Produce Update-February 18 2015

Jodi: We have Californian Valencias! They’re about 5 weeks early this year which is totally nuts, but we’ll take ‘em! The prices are higher as the season starts, but they are traditionally tastier and juicier than the Mexican vals and worth the extra shekels. We have lots of specialty citrus in stock right now. The gold nuggets and blood oranges from Sundance are stand-over-the-sink juicy and so incredibly sweet. We have both choice and fancy grades of almost everything. The choice are only a tiny bit scarred on the outside, but exactly the same on the inside (where it counts) and will save you a few bucks per case.Carrots are slim pickin’s right now as Kern transitions further south and they wait for their crop to size up. Cello packs should be stable, but juice carrots are a precious commodity right now. Table carrots are a pretty good alternative, though not as girthy as the juicers. Spuds are doing good in the red/yellow/russet departments, but the others are all running low. Fingerlings finished as soon as they came on in the South, and nuggets are a thing of the future.Stefan: Origino starts up this week with their first harvest of Long English cucumbers. These will arrive to us on Friday in limited supply for the time being. We will still have backup with Mexican grown Long English for the time being. Origino TOVs should be about 2 weeks away depending on the sunshine and daily temperatures. We have a new apple in stock that was developed in Europe and is now being grown in Washington at Broetje Orchards. This apple is a cross between a Gold Delicious and a Topaz. For more info about this new treat check with www.opalapples.comAnnie: Oxnard strawberries are ramping up, and Watsonville is starting soon. Blueberries and blackberries remain steady. Imperial Valley greens are in full swing, though lettuces are still variable sizing, and spinach is limited from most growers, so the price remains high. Strong supply on broccoli, shipping from Mexico, SoCal and Salinas, Cauli is also in very good supply. Romanesco is on for another week, Green Kale supply is increasing so any gaps should be over now. The Peruvian Kent Fair Trade no-dip mango are here, and absolutely lovely, cutting clean, and ripening evenly, smaller sizes are a bit tight, but we’ll have all sizes in stock next week. Organic Girl is reporting shorts on arugula and romaine heart leaves, though we are getting a few.