ORGANIC MARKET NEWS JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 15, 2020 LADY MOON FLORIDA ORGANIC VEG IN SEASON FROM LADY MOON FARMS IN FLORIDA FOR MID-JANUARY:

GREENS & COOKING VEG: SALAD VEG & TOMATOES: CABBAGE FAMILY • OG Rainbow Chard • OG Green Butter Lettuce • OG Bok Choy • OG Dandelion • OG Red Butter Lettuce • OG Baby Bok Choy • OG Red Dandelion • OG Green Leaf Lettuce • OG Red Baby Bok Choy • OG Eggplant • OG Red Leaf Lettuce • OG Tatsoi • OG Fennel • OG Romaine Lettuce • OG Green Cabbage • OG Collards • OG Green Bell Peppers • OG Red Cabbage • OG Kale • OG Jalapeno Peppers • OG Lacinato Kale • OG Cherry Tomatoes • OG Red Kale • OG Rainbow Cherry Tomatoes • OG Mizuna • OG Grape Tomatoes • OG Mustard • OG Red Mustard • OG Curly Parsley • OG Flat Leaf Parsley

Organic Vegetables from South Florida are in peak season production!

Organic Butter, Leaf, and Romaine Lettuces from Lady Moon Farms are in abundant harvests just in time for “Diet Season.” Quality is top-notch and the freshness is visible!

Organic Kale and Red Kale also has strong availability out of Florida, however Organic Lacinato Kale plantings are less abundant, so supplies will be supplemented from ship- pers out west.

Be sure to check out all of the cool Organic Specialty Cabbages and Cooking Vegeta- bles that are in season from this premium east coast shipper.

Organic Green Peppers and Eggplant from Lady Moon Farms are yielding steady num- bers, but production is dropping vs the highs of December. Expect to see Mexican product as fill-in during lighter Lady Moon production periods this month.

Organic Grape Tomatoes from Lady Moon are in excellent supply with good quality. Oth- er Florida shippers are starting to increase their volume as well as new fields are starting very lightly. Supplies out of Mexico are available and quality has been decent. 2021 PRODUCE MERCHANDISING CALENDAR ATTENTION FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE CUSTOMERS: Contact your sales rep or merchandiser to request a FREE digital copy of our 2021 Produce Merchandising Calendar! In the calendar, you'll find our suggestions for monthly PRODUCE MERCHANDISING display promos, what items are best of season, and promotional themes by week to help THEMES FOR JANUARY BY WEEK: you with your planning. 3 DIET SEASON, HEALTHY EVERYTHING, NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

4 DIET SEASON, CITRUS SEASON

5 CITRUS SEASON, THE “BIG GAME” JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 15, 2020 | MARKET NEWS 02 21 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE

OG BERRIES OG CITRUS OG SPECIALTY CITRUS Organic Blackberries and Raspberries out of Organic Mandarins continue in peak season! Buck Brand items in stock now: Mexico have firmed up in price due to better de- • OG Algerian Clementines - best seller! mand, and some rain and cold weather. Quali- The Satsuma variety is running later into the • OG Satsuma Mandarin - best seller! season than most years. On Homegrown 12/2lb ty remains good with a price spread between • OG Heirloom Navel Oranges - best seller! pouches and Cuties 15/2lb bags, the Clemen- Driscoll’s and other brands. tine variety will soon wind down and growers will • OG Buddha Hand switch into Page variety for mid to late January, • OG Finger Limes NOTE: Organic Blueberries have tightened for followed by the Tango variety. • OG Pink Variegated Lemons mid-January due to a decline in quality/avail- • OG Limequats ability out of Argentina and Peru, which has shift- Organic Blood Oranges are now in season. De- • OG Sweet Palestinian Limes mand is very strong to start. Shippers are peak- ed more demand to Chile. Also, growers in Mexico • OG Loulou Navel Oranges ing on 113ct and smaller. There will be some have battled cool, rainy weather. Importers are larger fruit available for a premium price. • OG African Shaddock Pumelo experiencing backlogs at the ports due to Covid and the holidays. Organic Cara Cara Oranges are in season and sell- Buck Brand items expected in mid-January: ing great. • OG Meiwa & Nagami Kumquats ALERT! Organic Strawberries are in very sporad- • OG Mango Valencia Oranges Organic Navel Oranges are now in good supply on ic supply out of Florida, Southern California, and • OG Blood Oranges all sizes (48, 56, 72, 88, and bags) and prices are Mexico. This is primarily due to the rain and cold coming down. Time to promote! weather. Prices are up and shippers are prorating. Buck Brand finished for the season: California Organic Pummelo, Meyer Lemons, and • OG Fairchild Tangerines Almost all of the Driscoll’s Organic Berries during Minneola Tangelos continue in steady supplies. • OG Yuzu Lemons this point of the season will be Fair Trade Certified. California Organic Lemons are in firm but steady supply as Mexico is finished. The New Year de- mand has kicked in, so expect higher prices.

