Freshspective
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 | Issue 196
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
Domestic asparagus production continues to be at its peak, and volume is expected to remain strong for the rest of this week and likely next. Volume will start declining the week of June 22nd. As of now, quality remains strong; however, standard and medium sizes are predominant with very little availability of LG/XL/Jumbo sizes.
As far as Peru, volume is somewhat scarce and market has started to react with European business kicking in as their local season is done due to heat. Expect a TOUGH transition between local and Peru.
Bell Peppers
[email protected]Supply is more stable this week, with steady production out of South Georgia and increasing volume from Coachella and the Central Valley. Mexico is nearly out of the market. While overall availability is still somewhat limited, consistent domestic production is helping markets settle.
Broccoli
[email protected]Broccoli is showing one of the most balanced positions and is expected to trend steady to slightly easier over the next two weeks, provided current supplies continue to hold. California production has improved, with better availability out of Salinas and Santa Maria, while Mexico continues to provide steady supplemental supply through Texas. Markets have softened from the elevated levels seen earlier, and overall quality is generally good, although some isolated issues such as browning and pin rot are still being reported. At this point, the category remains manageable, but buyers should continue monitoring regional supply shifts and quality closely as the market transitions further into summer production.
Cabbage
Georgia continues to have availability with the Carolinas up and running as well. There are deals to be had! Northern cabbage will start in about 7-10 days out of Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. Quality and supply look to be good!
Celery
[email protected]The celery market is expected to remain steady to firm through the next two weeks. Supplies have improved modestly as production transitions further into California’s coastal regions. Overall availability is still not heavy enough to drive significant market relief. Hearts and value-added celery items remain the most supported segments, while raw product pricing in some districts has softened slightly from prior highs. Quality is generally holding, though occasional condition concerns are still being reported. Overall, celery appears more stable than lettuce in the near term, but the market is still expected to remain firm with only gradual improvement.
Cucumbers
[email protected]Cucumbers are beginning to recover, though still uneven. Georgia remains the primary source but is showing some quality and grading issues tied to earlier weather. North Carolina is now online and ramping quickly, with additional regional deals expected soon. Western supply is transitioning to Baja with improving quality.
Greens
[email protected]Collard and kale continue to be available out of Georgia and the Carolinas. Quality and supply are good. Northern regions (Michigan, Illinois, and the Northeast) have begun. Quality is excellent! Supply is ramping up as we move through June.
Leaf Lettuce
[email protected]The leaf lettuce market is expected to remain very firm to elevated over the next two weeks, with the greatest pressure continuing to center on romaine and romaine hearts. Supplies out of California remain tight, and ongoing quality challenges, including lighter weights, fringe and tip burn, mildew pressure, and intermittent prorates, are continuing to limit availability across the category. Green and red leaf markets are also staying elevated as overall supply remains constrained. Mexican production is contributing supplemental volume, but seasonal declines there are limiting its ability to ease the market in a meaningful way. As a result, pricing is expected to remain elevated into mid-June, with romaine and hearts likely to continue seeing the most pressure.
Squash
[email protected]Squash is now in a much better position, with steady production across Georgia and California and additional regional supply from North Carolina and New Jersey. Quality is good overall. Markets have eased compared to prior weeks.
Sweet Corn
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Insights to Action
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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 Delicious 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 opportunities 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. The new crop starts in a small way on limited varieties in August, so let’s cross our fingers that we have a robust crop this fall.
Avocados
The main shipping point is Texas with about two-thirds supply from Mexico with sizes peaking 48 and larger. Additional supply is available in California with sizes peaking 48/60s. Some offshore, beginning with Peru, is starting to ramp up.
Bush Berries
[email protected]Blueberries
Demand remains steady week over week, with fruit available from multiple loading locations. Quality concerns persist in both Georgia and Central Mexico as production moves past peak levels, resulting in some tired fruit.
Raspberries
California production is expected to increase over the next two weeks. Some growers will continue production in Central Mexico throughout the California season, creating a more diversified supply mix and improving availability to support stronger demand. Quality continues to improve, although there are still occasional reports of soft and leaking berries.
Blackberries
California production is expected to increase over the next two weeks. Some growers will continue production in Central Mexico throughout the California season, creating a more diversified supply mix and improving availability to support stronger demand. Quality continues to improve, although there are still occasional reports of soft and leaking berries.
Regional Overview
• Central Mexico, Georgia, North Carolina, and California: All regions remain actively in production and continue to adjust to market cost pressures based on their respective supply and demand dynamics.
• Georgia: The season is expected to conclude within the next two weeks.
• North Carolina: The season is anticipated to finish by late June to early July.
• New Jersey: Production is expected to ramp up by mid-June, with the season projected to last approximately 4–5 weeks, weather permitting.
Cantaloupe
Very light volumes and demand exceeding supply in the Imperial Valley and Yuma due to virus pressure. Expect this to continue the rest of June until Central Valley, California starts in early July.
