For the week ending May 16, 2025
The market remains steady with minimal overall movement. Supplies are declining seasonally and are expected to stay aligned with softer demand in May. As schools break for summer, pricing should hold close to current levels. Retail bag programs continue to absorb a significant share of smaller fruit, prompting foodservice buyers to adjust with alternative sizes. Availability of 100-count and smaller fruit remains limited across Cosmic Crisp, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Gala, and this pattern is likely to continue through the end of the season until the new crop arrives.
Mexican asparagus is very limited as Sonora ends harvest and Baja ramps up too late for Mother’s Day, with improvement expected by mid-May and more volume from Central Mexico in late May into June. Peruvian supply is steady with limited near-term growth as production shifts north, with better volume in late June and July, while tight air freight from Ecuador is expected to ease soon; quality remains fair with some issues, and ocean shipments are increasing slowly with modest short-term relief. We have Michigan asparagus in stock and shipping.
Markets remain steady at lower levels with ample fruit on the trees and consistent demand. Peak sizing is 48ct, and dry matter/oil content in the low 30s is delivering excellent eating quality.
California is starting to reach peak volumes. CEMEX continues to move strong shipments into the U.S., and Georgia is expected to begin in about two weeks.
CMEX, California, Georgia, and Florida are all in production, helping ease pricing across all pack styles. The PNW is expected to begin in the next 2 to 3 weeks.
California production is underway, and availability continues to improve. We are still seeing some CMEX product being transferred into the U.S.
The Mother’s Day pull is subsiding, and demand is beginning to ease, though market conditions remain tight. Production is expected to improve in Santa Maria, Salinas, and Watsonville, with the market likely to soften next week.
ALERT: Broccoli supplies remain limited, but the market is expected to ease slightly next week as weather improves and the Mother’s Day pull subsides.
ALERT: Brussels sprout supplies are fair but slightly tight, with the market expected to remain steady heading into the weekend.
ALERT: Cauliflower supplies remain limited with reduced yields heading into the weekend. However, conditions are beginning to improve as the Mother’s Day peak has passed, and the market is expected to edge slightly lower next week.
MARKET ON WATCH: The Imperial Valley is currently the main production region. Availability should improve in the next 3–4 weeks as Bakersfield ramps back up, weather permitting. Early harvesting in Imperial Valley, driven by limited Bakersfield supply, resulted in smaller sizing, prompting growers to slow harvests to allow for proper sizing. While the market has been under pressure, this pause should support better sizing and stronger availability in the coming weeks.
Star Ruby grapefruit are currently available, primarily peaking on 48ct fruit, and are shipping out of Riverside and the San Joaquin Valley.
ALERT: District 1 (San Joaquin Valley) is currently supporting District 2 (Oxnard/Ventura County), which is the primary growing region. About 70% of the crop is choice and 30% fancy, influenced by coastal growing conditions. Sizing is peaking in 115/95/140ct, while markets remain extremely tight on 165ct and smaller lemons.
The lime market is easing after a period of high pricing, with further stabilization expected in the coming weeks and a sharper decline after Cinco de Mayo. Quality is strong with new crop supplies coming online. Small sizes (230s/200s) are most available and offer the best value, while larger sizes (110s/150s) remain tight into early summer. Colombia and Peru are expected to exit by late May due to market conditions.
ALERT: The California Navel crop is heavily skewed to larger sizes, with 56ct and 72ct peaking. Small sizes (113ct and 138ct) are very limited and expected to stay tight through the rest of the season and into the Valencia transition, which may begin in the coming weeks. Flexibility on size will be needed, with substitutions into larger fruit likely as supplies tighten. Please communicate these constraints to schools and DOD programs and encourage acceptance of 88ct or 72ct.
MARKET ON WATCH: Santa Maria and the Oxnard region continue to see moderate to light supplies, with demand still exceeding availability, keeping the market tight throughout the week. Overall quality remains good with only light seeder reported. Value-added items are expected to remain elevated for at least the next few weeks.
MARKET ON WATCH: Cooler weather and seasonal transitions have tightened the cucumber market, with light supplies out of Nogales as Baja begins to ramp up.
California is showing strong supply with excellent quality and sizing. In the East, supplies are adequate with good overall quality.
