Commodity broccoli and lettuce items from the Arizona/California desert growing regions have shown much improvement after a tumultuous start to the winter growing season, but weather-related quality challenges persist. Size, weights, and overall plant maturity have improved following a warm spell in mid-December, which is helping harvesting crews to manage some of the outer leaf defects in lettuce items.
There is a chance for more rain tomorrow, December 31 and Thursday, January 1. Growers are packing orders ahead as a precaution, but projected rainfall totals are not expected to be as impactful as the previous storms.
Below are some of the defects being observed in key commodity items:
Broccoli
- Mildew pressure in some lots (variety and region-specific)
- Occasional pin rot
- Uneven sizing
Iceberg/Leaf Lettuce
- Bottom rot
- Mildew pressure
- Premature pinking
- Rib blight
- Shortened shelf-life
- Weak tip
Markon inspectors will continue to monitor conditions and will update further in the days ahead.
Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.
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