Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

Melon markets are entering a seasonal transition period, with weather-related impacts influencing yield, sizing, and availability.

Cantaloupe – Central America

• Offshore cantaloupe supplies remain sufficient
• Cooler weather has had minimal impact on overall yields, but is contributing to reduced sizing
• Jumbo availability is beginning to decline
• Overall volume is expected to remain average, but size is shifting toward 9‑ and 12‑count fruit
• Quality is strong with good color and sweet flavor; sugar levels range from 12–14 Brix

Honeydew – Central America

• Honeydews are more sensitive to adverse weather and have been significantly impacted by lower temperatures
• Yields will decline, diminishing availability through March
• Five‑, five/jumbo‑, and six‑count fruit is most plentiful
• Eight‑count fruit remains extremely limited, accounting for a minimal portion of total production
• Quality is very good; melons are exhibiting a clean external appearance and minimal defects
• Sugar levels are holding in the 11–13 Brix range

Honeydew – Mexico

• Western Mexico is providing strong supplemental volume, helping offset constrained offshore supplies
• Supplies are expected to remain steady through late May
• Sizing is well-balanced; expect good availability of five- and six-count fruit
• Quality is strong with good color and sweet flavor

Carrots

West Coast carrot supplies are tightening as harvesting shifts from California’s San Joaquin Valley to California’s Imperial Valley. Availability will be limited for the next four weeks due to weather-related issues and reduced yields. Commodity pack prices are higher.

California

Commodity/Value-Added

• Supplies will remain extremely tight through March as the San Joaquin Valley season winds down
• Imperial Valley supplies are snug as the new season approaches
• Markon orders will be filled in full; growers are holding to six-week averages
• Expect a demand-exceeds-supply market through March; 96-hour lead times are necessary to help fill orders
• Commodity pack (jumbo carrots) substitutions are available out of Arizona and Georgia
• Expect elevated markets and limited supplies through March

Georgia

• The season is in full swing and will run through early June
• Commodity supplies are tight; quality is very good
• Expect elevated markets as this region helps fill the void from California

Arizona

• The season is fully underway and will run through July
• Quality is great
• Expect steady markets through March

Cilantro

Cilantro pricing is lower this week with lighter demand.

• Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Cilantro is available
• Demand is generally lower this week, easing market pressure caused by weather issues
• Quality is fair
  • Heavy rains across the Oxnard growing region this month delayed production and led to marginally lower harvest volumes
  • Record high temperatures are forecast into this weekend across the Arizona-California desert growing regions; further stressing plantings
  • Yellowing, seeder, spotting, and early decay have been reported
• Expect steady to slightly higher markets over the coming weeks as stocks recover from inclement weather and demand increases into next month

Onions 

Storage crop Markon First Crop (MFC) Onions are available from Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Washington.

Pacific Northwest

• The storage season is expected to finish in late April, some suppliers will continue to ship into early May
• Quality on remaining stocks range from good to fair; occasional internal browning, double-heart, and translucency are present in remaining supplies
• FOB prices are slightly lower for yellow onions as supplies have increased from Mexican grown yellow onions crossing into South Texas
• Expect steady markets over the next seven to ten days

Colorado

• Storage supply levels are expected to be depleted by mid-March
• Some growers will begin transferring product from other regions to fill orders
• Quality on remaining stocks ranges from good to fair; translucency is present in remaining supplies
• Remaining stocks are mostly jumbo size, medium and colossal sizes are somewhat limited
• Expect steady markets over the next seven to ten days

Utah

• Storage supplies will be depleted by the third week of March
• Quality ranges from good to fair; translucency is present in remaining supplies
• Expect steady markets over the next seven to ten days

Mexico

• Early season yellow, red, and white Mexican onions are crossing into South Texas
• Quality ranges from good to fair; green cast, soft texture, mechanical damage, and thin skins are to be expected
• FOB prices remain slightly higher than domestic FOB prices for storage supplies of red and yellow, but comparable to white onions
• Prices are expected to start tapering down to try to compete with domestic supplies

Texas

• The fresh-run yellow onion season has started in a limited manner
• Early lots are peaking on jumbo size onions; colossal sizes are somewhat limited but expected to increase over the next few weeks
• Red and white fresh crop onion harvests will begin shipping in a limited manner the week of March 9
• Initial quality is good to excellent
• Fresh run onions will have a higher moisture content, thinner skins, shorter shelf life, and be more susceptible to bruising and mechanical damage
• FOB prices are higher than domestic storage supplies

Oranges

The California Navel orange season will end in late March; new crop Valencia supplies will begin shipping at that time. Imported Moroccan fruit arrivals have been delayed three to five days due to poor weather off the East Coast.

California

• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Navel Oranges are available 
• Expect the Navel season to wrap up in late March
• New crop Valencia shipments will begin the third week of March
• Markon orders will be filled in full; growers are holding to six-week averages
• Expect elevated choice- and fancy-grade prices as well as high markets for small fruit (88-, 113-, and 138-supplies)
• The market should ease once the Valencia season is in full swing

Mexico

• New crop Valencias are available in Nogales, Arizona
• Great quality is forecast; sugar levels will range from 11-13 Brix
• Markon orders will be filled in full
• Prices will be comparable to those in Florida and Texas

Florida

• The new crop Valencia season is underway
• Stocks will be dominated by 113-count and larger sizes; 138-count sizes are limited
• Markon orders will be filled in full
• Fair quality is predicted; choice and standard grades will be most abundant
• Prices will be comparable to those in Mexico and Texas

Texas

• Valencia oranges will ship through April
• Size structure is beginning to shift to large fruit (56- and 88-count supplies)
• Quality is good; sugar levels range from 11-12 Brix
• Markon orders will be filled in full
• Expect steady markets and tight supplies

Imported/Moroccan

• Arrivals have been delayed three to five days due to storms off the East Coast
• Valencia quality is very good; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
• Stocks are dominated by 113-count, fancy-grade oranges
• Prices will be comparable to those in Florida and Mexico

Potatoes

MFC Norkotah Potatoes are available in Idaho and Washington. Most markets remain relatively low, but prices for large sizes, specifically 40-and 50-counts, are inching up; Idaho Norkotah seasonal volume is falling. Quality is excellent across all regions.

