Freshspective
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | Issue 201
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
Supply from Peru is expected to remain limited across standard and small sizes, and order prorations are anticipated over the next 7 to 10 days.
In addition to older fields reaching the end of production, unseasonably warm weather during Peru’s winter season due to El Niño is a primary driver. While a healthy asparagus crop normally yields 80% to 85% of optimal export production, some fields are yielding 30% to 35%. Quality issues, primarily seeding and feathering, are being caused by heat and product weakness. These concerns may be more prevalent in small or thin product, as smaller sizes tend to deteriorate quickly and have a shorter shelf life. Given the item’s already lengthy supply chain, these conditions may further limit quality and condition upon arrival. The issues are expected to remain prevalent for the rest of the month, until production moves to fields in Ica.
Historically, cooler winter temperatures promote the development of larger calibers, such as Large, Extra Large, and Jumbo. Although Peru is currently in the peak of its winter season, larger sizes are not dominating production this year as they typically would.
Bell Peppers
[email protected]Supply remains strong with ample production across the country. Promotional opportunities continue to be abundant.
Broccoli
[email protected]Broccoli supplies remain adequate, with steady production from California and supplemental volume from Mexico, while seasonal harvests continue to expand across regional growing areas. Field yields may fluctuate. Quality is good overall, with strong color and appearance, although some lots may show minor sizing variation as warmer temperatures influence crop development. Operationally, supply remains manageable, with no widespread disruptions expected. Over the next two weeks, availability should remain sufficient as growers monitor weather conditions and harvest transitions.
Cabbage
Green cabbage supplies are stable and plentiful. Red cabbage remains in lighter supply, with volumes remaining tight.
Celery
[email protected]Celery supplies remain ample, with strong production in California and additional regional volume entering the market. Supply comfortably meets demand. Quality is excellent, with strong sizing, color, and overall appearance supporting reliable shipments. Operational challenges remain limited, although occasional tightness may occur for certain pack styles. Favorable growing conditions and steady harvest schedules are expected to support consistent availability over the next two weeks.
Cucumbers
[email protected]Availability remains strong, though high temperatures have created some quality concerns in select growing regions. No supply disruptions are expected, with North Carolina coming into fresh fields in the coming weeks.
Greens
[email protected]Collard greens and kale have light to moderate summer volumes with good quality, matching current demand.
Turnip and mustard greens are seeing very light volume. This is expected to continue for the remainder of the Northern season. Midwest heat and a lack of rain have contributed to the shortage.
Leaf Lettuce
[email protected]Leaf lettuce supplies are improving as California’s Salinas and Santa Maria districts continue to increase production, with additional volume available from New Jersey and other eastern growing regions. Mexico remains active in romaine and continues to support overall availability. Romaine harvest volumes are improving, while green leaf and red leaf availability has stabilized. Quality is generally good, although occasional lighter weights and shelf-life variability may still occur. Some short-term prorates or substitutions remain possible, particularly for romaine hearts. Over the next two weeks, availability is expected to improve further, resulting in more consistent supply.
Squash
[email protected]Heat and rain have impacted yields and quality, tightening supplies and keeping markets elevated. Georgia is expected to enter fresh fields in the coming weeks, which should help improve availability.
Sweet Corn
[email protected]
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Conventional Fruits
Apples
As the end of August approaches, the apple crop is entering a transitional period. Import and storage inventories are winding down as early varieties from the new crop begin harvesting. Washington State is harvesting and shipping early strains of Gala and Honeycrisp apples this week. These are two of the category’s top-moving varieties and have also been among the tightest. Other major apple varieties are still shipping from storage, and importers will spend the next three weeks clearing remaining imports from their coolers. The next major apple varieties will not begin harvest until September, so it will take time for the new crop to have a significant effect.
Other major growing areas will also begin light production over the next few weeks. Michigan has started with early varieties such as Paula Red, and New York and Pennsylvania are expected to begin these early varieties in another couple of weeks. Major varieties such as Gala will not begin in these areas until September.
Avocados
The Texas Valley is the primary shipping area for Mexican avocados. Avocados are also available in California and in the Northeast and Southeast from offshore sources, primarily Peru. Disruptions in Mexico during the past two weeks reduced supply, but conditions are returning to normal as most municipalities resume harvesting and shipping. Smaller sizes remain limited, while size 48s are readily available. Quality remains very good.
Bush Berries
[email protected]- Raspberries: Conventional and organic supply remains steady. Northern supplies are beginning to trend downward, with limited volumes currently being harvested in Baja and the Santa Maria/Oxnard growing regions. Mexican supplies are expected to enter the market in September, with some product expected to transfer into California at that time.
