Apples – Limited Granny Smith Supplies

• Growers estimate approximately 98 percent of the storage crop has been shipped
• New crop Granny Smith apples are expected to hit the market the week of September 6
• Size substitutions may be required to fill orders until new crop stocks are available
• Expect elevated prices over the next few weeks, as growers work to extend remaining storage volume

Green Onions

• Ready-Set-Serve Green (RSS) Onions are available
• Elevated daytime temperatures experienced over the past two months, combined with higher-than-average nighttime temperatures, have lowered yields and accelerated growth
  • High temperatures without nighttime cooling relief have led to warmer-than-normal ground temperatures
  • Rapid growth, combined with lower yields, are resulting in fewer harvestable onions in current fields
  • September temperatures are forecast to be moderate and closer to seasonal averages
• Expect elevated markets for the next four weeks at minimum

Hurricane Grace

• The hurricane caused minimal damage to infrastructure and packinghouse operations in the Mexican growing region
  • Packinghouses resumed operations on Monday, August 23 with limited hours

• Curtailed harvesting will continue through this week

• High-quality lime supplies will remain limited

• Scarring and oil spotting are issues being seen due to wet weather and wind
• 23-35% of the crop is being culled
• • All sizes are available in Veracruz (crossing into South Texas)
• Lime markets are expected to remain steady through August

Onions

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Onions are being shipped out of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington  
  • Supplies are currently on the smaller side, favoring medium and jumbo sizes
  • Few super colossal onions are available
• Utah-grown MFC Onions are now on the market
  • Size is dominated by medium and jumbo stocks
  • Super colossal supplies are limited
• Packer label onions are available in Colorado
• New crop onions will have a rounder, more globe-like shape than stocks shipped during the spring/summer months; early season stocks will still exhibit thin, light-colored skins until shipped out of storage

Onions – Small Size

• From late June through mid-July, the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington experienced record high temperatures
• Growers report that the heat hindered growth, resulting in smaller size; onions were in the latter stages of the growth process during the heatwave
• Crop size is smaller than normal, with most in the medium and jumbo categories
  • Colossal onions are tight
  • Super colossal sizes are extremely limited
• Expect small sizes to dominate availability over the next several weeks; size should start increasing in mid-September when onions have more time in the ground

Oranges

• MFC and Markon Essentials California Valencia Oranges are available
• Small-size fruit (113- to 138-count oranges) will be extremely tight for the rest of the season
• Valencia quality concerns include re-greening and softness due to above-normal temperatures
• California Navels are expected to begin shipping in mid- to late October

Ready-Set-Serve Cilantro

• RSS Cilantro is available
• Yields have increased in Oxnard, Salinas, and Santa Maria, California; burn, disease pressure, seeder, and yellowing are less frequent
• RSS Cilantro is currently achieving specified quality and shelf-life, but there is potential for early breakdown due to heat-related stress
  

Squash

• East Coast supplies are limited this week due to recent Tropical Storms Fred and Henri
  • Heavy rain and wind has affected production and quality
  • Yellow squash supplies are tighter; prices are elevated
• California production is consistent in Santa Maria and the Central Valley
  • Demand has increased prices
  • Overall quality is good
• Recent heatwaves on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula affected quality; additional grading is required
• Expect overall inventory to increase over the next three to four weeks as new growing regions start up in North Carolina and mainland Mexico

Tomatoes

• MFC Tomatoes are available
• The East Coast growing regions received significant rain from Tropical Storms Fred and Henri over the last week, significantly affecting production
• California round and Roma tomato production is steady
  • Round tomatoes from Northern California are seeing some quality issues from prior heatwaves
  • The Oceanside region is harvesting predominately large-size vine ripe and Roma stocks
• Central Mexico received enough rain from Hurricane Grace to disrupt production but major damage was avoided
  • Vine ripe and Roma crops are increasing in Jalisco and San Luis Potosi; large sizes are most abundant
  • Baja Roma and grape tomato crops are tightening as some growers are finishing for the summer season; quality is good
• Prices are expected to remain elevated over the next one to two weeks

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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