THE MOTHER OF ALL BRUNCH WEEKENDS

Weekly Market Report for May 5th

Author

Courtney Coish
May 06, 2025

Welcome to this week’s Market Report—Mother’s Day edition.

The magical weekend when every dish needs a flower, every guest has notes, and the walk-ins just. keep. coming. We know it’s going to be busy, and while we can’t control the chaos, we’ll do everything we can to make sure you’ve got what you need and nothing slows you down.

Whether you’re building out your menus for next weekend, prepping for a packed service, or just making sure the walk-in is stocked, here’s what you need to know for this week:

📈 What’s Up?: Prices are up on Valentine radish, Chinese eggplant, corn, clementines, and navel oranges due to weather challenges, limited supply, and ongoing quality concerns.

📉 What’s Down?: Prices are down on asparagus, green grapes, Valencia oranges, tomato passata, red long chili peppers, mini sweet peppers, and Napa cabbage due to improved supply and seasonal shifts.

🌟 New Arrivals: Nature Fresh Hiiros™ Tomatoes (code 10840) are back in stock, and local asparagus has started rolling in—Marston Produce is here now, with premium Welsh Bros asparagus arriving later this week or early next.

☀️ On the Horizon: A game-changer in the plant-based protein game is dropping later this week. New/School’s in session.

🟥 Red Flags: Torpedo shallot season is over. You’ll need to wait for the new crop in late summer. Round shallots are still available. Jimmy Nardello peppers will have a 6–8 week gap as Florida crops are finished.

🌸 Mother’s Day Picks: Fresh Ontario Conestoga eggs (6819), avocado chunks (10943), Lev Bakery sourdough (11135), cold-pressed juices, heirloom tomatoes (3423), and edible flowers—everything you need to get Mother’s Day brunch-ready. Stock up now and keep service smooth, floral, and stress-free.

📆 Upcoming Holiday Closure: Please note that we will be closed on Monday, May 19th for Victoria Day. Regular business hours and deliveries will resume on Tuesday, May 20th.

🥑 Pick of the Week: Ready-to-serve avocado chunks (10943). No peeling, no pitting. Just perfectly ripe avocado chunks, ready for toasts, bowls, and Mother’s Day brunch chaos.

🫒 Pantry Pick of the Week:Bold, peppery, and packed with Sicilian character—Partanna Olive Oil (code 6486).

Let’s dive in…

Market Recap: What's Up, What's Down

📈Price Increases📈

These items are experiencing a price surge this week:

  • VALENTINE RADISH - Valentine radish prices are up due to tight supply caused by adverse weather in Mexico.

  • CHINESE EGGPLANT - Supply remains limited from both Mexico and Honduras, with ongoing quality concerns contributing to higher prices. 

  • CORN - Corn prices are up due to weather-related supply issues in Florida.

  • CLEMENTINES - Limited supply of clementines continues to drive prices higher.

  • NAVAL ORANGES - Weather conditions are causing delays in navel orange harvests, leading to higher prices.

📉Price Drops📉

These items have dropped in price this week:

  • ASPARAGUS - Local asparagus season has kicked off, bringing prices down.

  • GREEN GRAPES - An increase in green grape volume has led to a drop in pricing.

  • TOMATO PASSATA (6264) - We’ve transitioned to a new vendor for our tomato passata and are now carrying the Pastore brand. The shift has allowed us to lower the price while maintaining the quality you expect.

  • VALENCIA ORANGES (2919) - An influx of Valencia oranges into Canada has driven prices down.

  • RED LONG CHILI PEPPER - Improved availability out of the Netherlands is helping to stabilize supply.

  • MINI SWEET PEPPERS - Increased greenhouse production out of Mexico is improving supply and putting downward pressure on pricing.

  • NAPA CABBAGE - East Coast production is starting up—yields remain low, but increased supply is helping stabilize pricing.

  • LIMES - Prices out of Mexico remain high due to limited volume and ongoing drought conditions impacting crop development. While field pricing is expected to stay firm over the next couple of weeks, rain in the growing region is forecasted this week and could help ease supply pressure.

  • TARO ROOT - Pricing remains elevated—while availability is improving, quantities crossing the border are still limited.

  • TOMATILLOS - Pricing remains high. Supply is improving, but border crossings are still limited, keeping availability tight.

🌟 New Arrivals🌟 

Nature Fresh Local Hiiro Tomatoes (Code 10840) & Local Asparagus (Code 2093)

Bred for the Japanese market—where produce is held to the highest standard—Hiiros™ Tomatoes deliver a clean, balanced umami hit with the natural sweetness of a cherry tomato.

Grown from premium seed stock, they bring depth and complexity without needing much to shine.

