Organic Market Update #260

Week 11, 2022

Peppers

Organic Mini Sweet Peppers from Florida are yielding excellent supplies, and promotional opportunities will be available through March. Mexican grown Organic Mini Sweet Peppers in 12/1lb pouches are in great supply with promotional pricing available during the month. Organic Color Bell Peppers from Mexico and Israel show excellent quality and availability.  New crop of Canadian and bell peppers will be available by mid-April. Organic Green Bell Peppers from Florida have begun to harvest their final planting. Supplies will begin to decrease, and pricing increase approaching April.

Tomatoes

Organic Heirloom and Dark Heirloom Tomatoes will continue to be available into the middle of March with steady supplies out of Mexico and outstanding quality. Prices are expected to increase slightly toward the end of March. Organic Grape Tomatoes from Florida will be in lighter supply for mid-March, as quality has been outstanding, but volumes are impacted from earlier Florida frosts. Organic Beefsteak Tomatoes out of Canada show stronger volume and more affordable pricing. Organic Cluster Tomatoes are expected to remain steady through March, as quality has been great on product from outside the US. Organic Roma Tomatoes show good quality from Mexico, and there will be steady availability for promotional opportunities.

Apples

Washington storage crop Organic Fuji, Gala, and Pink Apple supplies are getting much tighter, with the end of the season two to three months away. Shippers are limiting pack outs and experiencing higher than expected losses on an already short crop. Expect some sporadic supplies and higher prices. New crop Organic Import Apples may get started as early as May on varieties like Gala.

Watermelon

Organic Mini Watermelon prices will ease off some as production has increased on warmer temperatures in Mexico. Quality has been excellent. Full size Organic Seedless Watermelons will be available out of Mexico by mid-April.

Asparagus

Organic Asparagus is in steady supply out of Mexico, with prices easing downward. Heading into April, there is expected to be more product available, with 28lb cases packed, and ad opportunities available. Overall quality is rated as outstanding.

Cucumbers

Organic Cucumbers remain in steady supplies from Mexico. Pricing is expected to rise slightly for late March, but promotional volumes should be available in early April. Organic Seedless Mini Cucumber market continues to be extremely tight, with prices expected to drop as Canadian production increases.

Squash

Organic Zucchini and Yellow Squash continue to experience improving volumes, with pricing expected to rapidly improve heading towards April. Organic Zucchini production from FL will begin again in late March and volumes will grow quickly.

Berries

Organic Strawberry prices remain very promotable out of California and on Fair-Trade production out of Mexico. Florida will begin to finish for the season as a new California season begins. Fruit has looked excellent with nice size from both California and Mexico. Organic Blackberry prices will continue to ease off as the month goes on and production begins to pick up. Supplies are steady and quality has been excellent. Organic Raspberry prices will rise after heavy promotions in the beginning of March. Supplies are steady after a good harvest flush, and quality has been excellent. Expect promotable prices to return in mid-April as California production begins. Organic Blueberry prices continue to rise as imports are slowing down. Quality has improved tremendously on imports from Peru and Mexico. Expect prices to jump up in mid-March as imports finish. Domestic production is slated to begin in early April.

Lettuce

Organic Leaf and Romaine Lettuce from Florida remain in peak volumes. Promotional opportunities will remain available in March. Organic Romaine Hearts and Iceberg Lettuce from SoCal/Yuma, AZ continue to experience limited supplies or gaps in production due to heavy aphids (insect) issues, and as a result, prices have skyrocketed. Supplies will remain limited on Organic Romaine Hearts and Iceberg Lettuce through March, until the transition to Salinas, CA fields happens closer to April.