ONTARIO LOCAL
** NEW ** BRUSSELS SPROUTS: Brussels sprouts have started with increasing supply. Pricing is higher this week due to supply issues with imported product. Quality is very good. Supplies will increase into next week.
** NEW ** PUMPKINS: Pie pumpkins have started. Gourds and jack-o-lantern pumpkins have also started with light supply.
FIELD RED SHEPHERD PEPPERS: This seasonal favorite is back. These elongated red peppers are getting into volume and should be available into October, pending mother nature. Quality is very good.
SQUASH: Pepper (Acorn), butternut, spaghetti, buttercup and delicata squash continue with building volume. Pricing will slowly continue to inch down through September.
SEEDLESS BLUE GRAPES: Seedless blue grapes continue, packed in 8x2l clamshells. Quality is very good, with steady pricing.
PEAK SEASON MELONS: As we approach the end of summer, the Ontario melon season continues to be in full swing. There are ample supplies of cantaloupe, yellow watermelons, seedless watermelons, seeded watermelons and sugar baby watermelons. Now is the time to feature Ontario melons!
PEELED BABY CARROTS: Peeled baby carrots continue with excellent quality. Pack size is 6x5lb cases. The season will continue until November.
NEW CROP POTATO: New crop round white and red potato production continues. Chef Large #1, “A”, “B” and “C” (creamers) sizes are all available. Quality is outstanding, with light skins. Perfect for boiling. Large chef #1 are great for fries, with low sugars.
PEAK SEASON FIELD PEPPERS: Ontario green pepper production continues to be very strong. Pricing remains steady with added volume and light demand. Field red peppers are plentiful with lower pricing. The season will continue until Thanksgiving.
FIELD TOMATO: There is an excellent supply of 20lb round field tomato as well as 25lb roma tomato. Quality is excellent. Pricing is steady with light demand.
EGGPLANT: Growers continue to harvest good supplies with steady demand. Supplies have improved with the cooler weather. Quality is excellent.
PEARS: Bartlett pears continue, packed in 8x2L clamshells. Supplies are good, with excellent quality. Bosc are expected to start around September 15th and run until December.
STONE FRUIT: Nectarines have finished and we are limited to stock on hand. Volume on peaches is starting to slow as the season nears the end. Peaches are packed (6x3L). This week will be the last for peaches.
BUNCHED CARROTS & BEETS: Bunched carrot & beet harvest continues with very good supplies. Quality is very good.
BABY ZUCCHINI: Baby sunburst(yellow) and green patty pan squash, baby green zucchini continue to be available from Ontario. Pricing is lower than offshore imports and now is the perfect time to feature Ontario baby zucchini.
LEEKS: Supplies continue to increase. Quality is very good.
CORN: Ontario corn will be available until mid-October. Quality, sizing and flavor is outstanding. Pricing has eased with strong supplies and typical weak post Labor Day demand.
PEAK SEASON CAULIFLOWER: We continue to have Romanesco, Orange, Purple and Green cauliflower available at reasonable prices. As for regular cauliflower, growers continue harvesting; quality is very good with strong volume. Pricing is very reasonable. Now is the time to feature this category.
CELERY: Ontario celery continues from Chips Gardens in Bradford. Overall quality is very good, however, is priced much higher than US product.
CRATE BASIL: This favorite is still available with supplies dwindling as the nights get cooler.
PICKLING CUCUMBERS: Pickling cucumbers continue to be available in light supply. Packed in ½ bushel cartons. Size 3’s (small) and 4’s with no 5’s(large). The season will end soon.
PICKLING (LONG) DILL: Sold in large bunches. Supplies are light. Season ending soon.
HERBS: The full line is in harvest; Curly and plain parsley, dillweed, cilantro and methi. Quality and availability are very good.
BROCCOLI: Strong production continues with ample supplies of crowns and bunched. Fields continue to look excellent with no issues from the previous heat. Pricing is higher with the quality issues on imports. Production will continue until mid-November.
GREEN KOHLRABI: Green kohlrabi continues, packed in 12ct boxes. Quality is very good.
BEANS: Both green and yellow beans are in light supply due to recent rains and cool weather. Pricing has increased. Flat beans and Romano beans continue to be available. Quality is only fair.
GREEN ONIONS: Supplies are steady with ideal growing conditions. Pricing and demand remains steady. Quality is very good.
FIELD STRAWBERRIES: Growers are done with the June crop and are now picking the “everbearing” or “day neutral” varieties, which will continue until first frost. Quality is very good with light supplies.
GREEN ZUCCHINI: Ontario green and yellow zucchini continue to be in very light supply due to the cool nights. For what is available, quality is very good on both green and yellow.
CHINESE VEGETABLES: Baby Shanghai bok choy, regular bok choy and nappa continue with good supply. Quality is good with steady demand.
LEAF/ROMAINE– Ontario supplies continue with favorable growing conditions. This is a special-order item. Overall quality remains good.
GREENS– Ontario collards, dandelion, red kale, black kale, green and red swiss chard packed in 12ct cases are all available with strong supplies. Bunched spinach and green kale, packed in 24ct cases are also available in good supply with excellent quality.
BUNCH RADISH– Bunch radish supplies remain strong with exceptional quality and strong availability.
WAX TURNIP (RUTABAGA) – Ontario rutabaga continues with good supplies out of storage.
CARROT– Production continues with better sizing as the weather cools. Quality is very good and prices are slowly inching down as supplies increase. Heirloom multi colored carrot harvest has started with good supplies.
MUSHROOMS– Recent production issues have caused some shortages, however with cooler more seasonable weather retuning, supplies are on track to improve.
CABBAGE– Ontario new crop green, red and savoy cabbage supplies continue to increase. Quality is very good. Pricing is inching down.
APPLES– Apple harvest continues to ramp up with early varieties; Paula Reds and Ginger Golds. MacIntosh and Royal Gala harvest will start this week. Volumes will increase week over week. Storage supplies are depleted.