Organic Grapefruit continue in peak season from California and Mexico.

OG AVOCADOS OG TOMATOES OG CAULIFLOWER & BROCCOLI January is an excellent time to promote Organic Organic Heirloom Tomatoes from Fair Trade Organic Cauliflower is now in strong supply to Hass Avocados, thanks to good quality, along grower, Covilli Organics, are back in season this kick of January due to improving growing con- with the consumer mindset of healthy eating to week out of Mexico! Supplies are light as harvests ditions in Yuma, AZ and So-Cal. Look for good start off the New Year. Ads, promotions, and cre- just get started but quality so far is outstanding. pricing, strong supplies, and excellent quality for ative displays can really drive sales. Mixed and “Darkloom” packs are available. much of January!

Organic Hass Avocados growers and suppliers Organic Beefsteak and Cluster Tomato prices Organic Broccoli continues to see steady avail- are playing a little catchup following the harvest- are rising this week as supplies from Mexico and ability at a realistic price point. This is a promot- ing break between Christmas and New Year’s. For Canada are tightening up. Quality has been ex- able Diet Season item for mid-January. As the now, pricing remains reasonable, even as growers cellent, but with cooler temps, and artificial lights month moves along, expect supplies to slightly seek to raise the market leading up to the “Big being used instead of natural sunlight, harvests tighten and pricing may rise as well. Game” at the beginning of February. have been much lighter. Organic Sweet Baby Broccoli and Broccoli Rabe Organic Roma Tomato prices are coming off some are in steady supply but look for supplies to tight- this week as new fields in Mexico are starting up. en as the month continues. Organic Purple Sweet These will be new crop and quality will be excellent. Baby Broccoli is expected to be back in stock in mid-January! JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 15, 2020 | MARKET NEWS 02 21 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE

OG CELERY OG HOTHOUSE PEPPERS OG SPROUTS ALERT! Organic Celery and Celery Hearts are in NOTE: Organic Red, Yellow, and Orange Bell ALERT! Maryland grown Organic Sprouts from extremely light volume in early January. Expect Peppers from Israel have steady harvest yields Potomac Sprout Company will be tight in supply to see pro-rates and gaps in supplies in early to and pricing was beginning to improve. Air space due to limited production from mechanical diffi- mid-January. The situation is not expected to im- to import the peppers still remains the top obsta- culties, in conjunction with changes in alfalfa seed prove until late January or early February. cle and adding extra cost to the product, driving and lower yields. the total cost up in January. A combination of weather-related issues finishing While the repairs are underway, we expect short- the Oxnard, CA season early, extra demand from Organic Color Bell Peppers Organic Alfalfa Broccoli Sprouts “Diet Season”, and the Mexican season starting from Mexico are ages on and , late, has resulted in the shortage. Multiple ship- still lighter on production and pricing is expen- with limited to no availability for Organic Daikon pers are without production until mid to end of sive, so look for sporadic availability in January Radish Sprouts through January. January, causing extreme demand on those sup- from this region. pliers that do have product.

