Freshspective
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | Issue 195
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 supply remains steady both in Peru and US/Canada. Local production is at its peak in the Midwest and Canada with great quality. Now is a good time to promote volume over the next two weeks.
Bell Peppers
[email protected]Peppers — UP
Pepper availability in Georgia is improving , though overall volume will depend heavily on weather conditions. Frequent showers throughout the week are expected to disrupt harvesting schedules. Despite this, the next couple of weeks should bring relatively strong pepper volumes.
Broccoli
[email protected]Florida and Georgia have finished for the season. The crop is transitioning to the Carolinas. Volume is limited as Texas is struggling with volume.
Cabbage
Quality and supply out of Georgia are steady. Markets are low. There are deals to be had. Northern product will start mid to end of June.
Celery
[email protected]The celery market remains firm but relatively stable, with supplies reported as light to moderate across key California growing regions. While select sizes have shown slight easing, overall availability is not heavy enough to drive pricing meaningfully lower, particularly on celery hearts and value‑added items, which continue to command premiums due to tighter raw product availability. Quality has been generally good, with celery outperforming leafy greens from a shelf‑life standpoint. Mexican celery remains a supplemental component of supply but has not shifted the broader market tone. The outlook for the next two weeks calls for steady to firm conditions, with limited downside risk.
Cucumbers
[email protected]Cucumbers — UP
No relief on availability from Georgia. Volume continues to be a struggle, as yields continue to produce more grade-outs. Cucumbers will remain limited and are commanding a high market. North Carolina will start with their first planting in 10 days, and we need them to have a great season!
Greens
[email protected]Greens in Georgia are coming to an end within the next 7-14 days. Supply for turnip and mustard is limited to pallet volume if available. Collard and kale continue to be in good supply and quality. Northern growing regions are starting in a slow way. Illinois is harvesting with Michigan and Ohio about 7-10 days behind.
Leaf Lettuce
[email protected]Leaf Lettuce (Romaine, Green & Red Leaf):
The leaf lettuce market is expected to remain firm to elevated over the next two weeks, led by romaine and romaine hearts, which continue to see the strongest demand and pricing support. Supplies out of California remain fairly light, and while some improvement has been noted, quality variability and intermittent prorates are still limiting full market relief, particularly on hearts and value‑added items. Green and red leaf markets remain supported as well, with lighter availability keeping pricing steady to slightly higher. Mexican lettuce imports continue to supplement supply but are not sufficient to materially ease overall market pressure. Near‑term pricing is expected to stay firm, with more meaningful relief likely as we move deeper into June and production consistency improves.
Squash
[email protected]Squash — UP
Georgia continues to be in the same pattern of lower availability. Yellow squash has really made a turn for the worse as older fields are not producing the quality. Georgia has already hit its peak volume. North Carolina started over the weekend.
Sweet Corn
[email protected]
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Conventional Fruits
Apples
We are now in the heart of the storage crop season and the early stages of the import season. The storage crop is smaller than last year and therefore many varieties and packs are tighter than last year. As a result, we are seeing a rising market on many varieties, sizes, and packs, and this trend is expected to continue until the new crop starts in August. The most significant item that is down this year is the Gala apples. The latest storage report shows that inventory is down over 20% from last year. This item has really tightened up in the last couple of months, and prices are very high for this time of year. Expect Gala availability and pricing to continue to be tight as there is no relief in sight. The other top varieties that are short this year are the Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Golden Delicous and Cosmic Crisp. Overall, we are left with a smaller crop than expected and rising prices. With that said, we still have apples to sell and we need to maximize whatever opportunites present themselves. Import apples will also give us some relief as we begin to get steadily increasing supplies each week. Although we don’t expect the import crop to lower prices, we are hoping that it stabilizes prices over the next couple of months.
Avocados
Texas is the main shipping point for Mexican product. Supplies are extremely limited and pricing has surged. California is about 20% of the supply with increased pricing. Offshore supply is limited with Peru just beginning to trickle in.
Bush Berries
[email protected]Blueberries
The blueberry market remains steady as multiple growing regions continue production. We are currently loading out of California, Georgia, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas, with strong availability across all pack styles and promotable volumes available.
