Freshspective
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | Issue 202
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
Weather conditions in Peru continue to be unseasonably warm, limiting exportable volume and keeping overall production below normal seasonal levels. Ica has begun to send initial volume, signaling the start of regional transition; however, current output is still not enough to ease the tight supply situation in Miami. Arrivals in Miami continue to be light by both air and ocean, and demand remains steady, supporting firm pricing across the board. Market expectations remain unchanged: tight supply and strong pricing through September, with Large, XL, and Jumbo extremely limited. Weekly volume out of Peru has now declined approximately 30% compared to the same period last year, further reinforcing the current market tightness.
Bell Peppers
[email protected]Supply conditions continue to stabilize as the recent increase in production begins to slow. September traditionally offers favorable pepper supplies, although peak volume has passed. Georgia is currently expected to begin around October 10.
Broccoli
[email protected]Broccoli supplies remain adequate, with steady production from California and continued support from Mexico. Regional harvests in the Midwest and East Coast are adding seasonal volume. Quality remains good overall, with strong color and appearance, although some lots may show minor sizing variation associated with seasonal weather. No significant supply disruptions are expected, and availability should remain sufficient through the next two weeks.
Cabbage
Cabbage supply is expected to remain limited for the next two weeks as all growing areas experience quality challenges. These issues are associated with insect pressure and heat and rain events earlier in the season. Secure volume early.
Celery
[email protected]Celery supplies are abundant, with strong California production and supplemental regional volume supporting availability. Quality remains excellent, with good sizing, strong color, and reliable packouts contributing to smooth shipments. Operational disruptions are minimal, and buyers should continue to see consistent coverage across most specifications. Favorable growing conditions are expected to support stable availability over the next two weeks.
Cucumbers
[email protected]New Jersey and the Carolinas are beginning their fall harvests, although meaningful volume is still developing. Supplies are expected to increase steadily over the next several weeks as harvest activity expands.
Greens
[email protected]Collard greens, kale, and turnip greens have good volume and availability from northern growing regions. Mustard greens remain in short supply because of heat and rain earlier in the season. Supply is expected to remain limited for the next 10-14 days.
Leaf Lettuce
[email protected]Leaf lettuce supplies continue to improve as California's Salinas and Santa Maria regions increase production heading into early September. Additional volume from the Midwest and East Coast is supporting availability, while Mexico remains an active source for romaine and specialty lettuce programs. Quality is generally good, although occasional lighter weights and field variability may affect specific packs. Short-term prorates remain possible on romaine hearts, but overall supply conditions are expected to become more consistent over the next two weeks.
Squash
[email protected]Georgia has started with limited volume, with larger volumes still to come. Availability from New Jersey and the Carolinas is improving as the fall season begins, helping maintain balanced supply.
Sweet Corn
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Conventional Fruits
Apples
As September begins, the main harvest of new-crop apples is approaching. Washington State is harvesting and shipping 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 varieties are still shipping from storage, and importers will spend the next week clearing remaining imports from their coolers. Fuji and Granny Smith will be the next major Washington varieties harvested, beginning around mid-September. Overall, the crop appears smaller than last year, with estimates of approximately 120 million cases this season.
Other major growing areas have also begun harvesting early varieties. Michigan has started with varieties such as Paula Red and Gala, while New York and Pennsylvania are also beginning their early-variety harvests. New York and Pennsylvania are projected to start harvesting Gala apples around September 6. Michigan's crop is projected to be better than last year's at approximately 25 million cases. New York's crop is expected to be slightly smaller than the previous year's. Pennsylvania's crop will also be down after poor weather caused severe crop loss this season.
Avocados
Texas remains the main shipping point as Mexico leads supply. Size 48 and larger fruit is plentiful. California's harvest is winding down, and Peru has only a couple of weeks remaining in its season. Quality remains good across all regions.
Bush Berries
[email protected]- Raspberries: Conventional volumes from the Northern District, Baja, and Santa Maria are declining. Although Oxnard is helping support overall availability, it is not fully offsetting reductions in other growing regions. Organic supply remains stable but is expected to gradually tighten. Baja continues to be the largest contributor, although production is moving past its peak. Central Mexico is expected to help stabilize organic supply beginning in September.
