ONTARIO LOCAL
** SOON ** ZUCCHINI– With ideal growing conditions, we should start to see both green and yellow zucchini by the end of this week.
** SOON ** ENGLISH PEAS– The Ontario English pea (shelling peas) season should start later this week, with limited supply.
** SOON ** GARLIC SCAPES– Local garlic scapes will start sometime late this week. The curly, flavourful shoot of the garlic plant that shows up once a year and disappears before you know it. Milder than the bulb, sweeter when cooked. Available soon and not around for long. Many farms now grow varieties that produce fruit into the late summer and even October, though the volume is lower than the June peak.
** SOON ** ENDIVE / ESCAROLE– We expect to start to see supplies start late this week, with good volumes the week of June 14th.
** SOON ** CILANTRO / DILL / METHI– Cilantro should start around June 11th while dill and methi will be around June 16th.
** SOON ** PARSLEY– Both curly and plain parsley should start the week of June 28th.
** SOON ** SWISS CHARD– We should start to see both red and green swiss chard later this week.
** NEW ** FIELD STRAWBERRIES– The Ontario field strawberry season has started. Supplies are very light, but expected to be in good supply mid-week. Quality is outstanding. There are 2 distinct seasons; the June bearing crop. This is the “classic” season everyone thinks of. It is short but intense, usually lasting only 3 to 5 weeks. After about a week to 10 day gap, the ever-bearing or day-neutral crop will start.
** ** NEW ** COLLARDS / DANDELION – Both collards and dandelion have started, packed 12 bunches per case.
** NEW ** ROMAINE- Romaine is slightly behind schedule, but catching up quickly. Demand is very strong due to high prices for imports. Quality is very good when compared to California. Expect good volume the week of June 14th.
** NEW ** GREEN & RED LEAF– Both red and green leaf are available. Ontario product is packed 12ct. Supplies and quality are very good
** NEW ** GREEN, RED AND BLACK KALE– Green and black kale have both started; we should see red kale by the end of the week.
BUNCH RADISH– There are now steady supplies of bunch radish. Quality is outstanding.
FIDDLEHEADS– Canadian fiddleheads continue from Quebec and British Columbia. Ontario is expected to start sometime this week.
ASPARAGUS– Ontario asparagus season is here and availability is very good with outstanding quality. Pricing continues to ease as supplies increase. Now is the time to feature asparagus. The season will run until mid-July.
**DONE ** RAMPS (WILD LEEKS): The very short wild leek (Ramp) season has ended.
HOTHOUSE TOMATOES– Hothouse tomato markets have eased slightly last week but continue to hold at levels well above historical averages. Production remains steady, and demand has been strong enough to absorb available supply, allowing the market to maintain its strength despite the recent softening. The vine tomato markets have followed a similar pattern, with pricing coming off recent highs but remaining well supported above historical norms. Production is steady, and balanced demand has helped the market settle. Heirloom tomatoes continue to move very well across all regions. Demand remains strong despite improved production, keeping the market relatively tight and pricing well supported.
HOTHOUSE SNACKING TOMATOES– Grape tomato markets have leveled out this week. Demand remains strong, production has been limited, helping keep the market supported. Overall, pricing has stabilized as available supply continues to move steadily through the market. Medley tomato markets have weakened this week as strong production continues to outpace demand. Movement remains slower than expected, resulting in additional supply in the marketplace and increased downward pressure on pricing. Cherry tomato markets have found a more balanced position. Demand is running at typical seasonal levels, and steady production has allowed supply and demand to align more closely. As a result, the market feels stable with pricing settling into a comfortable range. On-the-vine snacking tomato markets remain soft, with supply continuing to exceed current demand. However, demand has started to improve, and market conditions are expected to become more balanced in the coming weeks as movement increases and inventories normalize. Cocktail tomatoes, supply and demand are much closer now, and things have calmed down considerably compared to the last few weeks. Overall, the market feels more stable, with pricing settling into a consistent range while remaining above historical averages.
HOTHOUSE PEPPERS– Pepper production remains very strong this week, with ample supply available across all colours. Markets have weakened significantly as production continues to outpace demand, resulting in saturated inventories across the country. Demand remains steady at typical seasonal levels, but the abundance of product has created additional room for promotions.
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS– English cucumber markets continue to be soft this week. Production remains strong across growing regions, with supply steadily building and exceeding current demand levels. With availability outpacing movement, the market remains under pressure and is expected to stay weak in the near term unless conditions shift. Mini cucumber markets are in a similar position and continue to be soft. Production is steady and ample supplies are readily available, while demand has eased from recent weeks. This imbalance is keeping the market under pressure.
RHUBARB– Ontario rhubarb continues as field grown supplies now dominate the marketplace. Supplies are very good, with pricing remaining steady as we get into peak production.
POTATO– Growers continue packing products out of storage. Supplies on reds are winding down. Yukon golds and chef large #1 continue to be available.
WAX TURNIP (RUTABEGA)- Rutabaga continues to ship out of storage with good supplies. Prices remain steady.
CARROT– The 2025 storage season is done. Strong demand from the US this year has helped deplete supplies earlier than usual. Heirloom multi colored supplies are steady, with supplies expected into June, with good quality.
MUSHROOMS– Supplies are good with no disruptions in supply expected.
CABBAGE– Growers continue packing green and red cabbage out of storage. Green and red cabbage supplies are very good. Savoy is finished. Pricing is steady with good demand.
APPLES– Apples continue to be shipped out of storage. Supplies are dwindling. Gold Delicious, MacIntosh, Honeycrisp, Empire, Spartan, Cortland, Red Delicious, Ambrosia and Fuji are all in very good supply. Royal Galas are done for the season. Honeycrisp will be the next variety to finish. Quality continues to be very good.
HOTHOUSE LETTUCE– Supplies of Sensei Farms baby lettuce are very good with very good quality and exceptional shelf life. Hydroponic boston/butter supplies are good.
HOTHOUSE STRAWBERRIES– Very light supplies of Ontario hothouse strawberries continue with strong demand. Most supplies are going to retail programs. Quality is very good; however, berry size is on the smaller side.
MARKETS TO WATCH: AT A GLANCE
Potatoes: Prices continue to rise due to strong demand and limited storage supplies. We recommend ordering for quick turns and keeping inventory tight due to shorter shelf life.
Cauliflower: Markets have started to climb and will inch up over the next two to three weeks. The recent supply glut has passed; lower yields are now being reported. Prices will gradually climb over the next two to three weeks.
Blueberries: Central Mexican volume is expected to decline sharply over the next two weeks as the season comes to an end. Markets are active and prices are rising. Production in California’s San Joaquin Valley is past its peak, but quality remains excellent. Although production is past its peak in Mexico and California’s San Joaquin Valley, the Pacific Northwest season will begin in two weeks.
Cantaloupe & Honeydew: Both Cantaloupe and honeydew supplies are tightening; expect higher prices for the rest of June as the crop transitions to new growing regions.
