Editor’s note: This update does not use live data feeds. The “last 24 hours” snapshot below reflects seasonally expected conditions for late August and the most recent publicly available patterns prior to today. For a precise, real‑time brief, please pair this with USDA AMS market reports and regional weather alerts (links at the end).

Last 24 Hours at a Glance (Contextual)

• Seasonal supply profile: Peak summer vegetables remain broadly available from California’s Central Coast, the Upper Midwest, and the Eastern Seaboard. Field-grown tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, summer squash, sweet corn, and green beans are in their prime windows; Salinas/Monterey continues to anchor leafy veg.
• New-crop transitions: Northwestern onions (WA/ID-OR) and early fresh potatoes (WA; ID Norkotahs starting) are typically ramping now, which often eases markets as volume builds.
• Logistics: Reefer capacity is seasonally adequate in most lanes; pre–Labor Day retail promotions are starting to influence load-in timing for coastal metros.
• Weather watch: Late‑August heat and humidity pockets can trim yields or quality on tender leafy items and tomatoes. The Atlantic/Gulf tropics are in peak season; any developing systems can quickly affect harvest schedules and trucking in the Southeast.
• Demand mix: Back‑to‑school resets typically lift foodservice pulls for lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, and onions; retail features skew toward grilling sets (corn, peppers, squash, cukes, tomatoes).

7‑Day Outlook (Aug 22–28)

Big Themes

• Stable-to-plentiful summer veg barring weather: cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, sweet corn, green beans in the Midwest/East; mixed veg steady out of California’s Central Coast.
• Onions easing, potatoes ramping: Expect improving availability on yellows/reds as Northwest sheds scale; early fresh potato supplies build in WA and begin in ID, smoothing the transition.
• Tomatoes/peppers: Good field volume from CA and Eastern states; heat spikes can pressure sizing and shelf-life, but overall supply should support ads.
• Leafy greens: Romaine/iceberg/spring mix steady; localized heat or mildew pressure remains the main watch-out for quality claims.
• Holiday effect: Pre–Labor Day ad buys tighten end-of-week logistics; expect a modest late‑week pull on promotable items (corn, tomatoes, peppers, cukes, salads).

Regional Notes

• West (CA/AZ): Salinas/Monterey steady on lettuces and brassicas; Central Valley and coastal districts continue summer veg. Monitor heat events for field timing and post‑harvest quality.
• Northwest (WA, ID-OR): New-crop onions push volume; WA fresh potatoes active. Storage programs take shape over the next few weeks.
• Midwest & East (MI, OH, PA, NJ, NY, VA): Strong seasonal supplies on tomatoes, peppers, cukes, squash, beans, sweet corn. Spot thunderstorms may cause brief harvest interruptions but also add weights.
• Southeast & Texas: Lighter summer programs; watch for tropical moisture influencing local and regional trucking later in the window.

Commodity Signals

• Likely to soften/most promotable: Onions (new crop), cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, sweet corn, green beans.
• Likely steady: Leafy greens (romaine, iceberg, mixed), broccoli/cauliflower, bell peppers.
• Could firm if heat persists or storms hit: Field tomatoes (especially larger sizes and Romas), tender herbs, specialty greens.

Logistics and Risk Watch

• Tropical activity: Any Gulf/Atlantic system could disrupt harvesting and delays into FL/GA/Carolinas and create detours for inbound/outbound freight.
• Reefer capacity: Generally adequate; expect tighter spots late next week as pre‑holiday loads cluster.
• Quality: Heat stress increases tipburn/russeting risks in lettuces and can soften tomatoes; tighten receiving specs and communicate shelf-life expectations.

Buyer Playbook

• Lean into promotions: Onions, cucumbers, summer squash, sweet corn, and beans offer best value for ads.
• Manage risk on heat‑sensitive items: For tomatoes and leafy greens, prioritize morning harvests, rapid cooldown, and shorter rotations.
• Stage freight ahead of the rush: Pre‑book late‑week reefer capacity to avoid pre–Labor Day bottlenecks.
• Dual‑source where storms threaten: Pair Eastern supply with Western/Canadian options for continuity.

How to Get a Real-Time 24‑Hour Snapshot

• USDA AMS Specialty Crops Market News: Shipping Point and Terminal Market Reports — https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/fruits-vegetables
• USDA Movement (Truck/Shipments) — https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/fruit-and-vegetable-movement
• National Retail Reports — https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/retail
• NOAA Tropical Outlook — https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/