Bell Peppers

Green Bells

• California’s coastal area of Hollister is winding down
• The Coachella region is underway
  • Volume is moderate
  • All sizes are available; extra-large stocks are snug
  • Quality is good
• Cool autumn weather is impeding growth in Georgia; supplies are expected to run through November
  • Overall quality is good
  • The South Florida crown pick harvest has begun; large sizes are most plentiful
• Mexico’s Sonora region (crossing in Nogales, Arizona) is expected to start production in mid-November; the Culiacan region will begin shipping in late November
• Prices are expected to remain firm until the Mexican season starts

Red Bells

• California is currently the main growing region for North America; expect the transition from central/coastal regions to Coachella during the latter part of November

• • Cool weather and previous rain is reducing plant yields/size

• • Quality is good

• Sonora, Mexico is expected to start in mid-December barring any severe weather; Culiacan region will being late December
• East Coast volume is low
• Reduced seasonal sunlight is quickly ending greenhouse production in Canada
• Prices are expected to remain elevated over the next two to three weeks

Broccoli and Cauliflower

• Supplies will continue to increase over the next two weeks
• Growers will be harvesting new crop broccoli and cauliflower out of the desert growing region the week of November 15
• Mexican-grown broccoli is crossing into South Texas
• Prices are expected to decease through the transition from Salinas Valley to the desert growing region over the next few weeks

California Citrus

Navel Oranges

• The crop is dominated by 88-, 113-, and 138-count sizes
• Expect small sizes to come off slightly in price and larger size fruit will stay firm
• Groves being harvested now are flush with Fancy grade fruit; choice grade stocks are light
• Cool nights are enhancing the orange color, gas times range from 72-96 hours, but are dropping by the week
• Sugar levels are 11.5 to 12 Brix, with high acid

Lemons

• The crop is dominated by 140- and 200-count sizes
• Fancy grade fruit is beginning to outweigh choice grade stocks
• Expecting markets to remain steady
• Quality is excellent

Green Leaf and Romaine

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Green Leaf and Romaine are available
• Disease pressure continues to reduce yields, though not as severely as in iceberg crops
• Overall quality is very good: light fringe burn and mildew pressure are present in some lots
• Green leaf and romaine harvests will start in the Arizona/California desert growing region the week of November 8 and will ramp up in mid- to late November
• Salinas Valley production will finish for the season in mid- to late November
• Expect elevated markets to persist through late November at minimum

Iceberg

• Markon First Crop Premium Iceberg is extremely limited; Markon Best Available will be substituted due to low weights for the next two weeks
• Disease pressure continues to reduce yields, causing some growers in the Salinas Valley to finish their season earlier than anticipated
• Overall quality is good
  • Inconsistent texture, mildew pressure, and wind damage are being reported
  • Elevated levels of pinking may develop in the coming days due to excessive nitrogen from heavy rainfall earlier this week
• Iceberg production is underway in Huron, California; harvesting will continue through late November
• A handful of growers in the Yuma, Arizona region will begin harvesting next week; the majority of suppliers will be fully transitioned the week of November 15
• Expect sustained active/elevated markets through the harvesting transition to the Arizona/California desert region

Idaho Potatoes

 Norkotahs

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Norkotah Potatoes are readily available
• Load volume is available for 40- and 50-count supplies
• Small sizes (70- to 100-count potatoes) will be tight through December; prices are expected to continue rising
• Quality is strong

Burbanks

• MFC Burbank Potatoes have begun shipping in a limited manner
• The season will be in full swing by November 8
• 80-count and smaller sizes dominate the crop at this stage
• Quality is very good

Limes

• Growers are seeing higher levels of quality issues in their younger fruit, as it matures

• Styler and skin breakdown are being reported; high attention is going into grading
• 150-count and larger fruit is light in color and showing scaring issues

• High-quality supplies are very limited; prices are increasing
• Quality issues will persist through November; expect improvement when new crop supplies arrive in three weeks
  • Current sizing is dominated by 150- and 175-count sizes

Strawberries

Santa Maria, California

• Plants were stripped of fruit after last week’s rains, significantly reducing harvestable berry counts per plant this week and next
• Quality remains a challenge; concerns include: bruising, water damage, and minor wind scarring
• Loading delays are expected through this weekend
• Plastic clamshells will be substituted for the corrugated packs

Oxnard, California

• Production remains limited
• Volumes are expected to increase gradually over the next two to three weeks
• The estimated start date for Oxnard fruit is the week of January 3

Central Mexico

• Rain and cooler temperatures have impacted production
• Volume is expected to increase gradually over the next two to three weeks
• Berries will begin to cross into McAllen, Texas in early December 1

 Florida

• Harvesting will start in mid-December
• Orders will start shipping after December 15

Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule 2021

• Idaho, Oregon, and Washington onion and potato growers will not load trucks on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 25)

• • Sheds will operate on a limited basis on Wednesday, November 24, Friday, November 26 and Saturday, November 27
  • All orders must be placed no later than 10 a.m. on Monday, November 15 (for loading Wednesday, November 24 and Friday, November 26)
  • Trucks must call ahead for loading arrangements

• All Arizona, California, and East Coast grower-shippers will be closed on Thanksgiving (no loading available Thursday, November 25)

• • Expect some suppliers to operate under restricted shipping hours on Wednesday, November 24 and Friday, November 26
  • Trucks must call ahead for appointments

• Taylor Farms will be the only exception with limited loading on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 25)

• Taylor loading hours will run from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 25

• • Taylor loading hours for Friday, November 26 will be normal schedule
  • Trucks that need to load at Taylor later than 8:00 p.m. on Friday must call to make arrangements
• 4-Earth Farms will close at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24 and will reopen at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, November 26
• Many shippers’ sales offices will be operating on a restricted basis Wednesday, November 24 and Friday, November 26

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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