Freshspective
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | Issue 185
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
🌱 Asparagus Update
Health Month is here! After all the holiday indulgences, it’s time to get back on track and asparagus is a perfect item to help customers reset with fresh, healthy choices. Let’s hit the gas with volume pulls and promotions to start the year strong!
🇵🇪 Peru
Supply remains steady, led by strong volume from the north region, with some additional product still flowing from the south. We expect this to continue consistently through January, as we begin preparing for the transition into our Mexico season out of Caborca.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Crossings remain light and are projected to stay at this pace through January, with Caborca ramping up in February. As the Caborca season begins, we’ll shift to loading most of the volume from our West Coast warehouse, while continuing to have some arrivals in our Miami warehouse to support our customer needs from the East Coast.
Thanks to our strong grower partnerships, Robinson Fresh continues to offer consistent availability. Whether you’re looking to load on the East Coast or support the West Coast, connect with your subject matter expert to plan ahead, secure volume, and lock in advance pricing to cover your business.
Bell Peppers
[email protected]Weather permitting; we expect volumes to remain steady. Both growing regions are maintaining strong production as long as conditions stay favorable. In Mexico, labor has fully returned following the extended holiday break, supporting consistent output.
Broccoli
[email protected]Broccoli in Georgia will be ending within the next week to 10 days. There will be some availability in Florida and in Mexico as we move into the middle of January.
Cabbage
Cabbage supply remains in good supply and quality. Promotional volume and pricing are available!
Celery
[email protected]Supplies of celery remain extremely limited but are improving each week. The market is very active both in Oxnard and McAllen with strong demand through the holidays. Quality is good overall and expected to progress into January.
Cucumbers
[email protected]Local Florida production is essentially finished until March. Honduran product is beginning to arrive in South Florida; though, as noted previously, overall volume will be much lighter. East Coast markets remain active, while Mexico is now bringing on stronger supplies. We expect markets to stabilize by the middle of next week.
Greens
[email protected]Collard and kale are in good supply. Turnip and mustard are limited due to the cold weather patterns that have gone through the Southeast growing region. Collard/kale were tempered; however, turnip/mustard are more fragile, experiencing yellowing and decay. We will continue to monitor fields closely for changes.
Leaf Lettuce
[email protected]Production is experiencing disruption due to recent cold and rainy weather. Harvest crews out west are working diligently to procure solid quality in each carton. As we see new production blocks, overall quality of the crop is improving each day. Markets have begun to adjust as Mexico improves in volume and quality.
Potatoes
[email protected]There are excellent supplies of high-quality potatoes coming out of storage in multiple regions. This is true of reds, yellows, and russets. Demand typically drops off as we get into the new year, as many consumers are looking for low-carb options. The low demand and large volumes make for an excellent buying opportunity and promotional period.
Squash
[email protected]Typically, Florida is not a major supplier of squash during January and February. Southern Mexico is enjoying favorable weather, resulting in a consistent flow of product. With overall demand running higher than expected, steady movement is likely to continue.
Sweet Corn
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Conventional Fruits
Apples
As we start off the new year, we have a few less apples in storage than we expected a couple of months ago. The latest storage report is showing that inventories are lower on many varieties for this time of year than the same time last year. As a result, we are seeing a rising market on many varieties, sizes, and packs, and this trend is expected to continue for at least the next couple of months. The most significant item that is down this year is the Gala. The latest report shows the crop is down over 20% from last year. There are still plenty of Gala to get us through until imports but expect pricing to rise as we progress through the season. The other top variety that is short this season is the ever-popular Honeycrisp variety. The Honeycrisp crop was down over last year and has become ever tighter over the last month because of strong sales as well as low pack-outs. Overall, we are left with a smaller crop than expected and rising prices. We still have great quality and will have opportunities on select varieties to push and grow our sales in the coming months.
Avocados
Supply is mainly from Mexico through Texas. All sizes are available; although, this week’s harvesting and packing will be a bit slow coming out of the holidays. Quality remains good. Offshore (Colombia) has begun with sizing mostly smaller.
Bush Berries
[email protected]
Blueberries
Central Mexico – Volumes remain steady, with increased availability of smaller pack styles loading out of Texas. Quality is good.
Peru – Arrivals remain consistent. Overall quality is fair, with some reports of softer fruit. Peruvian supplies are available for loading out of California and Pennsylvania.
