ORGANIC MARKET NEWS OCTOBER 23 - OCTOBER 30, 2020 PEAK SEASON FOR ORGANIC APPLES Late October and November will be an outstanding time to promote a full com- plement of the standard Organic Apple varieties, along with some of the premium “managed” varieties. Quality and texture will be at its best during late fall. Washington growers are reporting that the crop has not come in quite as big as the initial estimate, but there will be plenty of Organic Apples to promote. A freeze is expected for late October in Washington, so growers are trying to pick ahead on their varieties, like Pink Lady. We are seeing consumers in some markets return to more normal sales in bulk dis- plays, still, demand for poly and pouch bag Organic Apples remains much higher than normal. Tip: It can be difficult to carry all of the managed varieties available, so stores that are limited on space should focus on 2 or 3 at a time and promote them for a month or 2 and move on to others. PREMIUM/MANAGED VARIETIES AVAILABLE FOR NOVEMBER PROMOTION: • OG Ambrosia • OG Jazz • OG Opal • OG Smitten • OG Autumn Glory • OG Kanzi • OG Pinata • OG SugarBee • OG Envy • OG Lady Alice • OG Rosalynn • OG SweeTango HEIRLOOM ORCHARDS AVAILABLE FOR THE END OF OCTOBER: • OG Arkansas Black • OG Golden Russet OG FALL FRUIT OG BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER OG BERRIES Organic Cranberries out of British Columbia are Organic Cauliflower from California is seeing Driscoll’s Organic Blueberries are available in lim- in peak season and selling very well to start. better supplies for late October and early No- ited volume in 6oz and pints from new growing re- vember. Prepare to see supplies tighten and pric- gions out of Mexico. Other brands out of Argentina, Organic Pomegranates from California are ing on the rise due to transition down to southern Chile, and Peru are coming into season and trading steady for the end of October. The Early Won- growing regions (Yuma, AZ) approaching during at slightly lower prices. Overall, Organic Blueber- derful variety is finishing up and we are loading mid-November. ries are expected to improve in supply and afford- ability headed towards early to mid-November. the Wonderful variety for early November. Organic Broccoli from California has seen better Organic Blackberries are now in excellent sup- Organic Pomegranate Arils will be steady. We harvest numbers during the middle weeks of Oc- ply with promotional opportunities available. will feature the I Love Pomegranate label through tober, but as we move towards November, num- Driscoll’s brand with their proprietary varieties for the fall and winter this year. bers will begin to decrease once again. Transition flavor are trading at a higher price. time between Salinas, CA and Yuma, AZ looks to Organic Hachiya and Fuyu Persimmons are in take place in mid-November. Supplies from Que- Organic Raspberries are steady, but price points full swing. Let the Hachiya get soft and squishy be- bec are expected to be strong until transition be- are a little high. fore you eat it. Enjoy the Fuyu Persimmon right gins, providing some relief to limited supplies. away while you wait for the Hachiya to be ready! ALERT! Driscoll’s Organic Strawberry supplies Organic Sweet Baby Broccoli is in steady supply continue to decline out of California, and Mexico Organic Fresh Figs will continue to be available. and Organic Purple Baby Broccoli will be back continues to be very limited, causing high and ris- We are transitioning to new crop harvests on Black in stock for late October. ing prices. Other brands are gapping again and is not expected to improve for a while. Mission variety out of Mexico for better quality. OCTOBER 23 - OCTOBER 30, 2020 | MARKET NEWS 43 20 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE OG CUCUMBERS OG LETTUCES OG HARD SQUASHES Organic Cucumbers from Lady Moon Farms in Organic Leaf Lettuce from California continues to Local Organic Hard Squashes are in full swing. Florida continue to see steady supplies and pric- remain tight and expensive. Look for product from Demand is strong and retailers begin to really ing. Mexican Organic Cucumbers are available at PA and Quebec to supplement California supply promote seasonal fall hard squashes with big dis- a cheaper price for price conscious shoppers. at a more cost-efficient price. plays. Organic Euro Cucumbers continue to see a drop in NOTE: Organic Romaine Hearts remain limited OUTLOOK: New crop Mexican Organic Hard price and become more promotable in mid-October. and high priced as the California market contin- Squashes will get started later in November, pro- ues to rise, and Quebec shippers have finished viding nice quality through the winter months as NOTE: Organic Mini Cucumbers remain limited harvesting. Look for consistent supplies, however the local growers wind down. in availability