- Blackberries: Supply remains steady, with seasonal declines in Oregon and Watsonville. The Washington crop has been affected by the aftermath of wildfires and cooler weather. Santa Maria production continues at a steady pace, and Mexican supplies are expected to enter the market in the coming weeks.
- Blueberries: Pacific Northwest and British Columbia supplies are winding down as Peruvian product begins to arrive. Additional Peruvian fruit is expected to enter the market, and Mexican production is also expected to increase over the next month.
Cantaloupe
California cantaloupe harvest remains steady, with excellent quality. Size 9-count fruit continues to lead sizing and availability this week.
Citrus
Oranges
- California Oranges: The California navel season has concluded for the year. Valencia production continues but is gradually slowing as the season progresses. The crop is peaking on larger sizes, particularly 56s and 72s, while smaller sizes, including 113s and 138s, remain limited. Fruit is grading more heavily to Choice as the season winds down.
- Import Oranges: Chilean navels are available on both coasts. Import supplies continue to build, helping bridge the gap left by the completion of the California navel season. Availability is strongest on mid-sized fruit, particularly 72s and 88s.
- Outlook: Orange supplies are expected to remain adequate over the next several weeks, although California Valencia volume will continue to decline seasonally. Demand for smaller sizes has increased, while larger sizes remain more readily available. Imports are expected to play an increasingly important role through the remainder of summer and early fall.
Lemons
- California Lemons: California lemons continue loading primarily from the Central Valley and Ventura County. Supplies remain good overall, peaking on 95s, 115s, and 140s, with good availability in both Choice and Fancy grades. The new California crop is expected to begin in late September or early October, with peak sizing projected on 115s and 140s. The season is expected to start early, but volume is projected to be lower than last year.
- Import Lemons: Chilean and Argentinian lemons continue arriving in heavy volumes with good overall quality. Imports remain heavily weighted toward smaller sizes, particularly 165s and 200s.
- Mexico Lemons: Supply from Mexico is becoming available, with production peaking on smaller sizes. Some early-season Mexican fruit is showing minor cosmetic issues, such as oil spotting and slight green color, although internal quality remains good.
- Outlook: Lemon supplies are expected to remain ample through late summer as imported fruit continues to supplement availability. Small and mid-sized fruit remain the most available sizes, while larger fruit is comparatively tighter. The transition to the new California season is expected to begin in late September, with good quality anticipated despite lower overall crop volume projections.
Grapefruit
- California Grapefruit: Availability is strongest on larger sizes, particularly 32s and 36s. Quality remains strong across the category, and California remains the primary source of supply.
- Import Grapefruit: Limited imported grapefruit is available.
- Florida: Grapefruit is expected to begin in late September or early October.
- Outlook: Grapefruit supplies should remain steady over the next several weeks, particularly on larger sizes. As the California season nears completion, attention will gradually shift to upcoming Florida production. Quality remains favorable, although overall availability of smaller fruit remains limited.
Mandarins
- California Mandarins: Domestic California mandarins are not expected to begin until late October or early November. Current domestic availability remains extremely limited.
- Import Mandarins: Imports from Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Morocco, and South Africa continue to supply the market; however, overall availability remains tight. Chilean fruit is generally trending smaller, while Uruguay is producing larger-sized fruit. Weather-related challenges, including heavy rain, flooding, and delayed color development in several Southern Hemisphere growing regions, have reduced overall export volumes. Import arrivals remain inconsistent as both coasts await additional containers.
- Outlook: Mandarins continue to be the tightest segment of the citrus category. Weather impacts across multiple growing regions have constrained production and export volume, resulting in lighter-than-normal arrivals. Availability is expected to improve modestly over the next several weeks as additional import containers arrive, although supplies are expected to remain below typical seasonal levels until domestic California production begins later this fall.
Grapes
California table grape movement remains slow, with inventories building across red and green seedless varieties. California remains well ahead of last year’s schedule, while extended heat is creating additional quality concerns. Aging lots and premium fresh-packed fruit are both available. Supply is plentiful, and good quality is expected through this week.
Honeydew
Honeydew harvest from the Central Valley remains strong, with good sugar levels and coloring. Size profiles and volumes vary by field.
Limes
Region: Veracruz, Mexico
Weather Update: Warm to very hot and humid conditions are expected, with maximum temperatures ranging from 88°F to 95°F and minimum temperatures between 72°F and 77°F. Periods of sunshine and variable cloud cover will prevail, with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible, primarily during the afternoon and evening. Elevated temperatures and high humidity are expected to persist through most of the forecast period, resulting in oppressive conditions and intermittent precipitation.
