M N DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 20, 2019 MARKET NEWS ORGANIC OUTLOOK CALIFORNIA ORGANIC CITRUS DECEMBER OUTLOOK Organic Navel Oranges are now in excellent supply with prices coming down on all sizes and bags. Mid-December through the winter months is peak season! Organic Satsuma Mandarins in bulk and “Candy Mandy” 12/2lb bags are expe- riencing some harvest and packing delays, but supplies are rebounding for the 3rd week of December, heading towards Christmas. Organic Clementine Mandarins are now in peak season and in steady supply. The impact of the December rains on the overall Clementine crop is not fully assessed yet. We’ll have 25lb bulk and 12/2lb pouch bags to promote headed towards Christmas. The first of the season Organic Cara Cara Oranges and Pummelos will be avail- able for the week of 12/16. Organic Grapefruit havests have improved, so supply and quality is good. Organic Lemons out of California and Mexico are experiencing some slight rain delays but supplies are expected to rebound the week before Christmas. Organic Meyer Lemons are now in peak season. Organic Lime supplies out of Mexico are in firm but steady supply. Buck Brand Organic Specialty Citrus are gapping due to the rain in California, but the following items are expected the week of 12/16: • Buddha’s Hand • Limequats • Mango Valencia Oranges • Fairchild Tangerines • Mellow Gold Grapefruit • Red Globe Pummelo • Finger Limes • Meiwa Kumquats • Sweet Limes . OG APPLES OG PEPPERS OG BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER Organic SugarBee Apples have been a smash hit Organic Colored Bell Peppers from Israel and Organic Cauliflower from Arizona and southern this year. They are very sweet and juicy with hon- Mexico are both currently in season. Availability California is seeing excellent quality and harvest- eycrisp parentage. The 2019 crop will wind down from Israel has seen improvement as their crop is ing increasing quantities. As the desert season during December, so promote these while you can. ramping up, while Mexico remains rather limited. begins to ramp up, pricing is expected to remain promotable with steady supplies as we move to- Organic Envy and Opal Apples have been the Expect to see steady availability, pricing and qual- ward the holiday season. specialty varieties of the month. Take advantage of ity during December, with promotional opportuni- promotional opportunities and the display contest. ties on Israeli product near the holiday season. Organic Broccoli from Arizona and Southern California are harvesting in high quantities. As In general, Organic Apples are very promotable Organic Green Peppers are in steady supply now the desert season begins to ramp up in mid-De- thanks to good supplies on all the standard variet- harvesting in Florida and Mexico. Promotional op- cember, prepare to see aggressive pricing and ies and the many specialty varieties in season now. portunities may arise in December if either area plentiful quantities to promote. Quality is expect- begins to see an increase in supplies. Quality from ed to be less than ideal as the season begins. Organic Heirloom Apples from Oregon avail- both Lady Moon Farms in Florida and Mexican able this week: shippers have been outstanding. As we move into the new year, expect pricing to • Arkansas Black (ending) stabilize and quality to improve. Quality issues • Calville Blanc are stemming from this product being planted • Mutsu during hotter climates during the summer months. • Northern Spy DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 20, 2019 | MARKET NEWS 50 19 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE OG BOK CHOY OG CUCUMBERS OG BRUSSELS SPROUTS Organic Baby Bok Choy and Bok Choy from Organic Cucumbers from Mexico and Florida Organic Brussels Sprouts from Mexico have seen Lady Moon Farms’ Florida operations continue continue to see excellent quality. improving volumes after weather had delayed to see consistent supplies during December. As some harvesting in early December. volumes continue to increase and quality remains Lady Moon Farms in Florida will have steady stellar, plan to promote these excellent items. pricing with promotional opportunities during Expect steady supplies, stellar quality, and com- late December and early January. Mexico will petitive pricing during the holiday season - ideal be more limited. for promotion. OG LETTUCE OG CABBAGE OG GREEN BEANS Organic Leaf Lettuces from Lady Moon Farms Organic Green and Red Cabbage will transition Organic Green Beans from Mexico are beginning in Florida are in full swing. Look for steady to Florida and California grown product for the to see steady volumes in mid-December. availability and excellent quality for the rest rest of the year. of December. Expect to see increasing volumes and steady pric- Organic Napa and Savoy Cabbage is following ing from Mexico as we move into late December, Organic Romaine Hearts from Arizona contin- the trend of Red and Green Cabbage as we will while Florida continues