Artichokes

• A cold start to winter growing regions continues to slow maturation and cause a burned appearance on leaf tips
• Suppliers are primarily packing 12-count sizes
• A warming trend in the forecast will promote growth and availability, but expect low volume out of all growing regions through mid-January
  • Oxnard, California is the primary growing region right now,
  • Coachella Valley growers will begin limited production by the middle of next week
  • Mexican supplies will begin ramping up by the end of the month
• Expect abundant stocks by late-January to as current harvesting strategies pay off and weather warms in Mexico and the Arizona/California desert regions

Asparagus

Markon First Crop (MFC) Asparagus is available.

Mexico

• Large sizes remain tight; Carborca and Central Mexican growing regions are three-to-four weeks delayed
• The Mexicali season is winding down
• Expect markets to remain elevated through mid-February

Peru

• Peruvian asparagus has been able to help supplement large sizes
• Volume is increasingly sporadic as political unrest has disrupted exports

Bell Peppers

Red bell peppers will begin transitioning from the Southern California growing region to Mexico over the next week. Light demand and steady markets are expected for the next 7-10 days. MFC and Markon Essentials Green and Red Bell Peppers are available.

Red Bell Peppers

• The California desert season will come to an end over the next few weeks
• The main transition to Mexico (crossing through Nogales) will occur beginning of January; quality is excellent
• Expect steady prices over the next week

Green Bell Peppers

• Mexican volume is light this week due to cooler weather and reduced harvest labor during the holiday season
• Most Florida growers escaped frost damage as they started new fields in southern regions of the state
• Sizing is dominated by jumbo and extra-large bell peppers
• Expect prices to ease over the next two weeks

Broccoli

Broccoli markets have entered a supply exceeds situation.

• Supplies have begun to significantly increase in the AZ/CA desert region
• Light-to-moderate demand is keeping crops in the ground longer and allowing crown size to develop
• A warming trend over the next 7-10 days will further promote crown production and improve quality
• Expect markets to drop quickly and stay relatively depressed through January

Cauliflower

Imperial Valley and Santa Maria, California/Yuma, Arizona/Northern Baja, Mexico

• • Industry supplies are increasing as Yuma crops come online
  • Santa Maria stocks are sufficient
  • Markets have and will continue to drop quickly through this week
• Quality ranges from fair to average; residual brown and black spotting and discoloration are issues
• A slight warming trend will increase availability of 9- and 12-count packs
• Suppliers have resumed normal harvesting schedules; supply gaps are anticipated through late January

Citrus

Rainfall continues to be a factor in California’s northern citrus growing regions. Suppliers will continue to take advantage of the breaks between storms to secure fruit. It is highly recommended to place orders early to help ensure full coverage.

Oranges

• MFC Navel Oranges are available
• Rain continues to limit crews’ ability to harvest, slowing overall production; orchards need at least two days without rain to harvest
• Heavy amounts of rain and delays in harvesting will increase overall size profile; expect heavier volume of large sizes in upcoming weeks
• Overall markets are increasing, especially for smaller size 113- and 138-count fruit
• Advanced ordering is recommended
• Current quality is excellent; sugar levels are high and gas times are minimal

Lemons

• MFC Lemons are available  
• Production continues in all three areas of California (San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, and the Arizona desert region)
• Rain will slow production in the Central Valley; expect adequate supplies from Southern California and the desert regions
• Markets are slowly rising with strong demand
• Quality remains excellent

Grapes

The California season is wrapping up. Delays are being reported in offshore arrivals; expect elevated markets and tight supplies through the month of January.

California

• Green grapes are finished for the season; red grapes supplies will be depleted over the next 7-10 days
• Portioned grapes are forecast to be shipping until January 15
• Quality is good; some rain-damaged fruit is being reported
• Expect pricing to increase as the industry transitions out of California and into offshore product

Offshore

• Peruvian/Chilean green and red grapes have begun shipping
• Portioned grapes are expected to start shipping the week of January 15
• Chilean harvests are two to three weeks behind schedule due to weather
• Political turmoil in Peru has caused delayed arrivals for next two to three weeks
• Expect elevated markets and tight supplies through January on all grapes

Green Leaf

• MFC Premium Green Leaf is readily available out of the Arizona/California desert growing region
• Quality is very good; wind scarring and lettuce ice damage are being trimmed during harvest
• Florida supplies are ample and will ship through early April, barring a weather event
• Expect the market to remain weak with high volume in Arizona and California

Green Onions

Ready-Set-Serve Washed & Trimmed Green Onions are available.

