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NEW!
• Warren Pears
• Cal Red Yellow Peach Frog Hollow
• Yummy Beaut Plums Frog Hollow
• Maywood Adriatic Figs
• Sunrise Purple Dancer Eggplant
• Candy Dream Grapes
• Full Belly Muscat Grapes in Totes
• New Zealand Green Kiwis
• Riverdog (Guinda) Specialty Melons
• Sunrise Kiwano Horned Melon -
COMING SOON
• Cuyama Beni Shogun Early Fuji and Sweeties this week!
• Cuyama Honeycrisp first week of September
• Kiwi Berries
• Traceland (Morro Bay) Late Season California Avocados -
BACK IN STOCK
• Calo Red and Green Butter Lettuce
• Lakeside Watermelon Radish, 25# Celery Root and Rutabaga
• Bunched Spinach mid-week -
TIGHT INVENTORY
• Organic Girl Butter, Butter Plus, Little Gem and True Hearts
• Sweet Potatoes -
GAPPING
• Utility Apples
• Colored Cauliflower
• Rutabaga
• Covilli Pineapples
• Thai Coconuts -
WINDING DOWN
• Dwelley Corn
• Terra Firma Yellow Onions -
FINISHED
• Cherries
• California White Nectarines
• Terra Firma Red Onions
BUYER’S NOTES
Updated August 28, 2022
FRUIT
We are coming to the end of the California Peach season and the transition from early season peaches to late harvest peaches. Late harvest varieties are usually picked the third or fourth week in July. They are lower in moisture and less juicy than early varieties, but they are full of flavor. The peaches have been on the tree longer resulting in a more solid piece of fruit. Don’t wait until they get too soft though, this could result in a mealy peach. Late harvest peaches eat less ripe and more firm than early varieties. Freestone varieties will pull apart easily after making a slice and the pit will fall out. We will have plenty of late seasonal varietals through August. Don’t miss Homegrown Yellow Peaches on Earl’s Weekly Specials!
Cuyama California Beni Shogun Early Fujis and Sweeties starting this week! Cripps Pink Imports will take center stage until Cuyama starts up the first week of September.
California Avocados are winding down fast and we will see more Mexico fruit come on with less maturity and lower oil content. Traceland (Morros Bay) Late Season California Avocados starting the first week of September with high oil content and flavor!
California Melons are peaking in flavor out of the San Joaquin Valley and Yolo County near Sacramento. Sweet varieties like Charentais, Goddess, Sensation and Honeyloupe should not be missed. Download Earl’s Melon Guide!
Adriatic Figs
Graffiti Eggplant
Purple Dancer Eggplant
APPLES
Starting to transition into new crop California along with Washington. Jazz Club Apple from New Zealand will be light until end of September when Washington starts up. Fuji, Honeycrisp, Cripps Pink tight for the next few weeks. Will see some Fujis from New Zealand. California Fujis in 2-3 weeks. Sweeties from Cuyama mid-week!
AVOCADOS
Rincon (California) continues into September with excellent flavor. Traceland (Morros Bay) looking to start up the first week of September with high oil and great flavor. Traceland will have plenty of #2 fruit that is great for delis and kitchens!
BANANAS
Download Earl’s Banana Handling & Receiving Guide for more helpful tips.
bananas are extremely susceptible to heat
Do not expose them to extremes of cold or heat
• Avoid setting containers in drafts, near heating vents, windows, or motors
• Ideal temperature to store in a well-ventilated space: 56-58 F, 13.3-14.4 C
• Temperature for ripening: 60-65 F, 15.6-18.3 C
BANANAS, continued
• Relative humidity: 90 - 95%
• Mist: No
• Typical shelf life: 3 to 7 days (ripened, depending on conditions)
• Do not store or transport with commodities that produce ethylene i.e., apples, pears, etc.
• Highly sensitive to freezing injury for a sustained amount of time (+12 hours)
• Susceptible to chilling injury if kept below 55 F, 13.3 C
• Damage sometimes is not apparent until the produce is returned to a higher temperature
BERRIES
Blackberries: Hot weather in Corralitos brings on delicious Tomatero Blackberries along with CWP (Santa Maria).
Blueberries: Bringing in Forbidden early fruit (Santa Maria) when available. Volume increasing by mid to end of September.
Strawberries: Tomatero and Sun Valley end of summer fruit has incredible flavor.
