Tangy, sweet, and perfectly sized for snacking, mandarins, which include Satsumas, Tangerines, and Clementines, have become a beloved group of citrus fruits. With over 500 varieties ranging in size, color and flavor, all mandarins share a few key traits: they’re generally smaller than oranges and have loose pebbly skin. Bred for sweetness and fewer seeds over hundreds of years, recent demand has rocketed for easy to peel ‘zipper-skin’ types, making them a convenient and delicious choice. 

Fun Fact: “Tangerine” originally referred to deeply colored mandarins exported from Tangier, Morocco as far back as the 1700’s, giving the fruit its name. 

Mandarins are one of the five original citrus types from which all other citrus fruits are descended. (Pomelo is another grandparent). Native to South China and still crazy popular throughout Asia, mandarins were brought west ward by Arab botanists dedicated to breeding their favorites. In the early 1800s, several varieties were adopted by Mediterranean growers, especially in North Africa and Italy. The Italians brought them to New Orleans, and Florida became the hub of commercial production, with Dancy the most popular type. Today, California produces over 90% of our country’s mandarin crop; the season generally runs November through January. 

Fun Fact: In Japan there are over 100 varieties of Satsumas alone. 

The Inside Scoop

The Wax Factor 

Many organic fruits and vegetables naturally produce their own protective wax. Some apples will develop a waxy skin the longer they are in storage. But some items benefit from an additional coating of food-grade wax. This helps seal in freshness and extend shelf life. Citrus and cucumbers are the most commonly waxed: citrus receives a light application, while cucumbers are often heavily waxed, especially during the winter months.  

Waxes approved for use on organic produce must be food-grade and must contain non-synthetic materials. Petroleum-based ingredients, preservatives, or fungicides are not allowed. Check out B&J Ranch citrus this season—all fruit from this farm is 100% unwaxed. 

New & Exciting! 

Citrus 

New citrus arrivals are rolling in, bringing bold flavors, bright colors, and plenty of seasonal excitement. Sweetness will continue to improve as the season goes on.

African Shaddock Pomelo (right): A standout of early citrus season—huge, aromatic, and beautifully balanced. Juicy, fragrant with mild sweet tart flavor. Low acidity. The flesh is a lovely pale yellow or pink color. 

Daisy Tangerine: Sweet and tart flavor with hints of spice and beautiful high-red orange color. Extremely easy to peel and contains very few seeds.  Coming soon from Buck Brand. 

Fairchild Tangerine: One of the sweetest varieties of tangerines. Rich and sweet—perfect for juicing or eating fresh. Watch out for the seeds; the flavor is worth it though!   

Red Globe Pomelo: Delivers a bright, floral sweetness layered with gentle berry notes and a clean, citrusy tang, making it one of the most aromatic and flavorful pomelos of the season. 

Rio Red Grapefruit: The season has started for Rio Red grapefruit from B&J Ranch, an exclusive VV grower. Flavor is sweet with pleasant tanginess. Fruit from this grower is simply the best!  

Fun Fact: Higher vitamin C content is indicated by tangy tartness in citrus (and all fruit). 

Kumquat: Both Meiwa and Nagami are coming on. Meiwa are sweeter with milder tartness and rounder in shape. This variety can be eaten out of hand, skin and all. Nagami are oblong and much tarter, so often used for making preserves and marmalades.    

Fun Fact: Kumquat skin is the sweetest part of the fruit.  

MacArthur Avocado: Only available for a very limited time, from Las Palmalitas Ranch, these greenskins are huge in size with an oil content & flavor much like Hass. Enjoy these nutty, long-necked heirlooms while you can! 

Mango: Ecuadorian Kent and Tommy Atkins have arrived! Kents are juicy and smooth with low fiber and balanced tropical flavor. Tommy Atkins bring firm texture, vibrant color, and that classic, bright mango tang customers recognize. 

Rambutan (left): Grown by a family farm in Guatemala, this tropical fruit is a close cousin to Lychee and Longan, with a sweet, very floral, delicate flavor. The texture is hard to describe, similar to a snappy grape. To enjoy, split the skin and peel it back to get to the juicy white fruit inside. Don’t worry, the spines look intimidating, but are rubbery, soft and bend back easily. The large black seed inside is inedible, but easy to slide off the delightful flesh.   