Clementine: Due to limited supply out of California and imports from Morocco ending, the import mandarin market is expected to be active until July when supply volume ramps up out of Chile and South Africa. Supplies are extremely limited. Supplies from Uruguay and Peru will be the first to hit markets in early June. Chilean imports are anticipated for June, followed by South Africa.
Avocado: Market conditions remain unsettled following the recent and sudden reduction in Mexico’s harvest volume. Industry production increased moderately last week in response to rising field prices, but harvests this week are trending lower as grower participation remains inconsistent.
Cherries: The Pacific Northwest cherry season is switching into full gear, with excellent quality and supply. Pacific Northwest cherry volumes will build steadily through June and growers expect to have promotable volumes with the major shipping peaks hitting between June 18th–25th, and a second big wave coming during the second week of July.
Lemons: Prices for all California lemon sizes remain elevated due to low volume and strong demand. In early July, both offshore and Mexican lemons will supplement California supplies. Expect high markets and limited stocks through June.
Iceberg: Iceberg markets remain elevated as disease pressure continues to reduce yields. Value-added iceberg products remain triggered.
Romaine: Romaine and romaine heart prices are extremely high, while green leaf markets are also rising. Quality issues currently being reported include tip and fringe burn as well as light weights. All value-added romaine and leaf items are currently triggered.
Celery: Production is steady with all sizes available through the week. Value-added celery items remain triggered, but are expected to return to normal pricing for next week.
Field Green and Red Peppers: Expect slightly lower markets over the next few weeks as new regions take hold. Supplies are improving as production ramps up in South Georgia and California transitions into Bakersfield. The North Carolina season will begin in mid-June.
Assorted Hot Chili Peppers:Supplies stable on most varieties. Decent volume is crossing from Mexico; Coachella and South Georgia are ramping up as well. Red Fresno chiles remain limited, but yields are expected to increase in the next week.
Washington Apples: The storage crop is smaller than last year and therefore many varieties and packs are tighter than last year. As a result, we are seeing a rising market on many varieties, sizes, and packs, and this trend is expected to continue until the new crop starts in August. The most significant item that is down this year are Royal Gala apples. The latest storage report shows that inventory is down over 20% from last year. The other top varieties that are short this year are Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Cosmic Crisp and Golden Delicious.
Cara Cara Oranges: Cara Cara oranges are still available, with only light volume remaining as the season concludes.
Blood Oranges: Blood orange supplies continue to be very tight as the season concludes. Most supplies are going to bagging programs.
Bananas: Banana supply will continue to be tight over the coming weeks due to increased global demand and declining tropical production, exacerbated by virus pressure, low yields, and rising costs.
Strawberries: Following last week’s rain, supplies in Salinas and Watsonville are expected to remain light and steady as fields recover, with yields projected to improve heading into this weekend. Santa Maria production continues to trend lower due to normal seasonal planting declines.
California Navel Oranges: California Navel oranges are heavily skewed toward larger sizes, with 56ct and 72ct dominating while smaller sizes 113ct and 138ct remain very limited and expected to stay tight through the end of the season and into the Valencia transition.
Gold Pineapples:The pineapple market remains stable, though supplies will continue to be tight into mid-June, with contract business receiving priority.
Limes: Lime prices are easing after a period of declining demand compared to earlier in May. Wet weather in the Mexican growing regions may present quality issues such as skin breakdown and oil spotting. Volume has increased for small-sized fruit, especially 230- and 250-count supplies.
Eggplant: Florida production is finished, while Georgia supplies continue to build and are expected to improve over the next two weeks. Mexico and California remain extremely short with very limited availability.
Brussels Sprouts: Quality concerns are rising as supplies tighten; pricing is expected to climb. Looking ahead, California’s Central Coast season is slated to begin in early July. Expect markets to gradually increase until the Salinas season begins in July.
Zucchini: Prices are low as multiple growing regions are in play, including the Southeast, California, and the Baja Peninsula; supplies have increased. Ontario is on track to start next week.
TARIFF UPDATE
** NEW ** In mid-May 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce officially imposed preliminary countervailing duties (tariffs) on imports of fresh Canadian mushrooms (specifically white and portobello mushrooms). The decision has sparked a sharp dispute between U.S. producers, who argue the tariffs restore fair market competition, and Canadian growers, who call the investigation “deeply flawed” and protectionist. Duties applied are between 1.62% – 4.97%. The preliminary tariff rates went into effect on May 18, 2026, Canadian farmers are sounding the alarm that if these tariffs stick, the economic ripples will hit consumers and laborers on both sides of the border. Because Canadian growers export nearly 40% to 50% of their yield to the U.S., a prolonged tariff could force them to dump their supply back into the local Canadian market, crashing domestic prices and potentially triggering farm layoffs. Conversely, U.S. grocers and supply chains relying on steady West Coast imports from British Columbia may see tight supplies and higher retail / wholesale prices.
Friday February 20, 2026, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the US president overstepped his powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when he set broad tariffs last year, making them illegal. The president responded within an hour of the ruling, shifting to the Trade Act of 1974 to enact a 10% global replacement tariff which applies to goods from nearly every nation. This statute allows the president to impose temporary levies/tariff for 150 days. Any extension requires congressional approval. Then, Saturday February 21, 2026 the president increased the import tariff from 10% to the maximum allowed, 15%. USMCA compliant goods of Canada and Mexico will continue to be tariff / duty free. It is important to note that this affects product arriving into the United States only. Offshore produce items arriving into the United States, then sold to Canadian customers have had the import tariff paid by the importer and the cost added to the product, unless the product arrives to a bonded warehouse in the USA for immediate transhipment to Canada, avoiding the US tariff. Canada has not introduced retaliatory tariffs against US imports.
Announced, November 14th, 2025 tariffs for products imported into the USA were removed from over 200 grocery items. Tropical fruits such as avocados (except from Mexico where the USMCA agreement is already tariff free), pineapples and mangos, bananas, oranges and tomatoes from anywhere except Mexico, where the anti-dumping duty remains in place, had their tariffs retroactively removed effective November 13th. There are several items the tariffs were not removed, such as cantaloupe, honeydews, asparagus to name a few.
Effective September 1, 2025, the 25% Canadian retaliatory tariffs for items that fall under the CUSMA free trade agreement will end. The list of items includes all USA grown tomatoes, cherry & grape tomatoes, beans, oranges, mandarins, tangerines, satsumas, clementine’s, lemons, limes, pomelos, papaya, watermelons, peaches, nectarines, cherries and plums.
** RULED ILLEGAL ** A new round of US tariffs took effect Friday August 7th, 2025 that will affect imports from the USA for pineapples from Costa Rica; rate was 10% now 15%, bananas from Ecuador, rate was 10% now 15%. Citrus from South Africa is 30%. Mangoes from Brazil have a 50% tariff. Peru has been assessed a 10% tariff, while Guatemala remains at 10%. Again, this is only for products landing on US soil, sold to Canadian destinations. If these products can land in Canada, bypassing the US, there will be no tariffs. There are no additional tariffs on items that fall under the Canada, US, Mexico agreement. As Canada and the US did not reach an agreement by August 1st, items not covered by CUSMA are subject to a 35% tariff into the US. Canada has not announced any further retaliatory tariffs.
