Week 10, 2024

Berries

Organic Blueberries are highly promotable as Chilean imports wind down with great deals to sell all the volume. Expect prices to rise in mid-March as the transition shifts to Peru and new crop Mexico. Organic Strawberries are being promoted from Baja, Mexico with significantly lowered prices to match the increasing volume. The quality from Baja has been excellent. Organic Blackberry supplies and pricing remain stable from Mexico, with good quality. Organic Raspberries remain tight from Mexico due to weather constraints, but growers anticipate more availability in March as crops recover from a challenging winter. The quality is good for the available fruit.

Broccoli and Cauliflower

In Yuma, AZ and El Centro, CA, Organic Broccoli harvests continue to yield excellent quality. Expect promotional opportunities due to the affordability and quality. North Carolina’s new crop Organic Broccoli season is expected to start in April. Organic Sweet Baby Broccoli is in very limited supply with high pricing due to low yields. Minor quality issues have been reported with Organic Cauliflower, but overall availability remains consistent for the desert growing regions on the west coast.

Asparagus

Organic Asparagus prices are dropping lower, creating wonderful opportunities in mid-March. Pricing is expected to go up after but still stay promotable for the remainder of March.

Apples and Pears

Most Organic Apple varieties are in excellent supply with competitive pricing. Organic Cosmic Crisp will be promotable through April. New Organic Pazazz Apples are now available, while Organic Sweetango Apples will conclude the season this week. New crop Organic Bartlett Pears from Argentina have started, but large-sized fruit is expected to be challenging throughout the season. Organic Bosc and Anjou Pears from the Pacific Northwest will finish completely in March.

Green Beans

Organic Green Beans out of Mexico continue to struggle with rain, pushing off harvests and limiting supplies. Growers need a good two weeks without rain to get back on track and are hopeful to have better supplies by Easter. Florida continues to have steady supplies with steady pricing, with no supply gaps or disruptions to impact the weeks leading to Easter.

Pineapples and Mangos

Organic Pineapples are more limited in supply in early March. Organic “Tommy Atkins” Round Mangos and Ataulfo Honey Mangos are readily available. Prices are expected to lower with increased supplies.

Citrus

Organic Mandarins, including “Tangos” and “Murcotts,” are in excellent supply. Delicious Organic Gold Nugget Mandarins are also available and look great. Juicy Organic Minneola Tangelo quality is superb and highly promotable in early March.