Freshspective
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | Issue 169
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
Big news this week—our local programs are officially underway!
We have fresh Michigan asparagus already moving, Canada’s delivered options are ready to roll, and Peru is adjusting pricing to stay sharp in the market.
Now is the moment to build promotions, push volume, and open new doors as we gear up for the season! Let’s make it happen! 💪🌿
🌎 Season Recap
Peru is getting into more stable volume as fields mature and cooler temperatures roll in—setting the stage for the strongest part of the season. We’re still harvesting in both Ica and Trujillo, and volume consistency is improving each week. Peru will remain a key player through the summer, so it's a great time to lock in long-term programs or fill gaps. 📈 Season Projections – Local Product!
We’ll have local supply from Michigan and Canada through the end of June.
📦 Inventory & Availability – Let’s Go!
We have fresh inventory in Miami ready to load, but more importantly:
👉 If you have an order, let’s make it happen!
Want to build an aggressive price for a customer? Contact your subject matter expert—we’ll make the numbers work!
📞 Need Support? Let’s Team Up!
Bell Peppers
Oscar.Rodriguez@robinsonfresh.com
Broccoli
Kelly.Wilson@robinsonfresh.com
Cabbage
Kelly.Wilson@robinsonfresh.com
Cabbage continues to be readily available in Georgia and Florida. The Carolinas will be starting early June. Quality has been good. Continue to look for deals!
Cucumbers
Oscar.Rodriguez@robinsonfresh.comGeorgia season is here, and we are open for business! We should see good availability for the next three weeks. Florida is still hanging but it is just a matter of time before they pull the plug. Georgia is where we need to be loading.
Greens
Jaimie.Arias@robinsonfresh.com
Leaf Lettuce
Josh.Armstrong@robinsonfresh.com
Potatoes
Barry.Rosen@robinsonfresh.com
Squash
Oscar.Rodriguez@robinsonfresh.com
Sweet Corn
Mike.Beyer@robinsonfresh.comSubscribe to Freshspective and never miss an update!
Insights to Action
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Conventional Fruits
Apples
Charlie.Incaudo@robinsonfresh.com
Avocados
Robert.Chirchick@robinsonfresh.com
Bush Berries
Anthony.Labetti@robinsonfresh.comBlueberries
Severe weather this past weekend across the Southeast is extending into today, interrupting harvest from around Thursday last week through today in most regions. Hoping for dry fruit to go into a cleaner Tuesday harvest. Expecting light pack-outs this week as we look to control quality post-rain.
- Florida: Will have overall numbers reported over the next weeks. For the most part, rain ended the season this week. Potential lighter picking but nothing of any magnitude.
- Georgia: Severe weather this weekend and into today. Going to see light pack-outs due to wet fruit. Lake Park area is past peak, Homerville/Waycross should be past peak, and Alma could have peaked this week, but disrupted potentially due to weather. Will see it plateau or go down from here, until later season varieties begin. Most right now are expecting to be on time, but much lighter in volume as there is a very light interior fruit set on the bushes.
- California: Started harvesting this week. Should see volume start this weekend.
- North Carolina: Will begin with first harvest this weekend, with light production off organic farm. Delayed further harvest due to weather. Expect to see a light start back up Tuesday, picking up into the weekend. Overall, crop should be light to average.
- Mexico: Continues to experience challenges with size and production. We estimate the season will end between May 10–15th.
Raspberries
- Mexico: Volume has continued to drop out of Mexico as we enter summer and start to see a transitional window as we go into the domestic season.
- Santa Maria: Late-May start.
- Watsonville: Late-June start.
- Mexico: Season winding down, as growers began to prune due to water restrictions and heat.
- Santa Maria: Late-May start.
- Georgia: Assessing weather but will probably have lighter start than anticipated due to rain damage and fruit loss due to quality. Should see a strong June if weather permits.
Cantaloupe
Katie.Karpenko@robinsonfresh.com
Citrus
Matt.Horvath@robinsonfresh.com
• California Valencias: Harvesting has begun in a limited capacity, with the season projected to ramp up in late June. Early production features excellent color and does not require gassing. Larger sizes (56- and 88-counts) are scarce, while smaller sizes are more abundant. Sugar levels are high, ranging from 12 to 14 brix.
• Florida Valencias: The season is concluding, with supplies dominated by 80- to 100-count sizes. Quality is average, and growers are contending with regreening issues. Expect elevated prices and limited stocks as the season wraps up.
Lemons
• California: Harvesting continues in Districts 1 and 2. District 1 is producing more large fruit, peaking on 95/115-count sizes, while smaller sizes remain tight. Overall supplies are plentiful, though quality varies by size and district.
