Asparagus

Asparagus markets remain active as production transitions from Southern Baja to Central Mexico. Expect elevated pricing and firm markets through July.

Mexico

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available; packer label is being substituted as needed
• Production is closing for the season in Southern Baja
• Harvests are increasing in Central Mexico and should reach seasonal peak volume by late July
• Central Mexico will be the primary production region through August before supplies transition back to Southern Baja.
• Jumbo and extra-large sizes are limited and expected to stay snug throughout the summer
• Quality overall is good; monsoonal rainfall has resulted in occasional reports of slimy tips and early decay out of Central Mexico
• Expect strong markets with elevated pricing through July

Peru (into South Florida)

• Import volume into Miami remains steady from Northern Peru
• Northern Peru will be the primary production region through mid-September; at that point, harvests will transition back to Southern Peru
• This year’s El Nino weather patterns have caused a sustained warming trend through the Peruvian winter season
• Higher-than-average temperatures have reduced yields and created occasional quality challenges
• Quality ranges from average to good; some lots are exhibiting dehydration and feathered tips
• Expect elevated markets through July as Mexico transitions production regions and Peruvian supplies face seasonal challenges

California Strawberries

The Watsonville/Salinas season is past its peak; yields are falling 5-10% per week. The Santa Maria/Oxnard fall crop will get underway in late August/early September.

Salinas/Watsonville

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Size ranges from medium-plus to large; counts average 16-18 per 1-pound clamshell
• Quality is good
  • Cooler mornings have firmed skins
  • Bruising and uneven color are being reported
• Expect prices to slowly climb

Santa Maria

• Most supplies are going to the frozen market due to high volume and current prices
• The fall crop set to begin in late August/early September, depending on weather patterns

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

Cantaloupe and honeydew volume is steadily increasing, but prices remain elevated. MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew are limited; packer label is being substituted.

Cantaloupe

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Yields are increasing gradually
• A more even mixture of sizes is emerging with 12- and 15-count fruit becoming more available later this week
• Quality is great; high brix and good internal color are common
• Markets have started to ease slightly, but remain higher than usual for July
• The week of July 13 will see markets move down further

Honeydew

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Harvesting is trailing behind cantaloupe, but production is slowly increasing
• Overall supplies remain limited; suppliers are holding back fruit to fill contract business
• Next week’s higher temperatures should aid growth
• More volume is expected late in the week of the July 13
• Expect large, five- and jumbo five-count fruit at first, but six- and eight-count melons will follow soon after
• Prices will ease later next week once supplies increase

Cilantro

Cilantro supplies are ample; prices are up slightly. Warm weather in California and seasonal rains in Mexico are causing minor quality challenges.

• RSS Cilantro is available; packer label is being substituted when necessary
• Supplies are abundant from both Salinas and Oxnard, California
• Quality ranges from fair to good
  • Elevated temperatures have increased bolting and seeder
  • Yellowing, thick stems, and occasional decay are being reported
• Mexican imports remain available, though quality has declined; monsoonal rainfall in Central Mexico has increased reports of early decay and reduced shelf life
• Production will continue through the summer; desert region harvests will gradually increase later this year
• Expect steady to slightly higher markets with intermittent quality issues through the month of July

Cucumbers

Cucumber markets are up slightly due to summer transitions and recent adverse weather patterns. MFC Cucumbers are available.

• Mexican supplies are a bit tighter in the Baja region this week due district transitions and cooler weather patterns; quality is very good
• Production has increased in New Jersey; quality is good
• Light harvesting has started in the Midwest

• • Volume will increase over the next few weeks
  • Quality is very good
• Long English greenhouse cucumber supplies remain snug due to recent heat waves in Eastern Canada
• Expect slightly higher prices this week due to lower yields and increased demand

Lemons

The domestic lemon market remains elevated due to extremely limited supplies and strong demand. Imports from offshore growing regions and Mexico are helping supplement availability; however, overall supplies remain tight, keeping prices high.

Domestic

• MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Lemons are available  
• All sizes remain limited
• Quality ranges from very good to excellent
• Elevated pricing is forecast for the next six weeks

Offshore

• Offshore fruit from Argentina and Chile is arriving in North America and will run through early December
• These shipments will help fill orders not met by California lemons
• Size will be dominated by large lemons (95- through 140-count fruit); smaller sizes will be available as well
• Expect higher pricing compared to domestic and Mexican fruit due to high quality

Mexican

• Mexican shipments have started and will run through late November
• These supplies will help fill orders not met by California lemons
• Size will be predominantly 165- through 235-count fruit; larger sizes will be available
• Pricing will be comparable to domestic fruit until volume rises

Limes

Persistent rain in Mexico has begun shifting lime size; larger sizes are more readily available. MFC and ESS Limes are available.

