Celery

Celery markets continue to climb due to increased demand and lower industry supplies.

• The Michigan season has ended, shifting demand to California
• Oxnard production is underway; disease (fusarium) pressure in initial lots is reducing harvestable yields
• The Salinas season has almost finished, most suppliers are cleaning up their final lots
• Santa Maria production will continue year-round
• Arizona and California desert production will start mid- to late December
• Expect elevated markets and strong demand through December

Cucumbers

The cucumber offshore season will begin mid-December on the East Coast. Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Cucumbers are available.

• Mexican production is ramping up in Sinaloa; good quality and dark color has been reported
• Florida regions, Plant City and South Florida, are experiencing tight supply due to a lull in production; plain grades are common
• Offshore fruit from Honduras, entering through Florida ports, will begin next week
• Expect prices to remain steady this week

From The Fields: Desert region Lettuce Outlook

Most lettuce supplies in the Arizona/California desert growing region continue to be below Markon First Crop (MFC) weight specifications. Some 24-count liner lettuce fields remain 6 to 12 pounds below MFC minimum requirements. Cold weather and extremely strong demand have prevented fields from reaching ideal maturity.

Temperatures will be 5°-8° below normal this week with a possibility of lettuce ice on Thursday, December 8 through Saturday, December 10, which will keep case weights below normal through the rest of the month. Markon inspectors have started seeing more fields that meet MFC romaine and green leaf weight specs and expect to start seeing sporadic fields that meet MFC specs for liner lettuce soon.

Most suppliers don’t expect to see normal maturity and case weights consistently until the second week of January, depending on how much cold weather is recorded.

Green Beans

East and West Coast green bean supplies are increasing. Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Trimmed Green Beans are available.

• East Coast supplies from Florida have rebounded after past storms; quality is exceptional
• Mexican volume for the month of December is favorable with multiple growing regions harvesting, including Culiacan, Los Mochis and Baja
• Demand will increase due to popularity during the Christmas seasonal rush
• Expect lower prices over the next two weeks

Green Leaf  

• Green leaf production in increasing in the Arizona and California desert growing regions
• Quality is very good, minimal fringe burn and elevated levels of dirt caused by high winds is being observed in some lots
• Cold weather forecast in the desert will slow growth; however, supplies are expected to continue to improve
• Expect continued lower pricing in the coming weeks

Green Onions

• RSS Washed & Trimmed Green Onions are available
• Supplies and quality have rebounded after the monsoon and hurricane season reduced yields and slowed further maturation
• Prices are down amid a lull in demand in between holiday pulls,
• Expect markets to stabilize at lower levels through mid-December

Oranges

Navel oranges continue to be in good supply; markets are steady. Recent rainfall in the San Joaquin Valley will hinder production. Expect markets to rise slightly over the next two weeks. Cara Cara Navels are now available; Blood Orange availability will start next week.

Navels

• MFC Navel Oranges are available  
• Volume is strong out of the Central Valley
• Smaller sizing will decrease as rainfall increases overall crop size prior to harvest; supplies are ample
• More rain is expected in the valley this coming Friday and Saturday
• Quality is excellent; average brix levels of 11.5-12 and less than 48 hours of gas time for color is being reported

Cara Cara Navels

• Supplies are currently available in the San Joaquin Valley
• Cara Cara Navels have the outer appearance of an Orange Navel but contain a seedless interior and a rich, pink hue
• Initial markets show larger sizes having similar pricing to regular Orange Navels; smaller sizes (88-count to 138-count) are commanding $2.00-$5.00 higher

Blood Oranges

• Expect availability to start next week
• Blood oranges have a deep maroon interior with an orange to orange/red blushed exterior
• They have a distinct orange taste with hints of berry and are easy to peel

Potatoes

Storage crop MFC Norkotah Potatoes are currently be shipped out of Idaho and Washington. Limited supplies of Markon First Crop (MFC) Burbank Potatoes are being shipped out of Idaho.

• Overall supply is adequate; large sizes (40- to 50-count) remain limited
• Quality is strong for both varieties, U.S. No. 2s are extremely tight
• Expect markets to strengthen over the next several weeks; holiday retail demand is strong
• Suppliers begin to conserve supplies to spread across entire season
• Expect adverse weather conditions; production hours will be limited to aid in controlling supply levels

Romaine

• Romaine production in increasing in the Arizona and California desert growing regions
• Quality is good, blister and peel following lettuce ice events brought on by cold mornings is being found in some lots
• Continued cold weather in the desert will slow growth; however, supplies are expected to continue to improve as winter romaine varieties continue to mature
• Expect continued lower pricing in the coming weeks

Squash

Squash supply is plentiful in both Florida and Mexico. Markon First Crop Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

• Western Mexico (crossing through Nogales, Arizona) is transitioning from Sonora to Sinaloa growing regions
  • Zucchini and yellow squash quality is excellent due to favorable weather in new fields
  • Mexican yellow squash is abundant and promotable with lower markets this week
• Florida is harvesting steady amounts of high-quality zucchini in Plant City and South Florida; yellow squash volume is tight
• Expect slightly lower prices over the next two weeks

Strawberries

California strawberry quality continues to recover after heavy rainfall in all California growing regions. Expect to see quality challenges and elevated markets for the next 7-10 days. Strong markets are expected in all growing areas through the month of December.

Santa Maria, California

• MFC Strawberries are available  
• Volume remains limited; harvesting has been impacted by rain and cold overnight temperatures
• Quality concerns include soft skin, decay, white shoulders, and pin rot
• The season is anticipated to end on December 31, 2022
• The industry is in a demand-exceeds-supply situation
• Expect strong demand and elevated markets through the month of December

Oxnard, California

• Volume remains limited; harvesting has been impacted by rain and cold overnight temperatures
• Quality concerns include soft skin, decay, white shoulders, and pin rot
• The industry is in a demand-exceeds-supply situation
• Expect strong demand and elevated markets through the month of December

Central Mexico (Loading in South Texas)

• Mexican production is increasing
• The industry is in a demand-exceeds-supply situation
• Mexican fruit is being used to supplement the California shortage
• Quality is good; white shoulders and occasional overripening are issues

Florida

• Production has started in a limited manner
• Harvesting will increase over time and is expected to reach its peak by mid-December
• Early quality is good; expect small to medium fruit size

Tender Leaf (Arugula, Spinach, Spring Mix)

Supplies of tender leaf items are extremely limited. Colder than normal temperatures in Yuma, Arizona have significantly slowed the maturation process causing many growers to be as far as 7-10 days behind production schedules. Morning frost conditions are further reducing daily availability. RSS Arugula, Spinach and Spring Mix is limited; packer label is being substituted as needed.

Arugula

• Demand far exceeds supply due to cooler temperatures that have slowed plant maturity
• Expect extremely tight supplies and higher prices for the next two weeks
  • Industry supplies are down as much as 50%
  • A few growers have experienced complete crop failure
• Packer label and organic product is being substituted when possible

Spinach

• Demand exceeds supply due to cooler temperatures that have slowed plant maturity
• Expect tight supplies and higher prices for the next two weeks
• Larger size spinach such as Clipped/Stemless/Teen varieties are particularly affected, as sizing has been drastically reduced
• Packer label and baby spinach may be subbed as needed

Spring Mix

• Demand exceeds supply due to cooler temperatures that have slowed plant maturity
• Expect tight supplies and higher prices for the next two weeks

Most suppliers are holding to averages; packer label, organic supplies, and different varieties are being substituted as needed

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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