- Blackberries: Conventional supply is expected to tighten further in line with seasonal trends. Santa Maria yields remain low, while Watsonville volumes continue to decline as older plantings wind down. Organic supply remains short, with production from Watsonville, Oxnard, and limited volumes from Santa Maria struggling to support demand. Early production from Central Mexico remains limited following thunderstorms and hail across growing regions. Some crossings could begin by mid-September, but quality remains a concern.
- Blueberries: Conventional production in Central Mexico has been slightly reduced but is expected to increase through Weeks 36-37. Production in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia is rapidly winding down and is expected to conclude by the second week of September. Production in Peru is up slightly, with incoming shipments entering the marketplace. Organic blueberry supply remains limited as the seasonal transition keeps availability tight.
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe supply and quality remain good as demand increases. Sizing is primarily 9-count, followed by 12-count and jumbo 9-count.
Citrus
Oranges
- California Oranges: California Valencias are available with strong eating quality, and supplies are generally good. Current crops are peaking on larger sizes, while 113-count and 138-count fruit remain limited. The market is beginning to shift toward the upcoming California navel season as import programs wind down.
- Import Oranges: Industry reports indicate that South African navel and Valencia export forecasts have been reduced due to adverse weather, flooding in some production areas, and ongoing logistics challenges. Chilean orange supplies remain steady, with favorable crop projections and continued shipments into the U.S. market.
- Outlook: Orange supplies remain adequate, but tighter South African export volumes could pressure offshore availability as the season progresses. Chile is currently the most stable import origin. Expect a gradual transition toward California fruit through September and October.
Lemons
- California Lemons: California lemon supplies are good, with fruit loading from the Central Valley and Ventura County. Current District 2 crop production is peaking on sizes 95, 115, and 140, while fancy-grade availability remains more limited.
- Import Lemons: Imported lemons from Chile and Argentina continue to represent the largest share of imports. Availability is steady across most sizes. Lemons continue to peak on smaller sizes, including 165 and 200, while larger lemons are more limited.
- Mexico Lemons: Mexican lemons remain available, but a significant decline in volume is expected beginning in mid-September. Quality is also expected to become more challenging during the latter half of the season.
- Outlook: Lemon supplies remain stable across California and import programs, with no widespread quality concerns currently reported. California should become increasingly important as Mexican supplies tighten and offshore programs gradually wind down.
Grapefruit
- California Grapefruit: California Marsh Ruby grapefruit remains available.
- Import Grapefruit: Imported grapefruit continues to come primarily from South Africa and Peru. South African grapefruit export forecasts have been revised lower due to quality packouts and weather-related production challenges.
- Florida: Florida grapefruit remains active through several domestic programs, with no significant supply or quality changes reported over the last two weeks.
- Outlook: Grapefruit availability remains adequate, although reduced South African export estimates could tighten import supplies as the season progresses. No major quality concerns are currently reported.
Mandarins
- California Mandarins: California mandarins continue to provide year-round coverage and are expected to play a larger role as offshore programs enter the latter part of their season.
- Import Mandarins: Imports remain available from Chile, South Africa, Peru, and Uruguay, including Clementines, Murcotts, Tangos, and Nadorcotts. Imported mandarins remain very limited, particularly in smaller sizes. Earlier weather in northern Chile delayed color development, and heavy rain in Peru halted harvesting. As the rain subsides, packing activity has increased, which should provide more volume, although availability will remain limited.
- Outlook: Offshore mandarin supplies remain limited, although volume may increase slightly compared with previous weeks. California mandarins are expected to gradually represent a larger share of supply as import programs conclude.
Grapes
Expect another strong week of availability and quality from California's Central Valley. Older varieties are clearing as newer proprietary varieties take center stage. Back-to-school promotions and extended late-season supplies should support strong availability heading into September.
Honeydew
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Honeydew volume is lower this week than in previous weeks. Quality remains strong, and demand is increasing
Limes
Weather Update: Warm to very hot and humid conditions are expected, with maximum temperatures ranging from 88°F to 95°F and minimum temperatures from 72°F to 77°F. Periods of sunshine and variable cloud cover will prevail, with scattered showers and thunderstorms most likely 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: 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 affect their timeliness and effectiveness.