Chile – Production is slowly ramping up, with Chilean fruit expected to enter the marketplace by the end of the month.
Central Mexico – Peak volumes to start the year, accounting for approximately 90% of total production. Quality remains strong. Many suppliers are transitioning into California. Loading is available from Texas and California.
Baja – Good supplies available for loading out of California. Quality ranges from fair to good.
Central Mexico – Volumes remain strong with higher yields supported by favorable weather conditions. Overall quality is good, though some leaky and green berries are present. Fields continue to clean up as the season progresses. Fruit is available for loading out of California and Texas.
Cantaloupe
Seeing lighter arrivals this week into the ports while some shippers are transitioning between harvest in Guatemala and Honduras. Next week will provide better availability. Market remains steady.
Citrus
Oranges
- California Navels: Prolonged rainfall has impacted harvesting, quality, and sizing. Fruit has sized up, with supplies now peaking on 56/48 counts. Small sizes, 113/138 counts, remain tight and will continue to be limited throughout the season. Some softness has been reported; however, improved weather in the forecast should help stabilize quality and allow harvesting to return to normal schedules.
- California Cara Caras: Sizing is currently peaking on 72/88 counts and is expected to trend larger as the season progresses. Rain-related quality issues have been noted, with pack-outs yielding a higher percentage of Choice-grade fruit.
- Florida Juice Oranges: Hamlin oranges are currently heavier on smaller sizes 125/138 counts, with limited availability of larger sizes. Supplies are expected to last through most of January before transitioning smoothly into Valencias. Overall quality remains good.
- Texas Juice Oranges: Juice oranges out of Texas are peaking on mid sizes with strong demand on small fruit. Limited volume on fancy fruit.
Lemons
- California Lemons: Harvest is active across Districts 1, 2, and 3. The lack of sustained cold weather has delayed natural color development, though improvement is underway. Recent rains have impacted quality, resulting in increased choice-grade fruit. Sizing is peaking on 140/115/165 counts, with rainfall contributing to improved availability of larger sizes such as 95/75 counts.
Grapefruit
- Florida Grapefruit: Florida grapefruit is exhibiting excellent quality with strong internal characteristics. Supplies are strong, with sizing peaking on 40/48/36 counts.
• Texas Grapefruit: Texas grapefruit crop is producing good supplies. Available sizing varies by grower, but overall supply is meeting demand across all sizes.
• California Grapefruit: Ruby Reds and Star Rubies are currently being harvested. No quality concerns are being reported currently.
Mandarins
- Import Moroccan Mandarins: Early-season Moroccan clementines are available in limited quantities. Clementine quality is reported as fair. Availability should improve with the Nadorcott varietal arrivals expected at the end of the month.
- California Mandarins: Recent rains have impacted quality, particularly on Clementines, with increased reports of softness, clear rot, and puffiness. Clementines are expected to phase out over the coming weeks as harvest transitions to Pages and Tangos, which are reporting stronger quality. Slightly larger sizing is anticipated, with peaks trending toward 18/21counts. Mid- to late-season varieties, including Tangos and Murcotts, are projected to see reduced overall volume.
Grapes
Peru shipped 2.6 million boxes of grapes in week 48, signaling rising exports to the U.S. as California’s season has ended and domestic supplies are nearly gone. Strong import demand is keeping spot market prices high, likely through the New Year since week 48 volumes won’t arrive until after Christmas. Green varieties remain tighter than red due to stronger consumer demand. Production in Ica, Peru, is running slightly late but expected to increase in the next two weeks, creating the potential for promotions by mid-January.
Honeydew
Very limited availability on import honeydews with some shippers transitioning between Guatemala and Honduras. There is availability on honeydews crossing into Texas and Nogales this week with the market slightly elevated.
Limes
Region: Veracruz, Mexico
Weather Update:
The weather forecast for next week shows sunny days with two rainy days at the end of the week. Temperatures are expected to range from a minimum of 56 °F to a maximum of 81 °F.
Market Intel:
The demand for limes has been steady.
Sizing Profile:
Peak sizes 175/150/200; size distribution: 110-8%, 150-23%, 175-25%, 200-23%, 230-13%, and 250-8%.