Red Walnut: Creamier texture and milder taste than familiar brown skinned walnuts. The nutmeat has a gorgeous mahogany color and is a true conversation starter. These nuts have a higher oil content and are more nutritious! A real winter treat!   

Wild Mushrooms: Lots of new wild mushrooms available for preorder including Porcini, Violet Chanterelle, Gold Chanterelle and Matsutake. Porcini are dense, earthy, and deeply aromatic—perfect for rich sautés and brothy dishes. Violet Chanterelles bring a striking color and a delicate, fruity-woodsy flavor, while Gold Chanterelles offer that classic apricot aroma and velvety texture chefs love. Matsutake mushrooms bring an unmistakable piney, spicy aroma and earthy depth that turns even simple dishes into something magical.  

Wild Twist Apple: The explosively juicy crunch of Honeycrisp combined with the intricate flavor of Cripps Pink creates an experience you won’t want to miss. 

Promotable 

Bacon Avocado: Supply should be good for at least a month on these yummy domestic greenskin favorites. Bacons run to the large size, so plan your needs ahead with your Account Manager to reserve the size you prefer.  

Cabbage: Green, Napa and Savoy readily available from Rundle Family Farms. Supply is expected to be steady for several weeks.  

Cosmic Crisp Apple: A cross between a Honeycrisp and an Enterprise, these apples are large and strikingly red, with a sweet-tart balance, and refreshing flavor. The name comes from the impression that their ruby red color, with little specks of yellow, looks like a brilliant night sky. This variety is slow to oxidize, making it ideal for fresh recipes: salads, cheese boards or cut up for snacking!  Fantastic deal for holiday promotions!

Hard Squash: Hard squash remains highly promotable, with classic favorites like Acorn,  Butternut, Delicata and Sugar Pie standing out for their rich flavor, versatility and excellent shelf life—perfect for roasting, baking, and holiday menus. Other specialty varieties such as Black Futsu, Red Kuri (left), Orangetti, and Blue Hubbard are also gaining popularity for their unique tastes and eye-catching colors, offering customers more options for creative dishes. Talk to your Account Manager for recommendations! 

Maple Sugar Candy: What Chanukah candy bowl or Christmas stocking would be complete without some wholesome nutritious USA-made maple candy? Six-piece ‘grab & go’ packages perfect for the holidays!   

Onion: Good supply on Yellow onion and Sweet Yellow Jumbo. It’s not too early to start ordering for December holidays. Volume deals available! 

Fuyu Persimmon: Delicate sweet flavor with cinnamon undertones. Enjoy while firm and crunchy! Plenty of supply on 1-layer, volume-fill and 125-pound bins!

Radicchio: In the winter months, chicories are a delicious alternative to lettuces. Delectable raw or cooked—each variety offers their own unique taste and texture that elevate both salads and savory dishes. Chioggia and Treviso are known for their vibrant dark crimson leaves. Their bitter flavor mellows,  and actually becomes sweet when grilled or roasted. Castelfranco (right) has pale tender green leaves with specks and splotches of burgundy—truly beautiful and very mild tasting! Rosa is a stunning pink variety with soft, elegant bitterness and delicate, tender leaves.  Look for these leafy greens under “Greens Radicchio” on our list!  

Roots: It’s time to turnip the beet on bagged roots!  Availability is excellent with a wide range of varieties to choose from: Celery Root, Sunchoke, Beets, Turnip, Daikon, Parsnip, Radish and more. Bagged roots are easier to handle and merchandise while also providing convenience to shoppers by saving prep time. 

Sweet Potato: Garnet, Japanese Murasaki, and Jewel are in great supply with uber-sharp pricing. 

Limited 

Celery: Blight issues impacting supply; prices are up post-holiday. 

Hachiya Persimmon: Will be done any minute now 

Orange & Red Bell Pepper: Very limited; prices have spiked. 

Passionfruit: Cold weather and heavy rains are slowing down the picking schedules but fruit is still on the vine, from Edulis Gardens, Foothill Organics and Las Palmalitas.  

Pomegranate: Winding down quickly.  

Rainbow Carrot 

Tomato: The protests are over and the border is now back open. One layer tomatoes are steady but prices are heading up. Roma is extremely limited. Expect to see some relief in price and more availability next week. Lean into mixed heirlooms which are readily available! 

Yellow Creamer Potato: Gapping.