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 most growers having to pull crops due to disease causing low yields. Quality is very good; however, berry size is on the smaller side. Supplies should be back on track in the new year.
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS– Supplies are improving with the return to more seasonable temperatures. Quality is slowly improving. Pricing is inching down. The sizing curve remains heavy to smalls with better supplies of large and extra-large.
HOTHOUSE TOMATO– Quality is very weak on this whole category; beefsteak, vine, heirloom and snacking sizes. Short shelf life and early breakdown are the issues. Supplies are very limited and will continue to be so until October. This is due to lighter supplies grown in Ontario and the summers extreme heat.
HOTHOUSE PEPPER– Ontario greenhouse production is also struggling due to this summers extreme heat. Supplies will be very tight for the balance of the season; late October. Without cool nights to allow the days heat to vent, the heat just kept on building and building and the plants were slow producing fruit. Quality is just fair; internal issues are the main issue. Growers continue supplementing red, yellow and orange pepper supplies with imports from Holland.
Tariff Update
** NEW ** 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, clementines, lemons, limes, pomelos, papaya, watermelons, peaches, nectarines, cherries and plums.
A new round of US tariffs took effect Friday August 7th 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%. 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, 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, 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.
MARKETS TO WATCH: AT A GLANCE
Asparagus: Production in Mexico remains light due to heavy rains, potentially creating a supply gap until October. Peru is also seeing lower than-expected volume as cooler temperatures have impacted field yields.
Blueberries: As supplies trend lower, expect pricing to increase and a return to 6oz packs with fewer pints available.
Brussels Sprouts: Markets are climbing in the Salinas Valley amid higher temperatures and increased insect pressure
California Iceberg: Iceberg markets somewhat elevated. Value-added lettuce items still have triggers.
California Romaine: Green and red leaf, romaine and romaine hearts markets are elevated with increased demand. Value-added romaine items continue to have triggers.
Blood Oranges: There are no blood oranges until California starts in December. Cara Caras from South America available.
Mango: The Mexican mango season is coming to an end, with the last arrivals for the year anticipated this week. Availability remains limited on all sizes as the season concludes, and prices continue to climb. Arrivals from Brazil have started.
Strawberries: Salinas and Watsonville are in a declining cycle, while Santa Maria is ramping up this week, with Oxnard to follow in late September. Strong demand is driving the market higher.
Gold Pineapples: Pineapple supplies remain very limited and may stay tight for the rest of the year. Availability of fruit in the market is very low with both 6s and 7s pulling much higher prices this week. Demand exceeds supply leading to near-record prices for any available fruit.
Lemons: Lemon prices will continue to rise for the next four weeks due to low volume and strong demand across all growing regions.
Pomegranate: The offshore pomegranate season from Israel and Egypt continues, but is winding down as California starts. California has started with mostly larger sizing (24ct/32ct); smaller sizes (50ct/60ct) will be another two weeks.
VEGETABLES
WEST COAST LETTUCES
Iceberg prices are trending lower as warmer weather has aided growth and increased supplies in Salinas and Santa Maria, California. Green leaf and romaine markets are inching higher with lighter supplies. Value-added lettuce items will still have triggers into next week. The primary shipping points are Salinas and Santa Maria, with some availability in Oxnard. Tropical Storm Lorena brought severe storms to both Mexico and Yuma last Thursday. In Arizona, some parts of the Eastern Yuma region had high winds and flooding. Many growers in the industry have begun transplanting in these areas and this weather is likely to cause some delays and disruptions when we start transition. While it is still early, we wanted to ensure that everyone was aware there might be some challenges at the beginning of the Yuma season. Depending on where the growers have currently planted and how much this storm has impacted their initial planting, there may be some challenges as we get closer to November.
ICEBERG– Iceberg lettuce volumes are beginning to improve out of the Salinas Valley. The market is still escalated but is gradually decreasing. We continue to see lighter weights and increased demand; INSV has impacted yields for many shippers. There is some light to moderate levels of sclerotinia, fusarium and thrip damage. There have been lower yields from the smaller framed lettuce heads and increased disease pressure in the fields. The soil borne diseases have really limited the harvestable acres. Some misshapen heads and outer leaf discoloration have been reported on arrivals. We will see smaller heads and they will not be as dense as they normally are. Current weights range from 38 to 42 pounds. The market is very active and will be a roller coaster until November as growers try and navigate the issues with the yields. Value-added triggers have been reduced to first-tier. Regional seasons in Colorado, Michigan, the East Coast, and Canada are ongoing with typical volumes. Quality and yields are typical for each growing region, spreading lettuce demand across multiple regions.
ROMAINE / LEAF– Red and green leaf supplies are steady with quality reports showing great overall quality and good weights. Romaine and romaine heart quality are okay, but supplies are light. The market is still trending higher due to increased demand. There have been some reports of fringe burn and light cupping. Insect pressure, sclerotinia and INSV have been reported. Some growers are holding to averages. Regional seasons in Colorado, Michigan, the East Coast, and Quebec are ongoing; quality and yields are typical for each growing region. Value-added romaine items continue to have triggers. Expect markets to remain strong throughout September.
SPRING MIX/BABY SPINACH/BABY ARUGULA– All tender leaf items are showing good quality and steady supply despite the warmer temperatures over the weekend. Supplies are expected to remain mostly steady into next week.
CANADIAN LETTUCES
Supplies of leaf lettuce, romaine and romaine hearts out of Quebec continue to be steady, with strong demand. Iceberg supplies have improved with cooler weather. Supplies are expected to run through Thanksgiving, potentially longer pending mother nature.
QUEBEC ICEBERG– Supplies have improved with cooler nights. Pricing is high due to very strong demand with high prices on California product. Iceberg quality is good. We continue to see fluctuating density and head size with some long core / seeder and internal burn due to the past heat. Case weights are ranging from 36-38lb on 24ct wrapped.
