Asparagus

Asparagus markets are in an increasingly critical position as available supplies continue to decrease. Jumbo and extra-large sizes are severely limited, and overall supplies are not keeping pace with demand. Expect significantly higher pricing, limited substitutions, and severe supply restrictions, particularly for large sizes.

Customers should plan for immediate supply limitations, particularly on jumbo and extra-large size orders; please communicate substitution flexibility as early as possible.

Mexico

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is limited; packer label is being substituted as needed
• The Central Mexico season has concluded; production has transitioned to the Baja Peninsula and Sonora
• Jumbo and extra-large sizes are extremely tight and are expected to remain limited until early next year
• Supplies continue to skew heavily toward smaller-sized spears, resulting in a widening price gap between smaller and larger sizes
• A tropical storm system is tracking near the Baja Peninsula
  • Heavy rain and strong winds are possible and could further disrupt harvesting, reduce supplies, and intensify already elevated markets
• Quality ranges from fair to good
• Jumbo and extra-large sizes are expected to remain scarce until Mexico’s Caborca season begins, February 2027

Peru (into South Florida)

• Peruvian supplies remain limited after warmer-than-normal growing conditions reduced yields during the northern production season
• Volume continues to increase in Southern Peru and will serve as the primary growing region through late November
• Warm El Niño weather patterns have reduced yields and affected overall quality, leading to limited availability of jumbo and extra-large sizing
• Expect elevated markets and extremely tight jumbo and extra-large size availability

Bell Peppers

Bell pepper markets are low with many regions in production. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

• Volumes are ample out of California; growing is spread out over the San Joaquin Valley, Ventura County, and Central Coast regions
• Mexican green bells are crossing into South Texas, but with more limited quantities than California
• Heavy production continues in the Northeast and Midwest
• Western North Carolina production is strong with Eastern North Carolina production expected to start in two weeks
• Overall quality is good
• Expect slightly lower markets over the next few weeks as new regions take hold

Red Bells

• California red bell supply is strong, but slightly decreased from the extremely high yields of the last several weeks
  • Quality is good and markets will remain steady for the next two weeks
• Limited volumes of red bells are crossing into South Texas from Mexico
• Supplies are limited on the East Coast
• Canadian greenhouses have ample supply
• Expect lower prices over the next two weeks

California Cantaloupe

Prices are rising due to strong demand and tighter supplies. MFC Cantaloupe and Honeydew are available.

Cantaloupe

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Yields are slightly down this week
  • Cooler weather is slowing growth
  • Temperatures will climb at the beginning of next week
• Size is dominated by large fruit (9- and jumbo 9-count melons); 15-count and smaller supplies are limited
• Quality is good with bright internal color and tight seed cavities
• Retail demand is up ahead of Labor Day, while foodservice demand is strong due to back-to-school orders
• Markets will continue to trend up through next week before steadying in mid-September

Honeydew

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Production has been reduced by cooler weather
  • Some growers have finished harvesting older sets
  • More volume for both cantaloupe and honeydew will become available in a few weeks
• Eight-count and smaller sizes are extremely limited
• Despite occasional scarring, internal quality is great; sugar levels range from 12 to 14% Brix
• Demand is elevated with retail promotions and increased school orders
• Like with cantaloupe, prices will inch up over the next two weeks before stabilizing

Cauliflower

Cauliflower prices are climbing from low levels as yields are expected to decline. Elevated diamondback moth (DBM) pressure, combined with recent heat and humidity, is impacting quality and reducing overall supplies. ESS Cauliflower is available.

• California yields are expected to decline into next week

• Diamondback moth (DBM) activity remains elevated
• Recent heat and moisture are forecast to prolong and potentially worsen quality challenges
• Santa Maria growers are reporting increased insect pressure, further intensified by recent warm weather; reduced yields are expected to support higher market levels
• The Maine season is in full swing, providing additional regional supplies
• Canadian volume remains strong; the season will run into early October

Chile Peppers

Chile pepper prices are rising as supplies of clean, export-quality product from Northern Mexico are tightening. MFC Chile Peppers are available.

