Asparagus

Prices are forecast to rise over the next week as growers begin to transition to new regions for the winter season.

Mexico

• Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available out of Baja, Mexico; packer label is being substituted where necessary
• Production in Southern Baja is winding down after a difficult fall season of tropical storms and supply chain challenges
• Harvesting is starting in Central Mexico; supplies expected out of the Caborca growing region of Sonora by mid-January
• Jumbo and extra-large asparagus are expected to remain limited through December
• Overall size distribution remains skewed towards small-sized spears
• Quality is mixed; undersized and dehydrated spears have been reported, as well as spreading/seeding tips
• Expect climbing prices with limited availability of jumbo and extra-large sizes over at least the next ten days

Peru

• Supplies are steady out of the Northern Peru growing regions amid fair weather and growing conditions
• Quality ranges from good to above average; spears are firm with minimal spreading/seeding
• Expect pricing to follow Mexican markets upwards over at least the next ten days

Bell Peppers

Western green bell pepper harvesting is transitioning from California to Mexico; Florida production remains stable. Red bell pepper markets are elevated; cool autumn weather is reducing supplies. MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Green Bells

• California’s Coachella season will wind down over the next week
  • Choice grades are most abundant
  • Cool weather is slowing growth

• Western Mexico’s volume is increasing
  • Extra-large sizes are tightening
  • Quality is very good
• Choice-grade and medium-sized stocks are more plentiful out of Central Mexico (crossing into South Texas)
• Florida production is steady; quality is good
• Expect steady to lower prices over the next week

Red Bells

• California’s Coachella region has experienced cooler weather and rain
  • Quality is average
  • Cool evenings (45F) are reducing yields
• Supplies are limited in Central Mexico; extra lead time is recommended
• Western Mexico’s main season will begin in late December; expect low volume at the start
• The Canadian greenhouse season is finished
• Expect higher prices over the next two weeks due to upcoming transitions

Brussels Sprouts

Prices remain elevated due to extremely limited supplies; quality issues are severely impacting yields. MFC and Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Brussels Sprouts are currently unavailable; packer label is being substituted.

• Three to four weeks remain in the Salinas-area growing season; high heat and rains throughout the California season have heavily impacted quality and reduced yields
• Quality is poor; discoloration, puffiness, seeder, and small size are prevalent, diminishing overall volume
• Large sizes have been especially affected by quality problems; jumbos are currently unavailable due to shelf-life challenges
• California supplies will remain limited through December
• The Mexican season is anticipated to start in mid- to late December, helping to offset reduced Salinas supplies by January 2026
• A limited supply of imported Guatemalan sprouts is available at South Texas shipping points as a supplemental option over the next several weeks
• Expect elevated prices and extremely limited supplies for the next five weeks; relief is anticipated after the Mexican season begins

Green Onions

Pricing is elevated due to lower availability as desert growing regions recover from recent rainstorms.

• RSS Green Onions are available
• Recent heavy rainfall across the Mexicali growing region created wet, muddy field conditions, delaying harvests
• Cooler nighttime temperatures have also slowed growth, further straining supply levels
• Quality ranges from fair to average; wet conditions could lead to soft onions that are more susceptible to early decay
• Seasonal labor shortages may also affect yields through the holiday season
• Expect higher markets and limited availability over the next ten days

From the Fields: Quality Challenges in Desert Row Crops

Markon inspectors continue to evaluate commodity and value-added items in the Arizona/California desert region after a series of storms saturated crops and caused significant harvesting and production challenges over the past two weeks.

Prior to all the recent rains, some growers were pushing their crops (adding fertilizer) to promote faster growth in the demand-exceeds supply conditions that ushered in the desert season. The combination of fertilizer, warm weather, and rain amounts that were well above seasonal norms, has affected some varieties more than others. Below are some of the most prevalent issues being observed:

• Bottom rot in lettuce crops
• Long core/seeder in certain romaine varieties
• Increased mildew pressure
• Pin rot and yellow/brown bead in broccoli
• Premature pinking in commodity and value-added lettuces, particularly in shredded lettuce
• Yellowing in tender leaf items such as arugula and spinach
• Reduced shelf-life performance
• Waterlogged products
  • Occurs when plants that have absorbed too much water prior to harvest, and then release the water after processing, creating a wet, soggy finished product

As the fields continue to dry out, quality will slowly improve. Current conditions are cool and windy, with a chance for lettuce ice over the next few mornings, but no rain in the forecast until possibly December 14.