ROMAINE / LEAF– Quebec: Romaine quality is good with weights in the 38-40lb range on 24ct packs. Romaine heart quality is also very good with good cupping. Pricing is steady as west coast pricing rises. Growers are aggressively trimming any heat related defects in the field. Long core or seeder is still being seen as a result of the recent heat. Ontario: Ontario romaine and green leaf production continues with very light supply. Quality on both is good with some heads showing light tip burn and long core / seeder.
MUSHROOMS– Mushroom supply has been limited over the last three weeks, but was still meeting demand. Demand has increased and growers have been pro-rating orders by up to 50%. Supplies should start to improve over the next 7-10 days, but substitutions may be necessary. Ontario mushroom growers have been battling supply for the last month due to less than average compost causing lower yields. The heat and humidity in July and August have had a detrimental effect on the overall production on both first and second picks. With cooler weather, recently filled rooms are performing closer to expected yields and we should see a return to normal production over the next 7-10 days. Some items such as stuffing mushrooms and buttons may not be available and substitutions may be necessary into next week.
PEAK BROCCOLI– Prices are escalating rapidly; strong demand and growth challenges are decreasing overall supplies. Ontario / Quebec: Both crowns and bunch broccoli continue to be available in good supply; very good quality continues with few defects being reported. Demand has strengthened somewhat, still matching supplies. Cooler weather has promoted growth; rain is still needed. Expect higher pricing until imported supplies improve. Ontario will have ample supplies until early-mid November. East Coast / Midwest: Hot, arid weather has stunted growth and affected yields in multiple growing regions. Overall supplies are limited; Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York are all experiencing lighter harvests. Maine will reach peak production in September, then wind down through late October. Growers in Georgia and Florida will begin harvesting in the late fall to offset Maine’s production ending. Pricing will remain elevated heading into next week. California: Supplies are limited in Monterey County (Salinas Valley) and Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley). A recent heat wave forced growers to harvest premature fields last week, causing supply gaps this week. Quality ranges from fair to good; heat-related issues such as hollow core, yellow/brown bead, and branchy structure are being reported. Insect pressure, from Diamondback moth pupa/larvae and aphids, remains a significant challenge and is expected to persist through the fall. Regional harvests are winding down, pushing demand to the West Coast and further limiting supplies. Expect markets to remain elevated for the next one to two weeks as supplies increase. Mexico: Pricing is high amid moderate demand and limited supplies. High temperatures and tropical storms continue to affect quality; these weather conditions will persist in this region through the late fall. Quality is fair; defects such as cat eye, hollow core, browning, and insect activity are being noted Expect relief in November as improved weather conditions will lead to stronger quality.
GARLIC– Whole cloves and peeled garlic prices are steady as new crop supplies from China, Mexico and California continue. China: Supplies continue to increase as new crop harvest continues. After a big price reduction last week, pricing has stabilized. New crop quality remains excellent. North American: Supplies from California continue alongside product from Mexico. Quality is very good. U.S. tariffs on Chinese garlic have shifted demand to Mexico and California, which have growers trying to push prices higher.
PEAK CAULIFLOWER– Local pricing remains steady with exceptional quality. California markets are steady with multiple growing regions in play, which will keep prices at moderate levels. Ontario/Quebec: Supplies continue to be very good; the season will run until early November pending weather conditions. The return to a more typical late summer weather pattern has improved overall quality. Product is packed in 12ct trays with outer leaves trimmed and 12ct cases with wrapper leaves. Supplies are expected to continue to be very strong with supplies meeting demand and steady pricing. Salinas, California: Supplies are adequate with steady pricing. 12-count heads are readily available; 9-count supplies are tight. Quality, texture, and color are strong; Diamondback moth presence is an issue in some lots. Expect prices remain steady heading into next week as warmer weather promotes growth. Santa Maria, California: Production is steaty; supplies are ample. Quality is good; minimal defects are present. Only occasional insect pressure is being reported. Recent weather has been ideal for growth. Prices are lower compared to the Salinas Valley, which is common. East Coast/Midwest: The Maine season will run through October. Quality is very good and supplies are ample. Growers in North Carolina will ship supplies through September, weather permitting.
ASPARAGUS– Prices remain elevated across multiple regions; large and jumbo sizes are limited. Mexico: Production has ended in Central Mexico and Baja will be the primary growing region through early October. Growers will move to Sonora for the fall and winter seasons. Hurricane Lorena was expected to drop heavy rainfall (5-15 inches) across Baja this past weekend. Flash flooding and strong winds were anticipated. Fields in Sonora may also have experience floods, disrupting plantings scheduled for late fall harvest. Growers will experience production delays and logistical disruptions as the storm passes through. Standard and small sizes remain most abundant; large and jumbo spears are limited. Expect elevated pricing until new growing regions ramp up post-storm. Peru: Production is ramping up as growers are breaking into new, immature lots in Southern Peru. Yields are increasing. East Coast availability has improved as imported Peruvian product is shipped into ports in Miami. Small and standard sizes are most abundant. Large and jumbo packs are expected to increase as new fields mature. Quality is fair, but will improve as new crop volume climbs.
CABBAGE– Ontario: New crop green, red and savoy cabbage harvesting continues with very good quality with strong supplies. Prices are inching down as supplies increase. Imports: Cabbage supply is stable out of the Midwest. Quality is good on both green and red. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio have good sizing on mediums, while larges are somewhat snug. Expect to see supplies continue this track into September.
BEANS– Ontario / Quebec: Ontario and Quebec volume and quality has taken a bit of a hit as cooler wet conditions have caused quality issues and limiting harvest. Limited supplies of flat beans, romano and both green and yellow are available at much higher pricing. US Imports: East Coast volume is also battling cooler wet conditions in Virginia and New York. The Midwest regions of Tennessee and Michigan are expecting better yields this week as drier conditions return. Steady supplies and average quality are being reported out of Mexico’s Guanajuato, Puebla, and Baja growing regions; quality is best in Baja. California has modest supply in the Central Valley and Santa Maria regions. Expect higher markets over the next week. Snipped: Snipped green bean supplies have tightened. We are also seeing quality issues and shorter shelf life. We expect this to continue into next week.
