Asparagus

Prices have peaked and are steadily declining despite snug supplies and strong demand. Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available.

Mexico

• Baja, Mexico will continue as the primary growing region through October
• Quality and shelf-life potential are improving amid cooler weather; some lots continue to exhibit elevated levels of seeder/feathering tips
• Size distribution is heavily skewed towards small spears; substituting small packs for standard or large sizes will yield considerable FOB cost savings
• Expect markets to continue softening towards the middle and end of October, as additional fields open and mild weather promotes higher yields

Peru

• Imported stocks (shipped into Miami, Florida) are tight
• Yields are low, but steady and set to increase in step with the Southern Hemisphere’s spring season

Broccoli

Markon Best Available (MBA) Broccoli is being packed out of Salinas, California and Guanajuato, Mexico (shipping out of South Texas). 

• Although markets are typically higher than average at the end of the Salinas season, prices remain steady to slightly lower
  • Strong demand persists for California supplies, yet supplies will remain sufficient through the seasonal transition to the desert in mid-November
  • Mexican stocks are adequate; markets are much lower than those on the West Coast
• Elevated California temperatures have finally eased
  • Expect higher yields over the next 10-14 days
  • Field crews are selectively harvesting crowns to ensure uniformity and avoid sporadic quality challenges
• Harvesting out of the Midwest and East Coast has finished
  • The Eastern Canada, Maine, and New Jersey seasons will conclude within the next week
  • The southeastern region will get underway later this month, but predictions are uncertain due to heavy rains from both Hurricanes Helene and Milton
• Expect markets to soften amid increasing supplies by mid- to late October

Brussels Sprouts

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

• Markets are steady amidst sufficient yields and consistent demand in the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys
• Supplies are ample
  • Size is dominated by jumbo heads
  • Quality is good; occasional seeder and puffy texture are being reported
• Suppliers will continue to ramp up production in the Salinas Valley in preparation for strong fall demand through November before growers transition to Mexico in December
• Expect prices to stay fairly steady at moderate levels and ease further as supplies increase through October

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

California’s San Joaquin Valley melon season is nearing its end; markets are steady. New crop Arizona/California desert season will begin next week. MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew are available.

Cantaloupe

• The California San Joaquin season is expected to finish the week of October 14
• Initial California/Arizona desert harvests will begin in a limited manner starting October 9^th
• Remaining supplies will be dominated by 9- and 12-count fruit; Jumbo and smaller 15-count melons are very limited

• Expect steady markets over the next 7-10 days

Honeydew

• California San Joaquin growers will finish harvesting their remaining honeydew stocks the week of October 14

• California/Arizona desert harvests will begin in a limited manner starting October 11^th

• Current supplies are dominated by 6-count fruit; Jumbo and smaller 8-count fruit is limited

• Expect steady markets over the next 7-10 days

Cauliflower

ESS Cauliflower is available; packer label is being substituted as necessary.

Markon Essentials (Salinas and Santa Maria Valley markets are stabilizing

• Quality is fairly good
  • Elevated temperatures have aided growth and increased yields
  • Insect pressure remains a challenge but will become less prevalent as temperatures decrease this week
• The transition to the Arizona-California desert region is expected to begin in early to mid-November
• Markets are projected to inch down slowly for the next 7-10 days amid favorable weather and increasing supplies

East Coast and Gulf Coast Port Strikes End

Operations at 14 US ports have resumed

• The U.S. dock workers strike on the East and Gulf Coasts has been suspended
• The agreement extends the master contract between the union and port operators until Jan. 15, 2025, allowing negotiations to continue on other aspects of the contract
• Minimal delays for fresh produce imports (citrus, mixed berries, pineapples, limes) were experienced and expect business as usual next week

From the Fields: California Heat Wave

High temperatures continue to impact key California growing regions this week with temperatures in the Salinas Valley reaching mid-70°s to low 90°s near the coast and upper 80°s to low 100°s further inland. Santa Maria, California temperatures are reaching low 70°s to upper 80°s near the coast and upper 80°s to upper 90°s inland. Temperatures will cool down slightly for the first part of next week, but another warm trend is expected for the second half.

Current quality challenges impacting lettuce, tender leaf, strawberries, and other row crop items include:

• Bolting/seeder
• Dehydration/heat stress
• Decreased yields
• Inconsistent weight/size
• Increased insect pressure
• Increased soil disease pressure
• Internal burn
• Soft/overripe fruit
• Small fruit size
• Shorten shelf-life

Markon inspectors are working closely with suppliers to secure the best product available and will continue to monitor and update you with the latest.

Maintaining the cold chain throughout distribution is critical to maximizing quality and shelf-life.

