BUYER’S NOTES
Updated May 22, 2022
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NEW!
• Burkart “Honey Rich” Apriums
• Tomatero 2lbs. Strawberries
• Apricots – Coral Cot
• Cherries – Brooks Variety
• Peaches – Spring Princes (Boldt)
• White Peaches – Snow Fox
• Nectarine – Rose Brite
• White Nectarine – Polar Kist
• New Zealand Gold Kiwi (Clams)
• California Valencia
• Organic Treat – Cantaloupe
• Purple Artichokes
• Bi-color Corn -
COMING SOON
• Dwelley – Blenheim’s - June
• Dwelley Beans and Corn – June
• Comanche Creek – Earl Girl Tomatoes - June
• CA Fresh Crop Russets - June -
BACK IN STOCK
• Tomatero Basil and Baby Broccoli
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TIGHT INVENTORY
• Hot Peppers
• Russet Potatoes - Fresh Crop in (3) weeks (Bakersfield)
• Sweet Potatoes -
GAPPING
• Fingerlings
• Anna’s Bunched Radishes
• Celery Hearts
• Shallots
• Sunchokes -
WINDING DOWN
• Mandarins
• Honeycrisp and Pink Lady
• Domestic Pears
• Covilli Green Beans & Heirlooms
• Cal-O Bunched Spinach -
FINISHED
• Dwelley Cherries
• Imported Golden Bosc
• Red Pears
• Navels
FRUIT
CA Stone Fruit season is full on! Apricots, Apriums, Cherries, Nectarines, and Peaches!
Burkart and Boldt make their debut appearances this week. Prices are high this year, due to lower yields and increased fixed costs for farmers, but the fruit is tasting fantastic. Shop sizes for best values and be flexible. Tomatero Strawberries! Forbidden Blueberries have but a few weeks left. California-grown Valencias are in stock as we say goodbye to Navels with Mandarins soon to follow. Rounding out seasonal offerings are Cantaloupe, Grapes, and New Zealand Golden Kiwi. Domestic Pears are done, while domestic Honeycrisp and Pink Lady will be the first apples to go – other domestic apple varieties are plentiful. Ask your salesperson for details to make an easy transition into Summer.
APPLES
Fujis are in good supply, but domestic Honeycrisp and Pinks winding down. Storage fruit is just about at the limit.
AVOCADOS
Reports of the California season ending early are sending prices higher. Additionally, the water shortage in Southern California is forcing growers to strip the fruit from the trees before they size up. MX is scrambling to start earlier but September is a long way away. Bumpy ride until Fall.
FAIR TRADE BANANAS
Coliman and Equal Exchange are ripening well. Look for our daily updates with our price list.
BERRIES
Blackberries: Dovex from MX solid through May before wrapping up.
Blueberries: Forbidden will be ending soon, Homegrown will be our main grower for Pints & 18oz until late June La Pierre label from Oregon.
Strawberries: Tasting great!
Raspberries: Fresh Kampo still going strong.
CITRUS
Grapefruit: Hyde Oroblanco - solid supply and tasting great.
Valencias: California Season has begun!
Navels: Navels and Caras are done for the season.
California Lemons: Marsalisi Meyers - solid supply throughout the Spring and early Summer.
Mandarins: Small sized Gold Nuggets are in best supply, which we’re selling to help the grower. Flavor is still fantastic!
KIWI
New Zealand starting.
MELON
Watermelon Bins are here, with multiple vendors coming on! A great value and cutting well – ask your sales rep for more information. Quantity should be solid moving into Memorial Day. Honeydew are sizing up larger than other melons, and Cantaloupes are tasting great.
GRAPES
US grape season starting this week out of Coachella.
PEARS
All imports.
STONE FRUIT
Keep an eye on the price list - new varieties and sizes will land daily. Burkart and Boldt land this week. Believe it or not, Dwelley Cherries are done for the season.
TROPICALS
The faucet on Mangos is about to open!
VEGETABLES
Sun hours are increasing, and Summer is so close. Warmer nights followed by even warmer days really get that soil going! Corn made its first appearance last week and that should continue this week. California farms: Dwelley, Terra Firma, Lakeside, Tomatero, Sunrise, Sun Valley and Anna’s are providing a plethora of bountiful fresh produce. CVP Asparagus continues through July 4th holiday and all things Peas coming from Tutti-Frutti. Catch the last bit of Spring before they are gone. Grab some Purple Artichokes from JAS! Comanche Creek mixed varietal Summer Squash is a peek at good things to come. More glimpses of summer produce, with a growing supply of Basil and Zucchini from Tomatero, along with Baby Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Celery. Covilli is starting to wind down on their Green Beans and Heirloom Tomato program. Another fine season coming to an end.
ASPARAGUS
Market price shot up post Mother’s Day as per usual, but production cycles are strong. Look for small size for a value option.
ARTICHOKES
Good quality and Purple landing this week from JAS.
BUNCHED BEETS
Tutti & Sun Valley are our main suppliers, solid program and quality across the board.
GREEN BEANS
Numbers from Covilli slowing down to a trickle in the next few weeks. Field-grown from CA are available. Dwelley in mid-June.
BROCCOLI
Solid from Lakeside/Josie’s.
SWEET BABY BROCCOLI
Tomatero full on. Lakeside is solid.
BROCCOLI
CROWNS
Solid from Lakeside/Josie’s.
BRUSSELS
SPROUTS
Covilli winding down.
CABBAGE
Anna’s and Lakeside are the main labels – heads are sizing up on the smaller side, but quality is beautiful. Napa supply has been touch and go.
CARROTS
Cal-O Carrots are in better supply. Sunrise and Lakeside look nice. Nantes solid, back and forth from Sunrise and Sun Valley. Cal-O Red Bunched Carrots are done.
CAULIFLOWER
Tightening supply this week.
ROMANESCO
Tightening supply this week.
CELERY
Josie’s coming out of Salinas/Santa Maria shed, just in time to fill an expected gap in local supply.
CUCUMBERS
Looking good.
EGGPLANT
In better supply.
GINGER
Keep Ginger tight – at the end of the season, the quality can spoil quickly. We’re keeping our eyes on the product daily but be prepared to see minor mold on the tips. Let your sales rep know of any significant spoilage.
GREENS
Sun Valley and Tomatero are carrying the lion’s share across the entire class. Look for some smaller growers to supplement and increase variety at the retail level.
HERBS
Starting to see solid supply on Tomatero Basil!
LETTUCE
Sun Valley is experimenting with Iceberg and other beautiful Leaf Lettuces as well. Last week saw minor aphid challenges on Green and Red Leaf that may continue.
LEEKS
Tomatero this week.
BELL PEPPERS
A bit of volatility in the market. Keep a daily eye on this. Mini-Mix is tight.
HOT PEPPERS
Waiting for local supply and will be tight.
ONIONS
New crop landing and quality improving.
POTATOES
Fresh crop Russets should come mid-June. Gold and Red Potatoes are back this week.
PEAS
Tutti Snaps, Snow, and English Peas!
RADISHES
Anna Red Bunched and French Breakfast landing Wednesday.
SUMMER SQUASH
CA Zucchini supply coming on strong with Tomatero. Yellow Squash is tight. Comanche Creek’s mixed varietal Summer Squash is beautiful!
SWEET POTATOES
Keeping it tight, end of season supply – remember these were harvested in the end of 2021!
TOMATOES
Covilli Heirlooms ending. We will move into Wilgenburg as main label. Tutti Heirlooms are hopeful for early June. Early Girl and Cherry Tomatoes from Comanche Creek in June!
WINTER SQUASH
Solid across all SKUs.
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