FRENCH GREEN BEAN / BABY SQUASH– Ontario: The mini green zucchini, yellow(sunburst) and green patty pan season is in the late stages, with supplies slowing as cooler nights indicate the transition to fall. Pricing is half that of imported product and quality is excellent. Now is the time to take advantage of this season. Imports: Production remains steady out of Guatemala, though minor quality concerns may arise due to recent heat and shipping delays. Supply of French beans out of Mexico is fair, with some variability expected depending on regional conditions and logistics.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS– Markets are climbing in the Salinas Valley amid higher temperatures and increased insect pressure. Ontario: Growers are just starting to harvest and pack brussels sprouts. Supplies are light as the season just begins. Supplies will increase into next week. Quality is very good and pricing is rising as imported supplies tighten. Imports: Diamondback moth pupae/larvae presence is increasing in fields throughout the Santa Maria Valley, shifting demand to the Salinas region. Some Salinas Valley suppliers are underplanted at this point in the season, causing a demand-exceeds-supply situation. Warm weather through the fall is expected to worsen pest presence, further limiting supplies. East coast production in Ontario, Quebec and New Jersey continues to ramp up with increased demand and higher pricing. Production in the Salinas Valley, Castroville, Santa Maria, and Oxnard will run into early winter, before growers move to Mexico. Expect higher prices over the next 10-14 days and low volume through mid-September.
CELERY– Celery markets continue to be stable again this week with solid availability from multiple growing regions. California: This market remains steady, with all sizes available both north and south. The weather forecast calls for average and preferred temperatures in both Salinas and Oxnard. Shippers are still flexible, and overall quality continues to be above average, with only minimal reports of seeders. Demand is moderate at best. September is shaping to be a great month to promote. Canadian: Quebec celery production continues with both 30ct and 24ct. Supplies are good with competitive pricing. One Ontario grower, Chips Gardens continues steady production. Quality is very good, priced higher than both Quebec and California celery. This market will remain steady.
CARTON BAKING POTATOES– Norkotah potatoes continue to be available in Idaho and Washington; new crop Burbank potatoes are shipping from Idaho in limited quantities. There is still a long way to go with the harvest, but so far, we are seeing good yields and good quality. Freshrun quality is excellent; occasional skinning and excess moisture may be observed in fresh-run potatoes. Potatoes release moisture as they cool, which gives the potato a wet look, and can cause a light, white surface residue to develop that is easily brushed off. The white residue will dissipate as potatoes dry and does not pose any quality or food safety concerns. New crop potatoes have not gone through the ‘sweat’ process yet; the ‘sweat’ process allows field heat to leave the potatoes (which causes the release of moisture), putting them in dormancy, which prevents sprouting from occurring during the early months of storage. If the weather continues to stay favorable over the next 8-10 weeks, we will have a large crop once again. That said, things can change drastically over the course of harvest. Idaho sets the market and the other regions follow. Overall, markets are declining due to increasing new crop supplies. Expect falling prices as the season moves into September. As the industry transitions from storage to new crop potatoes, advanced orders and maintaining tight inventories are highly recommended. East Coast Canada: New crop russets are expected to begin sometime this week. Growers are concerned about the continued drought conditions. Rain is needed. Canadian potato farmers planted 394,215 acres (159 533 hectares) of potatoes in 2025, down 0.1% compared with 2024. Prince Edward Island continued to report the largest seeded area in 2025, at 87,300 acres, followed closely by Alberta (80,000 acres) and Manitoba (68,200 acres). Despite a challenging spring with delays due to weather, planting was largely completed by mid-June. Fields look good; it has been a dry summer and rain is needed to help size up the crop. Growers are facing uncertainty due to potential US export tariffs, rising input costs, and possible reductions in processing contracts, which could impact prices. Yukon Gold and Red skinned potatoes will be available from PEI in October. Idaho: The storage Burbank potato season is done; new crop Norkotah potatoes are being shipped. Any Burbank storage supplies are extremely limited; small sizes (6oz and smaller) dominate availability. New crop Norkotah stocks are shipping sizes dominated by small potatoes. Overall markets are inching down as new crop harvests continue and supplies increase. Washington: New crop Norkotah potatoes are now available. Expect a good mixture of all sizes and grades. Prices are slowly declining. Colorado: Storage crop Norkotahs remain limited. Expect low volume and sporadic availability through August, especially for large, 40- to 70-count supplies. Pricing is holding steady as demand shifts to new crop stocks in other regions. New crop supplies will enter the market in early September. Wisconsin: New crop stocks are expected to begin shipping this week. Size will be dominated by 90-count and smaller potatoes; larger sizes will not become plentiful until late September/early October. Prices remain elevated.
ASSORTED CHILI PEPPERS– Ontario: Jalapeno peppers, yellow hots and shisito peppers are in good supply. Quality is very good. Imports: Supplies are tighter this week out of Mexico generally good across all categories due to a mix of heat and rain over the past several days. Red Fresno is the tightest this week. California’s quality is also compromised a bit by heat related pressure this week out of the central valley.
