Produce Alerts

What to Expect This July in Your Produce Department

Produce Alerts / July 7, 2021

Summer is hot and so is your produce department with delicious favorites in ready supply. However, there are a few items you should be aware of when ordering products for your store. 

Peddler’s Son has over 30 years of experience providing grocery retailers, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and schools with wholesale produce. With 54,000 square feet of warehouse space and over 30 delivery trucks feeding all of Arizona, we’re the go-to source for produce distribution. Read our article below to learn what you can expect this month in your produce department.

Asparagus

While quality is fair, West coast asparagus is in short supply. Prices are capped out in the west where markets have hit $40 FOB. However, East coast supplies are in fairly good supply with a similar level of quality. Be on the lookout for East coast asparagus in your produce department. 

Raspberries

As people prepared for the 4th of July holiday, raspberries saw some pressure on its pricing and supplies. This is due to the high demand for the item as stores ramped up their ad activity. We’re hoping by mid-July raspberries will see some relief.

Brussels Sprouts 

Brussels Sprouts supply and quality continue to be a risk for produce departments. While the item continues to have solid demand, it faces some quality and supply issues. Fortunately, by the end of July, we anticipate they will improve.

Honeydew

Honeydew is in high demand due to customers expecting an array of melon options in their produce department. However, very few honeydews have been grown this season in the desert and even less have been crossing through Nogales. This has resulted in a lower supply and strong pricing is expected to continue over the next few weeks.   

Mushrooms

The mushroom industry is facing a labor shortage, as well as cost inflation increasing raw materials. The price increases in freights nationally have also impacted the cost to mushroom producers. Pricing for these products may increase as a result.

Bell Peppers

While pricing for red and yellow bell peppers is increasing, green varieties are trending down. There is a lot of production coming out of Florida, Georgia, the Carolina’s, California, and Mexico. With production in New Jersey soon starting up, there will be a lot of pressure on pricing. 

Squash

Prices for Green and Yellow Squash are trending significantly higher this week. While production is strong in a number of states, quality is ranging from poor to fair. Currently, demand is exceeding the squash supply. 

Stock Your Produce Department with Peddler’s Son Wholesale Produce

Peddler’s Son has provided Arizona businesses with quality wholesale produce for over 30 years. We are committed to customer service, quality, and honest pricing to ensure our customers get the best products and provisions possible. As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor, we provide our services to everyone from the produce department to the hospital cafeteria. No matter your industry, Peddler’s Son is here for you! Contact us today and learn what a partnership with us can mean for your business.

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What to Expect in Your Produce Department in May

Uncategorized, Produce Alerts / April 30, 2021

With a majority of crops in good supply and quality, we anticipate many grocery stores will be stocked with beautiful and delicious fruits and vegetables. However, there are a few things you should be aware of when ordering for your produce department this month.

Peddler’s Son has over 30 years of experience providing grocery retailers, restaurants, healthcare providers, and educational institutions with wholesale produce. With 54,000 square feet of warehouse and over 30 trucks feeding all of Arizona, we’ve got our finger on the pulse of the produce market. Read our article below to learn what you should expect this month in your produce department. 

Berries Continue to Be Tight

The price for most berries is trending up this week. While growers are reporting higher production numbers, the demand is high due to the short supply of berries from previous weeks. Another thing to consider is the fact that weather is continuing to impact crops in certain areas, such as Florida, California, and Georgia. 

Cauliflower Supply is Not Looking Promising

When you order products for your produce department, don’t be surprised to see a limited inventory of cauliflower. Growers are reporting short supplies due to cooler temperatures in the Salinas Valley. Fortunately, the available cauliflower they do have is reported to be of good quality. 

Cucumber Prices are Trending Up

Production out of Mexico and Florida isn’t meeting demands, which means prices for cucumbers are trending up. Production is expected to ramp up in the next couple of weeks, so we may see prices trending down sometime before the end of May.

Red Grape Supply and Quality is Looking Dubious

Red grapes continue to perform lower than expected. The slow market has caused older inventory to be priced lower and quality to tank. While there are good quality grapes on the market, they come at a higher price tag. Green grapes remain in high supply and quality.

