Market update #374

MAY 31 - JUNE 6, 2024

Grapes

Promote Organic Grapes from Mexico for the month of June. New crop harvests are ramping up, so reallocating shelf space to this snacking commodity will be key. Mexican growers have transitioned into stronger varieties for their Organic Red and Green Grapes that will have better size, texture, and eating experience. This June, there will be more “Sweet Globe” Greens, and more “Karizma” and “Sweet Celebration” Reds, and less of the “Early Sweet” Greens and “Flame” Reds, which have been the traditional varieties the last decade. Specialty Organic Grapes are also coming back into season. There will be modest supplies of “Gummy Berries” (a seedless red varietal with notes of strawberry), available the first week of June. Then during the second week of June, “Cotton Candy” will come into season.

Stone Fruit

Fair-Trade Organic Eastern Peaches from South Carolina are in excellent supply. Organic Plumcots and Sugar Plums from South Carolina in clamshells will be in season during June. California Organic Yellow & White Nectarines and Peaches are in peak season. Sizing and quality are improving daily. Organic Apricots are now in excellent supply with premium sizing. Quality is outstanding, and prices have come down to promotable levels. Organic Cherries continue in season from California and are expected to transition to an excellent crop out of Washington in mid-June. The Washington supply is expected to end early sometime around the first week of August. Organic Rainier Cherries from California are tighter than reds. They are expected to gap before Washington gets started around mid-June. Organic Red Plums, Black Plums and Pluots from California are now coming into season. Supplies will improve by mid-June.

Lettuce

Organic Romaine, Green Leaf, and Red Leaf Lettuces from Pennsylvania and New Jersey will be in peak season. Expect great quality and supply. Organic Romaine Hearts from California remain pricey despite an increase in supply. California is a consistent source for Organic Iceberg Lettuce, while New Jersey will begin to produce quantities in early June. New Jersey production will come at an excellent time as California costs are beginning to increase.

Celery

There is still a scarcity of Organic Celery in California. The cost remains very high and there is still an absence of supply, even as the quality has improved. Harvesting won’t begin until the second week of June, although the Salinas supply now appears promising. Due to shortages, conditions will remain difficult until mid-June, but improvements are now in sight. Opportunities for promotion should materialize fast when Salinas gets underway in mid to late June.

Tomatoes

Organic Grape and Cherry Tomatoes from Lady Moon Farms will be promotable with outstanding quality through the month of June. Organic Beefsteak and Cluster Tomatoes will remain promotable into the middle of June. Organic Roma Tomatoes are steady. Some spot deals with individual shippers can be found. Romas will be transitioning from Western Mexico to Baja and Central Mexico. Volume will continue to pick up. Organic Heirloom Tomatoes are available, but quality is subpar and won’t make the ride from the West Coast. Expect supply gaps until new crops start in mid-June.

Tropicals

Mango Mania is here! Organic Ataulfo Honey and Tommy Atkins Mangos are in great supply. Look for month-long promotable pricing during June. Organic Hass Avocado supplies are steady for now, but volumes from Mexico are expected to drop throughout the month. California Organic Hass Avocados are available now in 48 ct sizes. Organic Pineapples are back! Good volume is expected for the beginning of June. Quality has been good. Organic Royal Star Papayas will be limited the month begins. Quality has been good. Organic Young Thai Coconuts will be gapping for the month of June.

Potatoes and Sweets

Organic Sweet Potatoes are looking great in storage as the transition from spring into summer begins. Supplies are ample on all major varieties. Pricing is expected to remain stable through June. Supplies are steady on Organic Orange, White and Japanese varieties. The “No. 1 sized” Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes will be sold out around the middle of June, and the packs will be moved to “medium size” to finish out the season. Organic Ben Yagi Purple Sweet Potatoes will be steady through June but are expected to run short before the new crop begins. New crop California Organic Sweet Potatoes are slated to kick off toward the end of August or early September, depending on the variety and how the 2023-2024 crop year finishes up. New crop Organic Russet Potatoes are expected to get started out of California around June 22. Over the next several weeks, expect old crop out of Washington to wind down. Product from Colorado will bridge the gap until new crop California.

Berries

Organic Blueberries continue to be promotable out of Southeast, and California fields have really kicked into production. Pricing should remain promotable, and volume should be good. New Jersey Organic Blueberries are expected to start around the week of June 16. The Pacific Northwest crop is expected to start around the same time. Organic Raspberries will be very promotable as Baja/California continue to be flush with product. Quality has been exceptional, with nice big, firm, tasty fruit. Organic Strawberries continue to be promotable out of California. Quality has been excellent, and volume should remain steady from the Watsonville/Salinas areas. Organic Blackberries will begin to transition out of Mexico. The weather has been hot, and the flush is coming to an end. We will move out to California in early June.

Melons

Organic Mini Seedless Watermelons continue to be promotable out of Mexico and SoCal. Quality has been outstanding, and volume is plentiful. Organic Seedless Watermelons continue to be available out of Mexico and SoCal. Quality is excellent. California Organic Cantaloupe and Honeydew have started in a small way and will be the primary sourcing region moving forward as the Mexican fruit sells out. Expect supply to increase and prices to level out.