Freshspective
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | Issue 174
Keep up with the most recent market trends in our Freshspective updates. Discover what's influencing conventional produce, organic options, temperature-controlled capacity, and floral so you can plan ahead and avoid disruption.
Conventional Vegetables
Volume is strong this week in South Florida, with consistent arrivals from Peru. We have extra product available—making it a great time to take advantage of seasonal opportunities.
📈 Supply Outlook
Peru’s production remains steady, and new fields in the Ica region are now starting. As harvest ramps up, we anticipate an increase in volume from this area. Projections remain solid, and we don’t foresee any disruptions unless unexpected weather impacts availability.
💡 Now’s the Time
This is our peak supply window, with reliable volume expected through mid-February. Whether you’re looking to expand programs, run a promotion, or secure a sharp price—we’re here to help make it happen.
📞 Let’s connect to build a custom offer.
Bell Peppers
[email protected]The Michigan season is quickly approaching its starting date. We expect to have the first harvesting later this week, so this will bring relief to the current pepper situation. As long as normal weather conditions continue to be present in Michigan , we expect steady supplies in the upcoming weeks. New Jersey will start to produce more volume as long as the rains stay away. We are not out of the woods, but in much better shape than last week.
Broccoli
[email protected]Broccoli supplies are tight this week, with lighter harvest numbers out of Salinas and Santa Maria. Overall quality is fair, but not consistent. Pricing is elevated, and demand is exceeding available volume.
Cabbage
Markets are holding steady this week with good volume from the West Coast and Northern regions. Green cabbage quality is solid, with vibrant color and firm heads; red cabbage is slightly tighter. Supplies are increasing in the Midwest as the summer harvest ramps up.
Celery
[email protected]Celery supplies remain consistent with good volume available in Oxnard and Salinas. Please reach out to your Robinson Fresh representative for updates and information regarding availability and promotions.
Cucumbers
[email protected]Michigan is coming into some volume as more plantings are starting to be harvested. New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio are also starting to get into some volume. Weather permitting, we expect consistent supply across all regions.
Greens
[email protected]Greens have steady supply this week with good quality across most varieties. Collard and kale are seeing the best quality. Mustard and turnip are slightly less available. The Midwest is seeing great growing conditions, while the Southeast has seen some isolated storms that delayed harvest.
Leaf Lettuce
[email protected]Iceberg lettuce supplies remain consistent. Romaine, red and green leaf supplies are steady with quality reports showing great overall quality and good weights. The primary shipping points are Salinas and Santa Maria, with some availability in Oxnard. Please reach out to your Robinson Fresh representative for more details.
Potatoes
[email protected]North Carolina has finished with reds and yellows, but Virginia and Delaware are going strong. Quality is good with pricing holding steady. Idaho will begin harvesting new crop russets in the next week or two. There are still ample supplies of storage product left. Once harvest begins, we will likely see two-tiered pricing with the growers asking more for the fresh product.
Squash
[email protected]Unfortunately, Mother Nature continues to hit certain local regions. Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia are some of the regions that received rain over the weekend. The combination of rain and heat is never a good scenario, since it can lead to bacterial infestation. Michigan is having good yields due to normal growing conditions, which is great news for us.
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Conventional Fruits
Apples
We are currently shipping apples out of storage from Washington State and from imports arriving on the East Coast. We have good supplies on most varieties this week. Promotability is still good on several items. With that said, there are a couple tight varieties as we enter the end of July. All Honeycrisp packs, sizes, and grades are tight and continue to increase in price. We expect this trend to continue until the new domestic crop starts back up mid-August. Other items that are firming up are the premium Gala size 88 and larger, Cosmic Crisp, as well as the premium Fuji size 72 and larger. Some varieties to push that are promotable for the next month include Pink Lady and Red Delicious. Overall, we still have a good supply of apples to sell and expect to see fair pricing on most varieties for the summer months.
Avocados
Mexico is getting close to 60% of the supply. Offshore (Peru & Colombia) continues with inbounds. California also continues to harvest. Overall supply remains good except for the largest size out of Mexico and some of the smaller sizing out of California. Quality remains good. The transition from old crop to new crop in Mexico continues and will do so for the rest of this month.
Bush Berries
[email protected]Michigan - Chances of inclement weather throughout the week. Harvest overall is going well.
