California's stone fruit export season is effectively over, finishing more than four weeks ahead of historical timing. The culprit is the same unusual spring heat that pushed the season's start forward by nearly a month — when fruit arrives early, it also exits early. Peaches, nectarines, and most plums have finished shipping to markets including Taiwan, Mexico, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, which was a new market this season.
The compressed timeline created real commercial problems. Varieties that normally stagger came on simultaneously, flooding the market. Retailers weren't ready — their promotional calendars were still set for the normal cycle, so supply and demand never properly aligned during key selling windows. Pricing dipped mid-season due to the glut, then rebounded sharply at the end, though higher grower costs mean break-even thresholds have also risen significantly.
As California stone fruit wraps, buyers looking for fall stone fruit volume will need to shift sourcing attention to Southern Hemisphere origins. Chile's new season is approaching, and the compressed California timeline may accelerate that transition.