FIELD PEPPERS– Green pepper supplies are abundant; markets have eased. Red bell pepper prices are slightly lower as California and regional yields increase; demand remains strong. Green Pepper: California’s coastal supply remains abundant; quality is very good. Ontario and Quebec both continue strong harvests. Pricing remains low and steady with very good quality. The Ontario season will continue until mid-October. Harvesting is steady in the Midwest regions of Michigan and Ohio and northeastern production is consistent; all sizes are available. North Carolina will start harvesting in a couple of weeks. Georgia is planning to start harvesting around the middle of October. Central Mexico volume is more consistent. Expect continued low prices over the next two weeks. Red Pepper: California’s volume is increasing as coastal harvests are well established and hot weather has increased overall yields. All sizes are available with very good quality. Central Mexico (crossing into South Texas) is shipping more consistent volume from new fields. Ontario supplies continue to increase. Red shepherd pepper supplies are increasing with prices inching down. Red bell peppers supply and quality are good with lower pricing. Growers on the East Coast of the US don’t produce a significant amount of colored peppers. Eastern demand continues for California field grown peppers. Expect lower prices next week
HOTHOUSE PEPPERS– Ontario greenhouse production continues to struggle due to recent heat waves. Cooler nights have allowed the heat to vent, however, the damage to the plants has been done. We may not see a return to normal growth before the end of the season in November. Supplies will be very light. Growers continue supplementing red, yellow and orange pepper supplies with imports from Holland. Prices are much higher. Local quality is just fair; internal issues are the main issue. Import quality is excellent.
GREEN ONIONS– Imports: Green onion supplies have rebounded after last week’s rain and thunderstorms. Supply and quality are very good good. Pricing has eased back to normal. Quebec: Supplies are very good with moderate demand. Supplies should continue to be very strong into next week. Pricing is steady.
ZUCCHINI– Weather continues to be the major headline across the board. Temperatures are screaming fall and this is having an impact on zucchini supplies. Volume is down and markets are reacting as a result. Conditions will only get worse, until we see new regions come into volume. Ontario: Green and yellow zucchini supplies have slowed due to cooler nights. Overall volume is down. Quality remains very strong. Quebec also continues production but are also experiencing lower yields due to cooler weather. Imports: Harvesting has started in Georgia while North Carolina continues production. California’s Santa Maria and Central Valley growing regions have steady volume due to warmer temperatures; quality is good. Baja growers are shipping moderate volume (crossing into Otay Mesa, California). Expect slightly higher prices, with lighter availability into next week due to lower temperatures. Overall quality is solid.
EGGPLANT– Ontario: Field grown eggplant supplies are very good keeping prices steady. Quality is consistently good. Imports: Steady supply from Michigan, New Jersey, and New York with good quality. North Carolina harvest set to begin soon. California remains steady but supplies are tight. Demand is strong, keeping the market firm.
ONIONS– The Pacific Northwest onion season is off to a strong start with Washington, Oregon, and Idaho fresh-run onion harvests in full swing. Colorado and Utah are ramping up as California and New Mexico wind down. Markets are steady at lower levels. Washington: Fresh-run onions will ship through early October before transitioning to storage crop. Quality is excellent; fresh-run onions have higher moisture content resulting in short shelf-life compared to storage supplies. We recommend ordering for quick turns. Shelf-life will improve once growers begin shipping from storage supplies and onions have properly cured. All sizes and colours are available; current lots are peaking on jumbo sizes. Expect steady prices over the next one to two weeks. Idaho/Oregon: Fresh-run onions will ship through mid to late October before transitioning to storage supplies. Quality is excellent; fresh-run onions have higher moisture content resulting in short shelf life compared to storage supplies. We recommend ordering for quick turns. Shelf-life will improve once growers begin shipping from storage supplies and onions have properly cured. All sizes/colours are available; current lots are peaking on jumbo sizes. Expect steady prices over the next one to two weeks. Utah/Colorado: Fresh-run onions will ship through mid-September before transitioning to storage supplies. Quality is excellent; fresh run onions have higher moisture content, resulting in short shelf life compared to storage supplies. We recommend ordering for quick turns. Shelf-life will improve once growers transition to storage supplies this fall. All sizes are available; current lots are peaking on medium-jumbo sizes. Expect steady prices over the next one to two weeks as growers ramp up. California: Northern California’s fresh-run onion season is coming to an end; most are set to finish in the next two weeks. Quality is fair to poor; heat related issues such as sun scald are common for end of season supplies. Prices are low as growers flood the market to compete with better quality Northwest fresh run onions. New Mexico: New Mexico’s fresh-run onion season is coming to an end, with most finishing this week. Quality is fair; heat and high humidity have potential to negatively impact quality and shelf life of remaining supplies. Prices are lower this week as growers attempt to offload current inventories with demand shifting to the Northwest. Ontario / Quebec: Ontario continues shipping good supplies of new crop cooking onions and red onions; prices have eased as supplies increase. Quality is very good; fresh run onions will have a thin skin and are more prone to mechanical damage; skins will thicken as the onions have time to cure.
NEW CROP TABLE POTATOES– Ontario: Both red and round white fresh new potatoes continue. Chef #1 Jumbo, “A” size, “B” size and “C” sizes are all available. Quality is very good with steady pricing. New crop russets are expected to start in October.
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS– Recent cooler nights have improved yields and quality. Pricing has eased and the sizing profile is more balanced, with all sizes available. Mini Cucumbers: Production has improved with better supplies and lower pricing. Quality remains very good.
CORN– Ontario: Supplies continue to be very good, with lighter demand as the summer winds down and schools start. As a result, pricing is down. Ontario corn will be available until mid-October. Quality, sizing and flavor is outstanding. Imports: Many of the local northern deals will start to finish up as we move through September. Many deals will go until their first freeze of the season. Georgia will get started again in early October so watch for pricing to fluctuate around transition time. Quality is good from all locations.
COLLARDS/CHARD/KALE– Supplies are very good from Ontario. Green, red and black kale as well as green. red and rainbow swiss chard are in excellent supply, packed in 12ct cases. Quality is very good.
FRUIT
PEAK WATERMELON– Watermelon volume has started to firm up as local deals wind down for the season. Quality is excellent with very sharp pricing as demand is down with recent cooler weather and students returning to class. Ontario: We continue to have a full line-up of Ontario watermelons all in good supply. There are yellow flesh, seedless, seeded and sugar baby. Quality is very good with outstanding flavor. Sugar baby and seeded are by special order only. Now is the time to use yellow flesh watermelons as supplies are currently ample and hard to get and expansive outside the Ontario season. The season will run into October. Imports: Supplies and demand are starting to wind down. Still seeing fruit available in several regions but that will gradually decline as the weather cools across the country and fall approaches. Growers are still in production in Delaware and Indiana. In the west, production continues out of Stockton and Wapato, Washington. There are also some supplies in Texas. Mexican melons will start in October. Quality remains strong.