Mexico

• Serrano markets have strengthened over the past two weeks
• Jalapeño, Anaheim, and Poblano prices are following a similar upward trend
• Elevated temperatures have caused growth cracking and scarring in Jalapeños
• Expect high prices until production in Michoacán in the coming weeks

West Coast

• Recent heat-related challenges have led to modest increases in tomatillo and Habanero markets
• Production will continue in Baja and Santa Maria, California through mid-September
• Poblano, Jalapeño, and Anaheim peppers continue to exhibit good quality

East Coast

• Peppers are being sourced from New York, Tennessee, and North Carolina; supplies and quality remain steady
• Markets are expected to inch up as quality declines approaching mid-September

Green Cabbage

West Coast prices are increasing as mounting insect pressure reduces yields; regional supplies remain sufficient to meet current demand.

California

• The Salinas and Santa Maria seasons are ongoing until mid-November
• Elevated temperatures and increased humidity have intensified insect and disease pressure, resulting in lighter yields
• Diamondback moth activity continues to affect fields, reducing available supplies and contributing to higher market prices
• Quality is good; some lots are exhibiting minor discoloration and insect-related damage
• Supplies are adequate to satisfy current demand
• Expect slightly higher pricing and fluctuating availability as production gradually transitions toward the Arizona desert region over the coming months

East Coast/Southeast

• New York, Michigan, and Canada are in good supply
• Western North Carolina production is light this week
• Quality is really good
• Expecting markets to increase slightly with higher demand this week

Texas/Mexico

• Mexican green cabbage imports continue through South Texas
• Pricing is inching upward as domestic supplies become more limited
• Quality remains good
  • Seasonal rainfall in Central Mexico has created occasional quality concerns in certain lots
• Supplies are expected to remain steady in South Texas through the early part of December

Lemons

Prices remain elevated due to constrained supplies and strong demand across all production regions. Market conditions are expected to remain firm until volume increases.

Domestic

• MFC and ESS Lemons are available  
• Small sizes (165- through 235-count fruit) remain limited
• Expect to make Country of Origin substitutions to fill orders
• Quality is good; brown spotting, early decay, and scarring are being reported
• Quality will improve when growers start harvesting new crop fruit in three weeks
• Elevated pricing is forecast for the next four weeks

Offshore

• Offshore fruit from Argentina and Chile will be shipped into North America through early December
• Size 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

Fresh-run MFC Onions are available in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Utah. New crop harvests are continuing across multiple growing regions. Markets are steady, and quality is good in each region.

Washington

• Washington new crop onion harvests are underway; volume is steady
• Growers expect to begin loading from long-term storage in mid-October
• Suppliers report a good mix of sizing; colossal and super colossal onions are limited

Idaho/Oregon

• Idaho/Oregon fresh-run onion volume is steady
• Harvests are expected to finish in mid-October as growers begin loading from long-term storage
• Supplies are dominated by jumbo through colossal sizes; medium yellows and reds are somewhat tight this week as growers finish harvesting early lots
• Suppliers are packing around rain this week in Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho but have enough product in short-term storage to avoid supply disruptions

Utah

• New crop yellow and white onion harvests are underway; supplies are sufficient
• Red onion harvests will begin early next week
• Current fresh-run yellow onion supplies are dominated by medium and jumbo sizes; colossal and super colossal sizes are limited in early lots

Colorado

• Early transplant harvests are finishing
  • Seeded onion production will start over the next one to two weeks
  • Growers will pack from short-term storage in the meantime
• Harvests will persist through late September before transitioning to storage stocks
• Suppliers report a good mix of sizing, but jumbo and medium sizes are most abundant

Potatoes

MFC Potatoes are available from Idaho and Washington. Storage crop supplies have been depleted for the season; new crop production is in full swing. Markets are climbing for large sizes (40- through 70-count potatoes) along with No. 2 grade supplies. Markon recommends maintaining lean inventories and ordering for short-term needs due to the shorter shelf-life associated with new crop potatoes and suberization (skin set).

