BUYER’S NOTES
Updated May 15, 2022
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NEW!
• Import Apples
California Grown:
• Valencia Oranges
• Zee Fire Nectarines
• Cantaloupes
• Watermelons
• Green Beans
• Cucumbers
• Corn
• Comanche Mixed Squash -
BACK IN STOCK
• Red Pears
• Flat Parsley
• Shredded Carrots -
WINDING DOWN
• Mandarins
• Blood Oranges
• Specialty Trio Mushrooms -
COMING SOON
• California Grapes
• Fingerling Potatoes
• Fresh Crop Russets -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Celery
• Bell Peppers
• Belgian Endive
• Arugula -
GAPPING
• Terra Firma Beets
• Fingerlings
• Shallots -
FINISHED
• Cosmic Crisp Apples
• Crimson Delight Apples
• Navels
• Red Carrots
• Bagged Mexican Peas
FRUIT
Stone Fruit season is moving along nicely – Nectarines joined the party over the weekend, and we’re seeing new varieties of Homegrown Apricots along with Burkart Apriums. Dwelley Cherries are incredibly sweet, and the season will go until the second week of June! CA melon season is upon us, with Cantaloupes and Mini Watermelons out of the desert. Along with the import Pear extravaganza, we’ll see our first import Apples coming out of New Zealand – look for Braeburns, Dazzles, Gala, Honeycrisp, Premier Star. As for Strawberries, chilly nights last week slowed growth in Watsonville, but they have bounced back into great supply this week: excellent, sweet berries between our farmer trifecta of Martinez, Sun Valley, and Tomatero. California Valencias starting with a promotable supply this week, ready to take on the bulk of your citrus needs. California Grapes are on the horizon as well, with some great product out of Peru & Mexico in the meantime.
APPLES
In Club Apple land, Cosmic Crisp & Crimson Delight are just about done, along with Jazz (until we see imports in June). Envy still holding on for now. Domestic supply of Honeycrisp & Pink Ladys is winding down as well – seeing our first NZ apples this week, but they won’t be cheap! Look for Braeburns, Dazzles, Gala, Honeycrisp, Premier Star.
AVOCADOS
Soaring prices on 48/60ct avocados, which will likely stay high over the summer due to the interruptions from the Mexican market and other factors (sizing, fixed costs, labor, etc.). Move into smaller fruit for a price break!
BERRIES
Blackberries: Our MX suppliers wrapping up by the end of the month, then we’ll be waiting on local product out of Watsonville
Blueberries: Forbidden is winding down but holding on for the time being. Homegrown supply tightened last week due to cold temperatures in CA growing areas. Pricing should ease in the next few weeks.
Strawberries: Watsonville production is going strong! Tomatero, Sun Valley, and Martinez are our main labels, as we work through the last of cheaper Mexican product from Fresh Kampo.
Raspberries: Solid, fresh, good flavor. Consistent for the next few months, with Sun Valley starting up late summer.
CITRUS
Grapefruit: Plenty of product from Hyde and RVO – with flashes of Oro Blancos in the mix!
Valencias: Transitioning into CA supply for fancy fruit, along with choice fruit for a good value.
Navels: Done for the season – RVO helped carry us past the normal season’s end to honor our strong partnership.
California Lemons: Grab your extra small & extra large lemons for a value deal!
Limes: Price finally seeing relief after an expensive winter.
Mandarins: Gold Nuggets winding down, sizing up small at the end of the season. We may see more Pixies and Shasta Golds, but the season and consumer tastes have just about moved on.
GRAPES
Look for more MX Perlettes, and hopefully some Flames behind them, depending on logistics! California Grape will be ready soon from Coachella.
KIWI
We sourced more volume fill kiwis from our local supplier, CA Family Farms. Sizing up smaller, a tasty piece of fruit!
MELON
California Cantaloupes landed over the weekend with our retail ad starting this week! Honeydew is on its tail in a few weeks – supply from MX has been a bit sporadic. Plenty of MX Mini Seedless available, along with our first shot of California product. MX Bins are looking good going into memorial day.
STONE FRUIT
Cherries are super sweet and beautiful from Dwelley and other growers! The California season will go through the second week of June. Our first shot of Krista yellow peaches quickly led into Zee Fire Yellow Nectarines from HGO. Look for Boldt and Burkart product to come on this week!
TROPICALS
We are moving into a nice flush of Ataulfos, with more consistent size and condition. Tommy volume will start to tighten up on 8/9 count – we may be looking at a mix of 7ct and 10ct. We are securing as many Kents as we can from the vender!