Pacific Northwest - Volume will continue to be in peak flush over the next 2-3 weeks (weather permitting), with jumbo varieties starting to increase in production.
- British Columbia – Dukes are on their way down; large draper and calypso crops.
- Washington - Sunny conditions all week, with good volumes of premium fruit.
- Oregon – Pushing into later-season varieties.
Santa Maria -We are in production in Santa Maria with good volume for the next few weeks.
Watsonville - Light volumes but premium variety, great size, color, flavor, and shelf life.
Organic - We should see good numbers in August.
Mexico - Seeing lighter crossings but starting to try to increase if there are any needs.
Santa Maria - Light harvest.
Organic - Recovering with light volume this week. Should see it get better over the next couple weeks.
Cantaloupe
Steady harvests out of the Central Valley on cantaloupes. No huge pushes on volume but adequate volume and stable market. Very good quality and all sizes available but stronger on jumbo 9 counts and 9 counts.
Citrus
Oranges:
- California Valencias: Steady supply on smaller sizes (88s and smaller), while large fruit (56s and larger) remains tight. Re-greening continues to be present due to high temperatures, but this does not affect internal quality. Brix levels remain strong, ranging from 12 to 14.
- Import Navels: Chilean and South African are available with supply meeting demand. Early South African fruit is trending small to medium in size, with Chilean fruit leaning more toward medium to large sizing. Quality is solid with sugar levels in the 11–13 brix range. Supplies are expected to build through July but expected to be a slightly active market this summer.
- Import Caras: South Africa and Chilean caras are available with more importers receiving their first arrivals this past week. Similar to navels, Chilean fruit is trending medium to large, while South African fruit is trending small to medium. Overall volume from Chile is anticipated to be plentiful this summer with good quality.
Lemons:
- California: District 2 is the primary production area but fewer growers with availability. Supplies are limited on fancy grade and larger sizes (95s and larger), and the overall market is firming. Choice grade and smaller sizes are more readily available, but the overall market is tight.
- Imports: Argentinian fruit continues to arrive, with Chilean volume now beginning to pick up. Sizing skews larger (95/115 counts), with good early quality out of Argentina. Smaller sizing available from Chile. Many growers are moving their fruit to more attractive global markets over the U.S. to capitalize on their returns. Expect to continue to see limited availability and active markets throughout the summer.
Grapefruit:
- California: Central Valley Star Ruby season continues with good availability but some reports of weakened quality depending on the grower. Supplies are starting to slow down on this varietal. In August, the less-sought-after Marsh Ruby will be available.
- Imports: Chile and South Africa are available with more limited availability on smaller sizes, 45-55 counts. Fruit is reported to be clean with good quality.
Mandarins:
- Imports: Seeing good supplies on fruit from Peru, Chile, Uruguay, and South Africa. Clementines and Clemenvillas are available with Tangos and Murcotts slowly trickling into the market. Product is good, with plentiful supply. The more favorable varietals should become more available next month.
Grapes
Spot FOBs are anticipated to trend downward over the next two weeks, while many retailers feature grapes prominently in their promotional plans. This combination of strong retail demand and declining market prices creates an ideal scenario for the industry. The quality of this early California fruit is outstanding, which should encourage a quick return of consumer interest once Mexican grapes are no longer available. Additionally, the upcoming increase in volumes of proprietary varieties over the next few weeks will further benefit the market.
Honeydew
Very good supply on honeydews out of the California’s Central Valley. Sizing is trending large with good volume of jumbo 4/5 counts and steady volume on 5 and 6 counts. Excellent quality and condition!
Limes
Region: Veracruz, Mexico
Weather Update:
This week’s weather forecast indicates that light rain will continue over the next few days. High humidity is expected, with temperatures ranging from 72°Fahrenheit to 91°Fahrenheit.
Market Intel:
The demand for limes has been steady.
Sizing Profile:
Peak sizes 175/200/230. Size distribution: 110-2%, 150-11%, 175-32%, 200-31%, 230-16%, and 250-7%
Quality:
As we move into the fourth week of July, we are seeing a delayed June harvest, mainly caused by rainy days, alongside the regular July crop in its natural season. As a result, we have a strong fruit volume available to fulfill all established programs. We are harvesting a broad range of sizes, with a particular focus on 200s.
