Week of October 12, 2026 · Purchasing notes from Green Produce Services
The fall growing-region transition has started, but it has not brought broad relief yet. Iceberg, green leaf and romaine remain expensive as the Salinas season winds down, while tomatoes, strawberries and broccoli carry their own supply or quality risks. The better opportunities this week are in products with rising or ample supply: apples, avocados, cucumbers and grapes.
What We’d Buy This Week
These are market-supported options, not a promise that every pack or delivered quote will be cheaper. Match the variety, count, ripeness and case configuration to the way the kitchen will actually use the product.
| Product | Why it looks favorable | What to do with the order |
|---|---|---|
| New-crop apples | Pacific Northwest supplies are increasing while markets are stable. Markon reports very good quality across Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Red Delicious. | Price the variety and size that fits your fruit cup, breakfast, salad or baking use. A smaller apple may work for whole-fruit service; slicing and baking applications can justify a different size or grade. |
| Avocados | Markon reports a stable market, ample supplies and very good quality from current California, Mexico and Peru programs. | Buy to your normal ripening plan. Compare count and stage of ripeness against portion yield instead of choosing on case price alone; overripe carryover can erase a favorable quote. |
| Cucumbers | Prices are level, East Coast stocks are ample and West Coast supplies are moderate. The October 9 USDA Los Angeles terminal report also described cucumber markets as steady. | Whole slicers are the straightforward choice for salads and sandwiches. Persian, English and pickle specifications change labor, seed content, plate appearance and case yield, so only switch packs when the recipe benefits. |
| Red and green seedless grapes | Markon reports abundant domestic supply, weak markets and very good quality, with sugar levels around 12–14% Brix. | Worth pricing for fruit cups, breakfast, catering trays and salads. Compare bunch condition and usable berry yield; loose berries and stem loss affect the true portion cost. |
The Lettuce Transition Has Not Fixed the Market
West Coast lettuce growers are beginning the move from Salinas to Huron in mid-October, but the broader transition to the Arizona-California desert does not arrive until mid-November. Markon’s report for the week of October 11 still lists iceberg prices as elevated and describes INSV and sclerotinia pressure. Green leaf and romaine are also high, with low weights and quality defects still possible.
ProduceIQ’s iceberg index was up 14.63% for the week ending October 9. USDA’s October 9 Los Angeles terminal report quoted California Central Coast film-lined 24-count iceberg at $55–$56 per carton and romaine 24s at $38–$39. Those are wholesale terminal benchmarks, not Green Produce Services delivered prices, but they confirm that buyers should not assume the growing-region change has already solved the problem.
For menus that truly require iceberg, ask about current head weight, case condition and usable yield. Romaine and green leaf are not automatic bargains this week. Cabbage can suit slaws, cooked dishes and some sandwich applications, but it changes flavor, texture and presentation; it is not a like-for-like salad replacement.
Buy With Caution, Then Adjust the Specification
| Item | Current concern | Alternative or practical adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | October is expected to stay difficult across all varieties. Grape and cherry tomatoes are the shortest, followed by Romas and then rounds; West Coast volume remains low. | There is no universal bargain variety. For sauces, compare usable pounds and labor between Roma and round packs. For slicing, keep the required diameter and firmness rather than accepting a cheaper pack that increases trim or portion inconsistency. Order close to current need. |
| Strawberries | Markets are rising after heat accelerated maturity and increased bruising, overripening and misshapen fruit. Shelf life is the bigger issue than the quoted case alone. | Split the week’s requirement into quicker turns when delivery frequency allows. Apples or grapes are supported alternatives for flexible fruit cups, breakfast service or catering, but they change flavor, texture and presentation. Keep strawberries for strawberry-specific recipes. |
| Broccoli | Markets continue to rise as diamondback moth pressure, pin rot and late-season quality problems reduce usable supply. | For a flexible roasted or steamed vegetable side, price carrots. USDA’s October 9 Los Angeles report described the carrot market as steady across several California packs, and PRO*ACT’s October 7 report described good quality through the current regional transition. Carrots change cook time, sweetness and plate color, so they are not suitable for every broccoli application. |
| Green onions | Prices eased late last week, but Baja supplies remain vulnerable after repeated storm pressure. Harvest disruption, decay, slimy tips and discoloration remain risks. | Fresh storage onions have stable markets and good reported quality. Diced bulb onion can replace green onion in a cooked base or filling, with a stronger flavor and different texture. It does not replace a fresh green garnish; if the garnish matters, keep the original item and control quantity. |
| Cauliflower | Weak demand has kept the market stable even though late-season insect pressure and tight supplies continue. A steady quote does not remove the risk of trim loss. | Confirm curd condition and expected yield before increasing the order. Carrots are worth pricing for a flexible vegetable side; cabbage may fit slaw or cooked applications. Neither is a direct substitute for a cauliflower-specific preparation. |
What to Do With This Week’s Order
Keep apples, avocados, cucumbers and grapes in the favorable column, but choose the specification around portion yield and prep. Hold lettuce, tomato, strawberry, broccoli and green-onion quantities close to actual service needs. Where a menu can change, get the alternative quoted before making the substitution; where it cannot, protect quality with smaller or more frequent orders.
Already ordering from Green Produce Services? Tell us what the item is used for and where the size, pack, variety or delivery frequency can move. For schools and care facilities, include the required portion, texture and menu standard. If you are comparing suppliers, Request Pricing remains available for your purchasing list and delivery address.
Sources and Dates
- Markon Fresh Crop Report, week of October 11, 2026 (posted October 7–8): current-week supply, quality and market direction.
- PRO*ACT The Source, October 7, 2026: growing-region transitions, carrot quality and commodity outlooks.
- USDA AMS Los Angeles Terminal Market Vegetables Prices, report dated October 9, 2026. USDA stated that no report would be issued Monday, October 12 because of the federal holiday; the next report is due October 13.
- ProduceIQ Iceberg Lettuce Index, week ending October 9, 2026.
- Newer Markon commodity alerts checked through October 9, including onions, green onions, lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli and strawberries.
These reports are industry market signals and Green Produce Services buying suggestions. They do not confirm company stock or guarantee a delivered price.