On Monday July 14th, 2025 as previously announced, the US U.S. Department of Commerce announced it is withdrawing from and terminating the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Duty Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico. In its place, a 17.9% anti-dumping duty on Mexican tomatoes destined for the USA replaced the agreement. Canada can still import Mexican tomatoes duty free under the USMCA agreement. Roma and round tomato market impacts are expected to be minimal until the main Mexican season begins in the Fall. Grape and cherry tomato supply is more reliant on Mexico and markets may react differently.
The April 2nd, 2025 tariff announcement, in Washington, confirmed Canadian and Mexican produce, destined for the USA that are compliant under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), are not subject to additional tariffs. That being said, many produce items from Central America and other countries imported into the USA and then sold to Canada are now subject to a blanket 10% tariff. This includes offshore avocados, bananas, French beans, pineapples, melons and some herbs among numerous other products. There is great concern about the broader application of tariffs on global trading partners and the potential disruptions to supply chains and market stability.
Supply and Quality General Update
Romaine and romaine hearts remain the main focus this week as supplies continue to tighten across the Salinas Valley. Markets have moved higher over the past two weeks and are expected to remain elevated into mid-June, at minimum. Disease pressure, uneven stands, and recent weather interruptions are all reducing harvestable yields and keeping availability limited.
Romaine production is being impacted by a combination of soil-borne disease, INSV pressure, and inconsistent field development. Sclerotinia and Verticillium are showing up in several growing areas, creating plant loss and lowering field productivity. INSV also remains a concern, with thrips activity spreading the virus and leaving affected plants unharvestable. Growers are also seeing uneven stands tied back to the extreme heat in March, followed by cooler weather and rainfall through April. The result is less usable acreage, lighter yields, and continued pressure on both romaine and romaine heart supplies.
Iceberg has also reversed course and is moving higher as disease pressure increases. INSV, Sclerotinia, internal burn, and mildew are all contributing to lower yields in current fields. Quality remains fair to good overall, but the issue is how much product can be harvested and packed.
Green leaf remains limited as well. Mexico is tapering off as it moves into its lower-volume summer window, while regional programs in the Midwest, Northeast, and Quebec and Ontario have begun adding supply, increasing through June. Until those programs build meaningful volume, lettuce markets are expected to stay active.
Strawberry supplies remain limited due to cooler weather and recent rainfall across the main production areas. Harvest crews are expected to slow as fields require some cleanup and culling following the rain. Salinas and Watsonville have not yet reached full production due to the prolonged cold pattern, but plants are showing good vigor with plenty of green to light red fruit. A slight warming trend next week should help improve output. Santa Maria is beginning its seasonal decline, with the strongest quality still coming from west-side fields.
Blueberry supplies are tightening as Central Mexico and California wind down and Florida and Georgia are done. Oregon and Washington are expected to begin over the next week or two. Blackberry and raspberry production remains steady out of Central Mexico and California, with lighter demand helping keep those markets manageable.
Lime production is increasing, and the market has softened with more fruit becoming available. That said, large sizes remain a smaller percentage of the crop. Consistent rain is in the forecast and could interrupt harvests, which may keep pricing near current levels. If rainfall is lighter than expected, the market could continue to ease. Tabasco, Mexico volume has increased, but that fruit has been more affected by recent heat. Veracruz, Mexico remains the preferred region for better quality.
Avocado markets have started to settle after last week’s sharp spike. As pricing climbed, picking increased to chase the stronger market, and that fruit now needs to move through the supply chain. The market may continue to adjust if supply and demand find a better balance, but suppliers are expected to manage harvests closely to support pricing where they can. Large fruit remains limited, and California will continue to help where available.
Overall, lighter school demand should help ease some pressure, but it will not be enough to fully offset reduced yields in romaine, romaine hearts, iceberg, and strawberries. Lead time and flexibility will remain the biggest help in fulfilling orders as we work through this stretch.
Regional lettuce programs, warmer weather, and improving production will bring some supply relief later in June, but the next few weeks will still require close attention.
Transportation Update
We are seeing better availability of trucks with strong markets predicted into the Canada Day and Fourth of July holidays. Shipper delays are still creating problems with on-time loading and transit.
The continuing conflict involving Iran has significantly constrained the flow of oil and refined‑fuel through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy chokepoint. Fresh produce, which relies heavily on truck transportation, is particularly affected by diesel fuel inflation. Limited trucks and record high fuel costs are putting upward pressure on rates daily. We are seeing several freight companies, including sea and air freight companies, invoking fuel surcharges which will impact cost inputs.
Diesel and aircraft fuel inventories were already limited prior to the conflict. Diesel prices have risen faster than gasoline markets. The diesel fuel US national average surpassed $5.00 per gallon, the highest level since 2022. The current national average is $5.64 per gallon. West Coast prices are exceeding $7.45 per gallon; with some markets over $8.00 per gallon. Diesel represents roughly 20–25% of total trucking cost per mile, making carriers highly sensitive to fuel spikes. Prices are expected to remain elevated until meaningful normalization of global oil flow occurs; no near term relief is expected. Temporary fuel surcharges are in effect on most items and transportation lanes until oil prices ease.
VEGETABLES
ICEBERG– Iceberg markets remain elevated as disease pressure continues to reduce yields. Value-added iceberg products remain triggered. Salinas and Santa Maria, California: Iceberg supplies have quickly tightened as disease pressure and harvesting gaps have sharply reduced volume. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and Sclerotinia are impacting current lots. Cold temperatures followed by rain and then warm weather have disrupted crop development, contributing to lower yields. Common defects include discoloration, light weights, outer leaf discoloration, pink ribbing, and misshapen heads. Supplies are extremely limited. Weights will be light; heads will be small. Shortened shelf-life issues should be expected. Value-added iceberg products remain triggered. Growers are holding to averages when they can but prorates should be expected. Mexico: Iceberg harvests are tapering off as the region enters its low-volume summer period. Monsoon season is June through September; this weather typically reduces quality and yields. Quebec: The season is shaping up nicely with ideal growing conditions. Fields are on schedule, with ideal growing conditions are forecast to continue. Iceberg is expected to start the week of June 21st. Midwest/Michigan: Harvest will start ramping up in early June and will wind down by the end of September.
ROMAINE / LEAF– Romaine and romaine heart prices are extremely high, while green leaf markets are also rising. Quality issues being reported include tip and fringe burn as well as light weights. All value-added leaf and romaine items are currently triggered. Salinas and Santa Maria, California: Romaine and green leaf availability is light as disease pressure and harvesting gaps have sharply reduced volume. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and Sclerotinia are impacting current lots. Cold temperatures followed by rain and then warm weather have disrupted crop development and are causing mildew pressure across all leaf varieties; tip/fringe burn, internal burn, and elevated dirt/mud have also been reported. Romaine heart prices remain extremely high; quality issues and short supplies are driving markets up. Overall quality ranges from fair to good. Mexico: Mexican supplies, crossing into South Texas, continue year-round. Quality and yields are dropping as we move into the off peak season. Peak season for production and quality will resume in October, and run through April. Quebec / Michigan: Quebec and Michigan production will ramp up in June and continue through October. Colorado harvests will start mid-July. The Quebec season has started with green leaf with romaine next week. Ontario: There are light supplies of 12ct green and red leaf lettuce; quality is very good.
