What to Expect This August in Your Produce Department

We just broke the halfway mark of the year, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s in store for produce in August! Your produce department will be stocked full with some delicious and nutritious goodies, but there are a few bad apples to watch out for. 

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.

Apples

Inventories are reaching very low numbers while demand for apples remains high. It is possible we may experience some shortages in sizes and varieties, which may result in prices rising in your produce department. Golden, Reds, Honeycrisp, Granny, and Galas are the varieties that are being hit the hardest. Fortunately, Fuji is still widely available, so we recommend going to it for your apple needs. 

Berries

The main berries being hit this month are blackberries and raspberries. Blackberry prices are trending up with production coming out of California. However, growers are reporting challenges with all the heat in the West.  Raspberry prices are high but remain fairly stable. This is due to the tight supply which is expected to be even tighter in the next few weeks. Like blackberries, growers are experiencing challenges due to the heat.

Brussels Sprouts

Supplies continue to be light for Brussels Sprouts, while demand continues to be steady. Quality has improved from the previous month, but we’ll have to wait and see if it remains steady for the remainder of August.

Honeydew

Having a hard time finding any honeydew in your produce department? Well, production continues to remain very low at all growing regions with no end in sight. You might want to consider other melons as other varieties seem to be thriving.

Mushrooms

The mushroom industry continues to face a labor shortage, as well as cost inflation increases in raw materials. Additionally, the price increases in freights have significantly impacted the cost to mushroom producers. Pricing on mushrooms may increase at this time due to labor, transportation, and packaging costs. 

Potatoes

We are currently at the tail end of last year’s crop. Some shippers are in a gap for a couple of weeks due to a strain on supply. Additionally, FOBs are up another dollar entering the low $20s. Produce departments will see a decent supply of products, but a fair level of quality.

Tomatoes

Prices for all tomato varieties, except grape tomatoes, are trending up this week. Grape tomatoes are trending down. Growers are reporting some challenges with quality due to past weather conditions. However, produce departments can expect supplies and quality to pick up later in the month. 

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.