Limes Remain a Concern for Produce Buyers

Large portions of Mexico are experiencing significant amounts of rain, resulting in quality and supply issues. With Cinco de Mayo approaching, demand is increasing and costs will surely rise. Fortunately, our source expects lime supply and quality will become stable by the end of May.

Peddler’s Son Excellence in Wholesale Produce 

Peddler’s Son has provided Arizona businesses with quality wholesale produce for over 30 years. We are committed to customer service, quality, and honest pricing to ensure our customers get the best products and provisions possible. As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor, we provide our services to everyone from the produce department to the hospital cafeteria. No matter your industry, Peddler’s Son is here for you! Contact us today and learn what a partnership with us can mean for your business.

Produce Department

April Trends in Your Produce Department

Produce Alerts, News / April 14, 2021

It’s beginning to look like spring! With a majority of crops in good supply and quality, our sources are telling us that your grocery store is going to be full of delicious fruits and vegetables. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when ordering products for your produce department this month. 

Peddler’s Son has over 30 years of experience providing grocery retailers, restaurants, healthcare providers, and educational institutions with wholesale produce. With 54,000 square feet of warehouse and over 30 trucks feeding all of Arizona, we’ve got our finger on the pulse of the produce market. Read our article below to learn what you should expect this month in your produce department. 

The Price of Eggplants is Trending Down

While the quality and supply of eggplants are in good standing, there is a low demand for the vegetable. As a result, this is putting pressure on the cost and shifting price in grocery stores.

Berries Will Be Tight This Month

Due to the recent weather and Easter holiday, berry supplies will be extremely tight out of Mexico. Prices for blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are trending up and growers don’t expect the market to come down for at least a few more weeks in April. 

Comparatively, strawberries are running slightly low this week. Supplies are winding down in Central Mexico and Florida, while California was impacted by rain and hail. Additionally, there was a lot of pressure on demand due to the Easter holiday. Now that the weather is forecasted to improve, pricing is expected to improve by next week.

Fluctuating Weather is Leading to Poor Carrot Supplies

Due to extremely cold temperatures, jumbo carrot supplies will be close to nonexistent for three to four weeks. Table carrots out of Arizona, California, and Georgia show greater opportunity but still face some supply issues. It’s also important to note the weather fluctuation is causing cello carrots to crack, thus stunting the product’s growth. 

Corn is in Limbo for Another Few Weeks

Corn hasn’t changed since our last update. Production is at a standstill due to the inclement weather over the last few months. This has led to a lower supply and quality that will be available in your produce department. However, it’s important to note production in California is projected to start in a couple of weeks. This development may affect the availability and quality in late April/early May.

Lime Availability and Quality Remains a Concern

Veracruz and large portions of Mexico are experiencing significant amounts of rain, resulting in quality and supply issues. This will have an impact on limes arriving at the border for the next week. Additionally, holy week ended on April 3rd, meaning growers are back to harvesting crops. We’re expecting to see a steady stream of limes in the produce department by mid-next week.

Peddler’s Son Excellence in Wholesale Produce 

Peddler’s Son has provided Arizona businesses with quality wholesale produce for over 30 years. We are committed to customer service, quality, and honest pricing to ensure our customers get the best products and provisions possible. As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor, we provide our services to everyone from the produce department to the hospital cafeteria. No matter your industry, Peddler’s Son is here for you! Contact us today and learn what a partnership with us can mean for your business.

January 2021 Fresh Produce

January 2021 Fresh Produce Distribution Recap

Produce Alerts, Uncategorized / March 24, 2021

January 2021 weather issues were the main obstacle when it came to fresh produce according to National Produce Consultants. Throughout the month of January, 14 fresh produce items were on alert, with ten of those items being impacted by either cool weather or hurricanes. 