The California garlic crop is progressing with good quality, supported by ongoing Mexican supplies that continue to complement the California harvest.
Grapes are currently available from three countries across two continents. Chile is nearing the end of its season, with green grapes almost finished and reds expected for another two weeks as shippers look to exit. Mexico is crossing both colors through Nogales, with pricing expected to become more competitive soon. Coachella remains the highest-priced option, having started reds this week and expected to begin greens next week.
Green onion supplies remain strong overall and are expected to stay steady into next week, weather permitting.
ALERT – SUPPLY SHORTAGE
ALERT: Overall, with Mother’s Day approaching, supplies have begun to loosen. Value-added item escalation will continue through the week, though it is expected to ease by mid-next week or sooner. Common defects include outer leaf discoloration and misshapen heads. Production is currently coming from both Northern and Southern California, with weights averaging 36–40 lbs.
ALERT: Romaine along with green and red leaf supplies are tight industry-wide, with escalated pricing now in effect across all value-added leaf items. Availability is expected to remain limited over the next few weeks. Romaine hearts are also scarce across all shippers, with lighter weights and smaller bunch sizing expected to persist. Light fringe burn has also been reported.
Tender leaf items such as spinach, cilantro, and arugula remain in good supply. Baby kale is tighter due to lower-than-expected yields and slower crop growth.
Kale supplies and quality remain generally good, with similar conditions expected to continue into next week.
Offshore cantaloupes are currently available in California, Texas, Florida, and the Northeast. Pricing has stabilized as retail promotions wind down. Mexican cantaloupes are also available, with domestic production expected to begin in May.
Offshore and Mexican honeydews are available with strong quality.
Supply out of Mexico has improved and pricing has returned to more normalized levels. Additional deals are expected as domestic watermelon production comes online.
ALERT: PNW onions are nearly finished, with quality issues from a warm winter bringing the season to an early close. Texas onions are limited due to recent heavy rains over the past two weeks. California is now the primary source, focusing on contract supply while inventory builds.
The pear market is gradually trending higher, with Anjou supplies slowly tightening. Red pears remain adequately supplied, while Bosc are becoming scarce. New crop California Bartletts are projected to start 2–3 weeks early, with potential availability in June.
Peppers are moving through seasonal transitions, with Nogales and Florida winding down quickly. California production has begun with good quality and is peaking on XL sizes, and Georgia is just around the corner. The green pepper market is expected to remain fairly steady in the coming weeks. Red bells remain limited as Nogales finishes up, with the first California desert harvest starting late this week. The red market is expected to stay tight until California volumes increase.
ALERT: The pineapple market remains steady but tight due to earlier rains and planting gaps, with conditions expected to persist into Mother’s Day as demand increases. Contract orders continue to be prioritized. Larger sizes (6 and 7 count with crowns) are becoming more available, while 8 count crowned supplies remain steady. Crownless 8 and 10 count fruit is still tight, and organic pineapples remain limited.
Supply and demand are balanced, with deals on 40s, 50s, and #2s, while smaller counts are tight. Burbank are now available with Norkotah as the main variety. Washington potatoes show strong quality, peaking on mid sizes, with large and small counts snug. Florida colored potatoes are limited due to freeze impacts, and trucking costs are rising with higher fuel prices. Yellow potatoes are tight, reds are better supplied, and North Carolina sweet potatoes remain limited until new crop.
MARKET ON WATCH: Mexico supply has dropped sharply, creating very tight availability, especially in the West. Florida has adequate production, but prices remain elevated due to strong demand and reduced Mexican supply. Georgia is ramping up quickly, with stronger volumes expected to ease the market soon. In California, zucchini has begun light production out of Santa Maria, with 2–3 weeks until increased volume, including yellow squash.
Domestic peach and nectarine harvests are increasing in volume. A limited supply of red plums is available, with black plums expected to start next week. Cherries and apricots are also currently available.
ALERT – MARKET ON WATCH: The market is beginning to decline, with prices adjusting quickly after an extended period at elevated levels. Roma tomatoes have seen the most significant corrections, while rounds remain higher but are also trending downward. Grape tomatoes are relatively steady at lower price points. Increased production from Florida, Central Mexico, and the start of the Baja season is improving availability, with post–Mother’s Day demand also softening and encouraging more aggressive movement from suppliers
*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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