Broccoli

Markets across the U.S. are climbing as strong demand and quality challenges tighten overall supplies.

California

• Markon Best Available (MBA) Broccoli is being harvested in California’s Salinas Valley
• Quality ranges from fair to good; issues such as branchy structure, yellow/brown bead, and some hollow core are being reported
• Pest pressure from Diamondback moth pupa/larvae and aphids remains a significant challenge and is expected to persist through the fall season
• Supplies are limited in Monterey County (Salinas Valley) and Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley)
• Demand is strong due to the supply challenges across different growing regions
• Expect markets to remain elevated for the next few weeks

Mexico

• Mexican-grown MBA Broccoli continues to ship into South Texas
• Pricing is elevated, but weaker demand is keeping markets a bit lower than those on the West Coast
• High temperatures and tropical storms are affecting quality; these weather conditions will continue through the late fall in this region
• Quality is fair, but has improved from previous weeks; some cat eye, hollow core, and insect activity are being noted

East Coast/Midwest/Canada

• Consecutive days of warmer weather and minimal precipitation have caused maturity to slow down, developing smaller, immature heads

• Availability is limited in Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Eastern Canada
• Supplies out of Maine will reach peak production in September; the season will run through October
• Growers will begin harvesting Georgia and Florida by late fall to offset the loss of supplies from Maine
• Pricing will remain slightly elevated this week, then ease heading into September as weather improves and supplies increase

California Strawberries

The California strawberry market is steady.

Santa Maria

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Strawberries are available

• Temperatures will climb this week
• Growers don’t anticipate any quality issues
• Quality is good; occasional overripening and white shoulders are being reported
• Size ranges from 20 to 25 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 32 to 40 in 4/2-pound packs (small to medium)
• Expect markets to continue rising as production has fallen

Salinas/Watsonville

• MFC Strawberries are available; quality is good
• Temperatures will climb this week; coastal weather will warm, but no issues are expected

• Size ranges from 15 to 23 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell and 32 to 44 in 4/2-pound packs (medium to medium/large)
• Some bruising, white shoulders, and light mildew are being reported
• Expect steady pricing for the beginning of the week, with the potential to rise

Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine

Iceberg prices are lower as warmer weather has aided growth and increased supplies in Salinas and Santa Maria, California. Green leaf and romaine markets are fairly steady at moderately elevated levels.

• MFC Premium Green Leaf, Iceberg, and Romaine Lettuces are available; MBA is being substituted when needed due to low weights
• Overall quality is good
  • Fringe burn and wind damage are impacting some lots; insect pressure persists, but is being mitigated at harvest
  • Disease pressure continues to reduce mature harvestable supplies in many fields; romaine is being impacted the most
• Salinas acreage is lower, by design, at this time of year
  • Regional seasons in Colorado, Michigan, the East Coast, and Canada are ongoing
  • Quality and yields are typical for each growing region, spreading lettuce demand across multiple regions
• Iceberg prices will continue to decline into next week; green leaf and romaine markets are anticipated to hold steady

Green Onions

Green onion harvests were curtailed today due to thunderstorms in Mexicali, Mexico.

• Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Green Onions are available
• Over an inch of rain was recorded yesterday, August 25
• Scattered thunderstorms continued today, prompting most growers to end harvests early for crew safety, due to lightning and muddy field conditions
• Clear skies are forecast for the rest of the week; production is scheduled to resume tomorrow and be at normal capacity by Thursday, August 28
• Markon is working with our growers to ensure coverage in the coming days
• Expect a short-term lift in industry-wide pricing until supplies rebound later this week

Mixed Berries

The Pacific Northwest blueberry season has passed its peak. Peruvian shipments will start the first week of September.

