Produce News Today

Spring Crops

Maine Fiddleheads are IN!

Spring Onions are IN!

Rhubarb is IN!

Ramps are IN!

English Peas – Not yet… but soon!

Fava Beans – Not yet.

Tomato Update ***ALERT***

Quality is still lower than normal and prices continue to remain high. Plum (Roma) tomato prices and quality seem to be the best for common Florida product. Our Maine Loose Vine-Ripes are delicious and by far your best value – not to mention they are true Local Flavah!

Bell Pepper Update

We are seeing some good prices and better quality peppers than we have had in a couple of months. As supplies continue to reach demand the prices should continue to drop through Spring and stabilize through summer. There is an ***ALERT*** on domestic red peppers as there is absolutely no supply! We are substituting Holland reds at the moment.

Lettuce “Growing Gap” Just Starting!

California Iceberg & Leaf: Demand has increased for California iceberg, romaine and leaf items due to a combination of factors: the harvest is winding down in Western Arizona and the Central San Joaquin Valley, while a cool, wet weather pattern has resulted in lighter availability and an increase in demand for new crop production in the coastal valley districts of Central California. Rain that occurred early in the week has resulted in an occasional issue with mildew in product from various growers. Expect higher lettuce prices and lower quality for at least three weeks!

Onions ***ALERT***

The onion market (both red and Spanish) continues to push higher with rain continuing through Saturday in the new crop harvest region in the Texas Valley. This critical shortage in onion supplies will continue well into the future. The new crop harvest in the Imperial Valley, CA which will begin in late April, is unlikely to have much effect in providing any relief to the current shortfall. The size of the Imperial Valley crop is relatively small by comparison. Prices for yellow onions have reached historic levels.  We may see Imported onions from Brazil soon!

Native Maine for Vinegar!

From the French word vinaigre, or “sour wine”, vinegar has enjoyed a long history, easily thousands of years, as an ingredient, a tonic and even a beauty product. Vinegar is created when the naturally occurring sugars in the wine or liquid ferment into alcohol, which is then transformed into acetic acid, giving vinegar its bite. Babylonians were known to use vinegar to preserve and pickle food. Caesar’s armies used it as a beverage and it is said that Helen of Troy bathed in vinegar. Vinegars may be made from fruits such as apples, grapes and stone fruit, as well as malt (or starch), spirits and molasses. Native Maine has an extensive selection of imported, specialty & common vinegars for every application and always at the lowest possible price.

Customer Service is #1 at Native Maine!

As always, check in with our amazing team of telephone customer service representatives for your best fruit and vegetable values of the day. These highly knowledgeable Native Mainers are all very experienced in many aspects of food service and we believe them to be “the best in the business.” Use their intimate knowledge of food trends and years of experience to help you plan a menu around seasonal produce or to recommend special menu items or even to discuss the many new specialty products that Native Maine now has in stock for your consideration.

Coming to Native Maine Next Week:

More Paper Products, More French Fries, Pub Mixes, Party Mixes, Wasabi Covered Peanuts, Crystallized Ginger, Goji Berries & a complete line of PC condiments… Ayuh, just in time for summer!