Broccoli and Cauliflower

Broccoli

Imperial Valley, California/Yuma, Arizona/Northern Baja, Mexico

• Supplies are currently plentiful but freezing temperatures have the potential to drive markets higher next week as crown production slows
• Markon First Crop (MFC) Broccoli is available
• Quality is very good; yellowing, mold, and decay are minimal

Mexico (into South Texas)

• The price spread between Mexico, and AZ/CA has closed; supplies are ample
• MFC Broccoli is available
• Quality is very good; some mechanical damage has been noted along with occasional mildew

Cauliflower

Imperial Valley and Santa Maria, California/Yuma, Arizona/Northern Baja, Mexico

• • Prices are subject to rise next week as the aforementioned cold snap slows production and reduces yields
  • Markon Essentials (ESS) Cauliflower is available; quality is good with consistent head size
  • Expect 9- and 12-count sizes to become snug by the end of the month; most growers will have to harvest immature fields, increasing availability of 16-count heads

Citrus

Production in California’s citrus growing regions will remain a challenge to start this week with wet and muddy conditions. Drier weather is forecast over the next 10 days which will allow harvesting to ramp up. Expect increased supplies and easing markets over the next two weeks.

Oranges

• MFC Navel Oranges are available
• Heavy amounts of rain will increase overall size profile; expect higher volume of large sizes in upcoming weeks
• Current quality is excellent; sugar levels are high and color is vibrant
• Texas has limited availability of domestic, choice-grade Valencias; markets are nearly double the price of choice-grade California Navels
• Florida has started shipping the Valencia crop
  • Mainly 100- and 125-count sizes are available
  • Markets are in the low to mid-$20 range

Lemons

• MFC Lemons are available  
• Production continues in all three areas of California (San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, and the Arizona desert region)
• Improving weather conditions will increase production
• Markets remain steady with adequate supplies available
• Quality remains excellent

FROM THE FIELDS: DESERT REGION WEATHER UPDATE

The Arizona/California desert growing region began receiving light rain early this morning due to a passing upper-level low pressure system. Sporadic showers may continue throughout the day but are not expected to cause any significant delays and harvesting crews will be working to keep boxes and product as clean and dry as possible.

Daytime highs will be in the mid-60°s most of the week but morning lows dip into the 30°s Wednesday through Friday, January 18-20, bringing widespread lettuce ice and the threat of production and loading delays.

FROM THE FIELDS: WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN THE SALINAS VALLEY

Please click here to view a Markon Live from the Fields video regarding significant widespread flooding currently taking place in California’s Salinas Valley.

• California has been pummeled by several atmospheric river events over the past two to three weeks
  • Atmospheric rivers are concentrated streams of water vapor originating over the Hawaiian tropics, ranging about 100 to 250 miles in width and follow a tight path toward Western North America
  • These narrow rivers of moisture-laden air flow make landfall five to six times a year in California, in a normal winter season
    • Although potent atmospheric rivers can cause extreme rainfall with catastrophic flooding and mudslides, many are weak and provide beneficial rain to California every Winter
    • On average, about 30% to 50% of annual precipitation on North America’s West Coast comes from a handful of atmospheric river events, according to the National Weather Service
• Some areas of California have received 400%-600% above historical rainfall amounts, causing widespread flooding
• As of last night, January 12, it is estimated that upwards of 20,000 acres of plant-able vegetable ground have been flooded in the Salinas Valley, and more rain is on the way
  • Monterey County Records show the Salinas Valley has roughly 450,000 plant-able vegetable acres
  • Salinas Valley accounts for roughly 80% of the nation’s vegetable production from April to early July
• Cultivation/planting cannot take place under the current wet and flooded field conditions
• Delayed plantings and crops lost to flooding will ultimately lead to product shortages and high markets in the Spring (April – May)

FROM THE FIELDS: DESERT REGION LETTUCE ICE

The Arizona and California desert region experienced strong winds early in the week, resulting in current morning temperatures dipping into the low-to mid-30°s, causing widespread lettuce ice to form. Low temperatures will persist for the next five days with continuing lettuce ice events through the early next week. Harvesting and loading delays can be expected.

Grapes

The California portioned-pack grapes season will end Friday, January 20, 2023. Red and green grapes continue shipping from South America (Chile and Peru).

Green and Red Grapes

• Chilean/Peruvian red grape stocks are adequate
• Expect to see pricing fall in late January as volume climbs
• Red seedless supplies will be on the market until May
• Expect good quality and sufficient supplies as arrivals increase

Portioned-Pack Grapes

• The California season will end Friday, January 20, 2023
• Chilean/Peruvian stocks start shipping Saturday, January 21, 2023
• Quality is good; volume will rise through February

Green beans

Florida green bean markets are high; poor weather has reduced yields. Mexican supplies are abundant, keeping prices low. Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Trimmed Green Beans are available.

• Florida stocks are limited due to cold weather experienced over the holidays that affected young bean plant growth and reduced volume; expect higher prices out of Florida over the next two weeks
• The Mexican main growing regions of Los Mochis, Ciudad de Mexico, and Hermosillo will ship ample supplies over the next two months; quality is excellent
• Expect demand to shift to Mexico

Freezing evening temperatures have reduced overall yields and increased prices in Florida. Mexican markets are higher as demand has shifted from the East Coast. RSS Trimmed Green Beans are limited; packer label may be substituted as needed.

