Organic Market Update: Dec. 19Organic Market Update: Dec. 19

Berries

Organic Blueberries continue to be promotable out of Peru, as supplies are plentiful. Quality has been excellent. Organic Blackberries will be fairly promotable out of Central Mexico. Growers are starting to hit peak volume and quality has been excellent. Organic Raspberries out of Mexico continue to be tight as volume remains limited. Harvests are extremely light, and pricing will remain high. Expect shortages and prorates to continue through early December. Organic Strawberries will be extremely tight in early December. All regions are struggling to harvest any significant volume. California supplies are winding down, while Mexico and Florida struggle to increase harvests. Expect limited fruit and high pricing.

Grapes

Import Organic Green Grapes are in limited supply with extremely high pricing. Organic Red Grapes are expected to arrive in late December.

Citrus

There’s an excellent supply and quality of Organic Mandarins coming from California. Promote Organic Satsuma and Murcott/Clementines in bags or in bulk. The Organic Navel Orange supply is strengthening, with outstanding quality and flavor. Smaller Organic Navels are especially promotable in mid-December, with occasional spot buys in Jumbo 36/40ct, too. The Organic Cara Cara Oranges harvest is slow but will ramp up as we get further into December. Organic Blood Oranges will ramp up in January. Organic Grapefruit are currently coming from both California and Mexico. The quality from both regions has been outstanding, and pricing is starting to show it.

Related:CMI Orchards empowers retailers to elevate produce aisle

Apples

Washington Organic Envy Apples are in excellent promotional supply now through January! Organic Pink Lady Apples are an excellent apple to promote this season, featuring large fruit with outstanding pink color. It’s time to promote Washington Organic Cosmic Crisp Apples. This is the right fruit at the right price, and with Organic Honeycrisp supplies as tight as they are, this is a great apple to fill the space on the shelf. Organic Honeycrisp Apples will have limited supply and high pricing so it's time to encourage your customers to try other more plentiful varieties. Organic Granny Smith Apples are in very tight supply with strong markets and the crop is expected to end much earlier than anticipated. Organic McIntosh Apples are expected to finish for the season near the end of December. Organic Opal Apples are experiencing exterior challenges, with increased stem bowl russeting, larger than normal lenticels and varying color. These are expected to finish for the season in February, a couple of months earlier than initially expected. Organic SugarBee Apples are also facing more exterior defects this season, but the flesh and eating quality remain excellent.

Related:Organic celery enjoying prolonged hot market

Bell Peppers

Following very spotty supplies earlier this month, Organic Red, Yellow and Orange Bell Pepper volume is improving from greenhouses in the Mediterranean region. Mexico production will ramp up in January, along with more Organic Mini-Sweet Peppers. Organic Green Bell Peppers continue to be very short in supply out of Florida and Mexico. Pricing is very high for December and there have been supply gaps. New plantings in both winter growing regions will ramp back up in January bringing much needed relief.

Celery

Organic Celery prices are spiking up as growers face an impending stretch of low yields with less supply than demand. Expect iffy fill rates and higher prices now through January.

Hard Squash

Organic Spaghetti, Delicata and Kabocha Squash will make the switch to new crop Mexican product through December. Meanwhile, Organic Acorn and Butternut Squash remain in abundant supply out of Pennsylvania. Organic Kabocha Squash is tight in supply in mid-December due to limited availability as we transition into the new crop from Mexico.

Related:Organic Market Update: Jan. 20-24