Asparagus

Prices continue to rise amid tight supplies and strong demand in the sole growing region of Baja, Mexico. Markon First Crop Asparagus (MFC) is available.

Mexico

• Production has ended in Central Mexico; Baja harvests will continue through October
• Quality and shelf-life potential are below average; stalks are exhibiting elevated levels of seeder/feathering tips
• Size distribution is heavily skewed towards small spears; substituting small packs for standard or large sizes will yield considerable FOB cost savings
• Expect markets to soften towards the end of the month as additional fields open up and a slight cooling trend arrives

Peru

• Imported stocks (shipped into Miami, Florida) remain available on the East Coast
• Yields are low but steady and will increase as the Southern Hemisphere enters spring

Bell Peppers

Green Bell peppers are transitioning from the Midwest to North Carolina and Georgia over the next two weeks. Red bell peppers in California have steady volume and excellent quality. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

• California’s coastal growing region of Hollister will start harvesting their last fields next week
  • Overall volume will start to decline in late September as growers will use second and third picks until mid-October
  • Expect the transition to the California desert region to begin on October 15
• The Michigan and Ohio seasons are winding down over the next two weeks; choice grades are most common
• The North Carolina fall season has started in a limited manner
• Georgia will also start with light harvests on September 25
• Markets are currently steady and expected to rise in early October

Red Bells

• California’s coastal regions have steady supplies with good color and strong walls; all sizes are available this week
• Central Mexico production crossing into south Texas is steady
• Canadian greenhouse volume will start slowing down in autumn due to reduced daylight
• Markets are slightly lower this week

Broccoli

Markon Best Available (MBA) Broccoli is being packed out of Salinas, California and Guanajuato, Mexico (shipping out of South Texas). 

• Markets are steady
  • California supplies are forecast to meet projected demand through September
  • Mexican stocks are sufficient; markets are lower than those on the West Coast
• A patchwork of varying quality exists among current fields
  • Pin rot/brown bead, branching, hollow core, yellowing, and insect pressure persist
  • Field crews are selectively harvesting crowns to ensure uniformity and acceptable quality
• Regionally grown supplies are limited and being sold close to shipping points
  • The Eastern Canada, Maine, and New Jersey seasons are finishing
  • Georgia supplies are set to become available next but the outlook remains uncertain
• Expect steady markets throughout September at slightly elevated levels

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

California’s San Joaquin Valley melon season is beginning to wind down; markets are poised to rise. MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew are available.

Cantaloupe

• California’s Central Valley heat wave in July and August matured fruit faster than projected, leading to lighter supplies at the end of the season

• California/Arizona desert harvests are scheduled to begin by the second week of October
• Current supplies remain dominated by large 9-count fruit; smaller 12- and 15-count melons are very limited
  • Markon may recommend size substitutions per availability on orders calling for smaller fruit

• Quality is fair; increased ground spotting, bruising, and green cast are occasional issues which is common in late summer melons

• Expect lighter supplies and rising markets over the next seven to ten days; better volume is expected by the end of next week as growers break into their final summer lots

Honeydew

• Volume has started to decrease in California as the San Joaquin summer season begins to wind down

• California/Arizona desert harvests will begin within the second to third week of October

• Current supplies are dominated by larger 5-count fruit; smaller 6- and 8-count fruit is limited

• Quality is good to fair; ground spotting, bruising, and scarring are occasional issues
• Expect markets to rise over the next seven to ten days

From the Fields: Salinas Valley Showers

California’s Salinas Valley is experiencing intermittent light showers that will continue throughout the day, bringing less than a tenth of an inch or rain to the area. Little or no production delays are expected and no immediate effects on row crop vegetables are anticipated, although Markon inspectors will be monitoring quality and shelf-life closely, especially with strawberries, which are more sensitive to wet weather.

Another low-pressure system moves into the area on Wednesday, September 18, bringing an additional tenth of an inch or so. Growers will be taking measures to keep boxes and product as clean and dry as possible, but we may see a small amount of dirt/mud in commodity lettuce and other row crop items over the next few days.

Grapefruit

The Southern California Marsh Ruby grapefruit season has ended. Expect a gap in California supplies, as Rio grapefruit harvesting is not set to begin until late October.