Bananas, cantaloupe, celery, corn, and asparagus were the fresh produce items on alert all month long. Hurricanes affecting Central America impacted the production of bananas and cantaloupe. Florida was still trying to recover from a rough couple of months of hurricanes and cold weather, impacting not only corn production but also its quality. Parsley, the only fresh produce commodity on alert all month, was not impacted by weather. It was simply under pressure and behind schedule. 

The production of asparagus was in a transition period in Mexico from Baja to Caborca. While Culiacan, a new growing region in Mexico, eased off the pressure tomatoes were facing for a couple of weeks in January due to Florida still recovering. Raspberries were heavily impacted by cold weather in Mexico, resulting in increased prices and lower availability.

Other fresh produce items impacted by cold weather included red leaf, squash, strawberries, and honeydew. Honeydew sizes were one of the results of cold weather and sizing concerns were also present in mushrooms. Although the busiest time of the year for mushrooms is over, they’re still facing supply reduction and COVID-19 related problems. Finally, the market for green beans has stabilized after the holiday period and are now seeing good supply and demand.

Fresh Produce Watch

Items Affected By Hurricanes

Bananas – Cantaloupe – Corn – Tomatoes 

Items Affected By Cool Weather

Celery – Honeydew – Raspberries – Strawberries – Red Leaf – Squash

Other Issues

Parsley (Behind Schedule) – Asparagus (Transition) – Mushrooms (Sizing) – Green Beans (Supply Shortage)

To view the full reports click here.

What to Expect At Your Local Fresh Produce in February

Unfortunately, weather issues are expected to continue during the month of February. With a lot of regions suffering from cooler temperatures, both quality and supply issues will continue to be present for strawberries, squash, celery, and corn. 

Raspberries are expected to see an increase in price as they also continue to suffer from cold weather in Mexico. The situation with bananas will remain the same for the foreseeable future as both productions in Mexico and Ecuador recover. Supplies for cantaloupe will be on the lower side until production in the growing region of Zapaca in Guatemala returns. 

On the other hand, as Guatemala recovers from recent hurricanes, honeydew production will see relief come from Honduras, which will help Florida keep the market stable. Asparagus’ transition from Baja to Caborca will also end in the coming weeks, which will help bring the cost down and production up. 

Peddler’s Son Is Here For You

As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor since 1988, Peddler’s Son is here to help your business grow. We provide exceptional customer service through transparency and integrity while building valuable relationships with Arizona organizations with the best quality products. Contact us today to learn more about becoming a customer.

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November 2020 Fresh Produce Distribution Recap

Produce Alerts / December 3, 2020

According to National Produce Consultants, transition issues were the main story for fresh produce distribution in the month of November. As vegetables moved from California to Arizona, transition affected the supply for many wet vegetable items. In total, 14 fresh produce items were on alert throughout the month, with a peak of 11 items in a single week. 

Romaine, iceberg, strawberries, asparagus, mushrooms, and green leaf were the items that were on alert the whole of November. 

All three lettuce items continued to recover from the past heatwaves and the transition to Arizona put even more pressure on them. Strawberries were also playing catch up with supply and are looking to bounce back from quality issues caused by the heatwaves. Mushroom supply continued to be short as we entered the holiday season where demand for mushrooms is at a high. Along with high demand, there continued to be a shortage in crimini and portobello mushrooms. Asparagus experienced a supply gap as harvest from Mexico was producing low yield numbers due to cold weather.

Cold weather from Mexico was also affecting the production of both tomatoes and summer squash. Additionally, both fresh produce items were also suffering from rain conditions in Georgia and Florida. Corn also saw problems in its production due to rain in those same states. While Hurricane Eta affected the supply of green beans ever since it hit multiple growing regions. 

Other fresh produce items affected heavily by their transition from California to Arizona were cauliflower, broccoli, and parsley. 

Finally, oranges recovered from the supply gap caused primarily by the USDA Food Box Program. As domestic season is in full swing, supply for oranges should continue to improve.

Fresh Produce Watch

Items Affected By Transition

Romaine Lettuce – Iceberg Lettuce – Green Leaf Lettuce – Cauliflower – Broccoli – Parsley 

Items Affected By Weather

Asparagus – Corn – Tomatoes – Green Beans – Summer Squash

Other Issues

Strawberries (Heat & Fires) – Mushrooms (Demand) – Oranges (Supply Gap)

To view the full reports click here.

