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Diesel surges 3.6% and tropical storms sweep the Gulf as artichokes, asparagus, and apples post double-digit gains while freight economics s
ProduceWire
Weekly Brief Issue 28 · September 1, 2026
The week in one line
Diesel surges 3.6% and tropical storms sweep the Gulf as artichokes, asparagus, and apples post double-digit gains while freight economics squeeze margins across every channel.
Commodity briefings
Artichokes ▲ 13.3%
California supply tightens, prices jump 13%
Artichokes averaged $52.40, up 13.3% week-over-week with a range of $37–$70 across Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Phoenix. All supply originates in California. Seasonal transition and tighter field conditions are pushing prices into the mid-$50s. Expect the rally to hold through early September unless cooling demand from foodservice channels forces distributors to retreat.
Asparagus ▲ 10.4%
Peru and Mexico lift prices 10% into late summer
Asparagus wholesale averaged $61.85, up 10.4% with a range of $50–$68. Peru and Mexico dominate supply across Boston, Chicago, Fresno, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Late-season supply is tightening as Peruvian volumes tail off and Mexican production shifts inland. The $60–$65 floor should persist into mid-September unless unexpected volume from secondary origins surfaces.
Apples ▲ 2.3%
Washington leads 2.3% climb into early harvest
Apples averaged $38.32, up 2.3% week-over-week with a range of $26–$56 across ten markets. Washington, New York, and Pennsylvania lead origins. Processing prices in New York remain elevated, creating a firm floor for fresh-market pricing as growers weigh pack-out allocation. Strong processing demand and uncertainty around Washington's crop size will keep prices above $37 through Labor Day. India's domestic crop is slowing imports and sharpening the premium-versus-mainstream divide in export channels. [1][2][3]
Anise ▼ 19.4%
California supply eases, prices drop 19%
Anise averaged $28.54, down 19.4% with a range of $16.55–$40 across New York and Phoenix. All supply is California-grown. Increased availability from late-summer harvests is pressuring wholesale prices after several weeks of tighter conditions. Look for prices to stabilize in the mid-$20s as demand from ethnic and specialty retailers absorbs the incremental volume.
Avocados ▼ 0.7%
Florida, Mexico, and California hold near $35
Avocados averaged $35.04, down 0.7% with a range of $22.25–$48.25 across seven markets. Florida, Mexico, and California supply the bulk. Prices are effectively flat as balanced supply from multiple origins meets steady retail and foodservice demand. New Zealand exporters posted record volumes to Asia outside Australia, signaling growing competition in premium channels. Expect prices to hold in the $34–$36 band through early September barring weather disruption. [4]
The rest of the market
Most widely traded commodities this week · tap any for full detail
Commodity Avg Range vs. Prior
Bananas $21.19 $16.00–32.00 ▲ 1.3%
Basil $10.17 $5.00–18.00 ▲ 1.8%
Beets $21.26 $12.00–38.00 ▼ 1.4%
Blueberries $28.97 $15.00–42.50 ▲ 20.9%
Cabbage $17.64 $12.00–31.00 — 0.7%
Carrots $27.85 $16.00–38.50 ▼ 1.5%
Celery $29.09 $20.00–42.00 ▼ 3.9%
Cucumbers $20.44 $8.00–36.00 — 0.3%
Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) $29.93 $18.00–40.00 — 0.4%
Eggplant $23.51 $14.00–42.00 ▼ 2.9%
Figs $32.82 $8.00–46.00 ▲ 13.4%
Garlic $57.81 $40.00–86.00 — 0.6%
Grapefruit $28.63 $17.10–36.00 ▲ 3.0%
Grapes $36.45 $26.95–42.00 ▲ 2.0%
Greens, Kale $20.14 $14.00–32.00 ▼ 2.7%
Kiwifruit $38.32 $20.00–46.00 ▲ 1.0%
Lemons $30.11 $22.00–40.00 ▼ 4.9%
Limes $28.77 $12.00–40.00 ▼ 1.1%
Mangoes $11.54 $8.00–16.00 — 1.0%
Mushrooms $19.50 $12.00–29.00 — 0.0%
Nectarines $33.26 $24.95–38.00 ▲ 2.4%
Onions, Dry $26.68 $16.00–40.00 — 0.5%
Onions, Green $27.96 $20.50–38.00 ▲ 20.5%
Oranges $28.50 $20.00–40.00 ▼ 5.2%
Papaya $27.80 $19.00–38.00 ▼ 3.5%
Parsley $27.10 $18.00–35.00 — 0.8%
Peaches $35.40 $28.85–40.00 ▲ 2.7%
Pears $42.47 $30.00–55.00 — 0.3%
Peppers, Bell Type $16.89 $8.00–31.00 ▼ 6.1%
Pineapples $20.58 $12.00–30.00 ▲ 9.3%
Plums $42.75 $34.00–50.00 ▲ 5.0%
Pomegranates $52.21 $22.00–64.00 ▲ 21.7%
Potatoes $28.86 $16.00–55.00 ▼ 5.5%
Radishes $21.47 $15.00–34.00 — 0.2%
Squash, Zucchini $21.69 $16.00–28.00 ▲ 5.0%
Sweet Potatoes $35.22 $20.00–78.00 ▼ 2.5%
Tangerines $33.27 $26.00–52.00 ▼ 2.2%
Tomatoes $23.56 $16.00–32.00 ▲ 8.1%
Tomatoes, Grape Type $17.97 $12.50–30.00 ▲ 3.6%
Watermelons $157.17 $20.50–240.00 ▲ 6.9%
Cross-commodity signals
  • Diesel spiked $0.198 to $5.652/gallon, up 3.6%, as tropical storm warnings blanket the Gulf and Southeast—freight economics are compressing margins for distributors hauling California produce east and imports north from Mexico and Peru (see articles 11507, 11808).
  • Processing demand is setting firm price floors across apples and potatoes—New York apple growers face strong processing bids that anchor fresh pricing, while EU potato processors confront sub-40-million-MT supply forecasts and rising contract rates (see articles 11613, 11612).
  • Fresh vegetable prices climbed 10% year-over-year through June 2026, with lettuce up 32% and tomatoes up 20%, reflecting persistent cost inflation that wholesale price snapshots alone don't capture (see article 11333).
What to watch next week
  • Chilean cherry exports forecast at 667,000 MT for 2026/27, up 16% year-over-year—early arrivals will pressure late-season stone fruit pricing if volumes hit U.S. and Asian markets ahead of schedule (see article 11597).
  • U.S.-Canada tariff escalation could raise input costs and reroute produce flows—50% tariffs on Canadian imports took effect in mid-August, and retaliatory measures may disrupt cross-border logistics for fresh and processed goods (see article 11807).
  • Mexican strawberry dumping investigation moves forward with preliminary affirmative determination—new tariffs on winter imports could reshape Florida versus Mexico sourcing strategies for major retail programs (see article 11254).
  • Tropical storm warnings across the Gulf and Southeast threaten Florida and Mexico harvest windows—monitor asparagus, avocado, and tomato supply disruptions as storm tracks develop through the Labor Day corridor.
  • EU fruit and nut imports rose 3% to €15.1 billion in H1 2026 while vegetable trade declined—watch for margin pressure on European buyers as they compete for limited processing volumes and elevated freight rates (see article 11803).
Compliance reminder
FSMA 204 enforcement remains active. See PTI Label Studio for traceability label validation.
Sources
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