Organic Market Update #203

The beginning of February brings a variety of high-quality and highly promotable organic options for buyers. Cooking vegetables—including brussels sprouts, green beans, and a variety of peas—are in excellent supply. Still reigning in pandemic popularity, organic garlic and ginger continue to show strong sales and promotable pricing. 

Cooking Veg

Organic Brussels Sprouts from Mexico continue to yield strong supplies and excellent quality throughout February. Organic Sweet Baby Broccoli is in steady availability and promotable supplies this month.  Organic Snow, Snap, and English Peas are back in season and price is expected to improve as harvest yields grow. Organic Green Beans continue in good supplies from both Mexico and Florida with outstanding quality. Organic Asparagus prices are coming down slowly now that new regions are coming into season in Mexico. A cold front coming through the growing region is slowing production, so promotable prices may not be available until later this month. 

Tomatoes

Organic Heirloom and “Darkloom” Tomatoes will have promotable supplies out of Mexico, as will Organic Roma Tomatoes. Quality on all three has been excellent.  Organic Beefsteak Tomato prices remain high out of Canada and Mexico, as harvests have been limited. Organic Cluster Tomato prices are starting to come down as more production becomes available out of Mexico and Canada. Organic Grape Tomato prices remain steady from Florida and Mexico. Florida supplies will remain limited through mid-February when new fields start up. 

 Ginger/Turmeric/Garlic

Premium Organic Red Turmeric from Florida is in peak season through the month, with some of the best quality and freshest product available all year long. Organic Turmeric from Fiji will continue to be available for buyers looking for a cheaper price point. Organic Ginger out of Peru has tightened a bit as the season is winding down. Mexico has pushed back their expected start date on new Organic Ginger as that’s the next growing region for late February and into March. Organic Garlic from California and Spain have seen tightening supplies recently, but new Organic Garlic from Argentina will be coming into season.

Celery

Organic Celery and Celery Hearts have been light in supplies, but as February begins, harvests have begun to improve from most grower shippers. Pricing is expected to drop during early this month as supplies stabilize. Excellent quality is expected.

Citrus

California and Mexican Organic Grapefruit continue in peak season with outstanding quality. Organic Blood Oranges, Cara Cara Orange, Pummelos, and Minneola Tangelos are great sellers in the varietal citrus category for February. Cold and rain is slowing citrus harvests and packing for early February, but winter promotions are expected to come. California Organic Navel Oranges quality is excellent and supplies are fairly steady on all sizes and bags. Supplies are firming due to the rain that hit California, with more rain expected, but it’s too early to know if there’s longer term impact. New crop California Organic Kumquats are in season!

Pears

Washington Organic Green Anjou, Red Anjou, and Golden Russet Bosc Pears are the varieties that continue to be available for winter display. Prices are up somewhat due to good demand and higher freight rates. There may be promo opportunities on Organic Red Anjou Pears. New crop import Organic Bartlett Pears from South America are expected to arrive in mid to late-February.

Eggplant and Green Peppers

Organic Eggplant and Green Peppers from Florida continue in season, with Eggplant yielding lower production volume for early February and smaller sizing. Expect to see Mexican Organic Eggplant supplement fill-rates, with pricing and availability expected to remain steady with production out of Mexico.

Lettuces and Greens

Organic Green, Red, and Lacinato Kale remain steady in supply with excellent quality from Florida. Look for supplemental Lacinato Kale supplies to be sourced from California. Promotional opportunities on Organic Red Kale in early February from Florida will be available, with Organic Leaf and Romaine Lettuce from Florida in peak production with excellent quality. Organic Iceberg Lettuce and Romaine Hearts from Yuma, AZ continue to see up & down production, and pricing remains elevated. Organic Living Butter Lettuce, greenhouse grown in Virgina, is selling very well. The product holds up for the consumer, and has great texture.

Hard Squash

Organic Butternut, Spaghetti, and Acorn Squash continue to be in good supply at the start of  February. Organic Kabocha Squash is expected to be steady through the end of the month. Organic Delicata Squash will be in sporadic supply throughout February.

Avocados

Organic Hass Avocado prices are steady, along with supplies. 60ct have tightened just a bit as most growers are seeing pack-outs favor the bigger 48ct size, heading into the “Big Game”.