Asparagus

Prices continue to rise. Mexico’s Caborca season is winding down. Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available.

Mexico

• Production is past its peak in Caborca, Mexico; harvesting will transition west towards the Baja peninsula and then Central Mexico
• Quality remains strong, but will wane as the final spears are harvested from current lots
• Extra-large and jumbo sizes will tighten over the next 14-21 days; the price spread between small and large sizes will increase
• Expect prices to peak in late April as strong demand from the Easter holiday begins to wane
• Under the existing U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), Mexican asparagus is not being targeted for additional tariff enforcement

Peru

• Yields are extremely low out of the northern regions of the country as high temperatures have limited production; however, volume from Southern Peru will increase over the next four to six weeks as weather cools
• Peru remains a target for additional tariff action by the Trump administration
• The effect of these on imports/availability is undetermined currently, but higher FOB pricing is predicted in Miami/East Coast ports

U.S. and Canada

• The Pacific Northwest will be the first domestic region to begin production (Washington/Idaho) by mid-April
• Michigan and areas of Southern Canada will start harvesting in early May, as well as minimal California and South Carolina production
• Expect increased supplies out of multiple regions and lower markets by late May through mid- to late June

Brussels Sprouts

Higher prices are expected due to tightening supplies. MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are available.

• Markets are climbing as suppliers move to new crop growing regions
  • Mexican growers are transitioning to new crop fields
  • The Arizona-California desert production is winding down; the Salinas season is off to a slow start
  • MFC Brussels Sprouts will transition to Salinas in July, once the Mexican season ends
  • Yields in Oxnard, California will help supplement the market in late April, overlapping with the end of the Mexican season in July
• Quality is good; harvests are a few days behind schedule, causing inconsistent head size
• Expect pricing to rise for the next two weeks due to strong Easter demand and tight supplies

Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons

Central American cantaloupe and honeydew stocks remain adequate. The offshore season will run for six to seven more weeks before transitioning to domestic production.

Cantaloupe

Central America

• Markets will rise when the 10% tariff on Central American imports goes into effect April 5
• Central American volume is steady
• Supplies are dominated by large 9-count  fruit; smaller 12- to 15-count sizes are extremely limited and commanding slightly higher prices
  • Markon may recommend substitutions based on availability
  • An improved range of sizing will be available in the next 7-10 days
• The Central American offshore cantaloupe season is expected to run through mid- to late May
• Expect prices to rise over the next 7-10 days

Honeydew

Central America/Mexico

• Markets will rise with a 10% tariff on Central American imports going into effect April 5

• Central American volume is steady
• Supplies are dominated by large five-count size fruit, smaller six- to 8-count sizes are very tight and higher priced
  • Markon may recommend substitutions based on availability
  • An improved range of sizing will be available in the next 7-10 days
• The Central American offshore honeydew season is expected to run through mid- to late May
• The domestic California/Arizona desert honeydew season will begin in the first week or two of May
• Mexican volume is steady at comparable prices
• Expect markets to rise over the next 7-10 days

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuces

Iceberg markets are inching up as many current and soon-to-be-harvested fields are lightweight. Green leaf and romaine markets are low; supplies are ample.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine are available; Markon Best Available (MBA) may be substituted as needed due to low weights
• The Arizona/California desert growing season will conclude this week; only a few growers remain active in this region
• Production is winding down in Huron, California; final harvests will take place the week of April 20
• Iceberg and romaine production will continue in Oxnard through early May
• The Salinas and Santa Maria seasons continue to ramp up
  • Many iceberg fields are uneven in size and density due to inconsistent growing conditions
  • Lightweight fields require additional acreage for processors to yield the same output, pushing the market higher
• Markon’s key RSS processors will begin breaking down lines in Yuma, Arizona on Thursday, April 10 in order to be ready for shipments in Salinas, California on Monday, April 14

Idaho Potatoes

MFC Idaho Burbank and Norkotah Potatoes are available. Larger sizes (40- through 70-count supplies) are decreasing as the Norkotah storage season winds down. Expect pricing for larger sizes to rise.