What to Expect At Your Local Fresh Produce in December

As transitions continue to take place for the next couple of weeks, expect supply shortages from wet vegetables. This should continue until new crops get into full swing by the first couple of weeks of December. 

Although lettuce items might benefit from this new transition to Arizonathey’ve suffered greatly from fires and heatwaves during the past couple of months in California. 

On the other hand, warmer temperatures might be welcomed in Mexico after cooler temperatures have affected production for several fresh produce items. Improved weather conditions in Mexico should give some relief to summer squash, tomatoes, and asparagus. 

Improved weather conditions in east coast states such as Georgia and Florida will also benefit production for tomatoes, summer squash, and corn. 

Production for green beans has been hit by a couple of hurricanes this season, severely affecting their production. Depending how well they recover will determine how their production continues.

Mushrooms continue to expect a rough holiday season as demand continues to grow but crimini and portobello shortages remain. 

Finally, oranges have turned the corner in their supply gap. As domestic season is in full swing, oranges start to catch up on the demand gap imposed by the USDA Food Box Program and a rough transition period from import to domestic harvest.

Peddler’s Son Is Here For You

As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor since 1988, Peddler’s Son is here to help your business grow. We provide exceptional customer service through transparency and integrity and continue to build valuable relationships by supplying Arizona customers with the best quality products. Contact us today to learn more about becoming a customer.

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October 2020 Fresh Produce Distribution Recap

Produce Alerts, News / December 3, 2020

October was a rough month in the fresh produce industry according to National Produce Consultants. Throughout the month, fresh produce items on alert were in the double digits. During its peak, 17 items were on alert, but that number slowly decreased as the weeks went by. The main cause for this increase in fresh produce alerts was the combination of heatwaves and fires in California. While on the East Coast they suffered from rains and winds attributed to Hurricane Sally at the beginning of the month and Hurricane Delta in the middle of October. Additionally, the USDA Box Food program put several items under pressure as distributors continue to fulfill orders nationwide.

All of this caused quality issues resulting in tip burn, discoloration, and misshapen fresh produce items among other things caused by less than favorable weather. Shorter shelf life has also been a factor due to heatwaves and fires. Working hours continued to be limited as farmers continue to protect their staff from harmful working conditions. Supply gaps proceeded to rise as adverse weather conditions resulted in lower yields and Box Food programs were impacting the open market. Because of all this, loading times took longer than usual as distributors tried to complete all orders.

Fresh Produce Watch

Affected By Heat and Fires

Cauliflower – Cantaloupe – Honeydew – Green Leaf – Strawberries – Romaine – Iceberg – Onions – Broccoli

Affected By Weather

Corn – Eggplant – Bell Peppers – Squash – Cucumber – Pineapple – Tomatoes

Other Issues

Mushrooms (Demand) – Asparagus (Supply Gap) – Green Beans (Hurricanes) – Oranges (USDA Food Box)

For full reports click here.

What to Expect at Your Local Fresh Produce in November

As it’s been said for the past couple of months, gaining control of the wildfires in California will have a big impact on food distribution. With better weather in the forecast quality issues should be reduced in the West. 

The aftermath of Hurricane Delta has impacted the production of corn, but as Georgia recovers productions will slowly start to pick up too. Additionally, corn will see some relief as parts in the West start to increase some of their production.

Another item affected by Hurricane Delta has been green beans, and while production starts to slowly pick back up it is not enough to keep up. Expect limited supply until Florida can help out with green beans production.

Speaking of Florida, they should be able to help out in the production of bell peppers as Georgia slowly recovers. Mexico will also provide a helping hand with both bell peppers and asparagus as the latter has seen a shortage in supply from both the West and East Coasts.

All lettuce will continue to be limited until full transition happens in the coming weeks of November. While oranges will finally start to see some relief as the transition from import to domestic comes to a close. 