OG CUCUMBERS OG SQUASH OG ONIONS & POTATOES Organic Cucumbers from Mexico continue to Organic Zucchini from Mexico continues to yield OUTLOOK: We will see Organic Red Potatoes yield strong quality and volumes at excellent price strong quality and volumes at excellent price points. out of Manitoba, Canada finish up towards the points. This is a promotable Diet Season item! end of January. At which point, we will transition Organic Yellow Squash is available from Mexi- over to some slightly more expensive Organic Organic Seedless Cucumbers remain steady this can shippers and are in peak production. Look for Red and Gold Potatoes out of Idaho. week. Supplies are good coming out of Mexico steady supplies, strong quality and promotable and quality is very nice. price points in mid-January! We have seen a slight increase in price across the board on all Organic Onions in the begin-

ning of January. Quality remains outstanding. NOTE: Organic Mini Seedless Cucumbers will be We will see new crop Organic Delicata Squash priced high this week as supplies are very light. get started here in early January with new arriv- Organic Sweet Onions out of Nevada will finish als. Pricing has increase significantly as demand up in mid to late January. is very strong.

OTHER STORIES • Organic Green Beans from Florida are in steady • ALERT! Organic Asparagus will be unavailable supply and excellent quality. In addition to the do- as crops are in a gap. Expect new regions to start mestic crop, Covilli’s Fair Trade Organic program up out of Mexico in mid to late January. from Mexico is in full swing. • Import Organic Cherries out of Chile are starting • Organic Brussels Sprouts from Mexico continue to see good harvests in early January. Expect both to trickle in for mid-January. Reports are that quality 10lb & 25lb cases in decent supplies with outstand- has been a struggle due to weather, thus the limited ing quality and steady price points, with promo- availability. tional opportunities to arise later in the month. • Washington Organic Green Anjou, Red Anjou, • Washington Organic , , and Bosc Pears are in firmer supply , , , , Granny with rising prices and high freight rates. Washing- OG GRAPES Smith, , Juici, Lady Alice, , Pink ton Organic Seckel Pears are done for the season. New crop Organic Green Seedless, Red Seedless, Lady, , Rockit, and SugarBee Ap- Red Globe Seeded Grapes and from Peru are now ples are tightening up due to “Diet Season,” a • Organic Iceberg and Romaine Hearts from in good steady supply, with very nice quality. smaller crop than originally predicted, and high Yuma, AZ continue to see steady production al- freight rates. though pricing still remains elevated. JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 15, 2020 | MARKET NEWS 02 21 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE DISPLAY CONTEST DecemberJanuary 4 -31 February - February 8, 3, 2021 2019

Its Let’sGuac Okick Clock! off Let’s “Diet say we Season” kick off “Diet with Season” an Avocado with an Avocado Display Display Contest! Contest! AvocadosAvocados from from Mexico Mexico has partnered has partnered with Four Seasons with Produce Four Seasonsto bring you a super exciting display contest for the month of January! What better month to promote a fruit sure to be on everyone’s shopping list. There are tons of opportunities andProduce events in Januaryto bring to increaseyou a superavocado exciting sales, so let’s display “kickoff” contest the year for with the some month creative of displays January! sure toWhat wow your better customers month leading to promote up to the “Big a fruit Game!” sure to be on everyone’s shopping list. There are tons of opportunities and events in January to increase avocado sales, so let’s “kickoff” the year with some creative displays sure to wow your customers leading up to the “Big Game!” CODE: 33655 CONTEST CRITERIA • Build an awesome display of avocados in your produce department using fruit CONTEST CRITERIA: Display CODE: 33656 purchased from Four Seasons Produce. bins are • Utilize• Build the an Avocados awesome from display Mexico Point of Avocados of Sale material from on Mexico your displays. in your produce department For downloadable using POS, organic click HEREand/or. conventional fruit purchased from available! • Keep Four your Seasons displays Produce. up for at leastThe aprimary week in yourcodes department. for this contest are:

43135 - OG Avocados Hass MEX 48 ct CONTEST 43136 WILL - OG BE Avocados JUDGED Hass ON THEMEX FOLLOWING60 ct CRITERIA: • Creativity • Overall 17060 eye appeal - CV Avocados Hass MEX 48 ct • Use of 17075 Avocados - CVfrom AvocadosMexico Point of Hass Sale materialMEX 60 ct (use of social* plus, mediaother Avocados is strongly from encouraged) Mexico lines available during January from Four Seasons Produce • Must use Avocados from Mexico bins or Point of Sale materials in your Great tie ins for avocados are tomatoes, garlic, onions, peppers. Guacamole recipes at point of CODE: 33656 sale displays. will definitely For help POS you materials,move more fruit, please and give contact consumers your additional rep ormeal/snacking merchandiser. ideas.

