The seasons may be shifting, but apples always know how to steal the spotlight. September brings the first wave of new crop fruit—fresh-picked, fragrant, and meant to be enjoyed now, not kept in storage.. The orchards are buzzing with activity as ladders go up and field bins fill fast. Crisp Fujis and Granny Smiths from Ferrari Farms and  Pinnacle’s sweet-tart Jonagolds are fresh picked & ready now! 

Each variety has its own character: Galas are light and floral, Honeycrisp snap with juicy sweetness, and Jonagolds are balanced, with a touch of tang. Early harvests carry the unmistakable taste of fall, when cooler nights sharpen the sugars and crisp mornings bring out the best color. 

Apples have deep roots in human culture —symbols of knowledge, abundance, and even mischief. From ancient orchards along the Silk Road in Kazhakstan, to Johnny Appleseed planting seeds across early colonized America, they’ve long been celebrated as a fruit of both story and sustenance. 

Our growers, from Northern and Central California,  or Eastern Washington’s earliest blocks—are sending in apples that are as beautiful as they are delicious. It’s a short window for some varieties, so now’s the time to celebrate the crunch of the season’s first apples. 

New & Exciting 

Apple: Jonagold apples from Pinnacle are here!  Sweet-tart with honey notes, they’re also gorgeous on the stand. We’ve got Gala apples from both Cuyama Orchards and First Fruits at a fantastic price.    

Mango: California Keitt mangos have arrived! Kiett mangos are the grand finale of mango season, with smooth green skin that stays green even when ripe. Their impressive size and long shelf life make them a standout for late-summer displays.  

Bean: Dwelley Family Farms, a family-run operation since 1921, is keeping us stocked with green beans –crisp, flavorful, and priced right. Romano, French, and yellow beans are also available; each one delivers that “just picked” snap. 

Lemongrass: Jacobs Farm lemongrass is back, this time available in 1# packs.

Mushroom: Golden chanterelle and lobster mushrooms are here—wild, woodsy, and tailor-made for fall displays and menus.

Spring Onions: Red and white spring onions from Sun Valley are here! Fresh, aromatic, and colorful, perfect for brightening early fall stands. 

Hard Squash: Is it really almost Halloween already? Pinnacle is starting up with Sugar Pies, getting us in the holiday spirit early! 

Pear: California Bosc have arrived—russet skins, dense flesh, and that classic honeyed depth.

Promotable 

Apple: Washington Honeycrisp (Premier variety) is in now, with the main crop expected mid-month.  We’ve still got California Granny Smith apples from Ferrari Farms and Viva Tierra continue to deliver their classic tart snap.

Avocado : Hass supply steady on larger sizes.

Basil: Strong supply and excellent quality, with vibrant color and aromatic punch. Consistent case volume makes it a reliable add-on for tomato sets, caprese promotions, and summer menu features. 

Baby Broccoli: A bright spot amid broccoli shortages — plentiful supply from multiple growers, tender and highly promotable.

Beet: Early fall says beets right? Bagged red beets from Veliz Organic Family Farm are abundant, with bunched beets also available from Coke Farm. 

Berry:  Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries oh my! It’s an awesome time to load up on berries. Blueberries are looking great juuust before their season winds down.  

Brussels Sprout: Steady supply from Lakeside Organic Gardens with sharp pricing—perfect for promotions. 

Corn: The last of the local corn from Dwelley Family Farms is moving through—get it while you can! Additional growers will be coming on soon. 

Eggplant: Plenty of supply with sharp pricing. Globes are in from JAS and Coke Farm with specialty striped and Calliope varieties also available. Let’s go!   

Kiwi: Steady supply from New Zealand, with California kiwis on the horizon.

Lettuce: Red butter and red leaf are abundant, with excellent color and crunch—a staple for any customer! 

