Bell Peppers

Red bell pepper supplies are extremely limited; markets are elevated. California growers are struggling to fill demand.

Red Bells

• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Red Bell Peppers are limited; packer label may be substituted
• Production is low in Fresno, California; crews are on their third round of harvesting in older fields
• California’s Oxnard is getting a slow start due to ripening delays and skipped harvesting days
• The Hollister, California season is expected to start with low volume on August 25
• The East Coast does not produce significant colored pepper supplies
• Poor weather has minimized volume out of Central Mexico (crossing into South Texas)
• Stocks are tight from Eastern Canada due to past heat and reduced sunlight from wildfires; harvesting is more consistent in Western Canada
• Demand for California peppers is extremely strong
• Expect elevated prices over the next two weeks

Green Bells

• MFC and ESS Green Bell Peppers are ample
• California is shipping consistent supplies; quality is very good out of Fresno and the coastal regions of Oxnard and Hollister
• Harvesting is steady in the Midwest regions of Michigan and Ohio
• Northeastern production is consistent; all sizes are available
• Volume is typically low in Central Mexico during the late summer months
• Expect steady/low prices for several weeks

Broccoli

California

• Markon Best Available (MBA) Broccoli is being harvested in California’s Salinas Valley
• Quality ranges from fair to good; issues such as pin rot, yellowing, and systemic mildew are being reported
• Pest pressure from aphids and Diamondback moth pupa/larvae remains a significant challenge as the region faces higher temperatures
• Supplies are available in Monterey County (Salinas Valley) and Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley)
• West Coast volume will remain lower through late August as a result of regional and local harvests taking place across the country
• Expect elevated markets for the next 7-10 days

Mexico

• Mexican-grown MBA Broccoli continues to ship into South Texas
• Prices are trending higher, though minimal demand is keeping markets a bit lower than those on the West Coast
• Quality is poor; defects such as cat eye, hollow core, and pin rot are prevalent; insect damage is also present in this region
• High temperatures and tropical weather will continue in this region through the late fall, keeping quality below-average through November

East Coast/Midwest/Canada

• Supply levels are at their peak in many regional and local seasons
• Production will run through October in Maine; quality is great with no insect pressure being reported, but overall availability is low
• Limited supplies will also ship from Eastern Canada and North Carolina through September, weather permitting
• Growers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York will begin production in late October

California Strawberries

All California growing regions will experience a warming trend from Wednesday, August 20 through Sunday, August 24. Markon growers’ proximity to the California coastline will help reduce heat-related stress to strawberries in the field.

Salinas/Watsonville

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Growers are culling 30-35% of fruit due to poor quality caused by high daytime temperatures and wet mornings
• Overall quality remains good, but some bruising, white shoulders, and light mildew are being reported
• MFC Strawberries are harvested first thing in the morning, which helps ensure Markon receives the best quality available
• Expect steady pricing for the beginning of the week, with the potential to rise

Santa Maria

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Quality is good; occasional overripening and white shoulders are being reported
• Size ranges from 25 to 31 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell (small to medium)
• Expect markets to continue rising

Cauliflower

Markets are rising due to strong demand; however, multiple growing regions are in play, which will keep prices at moderate levels. ESS Cauliflower is available.

Salinas, California

• Supplies are adequate, though increased demand has pushed markets up
• 12-count heads are readily available; 9-count supplies are tight
• Quality, texture, and color are strong; Diamondback moth presence is an issue in some lots
• Expect prices to peak this week, then ease heading into next week as warmer weather promotes growth

Santa Maria, California

• Production is up this week; supplies are ample
• Quality is good
  • Minimal defects are present
  • Only occasional insect pressure is being reported
• Recent weather has been ideal for growth
• Prices are lower compared to the Salinas Valley, which is common

East Coast/Midwest/Canada

• The Maine season will run through October
  • Quality is very good
  • Supplies are ample
• Growers in North Carolina and Eastern Canada will ship supplies through September, weather permitting
• The seasons in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York will begin in late October
• Prices are comparable to the Salinas Valley

Lemons

Lemon prices continue to rise due to low volume and strong demand across all growing regions.

Domestic

• MFC and ESS Lemons are available  
• Small sizes (165- to 235-count fruit) remain limited
• Quality is good; early decay, scarring, and brown spotting are being reported
• Elevated pricing is forecast for the next six weeks

Offshore

• Offshore fruit from Argentina and Chile will be shipped into North America through early December
• Shipments are down as much as 50% this year compared to last due to fears of low pricing and the impact of tariffs
• Sizing will be dominated by large lemons (95- to 140-count stocks); smaller sizes will be available as well
• Expect higher pricing (compared to domestic and Mexican fruit) due to strong quality

Mexican

• Mexican shipments have started and will run through late November
• These supplies will help fill the demand not met by California lemons
• Sizing will be dominated by 165- to 235-count fruit; larger sizes will also be available
• Quality is good; scarring is being reported
• Expect pricing to be comparable to domestic fruit

Onions

The Northwest onion season is off to a strong start with Washington, Oregon, and Idaho fresh-run onion harvests in full swing. Colorado and Utah are ramping up as California and New Mexico wind down. Markets are steady at lower levels.

Washington

• MFC Onions are available
• Fresh-run onions will ship through early October before transitioning to storage crop
• Quality is excellent; fresh-run onions have higher moisture content resulting in short shelf-life compared to storage supplies
  • Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
  • Shelf-life will improve once growers begin shipping from storage supplies and onions have properly cured
• All sizes and colors are available; current lots are peaking on jumbo sizes
• Expect steady prices over the next one to two weeks

Idaho/Oregon

• MFC Onions are available
• Fresh-run onions will ship through mid to late October before transitioning to storage supplies
• Quality is excellent; fresh-run onions have higher moisture content resulting in short shelf life compared to storage supplies
  • Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
  • Shelf-life will improve once growers begin shipping from storage supplies and onions have properly cured
• All sizes/colors are available; current lots are peaking on jumbo sizes
• Expect steady prices over the next one to two weeks

Utah/Colorado

• MFC Onions are available
• Fresh-run onions will ship through mid-September before transitioning to storage supplies

• Quality is excellent; fresh run onions have higher moisture content resulting in short shelf life compared to storage supplies
  • Markon recommends ordering for quick turns

• • Shelf-life will improve once growers transition to storage supplies this fall
• All sizes are available; current lots are peaking on medium-jumbo sizes
• Expect steady prices over the next one to two weeks as growers ramp up

California

• MFC Onions are finished

• Northern California’s fresh-run onion season is coming to an end; most are set to finish in the next two weeks
• Quality is fair to poor; heat related issues such as sunscald are common for end of season supplies
• Prices are low as growers flood the market to compete with better quality Northwest fresh run onions

New Mexico

• MFC Onions are finishing this week
• New Mexico’s fresh-run onion season is coming to an end, with most finishing this week
• Quality is fair; heat and high humidity have potential to negatively impact quality and shelf life of remaining supplies
• Prices are lower this week as growers attempt to offload current inventories with demand shifting to the Northwest

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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