• Keep your displays up for at least a week in your department. CODE: 33655 *limited qty* • Please send contest pictures (and any social media links) to Steph Mayer ([email protected]) by February 11. GRAND PRIZE - $500 gift card 2NDDISPLAYS PLACE - Laptop WILL ComputerBE JUDGED ON THE FOLLOWING: CONTEST PRIZES: RD 3• CreativityPLACE - Digital Camera Package GRAND PRIZE - $600 gift card • Overall eye appeal 4TH PLACE - Wireless Headphones 2ND PLACE - $450 gift card • Use of Avocados from Mexico Point of Sale material or bins 3RD PLACE - $350 gift card 5TH• UsePLACE of social - Bluetooth media Speakeris strongly encouraged 4TH PLACE - $250 gift card Great tie ins for avoca- 5TH PLACE - $150 gift card dos are tomatoes, garlic, *There will also be five $50 gift cards awarded for 2 HONORABLE MENTIONS - $50 each onions, peppers. Guaca- honorable mentions!* mole recipes at point of sale will definitely help you Each entry will receive a gift from Avocados from Mexico just movefor entering! more fruit, and give consumers additional meal/ snacking ideas. Talk to your Four Seasons Sales Rep or Talk to your Four Seasons Sales Rep or Merchandiser for pricing,Merchandiser display ideas and for tips pricing, on how to sell more avocados! display ideas and tips on Please send contest pictures (and any social media links) to Stephaniehow to Fleetman sell more ([email protected] avocados! ) by Friday February 8th 2019

PHONE: 1.800.422.8384 | FAX: 1.717.721.2597 | www.fsproduce.com JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 15, 2020 | MARKET NEWS 02 21 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE juicing vs. blending what’s the difference? juice smoothie

water & nutrients extracted entire fruits/veggies are 1 from fruits/veggies 1 blended in a smoothie - keeping nutrients intact

juicers separate juice from because pulp (insoluable 2 pulp (insoluable fiber) 2 fiber) is left in, the smoothie becomes thicker

green juices deliver smoothies allow for extra 3 phytonutrients directly to 3 nutrients, like protein - the body in liquid form (greek yogurt, powders, etc.)

formula for a formula for a green juice green smoothie [makes about 16-24 oz] [makes about 24-28 oz] The Green The liquid starter KALE, SPINACH, OR OTHER DARK LEAFY GREENS water, fresh juice, or coconut water [3 CUPS] [1 cup]

The Green boost The volume veg BABY SPINACH, BABY KALE, KALE, OTHER LEAFY GREENS CUCUMBER, CELERY, FENNEL, ROMAINE LETTUCE [1 cup] [2 FIELD CUCUMBERS OR 1 SEEDLESS CUCUMBER, OR 4 CELERY STALKS OR 1 CELERY HEART] The fruit blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, , pears, grapes,pineapples, mangos, peaches [2 cups fresh or frozen] THE CITRUS CLARITY LIME OR LEMON [1 - mostly peeled] the protein greek yogurt, yogurt, chia seeds, raw almonds, flax seeds [1/2 cup] the sweet APPLE OR PEAR the smooth [2-3 whole apples or pears] banana [1 frozen ripe banana or 1 whole peeled]

The Zing the chill GINGER OR TURMERIC (OPTIONAL) ice [thumb sized piece] [2 cups]

