Freshspective

Apples . Avocados . Bush Berries . Cantaloupe . Citrus . Grapes . Honeydew . Limes . Mangos . Papaya . Pears . Pineapple . Strawberries . Watermelon

Blueberries:
Florida: Increasing daily, with the imports all but gone, and Mexico having a lighter than anticipated season. This will probably cause a 2–3-week gap or high market.  
Georgia: Overall, the crop is looking like it is delayed until May or so; but with the delays out of Florida, this will allow for a smoother transition. The crop looks the same size as last year, which will allow for great promotions in May.
Mexico: Currently, volume is steady and filling in for the delays of the domestic season. Expect a lighter season, as thrips remain a challenge.   

Mexico:  Steady volume. There are a lot of promotions driving high demand, with a little lighter volume in some regions. The field markets have been active the last few weeks, indicating high demand. While some volume is lower, we are seeing the short market mostly driven by promotions. 
Santa Maria: Projecting a late-May start. 
Watsonville:   Projecting a late-June start.
Georgia:  Looking at an early-June start. Overall, everything is looking like a strong season.

Cantaloupe

Katie.Karpenko@robinsonfresh.com

Steady arrivals into East Coast ports with mostly larger sizing and market about steady. Stronger demand on the 12 counts. Similar situation into West Coast ports with larger sizing and fewer 12s available.   

Citrus

Matt.Horvath@robinsonfresh.com

Oranges: California continues to have good availability and quality on navel oranges. All sizes are available, but most growers still peaking on 72 counts and smaller. Fruit is reported to have great quality and brix ranging from 12-15. Some growers are getting into gibbed fruit and late-lane navels. 
California cara cara crop is strong with a sizing profile is similar to navels. Cara caras should be available through April and into early May. Blood oranges are available, dependent by grower, as some will have fruit through April. Minneola crop is peaking on 100/125 counts. Large fruit has been more limited this season, as it’s been across the board on California citrus commodities. Minneolas should finish up in the next 4 weeks.
Florida has good volume on Valencias, peaking on 80/100/125 counts. Fruit looks clean with brix averaging 11. Product should be available through June.

Andy.Kampa@robinsonfresh.com

Many of the larger importers still have high inventories, but supply and demand for quality fruit appear to have reached a balance. Over the last two weeks, exports from South America have declined, and we can expect the spot market to gradually increase over the next four weeks. However, it’s important to note that only high-quality fruit will command these higher prices, as there will still be an excess of lower-quality, distressed fruit in the market. Reports from Sonora, Mexico, suggest that the harvest for both red and green seedless varieties will begin around May 15th, but production will be minimal at first.

Katie.Karpenko@robinsonfresh.com

Southern Mexico honeydews are shipping into Nogales with the market as steady. Sizing is mostly 5 count with lesser 6 count and few 8 count. New crop out of Northern Mexico will start toward mid to end of April into Nogales. Import honeydews are seeing lighter demand out East and market is steady. West Coast imports are slightly lower this week with mostly 5-count sizing and few 6 count. 

Juan.Torres2@robinsonfresh.com

Region: Veracruz, Mexico
Market Intel: The demand for limes has been steady.
Weather Update: The weather forecast for next week shows sunny days and some cloudy ones, with temperatures ranging from 69 to 100 degrees. Humidity will be at 73% and there is a 0% chance of rain. It will be an excellent week for the normal development of activities.
Sizing Profile: Peak sizes are 175/200/230. Size distribution: 110-4%, 150-19%, 175-24%, 200-23%, 230-22%, and 250-8%.
Quality: Quality issues being reported: oil spots, blanching, scarring, and skin breakdown.
Looking Ahead: We’ve reached April with a conservative but steady volume in the region. The trees are holding fruit of regular size, healthy and strong. While the overall volume is expected to be moderate, we believe it will be enough to meet the needs of all our programs. 
May is expected to bring very good conditions, with the fruit reaching its optimal ripeness. During the field visit, we confirmed that the fruit remains fresh, clean, green, and well cared for, allowing us to meet all our program needs and maintain smooth operations throughout this period.

