M N SEPTEMBER 6 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 MARKET NEWS ORGANIC OUTLOOK ORGANIC HARD SQUASH SEASON Late summer marks the start of the local Organic Hard Squash season! Pennsylvania growers are now promoting their new crop Organic Butternut, Spaghetti, Acorn, Delicata, Kabocha, and Pie Pumpkins. One of our Ephrata, PA growers has put in some test plots of Organic Honeynut Squash. This variety is like a small butternut, but bred for a smoother texture, richer, sweeter flavor, and nutri- ent density. Be on the lookout for limited quantities as they become available this season. HONEYNUT . OG PEARS OG APPLES OG BERRIES New crop California Organic Asian Pears are The first delicious and crisp Organic SweeTango Driscoll’s Organic Blueberries have transitioned now in good supply. And, with Washington, plus Apples have arrived and are in steady supplies! to 6oz and supplies are more limited. Prices have Oregon, growers coming into season later in the Check out this link: sweetango.com increased sharply and will continue to rise with month, September and October will be the best heavy prorates expected. Conditions are not ex- time of the year to promote this juicy, crisp, and As Organic Honeycrisp Apples continue to ramp pected to improve for a couple of months until sweet pear! up for the season, more supply is coming . Quality Mexico ramps up. is excellent! New crop Washington Organic Anjou Pears are Other brands of Organic Blueberries out of the expected to arrive the second week of September. We have had a smooth transition into new crop Pacific Northwest have followed suit and have tran- Washington Organic Gala Apples without a glitch sitioned to 6oz more expensive fruit. Import fruit California Organic Bosc Pears are in good sup- and plenty of supply. Smaller fruit will prevail with will begin over the next couple of weeks out of ply this week and should transition to Washington promotional opportunities on 10oz plus bags. Argentina and then Chile. fruit in mid-September. The first Washington Organic Golden Delicious ALERT! Organic Strawberries are in much more Washington Organic Bartlett Pears are now Apples are now available! limited supply and pricing has jumped up for available in 44lb. boxes. mid-September. Berry size is smaller, yields are Import Organic Granny Smith and Fuji Apples down, and shelf-life is shorter. Expect occasional Washington Organic Starkrimson (Red) Pears are in good supply with excellent quality and pric- pro-rates. are now in steady supply. es easing as the transition to domestic fruit should happen in mid to late-September without a gap. SEPTEMBER 6 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | MARKET NEWS 36 19 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE OG LETTUCE OG CUCUMBERS OG WATERMELONS Organic Romaine Hearts from California contin- Organic Cucumbers continue to be limited as we Organic Seedless Watermelons are finishing ue to be in steady supply headed into mid-Sep- head into the second week of September. Although for the season. California and New Mexico had tember. Expect quality to remain excellent. Pricing supplies have improved, it continues to be difficult a great year, but as summer comes to an end, will continue to be steady during the month of to find steady volumes. Many local growers have so does the season. We will still have cartons September with some opportunities for promot- wrapped up, while Georgia supplies are only begin- available with great melons from NM, but they ning to harvest in early September. Mexican product are beginning to finish up fast. Mexico will look to able product as the month continues. is also available but is limited. Expect to see product start up in mid-October to go through the fall and from various growing regions in mid-September. winter months. Organic Green and Red Leaf Lettuce from Que- bec are experiencing limited supplies. Expect to Organic Mini Cucumbers and European Seedless Organic Mini Seedless Watermelons will be see product from California to supplement the lim- Cucumbers from Canada are in limited supplies and available this week in all sizes. 6ct, 8ct, and 11ct ited supplies of the Quebec product. Supplies will less than ideal quality in early September. Expect to are still coming in strong and look to be promot- be steady, however expect to see a price increase see this trend continue into mid-September as some able. Quality has been excellent on the late sea- with the product from California. growers will be out of supplies during September. son crop. OG GRAPES OG FIGS OG GREENS California Organic Black, Green, and Red Organic Black Mission Figs are in peak season Organic Collards, Kale, and Dandelion from Grapes are now in excellent supply and great right now and pricing is promotable - be sure to Lady Moon Farms in Chambersburg, PA have be- quality should be expected. take advantage! gun again in a limited way. Expected to see limit- ed availability on these items in the second week Organic Black, Red, A limited quantity of and We will also have a few 12/1 pint Organic of September. Green Grapes in paper totes from of California Green Kadota and Black Mission Figs available! are available. OG TROPICALS OG MANGOS OG CELERY Organic Dragon Fruit will be available next Prices of Organic Mangos from Mexico are rising Organic Celery from California continues in tight week! This red-fleshed variety is beautiful! Drag- as fruit supplies tighten up. Look for bigger sizes supplies and high pricing. Some suppliers are on fruit will be in stock throughout the fall. to be plentiful. 