Thanksgiving Produce Ordering Guide for Restaurants and Kitchens
The short answer: order your Thanksgiving produce early. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026, and several holiday staples are tight right now. Kitchens that lock in menus and counts first get the product they want.
What is tight right now
The Fresh Alliance market report for October 29 describes a highly constrained market, with prices expected to stay up through November. Items worth watching for a holiday menu:
Asparagus. Weather in Peru and Mexico is cutting supply and pushing prices up. White asparagus is expected to stay tight through the holidays.
Avocados. Supply is tightening quickly as a harvest disruption in Michoacan stretches toward a full week.
Lettuce and romaine. Supplies are extremely limited, with disease and insect pressure.
Tomatoes. Rounds and romas are running short of demand. Cherry, grape and medley tomatoes are very light.
Snow peas. Supply is extremely limited, with improvement expected in mid-November.
A simple ordering plan
Lock your menu and covers. Send your rep your holiday menu and expected guest counts so product can be planned.
Name a backup for every tight item. Ask for a swap before something is short, not after.
Confirm delivery days. Ask which days work for the week of Thanksgiving, and ask about holiday cutoffs.
Order prep work if your crew is stretched. Chopped and packaged items save labor in a busy week.
Do not forget the rest of the table
Holiday menus need more than produce. Dairy, eggs, bread, herbs, seasonings and paper goods can ride on the same order, which means fewer calls and fewer trucks to receive.
Frequently asked questions
When should I place my Thanksgiving produce order?
As early as you can. Tight items are the first to sell out, so share your menu with your rep now.
Can I order other supplies with produce?
Yes. Gulf Coast Produce also supplies dairy, eggs, bread, herbs, seasonings, specialty items and paper goods.
Source: Fresh Alliance Market Report, October 29, 2026. Market conditions change weekly; ask your rep for current availability.
Ready to order?
Call the sales desk at 228-435-0005, or start your account online. A rep for your area will set you up with a Customer ID.
Gulf Coast Produce Distributors, Inc. is locally owned in Biloxi, Mississippi, and has served kitchens across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama since 1995. Beyond fresh produce, we supply dairy, eggs, bread, herbs, seasonings, specialty items and paper goods, with prep work like chopped and packaged product.
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