Raspberries
Demand for conventional raspberries remains steady, with some variation in FOB pricing depending on the loading region. Supplies are plentiful as Mexico reaches peak production. Mexican and domestic fruit will continue to be blended in from California and Texas to support overall demand.
Blackberries
Supplies remain steady, while moderate demand continues to support ongoing market corrections as availability stabilizes. Rain and heat across growing regions in Mexico could impact volume and quality in the coming weeks; however, domestic production is expected to help bridge any anticipated gaps. Loading opportunities are available out of Arkansas and Georgia, with North Carolina fruit expected to begin in the next couple of weeks.
Cantaloupe
Slightly lower volumes out of Yuma, Imperial valley, and greater Phoenix regions then previous weeks. Expect trends toward smaller sizing in upcoming weeks.
Citrus
Oranges
- California Navels: Crop is heavy on large fruit, with peak supply on 56/48/72 counts. Small sizes, 88/113/138 counts, remain tight and will continue to be limited for the rest of the season. General quality is reported to be good, but there is more choice fruit coming out of pack-outs. As quality is showing some pressure and supply winds down, growers with late lane navels are now harvesting. These late season vareties will support supply through most of June at a premium. Most growers will finish in June, with some of the larger growers carrying fruit through the end of the month.
- California Valencias: Harvest has begun earlier than usual due to strong demand for smaller fruit, much of which is already committed to programs. However, overall sizing is expected to skew larger this season, similar to the start of the navel crop. Small sizes (113/138 counts) will remain limited.
- Florida Juice Oranges: Valencia season is finished with active harvests, with few growers offering storage fruit into June.
- California Lemons: District 1 is at the end of the season, with quality challenges due to weather impacts. Expect more Choice-grade fruit and reduced shelf life. Strong demand has shifted to District 2, where supply remains tight, keeping the market active. Sizing is peaking on 75/95 counts, while smaller sizes remain limited. Market conditions are expected to stay firm into the summer import season.
- Import Lemons: Supply from Chile and Argentina is anticipated to be similar to last season – limited with a competitive market. First Argentinian containers have arrived, with very limited availability. Chilean fruit is anticipated to arrive mid-June.
- California Grapefruit: Star Ruby and Red Flame varieties are currently being harvested. No major quality concerns are reported, and supply is strong across all sizes.
Mandarins
- California Mandarins: Inclement weather earlier this year has impacted quality, resulting in softer fruit and crop loss due to fruit drop. Season is finished for most growers, with remaining showing softness and short shelf life. Supply is tight and markets will remain active as the season concludes over the next few weeks.
- Import Mandarins (Southern Hemisphere): Limited volumes from Uruguay and Peru are now available, primarily clementine and primosole varieties. Chilean and South African fruit is excepted for early June. Due the short California crop, the import market is expected to be active until July when supply volume ramps up out of Chile and South Africa.
Grapes
Supply is expected to remain strong this week, with more premium and specialty varieties becoming available, offering better sizing and eating quality — especially on green seedless grapes. Retailers have fully transitioned from South American imports to Mexican green seedless grapes, with the market split between traditional and premium varieties. Traditional varieties, including Early Sweets, are seeing pricing pressure due to increased availability of higher-quality fruit, while premium varieties continue to hold stronger prices.
Honeydew
Slightly lower volumes out of Yuma, Imperial valley, and greater Phoenix regions then previous weeks. Expect a shift towards smaller sizing in upcoming weeks.
Limes
Region: Veracruz, Mexico
Weather Update:
A hot and humid climate is expected over the next 10 days, with high temperatures ranging from 90°F to 99°F and lows around 75°F to 79°F. No significant rainfall is anticipated in the coming days; however, a rise in temperatures is expected..
Market Intel:
The market is changing rapidly so please contact the lime team for more information regarding pricing.
Sizing Profile:
Peak sizes 250/230/200; size distribution: 110-15%, 150-26%, 175-25%, 200-15%, 230-10%, and 250-9%.
