Asparagus

Asparagus availability is tightening rapidly following a short-lived improvement in West Coast supplies. Jumbo and extra-large sizes are critically short, and ongoing weather challenges in Mexico and Peru are expected to keep overall availability limited through the end of the calendar year.

Customers should plan for supply limitations, particularly on jumbo and extra-large size orders. Please communicate substitution flexibility as early as possible.

Mexico

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is limited; packer label is being substituted as needed
• Recent tropical storms with heavy rainfall accelerated harvests, creating a temporary increase in production
  • That supply increase has now passed and Mexican availability is declining quickly
• Jumbo and extra-large sizes remain critically short and will be the most difficult sizes to source in the coming months
• Quality ranges from fair to good; likely defects include:
  • Undersizing
  • Seeding/spreading
• Expect strengthening markets and increasingly limited supplies in the coming weeks

Peru (into South Florida)

• Warm, rainy El Niño conditions continue to affect quality across active growing regions
• Excessive spreading/seeding and flabby spears are being reported
• Production remains heavily weighted toward small and standard sizes; jumbo and extra-large supplies remain extremely limited
• Weather-related production challenges could intensify in the coming months

Customers should plan for continued supply constraints and maintain flexibility on sizing. Markets are expected to remain elevated, with the greatest challenges centered on sourcing jumbo and extra-large asparagus through the end of the year.

Avocados

The Mexican avocado market remains unsettled as grower pressure to increase field pricing, combined with the Michoacán harvest disruption, has pushed prices higher across all sizes and grades. Continued volatility is expected until growers and industry representatives reach an agreement. Markon will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Market Overview

• Mexico’s avocado industry is experiencing disruption due to grower protests and ongoing pricing negotiations
• Harvesting has been suspended in Michoacán, while operations in Jalisco continue
• Limited border crossings and reduced harvesting are creating uncertainty around availability, pricing, and upcoming shipments
• Pricing has increased across all sizes and grades

Supply

• Mexico’s harvest volume is expected to fall next week
• Orders may be affected beginning next week, out-of-spec fruit, and size substitutions
• The size curve remains heavy to larger fruit (32-48ct), with limited supplies of smaller sizes (60-84ct)

Quality

• Lower-elevation production is transitioning from the Loca crop into Aventejada fruit
• Aventejada fruit is averaging 27% dry matter, while Loca fruit is averaging 29%
• Both crops may require additional ripening time until the fruit matures further on the trees
• Evening rainfall may result in visible lenticel spotting on the fruit’s skin

Recommendation

• Remain flexible on sizing and grade to maximize order fulfillment
• Review upcoming avocado needs and secure volume early due to the potential for shortages and further price increases
• Closely inspect arriving fruit and plan for longer ripening times as the crop transitions

Broccolini and Sweet Baby Broccoli

Industry supplies are ample, and the transition into the Arizona-California desert season is expected to progress smoothly. Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Broccolini is available. MFC Broccolini is being substituted into packer label as needed.

• Supply levels will remain steady over the next four to six weeks
• With Mexican production beginning November 1, overall volume will increase through November
• Quality is very good in both growing regions
• Cooler weather has reduced Diamondback moth pressure, improving Salinas Valley crop quality

Cilantro

Although cilantro supplies are meeting demand, quality is becoming more variable as warm weather and recent rainfall impact production regions in Central California.

• RSS Cilantro is available (100% U.S.-grown); packer label is being substituted when necessary
• Persistent heat in Salinas, Santa Maria, and Oxnard has reduced overall yields and increased quality challenges
• Quality concerns include
  • Bolting and seeder development
  • Yellowing and discoloration
  • Reduced shelf life and elevated decay pressure
• Recent rainfall has temporarily disrupted harvesting
• Overall quality ranges from fair to good, with lot-to-lot variability increasing.
• Markets are steady

Green Beans

Active green bean markets persist due to limited supplies in multiple growing regions. RSS Trimmed Green Beans are available.

• East Coast supplies are extremely limited
  • Southeastern production is ramping up
  • The Michigan season has ended
  • Current volume is concentrated in Virginia, Illinois, and North Carolina
  • Northern Florida harvests have slowed due to rain
  • Georgia supplies should increase over the next week, but it will be a slow recovery
  • Quality is fair
• West Coast production has ended prematurely due to rain
• Baja volume was affected by Tropical Storm Rachel
  • Fields were severely impacted by storms earlier in October
  • Product will remain extremely tight until mid-November when new crop harvesting starts in Jalisco
• Guatemalan stocks are steady and regularly crossing into South Texas
• Prices will remain elevated for another three weeks at least

Green Leaf

Iceberg and romaine supplies have increased; volume in Huron and Oxnard, California, as well as Las Cruces, New Mexico, has reduced shortages in Salinas and Santa Maria. Green leaf stocks remain limited, but yields will increase once the Arizona-California desert season begins this week. MFC Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuces are available in Salinas, California; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted as needed due to low weights.