Finally, as we enter the winter months mushrooms will begin to see an increase in demand. But due to the fact that Crimini and Portabella mushrooms are seeing a shortage, coupled with labor issues due to COVID-19, mushrooms might face supply challenges in the coming months.

Peddler’s Son Is Here For You

As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor since 1988, Peddler’s Son is here to help your business grow. We provide exceptional customer service through transparency and integrity and continue to build valuable relationships by supplying Arizona customers with the best quality products. Contact us today to learn more about becoming a customer.

COVID-19 Impacts

Negative COVID-19 Impacts on the Food Supply Chain

Produce Alerts, News / December 1, 2020

Industry Report

Early in 2020, consumer spending on produce supply had increased steadily within the United States, growing 4% over the previous 5 years. Then in March, COVID-19 impacts have developed and hit the food supply chain dramatically reversing the consumer spending on food. Forgoing dining out due to the closures of restaurant establishments and social distancing requirements, consumers stocked up on grocery food and supplies. As restaurants, coffee, shops, and casual dining locations were hit hard, sales also declined rapidly by 27%.

Ripple effects have spread across the entire food distribution industry due to COVID-19 impacts. Distribution channels have been upended creating food-security risks for vulnerable populations. Food suppliers and distributors, like Peddler’s Son, have faced abrupt challenges due to order cancellations and production setbacks. Perishable materials have been waiting in the lurch to be ordered and consumed. Managers who have gained a clearer understanding of these effects have been establishing solutions to better prepare them for the challenging outcomes. Turning this around will depend on the weather, or how quickly, we can expect a return to pre-pandemic conditions. 

Farmers

Farm operations that depend highly on labor production (crops of strawberries or lettuce for example) will continue to see pressing pandemic related challenges. The availability of workers has decreased, and this is likely to continue over the course of the next few months. If pandemic conditions persist, finding skilled workers will be difficult as many will not want to risk being in close quarters for fear of spreading the disease further. As farmers may be reeling with having to reduce, or even dispose of their crops significantly, these COVID-19 impacts may lead to overall product shortages increasing prices for the end consumer.

Food Distributors

As highly sought after food production is top of mind, distributors will be hit hardest if they cannot maintain margins through this pandemic. Distributors run an optimized and stable supply chain, with upstream orders coming in that anticipate downstream orders going out. Margins depend on there being a steady flow in both directions and having only a subset of products in inventory awaiting orders.

With orders rapidly shutting down due to COVID-19 impacts and government-mandated shutdowns, distributors were left holding the bag. Bottlenecks were created as space shortages were apparent in addition to staying on top of canceled inbound orders. Distributors have been significantly affected through casual-dining customers shutting down, but many have adapted through redirecting sales additions and modifying current supply chains. Many will have to rebalance their supplies with outgoing orders creating a much costlier “cold chain” rescaling facilities and personnel. 

The Future of Food-Supply in the Face of COVID-19 Impacts

Food-service companies will need to pursue creative solutions, such as continuous delivery and pickup services, in order to hit break-even volumes when there is limited seating in restaurants. Profit margins will likely be affected at each step during rebalancing.

In the long term, these COVID-19 impacts of the supply chain will most likely take on many different shapes and sizes. How owners handle these challenges to evolve and resolve will depend on adaptivity and resilience. Executives of Mckinsey and Company have brought to light a few potential scenarios, of which 2 are rising to the top. Some combination of effective or relatively effective public-health and economic-policy interventions will either contain the virus or limit it to some minor recurrences, resulting in a slow recovery. 

Become a Customer

Peddler’s Son is ready to work with you to grow your business. We are food driven and customer-focused. If you are looking for excellent customer service and wholesale food service delivery with solutions, contact us today to learn more about becoming a customer.

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September 2020 Fresh Produce Distribution Recap

Produce Alerts, News / December 3, 2020

The wildfires in California continued to be the main cause for concern in September’s fresh produce distribution. While the number of produce items on high alert in the first half of the month did not go past four, that number more than doubled by the end of the month. Reports by National Produce Consultants showed that nine different produce items were on high alert by the end of the month as a result of fires and heat-waves. These bad weather conditions created significant issues as growers continued to protect their staff with limited labor and harvesting hours. 