Quality:
January is beginning with regular volume; while a gradual decline is anticipated in the coming weeks, we are confident that January will provide ample volume to support all programs. The new crop is producing green, robust fruit, with medium and smaller sizes becoming increasingly prevalent. All our programs are progressing as planned and remain on schedule.
Looking Ahead:
January will maintain regular volumes. By the last weeks of the month, we will still have good-quality fruit, primarily medium sizes, which provides a positive outlook for all our programs. As mentioned earlier, a slight decrease in volume is expected each week in February, but we anticipate a steady and reliable supply throughout the month. The new harvest will continue to deliver fruit in small and medium sizes, which are perfectly suited to the needs of our programs. Looking ahead, the winter season is always lower in volume, but the various partnerships and different harvest areas in the state will allow us to maintain quality and stability in our operations.
Mangos
We are now on Week 2. Ecuador has finished packing for the season and production is increasing in Peru. We have seen volume exceed projections for the last two weeks from Peru. That is a great sign for arrivals mid to late January, volume is expected to keep increasing week 2 through week 6 as growers start harvesting out of new regions Motupe and Olmos. Pricing in the field is still an issue, and costs seem to keep increasing each week. Many expect prices to start dropping as more volume becomes available in the next week or two.
Papaya
SUPPLY SOMEWHAT MEETING DEMAND FOR PAPAYA IN THE USA MARKET.
Supply conditions have tightened up slightly with less supply to service demand. Less volume is arriving this week versus last week with growers blaming cold weather for the drop in yields and quality issues. Internal market will keep the overall availability of fruit being exported tight to service the U.S. out of Mexico. For at least the next two weeks, supply for papaya production is expected to be lower with a reduction as the colder weather affects fruit sizing. Prices point higher in the U.S. market and should increase through January.
Inventories are showing less availability to offer.
Majority of sizes are between 6–12s with less surplus fruit.
Quality is reported as good with shorter shell life, stem issues, and lower color.
Color 25%- 50% / 12-14 brix at point of shipping. The ideal temperature for Imperial papaya is 48 degrees to avoid quality issues upon receiving.
Crop outlook: Forecast has conditions for less supply for the next two weeks.
Market Intel: Just enough supply to service demand.
Pears
We are now shipping pears from Oregon and Washington State, where we are shipping new crop on Bartletts, red pears, Bosc, and Anjou pears. Overall, we have a fantastic pear crop and will have lots of fruit to promote at good prices all season. We anticipate that Bartlett pears will be available to ship this year until around the end of January. The Bosc, red pears, and Anjou pears are projected to be year-round this year and will be promotable through the first quarter of 2026.
Pineapple
Supply Meeting Demand in U.S. Market.
- Growing region: MEXICO - Little volume crossed out of Mexico into the USA during the holidays. Mexican internal markets continue to offer a better outlet for their fruit than the USA. Yields are relatively stable with more large fruit and less small available overall. Transportation out of Mexico is stable with no issues reported. COSTA RICA - Supply is good and growers are adjusting volume more toward the USA, assisted by the removal of tariffs. Good availability of fruit in the USA market with both 6s and 7s selling at similar prices week over week. Supply conditions are expected to remain stable at farms for the next three weeks. Market is flat this week with good availability overall. Good quality fruit is being exported to both the USA and European Union.
- MEXICO - Fruit quality is good with some availability. COSTA RICA - Volume and quality are good at packing. COLOMBIA - Volume and quality are good at packing.
- Forecast: Some surplus fruit is being offered at USA shipping points by large grower/shippers. Market is stable versus last week.
Strawberries
Strawberry Availability
- California: Due to substantial rains in the Santa Maria and Oxnard, California growing regions, the shippers have been stripping the fruit and sending it to juicers and freezers. This week, they are continuing to assess the damage. With several inches of standing water in the fields, some shippers may not resume harvest until next week.
- Central Mexico: Consistent harvesting, good quality, occasional crossing delays, and favorable pricing.
- Baja: Rain in the past week and shortages due to inconsistent truck crossings have limited available volume. Quality has been just fair due to some rain damage, and shippers are requesting the product stay close. They are anticipating better production this week.
- Florida: Steady production.
- Santa Maria, California - The week of January 5th is forecast Wednesday and Thursday for partly sunny skies and breezy in the afternoon, then sunny for the balance of the week. Highs in the 60s, and lows on Wednesday in the 40s, decreasing to the 30s for the balance of the week. The week of January 12th is forecast to be mostly sunny, Saturday becoming mostly cloudy with occasional rain, and partly sunny on Sunday. Highs in the 60s, and lows in the upper 30s to low 40s.
