California Strawberries

Prior rainfall in the Salinas/Watsonville and Santa Maria growing regions has tighten supplies and elevated pricing.

Santa Maria

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available
• Fruit size is medium (12 to 16 berries per one-pound clamshell)
• Quality is good; white shoulders have been reported in some lots
• Expect markets to rise over the next 7 to 10 days as production falls and demand strengthens

Salinas/Watsonville

• MFC Strawberries are available

• Fruit size is large (9 to 12 berries per one-pound clamshell)

• Quality is good; some mildew has been reported due to continued overcast and wet mornings
• Expect markets to rise over the next 10 to 14 days as production falls and demand strengthens

Grapes

Mexican green and red grape prices continue to decline; demand is steady. Mexican portioned grapes have begun shipping. California season will begin in late July. Expect declining markets over the next two to three weeks.

Red/Green Grapes

• Markon Essentials (ESS) Grapes will begin shipping June 19  
• The Mexican season is in peak production; demand is steady
• Pricing will continue to decline due to increased production

• California grapes will begin shipping towards mid to late July

Portioned Grapes

• MFC Lunch Bunch Grapes will begin shipping June 26
• Mexican portioned grape season has begun
• Stocks will be increasing over the next five to seven days due to increased production
• Expect elevated pricing as the season begins followed by gradually decreasing markets

Limes

Lime markets are continuing to downtrend; supplies are ample in Veracruz, Mexico. MFC and ESS Limes are available.

• Supplies remain dominated by 175- through 250-count fruit
• Larger, 110- and 150-count, sizes are tight but are improving; markets have decreased
• Quality is good; dry, hot weather in Veracruz, Mexico is resulting in increased light green/yellow-colored limes, typical for this time of year
• Oil spotting and scarring are occasional issues
• Expect lower markets over the next 7 to 10 days

Mixed Berries

Raspberry and blackberry demand is strong; markets are elevated but growers expect price relief in late June.

Raspberries

• Volume continues to fall in Central Mexico due to high temperatures
  • Quality is good
  • Uneven ripening has been reported in some lots
• Supply levels in Oxnard, California and Baja, Mexico continue to be impacted by weather events; expect peak production in early July
• The industry will be in a demand-exceeds-supply situation through June

Blueberries

• Central Mexico, the primary growing region, is past its peak
• Volume is climbing in Baja, Mexico; expect ample supplies
• The California season has begun and will ramp up quickly week over week
• Prices will remain steady

Blackberries

• Yields continue to decline in Central Mexico,
• Harvesting is increasing in Oxnard, California; the season’s peak will be reached in early July
• Expect abundant supplies in Watsonville, California by late July
• Growers have begun harvesting in North Carolina; volume is low but will increase in late June
• The industry will be in a demand-exceeds-supply situation through mid-July

Onions

MFC Onions are being shipped out of California’s San Joaquin Valley and Southern New Mexico. 

California

• The Southern California/Imperial Valley season has concluded
• Onion production has transitioned to Central and Northern California
  • Availability is sufficient
  • Yields are dominated by medium and jumbo sizes
  • Colossal stocks are adequate, while super colossals are limited
• Expect markets to hold firm for the next few weeks
• Supplies are expected to ship into August

New Mexico

• New Mexican onions are readily available
  • Pack-outs also favor medium to jumbo sizes
  • Order fulfillment of colossal and super colossal onions is steady
• Markets will remain elevated, but stable for the next few weeks
• Product will ship leading into August

Pineapples

Pineapple supplies are scarce in Costa Rica, Mexico, and South America. Historically, pineapples become limited from mid-June through August. In particular, large sizes (five- and six-count fruit) will tighten. Expect rising markets; size substitutions may be necessary to fill orders.

• Large sizes have become scarce due to dry conditions
• Smaller fruit (seven- and eight-count sizes) are expected to dominate the market over the next four to six weeks
• Forecasts indicate dry conditions for June and the potential for heavy rainfall (El Nino) heading into July
• Expect stressed plants resulting in small-size fruit and elevated markets

Squash

Cooler weather along the west coast is slowing down production. Yellow squash has demand-exceeds-supply markets.

• The Santa Maria, California growing region has limited yields due to cool temperatures (mid-60s) and previous rain; yellow squash is snug
• The Baja Peninsula has new production this week
• Georgia harvests are past peak season, yields are lighter
• The East Coast will start to regionalize for the summer months over the next few weeks
• New growing regions will pop up in North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and New Jersey
• Yellow squash prices are much higher, zucchini will remain steady

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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