Transitioning into Summer

We’re fully in summer mode across the produce aisle—stone fruit is eating great, berries are steady, and grilling items are moving strong. There are still a few gaps as growing regions shift north, but plenty of promotable opportunities to lean into right now, along with early fall items starting to show up. See below for what’s new, what’s moving, and what to plan around this week.

New & Exciting!

Basil: 24-count bunches are back from Jacob’s Farm and Live Earth Farm. Perfect to merchandise with heirloom tomatoes!

Coral Champagne Cherry: These cherries are grown by LaPierre Farms in Yakima, Washington and are eating exceptionally well. Large and glossy with a firm bite; they deliver outstanding sweetness and rich, classic cherry flavor.

Galaxy Donut Peach: Donut peaches are back and bringing plenty of summer charm. Their distinctive, flat shape, sweet white flesh, and low acidity make them a customer favorite, and an easy impulse add in stone fruit displays.

Hard Squash: California new-crop hard squash is beginning to arrive, including Acorn, Carnival, Spaghetti, and Green Kabocha varieties. With vibrant color, excellent eating quality, and strong shelf life, these early-season arrivals offer a great opportunity to build fall programs ahead of peak demand.

Northwest Potatoes: Fresh-crop red and yellow potatoes from Bouchey are arriving from the Northwest with excellent quality and appearance. Smooth skins, rich flavor, and consistent sizing make them a dependable choice for all your summer cooking needs.

Rundle Watermelon: The wait is over—Rundle Family Farms watermelon season is officially underway. Sweet, crisp, and packed with quintessential summer watermelon flavor, these melons have developed a loyal following year after year. Bins are available for Mini Seedless, Sugar Baby (mini seeded), full-size Seeded, full-size Seedless and #2 Seeded and Seedless, making it easy to build impactful summer displays

Speciality Watermelon from County Line Harvest

• Golda: A true showstopper, Golda features striking golden-yellow striped skin that stands out in any display. Inside, bright red flesh delivers firm texture and exceptional sweetness, offering customers a unique watermelon experience.
• Orange Crisp: Combines dark green striped skin with beautiful seedless orange flesh. Crisp, juicy, and exceptionally sweet with subtle tropical notes; this variety offers something unexpected for customers looking to explore beyond traditional, red-fleshed melons.

Specialty Bean: Add color, texture, and variety to your bean selection with these specialty favorites. Cranberry beans offer beautiful, mottled pods and a rich, nutty flavor, while French beans provide slender elegance and tenderness. Romano beans are broad, meaty, and perfect for grilling or sautéing. Yellow Wax beans bring bright color and mild sweetness to seasonal displays and mixed bean programs.

Specialty Grape: Specialty grape season is just around the corner, with Sweet Romance and Thomcord expected to be the first arrivals from Murray Family Farms. Sweet Romance offers crisp texture and exceptional sweetness, while Thomcord combines the juicy flavor of Concord grapes with the convenience of a seedless variety. These customer-favorite grapes tend to move quickly, so now is a good time to start thinking about making room in your displays as specialty grape season ramps up. Available in 9 count pouches or 12 count paper totes.

Spring Onion: Back after a short gap!

Summer Flowers: Bring a burst of summer color to the floral department with fresh Dahlia, Zinnia, and Marigold straight pack bouquets. Featuring vibrant blooms in a mix of bold seasonal hues, these locally grown bouquets offer excellent visual impact and are perfect for brightening displays.

Yellow Onion Bag: Check out the new 16 x 3-lb mesh bags from Rundle Family Farms. A great grab-and-go option for shoppers and an easy retail-ready item for the produce department.

Promotable

Avocado: Looking for value without sacrificing quality? Gem avocados continue to offer an excellent alternative to Hass, with the same rich, creamy flavor and appearance customers expect. The variety tends to size larger, is more drought tolerant, and is currently available at attractive pricing. We’re also seeing sharp pricing and strong volume on 48-count Hass avocados from Las Palmalitas Ranch.

Bi-Color Corn: Summer corn season is here! Sweet, juicy bi-color corn from Terra Firma and Dwelley Farms is arriving with excellent flavor and tender kernels. Order ahead of the 4^th of July rush for this essential grilling item.

Blackberry: Mimi’s Organic Farms blackberries continue to impress with deep color, excellent sweetness, and consistent quality. Grown in Salinas by Domitila Tapia and her family, these berries are expected to be available through November, providing a long window for promotions and seasonal berry displays.

Heirloom Tomato: Colorful, flavorful, and ready to move. Heirloom tomato supplies are abundant, with strong volume coming out of Mexico and pricing at some of the lowest levels we have seen this season. Their unique shapes, vibrant colors, and rich tomato flavor make them an easy choice for summer displays and foodservice menus. Straight packs of Chocolate Stripe, Purple Cherokee, Brandywine varieties are also coming on.

Little Gem Lettuce: Small in size but big on versatility, Little Gem lettuce combines the crisp crunch of romaine with the sweet, tender texture of butter lettuce. A great hearty alternative while the Romaine market is tight!

Nectarine: Summer stone fruit season is hitting its stride, and yellow and white nectarines are eating beautifully. Strong supplies and seasonal demand create excellent promotional opportunities. All sizes available!

Seedless Grape: California-grown red Ruby Rush and green Sweet Globe grapes are now available and tasting great. Crisp texture, excellent sweetness, and promotable pricing make this an ideal time to feature grapes in displays, grab-and-go programs, and summer snacking promotions. Murray Family Farms specialty grapes are just starting up!

Strawberry: Strawberry supplies remain plentiful with excellent volume available. California berries are showing great color, flavor, and size. Stock up ahead of the 4^th of July holiday weekend!

Zucchini and Specialty Squash: Summer squash season is in full swing with strong supplies of Zucchini, Mixed squash, Crookneck, and Gold Bar varieties. Their bright colors, versatility, and strong value make them ideal for grilling promotions, seasonal recipes, and eye-catching summer displays.

Limited

California Brussel Sprouts: Very limited; Mexican-grown more readily available.

Chile Pepper: None available; gapping.

Fig: Breva crop will be ending soon and the main crop from Maywood is not expected to be ready until mid-July. Expect a gap in supply.

Honeycrisp Apple: Very expensive; limited availability.

Jalapeno: The season is just starting; supply will improve.

Mango: Transitioning from the Oaxaca growing region to Nayarit; supply is tight.

Melon: Cantaloupe, Honeysaurus, and Honeydew are transitioning from desert growing regions north to the Central Valley. Supply is extremely limited during this period.

Pea: Still limited.

Pluot/Plums: Becoming more available but the overall pluot crop is short.

Radish: Weather and pest pressure continue to challenge supply.

Retail Herbs: Dill, Oregano, Marjoram and Sage are all transitioning from Mexico to California; supply may be tighter.

Romaine: Limited due to INSV and aphid pressure but fortunately, we’re seeing some relief from smaller growers. Romaine hearts remain tight and high priced.

Done for the Season

Calendula Bouquet

Navel Orange

Pixie Tangerine: winding down

Riced Cauliflower: Josie’s Organics has discontinued this item.

Knoll Farm Greens such as mixed Rapini and Arugula.