12ct sized fruit will NOT be avail- without product due to quality issues causing extra able the second week of September. demand on suppliers with product. Organic Horned Kiwano Melons are available next 7ct, 8ct, and 9ct Non-Hot Water Treated (NHWT) week. Expect steady supplies through the fall months. Expect to see continued higher pricing through the Organic Mangos are in stock! These mangos are month of September and into October. Quality from Mexico’s “Fruit Fly Free Zone”, and they are Organic Curry Leaves, Mamey, Starfruit, Sap- not required to be given a hot water bath, which has continued to stay excellent from the suppliers odilla, Cactus Leaves (Nopales), and Passion enables them to stay on the tree longer for max- that have steady supplies of Organic Celery. Fruit will all be available next week. imum flavor and juiciness! These will be available in Kent and Keitt varieties for the next few weeks. SEPTEMBER 6 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 | MARKET NEWS 36 19 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE OG BRUSSELS SPROUTS OG CITRUS OG APPLE CIDER Organic Brussels Sprouts from Mexico are see- ALERT! Organic Lemons out of California and Organic Apple Cider will be back in season start- ing improving supplies. As September continues, Mexico remain extremely limited with skyrock- ing the week of 9/16. expect to see excellent quality, plentiful supplies, eting prices continuing and mostly choice fruit is and aggressive pricing. With great supplies and available. Conditions are expected to improve in aggressive pricing, mid-September is a great late September. time to take advantage and promote Organic Brussels Sprouts. ALERT! California Organic Grapefruit are gap- ping. New crop may not begin until October. OG BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER OG STONE FRUIT OG TOMATOES Organic Broccoli and Broccoli Crowns from Organic Yellow Nectarines and Peaches contin- Organic Beefsteak and Cluster Tomatoes prices California are seeing tightening supplies as we ue in steady supply out of Washington and are will be steady this week. Canada hothouses are in head toward mid-September. In mid to late-Sep- expected to finish in mid-September. the middle of replanting, but new crop Mexico con- tember expect to see pricing rise, while quality tinues to come in to fill the voids. will be less ideal. Expect to see these conditions Organic White Nectarines came and went. This Organic Grape Tomatoes for a few weeks before pricing and quality both may be it for the season. from Lady Moon Farms in PA are very promotable this week. Quality is out- begin to improve. standing. Promote this local grown product as PA Organic White Peaches are in limited supply will begin to finish up for the season. Organic Cauliflower from California is experi- and are expected to finish for the season by encing tighten supplies similar to broccoli. Heat mid-September. Organic Heirloom Tomatoes from Lady Moon in certain areas is stunting the growth for some Farms are beginning to slow down as the end of suppliers, and the extra demand on the suppliers California Organic Pluots are in good supply the season is approaching. With a healthy flush in that do have product, is causing prices to rise. Ear- with multiple varieties available. August, picks are beginning to slow down. Supplies ly September has already seen price increases, will be steady this week but expect shortages later expect to see prices continue to rise as we head California Organic Black and Red Plums in and in September. toward mid-September. out of varieties, as well as flip flopping between 2 layer and volume-filled, based on what is get- Organic Vine Ripe Tomatoes from Lady Moon ting packed. Farms will again be promotable this week. Quality and volume look outstanding. Continue to promote! OTHER STORIES • Organic Green Peppers and Organic Eggplant • Organic Formosa Papayas will continue to be • Organic Asparagus prices are steady this continue to be in steady supplies from Lady Moon out of stock for the second week of September week. Quality has looked very nice coming from Farms in Chambersburg, PA. Expect to see steady as supplies are going to be very tight for most Mexico and volume is better.