Raspberries: AG Berry has delicious, sweet raspberries!
citrus
California Lemons are all but done. New crop Mexico and California (Desert) has been delayed into the 2nd week of September. Hyde Grapefruit is done for now. California Valencias will be done by end of October. Early Navels by early October. Flooding out of Veracruz caused more damage to the Lime crop than originally thought. Inventory is tight with higher prices.
figs
Maywood (Corning) has a bounty of fruit coming on. Read about Earl’s farm trip to Maywood under our vegucation section.
grapes
Concord and Thomcord Grapes are done. Enjoy Candy Dreams, Red Seedless Ruby Rush and Krissy, Green Seedless Ivory, Pristine and Sweet Globe, and Black Seedless Sable. NEW! Sweet Muscat Grapes from Full Belly in tote bags. Grape season matures into late September/early October when the fruit develops high sugars.
kiwi
New Zealand Green and Gold Kiwis have excellent flavor. Don’t miss California Family Farms 1# cello bags.
melons
August brings on a wonderful variety of Specialty Melons. Sensation Muskmelon ( has sweet light green flesh with an enticing fragrance), Haogen (green fleshed melon dripping with sugar and a refreshing, honeyed flavor), Piel de Sapo (has pale green to white inner flesh with a sweet flavor similar to Honeydew), Canary (bright yellow skin and a crisp, super-sweet creamy colored flesh), Sharlyn (pale orange flesh has both floral and fruity aromas) and more!
Don’t miss our colorful Melon Guide and follow the flavor through the melon season. You can also find all of Earl’s downloadable guides here.
pears
Starting to see the shift from California to the Pacific Northwest - Golden Bosc and Bartlett (California). Starkrimson Red Pears (Washington) later this week! D’Anjou middle of September (PNW).
New this week, Warren Pears from Frog Hollow Farm! The Warren is a gorgeous russetted pear, soft and juicy with a melting mouth feel. The skin turns a golden yellow as it ripens and can be known to develop a pretty blush. Similar in size to a D’anjou, chefs prize this delicious pear in tarts or cakes, poached in wine, in salads and on sandwiches.
stone fruit
California Yellow Peaches are promotable this week. Don’t miss the Homegrown Weekly Specials. PNW Peaches remain tight. Will see some White Nectarines before Labor Day. Yellow Nectarines on the tighter side and prices are creeping up. Steady supply through Labor Day. California is winding down on Plums. Plums and Pluots (PNW) will go through the Fall.
Cherries: Finished
Yellow Nectarines: August Bright, Grand Bright, Grand Sweet
White Nectarines: California is finished. Look for fruit out of the PNW this week.
Yellow Peaches: Cal Red, ECO August Flame (may have minor scarring), Summer Flame 34
White Peaches: Snow Gem
Plums: Black Kat, Emerald Beaut
Pluots: California is finished
Peterson Family Fruit: Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) - August Flame Yellow Peach and August Fire Yellow Nectarine
tropicals
Covilli Pineapples in a seasonal gap. Covilli Dragon Fruit also gapping. We will see some RVO Magenta Dragon Fruit. Thai Coconuts are gapping for a few weeks.
California Keitt Mangos are looking to have a strong season with steady pricing. They are super juicy and sweet with almost no stringy fibers and a small pit which means more fruit to eat. They are not subjected to the stress of a hot water bath, as most imported mangos are, contributing to a delicious eating experience. Don’t shy away from these green mangos because Keitts remains green as it ripens.
California Esquires are a low water variety meaning non-tropical regions and regions more susceptible to drought can grow this tasty piece of fruit. They start out on the greener side but will ripen up often with little to no change in skin color, later in the season they will land with more yellow and red on them as they ripen. Mallikas are done for the season. Look for Kents to be around for another 2-3 weeks.
New! Kiwano Horned Melon taste like a mix of cucumber, kiwis and bananas when ripe. The fruit will have an orange rind and give slightly to gentle pressure when ripe. Cut in half like a kiwi fruit and scoop out the fruit or squeeze the cut fruit from the bottom and tilt the loosened fruit into your mouth. The seeds are edible but the real flavor is in the green flesh! Grown by Sunrise Farms (Buellton).
VEGETABLES
Dwelley Corn is coming to an early end due to heavy worm pressure. Last call for corn! Heirloom Tomatoes are in peak production! Now is the time to get aggressive with promotional pricing. Speak with your Earl’s Sales Rep for more information. Broccoli is headed into the late summertime when we see decreased production and higher pest pressure. We are keeping an eye on quality, expect prices to increase and volume to tighten up on bunches as well as crowns. We are beginning our transition to PNW Beets in a bigger way next week. Full slate of Ralph’s Red and Gold Bunched and Loose Beets landing Tuesday. Onions and Potatoes are still rolling with some product out of California with a full transition to the Pacific Northwest in September. August is peak season for California Heirloom Tomatoes! Now is the time to get aggressive with promotional pricing and build large, beautiful displays. Tutti Frutti now harvesting a full line up of Winter Squash. Bins arriving after Labor Day. Pre-orders available before Labor Day. Speak with your Earl’s Sales Rep for more information.
Padrons
Comanche Caprese Mix
Romanesco
asparagus
Looking good out of Mexico with standard and large sizes.