Grapefruit
• California Star Ruby: The season is in full swing, with fruit exhibiting deep red color and sweet, tangy flavor. Availability is good across a range of sizes, varying by grower.
Mandarins
• California: The season is winding down, with availability expected through mid- to late-May. As temperatures rise, puffiness is becoming more common, particularly in larger sizes. Early-season Peruvian imports are anticipated to arrive in the coming weeks, supplementing supply.
Grapes
Honeydew
Katie.Karpenko@robinsonfresh.com
Limes
Juan.Torres2@robinsonfresh.com
Weather Update: The weather forecast for next week indicates a couple of rainy days, while the rest will be mostly sunny days. Temperatures will range from 72°F to 89°F, and humidity is expected to be around 90% making it an excellent week for the smooth continuation of regular activities.
Market Intel: The demand for limes has been steady.
Sizing Profile: Peak sizes 200/230/175. Size distribution: 110-3%, 150-13%, 175-19%, 200-26%, 230-28%, and 250-11%.
Quality: Quality issues being reported: oil spots, blanching, scarring, and skin breakdown.
Looking Ahead: The forecast for the last days of May and the beginning of June shows a steady fruit volume, with availability expected across all sizes, particularly 230/200s. We are confident that the available supply will be sufficient to meet the demands of all our programs, and the recent rainfall allows us to anticipate well-preserved fruit quality. Continuous farm monitoring is in place to ensure optimal growing conditions and maintain high fruit availability.
Positive progress is observed in the fruits that will be ready for June. Small fruit is already on the trees; a good harvest is predicted this month. We hope the rain continues to maintain better quality.
Mangos
Ramiro.Quintanilla@robinsonfresh.com
We are in week 20 and this will be the last week of packing in Oaxaca and Chiapas for the 2025 season. Michoacan will continue to ship Tommy’s and they will start with Kents week 21. With the exit of Oaxaca and Chiapas, we will see less 6/7 reds and 12-16 Honeys, but Michoacan Kent crop will yield more 8s with few 7s week 21. Honeys will remain limited on large sizes such as 12 /14 counts and 16 count until we see better sizing in Nayarit.
Papaya
Gustavo.Lora@robinsonfresh.com
Supply NOT Meeting Demand for Papaya in U.S. Market
Inventories showing NO availability to offer.
Majority of sizes are between 6–12s with NO 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 is for tight supply for the next two weeks.
Market Intel: NOT enough supply to service demand.
Pears
Charlie.Incaudo@robinsonfresh.com
Pineapple
Gustavo.Lora@robinsonfresh.com
Availability: Supply is meeting demand in the USA market.
• Growing regions: MEXICO - Good volume of fruit is expected to cross out of Mexico this week with smooth crossings at the border. Production is stable with similar volume to prior week with a good distribution of sizes peaking on 6s and 7s. Mexico’s internal market remains strong, pulling a good share of fruit. Weather at the pineapple growing regions remains fair with good yields and good quality. Transportation out of Mexico is stable with good availability of trucks to service pineapple, with no delays last week. COSTA RICA - Supply is stable on all sizes with less surplus this week versus last week. Availability of fruit in the market is better with 6s and 7s more readily available compared to last week. Good-quality fruit is being exported to the U.S. and Europe. Market is stable but lower as pine demand remains slower after the Easter pull. Tariffs on new imports for Costa Rica are expected to have an impact of +/- $1.00 per case. Some surplus is expected with stable prices for the next two weeks.
• Mexican fruit quality is good with better conditions overall. COSTA RICA - Volume is stable at packing. The U.S. market is stable on all counts.
• Forecast: Some surplus fruit is being offered at U.S. shipping points by large grower/shippers at this time. Market is stable versus last week.
Strawberries
Vickie.Casacca@robinsonfresh.com
Weather outlook:
- Santa Maria, California, for the week of May 12th is forecast on Wednesday to be sunny and breezy in the afternoon, Thursday partly sunny, Friday cloudy and cool, and cloudy and cool with showers and windy in the afternoon for the weekend. Highs in the 60s and lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. The week of May 19th is forecast on Monday to be sunny, Tuesday through Thursday mostly sunny, Friday and Saturday sunny, and Sunday warmer with intervals of clouds and sun. Highs in the 70s and lows in the upper 40s to low 50s.
- Oxnard, California for the week of May 12th is forecast for low clouds followed by sunshine. Highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s. The week of May 19th is forecast on Monday for low clouds followed by sunshine, Tuesday through Thursday mostly sunny, Friday and Saturday sunny skies, and then Sunday intervals of clouds and sunshine. Highs in the 60s Monday and Tuesday, increasing to the 70s for the balance of the week and lows in the 50s.