Sizing Profile: Peak sizes are 175, 150, and 200. Size distribution: 110 - 11%; 150 - 21%; 175 - 25%; 200 - 22%; 230 - 13%; 250 - 8%.
Quality: There is an elevated risk of oleocellosis, or oil spot, and mechanical damage when wet fruit is harvested. Additional risks include physiological rind injury, fruit drop, and reduced commercial and export quality. Intermittent rainfall may also restrict field operations and reduce the timeliness and effectiveness of phytosanitary applications.
Looking Ahead: The last major harvests of the seasonal production cycle are expected during this period. Relatively low harvest volumes are anticipated because less marketable fruit is available in the orchards.
Mangos
Week 34 marks the final week of the 2026 Mexico mango season for many shippers, while others are attempting to continue for one additional week. Peak sizing ranges from 5s and 6s, followed by 7s, with limited availability in most other sizes. This week is expected to be one of the strongest packing weeks before a major decline begins in the Los Mochis growing region. Rainfall in the growing region has led to defects ranging from minor scarring to anthracnose. Our team is monitoring quality as each inbound shipment arrives from Mexico.
Papaya
Supply is meeting demand for papaya in the U.S. market. Supply conditions remain stable, with enough product crossing to service demand. Yields and quality have improved since last week. Supply is expected to remain sufficient for at least the next two weeks, with good quality and favorable harvest conditions. Inventories show some availability. Most fruit is sized between 6s and 12s, with some surplus fruit. Quality is reported as good, with some speckling and lower color. Fruit is shipping at 25% to 50% color and 12 to 14 Brix. The ideal temperature for Imperial papaya is 48°F to help avoid quality issues upon receipt. Some fruit shows speckling and scarring, but skin is mostly clean.
Pears
New-crop Bartlett, Bosc, and red pears are currently shipping from Lodi, California. The California crop is smaller than last year, but ample fruit should be available for shipping through August and September.
The Washington pear crop has also started and is shipping Bartlett and red pears this week. Bosc and Anjou pears are projected to begin shipping around September 5. The overall Washington crop is projected to be smaller than last year’s bumper crop, but ample fruit should be available this season. Quality is reported as good, and sizing appears normal, with a good mix of sizes.
Pineapple
Availability: Supply is meeting demand in the U.S. market.
Supply: Mexican supply is nearly finished, with little volume crossing during the summer gap. Organic supply remains on hold until early September. Supply from Costa Rica continues to decline, with volumes expected to drop significantly from mid- to late August and likely remain low until early November. Tight volume in Costa Rica is primarily due to strong natural flowering followed by a lack of harvestable product. Some fruit remains available in the U.S. market in sizes 6 and 7. Supply from Costa Rica is expected to decline over the next three weeks.
Quality: Mexico is experiencing low yields, lower Brix, and very limited availability. Costa Rica has lower volume and good quality at packing. Good-quality fruit is being exported to the U.S. and European markets.
Forecast: Demand remains stable. Similar surplus fruit is being offered at U.S. shipping points by large grower-shippers.
Strawberries
Following recent heat, growers have diverted a significant percentage of fruit to the freezer market because quality issues have made it unsuitable for the fresh market across both conventional and organic production.Weather forecasts across California’s growing regions continue to indicate elevated humidity and unusually warm nighttime temperatures, with field-level quality challenges expected to persist. Harvest crews continue to contend with thin skins, overripe fruit, decay, mold, and increased insect pressure, all of which are negatively affecting pack-outs and overall yields. Most growers are falling well short of daily harvest projections, with 65% to 75% of daily orders expected to be filled over the next 7 to 10 days.
The transition to the fall crop is approaching and is expected to bring stronger fruit quality and more consistent yields. Growers are moving beyond older production blocks as new acreage comes into production, providing fresher fruit and helping improve overall supply quality and availability.
Watermelon
Supplies of watermelons and mini watermelons are good. Eastern shipments are originating from North Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, and Delaware. Western shipments are originating from Patterson, California, and Wapato, Washington. August remains a good time for melon promotions.
Organic Fruits & Vegetables
Organic Apples
[email protected]The new crop from Washington State has started in very light volumes. New-crop organic Gala apples are now being harvested and shipped in limited quantities, providing welcome relief after being among the shortest items in the apple category over the past couple of months. Organic Honeycrisp apples are also being harvested in very low volumes. Other key organic varieties, including Fuji, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady, are not expected to harvest until September or October, although limited supplies remain available from last year’s crop.
