Week 42, 2021

 

Pears

Mid-October through November will be the best time of the year to promote fresh crop USA Organic Pears. Variety will be full, allowing retailers to feature all the category has to offer in colors, flavors, and textures! Organic Anjou and Bosc Pears are available out of Washington, a good size crop with excellent quality and sizing is expected. Some bulk, 12/2lb highgraphic pouch bags and 12/3lb poly bags will be available for the month of November. Organic Red Pears are available now in both bulk and 12/2lb high-graphic pouches. Starkrimson are currently available but are expected to finish and transition to Organic Red Anjou Pears the first week of November. Organic Bartlett Pears are selling well. The early flush is over and volume will drop for late October and early November. Organic Concorde and Seckel Pears are now available as specialty offerings. We expect a few Organic Comice Pears by early November as well. Organic Asian Pears are in excellent supply out of California and will transition to Washington sometime in November. Right now, we have Atago and Shinko varieties.

Grapes

Organic Black, Red, and Green Seedless Grapes continue with peak season quality and outstanding fall varieties being packed in California. Prices continue to be firm as crop pickings vary from earlier estimates. Biodynamic Thompson Grapes and Organic Thomcord Grapes will wrap up by 11/1 or sooner. Organic Muscadines are done for the season from the Carolinas.

Asperagus

Organic Asparagus prices will ease off for mid-October. Supplies from Argentina and Mexico continue to be more plentiful with lowering prices. Quality from both regions has been excellent. Organic UPC Packaged Asparagus is back in stock for the fall-winter-spring.

Hothouse Tomatoes

Organic Cluster Tomato prices are easing off for mid-October out of Mexico. Quality has been excellent as harvests get stronger. Organic Campari Tomatoes continue to be available for mid-October from Mexico. Quality has been excellent. Organic Beefsteak Tomatoes will be on the tighter side for mid-October. New crops from Canada and Mexico are very limited, leaving supplies tight. Both regions are expected to be in better supplies by late October.

 

 

Tomatoes

Organic Beefsteak Tomatoes are available from Mexico and Canada. Canadian greenhouse production is down, with greater supplies available from Mexico. Canada is expected to have improved supplies later this Fall. Organic Cluster Tomatoes are available out of Mexico, with Canadian production sporadic on unexpected delay in harvests. Organic Grape Tomato prices are high this week as east coast production has finished up, and Florida production is not expected to start until early November. Mexico is also harvesting, but supply chain issues keep availability limited. South Carolina has some availability and quality is excellent. Organic Campari Tomatoes out of Mexico are available with steady supplies, and Organic Vine Ripe Tomatoes from PA continue to be available. These high tunnel, locally grown tomatoes are excellent quality and flavor, as backyard gardens finish up for the season.

Apples and Pears

Organic Premium Apples now available, including Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Swee-Tango Apples.  Organic Bartlett, Bosc, Starkrimson Red Pears. Organic Asian Pears and Seckel Pears are in peak season out of California. During mid-October, we will welcome the long-awaited new crop of Organic Gold Delicious, Opal, Sugar Bee, and RockIt Apples; and from Washington expect good availability of Organic Anjou, Concorde, and Seckel Pears.

 

 

Hard Squash

Organic Hard Squash is in full swing from Pennsylvania and Wisconsin farms! The exciting Organic Honeynut Squash variety has very promotable supplies for the next couple weeks.   It’s extremely sweet, with a nutty flavor and a buttery texture. Organic Spaghetti Squash is more limited this year.

Tropicals

California grown Organic Magenta Dragon Fruit will be available during mid-October. Ecuador grown Organic Yellow Pitahaya Dragon Fruit will also have some in-and-out availability throughout October. Organic Mangos from Mexico are done for the season, with only some limited supplies of higher priced Organic California Keitt Mangos available.  Expect occasional out of stocks until new crop Ecuador product arrives to the US later this month. Organic Pineapples will be steady through October in both 6ct and 8ct. Organic Drink & Eat Coconuts and Coco-nut Chunks will be out of stock for the month of October due to container delays. Organic Kiwano Melons and Organic Passion Fruit will be available this month.

Soft Squash

Organic Zucchini yields are strong from Florida, with promotional opportunities on increased volumes and improved pricing. Organic Yellow Squash from South Carolina volumes have also improved and promotional opportunities to pair with Zucchini are available. Quality from South Carolina has been stellar in October!

Fall Fruit

Organic Pomegranates from California are now promotable and Organic Pomegranate Arils are back in season though the rest of 2021. Organic Fuyu Persimmons will be in season and available shortly. In mid-October the cone shaped Organic Hachiya Persimmons come into season. The first of the season Organic Cranberries are now available and Organic Kiwi Berries continue in peak season.