PEARS– Plan for Bartlett pears to be in good supply and very promotable for the next several months. Ontario: The Ontario bartlett season has started. Supplies continue to increase through the month. Quality is very good. Pack size is 8x2L clamshells. Bosc will start over the next 7-10 days and run through December. Washington: New crop Washington Bartlett pears are now in season, with volumes set to rise through September. The crop looks to be a very big crop after historically low yields in 2024. Early projections suggest a 25% increase in overall volume, with Bartlett, Anjou, and Bosc varieties showing particular promise. While future weather conditions could still impact the final outcome; the industry is entering the season with confidence and momentum. New crop Washington Bosc and Anjou are projected to start harvesting sometime in September. California: California Bartletts remain aggressively priced and will continue to impact the market for the coming weeks. The crop has a good mix of all sizes but appears to be peaking at 100-count size fruit. California Bosc and Red pears are also available with bosc being in heavy supply.
MANGO– The Mexican mango season is coming to an end, with the last arrivals for the year anticipated this week. Availability remains limited on all sizes as the season concludes, and prices continue to climb. We expect peak sizing in the 4/5/6-count range, and very limited on other sizes. As Mexico comes to a close, we shift our focus to Brazilian mangos. The transition to the Brazil import season has started, with all arrivals coming into the East Coast to support demand. We are seeing more medium to small sizes which is nice to see as Mexico’s last inbounds are heavy to large sizes. This should make most sizes available as we transition growing regions. Quality is excellent on the first Brazil arrivals, and the industry expects to see mostly Tommy Atkins, Kents and Palmer varieties with Ataulfo(honey) being extremely limited. Prices are anticipated to stay high during the duration of the Brazil season, with steady demand across all sizes.
POMEGRANATE: The offshore pomegranate season from Israel and Egypt continues, but winding down. California has started with mostly larger sizing (24ct/32ct); smaller sizes (50ct/60ct) will be another two weeks. The California harvest season runs from early September through November while supplies will be available into February with later supplies being shipped out of storage. Ordering will need to be adjusted as case sizing from Egypt is 8lbs (8-12ct) while California ships 22lb cases (40-44ct).
RASPBERRIES / BLACKBERRIES–Raspberries: Production is ramping up in Central Mexico putting downward pressure on market pricing. Despite seeing rain in various growing regions, we are seeing good quality, firm berries, and good color. Steady volumes from Baja and Central Mexico are expected to continue throughout September. Blackberries: Watsonville, California is past peak production, with volumes trending downward. We are seeing quality issues, smaller berries with red cell. Santa Maria fruit is still going, and we expect to see Oxnard fruit enter the marketplace in the coming weeks. Production is ramping up in Central Mexico. Despite rain in various growing regions, we are seeing good quality.
BLUEBERRIES– As supplies trend lower, expect to see a return to 6oz packs with fewer pints available. Washington supplies will continue for a few more weeks. British Columbia volumes will continue to trend downward; seeing rain in the forecast this week. Oregon has wrapped for a few growers. For those still going, the crews are doing their best to clean up as we are seeing softness and dehydrated berries. Peruvian and Mexican volumes are expected to increase gradually over the next two weeks. Markets are beginning to react higher.
GRAPEFRUIT– Canadian retaliatory tariffs on citrus from the United States were removed September 1st. California: Marsh Ruby grapefruit is now the primarily varietals available out of California with lighter volume and less vibrant internal color. Choice grapefruit is readily available, but most growers are requiring ample lead time for fancy grade. Markets are expected to remain snug. Imports: Grapefruit from South Africa and Peru are arriving in moderate volume. Larger sizes (32–40 counts) are more prevalent, with limited availability on smaller fruit (45–55 counts). Fruit is reported to have solid internal quality. Steady imports are expected through early October.
STRAWBERRIES– Prices continue climbing as the Salinas/Watsonville season winds down and growers transition to the Santa Maria region. Last week’s heat wave in both regions may impact quality, and crews are moving carefully through the fields to minimize issues in the packs. Santa Maria: Supplies continue to increase; sufficient volume is expected in the next 10-14 days. Fruit size is large, with counts in the mid- to upper teens per one-pound clamshell. Overall quality is firm with occasional white shoulders and misshapen berries. Expect higher pricing for new crop berries. Salinas/Watsonville: Stocks continue to diminish as the season is past its peak. The Salinas/Watsonville growing area has had some very warm days and nights which will cause the fruit to have smaller sizing, occasional bruising, and tend to be overripe and soft. Size currently ranges from small to medium; 20ct to 24ct per one pound clamshell. Quality is good; some softness and early decay have been reported. Oxnard: Oxnard is projected to begin harvest in 1 to 2 weeks. Ontario Hothouse: Hothouse production continues to be very light. Disease has caused the industry to pause and consider better growing options to avoid future disease. Retail is taking most of the production. Quality is good and sizing is on the smaller side. Expect to see stocks tighten and markets increase. Supplies will improve in the new year with new crops, grown using new techniques. Ontario Field: We continue to be in the “everbearing / day-neutral” crop. Supplies are light and will remain steady. We will have field strawberries until first frost, typically mid-October.
