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Current Market Updates

Week 5 2026 Market Update

 

Winter Weather Impacts

Widespread cold, rain, and icy conditions are affecting multiple growing regions and trucking lanes. Expect challenges across Strawberries, Tomatoes, and all Eastern vegetables, along with delays in logistics nationwide.

California Weather & Crop Impacts

Citrus & Celery

  • Heavy rains over the past two weeks have softened navels and clementines and tightened celery supply.
  • Persistent fog in the San Joaquin Valley is causing reduced photosynthesis, increased fruit drop, and industry‑wide quality concerns (puff, crease, clear rot).

Carrots

  • Significant impact from rain; prorates across all carrot items.
  • Conditions expected to last 3–4 weeks.
  • East Coast carrots (GA/FL) are running behind.

Central Valley Rain

  • Softness in citrus.
  • Tight celery markets.

Value-Added F&S Products

Winter weather in New Jersey is causing:

  • Snow/ice‑related transportation delays
  • Production challenges due to raw product issues
    F&S items will be out until later this week. Plan pre-orders accordingly.

Lettuce & Leafy Greens

  • Quality is excellent.
  • Improved growing conditions in Yuma last week.

Apples

  • Most WA varieties are plentiful.
  • Gala and Honeycrisp yields are down; markets rising to bridge into new crop.

Berries

Strawberries

  • Cold weather and forecasted overnight lows in the 20s in Plant City.
  • Current and anticipated prorates.
  • Potential complications leading into Valentine’s Day.

Blueberries

  • Very light volume from Peru and Chile.
  • Tight markets expected through Feb & early March.
  • Florida expected to start week 3 of March.

Raspberries

  • Moderate, steady supply from Mexico and Baja.

Blackberries

  • Strong volume out of Mexico.

Broccoli

  • Quality has improved significantly over the last two weeks.

Carrots (Regional Detail)

  • Central California: Fog and cold continue to delay dry‑down and harvest.
  • Imperial/Coachella/Yuma: Fields need more time to size; moisture still a factor.
  • Georgia/East Coast: Very cold temps impacting growth.

Celery

  • Final fields still in Oxnard, CA with heavy rain impacts.
  • Lower yields and elevated markets.

Chili Peppers & Mini Sweets

  • Chiles: Light supply. FL crop finished; SW FL now main region. Expect improvement in 2 weeks.
  • Mini Sweets: Good supply from Mexico (Baja, Jalisco).

Citrus — Detailed Update

Clementines

  • Most challenged category.
  • Tango production is experiencing 20–30% fruit drop.
  • Ongoing shortages expected.

Navels

  • Quality good; yields challenged.
  • Tight harvest windows due to fog and morning moisture.
  • Very limited supply on 88s and smaller.

Lemons

  • Weather-related cosmetic issues (clear rot, mildew, copper damage).
  • Rain helping with sizing.

Limes

  • Good supply from Mexico.

Eastern Vegetables

  • Cucumbers: Light supply; strong volume out of Mexico as new crop ramps.
  • Green Pepper: Moderate supply; cold snap slowed FL yields. Improvement expected in 2 weeks.
  • Green Beans: Very tight. Crop losses in LaBelle/Lake Regions. Recovery in ~3 weeks.
  • Zucchini/Yellow Squash: Light supply; weather stress causing wind scarring.
  • Eggplant: Light supply; MX providing most volume.
  • Green Cabbage: Light supply; FL regions now online.
  • Hard Squash: Moderate supply from Mexico.

Grapes

  • Import season from Peru in full swing.
  • Chile beginning in ~3 weeks.
  • Markets easing as volume builds.

Green Onions & Brussels Sprouts

  • Tight markets and high costs continue.
  • Expect prorates for the next few weeks.

Greens

  • Kale/Turnips: Low supply due to freeze conditions in GA/FL.

Hothouse

  • Beefsteaks: Light–moderate supply; demand high for 3 more weeks.
  • TOV: Light–moderate supply but still best promotional option until February.
  • Colored Peppers: Good, promotable volumes from multiple MX regions.
  • European Cucumbers: Good supply, promotable.
  • Mini Cucumbers: Light supply due to short daylight and crop transitions.
  • Snacking Tomatoes: Moderate supply.

Melons

  • Watermelons: Light supply; South FL finished.
  • Mini Watermelons: Improving as Guatemala starts.
  • Cantaloupe/Honeydew: Good supply from Guatemala.

Onions

  • White onions tightening as usual for this time of year.
  • Expect steady market increases over the next 2 months.

Pears

  • WA finishing Bartletts by end of February.
  • Storage crop quality was subpar; Chilean crop expected early March.

Pomegranates

  • Season finished early due to Central Valley rain.

Potatoes

  • Oversupplied.
  • Excellent availability on russets, reds, golds, and sweets through spring.

Stone Fruit

  • Import cherries in full swing with excellent quality.
  • Peaches, nectarines, and white nectarines available this week.
  • Plums arriving next week under the Basket Builder program.

Tomatoes — Field Grown

  • Rounds & Romas: Light–moderate. Cool temps slowed Naples crop; recovery in ~2 weeks.
  • Grape Tomatoes: Moderate supply; steady despite cool weather.

Tropicals

  • Avocados: Good, promotable volume from Mexico.
  • Honey Mangos: Moderate supply from Ecuador.
  • Mangos: Moderate supply from Brazil entering NJ and S. Florida ports.
  • Dragon Fruit: Moderate supply from Ecuador.
  • Limes: Light supply; Mexico bloom drop expected to reduce crops by 30% (Jan–Mar).

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