Quality:
Moderate winds and a high dew point are expected; therefore, this represents a quality risk over the coming week, as fruit may experience mechanical damage due to wind gusts and physiological injury (oil spot) associated with elevated dew point conditions.
Looking Ahead:
y late May and early June, we anticipate moderate production volumes. This crop flowered in December and January; however, delayed fruit growth can be observed due to the lack of soil moisture, resulting in postponed production across the orchards.
Mangos
We are currently on week 22 and Oaxaca is on its last packing week before they shut-down for the season. Chiapas shut down last week. This will conclude the South Mexico operation for Robinson Fresh. Michoacan is still going strong, but we will see less fruit from this region starting next week. Reports indicate that we will continue packing until mid-June from this region before they are done for the season. Nayarit has started but mainly with honey mangos as red mangos are severely affected. Peak sizing on Honeys from this region is between 18-22 counts with limited supplies on larger Honey’s. Growers in Nayarit will be harvesting red mangos in Jalisco, Colima, and Tomatlan, and packing in Nayarit starting as early as next week.
Papaya
SUPPLY JUST MEETING DEMAND FOR PAPAYA IN THE USA MARKET.
Supply conditions are slightly better than last week with yields and quality just enough to service demand. Market is slightly higher with lower volume arriving this week into the USA. Internal Mexican market remains strong, keeping the overall availability of fruit exported just right out of Mexico. Supply for at least the next two weeks for papaya production is expected to be tight, but still with good quality and good harvest conditions. Prices are slightly higher in the U.S. market but should remain stable through May.
Inventories are showing less availability to offer.
Majority of sizes are between 6 -12s with little 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. 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.
Fruit Condition: Some speckling and some scarring, with mostly clean skin.
Pears
We are now shipping pears from Oregon and Washington State, where we are loading Bosc, Anjou pears, and red pears. Overall, we have a fantastic pear crop and will have lots of fruit to promote at good prices throughout the season. The Bosc pears out of the Northwest will be available for another 3 weeks or so. They will be replaced by imports which are beginning to arrive in good quantities into East Coast ports now. The Anjou and red pears are projected to be year-round this year and will be promotable through July. The Bartletts have finished out of the Northwest and there are now new-crop imported Bartletts from Argentina that are available on the East Coast. Pricing and quality are both attractive on this variety and we expect them to remain promotable for the next several months. Overall, the pear category will be very promotable the next couple of months.
Pineapple
Supply Meeting Demand in U.S. Market.
- Supply: Some volume is still being exported out of Mexico, but growers are starting to hold back fruit due to a lower USA market. Supply is stable out of Costa Rica with good volumes still expected for May harvest but slightly tighter on smaller fruit. Some availability of fruit in the USA market with both 6s and 7s selling at the same prices week over week. Supply conditions are expected to remain stable for the next three weeks for both Costa Rica and Mexico.
- Quality: MEXICO - Fruit quality is good with some availability. COSTA RICA - Stable volume and good quality at packing. Good quality fruit is being exported to the USA and European Union.
- Market: Market is stable but strong this week with less availability on 6s and 7s. Pineapple demand remains strong with less inventory available in the market mostly due to sales outpacing inbound volume arriving in the USA. Transportation out of Mexico continues to struggle due to high fuel costs and mango shippers still pulling more trucks away from other commodities.
- Forecast: Strong demand remains. Less surplus fruit being is offered at USA shipping points by large grower/shippers currently. Market is stable versus last week.
Strawberries
The strawberry market remains firm to start out the week, with limited availability expected to linger through the end of May. Demand continues to exceed available supply. While daily prorates are showing some improvement, they should still be expected across all loading regions for the rest of this week and into next. We could see some slight price relief next week as warmer weather helps stabilize supplies.
California – Recent weather events created lingering challenges in plant health, particularly for crops slated for May production. These consecutive weather events are impacting the current harvest, affecting fruit size, maturity, and overall quality. As a result, daily yield volumes are down approximately 30–40%, with larger pack sizes and premium-grade fruit in the shortest supply across both conventional and organic.