- Oxnard, California - The week of January 5th is forecast on Wednesday to be partly sunny, and then sunny the balance of the week. Highs in the 60s, and lows Wednesday and Thursday in the 40s, increasing to the low 50s for the balance of the week. The week of January 12th is forecast Monday through Friday for sunny skies, Saturday mostly cloudy with rain in the afternoon, and Sunday partly sunny. Highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. Highs in the 60s, and lows in the 40s.
- Zamora, Michoacan – The week of January 5th is forecast on Wednesday to be warm with plenty of sunshine, Thursday and Friday partly sunny, Saturday partly cloudy, and Sunday partly sunny. Highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s.
Watermelon
Watermelon supplies are steady for Southern Mexico. The quality has been good for this time of year. We are shipping out of Edinburg, Texas, and Nogales, Arizona. There are also limited supplies of offshore melons. We will start with Yucatan, Mexico, out east in February.
Organic Fruits & Vegetables
Organic Apples
[email protected]We are now shipping new crop organic Gala, Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady apples. Overall, the organic apple crop is mirroring the conventional crop on both quality and size. The most promotable varieties this season look to be the organic Fuji, organic Pink Lady, and the organic Cosmic Crisp. Recently, the markets have been tightening on most varieties, and prices have been increasing as a result. I expect this trend to continue over the next couple of months. We expect to have supplies into the summer on most varieties this season.
Organic Citrus
[email protected]Due to the amount of rain we have been getting in California, the citrus market is tight in supply. It appears we will have rain for a few more days before the weather changes and starts to dry up the fields to where we can go in and start harvesting. I would say by the middle of next week, supply should be closer to normal. With all the rain that we have experienced, we will start to see the size profiles change from what was out there before all this rain. Plan to see larger and smaller fruit become tight.
Organic Dry Vegetables
[email protected]Organic dry vegetables are in full swing now. There is plenty available across the country, local deals, California supply, and now Mexico is full steam ahead. Plenty of cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, eggplant, and many other items. The market has been fluctuating daily as some supply dries up and some gets flooded. Best to book orders in advance to assure supply.
Organic Melons
[email protected]Organic minis will start around the end of March when our Northern Mexico crop starts.
Organic Onions
[email protected]There is very good supply currently on organic onions. Washington, California, and other regional supply is in full swing. The red market is continuing to hold up in pricing as supply is good but not over-supplied. Yellow onions are over-supplied, and the market is depressed. Yellow onions would be ideal for promotions right now. White onions are steady on pricing and supply. No real change in the market; but as we get into January and February, we will start to see supplies tighten and markets should react.
Organic Pears
[email protected]We have a good organic pear crop out of the Northwest this year and are currently shipping organic Bosc and organic Anjou pears. The overall crop on all pears looks very good this year and we will have lots of fruit to promote for the first quarter of 2026.
Organic Potatoes
[email protected]Supply Regions: Organic potatoes are currently shipping from Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
Availability: There is plenty of supply across all varieties (russet, red, yellow, fingerling, etc.). No expected interruptions until March or April 2026.
Quality: Outstanding quality reported. All potatoes have gone through their sweat process and are now stored for winter, ensuring stability and shelf life.
Organic Squash
[email protected]Our hard squash program has been very successful this season, and we are now down to only butternut, for which we should have supply for another 6 weeks or so. There is plenty of other hard squash available now out of Nogales and multiple varieties available. Markets are steady right now.
Organic Sweet Potatoes
[email protected]Now that we are in the new year, the sweet potato market should start to change a little. Shippers will check all their inventory for the rest of the season and will adjust the market accordingly to their supply of each variety and sizing. The quality of what is left is still outstanding and should hold in storage for the next few months. If you are looking for a promotional item, sweet potatoes would be a great one!
Transportation
Refrigerated Truckload
East Coast United States
The refrigerated market out of the Southeast remains soft to start the new year, which is consistent with post-holiday seasonal trends. Truck capacity is generally available across the region, including for same-day shipments. Produce volumes out of Florida and Southern Georgia are beginning their gradual winter ramp-up but remain well below peak spring levels. While activity will continue to build steadily over the coming weeks, no major market disruption is expected in the near term.
