NOTESBUYER’S

Buyer’s Notes Week of February 5th

new• Gold Nugget Mandarins are seedless, sweet and easy to peel.

• Puntarelle from Tutti Frutti is a member of the big, beautiful, bitter family of chicories that also includes Endive, Escarole and all those wonderful varieties of Radicchio, such as Castelfranco, and Treviso.

• Crespo Ataulfos from Mexico have started! Promotable volume available for Valentine’s week.

coming soon• Import Bartletts anticipated to arrive at Earl’s at the end of February. Pictured in the photo to the right: Luis Acuña one of the principals of Viva Tierra with one of the growers of the Rio Negro region of Argentina. The dry warm summers and very cold winters of the Rio Negro region make it the ideal condition for growing Organic Pears, very similar to what we find in eastern Washington.

• Fair Trade Cantaloupes and Honeydew from Divine to start up in April.

Of

BLUE: C: 66 , M: 0 , Y: 1 , K: 0GREEN: C: 92 , M: 5 , Y:96 , K: 1

www.earlsorganic.com Office 415.824.7419 Fax: 415.824.7819

Back in Stock• Galia Melon will be back in a few weeks.

Gapping• Peeled Shallots

Inventory Challenged• Thai Coconut are very limited for the next few weeks.• Bok Choy continues to be challenged by pest pressure. • Belgium Endive• Burdock Root

Winding down• Asian Pear season is quickly winding down with the Atago and Shinko varieties. This is it until the season starts up again in August. Asian Pears are not kept in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage and there are no imports. Learn more about CA storage here: http://bit.ly/applesandpearscomingoutofCA

Finished• Buddha Hands

Apples: Pink Ladys from Washington and Cuyama from California will be in very good supply just in time for Valentine’s promotions. Fuji, Gala, Braeburn, Granny Smith and Cameo are all at very attractive prices. Since they are Controlled Atmosphere Apples, this time of the year the quality and condition are excellent. Also in good supply are club varieties such as Piñata, Kiku and Kanzi. Honeycrisp are still available but their volume is decreasing rapidly. Grab them while you can!

Avocados:Although California Hass Avocado season is just starting up, we believe that the Mexican Avocado is a superior eating experience. We will continue to support Equal Exchange Fair Trade Avocados and other Mexican labels through the month of February.

California Fuertes are available in limited quantities.

Bananas:Coliman supply should stabilize by mid-March. In the meantime we will continue to supplement with the Mico Banana label.

Berries:Blackberries and Raspberries are all imports with the exception of Rancho Don Antonio fruit coming out of Nipomo, California. California Blueberries and Mexican Strawberries are plentiful.

Citrus:Oranges: Market has moved up in Navels and CaraCaras but flavor remains excellent. This year’s crop is peaking in big sizes–40ct and 48ct offer the best value.

Moro Blood Oranges are available in better numbersthis week.

Valencias from Mexico are in very good supply and flavor has improved.

Lemons are now mostly coming out of the Coastal regions of San Diego County with excellent quality.

Persian Limes are stronger due to adverse weather inthe growing regions of Mexico.

Meyer Lemons are abundant and cheap. Great time to promote.

High color Star Ruby Grapefruit is in great supply. Fruit eats great and looks fantastic.

– FRUIT –Citrus, cont.

Minneola Tangelos are peaking in volume and flavor.

Gold Nuggets from Stehly farms have started, we expect promotable volume to be available next week. Fruit is excellent right from the beginning.

Murcott and Tangos are in good supply.

Nagami and Meiwa Kumquats are available in low numbers.

Pummelos are in good supply and are expected to be available for Lunar New Year promotions.

Melons:

We are rockin and rolling with the Pureheart Mini Seedless Watermelons from Dulcinea in Mexico. We will have a steady supply for February and March, with an emphasis on 9cts.

Pears:We are still enjoying a steady supply of D’Anjou, Bosc, Red D’Anjou and Comice with imported Barletts to start by the end of the week of February 19th. Volume and fruit size is expected to be very good this season.

Tropicals:Kent Mangoes from Perú are in very good supply. Best opportunity to promote will be 8ct,

Good numbers in Pineapples from Costa Rica this week!

Of

BLUE: C: 66 , M: 0 , Y: 1 , K: 0GREEN: C: 92 , M: 5 , Y:96 , K: 1

www.earlsorganic.com Office 415.824.7419 Fax: 415.824.7819

Did you know?

The watermelon season starts off April-May in Mexico, then moves to the desert in Arizona from May-July, onto the California desert July -September and then circles back to Mexico from September-December.

– VEG –

Covilli Fair Trade Premiums at WorkRoughly 20 months after obtaining the Fair Trade Certification, Covilli’s farmworker associationhas received over $500Kin Fair Trade premiums,which are being investedin four simultaneous community projects:

1. Transportation: The workers bought a van to help them get to and from appointments

in neighboring towns; 2. Health Clinic: Currently under construction, the health clinic will provide workers with a dentist, general practitioner and social worker, all paid for with Fair Trade premiums; 3. Dining Hall: In a new, large, open-air dining hall, workers now have access to two meals a day. Covilli also provides housing, water and cooking gas free of charge so that the workers can keep some of their pay to take back home to their extended families at the end of the seasons; 4. Day Care Facility: Covilli will build the space and provide the equipment for a new day care facility. The Fair Trade Premium will be invested to outfit and stock the day care facility. The land has been acquired and the estimated date of completion is October, 2018.

Read the full story on Earl’s Organic Blog by Jonathan Kitchens, Fruit Buyer:http://bit.ly/covillicommittedtoorganics

Of

BLUE: C: 66 , M: 0 , Y: 1 , K: 0GREEN: C: 92 , M: 5 , Y:96 , K: 1

www.earlsorganic.com Office 415.824.7419 Fax: 415.824.7819

A group of Earl’s team members from the sales, purchasing and warehouse departments returned Sunday from their visit to Covilli’s farm in Mexico.

vegetable updateBrussels Sprouts are looking beautiful from Covilli. Make sure to check out the Covilli blog above for a nice photo of brussels in the packing house. Lots of beautiful Green Kale, Lettuce and Fennel from Tomatero.

ellwood updateEllwood Canyon Farm is coming into a bounty of English Peas! Next week is the time to build up your English Pea display. Look for other gorgeous produce from Ellwood Canyon:The construction of the health clinic

is moving fast!