Watermelon
Watermelon supplies are tight Out West. California should start around the 10th of June out of Bakersfield. Arizona and Southern California should start a bit at the end of next week. Out East, there is plenty of supply out of northern Florida. Georgia will start in early June. Texas got a bit of rain last week and there will be better supplies this week. Minis are a little tight but they will pick up next week Out East and we will have better supplies in June. Keep promoting melons in June and July.
Organic Fruits & Vegetables
Organic Apples
[email protected]We are now shipping organic Gala, Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady apples out of Washington State. Overall, the organic apple crop is mirroring the conventional crop on both quality and size. The tightest varieties are the organic Gala and the organic Honeycrisp. The most promotable varieties this season look to be the organic Fuji and the organic Pink Lady. Recently, the markets have been tightening on most varieties, and prices have been increasing as a result. Expect this trend to continue over the next couple of months. We expect to have supplies into the summer this season on most varieties. Imports from Argentina and Chile are now arriving at Eastern U.S. ports in a small way. This welcome new supply should help to increase availability and stabilize the price over the next couple of months.
Organic Citrus
[email protected]California is still the dominant source of organic citrus. The market is shifting as we are starting to see navels and other varieties come to an end. We will start to see Valencia oranges take center stage over the next month. Lemons, though they are currently tight, will start to have more volume in the next month.
Organic Dry Vegetables
[email protected]The bell pepper and hot pepper supply is still coming out of Mexico, but we are going into a transition period. We will start to see California ramp up supply over the next month. There is still hot house available to keep the colored peppers supplied.
Organic Melons
[email protected]Organic minis will start at the end of June out of Patterson, California. There will be limited supplies of organic minis out of Arizona until then.
Organic Onions
[email protected]Organic onions have become very difficult to find right now. Usually, we will still have supply coming out of the Northwest through May. Unfortunately, that is not the case this year. They finished early and have created a gap. There are still a few onions coming out of California, but most are being kept for contract business, so the open market is very limited. We will start to see some supply coming out of Mexico but mostly yellow and white onions. Until summer onions get going out of California, we will be in a tight market with limited supply.
Organic Pears
[email protected]We are winding down on organic pears out of the Northwest this year with limited supplies on organic Anjou this week. On imports, we now have organic Bartletts arriving from Argentina and Chile. Quality and supplies are good for the next couple of weeks.
Organic Potatoes
[email protected]With organic Northwest storage crop finished, we are very limited to what is available. Currently, we can get potatoes out of Colorado with Russets and yellows being the main varieties available. We have started to see a few red and yellow potatoes available out of California, but limited supply. We should start to see more new crop potatoes available in late-May, and volume starting in June. We will also start to see new crop Russets in June.
Organic Squash
[email protected]For the most part, summer squash is currently being supplied out of Mexico; though, the season has been very hard on the growers, and some have pulled the plug on what is left down there. We will start to see better supply coming out of the desert and the Central Valley over the next few weeks with volume starting to ramp up by the end of May. Winter Squash is still being supplied mostly out of Mexico, but we are starting to see domestic supply out of the desert and starting up in the Central Valley in the next month. Butternut and spaghetti are the two main varieties right now.
Organic Sweet Potatoes
[email protected]California is still the dominate supply of organic sweet potatoes. With that, the supply is very tight as we are finishing up the season of storage crop. There is some supply still coming out of North Carolina, but they are very limited in varieties. New crop should start to come in mid-August.
Transportation
REFRIGERATED TRUCKLOAD
East Coast United States
Across the East Coast, conditions remain tight as produce season begins to ramp. Major metro markets such as Atlanta and Philadelphia continue to show the most pressure, with load to truck ratios holding above seasonal norms. Same day and short notice freight is moving at elevated costs, reflecting both constrained capacity and continued carrier selectivity in high density lanes.
From a produce perspective, the delayed South Florida harvest has now begun to move through the network, with volumes increasing into May rather than peaking in April. This shift is compressing the seasonal curve, creating more concentrated demand and heightened competition for available refrigerated capacity.
As a result, shippers moving freight out of Florida and into East Coast consumption markets should continue to anticipate elevated spot rates and reduced flexibility, particularly for time sensitive shipments. Advanced planning and extended lead times remain critical as the market works through this compressed produce cycle.
