Now that the Equinox has passed, Fall is officially here, and the produce aisle got the memo. Heirloom apples are rolling in, hard squash is stacking up, and quince is back to perfume the fruit display. Summer isn’t done yet, though. Figs, dry-farmed Early Girls, Heirloom tomatoes and Thompson grapes are still in strong demand, so this is a sweet spot to run both seasons side by side. Enjoy it while it lasts, because the rain will have the final say. 

See below for what’s new, what’s moving, and what to plan around for the coming weeks. 

New & Exciting! 

Apple: Lots of heirloom varieties coming on: Philo Gold from Apple Farm, Golden Delicious (left) from Green Gorge Farm, Elstar from Oz Farm, Spitzenberg from New Moon Farms and more! Check out our availability list for a complete selection of heirlooms. Don’t sleep on the MacIntosh Apple. This comeback variety has tender, juicy flesh with a distinctive sweet-tart flavor. A treasured favorite in Canada and the East Coast!

Blue Hokkaido Squash (right): A standout Japanese kabocha-type squash with blue-gray skin, a flattened shape and lightly ribbed surface. Inside, the thick orange flesh is sweet, hearty and versatile enough for savory dishes or desserts. Makes a great pie! 

Bumblebee Cherry Tomato: Bee-utiful and eye-catching, these colorful variegated cherries are sure to catch some buzz. Purple is purple-red, while Sunshine brings a mix of red, yellow and orange to the display. 

Peruvian-grown Blueberry: Peruvian blueberry season has started! Plump, sweet and juicy, these berries are a welcome transition as we move into the import blueberry season. While 6-ounce clamshells are already here, pints are not yet available. 

Quince: A great specialty fruit to bring in for fall displays—firm and fragrant, with rosy color and rich, honeyed flavor once cooked. Poach, bake or turn it into preserves, jams and jellies. The quince from Jelich Ranch is beautiful with superb quality! Pineapple Quince is a different variety from Rancho Appleseed, fragrant and floral with a subtle pineapple aroma.  

Celebrate GROW Month!

September is GROW Month! We are partnering with Organics Unlimited to bring awareness to the GROW (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers) banana program. The GROW program benefits underserved communities in banana growing regions of Mexico and Ecuador through the sale of fairly traded organic bananas. Available exclusively from Organics Unlimited, GROW label bananas are all organic. 

Learn more about the GROW banana program\ and download a GROW toolkit for in-store promotions. 

Promotable 

Asian Pear: The season is still going with California and Oregon supply going for a little longer. Kosui, Niitaka, Olympic, Shinko and Ya-Li are available. We are offering an ancient ‘heirloom’ variety Tsu Li, new to us. Get ‘em while you can! 

Date: New crop California-grown Medjools have arrived! Available in bulk and clamshell pack, they are fresh and tender. Other yummy varieties, like Halawi & Khadrawi are being harvested now.

Dry-Farmed Early Girl Tomato: Steady volume from Blue House and Jacob’s Farm. These small-to-medium tomatoes have intense flavor, with concentrated sweetness and the rich, classic tomato taste that make Early Girls a cult favorite. 

Hard Squash: Hard squash is in good supply, with many varieties to choose from: Acorn, Butternut, Carnival, Hokkaido, Delicata, Red Kuri, Spaghetti and Sugar Pie Pumpkin. A solid mix for fall displays, from familiar favorites to specialty varieties. Need a bin? We have standard and fancy mixes available for preorder. 

Hass Avocado: Readily available from Las Palmalitas and Eco Farms. From 40 count to 70 count we got ’em, with terrific prices! Keep your shelves stocked with rich, nutritious, delicious late-season Hass.  

Slicer Cucumber: Prices have dropped significantly. Volume deals available. 

Sweetie Apple: CA-grown, crisp, juicy and naturally sweet, with just enough tartness to keep things balanced. A cross between Royal Gala and Braeburn, Sweeties are an easy crowd-pleaser. 

Thompson Seedless Grape: Marian Farms’ certified biodynamic Thompson grapes continue to have good volume. Juicy and sweet, they’re a great option for an early fall grape promotion. The amber color is a natural part of this heirloom variety. 

Zucchini: Local and Mexican-grown are both available for Fancy and Medium grade. Quality is strong to keep squash programs well-supplied. 

Limited 

Artichoke: Gapping 

Asparagus: Gapping 

Bunched Gold Beets 

Brussel Sprouts: Gapping. Nothing available until early October. 

Cabbage: Green cabbage supply still scarce. Red cabbage also limited. 

Cauliflower: Availability is improving; prices remain high 

Celery: Limited, prices are up. 

Fig: Unfortunately, the season is wrapping up quickly, even Black Mission are limited, and prices are going up. Jammy & sweet, they are still a fall favorite (until the rains come). 

Honeycrisp Apple: Limited 

Pineapple: Price is going up. 

Peach: The last of the Last Tangos are dancing out the door! 

Raspberry 

Done for the Season 

Black Plum 

Bouchey Farms label Potato crop 

Brown Turkey & Kadota Fig  

Corn 

Grape: Bronx Seedless, Hamburg Muscat 

Locally-grown Cherry Tomato