Out of the Northeast, conditions have normalized following the holiday surge, though certain long-haul lanes—particularly freight moving west—continue to experience pockets of tightness. Spot opportunities remain available but at more stable levels compared to late Q4. Seasonal imports and residual winter produce are moving through ports in New Jersey, keeping load-to-truck ratios slightly elevated in select lanes. Overall volumes are expected to remain steady through the remainder of winter before picking up again heading into early spring.
Central United States
The Upper Midwest is experiencing relatively balanced conditions to begin the year, with occasional pockets of tightness on southbound lanes into the Southeast due to limited backhaul opportunities. Rates have moderated compared to year-end levels but remain slightly elevated on select lanes. Central states such as Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri continue to show available capacity, though expedited and same-day freight can still drive higher costs as networks remain lean post-holidays.
Outbound Texas remains loose overall, with ample capacity and competitive rates across most lanes. Seasonal tightening may develop in South Texas and near border crossings as produce volumes gradually increase, though any tightening is expected to be incremental rather than abrupt.
West Coast United States
The West Coast market has entered its typical winter pattern as fall harvests conclude and production transitions continue:
• Strawberries are transitioning from California into Texas and Florida.
• Mixed vegetable production has shifted from Salinas, California, to Yuma, Arizona.
• Outbound Nogales, Arizona continues to ramp up with winter produce, which may cause brief periods of tightening before capacity adjusts.
• Outbound Washington and Idaho remain active with apples and potatoes, with steady movement expected through the winter months.
The Pacific Northwest is expected to experience intermittent capacity tightness and elevated rates through mid-winter. In California, capacity typically tightens around major shipping weeks but remains generally balanced outside of short-term surges.
Additionally, California continues to face increased scrutiny around CDL issuance and renewal for non-domiciled drivers. While this remains an area to monitor for potential longer-term impacts, capacity across the state is currently stable and largely unaffected.
GLOBAL UPDATES
OCEAN TRENDS - On the West Coast, weather disruptions in Chile and cut-and-run port operations are testing schedule integrity. Several carriers have paused bookings for up to four weeks on certain routes to Mexico and North America. Meanwhile, Peru and Chile’s peak fruit export season is tightening capacity further, intensifying competition for vessel space.
TARIFF IMPACTS - The fresh produce trade between South America and the United States remains central to ensuring year-round availability of fruits and vegetables for American consumers, with countries like Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina supplying key items such as grapes, berries, citrus, and avocados. Earlier in 2025, the U.S. Reciprocal Tariff Policy introduced in April imposed new costs on imports, with most South American nations facing a 10% tariff, Ecuador a 15% rate, and Brazil a steep 50%. These measures raised import costs and fueled concerns about higher consumer prices and disrupted supply chains. However, as of November 13, 2025, reciprocal tariffs on fresh produce have been removed, restoring more favorable trade conditions. The rollback is expected to ease pressure on exporters and stabilize grocery prices for U.S. consumers. It also reduces uncertainty in trade negotiations, encouraging South American suppliers to maintain strong ties with the U.S. market rather than diverting shipments to alternatives like the European Union. Given America’s reliance on imported produce—over 50% of fresh fruit and 31% of fresh vegetables—the policy reversal could help secure supply chains, moderate costs, and reinforce the long-term resilience of cross-hemisphere trade.
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 into 2026. In 2025, U.S. ports experienced fluctuating performance in fresh produce cargo release, driven by shifting trade policies, labor disruptions, and infrastructure constraints. While overall import volumes remain strong, timely cargo release has become increasingly unpredictable, especially at high-volume ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach, and New York/New Jersey. Importers are reporting heightened exposure to demurrage and detention fees, often triggered by port congestion, chassis shortages, and delays in customs clearance. These charges—ranging from $270 to over $625 per container per day depending on equipment type and location—are compounded by limited free-time windows and inconsistent billing practices across carriers and terminals.
For more global freight insights, please visit Global Freight Markets Insights | C.H. Robinson (https://www.chrobinson.com/en-us/resources/insights-and-advisories/global-forwarding-insights/)
Floral
Floral supply has remained stable through the winter holiday period; however, capacity is beginning to tighten, and shippers are increasingly inquiring about spot market opportunities. Purchase orders and shipping schedules have been released for the upcoming Valentine’s Day floral event.