GOLD PINEAPPLES– Costa Rica / Honduras: US tariffs are now in place for pineapples from Costa Rica (10%) and Honduras (15%) that transit through the USA. Pineapple supplies remain very limited and may stay tight for the rest of the year. Availability of fruit in the market is very low with both 6s and 7s pulling much higher prices this week. Demand exceeds supply leading to near-record prices for any available fruit. Last spring’s high temperatures and increased rainfall have reduced availability during the crop transition that takes place from August through September. Current crop volume is low due to premature blooming in January; Naturally Differentiated Flowering or NDF. It is the phenomenon where pineapple plants flower prematurely and unevenly due to natural factors like cooler temperatures and shorter days. New crop fruit is not yet ready for harvest. Port delays during last week, due to the holiday, have impacted loading/unloading schedules. Thunderstorms continue to affect growing regions in Costa Rica and are expected through mid-September 2025. Expect substitutions, cancellations, and order changes. Mexico- There’s little to no volume out of Mexico. Mexican growers are still taking advantage of the high internal markets and will only ship some surplus as long as prices are attractive. Production is low and the sizing curve remains heavy on small counts. Mexico volume typically remains low during the summer months with expected improvement coming mid-September. Transportation out of Mexico is stable with good availability of trucks to service pineapple; no delays happened last week.
PEAK GRAPES– Ontario: Seedless blue grapes continue. Supplies are very good, with good color and brix. They are packed 8x2L clamshells. California: Many shippers are still working through inventories of lower-quality lots that need to be moved through the system. The industry is relying on a post-Labor Day surge in demand to give the market some momentum. Sporadic rainstorms passed through parts of the Valley last week, with some areas receiving only light drizzle and others experiencing more significant rainfall. While no widespread damage has been reported so far, it will take time to fully assess the impact on product quality and condition. The California grape crop is of excellent quality, and growing conditions have been ideal, leading to a harvest that’s about three weeks ahead of schedule, which could result in an earlier-than-usual end to the season. Expect sufficient availability and ample supplies to continue.
ORANGES– California Oranges: Canadian retaliatory tariffs on citrus from the United States were removed September 1st. Back-toschool demand remains strong, particularly on smaller fruit (88/113/138 counts), with availability tightening further. Larger sizes (56/72 counts) are slightly more available but remain limited overall. While sizing is shifting larger, current projections do not suggest a gap before the fall Navel season, expected to begin late October. We’ll see a full crop assessment on navels in the next few weeks. Internal quality is solid, with brix levels holding between 12–14. Re-greening continues to be present due to high temperatures but does not impact eating quality. Import Navels: Supplies from Chile and South Africa are available, with overall more large fruit (40/48/56 counts) in the market. Small fruit (105/113/138 counts) remains limited due to increasing market demand. Sugar content remains consistent at 11–13 brix. The recent US tariff increases on South African fruit are starting to impact pricing and import pace to the US. Imports to Canada are tariff free as they arrive into ports in Montreal. Import Cara Caras: Volume remains available from Chile and South Africa, with Chilean fruit favoring larger sizing and strong internal quality. As with navels, South African Caras are smaller and could be impacted by shifting global demand due to market conditions and logistics. Chilean supplies are expected to remain steady through September.
MANDARIN / CLEMENTINE: Strong import volume continues from Peru, Chile, South Africa, and Uruguay, with good availability across multiple varieties focused on Tangos, and Murcotts. Quality is excellent, with good sugar and vibrant appearance. Expect continued strong supply into October, though some slight tapering may occur as Peru winds down.
PEAK STONE FRUIT– Ontario/Canadian: Nectarine harvest has concluded. Supplies will be limited to stock on hand, then finished for the season. Peaches (6x3L) and blue plums (10x2L) continue, however, peaches will finish by the 14th of September. British Columbia cherry season has ended. Imports: Peaches, plums, and nectarines are in moderate supply with a steady market. Specialty items like donut peaches and pluots are also available. Peaches from Georgia and South Carolina are quickly winding down and will be finished this week.
PEAK CANTALOUPE– Ontario: Growers continue harvesting and packing high quality cantaloupes. Ontario grows the “Athena” varietal; brix is 14-18 with bright orange interior. Pricing remains steady with moderate demand. The season will continue into October. Imports: There is continued exceptional quality on the cantaloupes coming out of the Central Valley of California with high yields and high brix. The second cut and rising demand are driving the market higher. Fields are still mostly producing 9s, but sizing on 12s and 15s is improving, while jumbos are tightening. Brix levels range from 13 to 16. Unexpected rain in the Central Valley this past week has affected some fields, and crews are working to manage the damage. Harvest will continue out of California until early October.
HONEYDEW– There continues to be exceptional quality on honeydews coming out of the Central Valley of California with high yields and brix. The domestic honeydew market is heating up. The second cut and stronger demand are pushing the market higher. Fields are still mainly producing 5s, but sizing on 6s and 8s is improving. Brix levels range from 13 to 16. Volume deals are available. Harvest will continue out of California until early October.
LEMONS– Lemon prices will continue to rise for the next four weeks due to low volume and strong demand across all growing regions. California: Canadian retaliatory tariffs on citrus from the United States were removed September 1st. District 2 continues to harvest, but supplies remain tight overall. Small sizes (165- through 235-count) remain limited. Expect to make Country of Origin substitutions to fill orders. Quality is average; brown spotting, early decay, and scarring are being reported. Quality will improve when growers start harvesting new crop fruit in three weeks. Elevated pricing is forecast for the next four weeks. Offshore: Argentina has finished their last shipment of fruit, and the season is likely to conclude earlier than normal (early September). Quality remains good with larger sizing (95/115 counts). Offshore fruit from Chile and South Africa will be shipped into North America through early December. Many Chilean growers continue diverting fruit to other global markets offering higher returns. Shipments are down as much as 50% this year compared to last due to fears of low pricing and the impact of tariffs. Size will be dominated by large lemons (95- to 140-count stocks); smaller sizes will be available as well. Expect higher pricing (compared to California and Mexican fruit) due to strong quality. Mexican: Mexican shipments have started and will run through late November. These supplies will help fill the demand not met by California lemons. The crop is producing primarily choice-grade fruit, with fancygrade volume very light. Sizing will be dominated by 165- to 235-count fruit; larger sizes will also be available. Quality is good; scarring is being reported. Expect pricing to be comparable to California fruit.
