Garlic shipments to the U.S. of new crop garlic from Spain are arriving already this month. "We finished our supply out of Argentina a month ago and transitioned to new crop of Mexican garlic," says Jim Provost of I Love Produce. "The quality of the Mexican garlic was very good but because of a shorter than normal crop, prices were 15-20 percent higher than a year ago. Due to that short Mexican crop, we are transitioning into Spanish garlic right away."
The I Love Produce team on a recent trip to Spain.
Out of Spain, the garlic's sizing and quality are strong. Garlic acreage is down in the country by 20-30 percent due to the lack of water availability for irrigation in some regions though. "That, combined with a smaller than normal California crop, will make for a higher than normal garlic market in 2024," says Provost.
Outlook for 2024
Along with sourcing product out of Spain via its long-term partnerships, the company supplies garlic year-round from other regions including China. To supply fresh, competitively priced bulk, packaged, peeled, and processed garlic (this year I Love Produce is introducing a line of jarred garlic that includes squeezable jars), the company follows the seasons from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere. "Because we are coming out of an El Nino growing season, and also because the supply chain is as complicated as it has been since 2020 when it was impacted by Covid, it is a challenging and dynamic year for sourcing garlic," adds Provost. 
This year the company is introducing a line of jarred garlic that includes squeezable jars.
He notes that China grows 90 percent of the world's garlic and at least 50 percent of the garlic imported into the U.S. is from China. "Because China is the "800 lb. gorilla" of the garlic market, generally as China goes, the world market goes," says Provost, adding that this year, China had a larger-than-normal crop even though their yields were down due to increased acreage. "Bulb size is down, but because of good harvest conditions, the garlic is well cured and of high quality. Prices are slightly reduced from a year ago, but because ocean freight has increased, the market is stable. China might affect the world market, which could impact the prices of competing countries, which we will be keeping a watchful eye out for."
For more information:
Jim Provost
I Love Produce
Tel: +1 (610) 869-4664
[email protected]
www.iloveproduce.com