Salinas/Santa Maria, California

• Quality ranges from fair to good; insect pressure, internal burn, mildew, and seeder are being found in many lots
• Disease pressure, including INSV and Sclerotinia, persists; percentages of impacted heads vary from lot to lot
• Salinas Valley yields are low
• Iceberg and romaine prices are falling
• Green leaf markets will remain strong until the desert season ramps up in mid-November

Huron, California

• Iceberg, romaine, and romaine heart quality is very good; head weights range from 38 to 42 pounds
• Prices are falling

Mexico (crossing into Texas)

• Iceberg production continues year-round
• Prices are easing
• Quality is very good; head weights range from 28 to 32 pounds

New Mexico

• The iceberg market is falling
  • Quality is very good
  • Weights are in the high 30s
• Early season rains wiped out 10-15% of total plantings; romaine is expected to be the most limited lettuce this fall season (through late November)

South Carolina

• Production will begin the week of October 19, further reducing pressure on California supplies

Mexican Limes

After a short period of lower prices, lime harvesting has slowed in Mexico, pushing the market back up. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Limes are available.

Mexico

• Production has temporarily declined in Veracruz, Mexico
• Wet weather over the weekend has prevented crews from entering orchards
• Size ranges from 175- to 230-count supplies; 250-count fruit is limited
• Major quality issues, such as stylar, are rare; blanching and oil spotting are being reported
• Markets will increase this week and hold steady into the next
• Pricing is expected to ease in mid-November

Squash

East Coast volume is climbing in Georgia and Florida, easing prices. Markets on the West Coast are also easing with improved supply out of Mexico. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

East Coast   

• Yellow Squash
  • The market is softening
  • Quality is good
  • Supplies are ample
• Zucchini
  • Prices are easing
  • Quality is good
  • Availability is slightly tighter than yellow squash, but remains strong overall
• Production is underway in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Mexico

West Coast

• Zucchini and Yellow Squash
  • Volume is falling in California’s Central Coast region
  • Quality remains very good, but minor scarring is being reported
• California’s Central Coast season will end by the second week of November
• Expect prices to ease slightly over the next two weeks

Mexico

• Zucchini and Yellow Squash
  • Sonoran yields are ramping up
  • Peak production will begin in late November
• Markets are steady, but will ease in late November

Strawberries

Markon inspectors and growers assessed the impact of the recent rainfall across California’s Central Coast strawberry growing regions today, and unfortunately, challenging conditions persist. Growers are culling water-damaged fruit, heavily reducing yields; losses are estimated at 50-60% of current crops.

Supplies for orders scheduled to pack and ship Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27, are extremely limited. California growers expect to fill 50% of orders due to quality problems; shelf life will be reduced in all harvested fruit.

Mexico’s strawberry season has begun, but volume is low. Full production is not expected until late November or early December. Markon is moving member orders to Mexico for the next two weeks, as current supplies allow.

California growers began stripping damaged fruit today and will continue next week.

• Strawberry availability will remain extremely low throughout this week
• Shortages, delays, and harvest cancellations are expected
• Markets will remain active, as demand will far exceed available supplies
• The long-term weather forecast indicates another storm may move into California’s Central Coast later this week

Markon will continue working closely with our California and Mexico growers to secure as much high-quality product as possible and minimize disruptions for our members.

Stringless Sugar Snap Peas & Snow Peas

Prolonged heat and rainfall across domestic and offshore growing regions continue to pressure production, resulting in tight supplies, quality concerns, and elevated markets.

Snow Peas

• Domestic California production is experiencing weather-related stress from excessive heat and rain, reducing yields and creating quality challenges
• Mexico and Peru are also contending with adverse growing conditions, including high temperatures and rainfall, limiting available supplies
• Quality issues have increased; scarring and discoloration are being reported in most lots
• Reduced volume and quality defects are keeping supplies tight
• Expect elevated pricing and limited availability through at least mid-November

Sugar Snap Peas

• MFC Sugar Snap Peas are limited; packer label is being substituted
• Availability remains better than snow peas, although supplies are not abundant
• Excessive heat and rainfall have increased cosmetic defects and reduced overall quality
• Markets are expected to remain elevated as weather impacts continue to affect production and availability

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information

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