Produce Market Alert - Royal Food Service

Produce Market Update

Stay informed with the latest insights on produce availability, market trends, and quality updates across key growing regions.

October 1, 2025

Vegetables

Brussels Sprouts
Supply is limited due to insect damage, decay, and smaller sizing in Salinas and
Oxnard.

Celery
Markets are active across the board. Large sizes, especially 24-counts, are tight.
Slight seeder is present, but overall quality is above average. Supplies are moderate
to light this week.

Broccoli
Tight availability caused by pin-rot and insect pressure. Expect a firmer market next week.

Cauliflower
Limited supply continues, with a slight market increase anticipated.

Fruits

Strawberries
Supply is recovering after recent weather disruptions. Oxnard production is increasing and expected to improve by week’s end.

Oranges
Valencia oranges are peaking at 72-counts with three weeks remaining. School demand is tightening smaller sizes and pushing prices up. Navel oranges begin mid- October.

Lemons
Strong market conditions persist. Ventura/Oxnard volumes are declining, and small sizes (140ct and under) are limited. Light production is starting in CA Desert and AZ. Imports are down compared to last year.

Bananas
Stable supply and strong quality continue, despite rising school demand.

Pineapples
Watchlist: Expect very limited supply over the next 14 months due to drought and acreage loss in Central America. Quality and taste remain good, but flexibility in sizing will be key.

Table Grapes
California is in peak production. Flames, Sugraones, and Ivory varieties show stable supply and quality.

Avocados
Markets remain steady with excellent quality. U.S. volume reached 51.8M pounds last week, up 18% from the prior week. Jalisco leads Mexico’s shipments, while California’s harvest is tapering off. Peru and Colombia are shifting focus to the EU, with limited U.S. arrivals expected later this fall.