what’s in season right now? check out producegeek.com! © fsproduce.com CONVENTIONAL MARKET NEWS JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 15, 2020 JANUARY CITRUS OUTLOOK Consumer demand for Citrus is strong! Between New Year’s diets, healthy snacking at In stock the week of 1/18. home, and Covid era desire to boost immune systems, Mandarins, Oranges, and other Citrus are selling great. Navel Oranges are in good supply out of California. Sizes are peaking on 72ct and smaller. The market on 56ct and larger is staying more elevated due to good demand and it’s not look- ing to come down anytime soon. “Vintage Sweet” Heirloom Navel Oranges have seen really big pulls to kick off the season. They’ll be in good availability the week of 1/11 through March. Cara Cara Oranges (pink flesh) are looking great and are cutting nicely with good interior color. Blood Oranges are improving with better exterior color than the earlier fruit. Many retailers are promoting these in high-graphic bags. Bulk displays work well when you cut and overwrap one Cara Cara or Blood Orange to show interior color to the shopper. COMING SOON! The start of the SUMO Citrus season is just around the corner. Our first ar- rival is expected around 1/18. This year’s crop of the very sweet and flavorful easy-peeler is peaking on big sizes. We’ll be offering 25-28ct in 18lb trays. Minneola Tangelos are still shipping from Arizona with California starting by the week of 1/18. When we start with California, we will be able to get the 12/3lb Minneolas in the pouch bag instead of the net bag that is only available in Arizona. Promote Pummelos while you can since harvests will wind down by the start of February. Texas Rio Star Grapefruit continues in season. Satsuma Mandarins will finish up for the season in mid-January. The next varieties available in Stem & Leaf cases will be Page for late January, followed by Tango during February. Halos brand Mandarins will also transition from Clementines into Tangos by February.

CV BLACKBERRIES & RASPBERRIES CV STRAWBERRIES & BLUEBERRIES CV TOMATOES Blackberries are in excellent supply from Mexico. ALERT! Strawberries will be extremely limited for Cluster Tomatoes are rising in price some this Quality is very nice, and now is a great time to mid-January. Cooler weather in Florida and out week as supplies are getting tight from all re- promote, especially with other berries being more west is hampering production in all regions. Many gions. We are primarily shipping Ohio and New growers are also dealing with Covid impacts limited. amongst their staff. All of our Florida PO’s for the York grown product. Quality has been excellent. 2nd week of January were canceled , so we are We also now have Orange and Yellow Cluster Driscoll’s Limited Edition “Sweetest Batch” looking to source some from Mexico. Tomatoes in stock. Blackberries continue to be in season. This pack Expect high prices and pro-rated volumes. Qual- Beefsteak Tomatoes from Canadian greenhouses is spec’d for their berries with the best sugar, size, ity on the fruit that will be available is expected are very limited, putting more demand on Mexican and texture. to be very nice. hothouses. Quality has been coming in very nice.

Raspberries are in tighter supply this week with We will have some available 4/2 lb Strawberries and Stem Strawberries going forward. We’re Grape Tomato prices remain higher than usual due the cooler weather in Mexico. Look for pricing to also taking pre-books for Valentine’s Day for to lighter supplies in Florida. Growers in Mexico climb slightly, but this should improve by the end Stem Strawberries. haven’t really ramped up for the season just yet. of the month. Quality has been very nice! NOTE: Blueberries were expected to be in good Roma Tomatoes are improving in volume and supply from Chile and Mexico, however because promotability thanks to better harvests in Mexico. of backlogs at ports over the holidays. Many containers of Blueberries from Peru or Chile are Florida growers also have a little product. Quality having to be thrown out once finally unloaded is nice from both areas. because they’ve sat in ports for 10 days or more and quality declined. Prices are increasing as NOTE: Vine Ripe Tomato prices remain strong buyers are scrambling to find other fruit. this week out of Florida and Mexico. Larger sizes remain extremely tight and smaller sizes are see- Driscoll’s Limited Edition “Sweetest Batch” Blueberry ing better supplies. packs continue to be available as a premium option. JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 15, 2020 | MARKET NEWS 02 21 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE CONVENTIONAL MARKET NEWS

