Market Notes
October 13th, 2025
AS THE STONE FRUIT GOES..THE APPLE GROWS
We will look to South America in about six weeks for the cherries, plums, and other stone fruit that attempt to take the place of the sublime domestic product. Hard squash on the veggie side and apples on the fruit side. On the commodity side, the Sugar Bee is our new favorite but that’s too mainstream for us to handle so we promote the specialty side. Starting next week the specialty is in.
Both the Green Dragon and Hidden Rose apple varieties will be available next week. The Green Dragon apple is crisp, very sweet, low-acid flesh and has aromatic pineapple/pear notes; it browns slowly, making it great for snacking, cheese boards, and light baking. The Hidden Rose is an Oregon-discovered apple with pale yellow-green skin and vivid pink-red flesh; crisp, juicy, and sweet-tart—often likened to strawberry lemonade. Loading these apples is easy. First there is FOB loading in Oregon. Then we have cross dock in LA or it can be combined with our baby vegetable program in Santa Maria. Now you can load the ingredients for the famous apple frisee salad in one location. Please call for details.
THE SPROUT IS IN DOUBT
The cute little brassicas are very popular year round, but especially so in the fall. Usually there is supply to meet the demand, but the sprouts have a new customer, bugs. They get there first. So, the same volume is out there in the fields but the usable product has been reduced by about forty per cent. Growers are predicting product will remain tight through November. That means the holiday shortage already exists. There is certainly product available, but price reflects shortage. Prices for single cases in the fifties or sixties won’t necessarily be unusual, and the contract deals are going to get filled first. Not sure how December will look but in January product from Mexico starts to cross the border and then the market should ease.
NEW PRODUCE QUIZ – WHO AM I???
I was first born in Japan in the 1970s, a sweet result of clever crossbreeding between two beloved citrus varieties. My farmers take special care of me, often letting me bask in the sun a little longer to bring out my golden glow and enhance my sugary personality. You might hear travelers whisper about me like a secret treasure, once smuggled lovingly from Japan before I became easier to find in markets abroad. I’m seedless, plump, and proudly wear a curious bump on my top—some say it looks like I’m wearing a citrus crown! My skin is loose and easy to peel, revealing tender, juicy segments bursting with a honeyed tang that dances between orange and mandarin. I’m adored in gift boxes during winter and celebrated for my perfect balance of tart and sweet. Some people chill me for a refreshing treat, while others use my zest to elevate desserts or cocktails. My juice makes a sunrise brighter, and my flesh adds sunshine to salads. In Japan, I’m sometimes compared to a lucky charm of sweetness. My name might sound fancy, but I’m humble at heart—just pure citrus joy. I contain plenty of vitamin C to boost your glow and fiber to keep you feeling light. I’m nature’s candy, a little lumpy on top but perfectly delightful inside. Oh, for those of you on the commercial sporting side, I am a peaceful fruit and never get involved with wrestling.
The answer to last week’s quiz is…Pinto Beans… – Congrats to all winners
Visit us at www.culinaryproduce.com Phone 908-789-4700 – Fax 908-789-4702 – e-mail passings@culinaryproduce.com
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© Culinary Specialty Produce, Inc., 2025
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