Asparagus

High prices persist amid tight supplies and transitioning growing regions. Markon First Crop Asparagus (MFC) is available.

Mexico

• Central Mexican production is nearly completely finished, with the Baja Peninsula taking over the lion’s share of production next
• Quality and shelf-life potential are below average; stalks are exhibiting elevated levels of seeder/feathering tips brought on by persistent heat and a lack of nighttime cooling
• Baja production will continue through October, before growers in Sonora and Mexicali begin harvesting
• While markets for all sizes are elevated, small, standard, and large sizes are sufficiently supplied, jumbo and extra-large sizes are more limited
• Expect markets to soften as additional fields open up and a slight cooling trend arrives in the region by mid-month

Peru

• Peruvian asparagus (shipped into Miami, Florida) remains available on the East Coast; yields are low but will increase as the Southern Hemisphere enters the spring season and temperatures increase

Bell Peppers

California red bell peppers have transitioned to coastal regions; prices are slightly lower. Green bell pepper summer crops are starting to wind down across the country and will transition south in September. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Red Bells

• California has transitioned to the coastal regions of Hollister, Oxnard, and Santa Maria
  • Quality is excellent and all sizes are available
• Central Mexico production is light due to recent inclement weather
• Canadian greenhouse volume remains low/steady due to reduced overall acreage
• The East Coast produces very limited supplies of colored peppers
• Markets are slightly lower this week

Green Bells

• California’s coastal growing regions of Hollister and Santa Maria are past peak production
  • Quality is good, choice sizes are most abundant
• Eastern growing regions, including North Carolina, Kentucky, and New Jersey will begin fall plantings in two to three weeks
• Midwest will continue in good volume through the month of September
• Markets are steady this week with multiple growing regions in play

Cauliflower

Markets are declining rapidly this week as supplies increase. ESS Cauliflower is available; packer label is being substituted as necessary.

• Supplies are increasing in the Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys
• Demand has softened
• Yields are on track for the current season; favorable weather will aid growth
• Quality is fairly good; fields affected by insect pressure are being avoided and disked to reduce the spread to healthier fields
• Markets are projected to remain at moderately lower levels through September

Cucumbers

Cucumber markets continue to be elevated due to very light supplies out of Mexico. Autumn transitions will occur in September.

• Mexico supplies are limited this week
  • Some growers in Baja are dealing low yields caused by plant viruses while others are transitioning away from older fields
  • Central Mexico volume is light due to poor weather
  • Quality is hit or miss
• The Midwest and East coast will transition south to fall growing regions in mid to late September
  • Michigan, New Jersey and New York continue with decent volume and will run a few more weeks, weather permitting
  • North Carolina autumn season is underway with good quality
  • Georgia’s main fall season is set to start September 25th
• Expect elevated prices over the next two weeks during summer/fall transitions

From the Fields: Broccoli Quality

MFC Asian-Cut Broccoli Crowns from the Salinas, California and Central Mexico growing regions are currently not available; Markon Best Available and packer label supplies will be substituted temporarily.

• Salinas Valley broccoli crops are experiencing an uptick in insect activity
  • Diamondback moth larvae are feeding on outer leaves and crowns before pupating and emerging as adult moths
  • While common to see increased insect activity in the late summer/early fall, an extended period of above-average temperatures created ideal conditions that growers have struggled to keep in check
  • Although harvesting and processing crews for commodity and value-added broccoli packs are working to cull any product that shows signs of insects/insect damage, they are often difficult to detect and can’t be avoided completely
• Mexican grown supplies are exhibiting similar defects from elevated insect pressure, with obvious evidence of insect damage in most packs
• Very thorough inspection and washing of commodity broccoli are highly recommended at the end-user level for the next two to three weeks

Grapefruit

The Southern California Marsh Ruby grapefruit season has ended. Persistently high temperatures has caused a premature end to the season. Expect a gap in supplies, as Rio grapefruit harvesting is not set to begin in the Southern California desert region until late October.

Southern California

• Marsh Ruby production has ended
• Desert Rio harvesting will start in late October
• Expect a gap in supplies over the next six to eight weeks

Arizona/California Desert

• The season is expected to start in late October
• The Arizona/California growing region includes Brawley, California and Yuma, Arizona

Florida

• The season will begin in early October
• Expect size to be dominated by 48- and 56-count fruit
• Suppliers will only pack U.S. No. 1 grade stocks

South Texas

• The season will start in early November

Limes

Prices are substantially higher; volume is low as growers are working through older, lower-quality fruit. MFC and ESS Limes are available. 

Veracruz, Mexico (into South Texas)

• Persistent rains are limiting harvests and impacting quality; markets are escalating
• Supplies remain dominated by large-size, 110- to 150-count limes; 200- to 250-count stocks are limited
• Due to declining quality, growers are reporting lower yields
• Expect rising markets and limited supplies for the next three to four weeks
• New crop harvests are expected to begin by the second week of October
• Markon recommends increased order lead time to avoid loading delays

Santander, Colombia

• Limes are available for loading out of Florida
• Prices are rising, trailing slightly behind Mexico

• Quality is good; occasional scarring has been reported during grading
• Expect markets to rise over the next two to three weeks in reaction to increased demand

Onions

MFC Onions are available in the Northwest. Markets are starting to rise on yellow and reds as growers shift gears and direct harvested product to storage facilities, leaving lighter supplies of fresh run available. High-quality storage onions with solid skin sets are expected to start shipping in the next two to three weeks.

• MFC Onion growers in Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington are in full swing with good supplies on all colors 
• Utah-grown yellow onions have started this week with red and white to follow next week

• Michigan is also in full swing with yellow and red; white onion volume is very minimal from this region

• New York has started with light supplies of yellow while red onion harvests are expected to start next week; white onions are not available
• Healthy onion crops and strong yields are expected this upcoming storage season; weather has been excellent for growing up to this point

Oranges

California’s available Valencia supply continues to dwindle; some growers have already ended their season, and more will end over the next few weeks. Markon expects California to experience a supply gap on oranges in October until the Navel seasons begins in late October/early November.

California  

• MFC and ESS Valencia Oranges are available
• Expect limited supplies for the next two months
• Expect to make size and grade substitutions to fill orders
• Quality is fair; early decay, soft fruit, and skin breakdown has been reported
• New crop California Navels will begin shipping in late October
• Expect elevated markets for the remainder of the Valencia season

Chile

• Oranges are being imported into both the East and West Coasts
• Expect import supplies to tighten as they continue filling the void from California

• Quality is great
• Expect rising markets as supplies tighten

Mexico

• The season will begin in early November
• The Early orange seedless variety will be available in both McAllen, Texas and Nogales, Arizona

Texas

• Oranges will begin shipping in early November
• Navels will be the predominate variety available, but Early oranges will be on the market also

Florida

• New crop fruit will start shipping in late October and run through June 2025
• Supplies are expected to be dominated by 100- to 125-count and larger packs
• The majority of fruit will be choice and standard grades

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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