Organic Citrus
[email protected]California organic citrus is undergoing its seasonal summer transition, with tight organic lemon supply and abundant organic Valencia orange volume. Warmer summer growing conditions across California’s Central Valley and coastal districts have accelerated fruit sizing, providing strong jumbo and large-sized options. Packers are also managing light heat-induced re-greening on late-season hanging fruit.
Organic Dry Vegetables
[email protected]Mid-summer organic dry vegetables, including peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, and green beans, are navigating significant regional transitions that are causing severe localized shortages on both coasts. While cucumber and green bean volumes are improving, bell peppers, chiles, and eggplant remain under severe supply pressure.
Organic Mini Melons
[email protected]Organic mini melons are in good supply from Patterson, California, and are expected to remain available through the end of September.
Organic Onions
[email protected]The California organic onion season is in full swing. Supply is strong, and quality is outstanding. The Pacific Northwest, including Washington and Oregon, has started in light volume. Medium and jumbo onions are both in good supply. Shallots have also begun and are available in Hollister, California.
Organic Pears
[email protected]New-crop organic Bartlett pears have started in very light volume this week from Washington State. Organic Bosc and Anjou pears are not expected to be picked until around September 15. The overall organic pear crop from Washington is projected to be smaller than last season’s bumper crop, but ample pears should be available for promotions over the next several months.
Organic Potatoes
[email protected]California organic potato supply is anchored by fresh-harvested, new-crop potatoes from Kern County, including Russets, Reds, Yellows, and fingerlings. The Washington potato season started early this year, with Russets, Reds, and yellow potatoes available beginning this week. Potatoes from Colorado are not expected until late September.
Organic Squash
[email protected]Organic green squash, including zucchini, has excellent regional supply, while organic yellow squash is more limited. Western supply relies heavily on Central California, while eastern supply comes from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Organic hard squash conditions remain relatively unchanged. Old-crop storage supply is largely depleted, and the new California crop is still about a month away. Demand remains light.
Organic Sweet Potatoes
[email protected]Organic sweet potato supply is stable and highly consistent, supported by steady shipping from core domestic growing hubs and sufficient volume as the industry awaits upcoming late-summer and fall harvests. Because properly cured organic sweet potatoes have an exceptional storage life, the category is avoiding the sharp mid-summer supply gaps seen in other dry vegetable categories. California continues to lead western supply, with robust production from the Central Valley. Shippers are drawing high-quality cured organic sweet potatoes from storage to meet steady demand.
Transportation
REFRIGERATED TRUCKLOAD
East Coast United States
Execution dynamics continue to favor well-structured freight. Loads with consistent schedules, minimal handling requirements, and ample lead time are covered efficiently, while expedited or same-day tenders face more variability in both cost and available capacity. This reflects a market that is stable on the surface but still requires disciplined planning to avoid disruption.
Refrigerated market conditions across the Mid-North have shown some easing following Roadcheck Week, with activity returning closer to seasonal norms. At this stage, no immediate large-scale disruptions are expected outside of typical holiday-driven surges, suggesting a more stable short-term environment across these lanes.
In contrast, Texas continues to experience elevated rates and tighter capacity conditions. Markets in the region remain highly competitive, driven by a combination of produce shipping, cross-border dynamics, and overall supply constraints. As a result, the market is operating with limited room for inefficiency.
Overall, Texas continues to be the most disrupted and elevated refrigerated market in the region on a year-over-year basis. While conditions elsewhere have begun to normalize, Texas remains a focal point for tight capacity, elevated pricing, and ongoing volatility—making it a key area for shippers to monitor as peak produce and beverage seasons progress.
Shipment characteristics are also playing a larger role in execution. Straight-through freight with minimal handling requirements is securing capacity more quickly, while shipments with added complexity—such as multiple pickups or deliveries—are seeing disproportionately higher costs and longer lead times to cover. This divergence is becoming more pronounced as carriers prioritize efficiency and asset utilization.
West Coast United States
While capacity remains accessible, execution has become increasingly dependent on planning and lead time. Loads that are prebooked with adequate notice continue to secure more favorable pricing and consistent coverage. In contrast, same-day tenders and recovery freight are encountering both elevated costs and limited carrier availability, reflecting a market that remains highly reactive to short-term demand spikes.
As June progresses, some modest easing from peak holiday pricing is expected. However, any downward movement is likely to be limited. Backlogs created during the recent surge are still working their way through the system, which is delaying meaningful cost normalization. This dynamic could push out any significant relief until after the July 4 shipping cycle, which typically begins to build momentum in the back half of June.
