The biggest marketing push this year for I Love Produce, West Grove, Pa., is the introduction of a line of jarred garlic, including squeezable jars, says Jim Provost, president.
I Love Produce is a year-round supplier of the garlic category, non-Chinese and Chinese, including fresh bulk, packaged, peeled and further-processed garlic, Provost said.
“In order to offer our customers the freshest and most competitive garlic supply year-round, we follow the seasons from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere,” he said. “Because we are coming out of an El Niño growing season, and also because the supply chain is as complicated as it has been since 2020 when it was impacted by COVID, it is a challenging and dynamic year for sourcing garlic.”
I Love Produce finished its supply of Argentina garlic about a month ago and transitioned to new-crop Mexican garlic, Provost said.
“The quality of the Mexican garlic was very good, but because of a shorter than normal crop, prices were 15% to 20% higher than a year ago,” he said. ‘Due to the short Mexican crop, we are transitioning into Spain garlic right away, the first shipments of new crop Spain garlic are arriving in July.”
Spain had a vintage year for garlic, with outstanding sizing and quality, he said.
Garlic acreage is down in Spain 20% to 30% due to lack of water availability for irrigation in some regions, Provost said. That combined with a smaller-than-normal California crop will make for a higher-than-normal garlic market in 2024.
“I Love Produce has long-term partnerships in Spain, so our program is secure for the coming season,” he said.
China grows 90% of the world’s garlic, and at least 50% of the garlic imported into the U.S. is grown in China, he said.
“Because China is the 800-pound gorilla of the garlic market, generally as China goes the world market goes,” Provost said. “China had a larger-than-normal crop even though their yields were down due to increased acreage. Bulb size is down, but because of good harvest conditions, the garlic is well cured and of high quality.
“Prices are slightly reduced from a year ago, but because ocean freight has increased, the market is stable,” he continued. “China might affect the world market, which could impact prices of competing countries, which we will be keeping a watchful eye out for.”
