CALIFORNIA & MEXICO - The avocado market remains under pressure, with ample supply continuing to outpace demand despite a slight uptick in pricing, according to Markon’s report for the week of March 29, 2026, and PRO*ACT's The Source report for the week of March 25, 2026.

According to The Source, markets are holding at lower levels, supported by strong on-tree supply and steady demand across key growing regions. Peak sizing is currently centered on 48-count fruit, with dry matter and oil content in the low 30s contributing to strong eating quality.

While Markon reports that pricing has moved up slightly, this increase is largely attributed to short-term labor shortages tied to the Holy Week holiday, which runs from March 29 through April 5, rather than a structural shift in the market. Supply from Mexico remains heavy, with continued strong imports contributing to overall availability that exceeds demand.

California production remains steady, and Colombian supply is also present, adding to the overall volume in the market. Despite strong quality across regions, the abundance of fruit continues to weigh on pricing.

Value-added avocado items, including RSS Chunks, Halves, Pico de Gallo Guacamole, Authentic Chunky Guacamole, and Pure Pulp, remain available, according to Markon.

Overall, the avocado market remains well supplied, with pricing still near historically low levels. While short-term factors have caused slight upward movement, broader supply conditions continue to limit any sustained price improvement.

ANUK will continue monitoring market conditions in the weeks ahead.

MEXICO, HONDURAS, & FLORIDA - The cucumber market remains elevated, with short supply and strong demand continuing to drive pricing higher across domestic and offshore regions, according to Markon’s industry report for the week of March 29, 2026, and The Source report for the week of March 25, 2026. Limited availability from Mexico and Honduras, combined with delayed Florida production, has pushed prices to historically high levels.

According to The Source, overall supply is extremely short, with demand far exceeding availability, and volumes from Mexico and Honduras remaining light. Markon similarly notes that strong demand is keeping markets elevated, with Mexican and offshore supplies limited.

Mexican and offshore cucumbers are both seeing constrained availability, with MFC and ESS cucumbers currently in the market but in limited volume. Only modest near-term relief is expected from Sonora, leaving buyers competing for tight supplies.

Relief may begin to emerge as Florida’s spring crop comes online. Markon indicates the delayed Florida season is expected to begin in early April, while The Source points to mid-April as the timeframe for more meaningful volume increases. This transition is expected to provide the first notable easing of supply pressure.

Overall, the cucumber market remains tight, with strong demand and limited supply continuing to support elevated pricing. The timing and strength of Florida production will be key in determining when the market begins to stabilize.

ANUK will monitor how supply conditions and seasonal transitions impact markets moving forward.

REEDLEY, CA - Sunny Cal Farms, the renowned grower of specialty heirloom and gourmet grapes, announces that organic Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes will be available for the first time during the summer 2026 season, adding to its already popular Organic Thomcords, known for their flavor, as well as grower CJ Buxman's personal texts to end customers who want to reach out directly to the farmer.

“When we first introduced our conventional Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes, consumers responded extremely favorably to their fragrance and flavor,” said CJ Buxman, owner of Sunny Cal Farms and a third-generation San Joaquin Valley grower, in the recent release. “That demand encouraged us to plant for the organic market four years ago, and 2026 will mark our first organic harvest.”

Niabel Concord and Kyoho are heirloom-seeded grape varieties known for their distinctive sweet flavor profiles balanced with pronounced tannins. Demand for the conventional versions has been driven by their intense aroma, rich flavor, and the growing consumer interest in polyphenol-rich foods.

“Every grape variety we grow is selected for flavor and fragrance,” Buxman said. “Many modern table grape varieties have been bred primarily for size, sweetness and shipping durability. Our Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes deliver the full, classic ‘grapey’ flavor profile that many consumers remember and increasingly seek out.”

Niabel Concord grapes offer a rich sweetness balanced with bright acidity and a flavor reminiscent of fresh grape juice. Kyoho grapes are intensely aromatic and sweet with a subtle tart edge.

Both varieties are traditional slip-skin grapes, allowing consumers to pop the pulp from the skin for a sweeter taste or eat the whole grape for a more complex flavor experience. The varieties also contain seeds, which contribute to the robust flavor profile valued by many consumers.

Organic Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes will be packed primarily in 2-pound paper totes, with clamshells and loose pack options also available. Production will be limited in 2026, with approximately 3,000 boxes of each variety expected.

“Our grapes are picked and packed to order,” Buxman said. “With limited organic volume this season, we encourage retailers and distributors to contact us early to secure program availability," said Buxman.

Sunny Cal Farms also expects a strong season for its organic Thomcord grapes, shipping in mid-July. Conventional and organic Kyoho grapes are expected to begin shipping in early August, followed by Niabel grapes in mid-August. CJ will also be expanding his very popular text cards to the Organic Niabel Concord and Kyoho grape packs.