Idaho

• Storage crop MFC Norkotah and Burbank Potatoes are being shipped
• Size is trending towards smaller sizes as the Norkotah storage season starts to wind down
  • Norkotah 60-count and smaller stocks are most plentiful; 40- and 50-count supplies are tightening up
  • Burbank production is dominated by smaller sizes (100- through 120-count stocks) as well as No. 2 grade potatoes
  • Prices for 40- and 50-count are increasing

Washington

• Storage MFC Norkotah Potatoes are available
• Size profile leans heavier to larger counts; rising demand will push up 40- and 50-count pricing
• Quality is very good

Colorado, Nevada, Wisconsin

• All Colorado sizes are available with good mixer volume; demand for large, 40- and 50-count supplies is rising
• Nevada is running at a slow pace, packing to order; 60-count and No. 2 grade stocks dominate pack outs
• Wisconsin yields are dominated by small, 90- to 120-count sizes
• Markets are stable but poised to increase for the 40- to 50-count market in all three regions
• Quality is very good

Red and Yellow Potatoes

MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes are available in Idaho and North Dakota. Prices are rising; supplies are tight on the East Coast, pushing demand West. Southern Florida escaped major damage from recent cold weather, but growers in Northern Florida must replant. Expect limited supplies during the transition from Southern to Northern Florida that occurs in April.

Idaho, North Dakota, Colorado, Washington

• MFC Red and Yellow Potatoes are available in Idaho and North Dakota
• Demand is strong in all areas due to tight supplies in Florida
• Quality is very good; color is exceptional in North Dakota reds
• Markets are rising due to strong demand, especially for red B size stocks

Southern Florida

• Reduced yields in certain lots are pushing up markets
• Supplies are expected to ship through April; quality is good
• Pricing will slowly rise over the next several weeks

Northern Florida

• This region experienced extremely low temperatures recently
• Early emerging plants suffered significant damage, leading to replanting
• Harvesting is expected to shift from mid-April to early May
• Expect elevated pricing when the new crop season begins in Northern Florida

Strawberries

Expect extremely limited supplies in California over the next two weeks due to prior rain events. Mexican stocks (into South Texas) are decreasing as the season winds down. Florida temperatures have begun to rise, increasing volume and improving quality. Orders are being filled in all growing regions.

Santa Maria/Oxnard, California

• Plants are being stripped of fruit after last week’s rains
• Volume will be a challenge over the next 5-10 days as new fruit will take time to color up

• Quality remains a challenge; concerns include decay, pin rot, water damage, and mildew

• Prices are high and supplies are limited

Mexico/South Texas

• Supply levels are starting to decrease as the season is past its peak
• Quality problems include white shoulders, skin bruising, and green tips
• Production will end in mid-March, depending on weather
• Expect markets to remain flat

Florida

• Warmer weather is aiding growth
• Defects include white shoulders and green tips
• Size ranges from 18 to 21 berries per 1-pound clamshells
• Expect ample supplies and steady markets

Tomatoes 

Tomato supplies are tightening further, and market prices are rising. The supply chain in Mexico is stressed this week due to violent unrest throughout the country, and freezing temperatures this winter in Florida have significantly impacted yields. MFC Tomatoes are limited; packer label will be substituted.

Rounds

• Florida tomatoes are in very short supply due to prolonged sub-freezing temperatures affecting crops in late-January
  • Growers have enacted the Force Majeure clause on contracts due to crop loss
  • Domestic supply will remain very limited until new crop supplies become available in mid-April
  • The Ruskin/Palmetto region is anticipated to provide some relief in six weeks, depending on the weather
• Mexico yields are lighter than years past due to inclement weather
  • Mixed quality is being observed at pack out
  • Demand is increasing quickly due to Florida’s supply issues
  • Shipments have further slowed this week due to cartel violence, but are expected to pick up next week
• Expect tight supplies and very high prices for the next six weeks until Florida’s supplies ramp up

Romas

• Florida stocks are extremely limited due to recent freezes; growers have enacted the Force Majeure clause on contracts due to crop loss
• Mexico’s Culiacan growing region is experiencing very high demand and lighter yields heading into March
  • All sizes are tight, and quality is average due to past weather conditions
  • Volume from Central Mexico’s growing regions is limited, extending into South Texas
  • The Mexican supply chain is under stress this week due to violent unrest and disturbed freight movement throughout the country
• Supply of Roma tomatoes will be more limited, leading to higher prices compared to round tomatoes; substituting round tomatoes is recommended as necessary
• Relief isn’t expected until supplies improve in Florida in six weeks

Grape & Cherry Varieties

• Florida is experiencing low supply levels due to freezing weather conditions
• Mexican yields are moderate due to past weather conditions that have led to quality issues
  • Mexico is experiencing increased demand
• Expect elevated prices throughout March

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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