• Florida growers experienced near freezing weather last weekend and mitigated some loss by implementing frost protection measures, such as covering crops with cloth and flooding furrows to add humidity; expect very snug supplies over the next month
• Mexican supplies remain sufficient; however, increased demand is pushing up prices this week
  • Overall quality is good
  • Minor scarring is being reported in some lots
• Expect much higher prices heading into next week

Green leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Green leaf, iceberg, and romaine supplies are plentiful in the Arizona/California desert growing regions. Lettuce ice forecast through early next week will hinder growth and cause daily harvest delays.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf is readily available out of the Arizona/California desert growing region
• MFC Premium Iceberg and Romaine are being packed regularly, with Markon Best Available (MBA) being subbed as needed due to light weights
• Quality is very good; epidermal blister, fringe burn, and growth crack are present in some lots
• Despite cold weather forecast into early next week, supplies are expected to remain abundant
• Markets are expected to remain fairly steady at low levels over the next two to three weeks

Green onions

Green onion supplies are increasing in Mexicali, Mexico. Markets are inching down.

• RSS Washed & Trimmed Green Onions are available
• Optimal weather is promoting growth and increasing supplies
• Demand is strong, slowing market declines
• Labor availability has normalized following the holiday season
• Expect continued lower pricing through the end of January, at minimum

Idaho Potatoes

MFC Idaho Burbank and Norkotah Potatoes are readily available.

• Overall Idaho volume has increased as Burbank growers begin to release more product to the fresh market
• Quality is strong in both varieties, with stocks primarily yielding No. 1 quality potatoes; fewer No. 2 potatoes are available
• Continue to expect steady, although elevated, markets for the next few weeks
• Norkotah stocks will be available through early April
• Burbanks will become the sole variety for the remainder of the season once Norkotahs are depleted

Extremely low temperatures persist in Eastern and Southern Idaho.

• Temperatures need to be 18°F or higher for five to seven hours to haul potatoes from cellars to packing sheds
• Suppliers do not haul potatoes to packing sheds when temperatures are below 18°F to avoid freezing raw product
• Expect reduced production and delayed loading; advanced order lead time is highly recommended for order fulfillment
• Many suppliers will utilize onsite storage to cover orders; sizing may be limited

Limes

The lime market continues to rise, which is common for this time of year due to reduced yields and lower overall supplies. MFC and ESS Limes are limited; packer label is being substituted as needed.

• Rain and cooler weather during November’s crop blossoming period impacted yields in the main growing region of Veracruz, Mexico.

• New crop blossoming was hindered by weather; expect lower overall availability into February
• Overall quality is good; light color, blanching, and oil spotting are occasional issues
• Expect the market to continue climbing over the next several weeks and into February

Melons

Central American cantaloupe and honeydew melon supplies are limited due to reduced shipments to the West Coast; prices are elevated.

Cantaloupe

• Imported cantaloupes are shipping out of Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica

• West Coast availability is being hampered by higher freight costs, driving up markets
• Quality is fair in all regions; bruising and overripened fruit are occasional issues being caused by long travel times
• 15-count melons are snug; substituting 12-count fruit is suggested
• Prices are expected to rise this week due to reduced availability

Honeydew

• Imported honeydew orders are shipping from Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Mexico

• West Coast availability is low; higher freight costs are driving up markets
• Overall quality is fair; ground spotting, wind scarring, and bruising are occasional issues due to increased travel times
• Expect higher prices this week

Squash

Squash markets are steady. The bulk of supplies are being sourced in Mexico. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

• Western Mexico is harvesting adequate supplies
  • Cool weather and scattered rains have caused some minor production delays
  • Quality is varied; scarring and odd shape is being reported in some lots
• Florida volume is low, but growers plan to harvest new fields starting this week; quality is expected to improve
• Prices should decrease slightly next week

Onions

MFC Onions are being shipped out of storage from Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Mexican yellow and white onions will begin to cross into South Texas next week.

South Texas

• Mexican onion size will be on the smaller side, dominated by medium and jumbo sizes; colossal and super colossal sizes will be limited
• Mexican red onion imports will hit the market the week of January 30
• Pricing will open up slightly higher than Northwest markets
• The domestic Texas onion crop is on track to begin in early March

Northwest/Colorado

• Expect supplies to remain available in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington through mid-April
• In Utah, stocks will ship through mid-March
• Colorado packer label onions will be available through early March
• With Mexican onions now available, expect Northwest and Colorado pricing to ease over the next few weeks

Strawberries

Continued heavy California rainfall is expected to influence supplies for Valentine’s Day pull. Expect supplies to tighten in Florida and South Texas as these regions help fill the shortages out of California.

Oxnard, California

• New crop harvest continues to be delayed due to heavy rainfall
• Growers will be evaluating fields next week to determine how rainfall will impact Valentine’s Day business
• Forecasts call for heavy rain on Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 15
• Growers will be relying on transfers of Mexican-grown fruit to supplement California shipments through mid-January at minimum

Santa Maria, California

• Continued rain is expected to delay new crop harvest by two to three weeks
• The Santa Maria growing region is not expected to meet Valentine’s Day demand
• New crop fruit will enter the market in mid-February

Central Mexico (Loading in South Texas)

• Volume will remain steady next week
• Quality is good; issues include white shoulders and occasional over ripening
• Expect to see volume tighten as Mexico fills shortages from California

Florida

• MFC Strawberries will be available
• Quality is good; issues include white shoulders and occasional over ripening
• Packer label will be substituted as needed
• Expect to see stocks tighten as this region fills shortages from California

Valentine’s Day Strawberries

Persistent rain in Santa Maria and Oxnard, California are causing a dramatic drop in projected strawberry volume. Due to this decrease in yields, all Valentine’s Day lids/pricing are being canceled. All non-contract strawberry purchases will be priced at market levels while contract berries will be priced at the agreed upon contract levels. North American strawberry supplies will be extremely limited, in all regions, through early February. Orders are being shifted to Mexican fruit to meet the majority of North American demand.

All Member DCs are advised to load out of South Texas or Florida for best possible coverage.

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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