From a regional and commodity perspective, several key produce-driven factors continue to shape market conditions:
- Northern California is expected to remain elevated due to sustained and diversified produce volumes, keeping outbound refrigerated demand strong.
- Nogales, Arizona, continues to ramp up with watermelon season, further tightening capacity across key Southwest lanes
- Washington is entering cherry season in early June, which is expected to introduce increased upward pressure on rates and longer dwell times as volumes build and facilities work through higher throughput.
Overall, West Coast refrigerated conditions remain elevated and highly sensitive to both produce flows and short-term demand changes, with execution increasingly dependent on planning discipline and pricing flexibility.
Customs
OCEAN TRENDS - Global ocean networks remain constrained, although conditions continue to evolve. The ongoing security situation in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and broader Middle East continues to influence carrier network decisions. While several major carriers, including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd, have resumed limited or selective Suez Canal transits, the majority of Asia-Europe services and many Asia-U.S. East Coast services continue to utilize Cape of Good Hope routings due to ongoing security risks, war-risk insurance costs, and schedule reliability considerations. These diversions generally continue to add approximately 10-14 days to transit times and absorb effective vessel capacity. Longer vessel rotations, elevated operating costs, occasional blank sailings, and geopolitical uncertainty continue to restrict network flexibility despite generally balanced demand fundamentals. Carriers remain disciplined in capacity management, helping support freight rate levels and contributing to periodic equipment shortages, space constraints, and shortened rate validity periods. Reefer demand remains particularly strong in Latin American export markets, and equipment repositioning challenges persist in several key refrigerated trade lanes.
TARIFF IMPACTS - The U.S. tariff environment remains highly dynamic and continues to present significant compliance and cost-management challenges for importers. The temporary Section 122 import surcharge expired on July 24, 2026, after reaching its statutory 150-day limit. Concurrently, the United States implemented new Section 301 tariff measures affecting approximately 60 trading partners, with additional duty rates generally ranging from 10% to 12.5%, largely offsetting the impact of the Section 122 sunset for many importers. Existing Section 301, Section 232, antidumping, and countervailing duty programs remain in effect, while additional trade actions continue to be evaluated under multiple statutory authorities. Importers should continue monitoring developments closely, as trade policy remains subject to rapid change.
DEMURRAGE/DETENTION CHARGES - Following the September 23, 2025, decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in World Shipping Council v. Federal Maritime Commission, the FMC removed and ceased enforcement of 46 CFR 541.4, the provision that restricted which parties could be invoiced for demurrage and detention charges. The court left the remainder of the Demurrage and Detention Billing Requirements rule intact. Accordingly, all other provisions, including invoice-content requirements, the 30-day invoice issuance requirement, and associated billing dispute timelines, remain fully enforceable. Stakeholders should continue reviewing contractual responsibilities for demurrage and detention exposure pending any future FMC rulemaking.
REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE LANDSCAPE - FDA continues implementation efforts related to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Section 204 Food Traceability Rule. The compliance deadline has been extended to July 20, 2028. Although federal enforcement has been delayed, many retailers, foodservice providers, and supply chain partners continue advancing traceability initiatives and may require enhanced recordkeeping and data-sharing capabilities ahead of the regulatory deadline. Companies handling Food Traceability List (FTL) products should continue preparing for compliance despite the extended implementation timeline.
ISPM-15 WOOD PACKAGING PROTOCOLS (UPDATED 2026) - Effective January 1, 2026, USDA APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection resumed full enforcement of the ISPM-15 hyphen requirement within the IPPC wood packaging mark. Shipments containing noncompliant wood packaging materials may be subject to cargo holds, re-export requirements, penalties, or other enforcement actions. Importers and exporters should ensure all wood packaging materials fully comply with ISPM-15 marking requirements to avoid potential supply chain disruptions.
EMERGENCY BUNKER SURCHARGE - Emergency bunker, fuel, war-risk, security, and contingency surcharges continue to impact global ocean transportation costs. Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea region and broader Middle East, combined with carrier operational adjustments and elevated insurance costs, have prompted several carriers to maintain or reinstate surcharge programs during the third quarter of 2026. Although overall freight markets remain relatively balanced, geopolitical developments and vessel routing decisions continue to create uncertainty regarding transportation costs, transit times, schedule reliability, and global supply chain planning.
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
No changes are expected for floral. Supply remains adequate from growing regions in Colombia and Ecuador. Air freight capacity is also adequate.