Organic Market Update #240

Week 42, 2021

Pears

Mid-October through November is the best time of the year to promote fresh crop USA Organic Pears. With a plentiful array of varieties available, retailers can feature all the category has to offer in colors, flavors, and textures Organic Anjou and Bosc Pears out of Washington, show a good size crop with excellent quality and sizing expected. Some bulk, 12/2lb high graphic pouch bags and 12/3lb poly bags will be available for the month of November. Organic Red Pears are also available now in both bulk and 12/2lb high-graphic pouches. Starkrimson are currently available and expected to finish and transition to Organic Red Anjou Pears the first week of November. Organic Bartlett Pears continue to sell well, with the early flush of product over, and volume expected to drop in late October and early November. Organic Concorde and Seckel Pears are now available as specialty offerings, with a few Organic Comice Pears available in early November. Organic Asian Pears are in excellent supply out of California and will transition to Washington in November.

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 the first of November or sooner. Organic Muscadines are finished for the season from the Carolinas.

Asparagus

Organic Asparagus prices will ease off as supplies from Argentina and Mexico continue to be more plentiful. 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 on product out of Mexico. Quality has been excellent as harvests get stronger. Organic Campari Tomatoes are also available out of from Mexico on excellent quality product. Organic Beefsteak Tomatoes supplies are tight, as new crops from Canada and Mexico are very limited. Both regions are expected to be in better supplies by late October. 

Broccoli

Organic Broccoli pricing expects a slight relief, but volume will remain limited throughout the month on supplies from California. Expect supplies from North Carolina in late October to help supplement California supplies. Organic Broccoli Crown and Organic Sweet Baby Broccoli remain limited and high-priced. Market conditions are expected to remain challenging until transitioning to Yuma, AZ and El Centro, CA in mid-November.

Berries

Organic Blueberries out of Peru continue in steady supply as volumes that are backlogged at the ports start to be released. Expect prices to start to come down with the introduction of Argentinean fruit into the marketplace. Large sweet Organic Blueberries with good “bloom” are expected out of Peru. Organic Raspberries are in steady supply with good quality. Organic Strawberry supplies have significantly dropped, causing prices to rise with “so-so” quality expected. Prices will increase as we move into November. Organic Blackberries remain firm with high prices, as California volume has significantly dropped, and Mexico volume starts to ramp up. Some rain has hindered the Mexican crop, with pricing heading higher. Supplies should improve heading into November, with prices projected to come down.

Cucumbers

Organic Cucumbers from Florida continue to yield steady supplies and stable pricing. Expect excellent quality product from Georgia and the Carolinas to supplement volumes. Organic Mini Seedless Cucumber prices remain elevated as availability remains tight. Quality has been excellent from Canada and Mexico.

Onions

First of the season bagged 16/3lb Organic Sweet Onions from Nevada are slated to arrive this week. Quality is outstanding and product will be available in high graphic full overwrap bag.