Blackberries

• Mexican supplies have begun to rebound from recent humidity
  • Quality is improving; the rainy season is coming to an end
  • Heat-related issues are still present from past weather patterns
• California’s San Joaquin Valley season is almost complete; growers have begun shipping from the Watsonville/Salinas region

• Pacific Northwest production is now in full swing; Markon is sourcing 100% of supplies from this region

Blueberries

• Supplies are diminishing in California’s San Joaquin Valley; production is winding down
• Pacific Northwest volume is starting to decrease
• Expect markets to rise

Raspberries

• Mexican supplies have begun to rebound from recent weather issues
• California production is past its peak; a short supply gap of a week or two is anticipated
• Mexico’s Baja season is underway; quality is very good
• Expect markets to remain steady for the next week

Oranges

The California Valencia crop is dominated by large sizes (56- and 88-count pieces); small supplies(88- and 138-count oranges) are tightening. With many schools’ seasons underway and many more starting in the coming weeks, small oranges will become limited.

California

• MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Valencia Oranges are available
• Supplies are dominated by large sizes (56- to 88-count pieces); smaller sizes (113 to 138-count oranges) are tightening
• Expect 88- to 138-count oranges to become limited as more school seasons get underway
• Quality is good; sugar levels range from 11-14 Brix
• Initial reports project California Navels will begin shipping in mid- to late October
• Expect elevated markets and limited supplies of all small fruit through early October

Chile

• Chilean Navel oranges are being imported into both the East and West Coasts
• Expect 88- to 113-count oranges to become tight over the next two to three weeks

• Quality is great; sugar levels range from 12-13 Brix
• Expect markets to remain steady

Potatoes

MFC Norkotah Potatoes are available in Idaho and Washington; new crop MFC Burbank Potatoes are shipping from Idaho in limited quantities. New crop No. 2 grade supplies are limited. Overall, markets are declining due to increasing new crop supplies. Expect falling prices as the season moves into September. As the industry transitions from storage to new crop potatoes, advanced orders and maintaining tight inventories are highly recommended.

Idaho

• The storage MFC Burbank Potato season will finish in the next week; new crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes are being shipped
• Burbank storage supplies are limited; small sizes dominate availability
• New crop Norkotah stocks are also shipping
  • Size is dominated by small and No. 1 grade potatoes
  • No. 2 grade supplies are limited; prices are high
• Overall markets are inching down as new crop harvests continue and supplies increase

Washington

• New crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes are now available
• Expect a good mixture of all sizes and grades
• Prices are slowly declining

Colorado

• Storage crop Norkotahs remain limited
• Expect low volume and sporadic availability through August, especially for large, 40- to 70-count supplies
• Pricing is holding steady as demand shifts to new crop stocks in other regions
• New crop supplies will enter the market in early September

Wisconsin

• The storage crop season has ended; suppliers are sourcing from other regions to fill mixer orders
• New crop stocks are expected to begin shipping next week
• Size will be dominated by 90-count and smaller potatoes; larger sizes will not become plentiful until late September/early October
• Prices remain elevated

Quality

• Fresh-run quality is excellent; occasional skinning and excess moisture may be observed in fresh-run potatoes
  • Potatoes release moisture as they cool, which gives the potato a wet look, and can cause a light, white surface residue to develop that is easily brushed off
  • The white residue will dissipate as potatoes dry and does not pose any quality or food safety concerns
• New crop potatoes have not gone through the ‘sweat’ process yet; the ‘sweat’ process allows field heat to leave the potatoes (which causes the release of moisture), putting them in dormancy, which prevents sprouting from occurring during the early months of storage
• U.S. No. 2 yields will be extremely limited
  • Fresh-run Norkotah quality is strong
  • No. 2 supplies will increase once potatoes are shipped out of storage

Squash

Zucchini and yellow squash markets are up slightly due to stronger demand and lower yields. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

• The Northeast and Midwest are seeing cooler nights this week, slowing plant growth
• Harvesting started in North Carolina this week
• California’s Santa Maria and Central Valley growing regions have steady volume due to warmer temperatures; quality is good

• Baja growers are shipping moderate volume (crossing into Otay Mesa, California)
• Expect steady to slightly higher prices over the next week due to lower temperatures

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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