Avocados

Demand has tapered off after the Cinco De Mayo holiday pull. Expect slightly lower markets heading into next week.

Mexico

• Growers will harvest the normal crop until July
• Yields are dominated by medium sizes (60- through 70-count fruit)
• Quality is good; checkerboarding (uneven ripening within a case) has been reported

California

• Production has increased
• Stocks are dominated by medium sizes (48- through 60-count fruit)
• Quality is good; firm fruit has been reported even when ripe

Colombia

• Imports will ship into the East Coast through May; these supplies only account for 5% of U.S. demand
• The crop is currently dominated by small sizes (60- to 84-count fruit)
• Quality is comparable to that in Mexico; texture is creamy and oil content is high

Bell Peppers

California’s new crop green bell pepper supply is increasing, markets are lower. Red bell stocks are tightening in Mexico. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

• California’s Imperial Valley harvests are increasing this week
  • Quality is excellent
  • Crown picks are producing larger sizes; small/medium sizes are scarce
  • Prices are dropping
• Mexico is finishing up older fields
  • Choice grade fruit dominates these harvests
  • Small and medium sizes are most common
  • Prices are lower in Nogales, Arizona this week, enticing buyers to order out of Mexico
• The Florida season will continue until mid-May
• Georgia production is starting next week
• Expect lower markets over the next week

Red Bells

• Mexican volume is low
  • The main season will wind down over the next month
  • Quality is average
• The California desert will experience temperatures in the mid-70s this weekend, slowing growth; a late May start is anticipated
• Canadian greenhouse production is steady; large sizes are most abundant
• Expect higher markets over the next two weeks

Broccoli

California

• MFC Premium Broccoli is being harvested in California’s Salinas and Santa Maria Valleys
• Markets are steady at low levels amid tepid demand, balancing the lighter supply forecasts for the next two weeks due to cooler weather
• Quality is good; brown bead/pin rot, yellowing, and insect pressure are minimal
• Some hollow core and branching have been noted; crown color and size are consistent
• Expect domestic prices to remain mostly steady through the first half of May

Mexico

• Mexican-grown MFC Premium Broccoli continues to ship into South Texas
• This market is more volatile than domestic, although prices remain comparable in both regions
• Quality is good; sporadic hollow core and mechanical damage from packing oversized heads have been noted
• Production is transitioning to higher elevation near Guanajuato to avoid increasing temperatures and precipitation in lower lying areas over the summer months

East Coast

• Georgia production will last through the month of May
  • Quality is very good
  • Markets are steady at average levels

• The North Carolina season starts next week and will last until late June

Corn

The Mexican corn season is winding down this week, shifting to California’s Imperial Desert. East Coast corn is being sourced from Florida this month.

• Mexican corn harvests are finishing in Sonora, Mexico; heat and humidity are causing occasional quality issues in remaining supplies
• The California/Arizona desert region harvests are ramping up
  • Quality is good
  • White and bicolor corn are available for loading

• Florida production is steady and will continue until the end of May on all colors (yellow, white, and bicolor)
  • Quality is good overall
  • The Georgia season is expected to begin mid-May
• Expect slightly higher markets during the transition

Grapes

The Chilean/Peruvian offshore season will wrap up over the next four weeks. Grape shipments will transition to Mexican-grown product in mid- to late May. Expect pricing to increase as the offshore season continues to wind down.

Offshore

• The Peruvian/Chilean green and red grape seasons will end in mid-May
• MFC Lunch Bunch Grapes will stop shipping in mid-May, but resume with Mexican product in late May
• Although stocks will tighten and markets will rise, suppliers do not expect any supply gaps between the offshore and Mexican seasons

Mexico

• MFC and ESS Grapes will be shipped out of Mexico in late May

• Commodity supplies of Mexican green and red grapes will enter the market in mid-May
• Mexican portioned grapes become available in late May
• Expect elevated pricing as the season begins, then markets will gradually decrease

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuce

Green leaf, iceberg, and romaine markets remain depressed amid abundant supplies and weak demand.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are available; Markon Best Available (MBA) is being substituted sporadically due to low weights
• The Salinas Valley season is fully underway
  • Current quality is very good; harvesting crews are closely sorting heads when packing to achieve MFC specifications
  • Mildew and fringe burn are being avoided or trimmed at harvest
  • Disease pressure is minimal; anthracnose that impacted romaine supplies at the beginning of the 2024 Salinas season is greatly reduced this year
• Rain totaling 0.05”-0.10”  is forecast in the Salinas Valley from Saturday, May 3 through Sunday morning, May 4; Markon is working with growers to pack ahead to ensure coverage
• Markets are anticipated to remain low through May; Mother’s Day demand is not expected to impact markets given the abundance of supply

Limes

Lime markets are elevated following reduced production and strong demand. MFC and ESS Limes are available.

Mexico (into South Texas)

• Supplies are limited following reduced packing during Holy Week as well as increased demand and retail ads for Cinco De Mayo
• The current crop is dominated by 200- through 250-count sizes; 110- through 175-count sizes remain especially limited at higher prices
• Quality is good; blanching, oil spotting, and scarring are occasional issues
• Expect elevated markets and limited supplies for the next 7-10 days

Colombia

• MFC Limes are available for loading out of Florida
• Prices are rising as demand increases, trailing below Mexican fruit costs
• Quality is good; scarring and oil spotting are occasional issues
• Expect higher prices over the next 7-10 days

Mixed Berries

Blueberry supplies are extremely limited; the California and Georgia seasons are off to slow starts. Raspberry stocks are expected to become tight over the next two weeks.

Blueberries

• Mexican production has passed the seasonal peak
• Quality is good; size is consistent
• New crop harvesting is expected to begin April 28 in California’s San Joaquin Valley
• Florida volume is down 40% compared to last year
• Georgia has been delayed due to weather issues
• Demand far exceeds supply
• Expect rising markets and limited supplies until production transitions are complete

Blackberries

• The heat has caused a spike in the market
• Demand is steady
• Quality is good; issues include cell regression and softness due to the heat
• New crop harvesting is expected to begin mid-May in California’s Watsonville/Salinas region
• Expect markets to inch up

Raspberries

• Medium-sized berries dominate availability

• Quality is good; expect strong red color and firm texture
• New crop harvesting is expected to begin in July in California’s Watsonville/Salinas region
• Expect markets to rise slightly

Oranges

The California Navel season has moved past its peak and is expected to wrap up in June. Markets will continue to inch up through the rest of this season.

California

• MFC and ESS Navel Oranges are available
• Overall supplies should remain sufficient, but steadily decline, through the Navel season
• Navel quality is great; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
• The Valencia season will start in late May
• The Navel market is expected to rise as supplies tighten over the next four weeks

Mexico

• Mexican imports (crossing into Nogales, Arizona) are available until mid-June
• Quality is very good; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
• Prices will be comparable to those in California

Florida

• The Valencia season is expected to finish in mid-May
• Supplies are currently dominated by 80- to 100-count and larger packs
• Quality is average; growers are battling regreening
• Expect elevated prices and limited stocks

Strawberries

California’s Santa Maria and Oxnard growing regions will experience dry weather and mild temperatures for the next 10 days.  

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Quality is good
• Supplies are ample
• Size ranges from 15 to 22 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell
• Markets are steady

Oxnard

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Quality is good: green tips and light bruising are occasional issues
• Stocks are plentiful
• Size ranges from 16 to 21 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell
• Prices are stable

Watsonville/Salinas

• The official starting date for the Salinas/Watsonville season is Monday, May 12, 2025

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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