Bell Peppers

Red Bells

• Cold weather is forecast in California’s Imperial desert region this week, which will hinder growth and slow the ripening process
  • Large and extra-large sizes will become snug

• • Quality is good: extra grading is required
• Production is slightly behind schedule in Sonora, Mexico
  • Harvesting is expected to start in 10-15 days, depending on weather
  • Early reports state that quality is very good
• The East Coast does not produce a significant volume of colored peppers
• Markets are expected to rise over the next one to two weeks

Green Bells

• California’s Coachella green bell season is quickly coming to an end due to cold weather; limited quantities remain on the market

• The mainland Mexico season is well underway in the Obregon and Hermosillo regions (into Nogales, Arizona)
  • All sizes are available, but large peppers are more abundant
  • Quality is excellent
• South Florida harvests are underway; most growers are in the middle of their crown picks
• • Jumbo and extra-large sizes are peaking
  • Overall quality is good
• Prices are expected to remain steady

Broccoli and Cauliflower

Broccoli  

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Broccoli is available in the CA/AZ desert growing region
• Cool weather is forecast to slow growth, resulting in fewer available supplies over the next 10-14 days
• Overall quality is good: pin rot is affecting some lots
• Demand is moderate, but expected to strengthen as the holiday pull ramps up
• Expect Arizona and California prices to increase over the next 10-14 days

Mexican Broccoli (into South Texas)

• MFC Broccoli is available (loading in South Texas)
• Supplies have rebounded following unseasonably low temperatures; prices are anticipated to remain fairly steady over the next two weeks
• Demand is moderate, but expected to strengthen as the holiday pull ramps up
• South Texas broccoli is expected to be $7.00 to $8.00 cheaper than stocks from the West Coast

Cauliflower

• Markon Essentials (ESS) Cauliflower is available in the CA/AZ desert growing region
• Cool weather is forecast to slow growth, resulting in fewer available supplies over the next 10-14 days
• Quality is strong with great color and ideal size
• Demand is moderate, but expected to strengthen as the holiday pull ramps up
• Expect Arizona and California prices to increase over the next 10-14 days

Christmas and New Year’s Day Schedule 2021-2022

Christmas Eve/Day

• Idaho, Oregon, and Washington onion and potato growers will operate on a limited basis on Friday, December 24 and will be closed on Saturday, December 25; normal shipping hours will resume on Monday, December 27
• All Arizona, California, East Coast, and South Texas grower-shippers will be closed on Saturday, December 25 (no loading available)

• • Most suppliers will have limited loading hours on Friday, December 24, then resume normal loading hours on Monday, December 27
  • Trucks must call ahead for appointments

• Misionero will close 7:00pm on Friday, December 24, and remain closed Saturday, December 25 & Sunday, December 26
  • They will re-open Monday, December 27 at 9am for appointment loading
• Taylor Farms will load by appointment only on Friday, December 24, but will be closed on Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25
  • Trucks must call ahead for appointments
  • Normal shipping hours will resume on Sunday, December 26

• 4-Earth Farms will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 24; 4-Earth Farms will open at 10:00pm on Sunday, December 26
• Please see attached matrix for details about order placement deadlines

New Year’s Eve/Day

• Idaho, Oregon, and Washington onion and potato growers will operate on a limited basis on Friday, December 31, but will be closed on Saturday, January 1; normal shipping hours will resume on Monday, January 3
• Most Arizona, California, East Coast, and South Texas grower-shippers will be closed on New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1 (no loading available)

• • Most suppliers will have limited loading hours on Friday, December 31, then resume normal loading hours on Monday, January 3
  • Trucks must call ahead for appointments
• Misionero will close 7:00pm on Friday, December 31, and remain closed Saturday, January 1 & Sunday, January 2
  • They will re-open Monday, January 3 at 9am for appointment loading
• Taylor Farms will load by appointment only on Friday, December 31, but will be closed on New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1
  • Trucks must call ahead for appointments
  • Normal shipping hours will resume on Sunday, January 2

• 4-Earth Farms will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 31; 4-Earth Farms will open at 10:00pm on Sunday, January 2
• Please see attached matrix for details about order placement deadlines

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

• MFC Premium Iceberg is available; field weights have increased compared to recent weeks
• MFC Premium Green Leaf and Romaine are readily available
• Ideal weather conditions in the Arizona and California desert region are promoting growth and increasing field weights, especially in iceberg lots
• Quality is very good: growth cracking, mildew pressure, fringe burn, and seeder are occasional issues
• Markets will continue declining into next week when demand starts ramping up for the holidays
• Quality is good

Limes

• MFC and ESS Limes are available
• The transition into new crop supplies continues this week as growers begin to harvest more medium-size fruit; the crop is dominated by 175- and 200-count sizes
• Quality is expected to improve in the coming weeks, but issues are still present that require close attention to grading; stylar, scarring, and lighter color fruit are concerns
• Demand is weak; supplies are ample
• Prices for 250- and 230-count sizes are expected to ease this week; 200-count and 175-count markets will begin to soften next week

Strawberries

Santa Maria, California

• Quality continues to be a challenge; concerns include excessive bruising and pin-rot
• Volume will decline until the season ends in the next two to three weeks (depending on weather)
• Plastic clamshells will be substituted for the corrugated packs

Oxnard, California

• Volume remains limited
• Quality is good
• Growers report that production will be up slightly; expect significantly higher volume when the spring acreage is harvested in early January

Central Mexico

• The season has begun; production will continue to increase weekly
• Quality is good
  • Size has increased
  • Counts range from 22 to 24 count
• MFC Strawberries are expected to become available the week of December 20

 Florida

• Production has begun in a limited way; supplies will increase in the next two weeks
• Growers expect to see more consistency in shape, sizing, color, and flavor by next week
• MFC Strawberries will hit the market the week of December 13

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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