Weather forecasts are calling for parts of the Salinas Valley to begin experiencing a heat wave starting Tuesday, July 11. Coastal areas such as Salinas, Castroville, and Watsonville will remain at or slightly below seasonal averages with temperatures in the mid-60°s to low 70°s, but inland temperatures between Soledad and King City will see mid-80°s to mid-90°s by Friday, July 14.

High pressure dwindles over the weekend, allowing inland temperatures to cool slightly, but it will remain warmer than normal through the middle of next week. Markon inspectors will pay close attention to lettuce and other row crops that will be harvested from the warmer regions this week. Potential concerns that could develop include:

• Bolting/seeder
• Dehydration/wilting
• Increased insect pressure
• Internal burn
• Shortened shelf-life
• Sun scalding

As always, maintaining the cold chain throughout distribution is critical for maximizing quality and shelf-life of perishable produce items.

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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