WEEK 45 • 2026 MARKET UPDATE
As we move closer to Thanksgiving, several commodities require increased attention. Strawberries, green beans, grapes, avocados, field-grown tomatoes, blueberries, and baker potatoes remain the primary areas of concern. Conversely, citrus, colored peppers, fall squash, potatoes, and several tropical items currently offer strong supply and promotional opportunities.
Key Items to Watch
- Green Beans: Thanksgiving availability remains a significant concern.
- Strawberries: Poor quality and prorated orders continue. Order for quick turns.
- Grapes: Potential supply gaps during the California-to-import transition.
- Avocados: Mexican supply disruptions continue to impact availability.
- Blueberries: Supplies are expected to remain tight through year-end, with promotable volumes unlikely until January.
- Field-Grown Tomatoes: Demand continues to exceed supply until Florida production improves.
Strawberries
No significant improvement is expected this week. Production has ended in Salinas, Watsonville, and Santa Maria. Excessive heat and recent rainfall have stressed plants, resulting in below-normal fruit quality. Shippers continue to prorate orders, and quality remains fair at best across current growing regions. We recommend reducing allocations and ordering for quick turns to minimize quality issues and shrink.
Lettuces and Leafy Greens
Shippers have transitioned to Huron for the short production window between Salinas and Yuma, Arizona. Huron production is expected to continue through Thanksgiving week before transitioning to Yuma.
Apples
Supply has improved along the East Coast. However, concerns are developing in Washington as harvest yields are running lighter than expected across several varieties. We will continue to monitor availability and pricing as the storage season progresses.
Asparagus
This year's El Niño conditions have significantly impacted production and overall volume from Peru. Supplies are expected to remain limited, with elevated markets likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Bush Berries
Blueberries
Supply remains tight. Peru began shipping earlier than normal this season, resulting in an earlier-than-normal finish. Chile is expected to begin shipping in mid-to-late December. Supplies are expected to remain tight through year-end, with promotable volumes unlikely until January.
Raspberries and Blackberries
Supply is currently good from Mexico. The primary concern is quality following recent storms and rainfall.
Chili Peppers
Chiles
Moderate supply. Excessive heat and rainfall have negatively impacted the North Carolina crop. Georgia and Florida production are expected to begin within the next week, which should provide additional availability.
Mini Sweets
Good supply. Mexico production is coming from Baja and Jalisco.
Citrus
The California citrus season is off to an early start. Navels and lemons are gaining momentum, while mandarin harvesting is getting underway. Cara Cara oranges and Minneolas are typically unavailable until January, although the early progression of this year's citrus season could result in earlier availability.
Clementines
Mandarin season has started in a light way this week. Quality and flavor are good, with volume increasing as the season progresses.
Navels
Volume is picking up as the season has been underway for approximately two weeks. Availability and quality are good, with sizing trending toward the medium 88- and 72-count range.
Lemons
Availability and quality are good across all size ranges.
Limes
Plentiful supply and highly promotable.
Eastern Vegetables
Zucchini and Yellow Squash
Moderate supply. Product is available from Georgia and Florida. No major quality issues are reported, and volume is sufficient to meet demand.
Cucumbers
Moderate supply. North Carolina is finished, and Georgia is now the primary source. Florida has started in a light way and is expected to increase production in the coming weeks.
Green Peppers
Moderate supply. Georgia is fully underway, and Florida is expected to begin production within the next two weeks.
Green Beans
Extremely limited supply. Georgia availability remains light, with Florida production expected to begin in approximately two weeks. Recent heavy rainfall is expected to limit early Florida volumes. Thanksgiving availability remains a significant concern. Expect tight supplies and elevated markets.
Tray Corn
Moderate supply. Georgia production has begun in the Bainbridge area.
Eggplant
Good supply. North Carolina production is expected to finish within the next couple of weeks. Georgia is fully underway, and Florida has started in a light way.
Green Cabbage
Moderate supply. Production is available from North Carolina and Georgia.
Fall Squash
Good supply. Product is available from Michigan, New York, and Maine.
Grapes
As reported over the past two months, the California grape season is winding down quickly and is expected to finish earlier than normal. Supplies will tighten during the transition to imports, as heavy rains in Peru and additional adverse weather in the forecast threaten the start of the season.
California's early finish, combined with weather challenges in South America, could create supply gaps from late November into December until imported harvests gain momentum and volumes increase.
Hothouse
Beefsteak Tomatoes
Low to moderate supply. Mexico production has begun, but limited field-grown supplies have increased demand for greenhouse beefsteaks.
Tomatoes on the Vine (TOV)
Moderate supply. Mexico production has begun, but limited field-grown supplies have increased demand for greenhouse TOVs.
Colored Peppers
Good supply. Strong production from Mexico. Steady volumes and good quality are expected through November.
European Cucumbers
Low supply. Mexico volumes remain light, but supplies are expected to increase within the next two weeks as the fall crop comes online.
Mini Cucumbers
Moderate supply. Mexico has adequate volume, with additional supplies expected as the fall crop ramps up.
Melons
Watermelon
Carton watermelons are in moderate supply. South Carolina and Mississippi remain in production.
Cantaloupes and Honeydews
Moderate supply. Imports from Guatemala have begun.
Onions
Yellow and Colored Onions
Supply remains stable. We are currently sourcing the majority of onion volume from Utah and the Pacific Northwest.
Sweet Onions
Supply is good. Shippers have transitioned from Vidalias to Peruvian sweet onions. Sizing from Peru is skewing toward medium sizes, which is keeping jumbo and colossal onion markets elevated.
Pears
We are fully transitioned into Washington-grown product on all varieties.
Potatoes
Overall supply remains stable. Russets are primarily being sourced from Colorado and Prince Edward Island. Yields on larger baker sizes are down, creating a demand-exceeds-supply situation and keeping prices elevated.
Conversely, 5-pound and 10-pound russet bags remain plentiful and offer better availability. Colored potatoes from Maine and Prince Edward Island are also in good supply and present promotional opportunities.
Sweet Potatoes
Supply has improved as many shippers progress deeper into harvest. Availability is expected to be good heading into Thanksgiving, with shippers anticipating a strong holiday season.
Stone Fruit
The import stone fruit season is approaching, with initial arrivals anticipated around mid-December. Cherries are beginning with limited November availability, followed by more promotable volumes expected in early December.
Field-Grown Tomatoes
Romas, Rounds, and Grapes
Low supply. Demand continues to exceed available production. Supplies are expected to improve as Florida production increases over the next two to three weeks. Until then, markets are expected to remain firm.
Tropical and Specialty
Mangos
Good supply. Imported fruit from Brazil and Ecuador has begun arriving.
Limes
Moderate supply. El Niño is expected to impact bloom sets and potentially affect winter crop production. The market remains stable today, but challenges are anticipated in the coming months.
Avocados
Low supply. An industry shutdown is currently impacting production in Michoacán as growers seek improved market pricing. Jalisco continues to harvest but represents only a limited portion of overall Mexican production. Supply is expected to remain tight, with pricing potentially volatile until the situation in Michoacán is resolved.
Pomegranates and Persimmons
Strong holiday items with availability expected through January.
Kiwi Fruit
Production has transitioned from New Zealand to Greece and Italy, with good supplies currently available.