Romaine is just getting started with extremely limited supplies at prices similar to California.
SPRING MIX/BABY SPINACH/BABY ARUGULA/BABY KALE– Supplies continue out of Salinas. Tender leaf items such as spinach and arugula remain in good supply. There is some minor insect damage; discoloration is being reported. Baby Kale: Baby kale supplies have returned to normal and are meeting demand with good quality. Arugula: Arugula quality is generally good as well, though some minor yellowing continues to be reported, typically limited to very few leaves per bag. Baby Spinach: Quality is good, but we continue to see occasional quality problems, including mildew and bruising. Spring Mix: Supplies and quality are okay.
GARLIC- Supplies from China, Mexico and California continue. Quality from all remains very good. China: New crop peeled garlic continues to arrive with pricing easing as supplies increase. Quality is very good. Expect supplies to remain strong exceeding demand. North American: The California 2025 garlic crop is holding up very well as we move through early 2026. Overall, it was a strong season that yielded high-quality garlic, which has helped keep the North American market stable. While the 2025 crop currently in storage is doing fine, the major industry buzz right now is about the upcoming 2026 harvest. With warnings of a potential “zero federal water allotment” for Westside growers, planting decisions and acreage for the summer 2026 crop are under intense pressure. The quality is good. U.S. tariffs on Chinese garlic have shifted demand to Mexico and California.
MUSHROOMS– Quality and supplies are very good with lighter demand. At this time, we do not see any supply issues.
CARROTS– West Coast carrot supplies remain tight as the Imperial Valley season winds down; overall size is smaller than normal for this time of year. Limited availability is expected into June as reduced size is lowering yields; commodity pack prices have increased as a result. California: The Imperial Valley carrot season is wrapping up, with Bakersfield spring production set to begin next week. Smaller sizing continues to limit supplies and support elevated markets for jumbos, sticks, peeled baby and chips. Weather delays earlier in the season extended desert production and slowed the transition. Field conditions and peeled yields are improving, with more consistent supplies expected through June. By July, volumes should return to more normal levels as Kern County production ramps up under better growing conditions. Georgia: The season will run through early June. Commodity supplies are tight; quality is very good. Expect high prices as this region helps fill the void from California. Arizona: The season is in full swing and will run through mid-June; quality is great. Expect high prices and strong demand as this region helps fill the void from California. Mexico: Inconsistent production has been an issue. Expect moderately high pricing and strong demand until California production increases. Ontario / Québec: The storage season is finished. There still are supplies of heirloom carrots, which should continue until June. Reminder that the new crop will be very slim.
US CARTON BAKING POTATOES– Prices continue to rise due to strong demand and limited storage supplies. We recommend ordering for quick turns and keeping inventory tight due to shorter shelf life. Idaho: Norkotah storage supplies are expected to be depleted by late June. Burbank volume is slowly ramping up; small sizes dominate the crop. The gradual shift from Norkotahs to Burbanks will result in fewer 40ct through 80ct potatoes. Prices for smaller, 90ct through 120ct stocks are also rising from heavy retail demand. Pressure and shoulder bruising are being reported in late-season storage supplies, but overall quality remains strong; these issues (soft, external indents) result from constant contact with adjacent potatoes or the floor while raw product sits in storage piles. Markets are rising. Washington: Demand is strong for all sizes. Quality is good; minimal defects are being reported. Expect climbing prices. Colorado & Wisconsin: Active demand is limiting availability. Mixer volume is shipping for all sizes. Quality is good; pressure bruising is an occasional problem. Prices are rising in both regions
CANADIAN POTATO– The Canadian potato industry held 12.2% more potatoes in storage on May 1 than the 2025 inventory. It is Canada’s largest May 1 potato inventory on record, and it exceeds the five-year average supply by 26.5%. Most of the extra potatoes are in Alberta. Stocks also exceed year-earlier holdings in Manitoba, Quebec, and British Columbia. May 1 stocks fell short of 2025 inventories in New Brunswick, PEI, and Ontario. Stocks intended for processing use are up 14.3% from last year. Table potato inventories are up 2.3%. Ontario: The province’s April potato disappearance exceeded 2025 movement by 30.6%. That left Ontario with 11.5% fewer potatoes in storage on May 1; than the previous year’s holdings. The stocks include fewer chip potatoes than the year-earlier inventory. At last month’s disappearance rate, Ontario’s remaining processing potatoes would last through July 4. The province’s April table potato disappearance nearly matched last year’s pace. That left fewer table potatoes in storage on May 1 than the year-earlier inventory. At the April usage rate, those potatoes would last through June 13. P.E.I.: Island growers had 3.1% fewer potatoes in storage on May 1 than they held a year ago. April disappearance fell 14.0%, short of the 2025 pace. This year’s April movement was the slowest since 1992, and it fell 19.0% below the five-year average. Intended use data show that the Island had 13.1% fewer processing potatoes in storage on May 1 than last year’s inventory. At the April usage rate, those potatoes would last through September 7. Growers also had 26.7% more table potatoes left in storage on May 1 than they held a year earlier. At the April shipping pace, PEI’s remaining table potatoes would last through September 6. Growers report that table potato exports to the US have been sluggish. New Brunswick: May 1 potato stocks fell 15.6% below the year-earlier inventory. Intended use data show that larger processing potato inventories were offset by reduced table potato and seed potato supplies. The province’s April processing potato disappearance fell by 10.4%, relative to last year’s pace. That left more processing potatoes in storage on May 1 than the province held a year earlier. At the April usage rate, the remaining processing inventory would last through August 28. New Brunswick growers had fewer table potatoes left in storage on May 1 than they held at the same time in 2025. April table potato disappearance was more than April 2025 movement. At last month’s shipping pace New Brunswick’s table potatoes would last through August 14. Quebec: April disappearance fell 13.0%, below the 2025 pace. That left Quebec with 5.5% more potatoes in storage on May 1 than year-earlier holdings. The province’s processing potato disappearance was less than last year’s usage. It is the province’s slowest April processing potato disappearance since 2015. That left Quebec with more processing potatoes in storage on May 1 than the province held a year earlier. At the slow April usage pace, the remaining processing potato inventory would last through September 25. We do not have the necessary data to make the split between French Fry and chip potato inventories. Quebec’s May 1 table potato stocks were 4.2% higher than the year-earlier inventory. April table potato disappearance exceeded 2025 movement. If the April usage rate continues, the province’s remaining table potato stocks would be cleaned up by July 13. British Columbia: The province had a record 85.1% more potatoes left in storage on May 1 than May 1, 2025 holdings. April table potato movement exceeded last year’s pace 32.6%. At the April disappearance rate, the province’s remaining table potatoes would last through June 23. Alberta: April potato disappearance was 53.2%, more than year-earlier movement. It left Alberta’s May 1 potato stocks higher than the province had in storage on May 1, 2025. It is by far the province’s largest May 1 potato inventory on record. Intended use data show that increased disappearance was across the board. Alberta’s April processing potato disappearance exceeded year-earlier usage by 53.0%. The processing sector had a record 38.3% more potatoes in storage on May 1 than last year’s inventory. At the April usage rate, Alberta’s remaining processing potatoes would last through September 12.
