TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - There are plenty of fruits available throughout the year. Most will have their own peak season with abundant, top-quality product. This is normally followed by an off-season where fruit is more expensive and the quality isn’t always 100 percent.

Apricots, however, are much more seasonal. If you are enjoying the sweet/tart taste of an apricot, there is a good chance that we are in the part of the year when barbecues come out and we begin to crave long weekends, otherwise known as late spring and early summer. But, truth be told, if you were to ask a group of people whether they enjoy apricots, not many hands would go up.

Perhaps it is their fleeting availability that makes people forget about this early summer fruit or it could be it’s not-so-sweet taste, but either way, apricots do not get the love other stonefruits enjoy. And I am prepared to help change that.

While many people will ask “Why the crusade?”, I would counter by asking “In one word, describe a typical fruit?” I would likely get answers like sweet, juicy, crisp, or supple. Apricots are none of those things. If I were to describe apricots using one word, I would use “meaty.” Not a popular adjective to describe other mainstream fruit in the produce department. Therefore, apricots have a unique responsibility to satisfy the demands of meaty fruit lovers everywhere.

Part of this crusade is to use Produce Moneyball to gain insights into apricot volumes and costs. As demonstrated by the chart above, during June of last year, specifically weeks 23–26, apricots enjoyed strong volumes before fading away in July. While very stable throughout the 2021 season, FOB costs declined as volumes shrank, indicating waning demand as the season progressed.

This year, Produce Moneyball forecasts FOB costs to trade within the same $3 window as last season while predicting a more normal course with costs increasing as volumes decline through July.

Bottom line, get your fill of apricots in June, and otherwise, stick with Produce Moneyball to stay up to speed with all future produce crusades.

Mike Mauti, Managing Partner, Execulytics Consulting

Leading the Execulytics team, Mike brings more than 20 years of experience as a leader in the fresh foods industry. Over this time, Mike has gained expertise in retail operations, procurement, and merchandising. Specific skills around grocery retailing, particularly in produce buying and selling, make Mike a valuable partner for suppliers and independent retailers alike.

Execulytics Consulting