Looking Ahead:
As we enter August, a reduction in harvest volume is anticipated; however, we expect improved fruit yield, supported by exceptional quality, thanks to the moisture retained in the foliage and soil following recent rainfall. Additionally, with residual volumes from the July crop still being harvested, we are confident in our ability to meet all established commitments with consistency and excellence.
By mid to late August, a further decline in volume is anticipated, as the natural bloom in May occurred during a period of severe drought. We expect to maintain a stable supply and a consistent flow of medium-sized fruit, ensuring full compliance with all our key programs.
Mangos
We are in the process of transitioning our grower base into Los Mochis, and we have already received our first Northern Sinaloa Kents. Harvesting has started on red mangos in Los Mochis and we expect to see more available supply between 6-9s, heavier on 7/8s. This new crop is already showing an increase in price compared to the last of the Southern Sinaloa fruit. Historically, we see price increases as we move into this final growing region of the season. However, while Southern Sinaloa fruit remains in the market, we anticipate a two-tiered pricing structure between Southern and Northern Kents. Once Southern Sinaloa is finished, demand will shift more heavily toward Los Mochis, which could further elevate pricing toward the end of the season.
Papaya
SUPPLY BARELY MEETING DEMAND FOR PAPAYA IN THE U.S. MARKET.
Supply conditions remain stable but are GETTING TIGHTER FAST! A combination of weather damage, strong internal market, and much lower yields keeps reducing the overall availability of fruit being exported to the U.S. out of Mexico. Uncertainty will remain for at least the next two weeks for papaya production. Contracts are being serviced with very little extra fruit available to offer. Prices are higher in the U.S. market and should increase as we go into August.
Inventories are showing SOME availability to offer.
Majority of sizes are between 6s–12s with LESS surplus fruit.
Quality is reported as good with fruit showing less speckling and mostly green.
Color 25%- 50% / 12-14 brix at point of shipping. Ideal temperature for Imperial papaya is 48 degrees to avoid quality issues upon receiving.
Crop outlook: Forecast has conditions for good supply for the next two weeks.
Market Intel: Enough supply to service demand.
Pears
We are now shipping new crop California green Bartletts out of the Lodi region this week. The California crop looks to be an above-average crop this year so we will have lots of fruit to sell. The crop has a good mix of all sizes but appears to be peaking on 100-count size fruit. California is also shipping new crop red Bartletts as well as light volumes of Bosc pears. Anjou pears are still available in light quantities out of both Washington and on imports loading on the East Coast. New crop Washington Bartletts are projected to start up sometime in the next couple of weeks, and their crop looks to be a very big crop as well. Plan for Bartlett pears to be in good supply and very promotable for the next several months. New crop Washington Bosc and Anjou are projected to start harvesting sometime in September.
Pineapple
Availability: Supply JUST Meeting Demand in U.S. Market.
Growing Region:
- Growing region: MEXICO - We are still seeing little to NO volume out of Mexico crossing into the U.S. Mexican growers will take advantage of the high internal markets and will ship some surplus to the U.S. as long as prices are attractive. Production is still low with yields dropping and the sizing curve moving more toward smalls. Mexico volume will remain low during the summer months. Transportation out of Mexico is stable with good availability of trucks to service pineapple, with no delays happening last week. COSTA RICA - Supply is stable with less surplus this week versus last week on all sizes. Availability of fruit in the market is even lower with now both 6s and 7s pulling a higher price this week. Supply conditions are expected to remain with lower volume as farms are now mostly out of the Natural Flowering. Market has reacted in July and is expected to move higher in August. Good quality fruit is being exported to the U.S. and Europe. Market is higher as pine demand increases with the lower supply. Some surplus is still expected to happen for the next two weeks.
- Mexican fruit quality is GOOD with low availability. COSTA RICA - Volume is lower AT PACKING. The U.S. market is stable on all counts.
- Forecast: Some surplus fruit being offered at U.S. shipping points by large grower/shippers at this time. Market is stable versus last week.
Strawberries
Santa Maria is finishing their spring crop and sending most fruit to the processors and freezers. The fall crop is just getting started and should see better volume in early August. The Salinas/Watsonville growing areas in California are currently in production, but their fruit is past the peak production period. Fruit is average size with fairly good quality, although there have been some quality issues.