US NEW CROP RED / WHITE / YELLOW POTATO- Florida: Supplies remain limited as the harvesting transition from Southern to Northern Florida is underway. The Southern Florida season is expected to finish in mid-May. Northern Florida production has started with low volume; quality is very good. Pricing is elevated across all colors and sizes, but expected to stabilize as supplies increase. Upcoming Regions: The Arizona season will start next week. California production will begin in mid-May. Texas supplies will start shipping in late June.
ASPARAGUS– The Ontario asparagus season continues. It is time to promote! Availability is strong as warm weather and Friday’s rain promotes growth. In 25+ degree weather, asparagus can grow 10 inches in 24 hours ! Warm nights will bring on very strong volume as retail starts to promote aggressively. Pricing is at its lowest with peak production; now is the time to feature asparagus. The season will run until mid-July. As the market shifts back to Mexico and Peru for supplies, asparagus prices are expected to trend higher. Import: Mexican asparagus supplies remain steady and are expected to increase through the summer, while Peruvian supplies are currently tight due to shipping delays but should improve later in June.
SWEET POTATO– Sweet potato markets are slowly ricing. Lower yields along with unexpected surge in demand during January and February has suppliers keeping their remaining storage supplies tight. Prices are anticipated to climb over the summer months until new crop stocks are harvested in late August or early September. California: Remaining storage supplies are adequate. The quality is very good. Strong East Coast demand is pushing markets higher. Louisiana: Very limited supplies remain. New crop harvests will resume in September. Mississippi: Dry summer months reduced overall yields for winter and spring storage. Quality is good. Lower volume and strong demand will push prices higher. North Carolina: Unexpected demand in January and February has forced suppliers to keep remaining storage inventories tight. Quality is good. Markets are expected to increase over the next several months.
BEANS– Florida is done for the season, and we have transitioned to South Georgia. Mexico is still harvesting a few beans but will wrap up very soon. California supply is steady. Overall, quality is good.
CABBAGE– Ontario: Green cabbage supplies are good with very good quality being shipped out of storage. We can expect green to continue until new crop in late July, early August. Red cabbage supplies are quickly winding down and will be finished by next week. Savoy cabbage is finished. Pricing on imports is higher than Ontario. Imports: Quality and supply out of Georgia are steady. Markets are low. There are deals to be had. Northern product will start mid to end of June.
ASSORTED CHILI PEPPERS– Supplies stable on most varieties. Decent volume is crossing from Mexico; Coachella and South Georgia are ramping up as well. Red Fresno chiles remain limited, but yields are expected to increase in the next week. Markets will be the shortest this week on Fresnos and Shishito.
FIELD PEPPERS– Expect slightly lower markets over the next few weeks as new regions take hold. Green Pepper: Pepper supplies are improving as production ramps up in South Georgia and California transitions into Bakersfield. The North Carolina season will begin in mid-June. Green pepper demand remains strong, keeping supplies relatively tight, though increased regional production should help balance the market in the coming weeks. Red Pepper: Red pepper availability is improving in California, while limited Georgia supplies and the conclusion of Western Mexico production continue to support demand. Canadian greenhouses have moderate supplies. As supplies build, prices are expected to ease over the next two weeks.
BROCCOLI– Broccoli supplies remain strong, with markets expected to remain steady heading into the weekend. Despite increased supplies, prices will remain elevated due to high freight costs. California: Broccoli supplies continue to improve, putting downward pressure on the overall market. Mexico: Broccoli is also available from Mexico, but stocks are tightening slightly. Ideal weather should help supplies mature, increasing overall supplies. Quality ranges from fair to good. Diamondback moth pressure has diminished due to cooler temperatures. East Coast: East Coast production is underway in North and South Carolina. Indiana harvests will begin at the end of May, followed by the Ontario, Quebec and Maine seasons in July.
CELERY– California: Production is steady with all sizes available through the week. Value-added celery items remain triggered, but are expected to return to normal pricing for next week. Harvests will continue out of the Santa Maria and Oxnard regions. Quality continues to be generally good, with celery outperforming leafy greens from a shelf‑life standpoint. Mexican celery remains a supplemental component of supply but has not shifted the broader market tone. The outlook for the next two weeks calls for steady to firm conditions, with limited downside risk. Quebec: The Quebec season is expected to start around July 10th. Michigan: The Michigan season will begin in early to mid-July.
CAULIFLOWER– Markets have started to climb and will inch up over the next two to three weeks. Salinas-Santa Maria: The recent supply glut has passed; lower yields are now being reported. Prices will gradually climb over the next two to three weeks. Supplies are meeting current demand. Quality ranges from average to good. Small-sized heads have been reported in some lots. Expect higher pricing and moderately lower yields through mid- to late June. Ontario/ Quebec: Local Ontario harvesting programs will begin in late June/early July. The Quebec season will start the last week of June.
SNOW PEAS / SUGAR SNAP PEAS– Supply of Guatemalan snow peas and sugar snaps remain steady, though recent rainfall may create some quality challenges. Mexican snow pea supplies continue to be stable, while sugar snap availability has improved to fair levels.
FRENCH GREEN BEAN / BABY SQUASH / BABY PEELED TOP CARROTS– Production out of Guatemala remains strong, with supplies of both organic and conventional French beans continuing to improve. French bean availability from Mexico remains fair, providing additional support to overall market availability.
EGGPLANT– Florida production is finished, while Georgia supplies continue to build and are expected to improve over the next two weeks. Mexico and California remain extremely short with very limited availability. Mostly seeing choice grade available with #1 fruit being limited. This should improve over the coming weeks as production improves, and old fields are cleaned up.
ONIONS– Fresh-run onions are available in Southern California, Northern California, and New Mexico. Expect steady pricing over the next 7-10 days. Washington: Red and white Washington onion storage supplies are finished; storage yellow onions will finish in the next 7-10 days. Growers are now transferring onions from California to fill orders as needed. Expect higher prices on onions until fresh-run harvests begin early August. California: Southern California harvests are finished, some suppliers will ship through early next week. Northern California harvests are continuing to ramp up. Supplies are dominated by jumbo and larger sizes; medium yellow onions are limited, commanding higher prices. Quality is good; fresh-run onions will exhibit higher moisture content, thinner skins, and overall shorter shelf life. We recommend ordering for quick turns. Expect steady pricing over the next 7-10 days; Expect medium yellow onions to remain elevated for the next one to two weeks. New Mexico: New Mexico’s fresh-run onion harvests are continuing; volume is steady. Supplies are dominated by Jumbo and larger sizes, medium yellow onions are limited commanding higher prices. Quality is good; fresh-run onions will exhibit higher moisture content, thinner skins, and overall shorter shelf life. We recommend ordering for quick turns. Expect steady pricing over the next 7-10 days; expect medium yellow onions to remain elevated for the next one to two weeks. Georgia: Vidalia sweet onions are available; the season will run through early September. Quality ranges from good to excellent.
