Unseasonably hot weather across key West Coast growing regions over the past four weeks is creating quality challenges for lettuce and tender leaf items.
West Coast Growing Regions
Yuma, AZ; Imperial Valley, CA; Coachella, CA; Huron, CA; Santa Maria, CA; Oxnard, CA
- Temperatures have ranged 10–30°F above normal
- California coastal and valley regions experienced highs in the 90s
- Desert regions saw multiple days between 104–110°F
- Insect pressure is elevated across all regions, with some fields reporting 20–30+ insects per head
Quality Impacts on the West Coast
Current heat‑related challenges include:
- Decreased yields and dehydration
- Elevated insect and weed pressure
- Internal burn, mildew, and soil disease
- Tip burn, rib blight, sun scald, and reduced shelf-life
- Broccoli pin rot and brown bead
- Premature pinking in commodity and value‑added shreds, salads. and blends
- Reduced shelf-life on value-added shreds, salads, and blends
Markon First Crop (MFC) Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine supplies are limited on the West Coast. Markon Best Available will be substituted as needed.
Texas and Guanajuato, Mexico
Growing conditions remain very favorable for lettuce and leaf commodities.
- Quality is very good across iceberg, green leaf, broccoli, and cauliflower
- Insect populations are being managed, with minimal numbers per head
- Current weights in packer brand:
- Iceberg: 40–46 lbs. (MFC field weight specification, 46 lbs.)
- Romaine: 26–30 lbs. (MFC field weight specification, 36 lbs.)
- Green Leaf: 24–26 lbs. (Markon field weight specification, 24 lbs.)
Ordering for quick turns is recommended, and, as always, cold chain management throughout the supply chain will be critical to maximizing quality and shelf-life.
Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information
©2026 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved. Please call or email with any questions or concerns.