to see a gap in harvests ue to see excellent quality and steady supplies see increasing product from California. until the end of December. during December. Look for promotional opportu- nities in late December to drive extra volumes. OG GRAPES OG CELERY OG PEARS ALERT! California Organic Black and Green Organic Celery continues to see great supplies Washington Organic Anjou, Bosc, Concorde, Grapes are now done for the season. Organic and excellent quality. As many shippers are con- Red Pears, and Starkrimson Pears are in excel- Red Grapes will continue until around Christmas. tinuing to yield excellent supplies from California, lent supply. we’ll continue to see aggressive pricing to drive New crop Organic Grapes from Peru will start in extra volume during December. Organic Asian Pears and Seckel Pears continue January and from South Africa in February. in limited supply. Organic Celery for many shippers will begin har- ALERT! Organic Bartlett Pears vesting from Arizona and Southern California in Washington are done for the season and will gap until Argentina early to mid-January depending on how the crop begins in February. continues to progress. DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 20, 2019 | MARKET NEWS 50 19 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE OG BLUEBERRIES OG STRAWBERRIES OG EGGPLANT Organic Blueberries out of Argentina, Peru, and ALERT! Organic Strawberries continue in ex- Organic Eggplant from Lady Moon Farms in Flori- Chile are now in excellent supply in both 6oz and tremely firm supply with prices on the rise. Expect da continues to see excellent harvest yields during pints. Look for promotional opportunities. prorates as heat and rain has damaged some late December, making it a promotable item head- crops. We will not see a rebound in supply until ing into the new year. Driscoll’s Organic Blueberries are in firm but mid-January at the earliest. Some other brands of steady supply out of California and Mexico with Organic Strawberries will become available out excellent bloom, size, and flavor. of Florida and Mexico but expect high prices. OG BERRIES OG TOMATOES OG TROPICALS Organic Blackberries out of Mexico are improv- Organic Grape Tomato prices from Florida remain Organic Hass Avocados from Mexico are in ing in quality and supply. Prices are coming down. steady this week. Quality has been excellent from steady supply with good condition. 48ct fruit has Lady Moon Farms. Organic Gold Grape Tomatoes been in higher demand. 60ct Fruit remains very Driscoll’s Organic Blackberries out of California from Lady Moon Farms are also available! promotable with heavy volume on the smaller side. and Mexico are in firm but steady supply. Produc- tion is not expected to ramp up until the new year. Florida grown Organic Round Tomatoes from Fair-Trade Organic Hass Avocados are in good Lady Moon Farms will be available this week. supply. 60ct fruit will also be available. Organic Raspberries out of Mexico are now in Quality has been very nice. Supplies are steady. good, steady supply with promotional opportuni- Organic Smooth Skin Green Avocados will contin- ties available. Organic Beefsteak Tomato prices will be steady ue to be available from Florida. this week. Limited production from Canada and Driscoll’s Organic Raspberries out of Mexico and Mexico is leaving prices on the higher side. Qual- Organic Tommy Atkins Mangos are in good sup- California are in firm but steady supply and are not ity has been very nice. Organic Cluster Tomato ply from Ecuador. Organic Honey (Ataulfo) Man- expected to ramp up production until the new year. prices will be rising this week as demand picks up gos from Ecuador are also back in stock the week for the holiday season. Quality remains very nice of 12/16. from Mexico and Canada. Organic Dragon Fruit is done for the season. ALERT! Organic Roma Tomato prices have be- Organic Mamey, Starfruit, Black Sapote, Cactus come extremely high and supplies are down. The Leaves (Nopales), and Passion Fruit will all be recent rains in Mexico have halted any produc- available for the week of 12/16. Organic Feijoa tion, leaving Florida to fill the pipeline. Be cautious are extremely limited for next week, but quality of gaps in supplies this week. is excellent! OTHER STORIES • Import Organic Cherries are in sporadic supply • ALERT! Organic Asparagus has become ex- • Organic Zucchini and Yellow Squash from with high prices. tremely limited as the end of the season ap- Lady Moon in Florida is seeing steady numbers proaches! Look for gaps in supplies and high throughout December. During the rest of Decem- • Organic Cranberries from Canada, in 6 oz bags, markets. ber, expect to see steady availability and pric- are back and will finish out before the holiday. ing, while quality will remain excellence. Look for • Organic Green, Red, and Rainbow Chard potential opportunities to promote if there is an • Organic Pomegranates will be in steady supply from Lady Moon Florida continue to see excellent increase in supplies.