ONTARIO HOTHOUSE TOMATO– Red Tomato On-The-Vine & Beefsteak: Late summer production continues to struggle with quality and supply. Hothouse tomato growers continue pro-rating all orders by 75-80% leaving the market very short. Production continues to be light due to the recent heat in the greenhouses negatively impacting the quality of the remaining crop and increasing prices. With retaliatory tariffs being removed September 1st, growers now are able to utilize volume from US satellite greenhouses, to help with supply. Growers in Mexico that would normally be used to fill the gap have pivoted to cucumbers, and peppers to avoid the uncertainty of tariffs and duties. Recent cooler nights will help, but we will not see improved supplies until October. Bite Size (Cherry, Grape, Cocktail, Medley): Similar to round tomatoes, hothouse bite size production and quality also is also struggling. Pricing is much higher than seasonal normal.
LIMES– The market has softened. Fruit has excellent quality and a good volume of sizes 230/200/175s. The fruit feels well-hydrated and with very good consistency; better color, and slightly improved shelf life, though oil spotting remains a concern. Growers have forecasted a strong harvest for this week and the following weeks of September, with no supply issues expected. Size distribution is 110-4%, 150-16%, 175-25%, 200-27%, 230-18%, and 250-10%. The upcoming week’s weather suggests days of light rain. Anticipate high humidity, with temperatures fluctuating between 72°F and 93°F. For October, fruit with good development in both quality and size can already be observed. A harvest similar to that expected in September is forecast, both in volume and quality, and we will continue to monitor its development over the coming weeks.
BANANAS– 15% US tariffs are now in place for all Bananas from Central America that transit through the USA. Banana supply remains stable despite strong demand for school business. Overall, banana quality has been very good. Any bananas transiting through the USA will see an additional 5%, on top of the 10%, American tariff applied.
AVOCADO– There is excellent availability of medium and small fruit, supported by consistent harvests in Mexico. Pricing remains favorable for promotions given current industry supply. California production continues to taper off as the season winds down, with harvests expected through October. Meanwhile, Peru maintains strong output, offering abundant large and jumbo fruit for the next month. With robust supply anticipated to continue for several weeks, now is an ideal time to promote. Mexico– The Off-Bloom (Loca/Mendez) crop is averaging 26.3% dry matter, with sizing peaking on 48s and 60s. Mexico is essentially finished transitioning crops, with over 99% of harvest activity from Off-Bloom fruit. Peru– The 2025 Peruvian avocado campaign is approximately 92% complete, with more than 600,000 metric tons shipped globally. Depending on size requirements, programs are starting to transition back into different countries of origin. California– Approximately 6.6 million pounds were harvested last week. Dry matter is averaging 31%. Sizing continues to peak on 48s and 60s. Harvest volume has flattened out, though fruit quality remains excellent. Based on current harvest rates, California fruit is expected to remain available through October.
APPLES– Ontario: The storage season has concluded and we are relying on fresh crop for supplies. Harvesting continues to slowly gain steam. New crop Ginger Golds and Paula Red continue. Southern Ontario Royal Gala and MacIntosh harvesting will start today. The 2025 Ontario apple crop is expected to be good, with a strong start to the growing season and no signs of frost or hail damage. While the bloom took longer than usual due to cool weather, the overall crop looks promising. Washington: Washington growers are in full swing harvesting Royal Gala and the Honeycrisp apples. Both of these new crops are projected to be larger than last year and both are currently promotable. Overall, the new crop is projected to a very large crop, and we are projecting to have excellent supplies of most varieties for the upcoming season. However, some varieties remain limited for the next couple of weeks as we wait for this new crop to start harvesting. The tighter varieties include Cosmic Crisp, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Envy, and Fuji. Michigan / New York: Both Michigan and New York will continue to pick some early varieties this week along with Royal Galas starting in a light way this week. Both Michigan and New York are forecasting good crops again this year.
MATURE GREEN FIELD TOMATOES– Canadian retaliatory tariffs on tomatoes from the United States were removed September 1st. East Coast: Round tomato supply slower to improve out of Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee while new production starts in Virginia and New Jersey. Current quality will be mixed; several days of heat, rain and high humidity are causing several post-harvest issues days after the fruit is packed. Roma volume is gradually increasing and pricing was mixed this week based on location. Quality is fair and slowly improving. Cherry, grape and medley supplies are in lighter supply as growers emerge from fields that were impacted by rain. Quality is gradually improving. Mexico: The Tomato Suspension Agreement between Mexico and the US ended on July 14, removing the established floor price and replacing it with a 17.9% anti-dumping duty. Round tomato volume is steady crossing through McAllen and Otay. Quality is excellent. Roma tomato production is strong this week out of Jalisco, San Luis Potosi and Baja. Quality remains good. Demand and pricing were higher this week. Good supply and weak demand have put downward pressure on grape tomato pricing. Quality is good. Most of the cherry tomato volume seems to be crossing from the Baja; quality is very good. Demand is flat. Good supplies of gourmet medley tomatoes are crossing through McAllen and Otay. Quality is mostly good. California: Round and roma production is improving out of the East Valley and Gilroy this week. Crop conditions appear to be much stronger than central valley production. Overall quality is good.
WILD FORAGED PRODUCTS:
Wild Mushrooms
Pine (Matsutake) Mushroom: Strong supplies. Grade A, B and C. Prices down. Call for pricing.
Lobster Mushroom: From British Columbia. Pricing lower. Steady volume. 6lb baskets. Call for pricing.
Yellow Chanterelle: From Europe. Top quality. Prices lower. Medium size and buttons available.2.2lb or 6lb basket. Call for pricing.
Truffles
Winter Truffles: From Australia. Season is nearly over. Excellent quality. Call for availability and pricing.
Summer Truffles: From Italy. Transitioning to Burgundy Truffles. Top quality. Slightly higher prices. Call for pricing.
Vegetables
Sea Asparagus / Samphire: From British Columbia. Good supplies. 5lb bags. Call for details.
