SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MARKET REPORT
FRUIT | VEGETABLES | EGGS | DAIRY
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2026
Southern California Foodservice Market Update
This week’s market continues to reflect the effects of recent California heat, changing late-summer supplies, and the transition into fall production. PSLA continues to monitor availability, quality, growing-region transitions, and weather conditions to help foodservice operations plan ahead.
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MARKET HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
Lettuce and several Central Coast vegetables continue to show heat-related quality pressure. Asparagus remains extremely limited. Lime and lemon supplies are tighter, while strawberry availability has improved as Santa Maria fall production increases. California bell pepper quality remains strong. Another period of warmer West Coast weather is possible as the week begins.
SEASONAL PICKS THIS WEEK
SEASONAL FRUITS
Apples • California Grapes • Pears • Strawberries • Cantaloupe
SEASONAL VEGETABLES
Bell Peppers • Tomatoes • Eggplant • Squash • Sweet Potatoes
FRUIT
Apples
New Crop
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
New-crop supplies are building as fall harvests continue. Gala and other early-season varieties are good menu options.
Avocados
Growing Region Transition
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
Supplies remain available as sourcing continues to transition between growing regions.
Bananas
Year-Round
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
Overall availability remains dependable for normal foodservice demand.
Blueberries
Import Transition
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Good
Domestic seasons are winding down and imported fruit is becoming increasingly important. Availability may vary by origin and pack.
Cantaloupe
California
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Good
California supplies are moving through the late-season period. Larger sizes may be tighter than other counts.
Grapes
California
Availability: Strong | Quality: Excellent
California grapes remain a strong seasonal choice, with fresh fall varieties currently shipping.
Honeydew
California
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Good
California volume is moving through its late-summer transition. Certain smaller sizes may be more limited.
Lemons
California
Availability: Tight | Quality: Good
Supply remains tighter, especially on smaller fruit. New-crop California harvesting should begin improving quality as the season progresses.
Limes
Mexico
Availability: Tight | Quality: Variable
Availability has tightened following lower Mexican production. Larger fruit is particularly limited and quality may vary.
Oranges
California Transition
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Good
The industry is preparing for the transition into the new California Navel crop later this fall. The upcoming crop is expected to provide improved availability.
Pears
New Crop
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
Fresh fall pear supplies are available as the new crop season continues.
Pineapples
Year-Round
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Good
Availability remains adequate, although sizing and weekly volume can vary.
Strawberries
Santa Maria, California
Availability: Improving | Quality: Fair to Good
Availability has improved as Santa Maria fall production increases. Quality ranges from fair to good, so quick inventory turns are recommended.
Watermelon
Late Summer
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
Late-summer supplies remain available as the domestic season moves toward its fall transition.
Stone Fruit
Late Domestic Season
Availability: Tightening | Quality: Good
Peaches, nectarines, and plums are moving toward the end of their domestic summer season. Availability will become more limited as fall approaches.
VEGETABLES
Asparagus
Mexico / Peru
Availability: Extremely Tight | Quality: Variable
Supplies remain extremely limited from Mexico and Peru. Larger sizes continue to be particularly difficult to source.
Bell Peppers
California
Availability: Good | Quality: Very Good
California green bell pepper quality is very good, with steady supplies currently shipping from the Central Coast. Red bell supplies also remain available.
Broccoli
Central Coast
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Variable
Recent Central Coast heat has increased insect pressure. Overall quality remains usable, but additional sorting may be required.
Broccolini
Central Coast
Availability: Improving | Quality: Variable
Supplies have improved, although insect pressure continues to affect some Central Coast production.
Brussels Sprouts
California
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Variable
California production continues, but recent warm conditions have increased insect pressure in some fields.
Cabbage
Central Coast
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Variable
Supplies remain available, although Central Coast crops may show some heat- and insect-related variability.
Carrots
California
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
Availability remains generally dependable for foodservice programs.
Cauliflower
Central Coast
Availability: Tight | Quality: Variable
Supplies remain tighter following heat, humidity, and insect pressure that reduced yields in California growing regions.
Celery
California
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
California supplies remain available, with seasonal transitions beginning to influence the market.
Cucumbers
Fall Transition
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
Overall supplies remain available as fall growing-region transitions continue.
Eggplant
California
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
California supplies remain available and quality is generally good.
Green Leaf Lettuce
Central Coast
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Variable
Recent heat and disease pressure continue to affect quality and yields. Expect some variability between lots.
Iceberg Lettuce
Salinas / Santa Maria
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Fair to Good
California yields remain under pressure following heat and disease issues in Salinas and Santa Maria. Quality ranges from fair to good.
Romaine Lettuce
Central Coast
Availability: Moderate | Quality: Variable
Heat stress and disease pressure remain concerns. Whole-head romaine may provide better shelf life than some processed salad products.
Tomatoes
Late Summer
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
Supplies remain available across common varieties as late-summer production continues.
Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes
New Crop / Fall Transition
Availability: Good | Quality: Good
Fall crop transitions are underway, with new-crop sweet potatoes beginning to enter the market.
EGGS
Shell Eggs — Availability: Variable | Quality: Good
California shell egg supplies continue to be monitored closely. Availability can vary by size and specification, so advance planning remains helpful for larger foodservice requirements.
DAIRY
Milk & Cream: Regular foodservice supplies remain available.
Cheese: Overall availability remains dependable across common varieties.
Butter: Supplies remain available as the industry moves further into seasonal fall demand.
Cheese: Overall availability remains dependable across common varieties.
Butter: Supplies remain available as the industry moves further into seasonal fall demand.
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