Peppers are one of the world’s most diverse and versatile produce categories, with a history dating back thousands of years to their origins in the Americas. First cultivated by Indigenous communities, peppers have become a staple ingredient in cuisines around the globe, valued for their wide range of flavors, colors, shapes, and heat levels. From crisp, sweet bell peppers to flavorful specialty varieties and spicy chiles, peppers offer endless culinary possibilities.  

Summer is peak season for showcasing the incredible variety available from our California growers. Classic bell peppers remain a produce department staple, offering a crisp texture, vibrant colors, and naturally sweet flavor that make them a favorite for salads, snacking, roasting, and everyday cooking. 

Specialty peppers bring another layer of excitement to the category. Jimmy Nardello peppers, an Italian heirloom variety brought to the U.S. in the late 1800s, are prized for their thin walls, sweet flavor, and versatility when roasted, grilled, or sautéed. Shishito peppers, a Japanese variety known for their tender texture and piquant flavor, have become a popular appetizer when blistered and simply seasoned with salt. While typically mild, the occasional shishito can bring a surprising bit of heat.  

Beyond specialty varieties, chili peppers like jalapeños add another dimension to the category with their fresh flavor and approachable heat, making them a favorite for salsas, sauces, pickling, stuffing and everyday cooking. 

Whether shoppers are looking for a colorful addition to their meals, a new variety to explore, or a little heat to spice up their lives, peppers offer an opportunity to bring more variety and excitement to summer produce displays. 

Fun Fact: Astronauts grew Hatch chilies on the International Space Station, the first peppers in space! 

Weather Watch 

This season has brought a unique set of challenges for California growers, with extreme weather patterns impacting the timing and quality of several crops. Unseasonably hot temperatures in March and heavy June rains accelerated the start of stone fruit and grape season, with some crops arriving up to two weeks early. These conditions have created unexpected quality pressures, including dry rot and dry flesh in stone fruit.  

This week, another round of high temperatures is forecasted for key growing regions including Salinas and Santa Maria. The prolonged heat wave may impact the quality and shelf life of leafy greens, broccoli, strawberries, and other row crops over the coming weeks. 

Thank you for your support as growers continue to navigate unpredictable conditions and work hard to bring the best possible fruits and vegetables to market. 

New & Exciting! 

Bulk Shallots: Allium lovers unite! California-grown shallots are back. One of the season’s favorite specialty alliums has arrived with its delicate, slightly sweet signature flavor. We’re excited to offer shallots from Rundle Family Farms, John Tobias Farms, and Peri & Sons. Veliz Organic Growers is expected to come on later this season.  

Dry-Farmed Early Girl Tomato (right): Available from beloved Sea Level Farm near Santa Cruz. Intensely flavorful with concentrated sweetness and rich tomato depth. Don’t miss out on this hot summer item! 

Fig: Fig season is officially underway with the arrival of Black Mission figs, known for their deep purple skin, jammy texture, and rich berry-like sweetness. They’re joined by a colorful lineup of specialty varieties, including striped Panache Tiger figs, bright green Kadota figs, petite Violette de Bordeaux figs with their intensely sweet flavor, and eye-catching Candy Stripe figs. With each variety offering its own unique flavor, texture, and appearance, now is the perfect time to showcase the diversity of fresh fig season.  

Gala Apple: New crop from Ferrari Farms in Linden, CA have arrived! Be the first to enjoy these locally-grown apples! 

Gravenstein Apple (left): The first Gravenstein heirloom apples of the season have arrived in limited supply. Crisp with a bright sweet tart flavor, they’re a favorite for fresh eating, baking, and sauce. 

Nopales: Available from Knoll and a great opportunity to bring something unique to the produce set. These cleaned cactus pads have a fresh, slightly tangy flavor and pair well with Mexican ingredients like tomatillos, chiles, and citrus. 

Specialty Beans: More specialty beans available from Dwelley Family Farms including: Cranberry, French, Romano and Yellow. These colorful varieties add texture and visual interest beyond traditional green beans. Try them all for a lovely mixed display.  

Specialty Grapes: The grape category keeps on giving this summer! Check out these new varieties:

• Champagne: Tiny berries with a lovely purple skin, eye catching and supersweet 
• Concord (right): Starting from Heinke, bringing their signature slip-skin texture, deep purple color, and unmistakable  flavor with the nostalgic taste of classic grape juice and jelly. 
• Hamburg Muscat: Arriving soon from Marian Farms and bringing a classic muscat profile with intensely floral aromas, juicy texture, and a sweet, old-world grape flavor. 
• Mayabelle: Tropical flavor with crisp texture. So pretty! 
• Quip: Finger style, green seedless with long slender berries 
• Rugby: Diamond shaped green seedless

Specialty Melon: From the fragrant sweetness of Charentais to the crisp, refreshing flavor of Canary and Piel de Sapo, these specialty varieties offer a delicious alternative to everyday melons and make an eye-catching addition to summer displays. 