Idaho

• New crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes are available
  • Supplies of 40- through 70-count, as well as No. 2 grade stocks, remain scarce
  • Early lots are yielding smaller sizes due to recent heat and smoke cover from fires
    • Smoke cover limited photosynthesis for proper plant growth in early lots
    • Large sizes will remain limited over the next two to three weeks when later lots are harvested
  • Overall quality is very good
  • New crop Burbanks are expected to become available in October after having gone through the sweat to set skins
• Prices will remain active
  • Markets for 40- to 70-count sizes will be volatile
  • No. 2 grade prices will remain elevated as new crop potatoes are of higher quality

Washington

• New crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes are available
• Demand is strong for all sizes; mixer volume is available
• Quality is very good
• Prices are increasing due to strong demand

Wisconsin

• New crop harvesting has started
• Large Russets are limited
  • The size profile is leaning towards smaller potatoes
  • Pricing will continue to rise as demand is active
• Quality is good

Colorado

• New crop production has just started
• Strong demand is driving up prices for 40- through 70-count supplies
• Quality is good

Squash

Squash markets remain tight across the East Coast and Midwest, with elevated markets driven by limited supplies and weather-related production challenges. Lower supplies out East have kept demand for California squash high. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

East Coast

• Squash supplies are tight across the region
• Markets are elevated; zucchini markets are slightly higher than yellow squash
• Eastern North Carolina production is increasing and is expected to improve availability
• Quality is good

Midwest

• Weather impacts in Michigan and Ohio have reduced yields and tightened supplies

• Quality is good
• Markets are elevated

West Coast

• Modest, but improving, volumes are coming out of Santa Maria and the San Joaquin Valley
• Lower supplies in the Midwest region have increased demand out West
• Quality has been good, but some shriveling and scarring is being reported
• Markets are elevated on both yellow and zucchini
  • Steady early next week, but will inch down into September

Strawberries

Strawberry demand continues to outpace supply. Expect tight availability in Watsonville/Salinas through the end of the season, with Santa Maria fall production still about two weeks from delivering significant volume.

Watsonville/Salinas

• MFC Strawberries are available
• Berry size is medium; counts range from 22-26 berries per 8/1-pound clamshell
• Quality is fair to good,  misshapen, bruising, and soft skin has been called out
• Maintaining the cold chain will be vital for shelf-life; Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
• Expect strong demand and high prices through the next two weeks

Santa Maria, California 

• Berries size is medium, 20-24 berries per 8/1 clamshell
• Quality is good, light bruising has been the only call out
• Volume levels will be reached in two weeks
• Expect strong demand and elevated markets through next week

Sweet Potatoes

Storage crop supplies are winding down across several growing regions as the industry transitions to new crop production. While acreage has increased in most regions, an early harvest has accelerated shipments, reducing available supplies. As a result, firm-to-higher prices are forecast as the new season begins.

North Carolina

• Fresh-run, uncured harvesting is underway; fully cured is expected in two to three weeks
• Uncured sweets will exhibit skinning, discoloration, shorter shelf life, and lower sugar content (less sweet)
• Early yields are lighter in color with a smaller size profile due to drought conditions
• Quality is generally good, with some skinning and occasional discoloration typical of uncured product
• Markets are rising as storage inventories become depleted

Mississippi

• New crop, uncured supplies are shipping; fully cured stocks are expected in late September
• Volume is low with a smaller size profile to start the season
• Quality is good; expect some skinning and discoloration
• Large sizes remain tight and priced higher, but availability should increase as harvesting advances

Louisiana

• New crop, uncured shipments are expected to begin next week
• Fully cured supplies will enter the market by late September
• Prices are expected to open at elevated levels

California

• Fully cured new crop supplies are shipping
• Quality is very good with well-set skins and strong eating quality
• Small sizes remain most abundant, with jumbo availability increasing daily
• Demand remains strong, keeping markets elevated

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information

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