California-Grown Heirloom Tomatoes

California-grown heirloom tomatoes are rolling in, and the colors, shapes, and flavors are as wild and wonderful as ever.
Unlike many modern red slicers developed to be sturdy but sacrificing nuanced flavor, heirlooms are open-pollinated varieties passed down through generations. Their appeal lies not just in their rainbow hues and gnarled good looks, but in their deep, complex flavor—sweet, tangy, earthy, and sometimes even smoky, depending on the variety. These ‘olde timey’ varieties are all about ‘garden-fresh’ personality, not built for uniformity.

Right now, we’re seeing beautiful mixed heirlooms from Capay Organic, Coke Farms, Comanche Creek, Terra Bella, and Terra Firma Farms. For something fun and unexpected, look for Pineapple tomatoes from Sunrise Organic Farm—yellow-gold with red marbling and a low-acid, tropical sweetness. Berkeley Tie-Dye from Terra Firma adds a psychedelic swirl of green, red, and orange with rich, savory flavor. And of course, treasured favorites like Cherokee Purple are back with their dusky skin and unforgettable depth of flavor. And don’t forget the fully red and meaty Beefsteak, popular since the late 1800’s, and everyone’s pick for tomato sandwiches.

Heirlooms are delicate, juicy, and best enjoyed raw—sliced thick on toast, layered in a caprese, or simply sprinkled with salt. Keep them on the counter (never in the fridge!) and handle with care—they bruise easily but reward richly.

Fun Fact: The term “heirloom” in tomatoes has no single definition, but is generally used for varieties that are at least 50 years old and passed down through open pollination rather than hybridization. Some varieties go back hundreds of years, and seeds have been saved for generations.

Whether you love them for their looks, their history, or their flavor, heirloom season is a true summer highlight.

New & Exciting!

Grape: Red Rush grapes are an early-season red seedless variety known for their bright color, crisp bite, and mild, sweet flavor. They tend to size well early and offer a clean, juicy eating experience—perfect for kicking off grape season.

More great grapes: We are pleased to offer Murray Family Farm’s specialty high profile super sweet hybrids, just starting up, such as Thomcord (concord & Thompson cross) Sweet Romance (concord & muscat cross), and Sweet Sunshine a new green seedless.  The Murray family specializes in these new hybrids and this season have packed in fiber baskets with handles for green-minded customer grab & go!

Melon: Lots of fun, flavorful varieties are popping up in melon land! Look for crisp, snackable Sugar Babies; creamy, Sweet Goddess melons; classic Golden Honeydew; and the standout Orange Honeydew—a vibrant twist on tradition with rich golden flesh and smooth, mellow sweetness. With their high water content and peak-season flavor, these California-grown melons are the ultimate summer refresher. And don’t forget our new seeded Black Queen watermelon in bins, from Rundle Family Farms and their reliable and delicious Galia and Green Honeydew.

Bunched Rainbow Beets: A stunning bunch of golden, red, and candy-striped Chioggia beets. Earthy, sweet, and nutrient-rich—roast, pickle, or shred raw into slaws and salads!

Promotable

 Basil: Bulk basil looking great—promote! Perfect for pairing with peak-season heirloom tomatoes for classic summer caprese or fresh sauces.

Berries: With these long summer days nothing is better than berries! Strawberry volume is strong, with good supply coming from Coke Farms, Tomatero, and   Valley Farms—all showing solid quality and flavor. Blueberries are now arriving from the Pacific Northwest under the La Pierre label, with steady availability. Raspberries from AG Berry continue to come in strong, and Mimi’s Organic Farms Blackberries are holding steady with firm, flavorful fruit. It’s berry time!

Celery: LOTS of celery available with great prices.  Get it while it lasts.

Carrots: we’ve got great volume on table carrots from beloved Veliz Organic Farm.

Dates: Our pecan date rolls are a delicious treat—sweet, nutty, and satisfying. Add a few to your next order!

Fennel: Blue Heron Farms fennel is absolutely gorgeous right now—bulbs are fresh, fragrant, and full of sweet, anise-like flavor. A beautiful addition to any summer veg set.

Hass Avocado: Las Palmalitas Ranch in Santa Barbara area is peaking in quality popular sizes. Ask your Acct manager for best deals.

Pluots: We’ve got Early Dapple Dandy pluots in stock! This is one of the first pluot varieties to arrive each season, known for its speckled skin, vibrant red flesh, and juicy, sweet-tart flavor. They eat like a candy-sweet plum with just enough acidity to keep things interesting. Beautiful and bold—don’t miss this early-season standout!

Squash: It’s a great time of year for zucchini deals! California-grown zucchini from Coke Farms and Comanche Creek is in peak form—glossy, tender, and coming in with promotable pricing. From classic green to Comanche’s striking gold zucchini (AKA gold bars), these summer staples are perfect for grilling, sautéing, or spiralizing into noodles.

Pepper: The first of the California mini sweet peppers are in and looking gorgeous in every shade of red, orange, and yellow. Crunchy, sweet, and great raw or roasted, they’re priced to move.

Specialty: Red-skinned dragon fruit—priced to move! Vibrant, eye-catching, and mildly sweet, these tropical beauties are perfect for fruit bowls, smoothies, or a striking garnish. Flesh is white, and speckled with edible seeds, like kiwi fruit. Supply is strong from Ecuador, and quality is excellent—now’s the time!

Limited or Gapping

• Apple: Domestic apples are slowing down. Cosmic Crisps and Fuji’s are ending soon, prices are going up.
• Broccoli: Broccoli crowns are limited.
• Citrus: Lemon supply is tightening up fast, and prices are going up. Valencia crops are tight this year across the board, and pricing is increasing.
• Tomato: Hot house tomatoes-on-the-vine are steady, but demand is high. Supply is limited on 2-layer tomatoes, and pricing may remain elevated until more volume comes on.
• Figs: Gapping until August.
• Lemongrass: Very limited, though we do have clamshells available!

Done for the Season

• Japanese Eggplant from Rundle Family Farms
• Reed Avocado
• California-grown Bing Cherry