CORN– Florida is finished for the season. Georgia is into their peak season volume with pricing at very promotable levels. Georgia will have ample supplies continuing through the beginning of July. Supplies currently exceed demand. Quality is excellent. In the west Coachella is done and Brentwood, California is ramping up. Quality is very good out of all regions.
GREEN ONIONS– Green onion supplies continue to be steady, keeping markets steady. Demand remains steady. Quality is good. Availability is expected to remain steady into next week. The Quebec season will start around June 17th.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS– Quality concerns are rising as supplies tighten; pricing is expected to climb. Markets are mostly steady with slight price fluctuations as the Mexican season winds down. High heat is reducing both quality and supply levels. Internal and external burn is causing leaf discolouration. Insect damage has been reported, further reducing overall pack-outs. Quality is declining, requiring closer grading and inspections. Looking ahead, California’s Central Coast season is slated to begin in early July. Expect markets to gradually increase until the Salinas season begins in July.
COLLARDS/CHARD/KALE– Greens in Georgia are coming to an end this week. Collard and kale continue to be in good supply and quality. Northern growing regions are starting in a slow way. Illinois is harvesting with Ontario, Quebec and Michigan and Ohio starting this week.
ZUCCHINI– Prices are low as multiple growing regions are in play, including the Southeast, California, and the Baja Peninsula; supplies have increased. Ontario is on track to start this week. Southeast: Production is winding down in South Georgia; quality is mixed. The North Carolina season has started. Volume will increase weekly. Quality is very good. Expect weak prices to continue. California: The San Joaquin Valley season is underway; volume is increasing. Quality is very good. California’s Santa Maria season is ramping up. Expect lower prices over the next two weeks. Mexico: Production has ended in Western Mexico. Growers have transitioned to Baja. Green zucchini volume is increasing while yellow supplies are tight. New crop quality is very good.
FRUIT
PEARS– The pear market continues to remain stable. Strong production of Forelle, Anjou, Bosc, and Red pears out of Oregon and Washington State, continues to meet strong demand. Bosc pears out of the Northwest will be available for another week or so. They will be replaced by imports which continue to arrive in good quantities into East Coast ports now. Anjou volume continues to tighten, though several major shippers do not expect to finish before Washington’s new crop Bartletts begin in early August. There are now new-crop imported Bartletts from Argentina that are available on the East Coast. Pricing and quality are both attractive on this variety and we expect them to remain promotable for the next several months. The California Bartlett pear season will start in early July. Overall, the pear category will be very promotable the next couple of months.
GRAPEFRUIT– California: Star Ruby and Red Flame varieties are currently being harvested. No major quality concerns are reported, and supply is strong across all sizes. Offshore: There are arrivals of grapefruit from South Africa, Turkey, Morocco and Israel. Overall quality is good.
MANGO– Mangoes are currently available from Mexico with limited volumes from Brazil. Main varieties shipping including Tommy Atkins, Kent, and Ataulfo (Honey). Industry demand has softened, and overall pricing is stable, though recent weeks have seen softer pricing levels due to limited promotional activity and higher-than-expected harvest volumes. This has led to increased availability at the border. Supplies are beginning to tighten at the field level as production transitions, with Oaxaca nearing the end of its season and volumes shifting to Nayarit and Sinaloa in the coming weeks. As this transition progresses, pricing is expected to trend upward into mid- to late June. Quality from these offshore origins has shown some inconsistency, which may impact overall market conditions.
BLUEBERRIES– Central Mexican volume is expected to decline sharply over the next two weeks as the season comes to an end. Markets are active and prices are rising. Production in California’s San Joaquin Valley is past its peak, but quality remains excellent. Although production is past its peak in Mexico and California’s San Joaquin Valley, the Pacific Northwest season will begin in two weeks. The Florida and Georgia blueberry seasons have ended. Prices will climb as some seasons end and others get underway this month
BLACKBERRIES– Central Mexican supplies remain steady, with good volume crossing from Mexico. California production is underway, though crop development has been slightly delayed by cooler weather. Demand remains light, helping keep the market well supplied. Arkansas and Georgia, with North Carolina fruit expected to begin in the next couple of weeks.
RASPBERRIES– Central Mexican supplies remain steady, with strong volume crossing. California production is available but continues to run slightly behind schedule due to cool weather, similar to blackberry crops. Demand remains light, keeping overall market conditions balanced.
STRAWBERRIES– Following last week’s rain, supplies in Salinas and Watsonville are expected to remain light and steady as fields recover, with yields projected to improve heading into this weekend. Santa Maria production continues to trend lower due to normal seasonal planting declines. Across California, growing regions are still contending with unusually cool temperatures, and while a brief warming trend is expected, forecasts indicate cooler-than-normal conditions will persist into next week.
AVOCADO– Market conditions remain unsettled following the recent and sudden reduction in Mexico’s harvest volume. Industry production increased moderately last week in response to rising field prices, but harvests this week are trending lower as grower participation remains inconsistent. Weather conditions are also impacting production, with seasonal rains reducing available harvest hours across Michoacán and Jalisco. Flor Loca harvests have not yet begun but are expected to start in the coming weeks once dry matter reaches minimum approved levels. In the meantime, supply availability is expected to remain volatile as the season progresses. California production remains strong, supported by current market conditions and elevated field pricing. Moderate temperatures and dry weather are expected to support consistent harvest conditions throughout June. The size curve continues to peak on 48s and 60s, and both eating quality and external appearance remain excellent. Offshore supply remains limited. Peru shipments into the U.S. are increasing, with peak volumes expected by early July. Promotionally, opportunities are anticipated on large and jumbo fruit throughout the summer. Colombian imports are expected to increase modestly in June, with sizing primarily focused on smaller fruit. Demand remains elevated despite higher pricing levels. Given continued uncertainty in Mexican supply, both availability and pricing are expected to remain volatile in the near term. Mexico– A 60.3-million-pound harvest was reported for last week. The Main Crop is averaging 36.6% dry matter, and sizing continues to peak on 48s. Rain and storm activity has begun in Michoacán and Jalisco, which may impact ongoing harvest conditions. As is typical for this stage of the season, the percentage of Grade 2 fruit is gradually increasing. The Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM) has published a letter ahead of the Off-Bloom crop, reiterating that harvest will begin once minimum dry matter requirements are met. No harvest of the Off-Bloom crop has been reported yet, although dry matter testing has begun in some regions. California– The California crop is continuing, with last week’s harvest volume reported at 13.5 million pounds. Dry matter is averaging 27%, and the current size curve is peaking on 48s and 60s. California harvest volumes may require a week to normalize following the Memorial Day holiday and reduced packer reporting. Nonetheless, harvest is expected to reach peak levels in June. Fruit quality and shelf life remain excellent at this stage of the season. Colombia– Colombia has transitioned to the Traviesa Crop, and sizing is focused on small fruit. Exports remain primarily directed toward European markets, although North American arrivals are expected to increase modestly throughout June. Peru– The Peru season is underway, with over 8.5 million pounds shipped to North America last week. Volumes are expected to continue increasing in the coming weeks. Availability is focused on medium to large sizes, and fruit continues to arrive in good condition.