Strawberries

California supplies remain extremely limited due to the rains and lower temperatures of the past two weeks. Mexican berries (into South Texas) and Florida-grown supplies are increasing; quality is improving. Expect prices to decline slowly over the next 10 days.

Santa Maria and Oxnard, California

• Harvesting has been minimal this week as growers are allowing fruit to mature

• Winter production is expected to begin by late December

Mexico (into South Texas)

• Supplies are increasing
• Quality problems include white shoulders, skin bruising, and green tips
• This market is active

Florida

• Cooler weather has slowed growth, but supplies are slowly increasing
• Defects include white shoulders and green tips
• Size ranges from 17 to 22 berries per 8/1-pound clamshells

Baja, Mexico (into California)

• Shipments are beginning to cross after last week’s border blockades ended
• Rainy weather slowed production
• Quality ranges from fair to good
• Size ranges from 19-24 per 8/1-pound clamshells

Squash

Zucchini and yellow squash supplies have increased; markets are lower. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

Mexico

• West Mexico supplies out of Sonora and Sinaloa have increased
• Shippers are working through extra supply after the border reopened last Friday
• Zucchini has abundant volume as growers will experience a flush this week
• Yellow squash is meeting demand; less overall acreage was planted this year

Florida

• Supplies are increasing
• Zucchini volume is strong, and yields are increasing on yellow squash
• Expect very low zucchini markets over the next two weeks

Tomatoes

Tomato supply is meeting demand as multiple regions are harvesting in both Florida and Mexico. The lack of significant cyclonic weather activity this past fall (in Florida and Western Mexico) will positively influence tomato production transitions in December. MFC Tomatoes are available.

Rounds

• Florida’s Palmetto/Ruskin region is in full production
• Immokalee has started harvesting; the Homestead region is expected to start in late December
• Mexico’s Baja region will ship moderate supplies into the third week of December
• Central Mexico (crossing into South Texas) has begun its typical seasonal decline
• Production will start slowly in Western Mexico in mid-December and become the main winter growing region in January
• Expect steady markets over the next two weeks, weather permitting

Romas

• Florida is harvesting high volume across several regions
• Growers in Baja and Central Mexico report consistent supplies with variable quality
• The season in Western Mexico will start in mid-December; strong quality is reported
• Expect steady markets over the next few weeks

Grape & Cherry Varieties

• Stocks are plentiful out of Central Florida
  • Quality is great
  • Yields are slightly lower due to cooler temperatures earlier this week
• The Baja and Central Mexico regions are producing light to moderate volume
• The Western Mexico season will start soon, increasing overall supply levels
• Expect slightly lower markets next week

Potatoes

MFC Norkotah Potatoes are available in Idaho and Washington. Markets remain low with plentiful supplies and great quality in all regions.

Idaho

• Storage crop MFC Norkotah and Burbank Potatoes are being shipped
• Size profile is balanced between the two varieties
  • Norkotah stocks continue to run heavy on larger sizes; in particular, 40- and 50-count supplies
  • Burbank production is dominated by smaller sizes (100-count and higher)
  • Prices are slightly higher for 60- through 90-count sizes markets due to strong retail and holiday demand
• Weather remains unseasonably warm with very little precipitation and snow, allowing potatoes to be transferred from cellar to shed easily

Washington

• Storage MFC Norkotah Potatoes are available
• Expect good mixer volume; large sizes are most plentiful

Colorado, Nevada, Wisconsin

• Colorado and Wisconsin continue to ship ample supplies; small sizes are most abundant
• Nevada is running at a slow pace, packing to order; 60- and 70-count sizes dominate shipments

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.

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