Bell Peppers

Green Bells

• Markon First Crop (MFC) and Markon Essentials (ESS) Green Bell Peppers are available
• Mexican stocks have increased due to favorable weather
  • All sizes are available
  • Quality is good: some grading is required at final pack out
• Florida volume is snug due to cooler evenings and rain this week
• Expect prices to remain low for the next two weeks

Red Bells

• MFC and ESS Red Bell Peppers are available
• Mexican supplies out of the state of Sinaloa are sufficient
  • Quality is good: scarring is a minor problem
  • All sizes are available
• The East Coast produces a minimal amount of colored peppers
• Expect prices to slightly decrease over the next week

Broccoli

• Cool weather has slowed plant maturity, resulting in fewer available supplies over the next two weeks
• Overall quality is good: pin rot is affecting some lots
• Demand is moderate; markets are expected to maintain mid- to high levels over the next two weeks

Brussels Sprouts

• Salinas and Santa Maria production is winding down for the season; Mexicali and the Arizona/California desert are the primary growing regions
• Production in Mexicali, Mexico is off to a slow start this season due to cold weather; supplies are anticipated to increase in late January to early February
• Size is dominated by small and medium; jumbo sizes are extremely limited
• Markets are expected to remain elevated through early February

Carrots

• The San Joaquin Valley season is experiencing lower-than-average yields as the season winds down
  • This is due to record rainfall in December 2021 coupled with low temperatures
  • Both commodity and processed packs are impacted
• Supplies are ample in Arizona and Mexico (crossing into South Texas); quality is very good
• Baby Peeled Snack Packs are currently in a demand-exceeds-supply situation due to post-COVID demand for pre-portioned products and schools being back in session
• In addition, carrot processors are currently experiencing a labor shortage due to COVID
  • All departments have been impacted including production, packing, shipping, and sales
  • Reduced staffing on any given day has led to occasional shortages and loading delays
• Supplies are expected to be back to normal once new crop production in the Imperial Valley is fully underway in late February

Cilantro

• Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Cilantro is available
• Yields are down following an exceptionally wet December in Oxnard, California; approximately 10” of rainfall was recorded for the month
• Arizona/California desert supplies are steady, though prices are slowly increasing as demand shifts from Oxnard
• Domestic supplies will be available in South Texas through April
• Overall quality is good; some Oxnard lots are exhibiting early breakdown from excessive rain and tip burn due to high winds
• Expect elevated markets through January

Green Onions

• Growing conditions in Mexicali, Mexico are improving; highs in the mid- to upper 70s and evening temperatures in the 40s to low 50s were recorded over the last 10 days
• Similar weather patterns are forecast through January; industry supplies will continue to rebound
• Expect markets to inch down over the next 10 to 14 days

Limes

• Demand has weakened a bit, but is expected to increase again in late January/early February
• All sizes are available; however, large sizes are tightening
• Quality remains strong: color is deep green
• Expect elevated markets through March, which is common for this time of year

Onions

• Northwest MFC Onions will be available through late April
  • Dry scale and translucent layers will become challenges as the end of the season approaches
  • Expect elevated prices for the rest of the season

• White and yellow Mexican onions are now being shipped out of South Texas
  • As expected, with the Northwest markets currently at all-time highs, Mexican pricing opened at elevated levels
  • Red onions are forecast to become available in mid-February; expect low volume
• Texas-grown onions will enter the market in early March
• California/Imperial Valley onions are estimated to start shipping in late April
• The New Mexico season will begin in early June

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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