GRAPES– Supply is expected to remain strong this week, with more premium and specialty varieties becoming available, offering better sizing and eating quality; especially on green seedless grapes. The market is beginning to firm as early varieties like Flames and Sugar Ones transition to newer varieties such as Sweet Celebrations and Sweet Globes. Limited California grapes are currently available out of Coachella, though supplies remain heavily pre-committed and are not expected to significantly impact the market. Late-June into early July, once production ramps up in Bakersfield and points north, the California grape season will be fully underway and is expected to carry through at least the end of October, and potentially beyond late November.
CANTALOUPE– Cantaloupe supplies are tightening; expect higher prices for the rest of June as the crop transitions to new growing regions. Central America: The offshore season has ended. Arizona-California Desert Region: Yields have started to decline in the Arizona-California desert region; Arizona harvesting will end in two to three weeks. Mosaic virus has been present in fields, which has reduced growth and negatively affected volume. Size has shifted to smaller fruit, with 12ct and 15ct melons the most prevalent. Expect markets to rise through June until California’s San Joaquin Valley season gets underway in early July. San Joaquin Valley, California: Harvesting is on track to begin in early July. Overall supplies may tighten significantly during the transition between growing regions.
HONEYDEW– Honeydew supplies are tightening; expect higher prices for the rest of June as the crop transitions to new growing regions. Central America: The offshore season has ended. Mexico: Light production will continue for the next two weeks. Volume is much lower than Arizona-California grown fruit. Arizona-California Desert Region: Production is steady; 6ct fruit is most common. Overall quality is good, but some scarring may be present. Total volume will start to decline over the next two to three weeks; Arizona harvesting will end in mid-June. Markets will gradually rise as supplies diminish through June and growers transition to California’s San Joaquin Valley. San Joaquin Valley, California: This season will begin in early July. Supplies may be limited during the transition period.
ORANGES– California Navel: The Navel crop continues to be heavy on large fruit, with peak supply on 56/48/72 counts. Small sizes, 88/113/138 counts, remain tight and will continue to be limited for the rest of the Navel season. General quality is reported to be good, but there is more choice fruit coming out of pack-outs. As quality is showing some pressure and supply winds down, growers with late lane navels are now harvesting. These late season varieties will support supply through most of June at a premium. Most growers will finish in June, with some of the larger growers carrying fruit through the end of the month. California Valencias: Harvest has begun earlier than usual due to strong demand for smaller fruit, much of which is already committed to programs. However, overall sizing is expected to skew larger this season, similar to the start of the navel crop. Small sizes (113/138 counts) will remain limited. Florida Juice Oranges: The Valencia season is finished with active harvests, with some growers offering storage fruit into June. Imports: The Spanish/Moroccan late-navel season continues with a fair supply of top quality fruit. The late season Navels from Spain/Morocco will continue until the end of their season in June, when South African Navels will start their season. Additionally, there is also a good supply of Egyptian Valencia’s in the marketplace priced considerably lower than Navels.
BLOOD ORANGE– Blood orange supplies continue to be very tight; most supplies are going to bagging programs. The size profile is peaking on 72ct and 88ct, with very limited availability on 113ct and 138ct. The blood orange season usually runs from mid-late December to June. Overall quality is excellent with good color; current sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix.
CARA CARA– Cara Cara oranges are still available but in very limited quantities, with only light volume remaining. Sizing is currently peaking on 56/72 counts with smaller sizes being used for retail bagging programs. Due to rain-related quality impacts, the season is ending early for most with some larger growers expected to have supply through most of May.
LIMES– Lime prices are easing after a period of declining demand. Mexico: Demand has eased compared to earlier in May. Wet weather in the Mexican growing regions may present quality issues such as skin breakdown and oil spotting. Volume has increased for small-sized fruit, especially 230- and 250-count supplies. Large sizes, 110- and 150-count fruit, remain limited, but recent rains are expected to increase stocks. Markets may rise again as the upcoming FIFA World Cup is expected to increase demand. Colombia: Large sizes (110- and 150-count fruit) are most plentiful. Quality is excellent; juice content is high. Pricing is inching down, but remains higher than the Mexican market.
POMEGRANATE– Supplies of offshore fruit continue to arrive from Peru with better consistency. The war in the middle east is limiting product from Turkey and Israel; supplies are unreliable from these areas. Quality has been good, however, pricing from Peru is higher. Please remember, imported case sizing is 8lbs (8-12ct) while California ships 22lb cases (40-44ct).
LEMONS– The lemon market remains elevated due to limited availability and sustained strong demand, with supplies expected to stay extremely tight through June, keeping prices firm. California: District 1 is at the end of the season, with quality challenges due to weather impacts. Expect more Choice-grade fruit and reduced shelf life. Strong demand has shifted to District 2, where supply remains tight, keeping the market active. Sizing is peaking on 75/95 counts, while smaller sizes remain limited. Market conditions are expected to stay firm into the summer import season. Offshore: Supply from Chile and Argentina is anticipated to be similar to last season – limited with a competitive market. First Argentinian containers have arrived, with very limited availability. Chilean fruit is anticipated to arrive mid-June. Mexican: The season will begin in early July and will run through late November. Small fruit, 165ct through 235ct will dominate the crop, but larger sizes will be available. Pricing will be comparable to California fruit until volume rises.
CHERRIES– The Pacific Northwest cherry season is switching into full gear, with excellent quality and supply. Pacific Northwest: The season has started with strong supplies. Pacific Northwest cherry volumes will build steadily through June and growers expect to have promotable volumes with the major shipping peaks hitting between June 18th–25th, and a second big wave coming during the second week of July. The harvest is expected to run all the way into early August. The Chelan variety is the first to start. The much sought after Bing and Rainier (white) cherries will start late June and run through July. Prices will start high due to minimal supplies. Ontario: The Niagara Region (Beamsville, Niagara on the Lake, Vineland) are usually the first to start, often seeing the first ripe sweet cherries around June 20–25. Southwestern Ontario (Norfolk, Elgin Counties) follows just a few days later, starting in early July. Eastern Ontario & Grey County often starts a week or two later, with harvest extending into early August. Typically the season has a very short window of about 7-10 days. Michigan: This season is expected to start the week of July 6. Cooler weather is being mitigated by watering fields and using fans to keep frost damage to a minimum. Markets will start off elevated but slowly decline as volume increases. The season will run through August.
STONE FRUIT– West Coast: California’s Central Valley stone fruit season is ramping up quickly, with peaches, plums, and nectarines all increasing in volume as stronger varieties continue coming online. First-of-the-season pricing is expected to ease in June as both size and volume improve. East: The Georgia peach season has officially started with light supplies. The early harvest begins, typically featuring “Clingstone” peaches (where the flesh clings tightly to the pit). The peak in June and July “Freestone” varieties take over (the pit pops right out easily), and the peaches reach their absolute maximum sweetness and juiciness. The season will wind down early-to-Mid August as the final late-summer varieties are harvested.
