Organic Market Update: Dec. 12Organic Market Update: Dec. 12

Berries

Organic Blueberries continue to be very promotable out of Peru. Quality continues to be exceptional with affordable pricing. Continue to promote good quality Organic Blueberries. Organic Blackberry production is expected to increase week-over-week out of Mexico. Quality has been nice and pricing is steady. Organic Raspberry supplies continue to be short out of Mexico. Baja fruit is starting lightly. Central Mexico has very limited supply available. Quality has been nice but expect prorates and limits with high pricing. Organic Strawberry prices have increased due to lack of overall supplies. Volume is typically limited this time of year due to planting cycles. Florida is still a few weeks away from starting. Mexico volume will begin to trickle in lightly.

Broccoli

Organic Broccoli will be in improved supply for the remainder of December out of El Centro, California. Look for pricing to come down on both 14ct and Crowns by mid-to-late December. Quality is outstanding! Organic Sweet Baby Broccoli is good supply with buys or promos available for mid-to-late December.

Florida Organic Lettuces

Get ready to sell fresh, East Coast Organic Romaine Lettuce! There is excellent supply of Organic Romaine Lettuce from Punta Gorda, Florida fields. Now is the time to promote! Organic Red and Green Leaf Butter Lettuces are in season from Florida in steady supply. Florida Organic Kale and Collard season will last from now until April. Organic Green Kale will be in great supply once it picks back up in mid-December following lower yields due to a germination issue. Organic Lacinato and Red Kale are more abundant now. There are also stunning Organic Bok Choy, Baby Bok Choy, Fennel, Red Dandelion and Green Dandelion crops. Organic Green and Red Cabbage will start in mid-to-late December and continue through April. Organic Flat and Curly Leaf Parsley will be in full swing in mid-December for the winter season. Organic Green, Jalapeño and Shishito Peppers are starting with light volume and will ramp up later in December and continue through May. Organic Eggplant will start in mid-to-late December.

CANVA

Romaine Hearts and Iceberg Lettuce

After several weeks of expensive pricing and light supply during growing region transition, Organic Romaine Hearts and Iceberg Lettuce are now poised to ease down in pricing as new winter production ramps up. Keep an eye out for occasional December in-store special or ad-buy opportunities.

Cauliflower

Organic Cauliflower remains in very tight supply and pricing is definitely on the higher end. Supplies should begin to improve around mid-to-late December out of El Centro, California.

Apples

Organic Honeycrisp Apples are very limited due to a smaller 2024 crop volume. Expect prices to continue to rise, and some sporadic out-of-stocks are very possible for the whole season between pack outs on loose sizes for retail. Bags are in a little better supply. New crop Washington Organic Cosmic Crisp Apples have arrived. Excellent supplies and quality should be expected. Organic Cosmic Crisp, Envy and SugarBee Apples are ideal to promote with less Organic Honeycrisp this year. Higher prices continue on Washington Organic Gala and Granny Smith Apples as they are struggling a little with size. Organic SweeTango Apples are expected to finish for the season before the end of December.

CANVA

Peppers

Organic Color Bell Pepper volumes cannot keep up with demand. Pricing is expensive and fill rates are impacted. Gaps can be expected on some of the packaged 2ct Organic Color Bell Peppers for mid December. Organic Green Peppers are very expensive and in limited supply as Mexico and Florida growers’ production is not ready to fill demand for December.

Avocados

Prices are increasing on all sizes of Organic Hass Avocados for the start of December. Increased insect pressure forced some orchards in Michoacan, Mexico to close temporarily for inspections, further delaying product. Shortened USDA inspector workdays have limited packing as well. 48ct Organic Hass Avocados will be especially tight for December. Look to shift more into 60ct sizing when available. Equal Exchange Fair Trade Avocados will be very limited in both 48ct and 60ct sizing for the beginning of December before completely gapping at the end of the month. Organic Green Skin Avocados from Florida will be limited for the beginning of December from Florida.

Citrus

Organic Mandarins are in excellent supply and quality from California. Promote bagged Organic Mandarins for the remainder of December. Organic Navel Orange supplies are strengthening and quality is top-notch. Smaller fruit is more promotable, including bags for mid-to-late December. Organic Cara Cara Orange harvests have started in California. Fruit will be available in mid-December. Organic Grapefruit have split markets from California and Mexico. Quality from both regions has been outstanding. Organic Lemons are in tight supply with high prices on large fruit out of California. Crop is peaking smaller, so promote bags.