Organic Market Update #321

Week 21, 2023

Melons

Organic Cantaloupes and Honeydew are in good supply out of Mexico, and Organic Seedless Watermelons should be available right before Memorial Day. As production started late expect 45ct bins and larger fruit to be bountiful, 60ct will be more limited. Quality should be excellent on the new fruit. Organic Mini Seedless Watermelons are very tight and will not be available with any kind of volume out of Mexico ahead of Memorial Day. Harsh weather and disease have affected crops, limiting overall supplies out of Mexico. 

Stone Fruit

Organic Apricots are now in season from California with steady supplies and higher prices to start. California Organic Cherries are not coloring up as quickly as hoped, with production expected to ramp up the last week of May. Promotions aren’t expected until after Memorial Day when there will be plenty of fruit and lower pricing. Expect the first Organic White & Yellow Peaches and Nectarines to be available by months end. Growers are anticipating excellent supplies. The Organic Pluot crop is down this season and higher prices should be expected.

Beans

California-grown Organic Fava Beans are available with excellent quality and steady availability. Organic Green Beans continue to experience limited availability in mid-May, but some relief will come by the end of the month. Bagged products are available, however elevated prices should be expected for the upcoming weeks.

Peppers

Organic Red, Orange, and Yellow Bell Peppers from Canada continue to show steady availability. Supplies, however, are expected to decrease in late May as yields are decreasing. Quality will remain strong but expect weaker availability and increasing prices. Organic Green Bell Pepper production is beginning in Georgia and quality should be strong, but prices will stay elevated into early June as volume builds.

Grapes

Organic Grapes will start up again in mid to late May out of the Sonora, Mexico region. Organic Green Grapes will lead the way, and Organic Red Grapes will follow, but they are facing similar availability issues as conventional grapes. Prices will be high to start.

Asparagus

Organic Asparagus fields in Mexico have transitioned, and new fields are showing promising quality. There is also California, New Jersey, and Washington Organic Asparagus available, and the quality is outstanding.

Citrus

Organic Mandarin promotions continue out of California, as good supplies are expected until early to mid-June. Organic Lime prices in Mexico continue to fall as production hits its peak. Expect promotional opportunities for the foreseeable future. Organic Lemon prices remain steady with good supplies available out of California and Mexico, with Argentina ready to start production. Organic Grapefruit is winding down out of Mexico, and limited availability of California fruit showing very high prices.

Berries

Organic Strawberries remain promotable out of California and Baja, Mexico. Quality has been excellent overall, and supplies remain plentiful as new areas come on daily. Organic Blackberries are promotable out of Mexico. Demand has been soft, and harvests continue to come in with good supplies, and excellent quality. Domestic production should start in early June. Organic Blueberry pricing is steady, and availability remains good from Georgia and California. The quality has been excellent overall. Organic Raspberries continue to be tight, with some pro-rating. There is some production winding down in Central Mexico, leading to a little more availability for late May. The quality has been excellent.