“Consumers are blown away when I personally respond to their texts. Their connection to the farmer has them search for Sunny Cal grapes at retail, and keeps them buying throughout the season, even at a premium price,” he concluded.

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA - Thanks to Raley’s and Captain Planet Foundation, Florence Markofer Elementary School in Elk Grove will soon be growing its expansive school garden with additional raised beds, a cooking cart, and curriculum. At 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, representatives from Captain Planet Foundation and the California-based grocery chain will join teachers and students to install five new raised garden beds.

Residents in California were invited to nominate a local school to win or expand a Learning Garden. According to the recent release, schools had to be located within 10 miles of a Raley’s grocery store. Florence Markofer Elementary School, located five miles from the Raley’s City at Elk Grove and Franklin Boulevards in Elk Grove, was selected.

The comprehensive Captain Planet Foundation Project Learning Garden expansion package, a $6,000 value, comes with five raised bed gardens, lesson kits, schoolyard garden supplies, a fully equipped mobile garden cooking cart, and strategies for garden maintenance.

The Project Learning Garden program provides a dynamic, hands-on context for multidisciplinary learning, integrating nutrition, science, social studies, math, and language arts. Students expand their palates through healthy food tastings and lessons about food origins; conduct authentic science investigations; apply math concepts through real-world environmental design; explore historical agricultural practices; and strengthen writing skills across disciplines.

• WHEN: This Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• WHERE: Florence Markofer Elementary School, 9759 Tralee Way, Elk Grove, CA 95624
• WHO: Diedre Wood, Principal, Florence Markofer Elementary School
  • Zoe Edwards, Food for Families Operations Manager, Raley’s
  • Leesa Carter, President & CEO, Captain Planet Foundation
  • Pat Hume, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, District 5
  • David Reilly, Elk Grove Unified School District Superintendent
  • Jenifer Avey, Elk Grove Unified School District Assistant Superintendent
• VISUALS: Students will take part in the full installation process, building five raised garden beds from cedar planks, filling them with organic soil, and planting vegetables and herbs.
• MEDIA: To RSVP to attend the event and to coordinate interviews, contact: Kristy Jozwiak, [email protected] or (602) 741-5161 (mobile/text)
• WHY: Raley’s donated the Learning Garden as part of its ongoing commitment to helping children develop lifelong healthy habits and increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Research and more than 25 years of classroom experience show that early exposure to fresh produce increases children’s willingness to try and regularly eat those foods. Daily, hands-on access to gardening helps shape behaviors far beyond the school lunch line, empowering students to make informed choices that support a lifetime of healthy meals.

TAIWAN - T&G Global’s premium branded apples portfolio has started 2026 strongly, with solid sales for Northern Hemisphere fruit across domestic and export markets, and an excellent crop of great-tasting Aotearoa New Zealand fruit being harvested and exported to key international markets.

With the New Zealand JAZZ™ apple harvest nearing completion, the first of T&G’s New Zealand ENVY™ apples are now being picked in Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and Nelson.

T&G Chief Operating Officer Apples, Shane Kingston, said in the recent release that favourable weather across the growing season has supported the development of a high-quality crop of T&G’s premium JAZZ™ and ENVY™ apples, perfectly timed to meet customer and consumer demand in Asia and North America.

“Growing conditions through the season have been positive, with hot sunny days and cool nights. This has helped colour and brix develop exceptionally well, resulting in sweet, crisp fruit and one of the best premium branded crops we’ve seen in recent years,” says Shane.

“The JAZZ™ harvest started in early March, with the first shipment departing late last week from Nelson Port, bound for China. And for New Zealanders, this much-loved brand is already available nationwide in supermarkets and retail outlets.

“Our ENVY™ harvest is expected to conclude by mid-April, and while it’s a dynamic geopolitical environment, we’ve secured vessels and containers to ensure we can deliver our fruit early to market, seamlessly transitioning to our Aotearoa New Zealand-grown crop and helping maximise grower returns.

“Over the last five months, we’ve been selling our Northern Hemisphere-grown ENVY™ apples across Asia and North America, and the fruit has performed solidly in all key markets. This has set the market up strongly for the arrival of our Aotearoa New Zealand fruit in the coming months.

“In Asia, sales of our premium ENVY™ brand are performing strongly, in both value and volume, and in North America, ENVY™ continues to experience year-on-year growth,” says Shane.

The positive start to the 2026 season builds on a strong 2025 performance for T&G and its grower network.

Last year, T&G delivered total returns of $172 million to its network of independent Aotearoa New Zealand growers; an increase of $34 million, or 25%, on the previous season. ENVY™ apple returns improved by $0.70 per average tray carton equivalent (TCE), while JAZZ™ apple returns rose by $4.24 per average TCE.

“Delivering strong value and returns for our growers remains a key priority,” Shane commented.

“We’re pleased with the uplift achieved in 2025 and are focused on continuing that momentum into the 2026 season.”