Summer is slowly transitioning into the fall season. That means weather will begin to cool, daylight hours will dwindle, and the trees will drop their leaves. Then the harvest season will enter the scene as we once again prepare for winter.

So, take advantage of every summer day by keeping those grills heated up and cooking. And grilling fresh veggies is healthy eating and very flavorful. There are several vegetables on the market now that are perfect for grilling.

Asparagus – Demand is exceeding supplies right now out of Mexico and Peru. But it is an excellent item for grilling.

Green Beans – Eastern and Western supplies and quality are good.

Sweet Corn – Eastern demand is good with good supplies and quality. The Western market is about steady.

Broccoli – Market is steady with good supplies and quality.

Cauliflower – A bit tighter supplies but still available with a higher market.

Brussels Sprouts – Supplies are improving with a lower market in the process. Quality is good.

Eggplant – There is plenty of supplies out of the East. But high heat in the West is keeping product supplies lighter for the next weeks.

Garlic – New crop garlic will be starting soon. Check with your suppliers for a grilling promotion plan.

Peppers – Eastern green supplies are good along with demand and quality. Western supplies and markets are steady with good quality. Chile pepper demand is good with a steady market. An increase is supplies out of the West is steady with good quality as well. Hatch peppers out of New Mexico are hitting its peak market.

Mushrooms – Plenty of product is available for promotion. Excellent grilling item.

Green and Yellow Squash – Eastern supplies, demand and quality is good on a steady market. Western squash demand has increased with a slightly higher market.

Potatoes – Red, white, Yellow and Russets are reported as good supplies and quality.

Onions – There is a good supply of new harvested onions coming out of Idaho, Washington, and California. Markets are slightly lowering.

Tomatoes – Cherry, grape and Roma tomatoes are ideal for grilling. Markets are active through August.

Again, we ask that you always check with your suppliers for more daily information when planning a promotion. No two days are alike in produce.

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We're not off to the smooth start we were hopeful for post-Thanksgiving. Load times in Yuma remain long as growers work through muddy fields and backed-up harvest schedules. Crews are doing everything they can to catch up, but customers should still expect delays at the cooler and a slower turn on trucks through early next week. The good news: product quality is improving every day, and weights are trending upward as the fields dry out and temperatures stabilize. On the lettuce front, desert Iceberg, Romaine and green leaf are all showing stronger quality than in recent weeks. There are still