Mangos
As of Week 36, the Mexican mango season is officially closed. The final loads were packed last week, and supply has fully transitioned to Brazil. Brazil is packing primarily from the Petrolina region this week, the fifth week of the season. The season is expected to continue through Weeks 42-43. Brazil shipped 155 containers in Week 35, and volume is expected to remain similar this week. Available harvest volume decreased this week because cold temperatures are delaying fruit maturity on the trees. Sizes 9, 10, and 12 are predominant this week, while larger sizes are available in smaller proportions.
Papaya
Papaya supply is meeting demand in the U.S. market.
Supply conditions remain stable, with enough fruit crossing to serve demand. Yields and quality are good, with balanced domestic and export activity. Sufficient production, good quality, and favorable harvest conditions are expected for at least the next two weeks.
Most fruit is available in sizes 6-12, with some surplus fruit. Quality is reported as good, with some speckling and lower color. Fruit is shipping at 25%-50% color and 12-14 Brix. The ideal temperature for Imperial papaya is 48°F to help avoid quality issues upon receipt.
Crop outlook: Supply is forecast to remain sufficient for the next two weeks.
Pears
New-crop Bartlett, Bosc, and red pears are shipping from Lodi, California. The California crop is smaller than last year, but ample fruit should be available through September. Washington's pear crop has also started, with Bartlett and red pears shipping this week. Bosc and Anjou pears are projected to begin shipping around September 7. 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 balanced mix of sizes.
Pineapple
Availability: Supply is not meeting demand in the U.S. market.
Supply: Mexican supply is expected to increase gradually through September. Costa Rican supply is expected to remain tight for the next six weeks. Robinson Fresh organic supply will restart in the third week of September as a pack-to-order program only. Costa Rican volumes are declining and are expected to drop significantly from September into November, primarily because of strong natural flowering followed by limited harvestable product. Some fruit remains available in the U.S. market in sizes 6 and 7. Costa Rican supply is expected to decline further over the next three weeks.
Quality: Mexico has low yields, good fruit condition, and very limited availability. Costa Rica has lower volume and good quality at packing, with quality fruit being exported to the United States and European Union.
Forecast: Strong demand is expected to continue for the next three weeks. Some surplus fruit is currently being offered at U.S. shipping points by large grower-shippers.
Strawberries
Conventional: Growers are reaching a seasonal low in summer production. Lingering weather impacts across California's growing districts continue to affect fruit quality and fresh-market volume.
The transition to the fall crop is expected to improve quality and yield consistency as new acreage comes online. Organic availability remains sporadic across northern and southern districts. Supply should gradually improve as the new fall crop gains momentum in early September. Increased heat across growing districts should accelerate plant maturity. However, persistently warm nights and hot afternoons are not ideal and could affect berry development if the pattern continues.
Watermelon
Watermelon supplies are tightening as most growing areas wind down. The North Carolina season is finished, and supplies are limited in Delaware and Indiana. Texas and Oklahoma have some volume available, while California and Wapato, Washington, are winding down. Supplies are expected to remain tight through September and into October, until Northern Mexico begins shipping through Nogales, Arizona, in October.
Organic Fruits & Vegetables
Organic Apples
[email protected]The new Washington State crop has started in very light volume. New-crop organic Gala apples are being harvested and shipped, 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 volume. Other key organic varieties, including Fuji, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady, are not expected to be harvested until September or October, although limited supplies remain from last year's crop.
Organic Citrus
[email protected]California organic citrus is entering a critical transition period heading into the latter part of the 2026 season. Growers are balancing record retail demand against tighter upcoming crop volumes.
Overall Navel Volume Down: Recent estimates project California's upcoming navel orange crop to be approximately 35% smaller than the previous year's exceptionally large harvest.
Shippers report that weekly volumes should remain relatively steady, but the overall season will be much shorter, causing peak availability to end earlier than usual.
Domestic Lemon Supply Gaps: California's District 1, or Central Valley, completed its lemon harvest earlier this summer. This contributed to a high-demand, low-inventory environment expected to persist through September 2026.
Organic Dry Vegetables
[email protected]The peak local season for organic hard winter squash is beginning and is expected to support produce departments through early November.
- Regional Lineup: Mid-Atlantic and East Coast grower cooperatives, particularly in Pennsylvania, are reporting excellent initial quality across staple varieties.
- Core Varieties: Strong volumes are building for organic butternut, spaghetti, and green acorn squash.