Specialty Peppers: We’re turning up the heat with a tasty selection of sweet and hot peppers including mild Anaheims, sweet Jimmy Nardellos, fiery Habaneros, and gorgeous Panamanian Red (left) chilies. From grilling and roasting to blistering in a hot pan, there’s a pepper for every summer menu. 

Sugar Plum: Measuring an impressive 22 to 28 brix, these bite-sized plums are exceptionally sweet with a dense, juicy texture. Also known as Italian plums. 

Sweet Potato: New crop Garnet #1s from AV Thomas are coming on in Jumbo and Medium sizes. We are also introducing a new California label, Attie’s Organics, featuring Garnet Jumbos, Purple, Japanese, and Jewels. 

Promotable 

Bell Peppers: Strong supply is available for orange, yellow, and red bells in Choice grade. With great availability and promotable pricing, this is a good week to build vibrant displays and highlight the variety of uses from fresh snacking to grilling. 

Fun Fact: Colored bells are simply green bells that have been allowed to ripen longer on the plant. 

Broccoli: Supply is strong across the board, with great availability on baby broccoli, crowns, and 14ct cases. Great time to promote!  

Cauliflower: Plenty of volume available. A reliable and versatile staple for fresh displays, prepared foods, and seasonal recipes. 

Grape: Strong supply across totes and pouches in green, red, and black varieties. Check out black Julep which have large Kyoho type berries and green Quip totes which have elongated “fingers.” Crisp and yummy! 

Hass Avocado: Las Palmalitas Ranch has strong availability across all sizes, including both #1s and #2s. Pricing is lower than ever for California grown Hass. The #2s have cosmetic imperfections but eat the same as #1s, making them a strong value option for guacamole, prepared foods, and price-conscious shoppers. 

Mushrooms: A great opportunity to grow your mushroom category this week with strong availability across everyday favorites and specialty varieties. From classic White, Crimini, Shiitake, and Oyster mushrooms to unique offerings like Lion’s Mane, Trumpet Royale, and Maitake, there’s a variety for every shopper, recipe, and menu. Encourage customers to explore beyond the basics and highlight mushrooms as a versatile ingredient for grilling, sautéing, and plant-forward dishes. 

Onion: Small onions from Rundle Family Farms are available now in both yellow and red varieties, packed in convenient 40# cases and 16×3# bags. Their smaller size makes them a great fit for recipes that call for whole onions, from roasting and grilling to braises and sheet pan meals. With excellent quality and a strong value, this is a versatile item to feature. 

Orange Honeydew: Surprise shoppers with this unique melon featuring a smooth honeydew rind and vibrant orange flesh. Exceptionally sweet, juicy, and aromatic, Orange Honeydews are at their best when the rind develops a creamy yellow cast and the blossom end yields slightly to gentle pressure.  

Tomato: It is peak tomato season! Plenty of varieties to build up a stellar tomato display. Ask your Account Manager for recommendations!

• Cherry: Cherry tomato supply is looking strong, with a wide selection of varieties available including Heirloom Medley, Mixed Medley, Red, Sungold, Sweet 100, Sugar Plum and Yellow Nova. From clamshells to open pint and Ready-Cycle pints, we got you covered! 
• Early Girl Saladette: These petite tomatoes pack big flavor with a sweet, balanced acidity and firm bite. Also available ‘dry-farmed’ which concentrates the flavor even more! 
• Heirloom: So many options right now, including straight packs of Solar Flare, Berkeley Tie Dye, Purple Cherokee, Pineapple, Lemon Boy, Costoluto Genovese as well as mixed medley cases.  All heirlooms are California-grown! 

Limited 

Acorn Squash: Gapping 

Bagged Root: Parsnips, turnip, rutabaga and sunchokes are currently gapping. Daikon remains available. 

Berry: Raspberries and blackberries remain tight. Heat is reducing blackberry harvests, while humidity is affecting raspberry quality. 

Elephant Garlic: Gapping 

Greens: Boxed arugula and spinach may be limited or gap intermittently. Hot weather increases field pressure from mildew, which is affecting availability.  

Hawaiian Papaya  

Honeycrisp Apple: Very limited availability and pricing remains high. 

Kent Mango: 10 count no longer available; prices are going up.  

Snap Pea: Very limited. 

Slicer Cucumber: Mexican slicers are limited and pricing continues to climb.  

Specialty Eggplant: None available. Supply should improve when the California season comes on soon. 

Spring Onion 

White Peach 

Yellow Nectarine: Season is winding down faster than expected. Two-layer availability is tightening and the season will likely finish early.

Done for the Season 

D’Anjou Pear 

Rundle Melon: Down to the final pallets of honeydew. . 

White Nectarine