with high prices. pricing will be very expensive and continue to rise in price as we approach transition time. OG CELERY OG SQUASH OG LEEKS Organic Celery from California continues to see Organic Zucchini and Yellow Squash are seeing NOTE: Organic Leeks continue to remain very steady supplies in late October. Look for excellent excellent availability. Organic Zucchini is being limited with many west coast shippers having in- availability and level pricing for the remainder of sourced from Lady Moon Farms in Florida and con- consistent supplies or gapping completely. the month. November will see a rise in prices as tinues to see excellent quality and availability. we transition to new growing regions and Thanks- Look for limited California product, with New York giving approaches. Organic Yellow Squash has been sourced from and Vermont product to supplement the lack of both South Carolina and Mexico. Look for improved California supplies. Expect pricing to remain ex- Organic Celery Hearts continue to be promot- pricing and availability in late October as supplies pensive for the foreseeable future. able in late October but are expected to also be improve and to continue into early November. on the rise in November. OG CABBAGE OG GRAPES OG BRUSSELS SPROUTS Organic Cabbage is in steady supply coming California Organic Black, Green, and Red Seed- Organic Brussels Sprouts are seeing strong sup- from New York. Look for Lancaster County cab- less Grapes continue in excellent supply with plies in late October from local farms in New bage to start again in late October and continue great quality. With some shippers are finished for York, plus from Wisconsin and Mexico. until late November or early December. season, expect prices to increase in November. Look for excellent quality from all growing re- Organic Savoy and Napa Cabbage are currently gions and promotional pricing. being sourced from VT, NY, and PA. OCTOBER 23 - OCTOBER 30, 2020 | MARKET NEWS 43 20 | FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE OG BOK CHOY OG EGGPLANT OG POTATOES Local PA and NJ Organic Baby Bok Choy are Organic Eggplant is now being harvested in We continue to see the price on Organic Russet in full swing for the fall season. Look for steady South Carolina and beginning to harvest at Lady Potatoes decrease as we inch closer to November pricing, availability, and excellent quality. Moon Florida. Look for improved availability in where we have some very sharp pricing on both late October, followed by improved prices. count and bagged potatoes. Also, look for specialty items such as Organic Pur- ple Baby Bok Choy and Red Baby Bok Choy. OG TOMATOES OG TROPICALS OG CITRUS Organic Cluster Tomatoes continue to be very Organic Hass Avocado prices are steady with California new crop Organic Navel Oranges are promotable out of Canada. Harvests remain very plenty of fruit available. Be sure to check out waiting on maturity tests so picking can begin. It strong and quality is excellent. our beautiful Fair-Trade Equal Exchange fruit this looks like the first arrivals will be in stock to kick month at a great price! Organic Beefsteak Tomatoes will be available off November. this week out of Mexico and Canada. Canadian Organic Pineapple supplies seem to have tempo- supplies continue to be light as harvests just start- rarily rebounded as growers got some fruit load- California Organic Valencia Oranges are in spo- ed. Mexican supplies also are very light as well. ed in the midst of strikes and are trying to catch radic supply as we prepare to transition to Navels. Quality has been looking very good. up with fruit that delayed. Organic Cherry Tomatoes will be promotable this New crop California Organic Satsuma Mandarins week out of South Carolina from Watsonia Farms. Organic Dragon Fruit from California were hit will come into season in early to mid-November. Quality has been outstanding, and supplies are great. very hard with extremely high temps at the end of the summer. Growers are finding out that this California and Mexican Organic Lemons are in Organic Grape Tomatoes markets are steady this impacted the fruit more than anticipated and week. South Carolina continues to harvest good supplies have been very low. We will gap in fruit excellent supply on all sizes. Pricing has become numbers. Lady Moon Farms will begin their Florida again for the end of October. more affordable. season this week as well. First arrivals will begin the week of 10/26. Quality has been excellent. NOTE: Organic Formosa Papayas and Organic We are expecting a small shot of California Or- Rambutan made brief appearances, but will now ganic Pink Variegated Lemons from Homegrown Organic Roma Tomatoes are steady out of Mex- be in a 1-2 week gap again. ico this week. Quality has been very nice. Organics at the end of October. ALERT! Organic Mangos are out of stock.