Specialty Standouts: Organic delicata, known for its edible skin, and organic pie pumpkins are reaching shelves with strong early-season quality.
Organic Mini Melons
[email protected]Organic mini watermelon supplies will be available from Patterson, California, in September and are expected to slow near the end of the month.
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 with 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 from Washington State. Organic Bosc and Anjou pears are not expected to be harvested until around September 15. The overall Washington organic pear crop 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]As the California potato season ends, the Northwest season is beginning to pick up. Russet, red, yellow, and fingerling potatoes are being harvested and placed into storage. Potatoes from the region are currently very fresh and should continue to be fresh-packed throughout September.
Organic Squash
[email protected]Organic summer squash supply, including zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, and cucumbers, varies significantly by region:
- West Coast: Supplies from California and Baja remain exceptionally tight. Persistent heat and erratic rainfall have affected local yields.
- East Coast and Midwest: Conditions are more favorable across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Georgia fall production is beginning to increase and is expected to add needed volume to broader supply.
Organic Sweet Potatoes
[email protected]Organic sweet potato supply is stable and consistent, supported by steady shipping from core domestic growing areas and sufficient volume as the industry awaits late-summer and fall harvests. Properly cured organic sweet potatoes have a long storage life, helping the category avoid the sharp midsummer supply gaps seen in other dry vegetable categories. California continues to lead western supply, with strong production from the Central Valley. Shippers are drawing high-quality cured organic sweet potatoes from storage to meet steady demand.
Transportation
East Coast United States
Temperature-controlled freight conditions across the Eastern United States continue to reflect a mix of seasonal tightening and emerging areas of relief. In New England, capacity has tightened as expected for this time of year and is likely to remain constrained through the remainder of the summer produce season. Similar trends have developed across the Upper Atlantic, where rates have moved higher alongside stronger seasonal demand.
The Ohio River Valley has experienced some of the most volatile conditions in the region, with significant swings in demand creating equally volatile load-to-truck ratios and resulting in elevated transportation costs.
Further south, the Lower Atlantic experienced substantial rate increases throughout much of July, although early signs of easing began to emerge heading into August. The most notable shift occurred in the Southeast, where outbound refrigerated costs declined sharply as regional produce volumes fell and the summer harvest season began winding down.
While this improved outbound capacity availability, it has also created new challenges for inbound freight, particularly into Florida. With fewer outbound opportunities available, carriers have become more selective about serving the region, reducing the attractiveness of inbound loads and creating potential service challenges for shippers moving freight into the Southeast.
Central United States
Refrigerated market conditions across the Central United States softened during the second half of July as demand retreated from peak summer levels. The South Central region experienced the most significant decline, with outbound freight volumes falling sharply and load-to-truck ratios moving lower as a result.
While transportation costs have also eased, cost-per-mile declines have lagged the reduction in demand. This is consistent with broader national trends, as carriers continue to face elevated operating costs.
The Midwest and Great Lakes regions are following a similar trajectory, though at a more moderate pace. Freight demand and load-to-truck ratios are down, but pricing remains elevated compared to historical norms. The Upper Midwest remains the primary exception. Seasonal harvesting activity, particularly corn, is creating localized spikes in refrigerated demand and contributing to periodic capacity tightening.
These agricultural movements are generating uneven market conditions and preventing rates from declining as quickly as in other parts of the region. As harvest activity expands over the coming weeks, the Upper Midwest is likely to remain one of the tighter refrigerated markets in the country.
West Coast United States
The West Coast refrigerated market remains largely balanced overall, though conditions are beginning to diverge. In California, outbound demand has moderated somewhat compared to earlier in the summer. Load-to-truck ratios are down modestly and cost-per-mile trends have begun to ease, reflecting a more balanced supply-and-demand environment.
However, these conditions are not uniform. Pockets of tightened capacity continue to emerge sporadically across the state, depending on harvest schedules, commodity flows, and specific origin markets.
In contrast, the Pacific Northwest is entering a period of increasing seasonal pressure. Harvest activity for key commodities such as cherries and onions accelerated as July ended, driving a noticeable tightening in available refrigerated capacity. As additional crops move into harvest over the coming months, demand for refrigerated equipment is expected to increase further.
