For the week ending March 28, 2025
The apple market remains steady to slightly higher as supplies continue to gradually decline. Retail bag programs are absorbing a significant share of the smaller fruit, requiring foodservice customers to be more flexible with the sizes they use to meet demand. Sizes 100 and smaller are particularly difficult to source in Cosmic Crisp, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Gala varieties. This supply dynamic is expected to persist until the new crop arrives.
Mexican asparagus supply is sharply reduced, with lower yields, smaller sizing, and declining quality. Easter demand and extreme heat will add pressure, while Peruvian supply remains minimal.
Markets remain steady at lower levels with ample fruit on the trees and consistent demand. Peak sizes are 48ct, with dry matter and oil content in the low 30s, resulting in excellent eating quality. Updates will be provided if there are any changes on the avocado front.
Short supply issues remain for the week. Clean & trim green beans are suggested as a substitute.
The market is steady, with light supplies meeting moderate demand. Product is still coming from central Mexico, with California production expected to begin in mid-April and help boost inventories.
Supplies remain limited, with product coming from South America, central Mexico, and California. Florida is producing but will have a short season with reduced volume due to the early February freeze.
TIGHT SUPPLY: Supplies from central Mexico and Baja remain light, with demand exceeding supply and keeping markets elevated. Quality issues and transfer delays persist, and tight conditions are expected to continue until mid-April or early May, weather dependent.
Six regions are in production, led by Santa Maria and Oxnard. Salinas and Watsonville are running about four weeks early due to favorable weather, while Baja remains steady with loading in San Diego and Los Angeles. Florida stays light through Easter, and markets are oversupplied as growers keep up with increased volume.
Broccoli supplies have improved across all growing areas, and the market is expected to remain steady into next week.
Brussels sprout quality and supplies continue to improve, and the market is expected to remain steady with ample availability into next week.
Cauliflower supplies remain tight but are gradually improving this week. The market is expected to ease slightly heading into the weekend.
MARKET ON WATCH: Mini carrots short in supply chain. Bakersfield carrot harvest is finished, with only light activity in the Imperial Valley. California carrot supplies should improve in 3–4 weeks as warm, dry weather allows the crop to size up. Early harvesting in Bakersfield produced small carrots, forcing growers to slow picking to let the crop develop. Stronger sizing and better availability are expected in the coming weeks.
Star Ruby grapefruit are available, peaking at 48ct, and are shipping from Riverside and the San Joaquin Valley.
District 3 (CA Desert/AZ) is finished. District 1 (San Joaquin Valley) remains the main growing region until District 2 (Oxnard/Ventura) ramps up in late March/early April. District 1 is peaking in 115, 95, and 140ct, with markets rising on 165 and 200ct as product sizes up.
Overall supplies are extremely tight, with Mexican costs in the mid-$60s and higher due to low new-crop yields and January freeze losses. Light crossings and weak offshore supplies from Peru, Honduras, and Colombia are driving volatile markets through March into early April.
California Navel oranges are heavily weighted toward larger sizes, peaking on 56ct and 72ct. Small sizes (113ct, 138ct) are extremely limited and expected to remain tight through the season into the Valencia transition, possibly starting early April. Flexibility with size and grade will be needed to fill orders, with substitutions to larger sizes likely. Suppliers are managing supply to contract averages—please advise schools and DOD programs to consider 88ct or 72ct.
Oxnard and Santa Maria are expected to have good supplies across all sizes this week, while Yuma production winds down quickly. Valueadded item pricing should ease by midweek. Despite warm temperatures, quality from multiple suppliers remains above average.
Supply is extremely limited due to low Mexican yields and a slow spring start. Honduran imports are tight, and Florida harvest won’t begin until late March/early April, keeping prices elevated over the next two weeks.
Florida supplies are negligible, limited to minor small or off-grade fruit, with the spring crop very limited after the freeze. Mexico is providing steady volume into Nogales and McAllen, with mild market fluctuations but overall adequate supply.
The California garlic crop is progressing with good quality, complemented by ongoing Mexican supplies.
Green grape supplies are tighter on both coasts, with slightly higher prices as Peru finishes and Chile offers lighter volume. Current supply meets demand, but tightening is expected later in the month. Red grapes remain in good supply, with the market slightly higher.
