We’re coming to you live from the Central Coast, where the fog is lifting, the fields are full, and the strawberries are not waiting for anyone.

Conditions on the ground: excellent. Volume is strong from Watsonville down to Santa Maria. Quality is the kind that makes you stop in your tracks. Fragrant, beautiful shape, and deep red all the way!

Recent warm weather has helped drive sweetness, making for a great early-season profile. Strawberries do not ripen after harvest. That means the flavor you’re tasting right now is the real thing.

Tip: Strawberries taste best at room temperature. Cold mutes the flavor.

The arrival of Spring also brings spring showers. Rain forecasted next week may temporarily impact yields and quality.  We expect the disruption to be temporary and conditions to return to normal once fields dry out, but as always, flexibility is key when dealing with Mother Nature!

Spring menus, Easter brunch, dessert tables, healthy snacks—get ready!  This is peak strawberry season!

Coming Soon!

Stonefruit: Valliwide reports a great fruit set and expects a strong season ahead for peaches and nectarines.

Cherry: Delta Organics and Murray Farm early cherries are coming along, and may be ready by the third week of April (if we’re lucky)! Ferrari’s Royal Tioga should be here by May 1^st . We are excited!

Fava: Expected to be a little more limited this season but delicious, nonetheless.

Green Zucchini: California-grown starting soon but as always, it’s dependent on the weather.

New Crop Red Potato: Freshly harvested!

New & Exciting

Asparagus: With Easter right around the corner, this is a great moment to highlight California-grown asparagus. Supply will be limited due to rain on the forecast. Remind your buyers: Durst Organic Farm, Yolo County is one of the last remaining organic asparagus growers! 

Horseradish (left): Freshly dug and gorgeous horseradish now available from Knoll Farms. This root comes complete with (or without) vibrant leafy green tops! Horseradish is an essential ingredient for Passover, which starts at sundown on April 1st, ending April 9th.

New Crop Yellow Potato: New crop potatoes are generally dug before they’re fully mature. This gives their flesh a creamy, tender texture and a sweet flavor. They’re also higher in moisture and lower in starch. These freshly harvested ‘spuds are appreciated for their tenderness and subtle flavor.

Pea Greens: Pea greens are here and they are delightful  spring energy — delicate, sweet, crisp, and wildly versatile. A chef’s darling that’s equally at home in a composed salad or a quick sauté. How about replacing shredded plastic in your Eco Edible Easter basket?

Pear: Three new exciting import varieties are here!

• Abate Fetel: An elegant, elongated European variety with a delicate, honeyed flavor. A great specialty upsell while it lasts; supply is limited this year.
• Durondeau: A Belgian heirloom variety — buttery, aromatic, and genuinely rare. This is a one-shot, very limited window. If you love specialty pears, don’t miss this one!
  
• Red Bartlett: Classic Bartlett sweetness and juicy texture, dressed in a lovely ruby skin.

Snap Pea: Oh snap!  Local California growers, Comanche Creek Luna’s Farm are coming on with their spring crop. Snap ‘em up!

Promotable

Artichoke (left): Good volume and quality! Earthy, nutty, and versatile — artichokes are a natural fit for spring menus. Now’s the time to lean in.

Cherimoya (right): AKA the Custard Apple.  A sweet, tropical fruit with creamy texture; the flavor is similar to banana and pineapple. Eat when soft and skin is dark, like an avocado. We like to eat it chilled and with a spoon like ice cream! Also fun to bake, cut in half and roast until caramelly!

Fun Fact: Cherimoya was once fondly called ‘Dinosaur Eggs’ because of their mythical appearance. Load up for the upcoming holiday; Perfect for Easter baskets!

Hass Avocado: California season is finally in full swing; check out great deals for Las Palmalitas Ranch fruit. Exceptional quality and flavor!

Ruby Grapefruit: Still at its peak — juicy, vibrant, and sweet with a bright tang. Ideal for breakfast, salads, or cocktail menus. Don’t sleep on this one.

Strawberry: Excellent volume and beautiful quality from the California coast. This is the moment — build the displays, run the promotions, and let the berries speak for themselves.

Limited

Basil

Blackberry: Some spotty supply because of the heat, but anticipating more availability moving forward.

Cucumber: Mexico is between plantings — expect some gaps until the next crop comes in. Persian and English are limited. We are seeing some relief on Slicers.

Delicata Squash: We may see some gaps in Delicata, market is tightening up and supply is limited.

Green Bean: None available at this time. This gap also impacts fresh-cut beans. California green beans will start up soon out of Coachella. About a month out.

Lime: Price remains high.

Mini Seedless Watermelon: Very limited

Passionfruit: Supply is intermittent right now, but there is still fruit on the vine.

Raspberry: Gapping out of Mexico. Nothing local available yet.

Roma Tomato: None available until middle of April

Sweet Pepper Medley Pack: Gapping.

Done for the Season

Radicchios: Winding down