Ramiro.Quintanilla@robinsonfresh.com

Gustavo.Lora@robinsonfresh.com

Supply Meeting Demand for Papaya in U.S. Market

Supply conditions are stable out of Mexico with some surplus fruit. Weather is currently good for papaya production and is expected to continue through April. Contracts are being serviced but with fruit available to offer. Prices are stable in the U.S. market for the remainder of March. This week, all eyes are on the potential tariffs that could affect Mexican imports. This will likely determine volume that will cross going forward.
Inventories are showing some availability to offer. 
Majority of sizes are between 6–12s with SOME surplus fruit.
Quality is reported as good with fruit showing less speckling and mostly green.
Color 25%- 50% / 12-14 brix at point of shipping. The ideal temperature for Imperial papaya is 48 degrees to avoid quality issues upon receiving.
Crop outlook:  Forecast has conditions for good supply for the next two weeks.
 Market Intel:  Enough supply to service demand.

Charlie.Incaudo@robinsonfresh.com

The Northwest pear crop this season is very small as the crop was down between 30% and 50%, depending on the variety. We are currently shipping Anjou and red pears out of Washington. We expect the market to remain tight and the pricing to remain on the higher side for the foreseeable future. The import season has now begun, and we now have imported Bartletts, Bosc, and Anjou available on the East Coast. We have good supplies of Bartlett pears arriving and, although pricing is higher than normal, the quality is reported to be good, and sales are brisk. The imported Anjou and Bosc are just beginning to arrive in small quantities and the pricing is fairly high on these two items; we expect it to remain this way through the month of April. Overall, we have pears to sell but pricing will remain higher than normal until new crop starts out of the Northwest in the fall.

Gustavo.Lora@robinsonfresh.com

Availability: Supply Meeting Demand for U.S. Market

Growing region: MEXICO - Good volume of fruit crossing out of Mexico again this week. Production is stable with a good distribution of sizes, peaking on 6s and 7s. Weather at the pineapple growing regions remains fair with good yields and good quality. Transportation out of Mexico is stable with good availability of trucks to service pineapple shippers. This week, all eyes are on the potential tariffs that could affect Mexican imports. This will likely determine volume that will cross going forward. COSTA RICA - Supply is stable but with little to NO surplus as most growers ramp up packing for the Easter pull. Availability is low on all counts with 6s and 7s much tighter than last week. Good quality of fruit is being exported to U.S. and Europe. Market is stable but expected to increase with less availability to service demand. NO significant surplus is expected to happen, and prices will likely increase. 
•    Mexican fruit quality is GOOD with better condition overall. COSTA RICA - Volume is stable AT PACKING with the expectation of tight supply in the month of April. NO surplus fruit is available to pack on all counts currently. The U.S. market is stable on all counts. 
•    Forecast: Little to NO surplus fruit is being offered at U.S. shipping points by large grower/shippers at this time. Market is stable versus last week.

Vickie.Casacca@robinsonfresh.com

California growing areas did receive some light drizzle but there was not enough rain to keep them from picking.  Soft demand is keeping the markets depressed.  Most shippers are pulling out of the Central Mexico and Florida regions to transition to the West.  There is ample supply out of Baja and California, with plants in Santa Maria showing a good fruit set.  There should be plenty of volume available for the Easter holiday and promotable stem strawberries.  
Weather outlook:
Santa Maria, California, for the week of March 31st is forecast on Wednesday and Thursday to be windy but mostly sunny, Friday partly sunny and breezy in the afternoon, Saturday sunny, and Sunday sunny to partly cloudy.  Highs in the 60s, increasing to the 70s on Sunday and lows in the 40s.  The week of April 7th is forecast on Monday for clouds then sun, Tuesday and Wednesday sunny skies, Thursday sun through high clouds, Friday partly sunny with occasional showers in the afternoon, Saturday morning rain, and then Sunday mostly sunny.  Highs in the 60s to low 70s and lows in the 40s.
Oxnard for the week of March 31st is forecast on Wednesday to be windy with intervals of clouds and sun, Thursday partly sunny with passing showers, and Friday through the weekend sunny to partly cloudy. Highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s.  The week of April 7th is forecast on Monday for clouds then sunshine, Tuesday and Wednesday sunny skies, Thursday and Friday partly sunny, and Saturday and Sunday sunny skies. Highs in the upper 60s to low 70s and lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. 