Historically, refrigerated pricing in the Pacific Northwest continues to strengthen through the fall harvest season and into Thanksgiving, and conditions suggest a similar pattern may develop this year. Shippers moving freight out of the region should expect tighter capacity and continued upward pressure on rates as harvest activity expands.Customs
OCEAN TRENDS - Global ocean networks continue to normalize, although operating conditions remain fluid and regionally uneven. The security situation in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and broader Middle East continues to influence carrier network decisions and routing strategies. During 2026, several major carriers, including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd, have progressively expanded Suez Canal utilization on selected services following ongoing improvements in regional security conditions. However, many carriers continue to maintain contingency routings via the Cape of Good Hope, and overall Suez Canal traffic remains significantly below pre-crisis levels. Recent increases in containership transits suggest improving confidence, but war-risk insurance costs, operational flexibility concerns, and periodic security incidents continue to limit a full network return to pre-2024 operating patterns. Transit times have improved on services returning to Suez routing; however, vessels continuing to utilize Cape routings may still experience voyage extensions of approximately 10 to 14 days. Carriers remain disciplined in capacity deployment, while equipment imbalances and periodic space constraints continue to occur in select trade lanes. Reefer demand remains robust in several agricultural export markets, particularly in Latin America, and equipment repositioning challenges continue to affect refrigerated cargo availability in certain regions.
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, upon reaching its statutory 150-day limit. Simultaneously, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative implemented new Section 301 tariff measures applicable to approximately 60 economies, establishing a two-tier tariff structure generally ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent. As a result, many importers have experienced little overall reduction in duty exposure despite the expiration of the Section 122 surcharge. Existing Section 301, Section 232, antidumping and countervailing duty programs remain in effect, and additional trade actions continue to be evaluated under multiple statutory authorities. Importers should continue monitoring developments closely, as trade policy remains subject to rapid regulatory and judicial 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 ceased enforcement of 46 CFR Section 541.4, the provision governing which parties may be invoiced for demurrage and detention charges. The court vacated only that section of the rule and left all remaining Demurrage and Detention Billing Requirements fully intact. Accordingly, invoice-content requirements, the 30-day invoice issuance deadline, and associated billing dispute timelines remain enforceable. The FMC has indicated that future rulemaking may address invoicing responsibility; however, no replacement regulation has been finalized as of August 2026. Stakeholders should continue reviewing contractual allocations of demurrage and detention liability and ensure billing practices align with the remaining requirements of 46 CFR Part 541.
REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE LANDSCAPE - The FDA continues implementation activities associated with the Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204 Food Traceability Rule. The compliance deadline remains July 20, 2028. Although enforcement remains deferred, FDA has continued conducting stakeholder outreach, public meetings, tabletop readiness exercises, and discussions regarding potential implementation flexibilities, particularly concerning lot-level traceability requirements. Many retailers, foodservice providers, and supply chain partners continue advancing traceability initiatives ahead of the compliance deadline and may require enhanced recordkeeping and electronic data-sharing capabilities before federal enforcement begins. Companies handling Food Traceability List 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 contained within the IPPC wood packaging mark. The agencies previously suspended enforcement during much of 2025 but confirmed there would be no additional grace period following December 31, 2025. 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, including the required hyphen separating the country code from the producer code, in order to avoid potential supply chain disruptions.
EMERGENCY BUNKER SURCHARGE - Emergency bunker, fuel, war-risk, security, contingency, and conflict-related surcharges continue to impact global ocean transportation costs. Although portions of the container shipping industry have cautiously resumed Red Sea and Suez Canal transits, many carriers continue to apply war-risk and contingency-based pricing mechanisms due to ongoing geopolitical instability, elevated insurance premiums, and operational uncertainty in the Middle East. Recent security incidents and periodic disruptions in both the Red Sea and adjacent regional waterways continue to create uncertainty regarding transportation costs, transit times, schedule reliability, and network planning. While freight markets remain generally balanced, carriers maintain the flexibility to adjust surcharge programs rapidly in response to security developments, insurance market conditions, fuel costs, and vessel-routing decisions.
For more global freight insights please visit Global Freight Markets Insights | C.H. Robinson Ocean Shipping Freight Market Update | C.H. Robinson
Floral
Floral conditions remain largely unchanged. Supply is adequate, and air freight is available from both growing regions. Retailers are running summer promotions to help farms move flowers. Volumes are expected to be slightly higher over the next couple of weeks, but not enough to constrain the supply chain.