Mexico (into South Texas)

• The month of June saw more than double the total rainfall of May and 15% more rainfall than June 2025
• The consistent rain has increased the availability of large-sized limes (110- and 150-count fruit); smaller sizes, 230- and 250-count limes, will become more limited
• Quality issues, such as oil spotting and stylar, will become more common later in July
• Import numbers fell due to the Independence Day holiday
• Markets for the small sizes are starting to tick up; prices for larger sizes are easing

Colombia

• All sizes are ample; juice content superior compared to Mexican-grown fruit
• The Colombian market remains priced slightly higher than Mexican limes, but is trending down

Hawaii

• Suppliers are waiting for regulatory approval to ship into the mainland United States; stocks are currently shipping to Canada
• Quality has been solid, but minimal blanching is present

Mixed Berries

Blueberry availability is increasing as Pacific Northwest yields increase, offsetting the decline in Mexican production. Mexican blackberry quality ranges from fair to good, with recent heat and rain impacting consistency.

Raspberries

• Mexican-grown supplies are doing well
• The Baja season has begun; quality is better in this region
• Stocks will increase through July
• Expect markets to remain steady

Blueberries

Mexico

• High temperatures persist, with some reaching 95 degrees
• Volume is past its peak
• Quality is good
• Expect pricing to ease

Pacific Northwest

• Harvesting has begun; quality is excellent
• Production is in its third week in Hermiston, Oregon, while growers in British Columbia are starting their second week
• Quality is excellent
• Expect markets to ease

Blackberries

Mexico

• Quality issues are being reported, such as leaky berries, due to recent heat and rain
• Growers are pruning plants; numbers should rebound in September

Watsonville

• Quality is great, size is large, and flavor is sweet
• Current volume is not meeting industry demand
• Significant increases are projected in late July
• Expect this market to inch down

Oranges

The California Valencia crop is dominated by large sizes; small fruit (113- and 138-count oranges) remains extremely limited. With many schools starting in August, small-size fruit will become extremely scarce. Size and grade substitutions may be necessary to fill orders; offshore fruit is an option during this time.

California

• MFC and ESS Valencia Oranges are available
• Supplies are dominated by large sizes (56- to 88-count packs); smaller sizes (113- to 138-count cartons) are limited
• Expect 113- and 138-count oranges to become extremely scarce once schools start

• Heat in California’s San Joaquin Valley has caused some re-greening in oranges (see attached flyer)
• Initial reports project California Navels will begin shipping in late October
• Expect steady yet elevated markets and extremely limited supplies of all small fruit through October

Chile

• Oranges will be imported into both the East and West Coasts starting the week of July 13
• Supplies will be increasing week over week
• Quality is great; sugar levels range from 12-13% Brix
• Large sizes dominate shipments

South Africa

• South African fruit is being imported into the East Coast
• Supplies are increasing week over week
• Quality is great; sugar levels range from 10-14% Brix
• The availability of 125- to 138-count packs is limited

Morocco

• Limited stocks are shipping into the East Coast
• Supplies are decreasing week over week
• Quality is good; some soft fruit has been reported

Squash

Summer growing regions in California, the Midwest and on the East Coast are in full production, resulting in plentiful supplies and competitive pricing. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

California

• Santa Maria harvesting is increasing
  • Growers are on their second sets of the season
  • Fancy grade (small size) zucchini is abundant
• Suppliers are starting new fields in California’s San Joaquin Valley this week; growers are adjusting irrigation schedules and shading plants for the incoming heat on Thursday (100F+)
• Quality is very good
• Markets are expected to remain low over the next two weeks

East Coast

• East Coast production will take place in the western side of North Carolina through September; drought ended production earlier than expected in the eastern areas of North Carolina
• Production is steady in New Jersey
• The New York season will start in the next week
• Quality is good
• Prices are low

Midwest

• Yields are sufficient and will increase as the season progresses
• Zucchini prices are lower than yellow squash
• Quality is good
• The market is low

Mexico – Baja

• Moderate volume is anticipated this week
• Quality ranges from average to very good depending on the lot
• Markets are steady

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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