Week 42 2025
Hurricane Helene and Milton Milton tore a swath through the state of Florida and the prime winter growing regions for Strawberries, pepper, cabbage, beans, squash, greens, and other items. Reliable damage assessments are still unavailable at this point but we will provide a more detailed updates over the next several weeks what we do know is that planting schedules have been interrupted and that could lead to gaps in the winter harvest.
Berries
Strawberries: No stores should be ordering, merchandising, or trying to sell large amounts of Strawberries at this point. This is not the time of the year to be aggressively selling Strawberries as they will not hold up and do not eat well. California is the only available growing region and will carry through us though the fall but, this is the time of year when it critical to reduce allocation and order for quick turns... delivery to delivery!!! Please do not over order to cherry pick or request credit on slightly bruised berries… any stores that are taking high credits will be prorated. Sell what you can but do not over merchandise or over order.
Mixed Berries: Blackberry volumes have increased out of Mexico…. we expect promotable volume this month. Raspberries are in good supply and also harvesting in Mexico.
Blueberries: Extremely tight as there was a delayed container last week causing a gap.
Citrus
Minneola: Done until the beginning of 2025
Clementines: Imports have begun from Morocco and Chile. Sizing profile is smaller than normal this year and as we head toward the end of the import deal we may see a short gap as a result of low supply
Navel Oranges: Supplies extremely tight and expected to gap towards the end of the month
Lemons: product is currently coming from Argentina
Limes: Mexican supplies have loosened, and more supply has become available
Grapes: California harvest will wrap up in a couple weeks. Heat has caused some minor coloring and brix level issues but product sizing and supply is excellent
Apples: The new crop apples are available except for Cosmic crisp which we expect next week. Washington is expecting a smaller crop than last year. Honeycrisp volume estimates put the crop down 30% year over year
Asparagus: Markets are leveling as Mexican harvest has begun
Avocados: Supply has improved and markets are stable
Cantaloupe and Honeydew: Loading in Nogales currently will be moving to the offshore deal in a couple weeks
Eastern Veg-
Green Peppers: Steady supplies New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Green Beans: Steady supplies in New York & Michigan
Zucchini and Yellow squash : Supplies of Yellow squash are improving, Zucchini is plentiful. Harvest has begun in Georgia
Corn : Tray pack only available
Green Cabbage : Good supplies in New York, transitioning to Tennessee and Georgia in the next ten days
Cucumbers : Steady Supplies New York & Michigan.
Hothouse
Beefsteak and TOV: Mexican harvest has begun and supplies have improved. We expect promotional opportunities for the next few months
Nature Sweet Snacking tomatoes: Good supply on all items
Colored Peppers: Strong supplies, overlapping harvests in Canada and Mexico along with solid supplies of field peppers has produced a pepper glut with promotional opportunities through beginning of November
Cukes/mini cukes: Demand far exceeds supply. Product is very short with new crop still months away in Mexico. Although quality of both cukes and minis is very good to excellent almost every shipper is working hand-to-mouth and cleaning their inventories daily. We expect orders to be Pro-rated for a few more weeks
Lettuces and Leafy Greens: Quality is good on the iceberg and Romaine hearts.
We still have a handful of stores taking invalid credit on Iceberg and Romaine hearts. Rib discoloration does not mean product is out of grade and if only cap leaves are affected credit is not appropriate... The quality evaluation on all lettuce needs to follow two criteria and credit should not be requested if one of these things is not present:
1. Decay
2. Discoloration affecting the product deeper than the first three leaves If it is just brown or pink discoloration on the bottom of the iceberg head it is in tolerance and credit should not be requested.
Limes: Supplies have improved and the market prices have normalized
Melon: Watermelon cartons out of South Carolina in good supply. We expect the off shore deal to begin this month, mini watermelon will start towards the end of November
Mango- Markets have begun to level as Ecuador containers have stated to arrive. We expect Honey mangoes next week.
Onions: Northwest onion deal has started. New crop supplies are plentiful, quality is good. We are currently receiving sweet onions from Peru and may experience some challenges if the port strike persists
Pears: Out of Washington state, Bartlett supplies have increased over the past month. Quality has been variable with occasional scarring due to high winds in the spring and summer. Bosc and Anjou markets are expected to remain strong throughout the season. Shippers are reporting yields to be down as much as 50-60% due to the deep freeze in early in the year.
Potatoes: Russet volumes have ramped up over the last few weeks. All Northwest regions are in full harvest, shippers have reported limited availability on the smaller sizes which may drive prices up in the coming weeks
