai Coconuts and Intennza Papayas.
VEGETABLES
veg update
SPRING TRANSITION
During the winter months many growers move their operations from the Salinas and San Joaquin Valley down to Yuma, Arizona and the California desert, think Coachella Valley just south of Palm Springs down through the Imperial Valley to El Centro at the border of Mexico. As the weather warms up, historically in March the growing areas move north from Mexico and the California desert to the Salinas Valley for cooler weather summer veg (Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Celery) and to Fresno for warmer crops (Peppers, Corn, Tomatoes, Beans and Eggplant).
Growers are saying this is the latest, wettest and most difficult transition they have experienced. It is too wet to plant and flooding in the Pajaro region in particular has wiped out entire blocks. Plantings in Salinas that would have taken place at the end of March are now being pushed to April. Think Romaine, Iceberg, Leaf Lettuce, Kales, Cauliflower, Cilantro, Parsley and Fennel. With plantings delayed we will see the ripple effects of the weather months from now. We can expect shorts or low supply down the road in April and May long after the rainstorms have passed.
Inclement weather, hotter days, and the end of the season in the desert can result in produce showing more defects and issues than usual, such as aphid pressure. Temperatures in the desert are in the 80’s and historically are in the 100’s by June. Share the blog here.
Warm Weather in the Desert Growing Regions Attracts Aphids
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 low 80’s and all desert vendors are seeing increasing mildew and aphid pressure on warm veg items including Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale and Lettuce. We are seeing lettuce hit especially hard and most growers have stopped harvesting leaf lettuce in the desert. Aphids love the heat and humidity, and it is almost impossible to control organically. We see this happen with organic produce every year when it gets too hot in March in the California desert and again during the warm summer months in the Salinas Valley.
Organic growers do their best to combat aphids. We asked a few of our growers what they do to control aphids. Lakeside Organics uses a lot of beneficial predatory bugs like lady bugs who love to eat Aphids. Josie’s Organics plants beneficial flowers to attract good bugs to mitigate pressure from unwanted bugs (in this case, aphids) and implements a healthy crop rotation. Many growers, especially strawberry growers, use a bug vacuum designed to suck up the aphids right out of their fields. Share the blog here.
Earl’s Exclusive: Coastal View Produce California Asparagus
Asparagus
Coastal View Produce California Asparagus season kicks off! Promotable volumes, weather dependent, at the end of the week. Aggressive pricing on Mexican Asparagus as the seasons overlap. Now on Earl’s Weekly Specials.
Artichokes
Weather has slowed down the growth. 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
Looking good on Gold Bunched Beets with Cal-O now coming out of Lamont/Bakersfield. Red Beets (Mexico) transitioning to California in April.
baby bok choy
Cal-O will be gapping for 1-2 weeks due to pest pressure from aphids. Read more about aphids in our vegucation blog.
green beans
Good volume for the Easter Holiday!
Tutti Frutti Snap Peas
Broccoli
In pretty good shape out of the desert and now out of Salinas from Braga.
sweet baby broccoli
Much better supplies from Braga out of the desert and Salinas.
brussels sprouts
Purple Brussels Sprouts steady for now.
cabbage
Good supplies out of the desert with steady prices on Green, Red and Savoy. Napa is tight due to internal burn and aphid pressure. No ETA on Napa out of Watsonville due to the wet and rainy weather.
Carrots
Sunrise gapping for 2 weeks on Nantes Carrots due to a few weeks of really wet weather.
cauliflower
Good supplies out of the desert with larger sizes prevalent. Braga is just starting up out of Salinas. Organic Treat has a screaming deal on 9ct. Don’t miss the Weekly Special.
Tutti Frutti English Peas
romanesco
Finished until Watsonville starts up. Stay tuned for ETA.
celery
Tomatero has started up.
chicories
Heavy aphids on Frisée and Chicories out of the desert. Inventory tight and expect gaps.
cucumbers
Euro Cucumbers pricing down a bit. Slicers and Fair Trade Persians good supply.
eggplant
Plenty of Globe Eggplant. Graffiti are limited.
garlic
California for another 4-6 weeks. Argentina Garlic through July. It’s springtime and susceptible to sprouting. PRO TIP: Keep the garlic in the cooler between 40-45 degrees, nothing below 34 degrees. Build smaller displays and fill often. The key is to avoid fluctuations in temperature. This applies to onions as well, rotate frequently and keep in a cool area. Fresh crop Garlic and Shallots in July.
greens
Sun Valley has a full line of greens. Look to Tomatero for Lacinato and Rainbow Chard.
herbs
Sun Valley Cilantro returns. Cilantro and Parsley from Braga seeing pest pressure from aphids. Read about aphids in our vegucation blog. Cal-O is gapping on Flat Parsley until beginning of April. Will see some from Lakeside. Mixed Herbs gapping for another 1-2 weeks until the weather warms up in Mexico.
kohlrabi
Supply looking smooth.
lettuce
Organic Treat is done out of the desert due to aphids. Shifting to different growers as aphids are on all desert product. Cal-O Red and Green Leaf out of Bakersfield.
Organicgirl Butter continues to have quality issues due to pest pressure. Will improve in about a month when they transition up north.
leeks
Beautiful white shanks from Ralph’s (Washington).
onions
Cipollinis are done. Shallot net bags for another 2-3 weeks and then they will transition to Argentina through the summer until July, when California starts up again.
peas
It’s springtime! Tutti Frutti California Snap Peas in good volume through mid-June. Ask us about promotional opportunities. We will also see some English Peas as they become available.
bell peppers
Green Bells continue to be limited and pricy. Red, Yellow and Orange are steady.
hot peppers
Don’t miss the Habaneros! Steady on Jalapenos, Serranos and Anaheims. Grab Covilli Cherry Bombs as they become available. Shishitos are limited and we are bringing in what we can. Padrons look a little better.
potatoes
All storage crop and supplies are dwindling. Fresh crop start date continues to be pushed back due to weather. Demand is high and supply low, leading to higher prices. Fresh crop Gold and Reds early May. Russets starting in June.
potatoes, continued
We are grabbing what we can out of the Pacific Northwest. We may see some gaps on Russets. Tasteful Medley Creamers gapping. Nature’s Bounty 2 color medley 16x1.5# bag have good quality. Look for the new straight gold pack soon.
roots
Rutabaga is at the tail end of the season out of the Pacific Northwest. Burdock is back in a small way. Ralph’s Parsnips in good supply. Montecucco is ending.
bunched spinach
Cal-O returns beginning April. Gapping until then due to Aphids.
tomatoes
Covilli Mixed Heirlooms back in good volume. #2 Mixed Heirlooms have a bit of scarring but are an excellent value. Rainbow Cherry Tomatoes looking good for the next 2-3 weeks.
winter squash
Covilli gapping on Delicata until the end of April.
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