CV PEPPERS CV CUCUMBERS CV GRAPES Green Peppers remain steady this week out of Super Select Cucumbers are promotable this Green and Red Seedless Grapes are in good sup- Florida and Mexico. week. Quality out of Mexico has been outstanding ply from Peru and Chile. There’s a wide range of and supplies are strong. Florida production is lim- prices on both colors depending on size and variety. NOTE: 11lb Red, Yellow, and Orange Bell Pep- ited right now as new areas are waiting to begin. pers remain very high and extremely limited this Sweet Globes and Timpsom on the green are week from Mexico and Canada. Orange remains Euro Seedless Cucumbers remain steady this getting a premium price, with Thompson Seed- the tightest, with very limited availability. We’re week. Quality coming from Mexico has been very less going for less. beginning to source from Israel on these products nice and supplies are steady. to help stay in stock and keep the price reasonable. On the reds, Jack Salute and Allison’s are get- NOTE: Mini Seedless Cucumber prices are rising this ting a premium price with growers dealing on 15 lb Red Sweet Peppers (field or shade house week as supplies out of Mexico are lightening up. the Crimsons. grown) were gapping. New production in Mexico will get started during mid-January. Black Seedless and Cotton Candy Grapes are limited in supply.

CV CANTALOUPES CV EASTERN APPLES CV CABBAGE ALERT! Cantaloupe supplies are limited as grow- There are a number of premium Apple varieties NOTE: Green Cabbage prices are high. ers struggle to cover contract business, let alone now being released to the marketplace. have supplies for the general marketplace. The Availability and volume out of Florida is very shortage caused from hurricanes in Central Amer- Wild Twist, a blend of the Honey crisp and Pink light and Georgia is finished for the season. Most ica early in the growing season has had long term Lady apples, and Ruby Frost, a blend of the production is coming out of Texas, leading to the effects. Prices will remain high and there could be and Autumn Crisp, will be available for higher prices. Quality has looked nice. gaps in supply. the week of 1/11 to go along with Evercrisp, Kiku, and the standard varieties.

CV MANGOS CV ASPARAGUS CV GREEN BEANS Mangos out of South America should be more NOTE: Asparagus supplies will be lighter for the NOTE: Green Bean prices will be high, and sup- plentiful as we head towards mid-January, but week of 1/11. Political protests in Peru, as well plies will be light for mid-January out of both expect pricing to inch up slightly due to limited as transitioning into new fields, are leaving Peru- Florida and Mexico due to cool weather. product availability. vian supplies very tight. Mexico is in a gap and is expected to start up with new fields in mid to late January. JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 15, 2020 | MARKET NEWS 02 21 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE

CV BROCCOLI CV CAULIFLOWER CV LETTUCE Broccoli Crown quality has been very nice out 12ct Cauliflower will become promotable for Iceberg, Leaf, and Romaine Hearts remain in of Georgia, Florida, California, and Mexico. De- mid-January as growers finally have harvests fairly steady supply out of Arizona. mand has been steady and supply is available coming on in good numbers. This lower price pe- riod will likely be followed by another jump to- by shopping amongst all the regions. wards February. The Cauliflower market is very Following some recent cooler weather, growers unstable this season. are warning of some occasional discoloration on outer leaves may be evident. NOTE: Purple Cauliflower is limited due to quality issues. There are brief periods of no availability.

CV BRUSSELS SPROUTS CV CELERY CV SCALLIONS 25lb Brussels Sprouts prices are inching up ALERT! Celery is climbing in price and harvests NOTE: Scallions are becoming more limited due due to demand. Quality is nice and availability are becoming more limited, all while demand is to cool weather in Mexico and a shortage of is decent. strong for Diet Season. Most growers have been harvesters. Our South Carolina grower is going sold out for large periods of time in early Janu- through a period of poor quality. ary, and volume will remain much lighter for much of mid-January.

LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE LOOKING TO PROMOTE DURING THE WINTER? ASK YOUR REP ABOUT THESE LOCAL PRODUCTS:

CV AVOCADOS Hass Avocados remain very promotable for the Pesticide-free, Greenhouse Butter Lettuce, Organic Mushrooms Conventional Mushrooms January. Overall, pricing remains affordable, even Grown Clamshell Salads Hydro-Basil, Pesto Landenberg, PA Landenberg, PA Selinsgrove, PA Brooklyn, NY as growers work to refill the supply chain after a break in harvesting around the holidays.

40ct, 48ct, 60ct, and 12/2lb bags are all available. Ask your sales rep about our 48ct pre-conditioned program too.

Be sure to check out the display contest from Four Seasons and Avocados from Mexico. Organic & Conventional Hydro-Basil Living Herbs Living Butter Lettuces Dalton, PA Rockingham, VA Stevensburg, VA