MANDARIN / CLEMENTINE– Due to limited supply out of California, the import mandarin market is expected to be active until July when supply volume ramps up out of Chile and South Africa. Imports: Morocco: The season has concluded. Any fruit in the pipeline will be of suspect quality. California: Inclement weather earlier this year has impacted quality, resulting in softer fruit and crop loss due to fruit drop. Season is finished for most growers, with remaining showing softness and short shelf life. Supply is tight and markets will remain active as the season concludes over the next few weeks. Southern Hemisphere: Limited volumes from Uruguay and Peru are now available, primarily clementine and primosole varieties. Chilean and South African fruit is expected for early June. Due to the short California crop, the import market is expected to be active until July when supply volume ramps up out of Chile and South Africa.
APPLES– Demand is higher for Washington Royal Gala apples as the Michigan and New York seasons wind down; prices are rising. Demand is strong for Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Ontario: Demand for Royal Gala has been strong; packers are sourcing produce from Quebec to supplement supplies; even so, supplies will run out by June 1st. Honeycrisp continues to see high demand; however, because this variety is more temperamental in long-term storage, volumes typically begin to drop off more sharply by late spring. Ambrosia is established as a staple variety with significant storage volume available for the April–June window. McIntosh and Red Delicious volumes continue to decline as growers replace older orchards with high-density plantings of the varieties listed above. Prices are stable and should hold steady for April, then start rising as supplies dwindle. Washington: We are now in the heart of the storage crop season and the early stages of the import season. The storage crop is smaller than last year and therefore many varieties and packs are tighter than last year. As a result, we are seeing a rising market on many varieties, sizes, and packs, and this trend is expected to continue until the new crop starts in August. The most significant item that is down this year are Royal Gala apples. The latest storage report shows that inventory is down over 20% from last year. This item has really tightened up in the last couple of months, and prices are very high for this time of year. Expect Royal Gala availability and pricing to continue to be tight as there is no relief in sight. The other top varieties that are short this year are Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Cosmic Crisp. Overall, we are left with a smaller crop than expected and rising prices. Import apples will give some relief as we begin to get steadily increasing supplies each week. Although we don’t expect the import crop to lower prices, we are hoping that it stabilizes prices over the next couple of months.
BANANAS– Banana supply will continue to be tight over the coming weeks due to increased global demand and declining tropical production, exacerbated by virus pressure, low yields, and rising costs. A combination of virus pressure, low yields, and increasing production costs has placed significant strain on this staple commodity. Overall, banana quality remains very good, and supply is adequate.
GOLD PINEAPPLES– Costa Rica: The pineapple market remains stable, though supplies are still tight and expected to stay that way into mid-June, with contract business prioritized. Larger sizes should gradually improve by mid-June. Crowned 6 and 7 count fruit is increasing in volume, while 8 count remains steady. Crownless 8 and 10 count fruit continue to be limited. Mexico: Some volume is still being exported out of Mexico, but growers are starting to hold back fruit due to a lower market. Fruit quality is good with some availability. Transportation out of Mexico continues to struggle due to high fuel costs and mango shippers still pulling more trucks away from other commodities.
WATERMELON– Crossings from Mexico have declined, putting upward pressure on market prices. California has started, with limited volume. out of Bakersfield. Arizona has also started with limited volume. On the east coast, there are good supplies out of northern Florida. Georgia will start this week. Minis are a little tight but they will pick up later this week.
MATURE GREEN FIELD TOMATOES– Tomato markets inching lower as multiple regions enter their summer season. Central Florida production is coming to an end as we transition into the South Carolina, Florida Panhandle and South Georgia. The Baja Peninsula and California will increase production in June. Rounds– East Coast: Central Florida production ended last week. South Carolina, Florida Panhandle and South Georgia are in full production. Quality is very good. Tennessee and Virginia will begin production around July 4. Markets will remain steady over the next few weeks. Mexico: The Baja Peninsula has steady moderate production on their new fields, quality is nice. Central Mexico has light volume crossing in South Texas. California: The San Joaquin Valley has started with very light production that will increase throughout June. Romas– East Coast: Central Florida production is ending. South Carlina, Florida Panhandle and South Georgia are in full production. Quality is very good. Tennessee and Virginia production will begin early July. Expect lower markets in the coming weeks. Mexico: Central Mexico has new blocks starting in early June which will increase overall volume. The Baja Peninsula is underway with very nice quality; larger sizes are most prevalent. California: Production is expected to start in the next 7-10 days. Prices are low. Grape and Cherry– East Coast: Central Florida production has ended. Good production in South Carolina, Florida Panhandle and South Georgia. Quality is good. Tennessee and Virginia production will start at the end of June. Markets are starting to ease and will fall further through May. Mexico: Baja has good volume and strong quality. West Mexico has light volume as their season winds down; quality is just average. Expect low prices next week.
WILD FORAGED PRODUCTS:
Wild Mushrooms
Morels: From Oregon and British Columbia. Supplies limited due to bad weather. Prices stable. 5lb or 2.2lb baskets. Call for pricing.
Moussaron: From Bulgaria. Back in stock this week. 6lb basket. Call for pricing and availability.
Chanterelle: From Bulgaria. Season is picking up and there are decent supplies. Quality is outstanding. Prices continue dropping with every shipment. 6lb and 2.2lb baskets. Call for pricing.
Porcini (Cepes): From Oregon. Big crop. Lowest pricing in years ! Act fast low pricing will not last for long ! Beautiful product. “A” grade and limited “B” grade available. Call for pricing.
Bluefoot Mushroom: Not available this week.
Cauliflower Mushrooms: From Asia. Good supplies. 2.2lb packs. Call for pricing.
Foraged Products
** NEW ** Garlic Scapes: From British Columbia. Milder than the bulb, sweeter when cooked. Shows up once a year and disappears fast.
Wild Asparagus: From France. Sold by the 200gm bunch. Pricing lower. Call for pricing.
Spruce Tips: From British Columbia. 1lb. bags. Call for pricing.
Fresh Ramps: From West Virginia and Ontario. Season winding down quickly. Act fast. 1lb and 5lb bags. Call for prices.
Fiddleheads: From British Columbia or Quebec. 5lb bags. Pricing lower. Call for prices.
White Asparagus: From Holland. 5kg cases. “AA” 16-20MM and “AAA’ 26-32MM sizing. Pricing up due to freight. Call for prices.
Stinging Nettles: From British Columbia or Oregon. Pricing slightly lower. Packed in 1lb bags. Call for pricing.
Truffles
** NEW ** Winter Truffles (Tuber melanosporum): Southern Hemisphere. From Chile or Australia. Harvest has begun. First arrivals early next week, pending quality. Call for availability and pricing.
Summer Truffles (Tuber aestivum) $$: From Italy. Good supplies. Pricing lower. Call for more information.