Southern California

• Marsh Ruby production has ended
• Desert Rio harvesting will start in late October
• Expect a gap in supplies over the next four to six weeks

Arizona/California Desert

• The season is expected to start in late October
• The Arizona/California growing region includes Brawley, California and Yuma, Arizona

Florida

• The season will begin in early October
• Expect – and 56-count fruit to dominate the crop
• Suppliers will only pack U.S. No. 1 grade stocks

South Texas

• The season will start in early November

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Green leaf, iceberg, and romaine markets are low; supplies are abundant in Salinas, California.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are available
• California quality ranges from good to very good; burn, insect pressure, mildew, mild disease pressure, and seeder are being found in some lots periodically
• Demand will strengthen in California as East Coast regional seasons wind down
• Expect markets to start rising in late September/early October due to end-of-season challenges and diminishing yields

Lemons

The 165- through 235-count domestic lemon market remains elevated due to low volume and strong demand. Price relief is expected to start next week as domestic new crop lemon production has begun.

Domestic

• MFC and ESS Lemons are available  
• Small sizes (165- through 235-count) remain limited
• Quality is average at best
  • Brown spotting, early decay, and scarring are being reported
  • Quality will improve as most growers have started harvesting new crop fruit
• Expect slowly declining pricing and increased supplies beginning next week

Offshore

• Offshore fruit from Argentina and Chile is past its peak
• Quality is average; brown spotting, early decay, and scarring are being reported
• Expect higher pricing compared to domestic and Mexican fruit

Mexican

• Mexican shipments have started and will run through late November
• Size will be predominately 165- through 235-count fruit; larger sizes will be available
• Quality is good; some brown spotting is being reported
• Expect pricing to be lower than domestic fruit as volume increases

Limes

Markets are weakening, as new crop fruit becomes available in Veracruz, Mexico. MFC and ESS Limes are available. 

Veracruz, Mexico (into South Texas)

• Volume has increased slightly this week, as growers begin to harvest new crop fruit

• Expect markets to inch down over the next two to three weeks, beginning with smaller, 200- through 250-count sizes
  • Larger, 110-through 175-count limes will become limited
  • Overall stocks should increase in October
• Quality ranges from fair to good; mature, large-size limes are exhibiting higher percentages of oil spotting, stylar ends, and occasional decay

Mixed Berries

Blueberry supplies will remain limited through early October, causing prices to rise. New crop blackberry and raspberry stocks are limited; quality is fair.

Blueberries

• Demand exceeds current availability
• Quality is good
• The Pacific Northwest season has finished
• Offshore shipments will increase by late September
• Expect tight supplies and increased markets

Blackberries

• California supplies are insufficient
• Growers have begun shipping out of Central Mexico earlier than expected
• Quality is fair; soft skins and red cells have been reported
• The Pacific Northwest season is done
• Expect pricing to remain high

Raspberries

• The Baja season has come to a sudden end
• Growers will begin shipping out of Central Mexico in early October

• Quality is fair
• Demand is steady

Oranges

California’s available Valencia supply continues to diminish. Markon expects California to experience a supply gap in October that will last until the Navel seasons begins in late October/early November.

California  

• MFC and ESS Valencia Oranges are available
• Expect to make size and grade substitutions, as well as date changes to fill orders
• Quality is fair, at best
• New crop California Navels will begin shipping in late October
• Expect elevated markets for the remainder of the Valencia season

Offshore

• Oranges are being imported into both the East and West Coasts
• Imported supplies continue to tighten as they are filling the void in California
• Quality is good: early decay and scarring are being reported

• Expect rising markets as supplies diminish

Mexico

• The season is just beginning with limited crossings into Texas
• The Early orange variety will be available in Edinburg, Texas
• Quality is good; yellowish color fruit has been reported
• Expect elevated pricing until supplies increase

Texas

• Oranges will begin shipping in early November

Florida

• New crop fruit will become available in late October

Strawberries

The California strawberry market has remained steady. The Santa Maria fall harvest has begun; growers report no issues at this time.

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Quality is good
• Size ranges from 14-16 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 29-32 in 4/2-pound pack (medium to medium-large)

• Occasional misshaped fruit and white shoulders are being reported

• Expect markets to remain steady

Salinas/Watsonville

• Quality is fairly good
• Size is currently 24-26 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 48-52 in 4/2-pound pack (small to small-medium)
• Some bruising, white shoulders, and light mildew are being reported
• Harvesting is expected to continue until the end of October
• Expect steady prices

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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