Storage Crop

• The Norkotah season is winding down; storage crop will be finished by mid-June
• Once Norkotahs are depleted, Burbanks will be the sole variety from mid-June to mid-August
• Burbanks are dominated by 80-count and smaller sizes
• As the remaining storage crop shifts from Norkotahs to Burbanks, expect lighter supplies and rising prices on 40- through 70-count supplies
• Quality remains excellent for both varieties; pack-outs favor No. 1 grade

New Crop

• Plantings have begun in the southern regions of Idaho; Eastern Idaho will begin plantings in one to two weeks
• Late winter/early spring weather has been ideal
  • Water is plentiful due to the winter season’s snowpack
  • Lack of late-season snowfall has kept fields clear and dry
• Growers are anticipating spring-like temperatures through April, allowing crops to be fully planted by May
• Norkotah harvesting and packing normally begins early to mid-August

Live From the Fields: RSS Processor’s Seasonal Transition

Please click here to view a video about how Markon’s RSS salad processors move their seasonal production from Yuma, Arizona, to Salinas, California.

• Markon’s source-based suppliers of value-added salad items follow the seasonal lettuce transition in the fall and spring
• Relocating their processing capabilities allows them to pack the freshest product possible and achieve optimum quality and shelf-life
• The process of disassembling, transporting, and reassembling equipment for full-scale production in less than three days is a huge undertaking
• By the week of April 14, all of Markon’s Salinas-based value-added suppliers will be shipping from Salinas, California

Onions

Fresh-run onions are available in South Texas. Expect the market to rise as demand increases.

Northwest

• Remaining storage supplies will be depleted by the end of April

Texas

• Texas- grown MFC Yellow and Red Onions are available
• The Texas onion season will run through mid-May
• Prices are expected to remain elevated throughout the season
• Overall quality is very good; occasional bruising, mechanical damage, and feathery skins are typical of fresh-run onions

California

• The Southern California season will begin on April 21
• Production will start in Northern California on June 2

New Mexico

• Supplies will begin shipping in early June

Strawberries

Clear, warm weather is forecast for the next 10 days in the Santa Maria/Oxnard growing region. Expect supplies to increase due to favorable weather conditions.

Santa Maria/Oxnard, California

• MFC Strawberries are available  

• Production is ramping up as cool, dry weather is forecasted
• Quality is good; green shoulders and misshapen fruit have been reported
• Size is dominated by medium berries (14 to 18 berries per one-pound clamshell)
• Expect declining markets and increasing supplies

Baja, Mexico

• Production is declining as the season has moved past its peak
• Quality is good; over-ripened fruit has been reported
• Size is dominated by medium berries (14 to 18 berries per one-pound clamshell)
• Expect declining markets and decreasing supplies

Salinas/Watsonville, California

• New crop harvesting will begin in mid-May

Tomatoes

Tomato supplies are increasing as new crop production is underway in Culiacan, Mexico. Harvesting will begin in Florida’s Ruskin/Palmetto growing region by mid-April. MFC Tomatoes are available.

Round

• Supplies are increasing in Florida, especially large-size fruit
• Growers are harvesting spring fields in Mexico’s Culiacan region
• • Quality is good
  • Large sizes (4×4 and 4×5) are most abundant
• Expect lower prices next week

Roma

• East Coast supplies continue to increase
• Mexico’s Culiacan supply is more plentiful this week as new crop harvesting has started
• All sizes are available
• Central Mexico will begin harvesting spring crops in late April
• Expect reduced markets over the next week

Grape & Cherry Varieties

• Florida volume is low but expected to rise through April
• Stocks are increasing in Western Mexico
• Supplies are tight in Central Mexico and Baja
• Expect slightly lower prices over the next two weeks

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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