• Demand is extremely strong, pushing markets higher
• Mild weather in the Mexicali growing region will positively impact quality and yields over next 7-10 days
• Expect slightly elevated markets to persist until labor availability returns to normal in early to mid-January and younger plantings enter the market in early February

Harvest Disruptions in Sinaloa Mexico

On Thursday, January 5, the Mexican government advised citizens in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico to stay home until further notice due to acts of violence from the local drug cartel. This will impact harvests and cause a slowdown in produce shipments into Nogales, Arizona and McAllen, Texas this weekend until enforcement action subsides.

• Culiacan, Mexico (in the state of Sinaloa) recently began their winter harvests of bell pepper, chiles, cucumbers, green beans, and tomatoes
• Produce already enroute from the Culiacan region will continue, however, importers in the US may experience a reduction in shipments this weekend
• The Fresh Produce Association of Americas is working with CBP regarding contingency plans for recovery shipments over the weekend
• Expect supplies to tighten and markets to increase in the short term
• Markon will continue to update as more information becomes available

Iceberg

• MFC Premium Iceberg is available in the Arizona/California desert growing region
• Quality is very good; epidermal blistering and peeling is being observed in some lots but at lower frequencies compared to prior weeks
• Weights are significantly higher following minor rain events and warm weather
• Iceberg is also available in South Texas; prices are weaker and will continue to follow the Arizona and California markets
• Florida supplies are increasing; prices are comparable to the AZ/CA desert

Romaine

• MFC Premium Romaine is being packed regularly in the Arizona/California desert growing region; Markon Best Available is being substituted as needed due to low case weights
• Quality is good; in some lots, epidermal blister/peel is present deep within the head, hindering harvesting crews’ ability to trim all damaged leaves in the field
• Markets continue to decline as supplies increase in the AZ/CA desert
• Florida supplies are ample and will be available through April, barring a weather event

Squash

Supplies are increasing in Florida and Mexico this week. MFC Zucchini and Yellow Squash are available.

• Western Mexico supplies (crossing into Nogales, Arizona) will increase as production returns to normalcy after the holidays
  • Quality is good
  • Scarring is being observed in some lots
• Past cold weather damaged crops in Central Florida and reduced yields in South Florida; warmer weather will improve harvests in the region through January
• Expect slightly lower prices over the next two weeks

Strawberries

Demand exceeds supply in all California growing regions due to recent and forecast rain. Florida volume is rising as strawberry plants recover from last week’s cold temperatures. Mexican stocks are helping to fill shortages from California and Florida, but growers estimate a drop in harvestable volume due to upcoming cool weather.

Oxnard, California

• Harvesting has been cancelled today, January 3
• Growers will be relying on transfers of Mexican-grown fruit to supplement California shipments through mid-January
• Quality continues to be a challenge; concerns include excessive bruising and pin-rot
• The industry is in a demand-exceeds-supply situation

Santa Maria, California

• Rain is expected to end the Santa Maria growing season this week
• New crop fruit will enter the market in late January/early February

Florida

• MFC Strawberries are available  
• Multiple rain events are forecast over the next two to three days; harvesting delays are expected

• Quality is good; issues include white shoulders and occasional over ripening
• Packer label will be substituted as needed; plastic clamshells will be substituted for corrugated packs
• Expect to see markets slowly increase as this region will help fill California shortages

Central Mexico (Loading in South Texas)

• All Markon DCs are advised to load out of South Texas due to supplies and quality
• Volume will be down through next week due to lower temperatures
• Quality is good; issues include white shoulders and occasional over ripening
• Expect to see pricing increase as Mexico fills shortages from California and Florid

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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