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuce

MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are available; MBA is being substituted as needed due to low weights

• Salinas, California is experiencing a heat wave this week; quality is holding up but expected to diminish in the coming weeks as a result of extended warm days and nights
  • Dehydration, insect pressure, seeder, and sun scald are forecast to increase; disease pressure remains minimal overall but is affecting select areas of the Salinas Valley
• Growers in the Salinas Valley are managing remaining acres through early November, before the crop transitions to Central California and the Arizona/California desert regions
  • Oxnard iceberg and romaine harvests will begin in early to mid-October; green leaf will not be available from Oxnard
  • Huron is scheduled to start in mid- to late October
  • The Arizona-California desert region will begin production in early November and ramp up by the middle to end of November
• Expect steady markets this week, with prices inching up next week as supplies diminish and quality issues increase

Mixed Berries

Blueberry supplies remain snug. Raspberries are becoming readily available, as growers start harvesting new crop berries in Mexico. Blackberry stocks are increasing but quality is challenged.

Blueberries

• Demand exceeds current availability
• Quality is average
• The Pacific Northwest season has ended
• Offshore shipments are slow in arriving
• Expect tight supplies and steady pricing

Blackberries

• California supplies are insufficient
• Mexico: yields are beginning to increase
• Quality is fair; soft skins and red cells have been reported
• Expect better quality next week
• Pricing will slowly decrease

Raspberries

• The Baja season has ended
• Central Mexico have begun shipping limited quantities; stocks will increase through the month
• Quality is fair; issues include leaky berries with light crumbling (individual cells separate from the berry)

• Demand is steady

Oranges

California’s available Valencia orange supply continues to diminish. Markon expects California to experience a supply gap from mid-October until the Navel season begins in late October/early November.

California  

• MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Valencia Oranges are available
• Expect to make size, grade, and country of origin substitutions, as well as date changes to fill orders
• Quality is fair, at best
• New crop California Navels will begin shipping in a limited manner the week of October 21
• Expect elevated markets for the remainder of the Valencia season

Offshore

• Oranges are being imported into both coasts
• Current supplies are in a demand-exceeds-supply situation
• Quality is good: early decay and scarring are being reported

• Expect steady markets as supplies diminish

Mexico

• The season is just beginning with limited crossings into Texas
• The Early orange variety will be available in Edinburg, Texas
• Quality is good; yellowish color fruit has been reported
• Expect elevated pricing until supplies increase

Texas

• Oranges will begin shipping in early November

Florida

• New crop fruit will become available in late October

Potatoes

New crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes are available in Idaho and Washington. Expect the market to remain low for large-size cartons.

Idaho, Colorado, & Nebraska

• Profile is peaking on larger sizes (40- through 70-count)
• Supply is tight for 80- through 120-count stocks

Nevada

• Production will begin in a limited manner early next week
• Early yields will be dominated by (40- through 50-count)

Washington

• Availability is great on smaller sizes (80 -through 100-count)

Wisconsin

• Producing great mixer volume for all sizes

Quality

• Quality is excellent
• MFC Norkotah Potatoes will begin to ship out of storage the week of October 14
• No. 2 supplies will increase as potatoes are shipped out of storage

Strawberries

Mild weather is forecast for California growing regions over the next 10 days. Quality remains good.

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Quality is good
• Size ranges from 24 to 28 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 47-50 per 4/2-pound pack (small-medium to medium)
• The flavor profile has improved; issues include occasionally misshaped fruit and white shoulders
• Expect markets to remain steady

Salinas/Watsonville

• Quality is fair; some bruising, white shoulders, and light mildew are being reported
• Size is currently 24 to 26 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 49 to 54 per 4/2-pound pack (small to small-medium)
• Harvesting is expected to continue through early November
• Expect steady prices

Tomatoes

Tomato markets are rapidly increasing as Hurricane Milton heads towards the main growing regions in Florida; elevated markets can be expected through the end of the year as a result. MFC Tomatoes are available.

East Coast

• Hurricane Milton’s (category three) current trajectory in Florida is forecast to directly impact the Ruskin/Palmetto growing region
• Ruskin/Palmetto was expected to start harvests next week, but early expectations in this region will be a complete loss
• Ruskin/Palmetto normally has a six-week window (mid-October to the end of November) before the winter transition to Immokalee
• Florida tomato production is split between three main regions
  • 15% North Florida (Quincy)
  • 35% Central Florida (Palmetto/Ruskin)
  • 50% South Florida (Naples/Immokalee)
• More updates will follow over the next week once the storm passes and suppliers evaluate field conditions
• Georgia and Northern Florida have light yields after the effects of Hurricane Helene
• Suppliers in North Carolina are cleaning up remaining late summer crops; large sizes are limited
• Markets are rising this week; steep increases are expected over the next six weeks until mainland Mexico crops start in mid-December

California

• Growers in the San Joaquin Valley are slowing down and are expected to finish over the next two weeks.
• Quality is average; smaller sizes and No. 2 specs are most common
• Round tomatoes are very snug

Mexico

• Demand for Mexican tomatoes will increase drastically as demand shifts from the East to the West Coast
• Central/Eastern Mexican round and Roma supply is light/steady, but increased demand is pushing prices higher
• The Baja Peninsula has transitioned to their fall crops; larger sizes are becoming more available for rounds and Romas
• The Mexico mainland season (Sinaloa/Culiacan) starts in mid-December; market relief isn’t expected until then
• Grape and cherry tomato prices are expected to increase due to severe weather along the East Coast

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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