Central United States
The Upper Midwest remains modestly tight, with rates continuing to track above forecast despite generally available capacity. Pricing remains the primary constraint, especially for same day and short notice moves. Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas are exhibiting similar trends, driven by steady demand and disciplined carrier networks.
The Dallas market remains elevated, with costs still running above both forecast and prior year comparisons. South Texas continues to experience stronger pressure tied to produce and cross border activity, keeping rates at elevated levels across multiple lanes.
Fuel costs, while stabilizing somewhat compared to earlier volatility, remain a contributing factor in carrier pricing decisions. In addition, a sustained mix shift toward transactional freight continues to support higher spot exposure. Shippers operating in these regions should plan for ongoing rate firmness, particularly for irregular or time critical shipments where coverage certainty comes at a premium.
West Coast United States
On the West Coast, market conditions remain tight across all major origin regions. California continues to see increasing outbound demand as seasonal produce volumes ramp, with key markets including Salinas beginning to take on a larger share following the transition out of Yuma. Load to truck ratios remain elevated across Los Angeles, the Central Valley, and Pacific Northwest origins.
Port activity remains supportive of freight demand, though the post Lunar New Year surge has largely normalized. Even so, steady import flows continue to add baseline volume into an already tight network.
Fuel costs, while off peak highs, remain elevated relative to other regions and continue to influence carrier rate structures. These cost pressures, combined with rising produce volumes, are sustaining elevated pricing across both contract and spot markets.
Looking ahead, West Coast tightness is expected to persist through May as California produce season gains momentum. The overlap of regional harvests and increasing outbound demand will likely maintain competition for refrigerated equipment, particularly on long haul lanes. Shippers with West Coast exposure should continue to prioritize early booking, routing flexibility, and proactive capacity strategies to navigate sustained seasonal pressure.
GLOBAL UPDATES
OCEAN TRENDS - Global Ocean networks remain structurally constrained, driven by ongoing conflict in the Middle East rather than demand growth. Most major carriers continue to avoid the Red Sea/Suez Canal, routing Asia–Europe and Asia–U.S. East Coast services around the Cape of Good Hope, adding approximately 10–14 days transit time and absorbing effective vessel capacity. Tightened vessel cycles, elevated bunker costs, and persistent blank sailings are limiting schedule flexibility even as overall demand remains soft to stable post–Lunar New Year. Carriers continue to manage capacity actively, resulting in inconsistent space availability and shorter rate validity windows despite largely stable base rates. Reefer demand remains resilient, particularly from Latin America, with equipment imbalances persisting through peak produce season
TARIFF IMPACTS - On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) provides no authority for imposing tariffs, voiding all IEEPA based duties and halting collection immediately. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is now issuing refunds through the new CAPE module in ACE, with Phase 1 launched April 20, 2026, and ACH refund disbursements beginning as early as May 12, 2026.
DEMURRAGE/DETENTION CHARGES - Following a D.C. Circuit decision on September 23, 2025, the Federal Maritime Commission removed 46 CFR 541.4 (the "properly issued invoices" provision) from its Demurrage and Detention Billing Requirements. All other requirements remain in effect (invoice data elements, 30-day issuance deadline, and dispute windows).
REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE LANDSCAPE - The FDA updated its General Food Labeling Compliance Program (CP 7321.005) to align inspections with current allergen and labeling rules. Separately, FSMA 204 (Food Traceability Rule) compliance was proposed to be extended, and Congress directed the FDA not to enforce the rule before July 20, 2028; however, many retailers are already requiring end-to-end traceability across broader product sets and faster timelines than the FDA’s baseline.
ISPM-15 WOOD PACKAGING PROTOCOLS (UPDATED 2026) - Effective January 1, 2026, APHIS and CBP resumed full enforcement of the ISPM-15 hyphen requirement in the IPPC mark (hyphen between country code and producer code). No soft enforcement period was provided. Noncompliant WPM may be held, re-exported, or penalized.
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 for floral. Availability is good in both growing regions, Ecuador and Colombia. High fuel prices continue to be a burden for both air freight coming into the country as well as inland transportation.