- Salinas/Watsonville, California for the week of May 12th is forecast to be sunny to partly cloudy. Highs in the 60s, and lows in the 40s. The week of May19th is forecast to be partly sunny, becoming mostly cloudy on Sunday. Highs in the 70s and lows in the upper 40s to low 50s.
Watermelon
Sam.Schneider@robinsonfresh.com
Organic Fruits & Vegetables
Organic Apples
Charlie.Incaudo@robinsonfresh.com
Organic Citrus
Chris.Lemmon@robinsonfresh.comThere has been some changes over the last couple of weeks in the citrus world. First, we are seeing most of the navel supply drying up. We are now moving onto Valencia oranges, and we have good supply coming out of Riverside, California.
The lemon market has jumped and supply has really tightened. The quality of the lemons we are seeing right now have some effects of the winds we had and with some scarring and puncture.
Grapefruit is still going strong and the market is holding stready. Our quality out of Riverside, California is outstanding, and we are seeing pack-outs come in with most sizes. 23 count through 64 count are available.
Organic Dry Vegetables
Chris.Lemmon@chrobinson.comAll colors of bell peppers are available right now out of Nogales. Sizing and volume vary each day on arrivals. For the most part, markets are steady and not very strong. The mini sweet pepper market has turned and is now higher in price with limited supply. Roma tomatoes are going strong as well and are another item that could be a good promotion.
Organic Melons
Sam.Schneider@robinsonfresh.com
Organic Onions
Chris.Lemmon@robinsonfresh.comMost of the new crop onions are now coming out of California. The Washington and Texas supply dried up very fast. There are plenty of yellow, red, and white onions coming from California now and the market seems to have leveled out in pricing. We will be starting our red and yellow onions out of Hollister, California in June.
Organic Pears
Charlie.Incaudo@robinsonfresh.comThe organic pear crop was severely damaged this season and down around 50%. We are still shipping organic Anjou in very small quantities. Imported organic Bartletts have started to arrive now in the U.S. but expect to see pricing much higher than last season. Overall, organic pears will continue to be tight and expensive until the new crop is harvested in September.
Organic Potatoes
Chris.Lemmon@robinsonfresh.comColorado potatoes are still available but finding a quality red potato is not possible. Quality on russets is very nice though. The market on russets continues to be strong and cartons are tight with high prices at this point. The yellow supply dried up over the last week in Colorado. New crop started in California on red and yellow potatoes. Market is very high on them right now and will remain there for a while. New crop russets will be mid-June.
Organic Squash
Chris.Lemmon@robinsonfresh.comHard squash out of Nogales is available but not as plentiful as it has been the last few weeks. Markets are starting to rise a little on all varieties. Soft squash is all over the place, depending on the day you want to buy. Currently, supply on Italian and yellow squash is tight as is the pricing. Cucumbers are plentiful this week and the market is cheap. There is supply but pre-books are recommended for volume orders.
Organic Sweet Potatoes
Chris.Lemmon@robinsonfresh.comAs smooth as the market and supply have been on sweet potatoes, we are starting to see some changes. It is the time of the year when storage sweet potatoes start to dry up and pricing jumps. The first variety for this to happen with is the Japanese variety. We have seen that market jump over the last week. Overall, the rest of the varieties are in good supply for now and pricing remains steady.
Transportation
REFRIGERATED TRUCKLOAD
Eastern United States
The East Coast refrigerated market has remained very soft with capacity readily available, in line with seasonal trends. Typical produce season is ramping up, starting out of Southern Florida, moving its way into Southern Georgia, and eventually to the Carolinas in the coming months. Small pockets of produce have started to ship out of Southern Florida already, but not enough to shift the market yet. Expect volumes to truly pick up around in May once produce begins to fully ripen.
Central United States
The Midwest temperature-controlled market continues to be relatively soft with capacity available, especially for standard palletized chilled goods with good load/unload times. The outlook for May is for more of the same. Capacity out of the Midsouth is also readily available, although same-day freight may see some tightness. By mid-May, this dynamic will likely shift further. Make loads as attractive as possible to help secure capacity.
West Coast United States
Costs have declined in the refrigerated market on the West Coast due to an excess supply of capacity, aligning with historical first-quarter trends across California, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest. At the end of March, demand began to shift from Yuma, Arizona, to Northern California and continued to do so in April. This could potentially cause short-term rate spikes due to changes in where produce is being harvested, though costs are expected to stabilize as carrier supply adjusts. Meanwhile, outbound freight costs from the Pacific Northwest are likely to remain low, although inbound rates may see increases to offset demand dynamics.
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.