Weather Outlook:
- Santa Maria, California - The week of July 21 is forecast to be cool with clouds giving way to sun, and breezy. Highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s. The week of July 28 is forecast Monday to Saturday to be mostly sunny, and then Sunday will have considerable cloudiness. Highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, increasing to the upper 70s on Sunday, and lows in the 50s.
- Salinas/Watsonville, California - The week of July 21 is forecast for low clouds giving way to sun. Highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, and lows in the 50s. The week of July 28 is forecast on Monday for clouds giving way to sun, Tuesday through Saturday mostly sunny, and then cloudy on Sunday. Highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.
Watermelon
Supplies are a bit tight Out East with the rain, and we have very good supplies Out West. We are loading in Missouri and Indiana right now and North Carolina and District of Columbia should get started in a couple of weeks. We are picking around the rain, and supplies will pick up in a couple of weeks. Texas is just getting started with limited volume right now as well. Out West, Arizona and California are going with good supplies. We are going to start Wapato, Washington this week.
Organic Fruits & Vegetables
Organic Apples
[email protected]As we approach August, we still have organic apples available from last year’s crop. Supplies are decent on organic Gala but many of the other varieties, like organic Honeys, organic Grannies and organic Fuji, are getting tight. The good news is we are getting closer to new crop getting started, so we have some relief in sight. The new crop of organics on the trees is looking pretty good and we are projecting a pretty good crop this season. Expect the new crop organic Galas to get started in early August this year with very light volumes. The organic Honeycrisp is projected to start up in late August and then new crop Grannies and Fujis in September. Overall, we still have some organics to sell but we have a great crop on the trees to look forward to as we get closer to fall this year.
Organic Citrus
[email protected]The citrus market is very strong out of California right now. There are not many shippers with oranges and lemons. We still are going strong on grapefruit out of Riverside, California, as supply continues to go through August. We should start to see oranges and lemons become available out of Mexico. The plan is to start sometime in mid-August; when we start them, we will be shipping out of our Riverside warehouse with our grapefruit.
Organic Dry Vegetables
[email protected]We are seeing most of the dry vegetable items start to come out of San Diego. The cucumber market is not strong and there are deals to be had. Finding zucchini and yellow squash can be done, but not daily; there are some options out of the Central Valley but limited in varieties.
Organic Melons
[email protected]We are loading organic minis out of Patterson, California. Quality has been good, and we are heavier to 6-count minis. We will have supplies until October.
Organic Onions
[email protected]California onions are going strong! Supply and quality are very good. Market is steady on pricing, and we don’t see that changing over the next couple of weeks. We should start to see onions available out of Washington by the third week of August. They will have red, yellow, and sweets available.
We have started our shallots for the season at Tobias Farms. We are packing them in 20-pound cartons and can pack a 4/5-pound carton as well. We have plenty of red onions to load with them. We are packing 40-pound jumbo cartons and have 2- and 3-pound bags available as well.
Organic Pears
[email protected]We have limited supplies of organic Bartletts that are shipping out of California this week. Washington will start up in several weeks with organic Bartletts as well; and their crop is looking good, so we are expecting to have lots of fruit to sell. New crop organic Anjou are projected to get going sometime in late September this year out of Washington. The new crop is looking good this year and we should have some good promotional opportunities are we get into late fall this year.
Organic Potatoes
[email protected]The California potato season will be coming to an end soon out of the Bakersfield area. The weather is becoming very hot and will start to affect the potatoes. Washington and Oregon potatoes will be starting up in August so we should not see a supply gap on potatoes. Colorado potatoes will start in September as well if the weather continues to cooperate.
Organic Squash
[email protected]Hard squash is in a transition period. There is still supply coming up from Mexico but not as much as there had been. Some supply coming out of California but limited in varieties. You can find some butternut and spaghetti if needed. We will be starting our Hollister program in late July or early August, depending on how the weather treats us.
Organic Sweet Potatoes
[email protected]California sweet potatoes are coming to an end. We are down to the last couple of varieties of Beauregard and reds. The market continues to get stronger as supply dries up. We will not start to see white, purple, or Japanese available till the end of August. Until then, pricing will continue to climb on what remains.
Transportation
Produce volumes in the Southeast are currently coming off their seasonal peak, driven by strong Fourth of July demand. The highest shipping volumes are being recorded out of South Georgia and North Florida. Additionally, early harvests from farms in the Carolinas are beginning to contribute to overall regional output. Watermelon shipments are a major driver of activity, with C.H. Robinson moving approximately 450 loads weekly from the region.