ARTICHOKES
Steady production with good pricing. Fall flush in a few weeks with more availability.
bunched beets
Red and Gold Beets from Ralph’s (Vernon, WA) have beautiful tops.
VARIETAL BEANS
Aggressive pricing on Dwelley Specialty Beans - Blue Lake, French, Romano and Yellow Wax.
bROCCOLI & broccoli crowns
Volatile and limited.
sweet baby bROCCOLI
Tomatero is done. Lakeside is back with nice quality.
Brussels Sprouts
Local product has great quality.
carrots
Stunning Purple and Sweet Nantes Carrots from Sunrise. Sunrise is gapping on Rainbow Carrots, we will land the first of the season from Ralph’s Tuesday!
Cauliflower
Moving completely into Josie’s and prices are up.
Romanesco
Lakeside looks sharp.
celery
Celery is steady and promotable.
corn
Dwelley Corn is coming to an early end due to heavy worm pressure. Last call for corn!
cucumbers
Euro Cukes have dried up out of Mexico and will gap for about a week. Plenty of Wilgenburg (Dinuba) Greenhouse Grown Cucumbers.
eggplant
Eggplant class is robust! More varietals arriving each week. Japanese from Full Belly joins Sunrise Farms Striped Graffiti and Purple Dancer (pink, mild Italian varietal with non-bitter flesh). Orient Express from Coke Farm (long and slender with thin purple skin and light flavor it is a favorite for Asian dishes).
ginger
New crop!
tumeric
River Road (Hawaii).
greens
Wonderful array of Local Greens from Tomatero, Sun Valley, Lakeside and Sunrise!
herbs
Tomatero Basil season is slowing down. Tomatero Italian Parsley is back. Sun Valley is starting up with Cilantro.
lettuce
Sunrise Salanova - Green, Red and Mixed Pack has returned. Red and Green Butter from Cal-O are looking fantastic. Now being harvested in the foothills of Bakersfield at a higher altitude with good quality. Lots of aphid pressure on Organic Girl Butter Lettuce and Little Gems. Romaine heart market tightened and prices skyrocketed early this week.
leeks
Ralph’s (WA) has long white shanks. Tomatero (Watsonville) remains steady.
bell peppers
All colors out of Mexico and Canada. Brilliant Purple Bell Peppers from Sunrise round out a colorful display.
hot peppers
Jimmy Nardellos are a sweet frying pepper wonderful finished with a flaky sea salt. Anaheim, Jalapeno, Serrano, Padron, Poblano and Shishito are in good supply. Lots of Local Hot Peppers, Padrons and Shishitos. New from Sunrise, Shishito cello bags! Download our Hot Pepper Guide.
onions
Terra Firma is done with Red Onions and Yellow shortly after that. Nature’s Bounty will be it for California and then transitioning to PNW Anderson Product.
potatoes
Still rolling with Calo gold. Bouchey Russets (PNW) are in a good spot through the end of the year. Bouchey Bulk Fingerlings (PNW) Monday!
roots
Montecucco (PNW) Parsnips, Rutabaga, Red and Gold Beets early October!
SPINACH
Bunched Spinach should be back in action Tuesday.
summer squash
Tomatero slowed down a bit between harvesting fields of Zucchini. They will be getting into a flush soon! Comanche Creek Mixed Squash is a beautiful mix of yellow and green varieties. Download Earl’s Squash Guide.
sweet potatoes
Smooth transition into fresh new crop and we are seeing volumes improve. Fresh crop sweet potatoes will not be as sweet as the storage crop, as the starches have not yet turned to sugar.
tomatoes
Heirloom Tomatoes are in peak production! Now is the time to get aggressive with promotional pricing. Tutti Frutti Mixed Heirlooms are sharp. Grower Chris Cadwell will continue to have abundant supply on heirlooms through September and October.
Tomatero is back with the popular Japanese Momotaro Tomato. Momotaros have a perfect balance of sweet and tangy, it's no wonder this variety is one of the most common fresh market tomatoes in Japan. It has a dark pink color with a delicate flesh, perfect for slicing onto sandwiches or into salads.
Sweet Early Girls from Comanche and Dry Farmed Early Girls from Ambrosio. A bounty of Cherry Tomato Varietals from local growers - Durst, Anna’s, Full Belly and Comanche Creek!
tomatillos
Beautiful Green Tomatillos from Coke.
winter squash
Tutti Frutti Winter Squash Bins coming after Labor Day. Can be packed earlier with pre-orders. Tutti Frutti leads the way with Acorn, Buttercup, Butternut, Carnival, Delicata, Kabocha, Red Kuri and Spaghetti!
Hard Squash Bins coming soon! Anna’s Organics (Chowchilla) now harvesting Acorn and don’t miss the stunning orange Kabocha from Sunrise Farms (Buellton).
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VEGUCATION CORNER