Citrus
Oranges
- California Navels: Crop remains heavy on large, choice-grade fruit, with peak supply on 56/48/72 counts. Smaller sizes (88/113/138 counts) will remain limited through the end of the season. As overall quality begins to show some pressure and supply winds down, growers with late lane navels are actively harvesting. These late-season navels are expected to support supply through most of June at a premium. Most growers will finish in June, with some larger growers extending into July.
- California Valencia's: Harvests have slowed following the conclusion of school program demand. Production is expected to ramp back up as navel volume winds down later this month. Smaller sizes (113/138 counts) remain tight and continue to command a premium, as the broader orange market is short on these sizes. Overall sizing is expected to skew larger this season, similar to the early navel crop.
- Florida Juice Oranges: Valencia season is finished with active harvests, with few growers offering storage fruit that should clean up over the next few weeks.
- California Lemons: District 1 has wrapped up, leaving District 2 as the primary production region. Markets remain active, driven by strong demand and limited supply. District 2 fruit is predominantly choice grade, with peak sizing in 75/95 counts; smaller sizes remain tight. Market conditions are expected to stay firm into the summer import season.
- Import Lemons: Argentinian lemons have begun arriving, with a large portion already committed to contracts. Early-season fruit quality is fair, with some expected greening. Chilean fruit is anticipated to arrive mid-June. The import season is projected to mirror last year—limited availability and a competitive market. Continued demand from global markets is constraining supply, reducing export volumes to the U.S.
- 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: Earlier weather impacts on the crop has led to a shorter season. The season has effectively concluded for most growers, with remaining fruit showing softness and a shorter shelf life. Supply is tight, and markets will remain active as the season concludes over the next week.
- Import Mandarins (Southern Hemisphere): Limited volumes from Uruguay, Peru, and Chile are now available, primarily clementine and primosole varieties. Initial arrivals from South Africa are expected this week. Due the shortened California season, the import market is expected to be active until July, when supply volume ramps up out of Chile and South Africa.
Grapes
Spot-market pricing for Mexican table grapes has risen over the past 10 days as the season nears its end. With over 13 million boxes already shipped from an estimated 16-million box crop, higher FOBs and inconsistent quality are accelerating the transition to California supplies as early as next week.
Honeydew
Light volume but remains available on smaller 6-count and 8-count sizing with very few 5 counts in the Imperial Valley and Yuma. Northern Mexico honeydews crossing into Nogales also remain short on 5 count and mostly 6 count and 8 count. Expect trend towards smaller sizing to continue through the month.
Limes
Region: Veracruz, Mexico
Weather Update:
A warm and humid weather pattern is expected, with high temperatures generally ranging from 88°F to 97°F and lows between 73°F and 79°F. Periods of variable cloud cover, muggy conditions, and the possibility of scattered showers or thunderstorms are forecast.
Market Intel:
The market is changing rapidly so please contact the lime team for more information regarding pricing.
Sizing Profile:
Peak sizes 175/200/230; and size distribution: 110-10%, 150-19%, 175-25%, 200-19%, 230-17%, and 250-10%.
Quality:
The fruit may suffer burn damage due to manual handling (oil spot) because of the expected rainfall, very high temperatures, and elevated dew point conditions caused by the heat in the region
Looking Ahead:
By late June, considerable production of medium-sized fruit can be observed in the orchards. By early July, we anticipate a considerable level of production, with fruit sizes varying across the crop.
Mangos
We are currently in Week 24, and the Michoacán mango season is approximately 10–15 days away from completion. Most packing houses in the region have already closed, with only a limited number continuing operations. Michoacán has been the primary source of the transactional volume seen in the market; and as supplies from this region wind down, we expect increased demand and pricing pressure on fruit coming out of Nayarit and Southern Sinaloa.
This week, we are already hearing reports of higher field prices in both Southern Sinaloa and Nayarit. These increases were anticipated as we move into mid- to late-June and transition into the next production regions.
Honey mangos are currently available from Nayarit and Southern Sinaloa, and reports indicate that Los Mochis will begin harvesting Honey mangos this week—approximately 2–3 weeks earlier than normal. An early start typically signals an earlier finish, and current projections suggest the Los Mochis Honey season could conclude around the first week of July.
With Red mango availability continuing to decline, this presents an excellent opportunity to promote Honey mangos. We expect approximately four weeks of solid Honey mango supply from Los Mochis, supplemented by the remaining volume from Nayarit.
Market conditions appear to be firming this week across most red mango sizes as well as Honey mangos, with pricing expected to remain supported as overall supply tightens.
Papaya
SUPPLY JUST MEETING DEMAND FOR PAPAYA IN THE USA MARKET.
Supply conditions are slightly tighter this week versus 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 slightly higher in the U.S. market but should remain stable through June.
Inventories are showing less availability to offer.
Majority of sizes are between 6s–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, mostly clean skin.
Pears
We are now shipping pears from Oregon and Washington State, where we are loading Anjou pears and red pears. Overall, we have a good pear crop and will have fruit to promote at good prices throughout the season. The Anjou and red pears are projected to be year-round this year and will be promotable through July. The Bartletts and Bosc pears have finished out of the Northwest and there are now new-crop imports 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.
