Asparagus

Prices continue to rise. Mexico’s Caborca season is winding down and well past peak production. Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available.

Mexico

• Production is past its peak in Caborca, Mexico; harvesting will transition west towards the Baja peninsula and then Central Mexico
• Quality remains strong, but will wane as the final spears are harvested from current lots
• Extra-large and jumbo sizes will tighten over the next 14-21 days; the price spread between small and large sizes will increase
• Expect prices to climb through late April as strong demand ramps up for the Easter holiday
• Under the existing U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), Mexican asparagus is not being targeted for additional tariff enforcement

Peru

• Yields are extremely low out of the northern regions of the country as high temperatures have limited production; however, volume from Southern Peru will increase over the next four to six weeks as weather cools
• Peru remains a target for additional tariff action by the Trump administration
• The effect of these on imports/availability is undetermined currently, but higher FOB pricing is predicted in Miami/East Coast ports

U.S. and Canada

• The Pacific Northwest will be the first domestic region to begin production (Washington/Idaho) by mid-April
• Michigan and areas of Southern Canada will start harvesting in early May, as well as minimal California and South Carolina production
• Expect increased supplies out of multiple regions and lower markets by late May through mid- to late June

Brussels Sprouts

MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are readily available.

• Markets are depressed amid mild demand and abundant supplies out of Baja, Mexico
• Quality is good; the Baja region is expecting slightly cooler temperatures and mostly dry weather for the next two weeks
• Light volumes in Oxnard, CA are expected to supplement the market in late April and overlap the end of the Mexico season/the start of Salinas season in July
• Expect pricing to rise heading into April as suppliers anticipate tariffs and trade policies; expect some measure of market volatility

Cauliflower

Markets are softer with good supplies across multiple growing regions. Markon Essentials (ESS) Cauliflower is available; packer label is being substituted as needed.

• Salinas Valley, CA supplies are ramping up
  • Fields are off to a great start; heads are showing great quality, texture, and color
  • Forecasted rain for week could slightly decrease quality with discoloration/black spotting
• Santa Maria, CA volume is also on the rise
• Arizona and California desert temperatures are heating up; remaining supplies in Yuma, Arizona will experience browning/yellowing, insect pressure, and dehydration through the end of the season
• Expect steady to lower pricing this week and slightly higher pricing within the next seven to ten days as the Yuma season comes to an end

Cucumbers

Cucumber supplies are increasing in both Mexico and Florida. MFC Cucumbers are available.

• Volume is steady out of Mexico; quality is good
• Florida’s production has started to increase this week, as the Spring season ramps up
• Mexico’s volume will start to rise next week

Live From the Fields: Huron Lettuce Update

Please click here to view a Markon Live from the Fields video regarding current iceberg and leaf lettuce supplies from the Huron, California growing region.

• A small number of suppliers are now harvesting iceberg and leaf lettuce in the Huron region
• Desert supplies will remain available through the week of April 7, but Salinas will become a bigger player starting next week
• Current iceberg supplies in Huron are exhibiting high weights and strong quality; Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Iceberg Lettuce is available
• Leaf lettuces such as romaine and green leaf are struggling with elevated insects at the base of the heads (mostly small black gnats)
• Harvesting crews will be trimming heavily to reduce insects, but cannot eliminate them all
• It is highly recommended to thoroughly rinse and inspect field-packed lettuce items from the desert and the Huron regions due to the ongoing insect pressure
• Markon inspectors are monitoring conditions in all key transitional growing areas and will continue to update as needed

Mixed Berries

Blueberry and raspberry supplies remain ample. Blackberry pricing has increased; markets will inch back down in two to three weeks.

Blueberries

• The Chilean season has ended
• Mexican production is past the seasonal peak
• Quality remains good; size is consistent
• New crop harvesting is expected to begin April 21 in California’s San Joaquin Valley
• The Florida season is going strong; quality is very good
• Markets are steady

Blackberries

• Mexican yields are adequate
• Demand is moderate
• Quality is good; light red cells have been reported
• New crop harvesting will begin in early June in California’s Watsonville/Salinas region
• Prices are stable

Raspberries

• Medium-sized berries dominate availability

• Quality is good; lighter color and small size have been reported
• New crop harvesting is expected to begin June 1 in California’s Watsonville/Salinas region
• Expect markets to remain level

Radicchio

• Supplies are tight and will continue diminishing into early April as harvesting moves north in California
• Erratic weather in Central California has delayed the maturation of new crop supplies and reduced yields at the field level
• With relatively few growers for specialty items like radicchio in comparison to staple commodity crops, there is very little source diversification among suppliers; expect extremely limited stocks across several labels and suppliers over the first two weeks of April
• Markets will remain elevated through mid-April at the earliest

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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