The West is finally catching a bit of a break weather-wise. Cooler nights and drier afternoons have helped ease some insect pressure and dry out fields that were hammered by nearly 1.5 inches of rain earlier this month. That said, the impact of those storms is still being felt across the board. Lighter weights, increased trimming and quality concerns continue to affect many row crops as the Salinas season nears its end.

Romaine hearts remain extremely tight, and Iceberg and green leaf are still showing issues with mildew, ribby frames and seeder. Harvest crews are pushing through, but lower case weights and shelf-life concerns persist, especially in value-added packs. Spring mix and arugula supply have improved slightly, but growers remain limited to contract and planned volumes with little extra to offer.

On the brighter side, supplies of lettuce and leaf items from Mexico are picking up, crossing through south Texas with decent quality. This additional supply is helping soften demand pressure on the West Coast and keeping markets from climbing further.

Huron is fully under way, providing a small bridge between Salinas and the desert. Quality and yields have been solid so far, but the region’s volume is limited and won’t be a long-term fix. We're still on track for the full transition to the desert growing region the week of Nov. 17.

In citrus, California navels have officially kicked off with early sizing peaking on 72s and 88s. Valencia volume continues to taper off, and District 3 lemons are coming on stronger, with improving quality and supply.

Berry markets are still tight. Strawberries remain in a demand-exceeding-supply situation, with yields improving slightly in Oxnard but still not enough to meet full demand. Central Mexico is slowly increasing production, but volumes remain light. Raspberry and blackberry supply is snug but showing signs of improvement, while blueberry availability continues to increase with steady Peruvian arrivals.

As always, we’ll stay close to the field. Inconsistent supply and quality concerns will linger until we're fully transitioned to the
desert. We don’t expect to see major gaps, but it’s a sensitive time in the season, and planning remains key.

Joey Piedimonte, sourcing manager at PRO*ACT LLC, leverages over a decade of produce industry experience to lead teams, manage key vendor relationships and simplify complex challenges. He is dedicated to growth, strong partnerships and supporting the agricultural community.