Melon: Still plenty of action in melon land, so let’s keep sprinting! Seedless watermelon bins are available, with strong supply on honeydew and mini seedless watermelons. Don’t snooze on the specialty melons—seasonal favorites like Canary, Athena, Ambrosia, and Piel de Sapo from Full Belly Farm couldn’t be sweeter. 

Carrot: Veliz Organic Family Farm has bulk bagged carrots and bunched carrots from Sunrise and Givens are crisp and local. 

Pear:  We’ve got loads of Asian pears from Earthseed Farm and Bucktown Roots so let’s throw some support at our local growers.  Demand for all Asian pears increases every season as more folks discover them. Red Starkrimson pears from Columbia Gorge bring a floral sweetness and vibrant color. And don’t forget to order up on some California Bosc and Bartlett!   

Pepper: Green, orange, and red bells are in from both California and Mexico and priced to move. Yellow bells are tighter out of California, but arriving steadily from Mexico. Poblanos from Veliz Organic Family Farm and Rundle Family Farms are looking strong and tasting great. 🌶 Fun fact: Poblano peppers get their name from Puebla, Mexico, where they originated. When dried, they’re called ancho chiles—a staple in classic mole sauces. 

Hard Squash: We’ve got beautiful and seasonally-appropriate acorn squash priced to move.  And it’s not too early to load up on Delicata, Kabocha, Spaghetti, or Butternut.   

Soft Squash: Gold zucchini from Oya Organics is looking excellent. JAS has steady supply on straight necks, and scallopini are coming in strong. 

Stone Fruit: The season isn’t over yet! We still have plums and pluots from Blossom Bluff Orchards, plus yellow peaches to round out late-summer sets. And starting Thursday of next week, we’ll also be receiving yellow peaches and yellow nectarines from Washington. 

Tomato: Mixed cherries and heirlooms from Veliz Organic Family Farm, Coke Farm, Terra Firma Farm, and Capay Organic are plentiful and priced to move—let’s support our local growers! Roma tomatoes from Sunrise and Riverdog Farm are steady, and Mexican beefsteaks remain consistent. 

Limited or Gapping 

• Apple: Cosmic Crisp supply is dwindling fast- we’ve got bigger sizes in house that are looking great. Cripps Pink apples from New Zealand are still here but they are tightening up quickly. Ferrari Farms has one last pack-out of Fuji before Washington Early Fuji kicks off mid-month. 
• Avocado Hass are severely restricted on smaller fruit, a trend that will continue till the end of the year. 
• Broccoli: Both bunched and crowns are very limited.   
• Citrus: Valencia oranges are tightening as the season wraps up, and grapefruits are  limited. 
• Coconut: Retail packs of coconut chunks will be gapping for another week or two.  
• Cucumber: Persian cukes are limited.   
• Grapes: While Red & Green seedless should keep going until the rains come, specialty varieties are wrapping up for the season. Expect about another week for Bronx, Concord, Globe, and Rugby grapes, while heirloom Thompsons should run for three more weeks. Thomcords will stick around for a couple more weeks as well. 
• Greens: Radicchios are on fire! Both Chioggia and Treviso are in-house with excellent color and condition. Salad kits from Josie’s Organics will be gapping, but we’ll be filling in with Earthbound Farm and Taylor Farms.   
• Herbs: Makrut lime leaves are gapping.  
• Pear: Abate Fetel is limited. 
• Peas: Very limited. 

Done for the Season 

• Grape:  Lots of winding down happening in the grape category 🙁.  We’re saying a jammy goodby to Concord grapes from both Murray Family Farms and Heinke’s Family Farm.  The last fiery clusters of Flame grapes have been picked at Capay Canyon.  And Marian Farms’ Hamburg Muscat Grapes are an exotic, perfumy memory.   
• Dragonfruit is done harvesting and exporting from Ecuador for the season.   
• Mexican Ataulfo Mangos – gone until next spring. 
• Seeded watermelon bins from Rundle Family Farms are done for the season.