Apart from heat and wildfires, the USDA Food Box Program affected several produce items in the open market with oranges and onions being primarily affected. Problems in the east arose after Hurricane Sally affected production in Georgia for both corn and cucumbers. Finally, romaine, pineapples, and strawberries were the produce items on alert throughout the month due to quality and weather issues. 

Fresh Produce Watch

Affected By Weather

Pineapples – Strawberries – Broccoli – Eggplant – Iceberg

Affected By Hurricane Sally

Cucumber – Corn

Other Issues

Chinese Garlic (Import Issues) – Romaine (Quality) – Oranges (USDA Food Box) – Onions (USDA Food Box)

For the full reports, click here.

What to Expect at Your Local Fresh Produce in October

October might be a tricky month for fresh produce and food distribution considering how September ended. With the month ending with a high of nine produce items on alert, orders should be placed well in advance to give suppliers enough time. Loading times and hours in labor will continue to impact the food industry for the next couple of weeks.

Watch out for oranges as there might be a supply shortage for a couple of weeks in the middle of October. Domestic Navels are not arriving until late October and Valencia oranges are only lasting until the beginning of the month. 

Quality issues with romaine are expected to continue, as well as with iceberg and broccoli. Production in Georgia will continue to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, affecting the corn and cucumber market.

Pineapples supply will continue to be low as heat and rain impact the quality causing misshapen crowns. Finally, prices for both strawberries and tomatoes are expected to be on the rise due to quality and supply.

Peddler’s Son Is Here For You

As a family-owned fresh produce distributor since 1988, Peddler’s Son is here to help your business grow. We provide exceptional customer service through transparency and integrity and continue to build valuable relationships by supplying Arizona customers with the best quality products. Contact us today to learn more about becoming a customer.

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August 2020 Fresh Produce Distribution Recap

Produce Alerts, News / December 3, 2020

According to weekly reports by National Produce Consultants, August fresh produce distribution was good overall, at least during the first half of the month. Fresh produce item alerts never went past six in a single week and good quality was reported among the rest. Things changed for the second half of August though, with California suffering from extreme heatwaves and the East Coast dealing with the repercussions of Hurricane Isaias. 

Potatoes began their transition to northern states, which heavily impacted quality and supply all month. Low yields on mixed berries continued throughout the month due to California being the primary producer and Mexico’s supply did not start until the last week of August. The biggest issue was of course the California wildfires, adding to the heatwaves the state was experiencing, the wildfires negatively influenced half a dozen fresh produce items. 

Fresh Produce Watch

Affected By CA Wildfires

Broccoli – Brussel Sprouts – Cauliflower – Celery – Iceberg

Affected By Hurricane Isaias

Cucumber – Tomatoes – Summer Squash

Other Issues

Romaine Lettuce (Quality) – Potatoes (Transition) – Limes (Weather) – Chinese Garlic (Import Issues) – Strawberries (Low Yields) – Corn (Weather) – Mixed Berries (Low Yields)

For the full reports, click here.

What to Expect at Your Local Fresh Produce in September

Containing the wildfires in California will be crucial in trying to minimize the impact on not only the food distribution chain but also on the overall environment of the state and preserving its nature. COVID-19 continues to be a major issue in the fresh produce industry as food distribution will have to continue to adjust and adapt now that schools, universities, and restaurants are continuing to reopen across the country. 

Mexico’s helping hand will come a long way in the production of mixed berries as California handles heatwaves and wildfires affecting its production on their end. Finally, new crops for potatoes will be in full swing in the coming weeks helping the low quality of the limited crop available at the moment.

Peddler’s Son Wholesale Food Delivery

As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor since 1988, Peddler’s Son is here to help your business grow. We provide exceptional customer service through transparency and integrity and continue to build valuable relationships by supplying Arizona customers with the best quality products. Contact us today to learn more about becoming a customer.

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