Use them raw, roasted, or blistered—they hold their own on the plate and add layered flavour to whatever you’re building.

Local asparagus season has kicked off with supply from Marston Produce (code 2093)!

We’re also expecting to get our premium Welsh Bros local asparagus later this week or next week, depending on how the rain impacts the crop this week! Keep your eyes on the app and our socials for its arrival!

Keep your eyes on the app and our socials for new seasonal arrivals!

🚩Red Flags🚩: Last Week's Supply & Quality Recap

Wrapped for the Season:

  • Torpedo Shallots: Season has wrapped. Expect a gap until the new crop arrives in late summer. Round shallots remain available in the meantime.

Gap In Availability:

  • Jimmy Nardello Peppers: Florida crops are done for the season. We anticipate a 6–8 week gap before new product becomes available.

Last Week’s Shortages:

  • B&W Baby Arugula (2085) - Demand last week significantly exceeded average levels, leading to shortages. We subbed in organic product where needed to help fill orders.

  • Basil (2130) - Flight delay on shipment resulted in shortages last week.

  • Lime Juice (8037) - Citra’s lime juice supply was tight last week due to larger pulls from Cinco de Mayo. Fully restocked now!

  • Kiwi (2605) - Kiwi shortages last week were due to late arrivals, but supply is expected to improve as more Turkish product enters the market.

  • Red Sheppard Peppers (3015) - Due to increased demand over the past few weeks, we've experienced some short-term shortages. Fill rates are expected to improve starting this Wednesday.

  • Baby Zucchini (3543) - Supply remains limited, with ongoing short availability.

  • Premium Ripe Bananas (5265) - Late arrivals from vendor last week left limited time for ripening to the proper stage.

  • Granola Chunky Supreme (8516) - Last week’s chunky granola shortage was due to a spike in demand. Available now.

  • Blackberries (2191) - We had some isolated quality issues with blackberries last week but there are no issues going forward.

🌺 Mother’s Day Service is Coming. Let’s Get You Ready🌸 

Here’s a quick roundup of some fresh, time-saving, and crowd-pleasing products to help you get through service smoothly.

  • All your top-tier fruits and veg, including spring standouts like:
    • Local green asparagus (2093)
    • White asparagus (2101)
    • Local wild-foraged ramps (7238)
    • Local green garlic (2527)
    • Local heirloom tomatoes (3423)

  • Fresh Ontario Conestoga eggs (6819) — ideal for brunch menus and baking

  • Avocado Chunks (10943) — No peeling, no pitting. Just perfectly ripe avocado chunks, ready for toasts, bowls, and brunch chaos.

  • Cold-pressed juices from Greenhouse & Well — perfect for cocktails and brunch-friendly refreshers

  • Lev Bakery par-baked sourdough (11135) — crusty, golden, and oven-ready in minutes

  • Artisanal cheeses — perfect for brunch boards, baked dishes, or elevated sides

  • Fresh Pastas — Take some prep off your plate with our fresh pastas, crafted in Toronto using Ontario semolina and Conestoga eggs. Pre-order by 12pm tomorrow for Saturday delivery.

…and more.

Handeck (10742), 5 Brothers (8062), Mountainoak Gold (10656), Garlic & Chive (6171), Brigid’s Brie (6170), Prosciutto di Parma (10982) , Parmigiano Reggiano (7313), Strawberries (3346), Blueberries (2193), Blackberries (2191), Passion Fruit (6321), Green Grapes (2548), Walnuts (2839)

Let us know what you need—we’ll make it happen.

🥑 Produce Pick of the Week 🥑 

Avocado Chunks (Code 10943)

Avo toast waits for no one—especially on Mother’s Day. Skip the scooping, peeling, and pit-dodging with our perfectly ripe avocado chunks, ready to use straight from the fridge. Ideal for brunch service when time’s tight and the orders won’t stop.

Avocado Chunks - 6/2LB

  • Ready-to-use, avocado chunks

  • Made of 100% Hass avocado

  • No fillers

  • OU Kosher certified

  • 2 lb. (0.90 kg) each

  • 6 tubs per case

🫒 Pantry Pick of The Week 🫒 

Partanna Olive Oil

A bold pantry staple—and a smart way to nudge that order past the minimum.

Cold-pressed from Nocellara del Belice olives, this unfiltered EVOO brings a vibrant green hue and a punchy, peppery profile with notes of artichoke and almond.

Finishing, dipping, dressing—whatever the job, this oil shows up and does it well.

Partanna Olive Oil is available by the:

  • Individual 3L Tin (6486)

  • 4/3L Case (6447)

  • 10L Bag In Box ( 10487)

If you have any questions about anything you see, feel free to reach out to your designated sales rep or our awesome customer service team at [email protected]. We're here to help!

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