VEGETABLES
The transition through Spring is underway with a few more weeks of Tutti Frutti Peas and plenty of Asparagus to be had – Coastal View has strong production cycles and excellent quality through the 4th of July. Our local farmers are starting to harvest more summer produce – look for an abundance of Heirloom Tomatoes from Wilgenburg, snappy Green Beans from Desert West, along with Cal-O Corn & fresh crop Gold Potatoes. Beautiful Mixed Squash cases from Comanche Creek are on the scene, along with fresh Yellow Onions from Peri & Sons. We’re seeing a promotable supply of refreshing Lettuces from Josie’s and other growers: Green Leaf, Red Leaf, and Romaine – time to whip up some salads! Celery is in a tight spot during this transition, along with Bell Peppers out of MX – rest assured we are securing everything we can. Cooler weather in the Spring leads to fantastic Greens out of Watsonville – beautiful young leaves that have a chance to grow before major pests arrive. Jacob’s Farm Basil is coming out of Pescadero this time of year – a great local alternative for the Tomatero devotees.
ASPARAGUS
Plenty of asparagus to be had – Coastal View Produce has strong production cycles and excellent quality through the 4th of July.
GREEN
BEANS
First of the US product for the season: crunchy and flavorful product from Desert West!
BUNCHED BEETS
Tutti & Sun Valley are our main suppliers, solid program and quality across the board.
SWEET BABY BROCCOLI
Lakeside in good volume out of Watsonville, with Josie’s as our secondary label.
cabbage
Beautiful red heads from Anna’s and Tomatero. Lakeside savoy is looking great.
CARROTS
Earthbound Carrots back into better supply, after some logistical challenges with the vendor. Red Carrots from Cal-O are done for the season, but we have beautiful, sweet Yellow, Nantes, and Rainbow Carrots from Sunrise!
CAULIFLOWER
White Cauliflower from Sun Valley coming on soon, with Cheddar and Purple following behind! Tomatero is our main supplier for now — gorgeous, white, and blemish-free. We will also see more “naked” unwrapped cauliflower from Tomatero. Their gorgeous Fioretto (sweet, sprouting loose cauliflower) is a very generous box.
celery
Celery hit a rough time in the Spring transition – supply is limited and prices are high. Tomatero is getting close to harvesting an upcoming field!
CORN
Domestic product starting this week with Cal-O — volume depends on warmer weather.
Cucumbers
Solid from MX and should start to see domestic product trickle in this week.
GINGER
Our Peruvian grower is carefully parsing out the late season crop until the fresh crop begins. Secret Beach turmeric deal will go through August.
greens
Still highlighting Sun Valley and Tomatero, along with Annas and Fresh Valley to supplement. A great time of year for greens, the cooler weather creates outstanding quality.
herbs
Promotable supplies of local basil from Jacobs, and securing Tomatero product wherever possible! Flat parsley is looking better this week, with solid supply from Cal-O, Tomatero, and Sunrise.
lettuce
Promotable volume from Josies, along with gorgeous product from Tomatero, Cal-O, and Sun Valley.
leeks
We’re working through the last shot from Ralphs until the fall, before relying on CA product for the summer.
bell peppers
Colored Bell Peppers in tight supply. With high prices out of Canada, we’re relying on Mexican product. Domestic Green Bells are here from Desert West. Securing all the hot peppers we can get our hands on!
Mushrooms
Standard varieties are looking good. Staff favorite: jumbo criminis from various labels, bulk maitake, as well as the shiitakes from Mushroom King! Ask your sales rep about the bulk chef mixed mushrooms from Mycopia. Their Specialty Trio will be discontinued for the next year, with a potential return in 2023.
onions
Spring shallots & spring onions available for the week from Coke. Late last week saw our first shot of fresh California yellow onions from Peri & Sons – still new crop, lightly cured, but quality is looking great!
potatoes
Fingerlings should be back from Cal-O in about 3 weeks. Red Potatoes are back, with all new crops grown in the desert and packed in Bakersfield.
peas
Bagged snap peas are done from Del Cabo. Tutti Frutti is gorgeous, with consistent quality coming from their hoop houses. They’ll wind down in the next two weeks as the far they begin to plant more heirloom tomatoes.
summer squash
Local supply a bit touch and go, supplementing with Mexican product. Beautiful mixed summer squash from Comanche!
tomatoes
Wilgenberg Heirlooms looking fine and promotable as Mexican product comes to an end. Cherry tomatoes solid with promotable supplies out of MX.
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