Broccoli and Cauliflower

Salinas Valley and Santa Maria

• Stocks are forecast to remain tight heading into the desert growing region transition
  • Most growers will begin broccoli and cauliflower harvests in the desert growing regions the week of November 15
  • Due to inconsistent weather, growth has slowed considerably
• Expect markets to remain high through this seasonal transition

Mexican Broccoli (Crossing into South Texas)

• Supplies have increased out of the growing region in Central Mexico
• Demand for Mexican product is strong due to freight and price savings
• Expect pricing as much as $8-$9 cheaper compared to West Coast pricing

Celery

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Premium Celery is available
• The Michigan season is winding down, shifting demand to the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys
• Oxnard production is forecast to start in late October/early November
  • Fields have been impacted by Fusarium disease, stunting growth and reducing harvestable yields
  • Insect pressure is also affecting some plantings located near artichoke and berry fields
• The Florida season will begin in mid- to late December
• Yuma, Arizona production will begin in late December/early January
• Current demand is fairly strong and will increase in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving
• Expect elevated/active markets through December at minimum

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

• MFC Premium Green Leaf and Romaine are available
• MFC Premium Iceberg is sporadic; Markon Best Available is being substituted as needed
• Quality is good
  • Limited amounts of fringe burn, internal burn, and seeder are being detected at the field level
  • Mildew pressure is increasing
• Iceberg harvesting will begin in Huron in mid- to late October
• Green leaf, iceberg, and romaine production will begin in the Arizona/California desert by early to mid- November
• Most suppliers are holding contracts to averages
• Expect elevated markets through October
• Ready-Set-Serve Iceberg items will increase to Tier One trigger levels Wednesday, October 13

FTGE Announce Handling Charge Increase

• The increase is primarily based on inflation, particularly the rise in cost of pallets, packaging materials, and labor
• Handling charges will increase on October 11 moving from $1.95 to $2.95 and will apply to the following items:

• Cases of round tomatoes
• Cases of Roma tomatoes
• Packages of cherry tomatoes
• Packages of grape tomatoes
• The Florida tomato season started in light fashion this week with grape tomatoes in the west region of Quincy, Florida

Hurricane Pamela

• Farmers in the Sinaloa area are still assessing potential damage; however, early reporting is better than previously expected
  • Many of the larger farms used for export are located 60-80 miles north of the impact zone in Culiacan
  • Vegetable and tomato plants are in the early growth stages and long-term effects should be minimal
  • Areas south of Culiacan, such La Cruz, are popular growing regions for tomatoes and will be impacted by the storm
• The Sinaloa state had drought like conditions over the summer and the storm rain will benefit reservoir water levels
• The Guanajuato growing region located further south and inland of the hurricane’s path experienced no major rain or weather event; however, transportation lanes from Guanajuato to Laredo, Texas have been impacted by the storm and have led to short-term delays
• Markon will continue to monitor and update as more information becomes available

Melons

Domestic

• Domestic MFC Cantaloupes and Honeydews will be available through the week of November 15
• New crop supplies from the Arizona/California desert will increase over the next two weeks

• Quality is good; the crop is dominated by 6- and 8- count honeydews and 12-count cantaloupes
• Favorable weather conditions are expected over the next 7 to 10 days
• Expect elevated markets through October

Imports

• Supplies from Guaymas, Mexico will arrive next week

• Expect good quality; supplies will be dominated on 5-count honeydews and 9-count cantaloupes
• Demand for Mexican honeydew will be higher due to lower domestic volume

• Central American offshore supplies will hit markets on the East Coast the week of November 22 and the West Coast on November 29
• Higher prices are expected at the start of the offshore season

Oranges

Valencia

• MFC and Markon Essentials California Valencia Oranges are available
• Quality has deteriorated; heat from last summer, lack of water, and necessary gassing are taking a toll on the fruit
• Small-size fruit (113- to 138-count oranges) will be extremely limited for the rest of the Valencia season
• Expect prices to increase

Navel

• The California Navel harvest has begun
• Early season supplies are tight
• Gas times are approximately 96 hours

Squash

• East Coast volume is at its peak in Georgia and North Carolina; quality is very good
• California production is expected to run in Santa Maria until the end of October; cooler evening weather is slowing growth
• Supplies in the Mexican mainland (crossing through Nogales) will gradually pick up over the next two to three weeks
  • Quality is good
  • Hurricane Pamela is headed towards Mexico’s West Coast and has the potential to disrupt supplies/affect quality further into the fall season
• Expect lower markets over the next one to two weeks

West Coast Fall Harvesting Transitions

• Please click here to view a Markon presentation about West Coast fall harvesting transitions

• Although many produce items are available year-round, most are not harvested in the same regions the entire time
• West Coast lettuce and leafy greens growers make seasonal moves in the fall and spring
• Other high-use produce items that transition include broccoli, celery, and strawberries
• Markon inspectors travel with the seasons, monitoring product daily to ensure quality and food safety standards are met

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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