Pineapple
Supply Meeting Demand in U.S. Market.
- Supply: Some volume being exported out of Mexico with growers holding back significant quantities of fruit to avoid the low USA market. Some growers reporting yields of exportable fruit coming down as the summer gets closer and some growers prepare for the seasonal gap. Supply is stable out of Costa Rica with good volumes still expected for June with the natural peak currently on its way with a significant reduction in volume coming for week 31. 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 slightly lower brix and with some availability in the market. COSTA RICA - Stable volume and good quality at packing. Good quality fruit is being exported to the USA and European Union.
- Market: Market is low with good overall demand and plenty of availability on 6s and 7s. 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. Plenty of surplus fruit being offered at USA shipping points by large grower/shippers at this time. Market is stable versus last week.
Strawberries
• Oxnard – Production is limited as the season is past peak, but harvesting is continuing to assist with covering industry demand.
• Santa Maria – Yields are historically low due to high temperatures early in the season. Some growers are shifting focus to the investing in fall crop to ensure better yields and quality for the next crop cycle.
• Salinas/Watsonville – Farms are stripping and cleaning fields due to rain at the end of last week. Fields are expected to bounce back toward the end of the week. Quality reports continue to show defects including bruising and over-ripeness contributing to weaker shelf life.
Watermelon
Supplies are a little tight this week on watermelons. North Florida is winding down in volume and Georgia got pushed back a little bit due to cooler weather. Texas and Mississippi received a little rain, and they are behind on orders. Arizona and Southern California are going with limited volume. Supplies will pick up out of Georgia around June 15th. It is a good time to promote minis at the end of June out of Georgia.
Organic Fruits & Vegetables
Organic Apples
[email protected]We are 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 navels are finishing. We are starting to see Valencia oranges pick up for the month. Lemons remain low in overall volume. Organic limes will be driven by Guatemala, with Mexico seeing more impacts from rain, with sizing expected to remain peaking on smaller sizes.
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 continue to see California ramp up supply over the next few weeks. There are still hot house peppers available to keep colored peppers supplied.
Organic Melons
[email protected]There are limited supplies on organic minis right now in Arizona and Southern California. We will start Patterson, California around the end of June.
Organic Onions
[email protected]Organic onions have become very difficult to find. Usually, we will still have supply coming out of the Northwest through May. Unfortunately, that was not the case this year as 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 potato 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 in June. 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 few weeks. 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
Refrigerated conditions along the East Coast vary from north to south. Catch-up shipments after Roadcheck Week and Memorial Day have moderated, with most lanes settling back into more typical seasonal patterns.
Capacity across the Southeast is tight, and remains sensitive to short-term demand spikes, particularly in produce-heavy corridors. Georgia, particularly, continues to experience tightening tied to residual produce movement, which can create pockets of elevated outbound pricing. Capacity is improving for outbound Northeast loads, while rates slowly begin to normalize as backlogs of freight are being worked through.
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.
As June progresses, East Coast markets are expected to remain bifurcated due to the seasonal harvest. Overall, capacity is available, but pricing and flexibility are becoming more critical to securing it, especially in Southeast produce markets and where there’s an imbalance in return freight.
Central United States
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
Refrigerated market conditions across the West have largely mirrored trends seen in the Central region, with significant tightening observed through Roadcheck Week and the Memorial Day shipping cycle. During this period, many lanes experienced meaningful rate acceleration, with increases of 40% or more in some high-demand corridors.
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 4th 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.
Across most Western markets, capacity is technically available, but access is increasingly linked to price. In practical terms, trucks are available but often at a premium, particularly for short lead-time or high-demand freight. This dynamic is contributing to higher instances of route guide failure, as contract rates lag current market conditions and more freight is pushed into the spot market.
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 tariffs as of February 24, 2026. The U.S. Government responded by imposing Section 122 tariffs which is a broad general 10% tariff on all USA imports ,with the exception of USMCA qualifying goods from Canada and Mexico, and the maintained “Tropical” produce exemption on produce not grown in substantial quantities in the USA (avocados, limes, mangos, pineapples, oranges, etc.). Section 301 Tariffs are anticipated – Robinson Fresh anticipates that, even after the Section 122 10% surcharge expires in late July 2026, U.S. tariff measures will likely continue, but in a more targeted, country-by-country form. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has already initiated multiple Section 301 investigations (trade reviews) covering numerous countries and unfair trade practices. These ongoing Section 301 reviews – including probes into areas like excess manufacturing capacity and forced labor policies across dozens of economies – are widely expected to culminate in new, long-term tariffs or other trade actions tailored to specific countries. In other words, a return to country-specific U.S. tariff rates is likely soon, potentially with higher rates (above 10%) on certain countries or products, based on USTR’s findings.
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 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.
Although many carriers hold firm with their original EBS rates, there have been multiple carriers that have published upcoming decreased rates to take effect late June 2026.
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 stabilized, and shipment volumes have returned to normal levels following the Mother’s Day seasonal event. Product availability remains strong, and shipment volumes are forecast to remain stable throughout the summer months.