Sam.Schneider@robinsonfresh.com

Watermelon supplies will be light for the next two weeks. Demand has also been light but is expected to improve slightly. Florida is underway with decent supplies expected next week. Texas and Nogales have steady supplies from Southern Mexico this week, but a gap is expected next week before Northern Mexico begins the following week. Northern Mexico will start by April 15th.  We will have very good supplies on mini watermelons in May shipping out of Nogales.  New crop will also start in four to five weeks.  The end of April will be a great time to promote melons.

Organic Apples . Organic Citrus . Organic Dry Vegetables . Organic Melons . Organic Onions . Organic Pears . Organic Potatoes . Organic Squash . Organic Sweet Potatoes

REFRIGERATED TRUCKLOAD

East Coast United States 

The East Coast refrigerated market has remained very soft with capacity readily available, in line with seasonal trends. Typical produce season is ramping up, starting out of southern Florida, moving its way into southern Georgia, and eventually to the Carolinas in the coming months. Small pockets of produce have started to ship out of southern Florida already, but not enough to shift the market yet. Expect volumes to truly pick up around mid-April when produce begins to fully ripen. 
 
Central United States 

The Midwest temperature-controlled market continues to be relatively soft with capacity available, especially for standard palletized chilled goods with good load/unload times. The outlook for April and May is for more of the same.  
 
Capacity out of the Midsouth is also readily available, although same-day freight may see some tightness. By May, this dynamic will likely shift further. Make loads as attractive as possible to help secure capacity. 
 
West Coast United States 

Costs have declined in the refrigerated market on the West Coast due to an excess supply of capacity, aligning with historical first-quarter trends across California, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest. At the end of March, demand began to shift from Yuma, Arizona, to Northern California and may continue to do so in early April. This could potentially cause short-term rate spikes due to changes in where produce is being harvested, though costs are expected to stabilize as carrier supply adjusts. Meanwhile, outbound freight costs from the Pacific Northwest are likely to remain low, although inbound rates may see increases to offset demand dynamics. 

GLOBAL UPDATES 

OCEAN CARRIER CONSOLIDATION - Fresh produce growers and shippers attempting to move cargo globally via ocean vessels are dealing with scenarios where ocean carriers genuinely dictate some markets.  They dictate and determine the marketability and viability of export markets for many fresh produce exporters.  Shippers are being forced to commit earlier to ocean lines to reserve space for upcoming seasons, and spot market space on vessels is nearly impossible to secure. 

TARIFF IMPACTS - Fresh produce growers and shippers in North America are bracing for the potential implementation of new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. These tariffs could significantly affect the cost structure and market dynamics for many fresh produce exporters. Growers and shippers are being advised to diversify their markets and strengthen local partnerships to mitigate the impact of these tariffs. Additionally, there is an increased focus on leveraging technology and innovative practices to enhance supply chain resilience and reduce dependency on any single market. The uncertainty surrounding these tariffs is prompting industry players to prepare for multiple outcomes, ensuring they can continue to provide a steady supply of fresh produce to consumers despite potential cost increases. 
   
DEMURRAGE/DETENTION CHARGES - Shippers negotiating with ocean carriers or freight forwarders on perishable cargo contracts should request as much free time at destination as possible to reduce the risk of detention/demurrage charges when inspections/fumigations or drayage capacity constraints delay cargo delivery at destination.  Unavoidable and unprecedented demurrage and detention charges due to delays in turning cargo at destination continue in 2025.
  
CONTAINER SHORTAGE – The ongoing shortage of refrigerated ocean containers is significantly affecting shipments from Latin America (LATAM) to the USA. This issue stems from a combination of seasonal demand and global logistics disruptions. An imbalance in container availability, compounded by extended transit times and port congestion, is leading to delays and rising shipping costs. Most ocean carriers have responded by imposing elevated peak-season surcharges. Addressing this issue requires coordinated efforts to improve container availability and streamline logistics processes.  

For more global freight insights please visit Global Freight Markets Insights | C.H. Robinson.