Green onion supplies continue to improve, easing the market. Availability is expected to remain steady into next week, depending on temperatures.
Supplies are expected to be strong this week from multiple suppliers. With Yuma temperatures hitting 100°F, shippers will likely keep daily inventories tight. Promote this item, as shippers will be flexing. Yuma production will continue for another 2–4 weeks, with Huron starting the last week of March.
Romaine is softening, while green and red leaf remain steady. Warm Yuma temperatures may cause tip and fringe burn next week, though current weights and sizing are favorable. Value-added leaf pricing has eased, and Huron production is expected to start within 1–2 weeks. Competitive pricing is expected on all leaf items this week.
Tender leaf items like spinach, cilantro, and arugula are in good supply, with minor insect damage and discoloration reported. Supplies are expected to tighten next week due to the Yuma heat wave.
Kale supplies and quality remain strong, with similar conditions expected into next week.
The Westside and Nogales deals are done. Offshore Cantaloupes are available in CA, TX, FL, and the Northeast. Offshore Cantaloupe pricing has increased due to demand. Retailers are taking advantage of the warmer temps and scheduled prebooks.
SHORT SUPPLY WITH PRICE INCREASING: Offshore and Mexican honeydews are available but may face challenges throughout March. Plant virus issues in Guatemala and Honduras have left Mexican honeydews to help supplement the market.
Lower yields and Mexican border issues are keeping watermelon prices high. Warmer national temperatures are boosting demand. Offshore melons are nearly finished, leaving Mexican melons as the main supply until domestic production begins.
Onions are available from WA, ID, UT, and Texas, with rising demand as the storage season winds down. Transportation is driving the market, with fuel costs up $1 week-over-week in many areas.
The pear market is gradually firming. Bartlett shipments are mostly finished, easing pressure on Anjou pears. Red pears are adequately supplied, and Bosc pears remain plentiful.
Supplies remain very limited, particularly on green bells, as Florida has yet to recover from the recent freeze, with tight availability expected for the next several weeks. Coachella production will begin to come online in early April, gradually improving supply. The red bell market remains firm, with growers continuing to harvest at green stage to capitalize on stronger pricing.
MARKET ON WATCH: The pineapple market is stable but tight due to prior rain and planting gaps. Contracts remain a priority. Larger sizes are gradually increasing, with 6- and 7-crown counts rising, 8-crown steady, and 8/10 crownless still tight. Organic pineapples remain limited. Bunker fuel costs will impact Q2 pricing.
Supply and demand are balanced, with sheds actively making deals. Smaller counts are becoming harder to find. Burbank potatoes are now available, with Norkoths as the main variety. Washington potatoes are producing excellent quality, peaking on mid sizes, while large and small counts remain tight. Florida colored potatoes are limited due to the freeze. Trucking costs are driving the market, with fuel up $1 in some regions.
Florida supplies are minimal through mid-March, with early Sonora production starting. Expect elevated short-term prices, especially for yellow squash, due to the Florida freeze and the Sinaloa-to-Sonora transition.
Imported peaches, plums, and nectarines are winding down, with nectarines and peaches nearly finished and only small amounts expected by week’s end. Imported plums will continue into April. Kiwi supplies from Greece and Italy remain steady, Chilean kiwi starts in April, and the last domestic kiwi has finished.
Rounds are very limited due to the Florida freeze and Mexico, keeping prices elevated at lower levels. Roma supplies from Sonora are increasing, easing prices, but markets remain volatile through April as Florida salvage crops, Mexican disease, and a 17% duty add pressure. Grapes are currently affordable amid low demand, though partial Florida damage and Mexican split pricing could push prices higher this week if supplies tighten.
*The data contained in the Del Bene Market Report is provided for informational purposes only, is not tailored to your specific purchasing needs, and is not intended as a substitute for any other publicly available market data or information. The Del Bene market report is compiled from the last-received market data provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and/or other market sources. The Del Bene Market Report is subject to change without notice. Nothing herein is the opinion of Del Bene Produce neither assumes any legal liability nor makes any warranty or guaranty, either express or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy or usefulness of this information.
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