The refrigerated freight market across Georgia has experienced significant capacity constraints, with load-to-truck ratios peaking at 30:1 or higher in rural areas of the state. Capacity tightness is being compounded by elevated freight volumes, making rate pressure the most significant challenge for shippers at this time. According to data from Circana, produce sales have increased by 2.3% from prior year. Georgia has seen a strong growing season this year, and the higher volumes have added strain to outbound capacity.
Market conditions are expected to shift quickly in the coming weeks, since the Fourth of July is behind us and produce and beverage seasons are starting to wind down to Labor Day. As South Georgia’s harvest wraps up, volumes will transition north into the Carolinas, where harvests will continue for roughly another month.
The North Central and Great Lakes regions, leading into and immediately following the Fourth of July, observed some mild disruptions that impacted cost and coverage. These conditions were consistent with seasonal expectations and have stabilized since. Looking ahead, these geographies are expected to see steadily tightening conditions through August as the produce season transitions into key areas such as Southern and Central Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
In the South-Central United States, market behavior has largely aligned with typical seasonality around the holiday period. Shipments with limited lead time or other challenging attributes faced elevated costs and coverage constraints. However, these pressures are expected to ease by mid-July, with quieter market conditions projected to continue through the remainder of the summer, barring any unforeseen disruptions ahead of the fourth quarter.
West Coast United States
Northern California is currently in the midst of peak produce season, with strong volumes of strawberries and mixed vegetables expected to continue throughout the summer months.
In Nogales, Arizona, increased shipments of watermelons and grapes are tightening capacity and driving up transportation costs. In the wake of the Fourth of July holiday, conditions began to improve, as harvest of these commodities began transitioning to other growing regions.
The Pacific Northwest is currently experiencing ample capacity. While minor disruptions are expected to continue in July due to the start of Washington’s cherry season, the main challenge in the region is elevated inbound transportation costs caused by limited outbound volume.
Overall, regional capacity across the Western United States is expected to follow typical seasonal patterns in July, with rate relief occurring through most of the month.
GLOBAL UPDATES
OCEAN CARRIER CONSOLIDATION - Fresh produce growers and shippers attempting to move cargo globally via ocean vessels are dealing with scenarios where ocean carriers genuinely dictate some markets. They dictate and determine the marketability and viability of export markets for many fresh produce exporters. Shippers are being forced to commit earlier to ocean lines to reserve space for upcoming seasons, and spot market space on vessels is nearly impossible to secure.
TARIFF IMPACTS - Fresh produce growers and shippers in North America are bracing for the potential implementation of new tariffs on imports. These tariffs could significantly affect the cost structure and market dynamics for many fresh produce exporters. Growers and shippers are being advised to diversify their markets and strengthen local partnerships to mitigate the impact of these tariffs. Additionally, there is an increased focus on leveraging technology and innovative practices to enhance supply chain resilience and reduce dependency on any single market. The uncertainty surrounding these tariffs is prompting industry players to prepare for multiple outcomes, ensuring they can continue to provide a steady supply of fresh produce to consumers despite potential cost increases.
DEMURRAGE/DETENTION CHARGES - Shippers negotiating with ocean carriers or freight forwarders on perishable cargo contracts should request as much free time at destination as possible to reduce the risk of detention/demurrage charges when inspections/fumigations or drayage capacity constraints delay cargo delivery at destination. Unavoidable and unprecedented demurrage and detention charges due to delays in turning cargo at destination continue in 2025.
USTR DECISIONS FEES CHINA SHIPBUILDING - Effective October 14, 2025, vessels built in China will incur additional fees when arriving at U.S. ports. These charges are expected to start at $120 per container, with the final amount depending on the vessel’s net tonnage. U.S.-based carriers, such as Seaboard Marine and Crowley, will be exempt from these fees—even if their vessels were constructed in China. To mitigate potential cost increases, consider diversifying shipping partners by working with ocean carriers that operate non-Chinese-built vessels or by prioritizing U.S.-based carriers.
For more global freight insights please visit Global Freight Markets Insights | C.H. Robinson.
Floral
No changes from last week. Volumes are at the lowest for the year after summer rose promotions have been executed at retail levels. Supply and air freight from the growing regions are more than adequate.